 Thanks to the publisher & Netgalley for the complimentary e-ARC and the publisher for the complimentary hardcopy. All opinions provided are my own.If you like dark-ish fantasies with characters who’re determined to pursue a greater good, come what may, you might like To Cage a God by Elizabeth May. In this book, gods can live inside of people, either from birth or through violent body manipulations later in life. The latter is what happened to sisters Sera & Galina, & both suffer their own hardships trying to accommodate the god imprisoned within them. Overarching everything is the evil empress, the most feared god-wielder in the land, who’s committed countless atrocities including against our leads’ families. The coup the sisters want to enact is both general & personal. The leads’ efforts to protect each other offers some nice softness to this story, as does their growing attraction to their respective lovers. None of those entanglements are easy, & my romance-loving heart enjoyed both, especially the fervor of the morally grey Vitaly who loves Sera passionately, wholeheartedly. Ending with an action-packed series of events & great disability rep, this book sets up book 2 in this duology with an oomph. 4⭐️. Out 02/20.Please see a trusted reviewer’s list of CWs.
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 Thanks to the publisher & Netgalley for the complimentary e-ARC. All opinions provided are my own. Imagine having to film an intimacy scene for a romcom with the person you’ve disliked with fervor since you were teens—when he publicly stomped your heart. The former is actually my fave part of Right on Cue by Falon Ballard, when the two leads—who have had less than stellar interactions throughout the book—suddenly have to film an intimate scene. Before they even begin, the jerk-ish Grayson makes a speech promising to respect screenwriter-turned-actor Emmy, & what follows is respectful & also unexpectedly hot, for the leads & this reader. That middle section of the book is where it really shines for me, after a beginning where both leads come across as a bit immature & before the 3rd-act conflict, which had me agitated. There are aspects of this contemporary that I really, really like: the steam totally works for me, the Nora-Ephron-like heroine, the aforementioned middle, where everything makes sense & gels for me…but unfortunately, the totality of the story—from beginning to end—isn’t there for me. 3.5⭐️. Out 02/27. CWs: previous loss of beloved dad; parental estrangement.
 Thanks to the publisher & Netgalley for the complimentary e-ARC and the publisher for the complimentary hardcopy. All opinions provided are my own.Ahhh this book. I am swimming in feelings about READY OR NOT by Cara Bastone. My heart is mush; MUSH I TELL YOU. I am such a fan of best friend’s sibling romance & this book delivers in a major way. At the beginning of the book, Eve Hatch learns that a one night stand she had weeks ago has resulted in pregnancy. She wants to keep the baby & as her best friend Willa initially struggles with the pain of her own fertility struggles & how that relates to Eve’s surprise pregnancy, their other bestie, Shep, Willa’s brother, becomes even closer to Eve. Bastone deals with emotions so beautifully here, showing the various ways people can act to surprising events & how those behaviors & feelings can change over time. The friendships are wonderfully explored, including Eve & Shep’s, which gave me all the freaking feelings. I mean, this man. He has broad shoulders & a “bony sternum,” & he’s sweetly clumsy, & so smart, & so kind. I love him. The things he does for Eve & her baby in this book! I can’t say more bc of spoilers but oh my goodness. Eve is such a fantastic heroine, blazing a path while dealing with surprise, & her thoughtfulness & assertiveness (& struggles sometimes to decide things) feel so real & also cheer-worthy. Not only is this book romantic & , it’s also poignant. FYI, this book includes a labor scene, & it exacerbated those heart feelings. This book is so wonderful & I will be dreaming about Shep forevermore. 5⭐️. Out 02/13.CWs: Friend is struggling with fertility. Previous loss of parents & bff’s mom. Labor. The man that Eve conceived with doesn’t commit to everything at first, because he’s dealing with relationship struggles of his own.
 The Getaway List by Emma Lord. Emma Lord writes dependably satisfying YA. In this book, uncertain high school graduate Riley determines a path forward & a new life in NYC, as she & her long-time bestie Tom cross items off their Getaway List. TGL is cute, with moments of sadness as the besties reveal their struggles to each other, & underneath a lovely burgeoning romance is a strong friendship that gave me lots of feels. 4.25⭐️️. Out now. (Thanks to the publisher and Netgalley for the complimentary ARC. All opinions provided are my own.)
Letters to Half Moon Street by Sarah Wallace. This queer historical romance with some fantasy is so cute! It’s EPISTOLARY, (that’s the magic word, right?), featuring letters written from a sometimes clueless lead, Gavin, to an eventual love interest, his family, etc. Charming, funny, & sweet, this kissing-only book is a delightful & quick read. So happy I read it! 5 ⭐️ ️, out now. (Read for the BookRiot Read Harder Challenge: a cozy fantasy book.) A Feather So Black by Lyra Selene. A fae fantasy featuring a Changeling who’s been raised as the foster daughter of a human queen out for revenge against the Folk. This fantasy has steam, a love triangle-ish situation, & a heroine who’s felt the sting of not being fully accepted most of her life. Lots of angst in this one, & a romantic relationship that grew a bit annoying for me, but also an intriguing story & a nice setup for book 2. 3.5 ⭐️ ️, out 03/12. (Thanks to the publisher and Netgalley for the complimentary ARC. All opinions provided are my own.) Have you read any of these or are any on your TBR?  Thanks to the publisher & Netgalley for the complimentary e-ARC and the author and the publisher for the complimentary hardcopy. All opinions provided are my own.Jen Comfort’s books take you on a ride in the best way. My experience with What is Love? felt a bit like what the hero Teddy feels in heroine Maxine’s presence: dazzled, awed, entertained, ed… This contemporary has-- 🐍two super hot nerds battling it out in trivia. They’re both very smart, curious, & determined but have totally different styles when it comes to studying & making decisions. 🐍 fantastic steam. Whew! 🐍so many funny moments, seriously, & some of them are in your face, can’t miss it, & others are more subtle. The way I must have been smiling reading this book! 🐍 no third-act break up! 🐍 an uptight & the chaotic one dynamic that’s a bit true, a bit of a mask, & throughout the book these leads see what’s deeper in themselves & in the other. 🐍 queer rep! 🐍 the hero falls first! 🐍 really great portrayal of ADHD & how that affects learning & experiences in education. I love how it becomes part of their trivia journey & their relationship. 🐍 romantic moments that had me swooning & laughing at the end. If you like your romance to feel free, wild, fresh, & very romantic in a bold kind of way, check out Jen Comfort’s books! I’m *such* a fan & have the feeling I will love everything she writes. 5⭐️. Out 04/01. Please see a trusted reviewer’s list of CWs.
 Thanks to the publisher & Netgalley for the complimentary e-ARC. All opinions provided are my own.It’s no secret that I love an operative/heist/let’s take down a baddie/steal something book. The Spy & I by Tiana Smith provides those thrills, in addition to some humor & some clutch neck-kissing . Dove is a hacker who stays on the legal side of things. She’s totally devoted to her sister, Madison, a supposed photographer that Dove soon realizes is *actually* a CIA agent that the CIA believes has turned bad. Mendez, another CIA agent, reveals all of this to Dove, AFTER he stops lying to her & maybe before or during? (the details have gotten fuzzy since reading ) around the time they start the neck kissing. The chemistry between leads in moments like the neck kissing is strong but fyi, that’s about as much as it progresses on page. Other pluses for me about this book beyond the humor & neck-kissing are the brave heroine & her devotion to her sister—her faith in her even when the signs point to something else. But weighing down my enjoyment of this one a bit is that the plot doesn’t seem believable to me in a distracting kind of way (I wondered why things were happening like they are) & I wanted more from the relationship, emotionally. I tried to consider this book on its own but at the same time I couldn’t help comparing it to The Blonde Identity by Ally Carter, which has a similar premise & which I gave 5 ⭐️️. Ultimately this is an enjoyable read with promise but it left me somewhat unsatisfied. 4⭐️. Out 02/13.CWs: abandonment of dad; parental loss; murder; reference to torture; violence.
 Thanks to the publisher & Netgalley for the complimentary e-ARC. All opinions provided are my own.Hannah Tate, Beyond Repair by Laura Piper Lee started off a bit wobbly for me—the voice is too much IMO at first—but by the end l was cheering for this heartfelt book that’s a bit women’s fiction, a bit romance, with some quality steam & a definite HEA. At the beginning of the book Hannah is a mom to baby Bowie & in a long-term relationship with his dad, who routinely calls her a “mess” (supposedly affectionately). But they soon break up & she takes Bowie to her mom & step-dad’s mountain cabin, despite her reservations about taking on the stress they inevitably cause her. Newly fired & single, Hannah Tate has plenty of motivation to decide what she wants to do with her life. Helping her renovate her mom’s horror AirB&B is River, a relaxed, kind, & very attractive contractor who prefers to live outside of society’s dictates. This book delves into some big topics—inadequate parenting, technology reliance, not respecting FMLA in the workplace, & more are covered in this book—& on the whole it’s skillfully done. I ended up leaning into the quirky, adorable, & imperfect characters, the theme of renewal & finding joy, & the love & acceptance that permeates the book. There are things in this one that I wouldn’t enjoy as much written by another author in a different style, but I think Laura Piper Lee writes it successfully & with obvious heart & good intentions. If you can get past the beginning chapters, which come across a bit too aggressively IMO, I think you’ll find a shining story about a woman who drops the shitty things in her life & chooses happiness. 4.25⭐️. Out 02/13.Please see a trusted reviewer’s list of CWs.
 Today I’m coming at you with three quick thought reviews-- The Ten Thousand Doors of January by Alix E. Harrow. Alix’s writing is stunning & marvelous, this story had me thinking me about doors in a completely new way, the twists & turns keep you on your feet, & the last chapters offer solace for the previous hurts. My fave book of hers I’ve read yet. 5⭐️. (Qualifies for my “read a book about books fiction or nonfiction” spot on the BookRiot Read Harder Challenge.) King & the Dragon Flies by Kacen Callender. This book! I hadn’t realized how very limited my previous middle grade reading experiences have been. Tackling the topics of grief, racism, abuse, Black masculinity, homophobia, and Queerness, this book has such a way with emotion and imagination & the language will grab you and not let go. 4.5⭐️️. (Qualifies for my “read a middle grade book with an LGBTQIA main character” spot on the BookRiot Read Harder Challenge.) Faebound by Saara El-Arifi. The premise of this one—two sisters are taken hostage in Faerie, a place where they are viewed as enemies—is so interesting & I love the Queer rep (more of this in fantasy, please!). But I didn’t feel totally invested in the characters or the story (YMMV). 3.5 ⭐️. Out 01/23. (Thanks to Netgalley & the publisher for the complimentary ARC. All opinions provided are my own.) Are any of these on your TBR or have you read any? [ID: the three book covers are on a When Harry Met Sally backdrop—Sally & Harry are squatting over a wood floor & looking at the viewer.] Thanks to the publisher & Netgalley for the complimentary e-ARC. All opinions provided are my own.The chemistry in The Love Remedy by Elizabeth Everett totally worked for me, from the second moment our hero sees our heroine—her body is stuck half in & half out of a building she’s attempting to break into—to the scenes throughout the book. Woohoooo. How these characters are portrayed is part of the magic. Lucy’s a beautiful apothecary who creates some of her own antidotes & champions all of her patients, particularly the female ones who have to bear the weight of so much & oftentimes are denied autonomy over their own bodies. Thorne is not conventionally unattractive, a former prizefighter with brawn whose voice is raspy & who rarely smiles & who needs to remember how to have (responsible) fun. He’s also a single dad. In so many ways this is a verdant delight of a book, but the thing that keeps me from going into raptures is that I just wanted more external displays of romance for our heroine. The hero does a lot of internally lusting & feeling & there is a gesture at the end, but I felt like she deserved more throughout the book. That’s partly because she’s characterized so beautifully & I came to like her *so* much. This is a good one though & I give all the yays for working-class leads! 4⭐️. Out 03/19.Please see a trusted reviewer’s list of CWs.
 Thanks to the publisher & Netgalley for the complimentary e-ARC. All opinions provided are my own.Wowie, I have a lot of thoughts about this one. What I love about At First Spite by Olivia Dade: 🤍Body positivity. I love the way Dade describes bodies. I feel like I could maybe say it more eloquently but it comes down to that fact. They’re beautiful & sexy & appreciated etc. & all of that means a lot to me as a reader & a person with a body. 🤍Sex positivity. Those scenes seem to be lingered on in a very effective way once we get to them. The window! 🤍Leads who cry & eventually get in touch with all of their emotions. 🤍A pining hero. 🤍A heroine who, by the end, knows her worth. Athena’s thoughts & insecurities feel very relatable & the realizations she comes to are striking. That journey she goes on helped remind me of something too! 🤍A developing friendship group & sense of community in a new place! We’ve all been there. With that being said, the conflict in this book gives me some of the dreaded ick. In the prologue, Athena is engaged to Matthew’s brother, Johnny. When the book opens, Athena & Johnny are no longer together & he is on their honeymoon, solo. There isn’t a lot of time between Athena & Johnny & Athena & Matthew & things get unnecessarily messy & in a way that I think weakens the book. I wish some elements of the plot had been written differently. But At First Spite is a good book with some shining aspects that I think will resonate with many readers. 3⭐️. Out 02/13.CWs: Depression. What I would say is passive suicide ideation. Past death of sibling. Estranged parents.
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