October 17, 2024 • 49 mins
For the second reading recap, I'm talking all about romance novels, with one fantasy in the mix. Hear my opinions and a short synopsis of each book over the course of the episode. Sorry in advance for the new titles you'll be adding to your TBR.
Reading Rec:
- This week's rec is from Davina Reddic. Find the book here.
- Follow Davina on Instagram.
For links to the books discussed in this episode, click the link here to take you to the Google Doc to view the list.
For episode feedback, future reading and author recommendations, you can text the podcast by clicking the "Send us a message button" above.
For more, follow along on Instagram @whereileftoffpod.
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Transcript
Episode Transcript
Available transcripts are automatically generated. Complete accuracy is not guaranteed.
Kristen Bahls (00:09):
I'm Kristen Bahls and you're listening to When I
Left Off A Bookish Podcast, andtoday I'm sharing my next
installment of the reading recapseries, and this episode is
almost all romance.
There are many differentsubgenres.
I do have one fantasy book.
Technically it's been calledRomantasy, but I don't think it
(00:32):
has one of the key tenets toclassify as that.
I can't tell you what it isbecause it's a spoiler.
So just know it's almost allromance, but a lot of different
subgenres, from dark romance tocontemporary to new adult and
then my one fantasy that issometimes called romantasy.
So stay tuned.
(00:52):
That is what you're getting inthis episode.
But first I wanted to give alittle bit of a writing update.
So at this moment in time Ihave a deadline with my editor
for January, as in I have tohave the whole book written and
it's gone through betas and I'vefixed, based on my betas
(01:17):
feedback, to go into my editorfor a copy in line edit.
I don't know how I'm going tofinish this book by January and
give my beta team time to readover it and give me
developmental feedback.
I may have to push this back.
She said I could push it backwithout penalty.
I may be doing that.
It's like you try to giveyourself a deadline, but then
(01:40):
it's just life gets in the way,and life has really gotten in
the way lately.
I normally wake up like 30minutes earlier now and I come
in before work and I have 30minutes to write and I do that
before I start my day and that'sall the writing time I get.
(02:00):
Every once in a while I'll workon it on the weekends, but it's
mainly that writing time.
It's a lot.
I'm getting closer to 40,000words, which is like roughly,
this is not actually what itwill be because you know, with
like formatting and everything,it would change, but it's like
about 140 unformatted pages.
So I am getting closer.
(02:21):
It needs to be 300, I amgetting closer, it needs to be
300, which I in all my researchsaid was about 60,000 words, I
believe.
Maybe it's more, like 250 is60,000.
That kind of makes more sense.
Anyway, I was really justtrying to get to 60,000 for this
cozy mystery and I'm almost at40,000.
So you're thinking like only20,000 words.
But, like I said, life hasgotten in the way it's happening
(02:43):
.
I mean life has gotten in theway it's happening.
I mean I'm making it happen.
I really enjoy writing every day.
It's super fun to get to beable to do it and my mystery's
happening.
I got to write a red herringthe other day, which was so much
fun.
And the mystery's happening,the romance is happening.
It is a cozy mystery with aromance B plot, so there is a
lot of romance tied up in there.
(03:04):
So right now the romance isreally romancing because that
storyline is kind of coming to atension point and then the
mystery is starting to unravel alittle bit more.
So there's red herrings comingin and then, of course, I'm
trying to keep the integrity ofmaking it also about two
teachers and keeping stuff abouttheir teachings.
So it's, you know it's aninteresting balance, but I
(03:25):
really do like it and I thinkI'm liking it even more.
Of course I'm sure that it'sgoing to go through a million
rounds of edits, but yeah,that's kind of where I'm at on
the whole writing section.
We'll see if I can meet thisJanuary deadline.
I will probably be pushing itback.
Now, getting in to what we'regoing to be talking about today,
I first have to do a readingrec.
(03:46):
And don't forget, reading recsare where authors and readers
alike can send in voice memosrecommending books to you, the
listeners, and I wanted toinclude her rec because I think
(04:06):
it's always interesting wheneverauthors can kind of talk about
their own book, and I can tellyou it is a good, twisty, crazy
ride of a thriller, sodefinitely add it to your TBR.
This is Davina.
Davina Reddic (04:15):
Hey, Where I Left Off listeners.
My name is Davina Reddic and Iam the author of The Awakening.
What Lies Inside?
And this is my reading rack?
The Awakening is a psychologicalthriller that is very twisty, a
little dark and, I want to say,immersive.
(04:36):
It's been written in such a waythat I want you to feel all the
feels of our narrator.
You will find yourself confusedall the feels of our narrator.
You will find yourself confused, you'll find yourself
frustrated, and I mean you won'tbe alone, because that's
exactly what she is.
The story follows the memoriesand thoughts of our narrator,
(04:57):
who we don't get to meet until alittle further into the book.
And while we're going throughall the motions with her, we
kind of find out that she isn'tas reliable a source of
information as she portraysherself to be, and I think
(05:17):
that's a really fun aspect ofthis story.
It leaves you wanting to trusther but questioning if you
really should.
There's a lot of mental healthhere, the treatment of mental
health, the acknowledgement ofsuch issues and the importance
of reaching out.
(05:38):
There's also talk of marriagewoes and mommy and daddy issues,
so there's a lot to unpack withthis narrator.
There is an author note in thebeginning of my book.
I think it's really importantfor readers to know what they're
getting into here before theyget into it.
It's important for me to betransparent.
(06:00):
I never want to offend ortrigger anyone and potentially
lose a future reader.
So if you do decide to give theAwakening a chance, please read
the author note first.
I will end my rec by sayingthat this is a quick
(06:21):
in-your-face, you know, straight, gut-punching psychological
thriller and I do not think ournarrator, our female main
character, will disappoint youone bit.
Kristen Bahls (06:36):
So good.
Like I said, it's crazy, it'swild, the Awakening, What Lies
Inside.
Like you, you are going to beconfused for about like I don't
know, probably 70% of the noveland you're going to like it
because eventually everythingstarts to make sense and about
the time it starts making sense,everything goes down and it's
(06:57):
crazy.
So, anyway, if you want toreally like mind bending kind of
thriller, this, this isdefinitely the one to pick up.
It is available on KindleUnlimited and I will have it
linked down in the show noteswith the other books I'm talking
about today.
Let's get into the books.
Let's officially get into thebooks.
First up, I am talking aboutFunny Story by Emily Henry.
(07:18):
This is a contemporary romancenovel.
It is.
I rate it at five stars and Iwould say it's maybe like a two
of five.
On the Spice scale.
It was like a two.
I felt like it was similar-ishin Spice to like an Ashley
Poston, an Abby Jimenez, notquite like an Alexa Martin and
(07:41):
Amy Lea or an Allie Hazelwoodlevel.
So basically, what I'm sayingis it's somewhat tame.
It's not very descriptive, andit is.
It is open door though.
So I feel like it's reallystupid to point out that the
writing of this book is welldone.
I mean it kind of feels likesaying like Steven Spielberg's a
talented director, it's Emhen.
We know that the writing isgood.
(08:02):
That said, I did DNF HappyPlace, her last book, and this
is the first time that I've readone of her novels throughout
all the way through.
But don't worry, I already havebook lovers the people we meet
on vacation and Beach Read on myshelf.
So I will be reading throughthe classics at some point.
(08:24):
I think that funny story justultimately packed the punch that
I was missing from what I readof Happy Place, and this one was
just so much more up my alley.
So all that to say also is ifyou have an author that maybe
you don't love one of theirbooks, try, try again.
Their writing style is alwayschanging.
They're always growing.
(08:44):
Maybe it's just the plot or thecharacter of that specific book
that you didn't love.
So I'm all for giving authorsmultiple chances and trying
multiple books before I decideokay, maybe they're just not for
me.
I originally picked up this bookwhen I wanted a fluffy rom-com
and I am so glad that I put itdown and picked it back up later
.
This is not fluffy, it has gritand sadness and the main
(09:08):
characters are understandablywrecked in the beginning of this
novel.
So what I'm saying is beprepared.
Let me give you my short littleplot synopsis and then I'll go
into a little bit more of thespecifics.
So Daphne and Miles areroommates who have both hit an
all-time low.
When all by myself is blaringin their apartment, you kind of
(09:29):
feel like they've earned amoping session.
So the long and the short of itis, daphne and Peter were
engaged until Petra, peter'ssupposedly platonic and
beautiful childhood slash bestwoman, confesses her love for
him.
Childhood slash best womanconfesses her love for him.
Daphne moved her entire life tobe with Peter and has nowhere
(09:50):
to go.
When he calls off their wedding, daphne ends up moving in with
Moles, petra's now ex-boyfriend.
They form a kinship as they putthe pieces of their lives back
together and figure out who theyare without their significant
others.
The title gives this book awayand it is romance with an
inevitable HEA or happily everafter.
(10:10):
So this is the definition ofwhat Catherine Sinter describes
when she says happy endings arenot spoilers but something to
look forward to.
You know they're going to fallin love, but it was quirky, it
was raw, hilarious and thebanter was an A+.
And I loved Daphne and Milesand I found it really easy to
(10:33):
relate to Daphne.
I was just absolutely charmedby this book and I would say
that it is similar toCatherine's center and that the
characters don't just arrive attheir happy endings.
They put in the work andthey're going to go through a
lot of crap to get there.
And even though Daphne andMiles were the main characters,
I actually really appreciatedthe B plot with Daphne and
(10:56):
Ashley and it really touched ontheir friendship and just kind
of how tough it is to makefriends as an adult and just
kind of how tough it is to makefriends as an adult.
And their banter between Ashleyand Daphne is almost just as
fun as with Miles and Daphne andI just laughed so many times
while reading this book.
So whether you're unsure aboutEmily Henry or you're a devoted
(11:19):
fan, I would recommend this bookeither way.
I thought it was really goodNext up.
I'm like already laughingbefore I even get into this book
.
Either way, I thought it wasreally good Next up.
I'm like already laughingbefore I even get into this book
.
Okay, this is ButcheredBlackbird by Brynn Weaver.
This is dark romance.
I actually am not going to ratethe book and I'll tell you why
(11:40):
in a second, but this is thespiciest book I have ever read.
This is off the spice scalechart.
It's the spiciest I have everread.
I am going to admit to fastforwarding through those parts
on the audio so I can't like Iheard it enough, but I didn't
hear everything.
Um, yeah, it was a lot, butjust make sure that if you want
(12:03):
to read this book, you reallyread the trigger warnings before
you pick it up.
So the trigger warnings theyare more than one page and if
you decide that you're that youlike actually want to read the
book, just make sure that youare actually ready to read this
book.
The trigger warnings Let me saythat one more time.
I sometimes forget to look atthe trigger warnings, but I'm
(12:24):
telling you you need to readthem all and make sure you're
good with it before you startthis book.
This is not my normal subgenre,dark romance.
You know this.
You listen to these episodesand that's why I'm not rating it
.
I don't have any other darkromances to compare it to and I
really wouldn't even know whereto begin.
And the cool thing about booksin general is that you try
different genres and sub genresand discover what your
preferences are.
(12:45):
That being said, I am not thetarget audience for this book.
I really thought that I couldhandle the graphic, descriptive
gore after reading so manythrillers, but uh holy, nope, I
could, I could not.
I.
I will admit that.
I mean there are just a lot ofthings that are done for shock
factor.
So just a warning it's going tobe super descriptive and gross,
(13:06):
and I mean dismembered bodyparts, chainsaws and things on
or around a dead body beingcompared to food.
So this is kind of like it's aweird comparison, but it just
seems like it is.
This is like Dexter meetsYou've Got Mail, only without
like actual emails, but theyhave a competition and they're
(13:27):
rivals and it just feels verysimilar to the spirit of You've
Got Mail and okay.
So overall with this book, wasthe writing strong, witty and
fun?
Yes, it definitely was.
Did the plot make sense and movethroughout the novel?
Yes, it did.
Does it have a kind of serialkiller magic?
(13:48):
Sure, it does.
This is actually going to havea film or TV adaptation, I can't
remember which.
I think maybe a film, and Iwill not be watching that.
The pictures in my head whilereading this book were enough,
and I don't know if I will readthe next book in the series
Leather and Lark, because rightnow I, like I just need I need a
little bit of a break from it.
(14:08):
But here is my plot synopsis soyou can decide if it is a book
for you.
So Sloane, nicknamed Blackbirdor the orb weaver by the police,
slash public that's her publicname is a serial killer.
Rowan, aka Butcher, is a serialkiller.
Rowan aka Butcher is also aserial killer who comes across
(14:29):
Sloane and helps her out of whatwe'll call a sticky situation.
They decide to start thiscompetition and meet once a year
to find their victim and dotheir thing.
They only kill other serialkillers that have hurt other
people in an effort to rid theworld of them, but they're also
messed up.
So it's not, you know,completely to save humanity.
(14:52):
Their equally dark parts havedriven them to become who they
are.
So who's going to win thecompetition?
Will sparks fly between the two, and will the killers that
they've hunted finally catch upto them?
Yeah, you're going to have toread to find out, but only if
you dare.
I'll end with this on this book.
So cookies and cream, ice creamused to be my favorite flavor
(15:18):
and I just don't know anymore.
The other day I had anopportunity to get cookies and
cream and I did not.
I couldn't do it.
Just don't ask me what's in theice cream.
Seriously don't ask.
But on a side note, kind oflike a little tangent, so I was
talking with my friend who sheloved this book she rereads it
all the time.
It's one of her favorites and Isaid something like um, we were
(15:42):
talking about what the icecream was and I said that I had
some guesses of, like, what itwas going to be and that all my
guesses were wrong.
And she was like, yeah, no, noone could guess what that was.
And honestly, it's true, um,and don't say that you have not
been warned, like I've warnedyou.
So overall I really liked thebook, but I don't want to
(16:06):
downplay the graphic nature ofthe book and I think that this
is either going to be liketotally your thing or totally
not your thing.
So I would only recommend it tospecific readers, but I don't
know that I would recommend itto just like anyone and everyone
.
So basically I like it, but I'msure that this is probably on
like the tamer side of darkromance and I think I'm just not
(16:27):
a dark romance reader, at leastright now, and that is okay.
So this was my one like forayinto dark romance and I will
probably not be going back for awhile, ok.
Next up is Just Don't Call MeYours by Heather Garvin.
So on a totally opposite plane,this is new adult romance,
which technically new adult is18 to 25, but some people say 18
(16:51):
to 30.
So I don't know, it's just kindof in that new adult, like
you're graduating, you're incollege, graduating college,
kind of starting your life off,kind of romances.
I gave this one five stars andthe spice level on this is, I
said, like a three and a half.
Maybe it's more like a three,three, three and a half, but it
is open door and wow, oh, wow,the way I flew through this book
(17:16):
.
Open door and wow, oh wow, theway I flew through this book.
Okay, I loved the pacing and itreally transported me back to
college and it's very relatableand I feel like it's maybe this
first book I would classify askind of almost like a spicier
Emma Lord.
It kind of just reminded me alittle bit of Begin Again, but
just spicier, because BeginAgain is closed door.
So Margo is adjusting to life asa college freshman, and it
(17:39):
doesn't help that she shares awall with a guy who insists on
playing his guitar at an ungodlyhour.
When she bangs on the door,she's greeted by a standoffish
Jackson, who is too cool to turndown his amp and practice
somewhere else.
This is the instigating eventthat sets off the animosity
between Margo and Jackson, andthey keep running into each
(18:00):
other and have a very specificreason that I don't want to
spoil.
That puts them in even closerforce proximity.
So will Margo survive freshmanyear?
Will Jackson make it to theband of his dreams, and will
Margo and Jackson ever come to atruce on their taste in music?
You're going to have to read tofind out.
This book just had me hookedfrom page one and it really
(18:23):
captured the angst and theenemies to lovers trope really,
really well.
There's some stuff that they dothat was just so funny and cute
.
I don't want to ruin it for you, but I kind of want to ruin it
for you, but I'm not Okay.
Uh, so music.
I promise I can string togethersentences today.
Uh, that was a little bit much,but music lovers are going to
(18:44):
appreciate this, because Jacksonand Margo have very passionate
discuss discussions about theirfavorite bands.
Um, and at the start of thebook they are polar opposites,
like polar opposites in theirmusic taste.
And the second book is actuallyout, and just came out recently
, and so this book the first oneit does end on a to be
(19:08):
continued.
So you're going to want to pickup the second book immediately.
They are both available onKindle Unlimited, the first and
the second.
The second book issubstantially spicier than the
first and the second.
The second book issubstantially spicier than the
first.
Also, letting you know that.
And then, yeah, I'm going tofly through heather garvin's
backlist.
I really enjoy her writing style.
It just kept me so entertainedthe entire time and I really
(19:29):
liked the pacing of this.
I thought it was just reallydifferent.
Like the music element made itdifferent and it just felt fun
and fresh and it reminded me ofbeing in college a little bit
and it I don't know.
I just really enjoyed it.
I got a kick out of it, I hadfun.
Next up we have Two Can Play byAli Hazelwood.
This is contemporary romance.
(19:50):
I gave it four stars and thespice level is your standard Ali
Hazelwood spice.
So this is open door.
According to Ali herself, thisis an audio only novella which
will be published on Spotify,and I got an advanced listener
copy, or ALC, on NetGalley, butit will be out to the public on
October 1st.
(20:11):
Here's the plot synopsis andthen I'll tell you more about it
.
I was shocked when I gotapproved for this on NetGalley,
by the way, but it's onlybecause it's through Spotify,
not through Berkeley, becauseBerkeley does not approve me for
anything on NetGalley.
Okay, here is my plot synopsis.
Viola and Jesse are video gameprogrammers at different indie
gaming houses that want to adapta beloved book series into a
(20:33):
third video game installment.
And Viola has a deep attachmentto the series and she is so
excited to work on the absoluteproject of a lifetime.
But the catch is that she hasto work with another company on
the project, and it just sohappens to be Jesse's company.
And not only does she have aninteresting past with Jesse
(20:53):
himself, but several members ofthe team have bad blood.
There's a lot of bad blood onthat team between them.
So when they have to go on asnowy team building retreat, all
chaos just breaks loose.
So will the teams learn to worktogether for the sake of the
game?
And, obviously, will somethinghappen between Viola and Jesse?
(21:13):
No, no, you gotta listen tofind out.
So I will start with the one conof this right now.
Okay, the narrator, since it'saudio, only she has this growl
it.
Yeah, it was kind of a lot forme, but, that being said, this
(21:36):
feels very similar to her otherSTEM series like the Love
Hypothesis, love on the Brain,love.
Theoretically this is verysimilar, only you know it has
video games, like it's centeredall around video games.
So I will say that one of themajor kind of like plot points
slash points of contentionbetween the FMC and the MMC,
(21:59):
which is the female maincharacter and the male main
character, is that it's similarto something in the love
hypothesis.
So it actually made it reallyeasy for me to guess it and it
was kind of predictable ifyou've read a lot of Allie
Hazelwood books before, which Ihave read all of Allie
Hazelwood's books.
So I kind of felt like I wasable to guess it pretty easily
(22:24):
and maybe it would have beenpredictable if you hadn't read
the Love Hypothesis.
So you're probably going toknow what's going to happen.
That being said, um, if it'smainly like I think you're going
to like this book, if you wantthe same cake in different
flavors, like what me and Paigewere talking about, you know,
with With the love hypothesis,with love on the brain, with
(22:45):
love theoretically, it's kind oflike you know that you're
getting cake like that is AliHazelwood's writing style,
you're just getting like avanilla cake, a chocolate cake,
a strawberry cake, just in aslightly different flavor, and I
honestly, I like that.
That's why I read Ali Hazelwood.
I love how she incorporatesSTEM and how she makes these
different topics interesting.
Am I that interested in videogames?
(23:05):
Yeah, not really.
But did I like listening to thisbook?
I did, I really enjoyed it and,like I said, it just felt like
some of her old stuff.
So if you, you know she's hadall of her like, okay, so it was
love hypothesis, then it waslove theoretically, I mean love
on the brain and then lovetheoretically, and then you know
(23:25):
we've had like check in mateand bride and not in love.
So if you were kind of wantingher to regress back into her
other kind of like STEM novels,then this is going to give you a
very similar feel, just withvideo games.
So just know that, going in, ifthat's not what you're looking
for, then you may not like this.
(23:46):
But if that is what you'relooking for which is what I was
looking for and I genuinelyenjoyed this because I just want
more Allie Hazelwood all of thetime then that's why I gave it
four stars, because I loved it.
Um, I, I couldn't.
I couldn't get over the voiceand there were just some things
that, like on audio sounds socheesy, so I felt like that kind
(24:07):
of kept taking me out of it.
But either way, I really loveAli Hazelwood style.
I loved it just, I guess,overall.
Oh, if I'm writing like, if Iknew that I was writing a
novella that was only gonna bein audio, I think I would almost
like play it back a bunch oftimes to make sure that
everything translates.
And for the most part it did.
It's just like I said, itseemed a little bit cheesy
(24:30):
hearing it on audio, but I don'tknow, that may have just been a
me thing, so it's not as if itwas bad.
Maybe I would even give it fourand a half stars, I don't know,
because I really, reallyenjoyed it and I wanted to keep
going.
So I would say it's either fourto four and a half stars I'm a
little bit undecided on that butI would say it's definitely
worth a listen.
If you haven't read any AliHazelwood at all and you're just
(24:53):
looking to kind of get into herbooks, I can actually see that
I could see that this might beone that you would like.
Um, I will say that I also like.
I will say that I also like thelow to love you novellas, so
that's another option if you arejust getting into.
Ultimately, I would recommendit for Ali Hazelwood fans or if
you're trying to dip your toesin Ali Hazelwood for the first
(25:15):
time.
I, of course, love the LoveHypothesis.
I think that one is my favoriteand honestly, Check and Mate is
my second favorite.
But if you're just determinedto do a novella, then this could
be a good option.
In the Loathe to Love younovellas there's one where
they're like in some kind oflike Arctic something and
(25:35):
they're two scientists andthat's the one that is my
favorite of those if you aredetermined to try a novella.
So just throwing that out there.
But I really enjoyed this one.
I thought it was fun.
It was unique with the videogames, but it had the Ali
Hazelwood that we know and love.
(25:55):
So if you want more Allie, thenyeah, I would listen to it.
Okay, next up is Powerless byLauren Roberts.
I know who am I.
I've actually been reading alot of fantasy lately.
Granted, it's more of YAfantasy, but it's still fantasy.
Either way.
(26:16):
I just stepped out of mycomfort zone and I have
continually started with fantasyAgain.
This is more like all of these.
All the fantasy books that I'vebeen reading are kind of more
on the like dystopian or urbanfantasy side.
I have not crossed over intohigh fantasy.
I will say I did buy A Court ofThorns and Roses because I've
had so many friends onBookstagram just beg me to read
(26:38):
it.
They're dying to have me readit.
So I bought it, but have I readit?
No, I have not read it yet.
So I bought it, but have I readit?
No, I have not read it yet.
You know, I just feel like Ineed to be ready to start a
series and like this is what'shappening with me right now.
During the Shatter Me series, Istarted it.
I didn't really realize it waslike six books plus novellas, or
is that with novellas, I don'tknow, I can't keep up.
(27:00):
There's so many books.
I'm on book four, but anywayit's.
Yeah, I don't have time forthis.
I don't have time for series.
I don't have time to keep upwith fantasy stuff.
I'm so tired at the end of theday that I can't really handle a
high fantasy.
So this book was easy tounderstand.
It's good for those that are alittle bit nervous to get into
true fantasy.
(27:20):
I think that obviously thisbook is very polarizing.
People either love it or theyhate it.
I can understand both sides.
Personally I loved it, but Iunderstand how maybe some people
like it isn't for them.
So this is going to be one ofthose recommendations that I'm
(27:42):
like.
I enjoyed it, but I have no ideaif you are going to.
So let me.
Let me give you the lowdown alittle bit more about powerless.
I'm sure you've seen the cover,I'm sure you've heard of it.
You've heard of Lauren Roberts,but here's a little bit more of
a dive into what it actually is.
This is why fantasy.
I gave this book five starsbecause I just enjoyed the ride.
You know, at a certain point,like books are supposed to be
(28:05):
fun, and if you enjoyed a bookthe entire time through, albeit
there might be some plot holesor some things that don't quite
make sense or maybe some writingthat could be improved.
But can we say that for mostbooks in general, if you're
reading for critique, you'realways going to find something,
and I really enjoyed the ride.
That was this book.
(28:25):
But I am not a high fantasyreader.
I don't read fantasy that often, so that also could have
something to do with it.
So if you do read fantasy a lot, I don't know, this may or may
not be for you.
Okay, so, like I said earlier,even though it gets labeled as
such, I don't believe that thisqualifies as romantic.
There's a key genre conventionand I can't tell you what it is
(28:48):
or why, because that wouldcompletely spoil it, but that's
what I'm saying.
So, also, I think this is likea one on the spice scale and it
would classify as clean byromance standards.
There's only kissing.
So you're good If you'reworried about like.
This is not.
This is not a court of thornsand roses or fourth wing.
I'm pretty sure both of thosehave um are open door, from what
(29:13):
I've been told, but if I'mwrong, I don't know, I have not
read them okay.
So, like I said, is this bookperfect?
No, there are a couple uh,writing and like just kind of
plot pitfalls, like, for example, um, they're eating dinner at
this one table and it soundslike they're.
I can't remember if it wasspecifically said, but it sounds
like the two characters, theFMC and the MMC, are seated like
(29:36):
somewhat apart and then,magically, they're able to like
hold a conversation with eachother, and I think it said
something like he whispered inher ear or something about him
being close, and I'm like wait aminute, did he teleport?
So there are a couple of thingslike that.
There are a couple of thingslike that.
So if that kind of stuff isgoing to bug you, then, I don't
know, this may not be for you.
Or if you think that you canget past it because the story is
(29:58):
really great, because the storyis really great, then this
could be for you.
There are a lot of similaritiesto the Hunger Games, like a lot,
like a lot, a lot.
Like when there is a deviationfrom something that happened in
the Hunger Games, I was likewait, but that's not how it is
in the Hunger Games.
And then I was like, oh wait,this is yeah, this is not the
Hunger Games.
So, just know, there are a lotof similarities.
(30:20):
It's just similar, like justsimilar general rules and stuff,
and I'm sure that even SuzanneCollins borrowed some of her
stuff from other people.
So it's more like the generalrules of the games in this book
are very, very similar to theHunger Games.
It's just not like total fightto the death, like that's.
(30:42):
Pretty much the biggestdifference is that, you know, in
the Hunger Games, of courseit's supposed to be fight to the
death, one winner.
This is not fight to the death,but you can totally die during
it, basically, and people will.
So that's a key difference.
But there are so manysimilarities to the Hunger Games
.
I've read the Hunger Games.
I've read Divergent, I've readthe Selection Series, I've read
(31:03):
Red Queen, read Harry Potter,read all, read all of them, read
a lot of the like general, uh,maze Runner, who's probably one
of my favorites, all those.
I've read all those and, yeah,there there are a lot of
similarities to the Hunger Games.
But, uh, keep in mind that thisis the author's debut novel and
so I like, I feel like I'vealmost just said bad things and
(31:25):
I'm not that just, you're goingto notice a lot of similarities,
so I would be mad if I didn'tknow that.
Going in, I was like, wait, whydoes this sound like the Hunger
Games?
Like it is going to be similar,but it's not exact.
Ok, so, like I said, this wasthe author's debut novel, but it
was so addicting, it was funand it was just a wild ride that
(31:47):
just kept me guessing and likefrantically flipping to the next
chapter.
I could not put this book down.
I could not put this book down,and I don't even read fantasy,
so it it grabbed me.
Um, and yes, just books thatI'm gonna give five stars to,
even though they aren'ttechnically perfect, because I
feel like if any author can makeme think about the characters
after I finish the book, canmake me constantly flip and just
(32:09):
say one more chapter every fiveseconds and just dive headfirst
into the second book in thisultimate trilogy.
They deserve the stars.
They deserve them, and so Ithink Lauren deserves the five
stars on this one.
I really enjoyed this book.
Um, keep in mind, so fearless,the last book in the trilogy
(32:31):
does not come in until April2025.
And Lauren loves a cliffhanger,and this is not like your
average cliffhanger.
This is like throws the bookoff the cliff.
With the cliffhanger kind ofcliffhanger.
You're going to have so manyquestions, so many questions.
It's going to leave you in areally bad spot.
(32:51):
You're going to want to throwthe book across the room.
That happens at the end ofPowerless.
I immediately picked up Reckless.
So buy them both at the sametime.
If you are going to start thisseries, just do yourself a favor
.
There's cliffhangers and thenthe cliffhanger on Reckless,
like I said, it's going to makeyou want to throw your book
across the room.
It is so incredibly frustrating.
It just it zigs and it zags andbe ready to want to know what
(33:17):
happens, and you're not going tobe able to until April.
So if you want to start theseries a little bit later, a
little bit closer to April, Iwould.
I don't know how I'm going tomake it.
Obviously, I'm going to have tomake it until April, but I
don't know how I'm going to dothat.
Um, and this is the final bookin the trilogy.
So how is she going to end itall up?
What's going to happen?
I don't know.
Well, actually, I do know shesaid a couple of things in
(33:39):
interviews, but I don't want tospoil them for you.
Also, there is a novella thatcomes with this powerful.
I have it, I just have not readit yet and it tells the novella
of a key character's storywhile Peyton is in is in the
palace and the games, stuff likethat.
(34:00):
So there's going to besomething.
It's a shocker towards the endof powerless.
You're really confused.
What's going on, why it'shappening?
Well, that novella is going toanswer your question, because it
feels like an unansweredquestion, but that novella will
answer it and that's all I cantell you on that.
So anyway, throwing all of thatout there, I feel like I've
(34:22):
talked about it forever.
But anyway, here is kind of thegeneral like plot synopsis that
I wrote up and this is hardbecause these fantasy books are
not easy to come up with plotsynopses for.
So OK, here it is.
Peyton is a thief who survivesday by day in the rough streets
of the loot and after she savesa prince, she's nominated for
(34:44):
the trials where contestantscompete in deadly challenges for
a chance at fame and fortune.
The prince one of the princes,the prince she saved, kai is a
skilled assassin for the king,known as the Enforcer.
He is also in the competitionand he must win the trials to
show his father, the king, thathe is up for the challenge as
(35:07):
enforcer, basically, and kind ofprove his worth.
Will the trials make them orbreak them, and can they survive
?
Read to find out.
So I left a lot of details outof that to not spoil anything.
I was trying to give you thegeneral gist.
But the banter and the enemiesto lovers in this book.
It was fantastic.
Some people say it's too much.
I say it's just right, I lovedit.
(35:28):
I loved it.
It was so fun.
It's like combining.
Again, it's kind of likecombining a fantasy, more of a
dystopian type fantasy, and thenlike a love story in there too.
So and the love story didn'tovershadow the fantasy, I felt
like there was enough fantasyand there was enough Love Story
to where one was notovershadowing the other, which
is not always the case in thesekind of books.
(35:49):
I didn't feel like the worldbuilding was super complicated.
There are several similarities,like I said, to the Hunger
Games.
So that might also be like,while I caught on quicker,
because I already remembered,like as I started reading, the
world building that went intothe Hunger Games.
So I don't know if that alsohappened, but anyway I would
(36:09):
recommend the book.
I liked Reckless, I think so.
Powerless is kind of.
When a lot of things arehappening.
Reckless may seem like there'snot as much action, but you need
the events in Reckless, thesecond book, to get you to where
you're going to be in thetrilogy, to end it all out in
Fearless.
So I liked Reckless.
(36:29):
I think it had a purpose.
The ending is wild.
You're not going to be able toguess it.
Insane, insane plot twist.
So just know, lauren's going togive you a plot twist every
single time, every single book.
So just just be ready.
But anyway, I would recommendthe book.
I thought it was good.
If you want to try thepowerless trilogy, only two
(36:52):
books are out maybe wait alittle bit closer to April, but
add it to your TBR.
I enjoyed it a lot.
Like a lot, a lot.
Okay, that's all I'll say aboutthat.
Next up is one of my no.
Next up is one of my no, myfavorite contemporary romance of
the year.
I think it actually somehowsurpassed the Wrong Commerce by
(37:14):
Catherine Senter.
Maybe I need to read both ofthese books, like back to back,
so I can validate that statement.
Honestly, I think that thatcould be a thing that I need to
do, but anyway, I can't believeI get to talk about it.
So this is the X-Vows byJessica Joyce, and this is
contemporary romance.
This is not a rom-com.
This is not a rom-com Repeat,not a rom-com.
(37:38):
Five stars for sure.
The spice level is like a fourout of five.
It's more, it's more, it's more, it's uh, it's open door.
I haven't read you with a viewin a while.
I'm rereading it right now, butI feel like it's spicier than
you with a view from my memory.
(38:00):
But it's generally kind of moreon par with Amy Lee, allie
Hazelwood and Alexa Martin.
So it's just kind of like,sprinkled throughout more than
some of the other books.
Like it's not super graphic.
It's definitely not TessaBailey or Elle Kennedy level.
So that's not what you're goingto get, but it is more than
(38:26):
some books, most books, a decentamount of books, books that
I've been reading yeah, it's,it's more so.
And if you have any questions,you can always go to the send us
a text message option on theshow notes of the podcast.
You can send me a text askingme more questions and I can let
you know, or you can DM me onInstagram.
I am at where I left off pod.
(38:48):
There you go, so you can alwaysask me questions.
I can give you more details ifthat's what you need to feel
comfortable.
I don't want there to be anykind of like spice jump scare,
because that's the worst, whenit's spicier than you would like
and you didn't realize thatuntil you're already in the book
.
So anyway, I get to talk aboutthis book some more.
(39:11):
So this episode would definitelynot be complete without me
gushing over Jessica Joyce'slatest book.
Her first book is you With AView, which is one of my
favorite books of all time, andthen she did release,
technically, a novella inbetween and it's called A Risk
we're Taking.
It happens around New Year's.
Claire and Connor are adorableand I would highly recommend it.
(39:33):
I loved it.
But we're going to call The ExVows her official sophomore
novel because you know the otherone was a novella.
So A Risk Worth Taking, thisone is her true like sophomore
novel.
So normally they say that youknow the sophomore novel is
impossible to follow.
Especially, you know, thesophomore novel is impossible to
follow, especially after afantastic debut, which she had a
(39:53):
fantastic debut.
But holy crap, jessica Joycedid it.
She did it.
This is my favorite romancenovel I've read this year, like
I already said, but I want tosay it again just so you know.
There's just something about it.
It's really just like avisceral experience and I feel
like the heart that she put intothis book.
You can just feel as you'reflipping the pages and this book
(40:15):
is going to be absolutely gutwrenching.
You're going to cry.
If you don't cry, I would besurprised.
I literally like I annotatedthis book and I have so many
page flags, so many page flagsyou can see how insane it looks
on Instagram.
I wrote annotations in themargins such as like cue the
waterworks.
Why am I still crying it?
(40:38):
There's a little plot twistsurprise, and I love when a
romance novel has a little plottwist in there.
And this has a little plottwist.
Surprise that I just said whatand everything tied together
perfectly.
I don't know how you would everguess the plot twist surprise
that I just said what andeverything tied together
perfectly.
I don't know how you would everguess the plot twist, but as
soon as it was revealed, Iinstantly thought of like it
just tied itself together, butnot in a way that you would ever
(40:59):
guess it.
So I loved that.
I loved everything, of course,but it's it's funny.
There's a lot of banter, butit's a little bit more of like a
gritty wit kind of banter.
Um, it's like Georgia, the maincharacter.
Her two best friends are guys.
So a majority of the people inthe book, um, are guys, and so
their banter is just a littlebit.
(41:19):
A little bit more sarcastic, alittle bit less like fluffy, I
would say.
And this was just like this wasamazing.
It was amazing.
I would not call this fluffy atall.
Like I said, there's more likesarcastic, witty banter and it
packs just more of kind of abite.
It's like less sugary, sweetand there is a lot of anguish
(41:40):
and tension throughout this book, a lot.
It is really sad, but reallygood but also really funny.
Only Jessica can like balanceall of these different emotions.
But before I tell you even more,I have to tell you the plot of
this novel.
So here's kind of my generalsynopsis.
So Georgia is best friends withAdam and Eli.
(42:07):
She has been best friends withAdam forever and I think like
middle school and then in highschool Eli was new and Georgia
like let herself into the houseand then ended up meeting Eli,
who she was instantly attractedto and was instantly attracted
to her.
He was the new kid.
So they all all three of themwent to the same high school.
(42:29):
They liked each other so muchthroughout but they were afraid
to ruin their friendship.
So George and Eli did not dateuntil college.
So then George and Eli date itsounded like, and they may.
She may have said itexpressively, but I can't
remember explicitly.
But I can't remember.
I think it was like later incollege that they started dating
.
And then Eli and Georgia, theyfinished college, they move out.
(42:52):
They actually moved to New Yorktogether and they are living
together and they break up.
And basically Georgia, georgiaand Eli have kind of like tried
to remain friends for Adam'ssake, because they love their
friendship, but it was a reallygut wrenching breakup for both
of them and they have a lot ofunresolved feelings.
(43:14):
So it's very hard for them toall be in the same room.
But then Adam is gettingmarried and there is a curse, so
he thinks on his wedding andeverything happens and basically
their venue burns down like aweek before the wedding and so
then Georgia and Eliaccidentally both volunteer and
have to go down alone to try tofix the wedding and basically
(43:36):
rebook everything.
They only have a venue at thispoint and, like everything else,
yeah, has kind of fallen, hasjust like crashed and burned.
So it's up to Eli and Georgiato put the pieces of Adam's
wedding back together and theygo alone to the vineyard and of
course, they have to worktogether.
So will sparks fly?
(43:58):
Will they be able to figure itout?
Will Eli, georgia and Adamremain the trio as they all
start kind of getting married,going off, growing up,
separating and all the stuffthat happens as you grow up from
your high school and collegefriends and start kind of living
your own separate lives?
There you go.
(44:19):
That was a really long plotsynopsis.
I'm sorry, once I got going Ijust got going, but I loved this
book.
It has a lot going for it inthe trying to put the wedding
back together.
Like Jessica's just really good.
I'm sorry I'm gushing about hersome more, but she's really
really good at having a sideplot that moves.
Like it doesn't feel like shestarted with the romance and
(44:41):
then just said OK, what randomside plot can I do to get the
characters together?
No, like she really thinks outthe side plot.
There's always something reallyhappening and really going on
to where you have that to lookforward to.
But then you also get likeheavy romance and heavy pining.
So I feel like romance readerswould really like this.
But I feel like Jessica Joyce ishonestly a really good author.
(45:03):
For those who are maybe alittle bit newer to romance and
want something, you know, with asubplot that's going to move to
, jessica's pacing is justreally next level.
I feel like every time I openup one of her books, like from
page one, I'm just hooked.
It's something about her pacingand just the way that she does
things.
It's so clever, it's so smart.
I just I can't say enough goodthings.
(45:25):
She's definitely one of myfavorite authors.
Like Catherine Sinter, sarahAdams and Jessica Joyce are
probably my three favoriteauthors.
There are a lot of authors thatare very close to that.
I could give you like a wholelong list of all the authors I
love, but anyway, jessica did afantastic job in this one, I
(45:47):
would say so.
It does have the second chanceromance trope because, like I
said, george and Eli datedpreviously, but I'm not a huge
fan of second chance romance.
I don't hate it, but I justdon't gravitate towards it like
in any way at all.
And this book honestly changedmy mind.
It is the best use of secondchance romance that I have read
(46:09):
so far ever.
If you also want another goodsecond chance romance, the rule
book by Sarah Adams is probablythe second best second chance
romance that I've read.
I've read some that are veryboring and I'm not into them.
So this, this changed my mind.
Thank you, jessica.
I think she can change my mindwith anything, um, any trope she
has.
(46:29):
I don't even almost look atwhat the trope is, because I
just know I'm going to like herbook, basically.
So you're going to laugh a lotand you're going to cry a lot,
but you're going to come out theother side changed for the
better.
So I would highly, highly,highly recommend the X-Files.
(46:50):
It was one of my favorite booksand again, if you felt like I
was gushing in this readingrecap, it's because I chose
these books specifically becauseI really enjoyed them.
I wanted to get the word outabout them and I need to talk
about more in the future.
I feel like I've almost beenlike reading faster than I can
write up and talk about them.
There are some amazing newauthors that I've discovered,
(47:11):
like Katie Bailey.
She is a closed door,self-published romance author.
I would highly recommend herbooks.
They are fantastic, especiallyif you like Sarah Adams.
She has that kind of flair, butmaybe with like a little bit
more humor, like it's her ownkind of special form of humor.
I really enjoy Katie Bailey.
Um, and I'm trying to think ofwho else I've discovered that I
haven't really gotten to talkabout while I'm reading the
(47:33):
shatter me series.
Oh, chelsea Curto Yep, face off.
I'm definitely going to talkabout in the future.
Oh my gosh, that was so good,so good.
So, anyway, if you haven'tchecked out Katie Bailey, if you
haven't checked out ChelseaCurto, do it.
Look them up.
(47:57):
Um, chelsea is very open doorand Katie is very closed door.
So if you read open door, go toChelsea.
If you read closed door, go toKatie.
And don't forget about Leah andCindy and every book I
mentioned in this episode aswell, because all of their books
are incredible mentioned inthis episode as well, because
all of their books areincredible.
So that is my reading recaptoday.
That's it for today on when ILeft Off a bookish podcast.
I will be joining you for morereading recaps, hopefully kind
(48:18):
of mix more in with the authorinterviews.
I have some amazing, exciting,so fun interviews that I still
can't believe that I got to doso.
Stay tuned for all of that anddon't forget if you want to see
what I am reading in real timereal real time then you can
always follow me on Instagram atwhereileftoffpod, and don't
(48:41):
forget to subscribe to thepodcast.
Leave a review and all thatother stuff.
It really does help.
Anyway, thank you for listeningand I'll see you next time.
Leave a review and all thatother stuff.
Um, it really does help.
Anyway, thank you for listeningand I'll see you next time.
I'm Kristen Bahls and you're listening to When I
Left Off A Bookish Podcast, andtoday I'm sharing my next
installment of the reading recapseries, and this episode is
almost all romance.
There are many differentsubgenres.
I do have one fantasy book.
Technically it's been calledRomantasy, but I don't think it
(00:32):
has one of the key tenets toclassify as that.
I can't tell you what it isbecause it's a spoiler.
So just know it's almost allromance, but a lot of different
subgenres, from dark romance tocontemporary to new adult and
then my one fantasy that issometimes called romantasy.
So stay tuned.
(00:52):
That is what you're getting inthis episode.
But first I wanted to give alittle bit of a writing update.
So at this moment in time Ihave a deadline with my editor
for January, as in I have tohave the whole book written and
it's gone through betas and I'vefixed, based on my betas
(01:17):
feedback, to go into my editorfor a copy in line edit.
I don't know how I'm going tofinish this book by January and
give my beta team time to readover it and give me
developmental feedback.
I may have to push this back.
She said I could push it backwithout penalty.
I may be doing that.
It's like you try to giveyourself a deadline, but then
(01:40):
it's just life gets in the way,and life has really gotten in
the way lately.
I normally wake up like 30minutes earlier now and I come
in before work and I have 30minutes to write and I do that
before I start my day and that'sall the writing time I get.
(02:00):
Every once in a while I'll workon it on the weekends, but it's
mainly that writing time.
It's a lot.
I'm getting closer to 40,000words, which is like roughly,
this is not actually what itwill be because you know, with
like formatting and everything,it would change, but it's like
about 140 unformatted pages.
So I am getting closer.
(02:21):
It needs to be 300, I amgetting closer, it needs to be
300, which I in all my researchsaid was about 60,000 words, I
believe.
Maybe it's more, like 250 is60,000.
That kind of makes more sense.
Anyway, I was really justtrying to get to 60,000 for this
cozy mystery and I'm almost at40,000.
So you're thinking like only20,000 words.
But, like I said, life hasgotten in the way it's happening
(02:43):
.
I mean life has gotten in theway it's happening.
I mean I'm making it happen.
I really enjoy writing every day.
It's super fun to get to beable to do it and my mystery's
happening.
I got to write a red herringthe other day, which was so much
fun.
And the mystery's happening,the romance is happening.
It is a cozy mystery with aromance B plot, so there is a
lot of romance tied up in there.
(03:04):
So right now the romance isreally romancing because that
storyline is kind of coming to atension point and then the
mystery is starting to unravel alittle bit more.
So there's red herrings comingin and then, of course, I'm
trying to keep the integrity ofmaking it also about two
teachers and keeping stuff abouttheir teachings.
So it's, you know it's aninteresting balance, but I
(03:25):
really do like it and I thinkI'm liking it even more.
Of course I'm sure that it'sgoing to go through a million
rounds of edits, but yeah,that's kind of where I'm at on
the whole writing section.
We'll see if I can meet thisJanuary deadline.
I will probably be pushing itback.
Now, getting in to what we'regoing to be talking about today,
I first have to do a readingrec.
(03:46):
And don't forget, reading recsare where authors and readers
alike can send in voice memosrecommending books to you, the
listeners, and I wanted toinclude her rec because I think
(04:06):
it's always interesting wheneverauthors can kind of talk about
their own book, and I can tellyou it is a good, twisty, crazy
ride of a thriller, sodefinitely add it to your TBR.
This is Davina.
Davina Reddic (04:15):
Hey, Where I Left Off listeners.
My name is Davina Reddic and Iam the author of The Awakening.
What Lies Inside?
And this is my reading rack?
The Awakening is a psychologicalthriller that is very twisty, a
little dark and, I want to say,immersive.
(04:36):
It's been written in such a waythat I want you to feel all the
feels of our narrator.
You will find yourself confusedall the feels of our narrator.
You will find yourself confused, you'll find yourself
frustrated, and I mean you won'tbe alone, because that's
exactly what she is.
The story follows the memoriesand thoughts of our narrator,
(04:57):
who we don't get to meet until alittle further into the book.
And while we're going throughall the motions with her, we
kind of find out that she isn'tas reliable a source of
information as she portraysherself to be, and I think
(05:17):
that's a really fun aspect ofthis story.
It leaves you wanting to trusther but questioning if you
really should.
There's a lot of mental healthhere, the treatment of mental
health, the acknowledgement ofsuch issues and the importance
of reaching out.
(05:38):
There's also talk of marriagewoes and mommy and daddy issues,
so there's a lot to unpack withthis narrator.
There is an author note in thebeginning of my book.
I think it's really importantfor readers to know what they're
getting into here before theyget into it.
It's important for me to betransparent.
(06:00):
I never want to offend ortrigger anyone and potentially
lose a future reader.
So if you do decide to give theAwakening a chance, please read
the author note first.
I will end my rec by sayingthat this is a quick
(06:21):
in-your-face, you know, straight, gut-punching psychological
thriller and I do not think ournarrator, our female main
character, will disappoint youone bit.
Kristen Bahls (06:36):
So good.
Like I said, it's crazy, it'swild, the Awakening, What Lies
Inside.
Like you, you are going to beconfused for about like I don't
know, probably 70% of the noveland you're going to like it
because eventually everythingstarts to make sense and about
the time it starts making sense,everything goes down and it's
(06:57):
crazy.
So, anyway, if you want toreally like mind bending kind of
thriller, this, this isdefinitely the one to pick up.
It is available on KindleUnlimited and I will have it
linked down in the show noteswith the other books I'm talking
about today.
Let's get into the books.
Let's officially get into thebooks.
First up, I am talking aboutFunny Story by Emily Henry.
(07:18):
This is a contemporary romancenovel.
It is.
I rate it at five stars and Iwould say it's maybe like a two
of five.
On the Spice scale.
It was like a two.
I felt like it was similar-ishin Spice to like an Ashley
Poston, an Abby Jimenez, notquite like an Alexa Martin and
(07:41):
Amy Lea or an Allie Hazelwoodlevel.
So basically, what I'm sayingis it's somewhat tame.
It's not very descriptive, andit is.
It is open door though.
So I feel like it's reallystupid to point out that the
writing of this book is welldone.
I mean it kind of feels likesaying like Steven Spielberg's a
talented director, it's Emhen.
We know that the writing isgood.
(08:02):
That said, I did DNF HappyPlace, her last book, and this
is the first time that I've readone of her novels throughout
all the way through.
But don't worry, I already havebook lovers the people we meet
on vacation and Beach Read on myshelf.
So I will be reading throughthe classics at some point.
(08:24):
I think that funny story justultimately packed the punch that
I was missing from what I readof Happy Place, and this one was
just so much more up my alley.
So all that to say also is ifyou have an author that maybe
you don't love one of theirbooks, try, try again.
Their writing style is alwayschanging.
They're always growing.
(08:44):
Maybe it's just the plot or thecharacter of that specific book
that you didn't love.
So I'm all for giving authorsmultiple chances and trying
multiple books before I decideokay, maybe they're just not for
me.
I originally picked up this bookwhen I wanted a fluffy rom-com
and I am so glad that I put itdown and picked it back up later
.
This is not fluffy, it has gritand sadness and the main
(09:08):
characters are understandablywrecked in the beginning of this
novel.
So what I'm saying is beprepared.
Let me give you my short littleplot synopsis and then I'll go
into a little bit more of thespecifics.
So Daphne and Miles areroommates who have both hit an
all-time low.
When all by myself is blaringin their apartment, you kind of
(09:29):
feel like they've earned amoping session.
So the long and the short of itis, daphne and Peter were
engaged until Petra, peter'ssupposedly platonic and
beautiful childhood slash bestwoman, confesses her love for
him.
Childhood slash best womanconfesses her love for him.
Daphne moved her entire life tobe with Peter and has nowhere
(09:50):
to go.
When he calls off their wedding, daphne ends up moving in with
Moles, petra's now ex-boyfriend.
They form a kinship as they putthe pieces of their lives back
together and figure out who theyare without their significant
others.
The title gives this book awayand it is romance with an
inevitable HEA or happily everafter.
(10:10):
So this is the definition ofwhat Catherine Sinter describes
when she says happy endings arenot spoilers but something to
look forward to.
You know they're going to fallin love, but it was quirky, it
was raw, hilarious and thebanter was an A+.
And I loved Daphne and Milesand I found it really easy to
(10:33):
relate to Daphne.
I was just absolutely charmedby this book and I would say
that it is similar toCatherine's center and that the
characters don't just arrive attheir happy endings.
They put in the work andthey're going to go through a
lot of crap to get there.
And even though Daphne andMiles were the main characters,
I actually really appreciatedthe B plot with Daphne and
(10:56):
Ashley and it really touched ontheir friendship and just kind
of how tough it is to makefriends as an adult and just
kind of how tough it is to makefriends as an adult.
And their banter between Ashleyand Daphne is almost just as
fun as with Miles and Daphne andI just laughed so many times
while reading this book.
So whether you're unsure aboutEmily Henry or you're a devoted
(11:19):
fan, I would recommend this bookeither way.
I thought it was really goodNext up.
I'm like already laughingbefore I even get into this book
.
Either way, I thought it wasreally good Next up.
I'm like already laughingbefore I even get into this book
.
Okay, this is ButcheredBlackbird by Brynn Weaver.
This is dark romance.
I actually am not going to ratethe book and I'll tell you why
(11:40):
in a second, but this is thespiciest book I have ever read.
This is off the spice scalechart.
It's the spiciest I have everread.
I am going to admit to fastforwarding through those parts
on the audio so I can't like Iheard it enough, but I didn't
hear everything.
Um, yeah, it was a lot, butjust make sure that if you want
(12:03):
to read this book, you reallyread the trigger warnings before
you pick it up.
So the trigger warnings theyare more than one page and if
you decide that you're that youlike actually want to read the
book, just make sure that youare actually ready to read this
book.
The trigger warnings Let me saythat one more time.
I sometimes forget to look atthe trigger warnings, but I'm
(12:24):
telling you you need to readthem all and make sure you're
good with it before you startthis book.
This is not my normal subgenre,dark romance.
You know this.
You listen to these episodesand that's why I'm not rating it
.
I don't have any other darkromances to compare it to and I
really wouldn't even know whereto begin.
And the cool thing about booksin general is that you try
different genres and sub genresand discover what your
preferences are.
(12:45):
That being said, I am not thetarget audience for this book.
I really thought that I couldhandle the graphic, descriptive
gore after reading so manythrillers, but uh holy, nope, I
could, I could not.
I.
I will admit that.
I mean there are just a lot ofthings that are done for shock
factor.
So just a warning it's going tobe super descriptive and gross,
(13:06):
and I mean dismembered bodyparts, chainsaws and things on
or around a dead body beingcompared to food.
So this is kind of like it's aweird comparison, but it just
seems like it is.
This is like Dexter meetsYou've Got Mail, only without
like actual emails, but theyhave a competition and they're
(13:27):
rivals and it just feels verysimilar to the spirit of You've
Got Mail and okay.
So overall with this book, wasthe writing strong, witty and
fun?
Yes, it definitely was.
Did the plot make sense and movethroughout the novel?
Yes, it did.
Does it have a kind of serialkiller magic?
(13:48):
Sure, it does.
This is actually going to havea film or TV adaptation, I can't
remember which.
I think maybe a film, and Iwill not be watching that.
The pictures in my head whilereading this book were enough,
and I don't know if I will readthe next book in the series
Leather and Lark, because rightnow I, like I just need I need a
little bit of a break from it.
(14:08):
But here is my plot synopsis soyou can decide if it is a book
for you.
So Sloane, nicknamed Blackbirdor the orb weaver by the police,
slash public that's her publicname is a serial killer.
Rowan, aka Butcher, is a serialkiller.
Rowan aka Butcher is also aserial killer who comes across
(14:29):
Sloane and helps her out of whatwe'll call a sticky situation.
They decide to start thiscompetition and meet once a year
to find their victim and dotheir thing.
They only kill other serialkillers that have hurt other
people in an effort to rid theworld of them, but they're also
messed up.
So it's not, you know,completely to save humanity.
(14:52):
Their equally dark parts havedriven them to become who they
are.
So who's going to win thecompetition?
Will sparks fly between the two, and will the killers that
they've hunted finally catch upto them?
Yeah, you're going to have toread to find out, but only if
you dare.
I'll end with this on this book.
So cookies and cream, ice creamused to be my favorite flavor
(15:18):
and I just don't know anymore.
The other day I had anopportunity to get cookies and
cream and I did not.
I couldn't do it.
Just don't ask me what's in theice cream.
Seriously don't ask.
But on a side note, kind oflike a little tangent, so I was
talking with my friend who sheloved this book she rereads it
all the time.
It's one of her favorites and Isaid something like um, we were
(15:42):
talking about what the icecream was and I said that I had
some guesses of, like, what itwas going to be and that all my
guesses were wrong.
And she was like, yeah, no, noone could guess what that was.
And honestly, it's true, um,and don't say that you have not
been warned, like I've warnedyou.
So overall I really liked thebook, but I don't want to
(16:06):
downplay the graphic nature ofthe book and I think that this
is either going to be liketotally your thing or totally
not your thing.
So I would only recommend it tospecific readers, but I don't
know that I would recommend itto just like anyone and everyone
.
So basically I like it, but I'msure that this is probably on
like the tamer side of darkromance and I think I'm just not
(16:27):
a dark romance reader, at leastright now, and that is okay.
So this was my one like forayinto dark romance and I will
probably not be going back for awhile, ok.
Next up is Just Don't Call MeYours by Heather Garvin.
So on a totally opposite plane,this is new adult romance,
which technically new adult is18 to 25, but some people say 18
(16:51):
to 30.
So I don't know, it's just kindof in that new adult, like
you're graduating, you're incollege, graduating college,
kind of starting your life off,kind of romances.
I gave this one five stars andthe spice level on this is, I
said, like a three and a half.
Maybe it's more like a three,three, three and a half, but it
is open door and wow, oh, wow,the way I flew through this book
(17:16):
.
Open door and wow, oh wow, theway I flew through this book.
Okay, I loved the pacing and itreally transported me back to
college and it's very relatableand I feel like it's maybe this
first book I would classify askind of almost like a spicier
Emma Lord.
It kind of just reminded me alittle bit of Begin Again, but
just spicier, because BeginAgain is closed door.
So Margo is adjusting to life asa college freshman, and it
(17:39):
doesn't help that she shares awall with a guy who insists on
playing his guitar at an ungodlyhour.
When she bangs on the door,she's greeted by a standoffish
Jackson, who is too cool to turndown his amp and practice
somewhere else.
This is the instigating eventthat sets off the animosity
between Margo and Jackson, andthey keep running into each
(18:00):
other and have a very specificreason that I don't want to
spoil.
That puts them in even closerforce proximity.
So will Margo survive freshmanyear?
Will Jackson make it to theband of his dreams, and will
Margo and Jackson ever come to atruce on their taste in music?
You're going to have to read tofind out.
This book just had me hookedfrom page one and it really
(18:23):
captured the angst and theenemies to lovers trope really,
really well.
There's some stuff that they dothat was just so funny and cute
.
I don't want to ruin it for you, but I kind of want to ruin it
for you, but I'm not Okay.
Uh, so music.
I promise I can string togethersentences today.
Uh, that was a little bit much,but music lovers are going to
(18:44):
appreciate this, because Jacksonand Margo have very passionate
discuss discussions about theirfavorite bands.
Um, and at the start of thebook they are polar opposites,
like polar opposites in theirmusic taste.
And the second book is actuallyout, and just came out recently
, and so this book the first oneit does end on a to be
(19:08):
continued.
So you're going to want to pickup the second book immediately.
They are both available onKindle Unlimited, the first and
the second.
The second book issubstantially spicier than the
first and the second.
The second book issubstantially spicier than the
first.
Also, letting you know that.
And then, yeah, I'm going tofly through heather garvin's
backlist.
I really enjoy her writing style.
It just kept me so entertainedthe entire time and I really
(19:29):
liked the pacing of this.
I thought it was just reallydifferent.
Like the music element made itdifferent and it just felt fun
and fresh and it reminded me ofbeing in college a little bit
and it I don't know.
I just really enjoyed it.
I got a kick out of it, I hadfun.
Next up we have Two Can Play byAli Hazelwood.
This is contemporary romance.
(19:50):
I gave it four stars and thespice level is your standard Ali
Hazelwood spice.
So this is open door.
According to Ali herself, thisis an audio only novella which
will be published on Spotify,and I got an advanced listener
copy, or ALC, on NetGalley, butit will be out to the public on
October 1st.
(20:11):
Here's the plot synopsis andthen I'll tell you more about it
.
I was shocked when I gotapproved for this on NetGalley,
by the way, but it's onlybecause it's through Spotify,
not through Berkeley, becauseBerkeley does not approve me for
anything on NetGalley.
Okay, here is my plot synopsis.
Viola and Jesse are video gameprogrammers at different indie
gaming houses that want to adapta beloved book series into a
(20:33):
third video game installment.
And Viola has a deep attachmentto the series and she is so
excited to work on the absoluteproject of a lifetime.
But the catch is that she hasto work with another company on
the project, and it just sohappens to be Jesse's company.
And not only does she have aninteresting past with Jesse
(20:53):
himself, but several members ofthe team have bad blood.
There's a lot of bad blood onthat team between them.
So when they have to go on asnowy team building retreat, all
chaos just breaks loose.
So will the teams learn to worktogether for the sake of the
game?
And, obviously, will somethinghappen between Viola and Jesse?
(21:13):
No, no, you gotta listen tofind out.
So I will start with the one conof this right now.
Okay, the narrator, since it'saudio, only she has this growl
it.
Yeah, it was kind of a lot forme, but, that being said, this
(21:36):
feels very similar to her otherSTEM series like the Love
Hypothesis, love on the Brain,love.
Theoretically this is verysimilar, only you know it has
video games, like it's centeredall around video games.
So I will say that one of themajor kind of like plot points
slash points of contentionbetween the FMC and the MMC,
(21:59):
which is the female maincharacter and the male main
character, is that it's similarto something in the love
hypothesis.
So it actually made it reallyeasy for me to guess it and it
was kind of predictable ifyou've read a lot of Allie
Hazelwood books before, which Ihave read all of Allie
Hazelwood's books.
So I kind of felt like I wasable to guess it pretty easily
(22:24):
and maybe it would have beenpredictable if you hadn't read
the Love Hypothesis.
So you're probably going toknow what's going to happen.
That being said, um, if it'smainly like I think you're going
to like this book, if you wantthe same cake in different
flavors, like what me and Paigewere talking about, you know,
with With the love hypothesis,with love on the brain, with
(22:45):
love theoretically, it's kind oflike you know that you're
getting cake like that is AliHazelwood's writing style,
you're just getting like avanilla cake, a chocolate cake,
a strawberry cake, just in aslightly different flavor, and I
honestly, I like that.
That's why I read Ali Hazelwood.
I love how she incorporatesSTEM and how she makes these
different topics interesting.
Am I that interested in videogames?
(23:05):
Yeah, not really.
But did I like listening to thisbook?
I did, I really enjoyed it and,like I said, it just felt like
some of her old stuff.
So if you, you know she's hadall of her like, okay, so it was
love hypothesis, then it waslove theoretically, I mean love
on the brain and then lovetheoretically, and then you know
(23:25):
we've had like check in mateand bride and not in love.
So if you were kind of wantingher to regress back into her
other kind of like STEM novels,then this is going to give you a
very similar feel, just withvideo games.
So just know that, going in, ifthat's not what you're looking
for, then you may not like this.
(23:46):
But if that is what you'relooking for which is what I was
looking for and I genuinelyenjoyed this because I just want
more Allie Hazelwood all of thetime then that's why I gave it
four stars, because I loved it.
Um, I, I couldn't.
I couldn't get over the voiceand there were just some things
that, like on audio sounds socheesy, so I felt like that kind
(24:07):
of kept taking me out of it.
But either way, I really loveAli Hazelwood style.
I loved it just, I guess,overall.
Oh, if I'm writing like, if Iknew that I was writing a
novella that was only gonna bein audio, I think I would almost
like play it back a bunch oftimes to make sure that
everything translates.
And for the most part it did.
It's just like I said, itseemed a little bit cheesy
(24:30):
hearing it on audio, but I don'tknow, that may have just been a
me thing, so it's not as if itwas bad.
Maybe I would even give it fourand a half stars, I don't know,
because I really, reallyenjoyed it and I wanted to keep
going.
So I would say it's either fourto four and a half stars I'm a
little bit undecided on that butI would say it's definitely
worth a listen.
If you haven't read any AliHazelwood at all and you're just
(24:53):
looking to kind of get into herbooks, I can actually see that
I could see that this might beone that you would like.
Um, I will say that I also like.
I will say that I also like thelow to love you novellas, so
that's another option if you arejust getting into.
Ultimately, I would recommendit for Ali Hazelwood fans or if
you're trying to dip your toesin Ali Hazelwood for the first
(25:15):
time.
I, of course, love the LoveHypothesis.
I think that one is my favoriteand honestly, Check and Mate is
my second favorite.
But if you're just determinedto do a novella, then this could
be a good option.
In the Loathe to Love younovellas there's one where
they're like in some kind oflike Arctic something and
(25:35):
they're two scientists andthat's the one that is my
favorite of those if you aredetermined to try a novella.
So just throwing that out there.
But I really enjoyed this one.
I thought it was fun.
It was unique with the videogames, but it had the Ali
Hazelwood that we know and love.
(25:55):
So if you want more Allie, thenyeah, I would listen to it.
Okay, next up is Powerless byLauren Roberts.
I know who am I.
I've actually been reading alot of fantasy lately.
Granted, it's more of YAfantasy, but it's still fantasy.
Either way.
(26:16):
I just stepped out of mycomfort zone and I have
continually started with fantasyAgain.
This is more like all of these.
All the fantasy books that I'vebeen reading are kind of more
on the like dystopian or urbanfantasy side.
I have not crossed over intohigh fantasy.
I will say I did buy A Court ofThorns and Roses because I've
had so many friends onBookstagram just beg me to read
(26:38):
it.
They're dying to have me readit.
So I bought it, but have I readit?
No, I have not read it yet.
So I bought it, but have I readit?
No, I have not read it yet.
You know, I just feel like Ineed to be ready to start a
series and like this is what'shappening with me right now.
During the Shatter Me series, Istarted it.
I didn't really realize it waslike six books plus novellas, or
is that with novellas, I don'tknow, I can't keep up.
(27:00):
There's so many books.
I'm on book four, but anywayit's.
Yeah, I don't have time forthis.
I don't have time for series.
I don't have time to keep upwith fantasy stuff.
I'm so tired at the end of theday that I can't really handle a
high fantasy.
So this book was easy tounderstand.
It's good for those that are alittle bit nervous to get into
true fantasy.
(27:20):
I think that obviously thisbook is very polarizing.
People either love it or theyhate it.
I can understand both sides.
Personally I loved it, but Iunderstand how maybe some people
like it isn't for them.
So this is going to be one ofthose recommendations that I'm
(27:42):
like.
I enjoyed it, but I have no ideaif you are going to.
So let me.
Let me give you the lowdown alittle bit more about powerless.
I'm sure you've seen the cover,I'm sure you've heard of it.
You've heard of Lauren Roberts,but here's a little bit more of
a dive into what it actually is.
This is why fantasy.
I gave this book five starsbecause I just enjoyed the ride.
You know, at a certain point,like books are supposed to be
(28:05):
fun, and if you enjoyed a bookthe entire time through, albeit
there might be some plot holesor some things that don't quite
make sense or maybe some writingthat could be improved.
But can we say that for mostbooks in general, if you're
reading for critique, you'realways going to find something,
and I really enjoyed the ride.
That was this book.
(28:25):
But I am not a high fantasyreader.
I don't read fantasy that often, so that also could have
something to do with it.
So if you do read fantasy a lot, I don't know, this may or may
not be for you.
Okay, so, like I said earlier,even though it gets labeled as
such, I don't believe that thisqualifies as romantic.
There's a key genre conventionand I can't tell you what it is
(28:48):
or why, because that wouldcompletely spoil it, but that's
what I'm saying.
So, also, I think this is likea one on the spice scale and it
would classify as clean byromance standards.
There's only kissing.
So you're good If you'reworried about like.
This is not.
This is not a court of thornsand roses or fourth wing.
I'm pretty sure both of thosehave um are open door, from what
(29:13):
I've been told, but if I'mwrong, I don't know, I have not
read them okay.
So, like I said, is this bookperfect?
No, there are a couple uh,writing and like just kind of
plot pitfalls, like, for example, um, they're eating dinner at
this one table and it soundslike they're.
I can't remember if it wasspecifically said, but it sounds
like the two characters, theFMC and the MMC, are seated like
(29:36):
somewhat apart and then,magically, they're able to like
hold a conversation with eachother, and I think it said
something like he whispered inher ear or something about him
being close, and I'm like wait aminute, did he teleport?
So there are a couple of thingslike that.
There are a couple of thingslike that.
So if that kind of stuff isgoing to bug you, then, I don't
know, this may not be for you.
Or if you think that you canget past it because the story is
(29:58):
really great, because the storyis really great, then this
could be for you.
There are a lot of similaritiesto the Hunger Games, like a lot,
like a lot, a lot.
Like when there is a deviationfrom something that happened in
the Hunger Games, I was likewait, but that's not how it is
in the Hunger Games.
And then I was like, oh wait,this is yeah, this is not the
Hunger Games.
So, just know, there are a lotof similarities.
(30:20):
It's just similar, like justsimilar general rules and stuff,
and I'm sure that even SuzanneCollins borrowed some of her
stuff from other people.
So it's more like the generalrules of the games in this book
are very, very similar to theHunger Games.
It's just not like total fightto the death, like that's.
(30:42):
Pretty much the biggestdifference is that, you know, in
the Hunger Games, of courseit's supposed to be fight to the
death, one winner.
This is not fight to the death,but you can totally die during
it, basically, and people will.
So that's a key difference.
But there are so manysimilarities to the Hunger Games
.
I've read the Hunger Games.
I've read Divergent, I've readthe Selection Series, I've read
(31:03):
Red Queen, read Harry Potter,read all, read all of them, read
a lot of the like general, uh,maze Runner, who's probably one
of my favorites, all those.
I've read all those and, yeah,there there are a lot of
similarities to the Hunger Games.
But, uh, keep in mind that thisis the author's debut novel and
so I like, I feel like I'vealmost just said bad things and
(31:25):
I'm not that just, you're goingto notice a lot of similarities,
so I would be mad if I didn'tknow that.
Going in, I was like, wait, whydoes this sound like the Hunger
Games?
Like it is going to be similar,but it's not exact.
Ok, so, like I said, this wasthe author's debut novel, but it
was so addicting, it was funand it was just a wild ride that
(31:47):
just kept me guessing and likefrantically flipping to the next
chapter.
I could not put this book down.
I could not put this book down,and I don't even read fantasy,
so it it grabbed me.
Um, and yes, just books thatI'm gonna give five stars to,
even though they aren'ttechnically perfect, because I
feel like if any author can makeme think about the characters
after I finish the book, canmake me constantly flip and just
(32:09):
say one more chapter every fiveseconds and just dive headfirst
into the second book in thisultimate trilogy.
They deserve the stars.
They deserve them, and so Ithink Lauren deserves the five
stars on this one.
I really enjoyed this book.
Um, keep in mind, so fearless,the last book in the trilogy
(32:31):
does not come in until April2025.
And Lauren loves a cliffhanger,and this is not like your
average cliffhanger.
This is like throws the bookoff the cliff.
With the cliffhanger kind ofcliffhanger.
You're going to have so manyquestions, so many questions.
It's going to leave you in areally bad spot.
(32:51):
You're going to want to throwthe book across the room.
That happens at the end ofPowerless.
I immediately picked up Reckless.
So buy them both at the sametime.
If you are going to start thisseries, just do yourself a favor
.
There's cliffhangers and thenthe cliffhanger on Reckless,
like I said, it's going to makeyou want to throw your book
across the room.
It is so incredibly frustrating.
It just it zigs and it zags andbe ready to want to know what
(33:17):
happens, and you're not going tobe able to until April.
So if you want to start theseries a little bit later, a
little bit closer to April, Iwould.
I don't know how I'm going tomake it.
Obviously, I'm going to have tomake it until April, but I
don't know how I'm going to dothat.
Um, and this is the final bookin the trilogy.
So how is she going to end itall up?
What's going to happen?
I don't know.
Well, actually, I do know shesaid a couple of things in
(33:39):
interviews, but I don't want tospoil them for you.
Also, there is a novella thatcomes with this powerful.
I have it, I just have not readit yet and it tells the novella
of a key character's storywhile Peyton is in is in the
palace and the games, stuff likethat.
(34:00):
So there's going to besomething.
It's a shocker towards the endof powerless.
You're really confused.
What's going on, why it'shappening?
Well, that novella is going toanswer your question, because it
feels like an unansweredquestion, but that novella will
answer it and that's all I cantell you on that.
So anyway, throwing all of thatout there, I feel like I've
(34:22):
talked about it forever.
But anyway, here is kind of thegeneral like plot synopsis that
I wrote up and this is hardbecause these fantasy books are
not easy to come up with plotsynopses for.
So OK, here it is.
Peyton is a thief who survivesday by day in the rough streets
of the loot and after she savesa prince, she's nominated for
(34:44):
the trials where contestantscompete in deadly challenges for
a chance at fame and fortune.
The prince one of the princes,the prince she saved, kai is a
skilled assassin for the king,known as the Enforcer.
He is also in the competitionand he must win the trials to
show his father, the king, thathe is up for the challenge as
(35:07):
enforcer, basically, and kind ofprove his worth.
Will the trials make them orbreak them, and can they survive
?
Read to find out.
So I left a lot of details outof that to not spoil anything.
I was trying to give you thegeneral gist.
But the banter and the enemiesto lovers in this book.
It was fantastic.
Some people say it's too much.
I say it's just right, I lovedit.
(35:28):
I loved it.
It was so fun.
It's like combining.
Again, it's kind of likecombining a fantasy, more of a
dystopian type fantasy, and thenlike a love story in there too.
So and the love story didn'tovershadow the fantasy, I felt
like there was enough fantasyand there was enough Love Story
to where one was notovershadowing the other, which
is not always the case in thesekind of books.
(35:49):
I didn't feel like the worldbuilding was super complicated.
There are several similarities,like I said, to the Hunger
Games.
So that might also be like,while I caught on quicker,
because I already remembered,like as I started reading, the
world building that went intothe Hunger Games.
So I don't know if that alsohappened, but anyway I would
(36:09):
recommend the book.
I liked Reckless, I think so.
Powerless is kind of.
When a lot of things arehappening.
Reckless may seem like there'snot as much action, but you need
the events in Reckless, thesecond book, to get you to where
you're going to be in thetrilogy, to end it all out in
Fearless.
So I liked Reckless.
(36:29):
I think it had a purpose.
The ending is wild.
You're not going to be able toguess it.
Insane, insane plot twist.
So just know, lauren's going togive you a plot twist every
single time, every single book.
So just just be ready.
But anyway, I would recommendthe book.
I thought it was good.
If you want to try thepowerless trilogy, only two
(36:52):
books are out maybe wait alittle bit closer to April, but
add it to your TBR.
I enjoyed it a lot.
Like a lot, a lot.
Okay, that's all I'll say aboutthat.
Next up is one of my no.
Next up is one of my no, myfavorite contemporary romance of
the year.
I think it actually somehowsurpassed the Wrong Commerce by
(37:14):
Catherine Senter.
Maybe I need to read both ofthese books, like back to back,
so I can validate that statement.
Honestly, I think that thatcould be a thing that I need to
do, but anyway, I can't believeI get to talk about it.
So this is the X-Vows byJessica Joyce, and this is
contemporary romance.
This is not a rom-com.
This is not a rom-com Repeat,not a rom-com.
(37:38):
Five stars for sure.
The spice level is like a fourout of five.
It's more, it's more, it's more, it's uh, it's open door.
I haven't read you with a viewin a while.
I'm rereading it right now, butI feel like it's spicier than
you with a view from my memory.
(38:00):
But it's generally kind of moreon par with Amy Lee, allie
Hazelwood and Alexa Martin.
So it's just kind of like,sprinkled throughout more than
some of the other books.
Like it's not super graphic.
It's definitely not TessaBailey or Elle Kennedy level.
So that's not what you're goingto get, but it is more than
(38:26):
some books, most books, a decentamount of books, books that
I've been reading yeah, it's,it's more so.
And if you have any questions,you can always go to the send us
a text message option on theshow notes of the podcast.
You can send me a text askingme more questions and I can let
you know, or you can DM me onInstagram.
I am at where I left off pod.
(38:48):
There you go, so you can alwaysask me questions.
I can give you more details ifthat's what you need to feel
comfortable.
I don't want there to be anykind of like spice jump scare,
because that's the worst, whenit's spicier than you would like
and you didn't realize thatuntil you're already in the book
.
So anyway, I get to talk aboutthis book some more.
(39:11):
So this episode would definitelynot be complete without me
gushing over Jessica Joyce'slatest book.
Her first book is you With AView, which is one of my
favorite books of all time, andthen she did release,
technically, a novella inbetween and it's called A Risk
we're Taking.
It happens around New Year's.
Claire and Connor are adorableand I would highly recommend it.
(39:33):
I loved it.
But we're going to call The ExVows her official sophomore
novel because you know the otherone was a novella.
So A Risk Worth Taking, thisone is her true like sophomore
novel.
So normally they say that youknow the sophomore novel is
impossible to follow.
Especially, you know, thesophomore novel is impossible to
follow, especially after afantastic debut, which she had a
(39:53):
fantastic debut.
But holy crap, jessica Joycedid it.
She did it.
This is my favorite romancenovel I've read this year, like
I already said, but I want tosay it again just so you know.
There's just something about it.
It's really just like avisceral experience and I feel
like the heart that she put intothis book.
You can just feel as you'reflipping the pages and this book
(40:15):
is going to be absolutely gutwrenching.
You're going to cry.
If you don't cry, I would besurprised.
I literally like I annotatedthis book and I have so many
page flags, so many page flagsyou can see how insane it looks
on Instagram.
I wrote annotations in themargins such as like cue the
waterworks.
Why am I still crying it?
(40:38):
There's a little plot twistsurprise, and I love when a
romance novel has a little plottwist in there.
And this has a little plottwist.
Surprise that I just said whatand everything tied together
perfectly.
I don't know how you would everguess the plot twist surprise
that I just said what andeverything tied together
perfectly.
I don't know how you would everguess the plot twist, but as
soon as it was revealed, Iinstantly thought of like it
just tied itself together, butnot in a way that you would ever
(40:59):
guess it.
So I loved that.
I loved everything, of course,but it's it's funny.
There's a lot of banter, butit's a little bit more of like a
gritty wit kind of banter.
Um, it's like Georgia, the maincharacter.
Her two best friends are guys.
So a majority of the people inthe book, um, are guys, and so
their banter is just a littlebit.
(41:19):
A little bit more sarcastic, alittle bit less like fluffy, I
would say.
And this was just like this wasamazing.
It was amazing.
I would not call this fluffy atall.
Like I said, there's more likesarcastic, witty banter and it
packs just more of kind of abite.
It's like less sugary, sweetand there is a lot of anguish
(41:40):
and tension throughout this book, a lot.
It is really sad, but reallygood but also really funny.
Only Jessica can like balanceall of these different emotions.
But before I tell you even more,I have to tell you the plot of
this novel.
So here's kind of my generalsynopsis.
So Georgia is best friends withAdam and Eli.
(42:07):
She has been best friends withAdam forever and I think like
middle school and then in highschool Eli was new and Georgia
like let herself into the houseand then ended up meeting Eli,
who she was instantly attractedto and was instantly attracted
to her.
He was the new kid.
So they all all three of themwent to the same high school.
(42:29):
They liked each other so muchthroughout but they were afraid
to ruin their friendship.
So George and Eli did not dateuntil college.
So then George and Eli date itsounded like, and they may.
She may have said itexpressively, but I can't
remember explicitly.
But I can't remember.
I think it was like later incollege that they started dating
.
And then Eli and Georgia, theyfinished college, they move out.
(42:52):
They actually moved to New Yorktogether and they are living
together and they break up.
And basically Georgia, georgiaand Eli have kind of like tried
to remain friends for Adam'ssake, because they love their
friendship, but it was a reallygut wrenching breakup for both
of them and they have a lot ofunresolved feelings.
(43:14):
So it's very hard for them toall be in the same room.
But then Adam is gettingmarried and there is a curse, so
he thinks on his wedding andeverything happens and basically
their venue burns down like aweek before the wedding and so
then Georgia and Eliaccidentally both volunteer and
have to go down alone to try tofix the wedding and basically
(43:36):
rebook everything.
They only have a venue at thispoint and, like everything else,
yeah, has kind of fallen, hasjust like crashed and burned.
So it's up to Eli and Georgiato put the pieces of Adam's
wedding back together and theygo alone to the vineyard and of
course, they have to worktogether.
So will sparks fly?
(43:58):
Will they be able to figure itout?
Will Eli, georgia and Adamremain the trio as they all
start kind of getting married,going off, growing up,
separating and all the stuffthat happens as you grow up from
your high school and collegefriends and start kind of living
your own separate lives?
There you go.
(44:19):
That was a really long plotsynopsis.
I'm sorry, once I got going Ijust got going, but I loved this
book.
It has a lot going for it inthe trying to put the wedding
back together.
Like Jessica's just really good.
I'm sorry I'm gushing about hersome more, but she's really
really good at having a sideplot that moves.
Like it doesn't feel like shestarted with the romance and
(44:41):
then just said OK, what randomside plot can I do to get the
characters together?
No, like she really thinks outthe side plot.
There's always something reallyhappening and really going on
to where you have that to lookforward to.
But then you also get likeheavy romance and heavy pining.
So I feel like romance readerswould really like this.
But I feel like Jessica Joyce ishonestly a really good author.
(45:03):
For those who are maybe alittle bit newer to romance and
want something, you know, with asubplot that's going to move to
, jessica's pacing is justreally next level.
I feel like every time I openup one of her books, like from
page one, I'm just hooked.
It's something about her pacingand just the way that she does
things.
It's so clever, it's so smart.
I just I can't say enough goodthings.
(45:25):
She's definitely one of myfavorite authors.
Like Catherine Sinter, sarahAdams and Jessica Joyce are
probably my three favoriteauthors.
There are a lot of authors thatare very close to that.
I could give you like a wholelong list of all the authors I
love, but anyway, jessica did afantastic job in this one, I
(45:47):
would say so.
It does have the second chanceromance trope because, like I
said, george and Eli datedpreviously, but I'm not a huge
fan of second chance romance.
I don't hate it, but I justdon't gravitate towards it like
in any way at all.
And this book honestly changedmy mind.
It is the best use of secondchance romance that I have read
(46:09):
so far ever.
If you also want another goodsecond chance romance, the rule
book by Sarah Adams is probablythe second best second chance
romance that I've read.
I've read some that are veryboring and I'm not into them.
So this, this changed my mind.
Thank you, jessica.
I think she can change my mindwith anything, um, any trope she
has.
(46:29):
I don't even almost look atwhat the trope is, because I
just know I'm going to like herbook, basically.
So you're going to laugh a lotand you're going to cry a lot,
but you're going to come out theother side changed for the
better.
So I would highly, highly,highly recommend the X-Files.
(46:50):
It was one of my favorite booksand again, if you felt like I
was gushing in this readingrecap, it's because I chose
these books specifically becauseI really enjoyed them.
I wanted to get the word outabout them and I need to talk
about more in the future.
I feel like I've almost beenlike reading faster than I can
write up and talk about them.
There are some amazing newauthors that I've discovered,
(47:11):
like Katie Bailey.
She is a closed door,self-published romance author.
I would highly recommend herbooks.
They are fantastic, especiallyif you like Sarah Adams.
She has that kind of flair, butmaybe with like a little bit
more humor, like it's her ownkind of special form of humor.
I really enjoy Katie Bailey.
Um, and I'm trying to think ofwho else I've discovered that I
haven't really gotten to talkabout while I'm reading the
(47:33):
shatter me series.
Oh, chelsea Curto Yep, face off.
I'm definitely going to talkabout in the future.
Oh my gosh, that was so good,so good.
So, anyway, if you haven'tchecked out Katie Bailey, if you
haven't checked out ChelseaCurto, do it.
Look them up.
(47:57):
Um, chelsea is very open doorand Katie is very closed door.
So if you read open door, go toChelsea.
If you read closed door, go toKatie.
And don't forget about Leah andCindy and every book I
mentioned in this episode aswell, because all of their books
are incredible mentioned inthis episode as well, because
all of their books areincredible.
So that is my reading recaptoday.
That's it for today on when ILeft Off a bookish podcast.
I will be joining you for morereading recaps, hopefully kind
(48:18):
of mix more in with the authorinterviews.
I have some amazing, exciting,so fun interviews that I still
can't believe that I got to doso.
Stay tuned for all of that anddon't forget if you want to see
what I am reading in real timereal real time then you can
always follow me on Instagram atwhereileftoffpod, and don't
(48:41):
forget to subscribe to thepodcast.
Leave a review and all thatother stuff.
It really does help.
Anyway, thank you for listeningand I'll see you next time.
Leave a review and all thatother stuff.
Um, it really does help.
Anyway, thank you for listeningand I'll see you next time.
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