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Hello, Hi!
Hi! Welcome to RedHeadsBooks! My name is Katie the redhead with the messy bun behind this blog and I’m so happy you’re here! Before we dive into what you can expect from this blog, I’d love to give you some fun facts about me and maybe dive into my reading journey and why I started this blog.
Some fun facts about me:
I am proud Swiftie, like we’re talking I was in the Top 1% of her listeners on Spotify last year kinda Swiftie.
I LOVE the show Supernatural, like I can put on almost any episode and watch like I’ve never seen it before and I even named my furbaby Winchester (I’m a dean girl whose Sam curious).
My favorite genres are mystery/thriller and romance (the spicier the better).
I’m a caffeine addict so if my content seems chaotic it’s probably because I’m over caffeinated.Now that we’ve gotten those fun facts out of the way, I want to quickly describe why I started this blog and give you some insights into what you can expect from me. Growing up I always loved reading, helps that my mom was a school librarian for most of my childhood so she always encouraged me to read and made it fun. I, of course, fell out of my love of reading in high school when I stopped reading for fun and more to just finish an assignment.
It would surprise you after that to hear that when I went to college I originally set out to be an English major who ultimately wanted to write. But of course having to read so many novels for assignments was fun so after I transferred to a university closer to home I quickly changed my major to a more career minded communications. Don’t worry, I have an English Literature minor because there was no way that I was going to let my English courses go to waste.
Reading became both comforting and tough after my mom died. Going to the library with her was one of my favorite things to do, even as an adult, because I loved watching her walk up and down the aisles just picking books like she just knew she would love it. She would have stacks upon stacks of books next to her bed and there were multiple nights that I would be the one to take her glasses off and turn off her light after she fell asleep reading. So when she died it became tough to find joy in reading, though there were a few times that I would find myself picking up a book and getting lost in the pages feeling her comfort while doing so.
For the next few years I would pick up a book here or there between the rat race of trying to find a job and then once I landed a job I got into audiobooks since I was spending so much time commuting to work that it was perfect to spend my time in the car getting lost in an audiobook and I lucked out with a coworker that was in a book club so we were able to read and discuss the books she was reading together. This is when I found my love of reading again and late last year I got a kindle, which was a game changer for me, especially when I got my Kindle Unlimited subscription. I was devouring books both long and short.
So that’s where this blog comes in. I wanted a place to put down my thoughts on the books I’m reading like it was my own little book club. The plan is to have book reviews, books I’ve got on my TBR list (that grows almost every time I go on TikTok thanks #booktok), and my favorite books I’ve read throughout the years with a few anticipated releases.
I hope you join me on this ride and feel free to drop your book recs in the comments or if you follow on social in the dms because I’m always looking for new books to read.
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Things We Never Got Over By Lucy Score
Rating: 5 stars
Genre: Romance
Tropes: Enemies to lovers, Small Town Romance, Found Family
Oh, my Knox was this book good!
Naomi Witt is not having a good day. First, she’s on the run from her fiancé and a church full of well-wishers, but now she’s in some small Podunk town still in her dress and Daisy flower crown just trying to get a cup of coffee before dealing with her estranged hot mess of a twin sister. Except she’s waylaid by an angry albeit very hot Viking look man who thinks she is said hot mess twin sister who guess what? Is banned from this exact coffee place. Just when Naomi thought her life couldn’t get any worse, Naomi’s sister shows her true colors by stealing Naomi’s car and cash leaving her to deal with said angry hot Viking, who she now knows has a name: Knox Morgan.
Knox Morgan makes it his life mission to avoid getting involved with women, especially the type A romantic kind like Naomi. But after accosting her in the coffee shop and seeing that her sister has stolen his car, he can’t just leave her especially when they see that Naomi’s eleven-year-old niece has been left by her deadbeat mom. He would be content to leave her alone as long she could stop finding herself in new trouble. Because he’s not sure how long he can hold out on denying the undeniable chemistry they share.
But just when Knox thinks that he’ll be able to walk away from Naomi, her twin sister is about to make things a lot more troublesome for Knockemout and our main characters.
Have you ever put off a book for so long because it’s so popular that you’re afraid that it will be terrible, but then it turns out to be the best book you’ve read, and then you’re mad you waited that long to read it? That is how I feel about this book. I’m so angry at myself for waiting for long to read it because it was one of the better books I’ve read this year.
The chemistry between Naomi and Knox was equal parts frustrating and toe-curling satisfying. I love when the author gives us both POVs because it makes the payoff so much better to see how both characters are suffering throughout the book. Although in the case of Knox, it made me want to throttle his giant Viking self multiple times throughout the book. It was clear that he was head over heels in love with Naomi but was too stubborn to admit it.
The drama that came along with Naomi’s twin sister Tina was so good in this book. It gave an extra element of tension and suspense of when would Tina strike again or why she was even doing all of it, to begin with. Again the payoff of this extra suspense was so good because it wasn’t the perfectly wrapped-up ending, it was left open-ended and gave even more reason to pick up the next book in the series.
If you’ve been on the fence about reading this book, I highly encourage you to pick it up. I promise that if you love enemies-to-lovers romance with added danger mixed in set in a small town with a fun cast of supporting characters you will like this book!
Naomi Witt is not having a good day. First she’s on the run from her fiancé and a church full of well wishers, but now she’s in some small Podunk town still in her dress and Daisy flower crown just trying to get a cup of coffee before dealing with her estranged hot mess of a twin sister. Except she’s waylaid by a angry albeit very hot Viking look man who thinks she is said hot mess twin sister who guess what? Is banned from this exact coffee place. Just when Naomi thought her life couldn’t get any worse, Naomi’s sister shows her true colors by stealing Naomi’s car and cash leaving her to deal with said angry hot Viking, who she now knows has a name: Knox Morgan.
Oh my Knox was this book good! The chemistry between Naomi and Knox was equal parts frustrating and toe curling satisfying.
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Read Me by Lauren Connolly
Rating: 3 stars
Genre/Trope: Romance, Bad Boy/Good Girl TropeTikTok got me to read this book and I almost wish I hadn’t.
Summer, a librarian, only wants to date nice guys. She’s convinced that falling in love with a nice guy is her key to romance happiness. She had enough turmoil in her youth that she wants a good guy who has a stable job. But that doesn’t stop her from being attracted to Cole, a patron at the library who has tattoos and gives off alpha jerk vibes. But Cole is trying to reform his bad boy image by trying to get a publishing deal for his book to make Summer see that he’s a good guy. He steps in as Summer’s savior when her date won’t get the hint that she’s not interested. As they grow closer outside of the library, Summer begins to wonder if maybe she could fall in love with a bad boy and find happiness.
But of course, happily ever after isn’t that easy and their preconceived notions of each other might just tear them apart.
I got suckered into reading this book with one of those popular BookTok teaser videos and really by now I should know that those videos wow me and the book rarely does.
Don’t get me wrong, it wasn’t a truly terrible book. There were parts that had such promise that kept me pushing through to the finish line. There’s a small subplot line where Summer has a mysterious stalker that even though she moves around a lot still always manages to find her that I wish had been more prominent in the story because it was actually a let down. It was almost like the stalker was just something to throw in there at random points to keep the reader engrossed in the book.
At the start of this book, the “he’s a bad boy/she’s too good for me” thinking of our main characters was legitimate. It set the tone for what I thought I was getting in this book, but instead all that happened was that thoughts were just continuously shoved in my face that it made me resent our characters for being so judgmental. I get why Cole wanted to hide his past from Summer, what man really wants to tell the girl they’re in love with that he was in prison. But it took so long so us, the readers, to find out why he was in prison that I didn’t get the point. I don’t know why it was also hidden from us because I think that it would have helped a lot to endear me more to Cole and his whole bad boy image. Instead I was just told he was a bad boy like I’m just supposed to accept it and keep reading.
One redeeming quality is the spice of this book. It helped make it a bit more bearable to read and helped get me through the tougher parts of this book. But after finishing the book, I now feel like that the spice was just a way to keep me reading the book. Like if those parts of the book were removed I wouldn’t have a reason to keep reading because of the ever ending “she’s good for me, he’s a bad boy” running theme of the book.
While this book wasn’t my cup of tea, I hope that if you’re looking for a spicy good girl/bad boy trope romance that you’ll think about giving this book a shot.
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Ms. Demeanor By Elinor Lipman
Genre: Romance with a fun play on forced proximity
Rating: 5 StarsIf you were wondering if this best seller was worth the hype I’m here to tell you it most definitely is.
Let me insert a warning about spoilers, if you haven’t read I would exit right now. I don’t want you to ruin the book.
Jane is a valued member of her law firm until a chance encounter with an associate that led to a midnight romp on her rooftop that just so happened to catch the eye of the nosy busybody in the penthouse across the street. Now she’s confined to her apartment building for six months and even with her twin sister trying to help her find a new path, Jane has no idea how she’ll spend her confinement. Until that is, one of the doorman in her building lets it slip that she’s not the only one rocking an ankle monitor in the building and Jane strikes up an unique friendship with Perry, her fellow offender. Just as Jane is getting a handle on her confinement and almost making the most of it, the police are at her door again and Jane’s sucked into the now so squeaky clean background of her nemesis and trying to again clear her name.
Despite all the craziness going on, Jane just might end up getting more out of her home confinement then she could’ve ever believed when she first received her sentence.
This book deserves all the hype that it’s getting and even more. It’s such a fun read that I’m honestly mad at myself for waiting so long to dive in. I loved the fun take on the forced proximity trope that’s popular in romance and all the hilarious shenanigans that the author threw in the face of Jane. Though, Amanda getting upset with Jane after their fake marriage was discovered and he was departed was a bit too much like what did she expect would happen? I understand wanting to get married and all that jazz especially when you hit a certain age but still you can’t just marry a random guy and expect it to work out.
I will admit that I’m a little in love with our main man Perry. I mean this man wrote an actual list of reasons why he and Jane should take their friendship to friends with benefits, to then a full blown romance. In my opinion, it was a great example of not only a fictional man being better than real men, but also a hilarious literary version of “if he wanted to he would.” I mean just think about the thought he had to put into that list and not make it sound like “I just want to bang you” but show that he has real feelings for her.
I also loved that the drama of this book was not between Jane and Perry, but was with the nosy busybody with the binoculars across the street, even after her death. The cast of characters that came into Jane’s life was hilarious and brought some fun into the book that I loved. It was the perfect sub plot to the book that gave me that drama I wanted but didn’t tear my heart out like some romance novels do.
Jackie does everything she can to make sure that not only is Jane taken care of but also tries to help her find alternative career paths she can do post confinement if she can’t go back to being a lawyer, she’s the ultimate supportive sister. I liked their relationship so much. I mean what sister would break up with her boyfriend because he didn’t see why she was helping her sister with food and things during a tough time?
After finishing this book I was surprised by the lackluster reviews on GoodReads, but don’t let them fool you. This is unlike any other book I’ve read thus far in my reading journey and it’s well worth the hype of it’s best selling fame. It’s perfect for those that love a realistic older romance with a fun take on forced proximity that I loved. I hope you pick this book up and love it as much as I do.
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The Second You’re Single Cara Tanamachi
Genre: Romance
Rating: 5 StarsSora Reid is a freelance writer who doesn’t believe in going above and beyond. She’s happy to just stay where she is. She’s the odd one out in her family of go-getters from her mom, who always hints that she needs to lose weight, and her engaged sister who needs Sora to find a date for the couples dance at her perfectly planned wedding. But Sora is content to stay at home with her adorable Pitbull and avoiding her annoying neighbor.
Sora also has an immense hate for Valentine’s Day, calling it the commercial love machine. She might be feeling a bit betrayed and disappointed in men after yet another relationship failed but this year she’s taking a #GoSolo pledge and inspiring the readers of the magazine she’s writing for to join her in her pledge. Should be easy for a V-day hater like Sora right? Enter Jack Mann, the deliciously muscled baker who went to elementary school with Sora and had a not so secret crush on her. The attraction stings like a bee sting when they see each other at the local grocery store and Sora should shut it down since she’s going solo. But Jack’s pull is just too hard for Sora to ignore so will she let down her readers or fully lock down her heart so Jack can’t get at it?
There aren’t enough words in the English language for me to describe just how much I love this book. It’s my favorite kind of romance novel because it isn’t just focused on the romance between Jack and Sora. It explores complicated family dynamics with a beautiful redemption of otherwise problematic characters that made me so happy and also explores the journey of self care and self love with the most authentic journey showing the pitfalls and growth that come with this kind of journey. Plus there’s the most adorable Pitbull Larry that I just loved so much.
Oh and did I mention that Jack’s a ripped muscley man who BAKES? Sign me up right now for a man that can love every single part of you and also make a delicious sweet treat.
Sora’s #goingsolo challenge at the root was inspiring because it was a helpful reminder that we are not defined by who we love or who loves us. We don’t need a relationship with someone else to love ourselves or be content in life. Sure, it’s a nice bonus, but it shouldn’t define how we feel about ourselves. Sora’s journey with #goingsolo was also authentic because of the pitfalls she faced throughout because we’re humans that are flawed and we are bound to stumble on our journey of self discovery. Her journey was so authentic that made the character growth feel authentic and real, which made me love this book even more.
I also loved how Jack was willing to wait for Sora during her #goingsolo challenge. Even though he liked her just as she was, he cared so much about her that he wanted her to do whatever she needed to do to be ready for him. Another win in Jack’s column was so absolutely adorable he was with his family, especially his niece. Him caring so much about his brother that he gave up Valentine’s Day so his brother could romance his wife and reconnect with her after they went through their daughter being sick the year before was amazing.
If you love a Dual POV romance where he falls first, I hope you give this book a chance and love it as much as I do.
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Romances I’m Dying to Read Pt. 2
I’m back with another group of romance books I’m dying to read. Mark your calendars so you don’t miss this highly anticipated releases!
The Long Game by Elena Armas
Slated Release Date: September 5th
Adalyn Reyes has been banished to a small town in North Carolina to work with a struggling local soccer team after a video of her having an altercation with the mascot of the Miami Flames FC has gone viral. Add in Cameron Caldani, retired soccer star coaching said local team and while he wants to banish her yet again, Adalyn will not let that happen so she’s playing the long game to help them. But the question is will she manage to pull of the victory or will Cameron win in getting rid of her in the last minutes of play?
This book had me at the mention of sports and it’s giving me major Ted Lasso vibes and since that’s my current obsession of course I’m adding this immediately to the top of my TBR list. Plus I’m a sports junkie, fun fact I even have a master’s degree in sports admin because I wanted to work in sports so any time I can read a sports romance I’m always going to give it a go.
The Wake Up Call by Beth O’Leary
Slated Release Date: September 26th
Who doesn’t love a good rivals romance? Add in a failing hotel that probably won’t be open passed Christmas, and a competition to see who can return missing wedding rings to see who can save the hotel I’m immediately intrigued. Pesky feelings get in the way as their bitter rivalry becomes something even more complicated Izzy and Lucas will struggle to see if they can make it through the seasons with their hearts intact.
I’m a sucker for a rivals romance but throw in a must win competition to save their hotel and I’m sold. You know that things are going to get messy when they start spending more time together and seeing that maybe their rivalry has been hiding just how perfect they might be for each other.
Never Met a Duke Like You By Amalie Howard
Slated Release Date: October 17th
This book had me from the moment I read Clueless meets Bridgerton because I am obsessed with Clueless, I’m a 90s kid so I totally grew up wanting Cher’s closet and to fall in love with my hot older former step brother and then I too fell victim to the Bridgerton hype because that show is SO GOOD.
Lady Vesper Lyndhurst is the clever and popular duke’s daughter and fills her days with every luxury you can think of and fancies herself a talented matchmaker, though she has sworn off love for herself. She takes more pleasure arranging others falling in love instead of finding it for herself. Enter the Duke of Greydon, who has had no choice but to return home to England in a last stitch effort to revive his family’s fortune. He was happy to get out and away from the petty ton and his mother. He’s disappointed to see that nothing has changed in his time away including the vexing heiress next door. But these friends-turned-enemies get stuck in an attic together and suddenly their obvious attraction to each other is hard to ignore.
Fate has entered the chat and wants to show Lady Vesper that she’s the ultimate matchmaker. See? I’m telling you I think this book is going to be so good and hopefully it brings some Bridgerton level spice with it.
Friends Don’t Fall in Love by Erin Hahn
Slated Release Date: October 17th
I have to admit that I’m not the biggest fan of friends-to-lovers, well wait that’s probably because I haven’t read much in this trope. So when I saw this book had the added element of a career redemption, I was interested.
Lorelai Jones once had it all: thriving country music career and a superstar fiancé. But one little protest song at a concert and suddenly she’s lost everything including her superstar fiancé. 5 years later her dreams of being a musician haven’t died out and Lorelai calls up the one person who didn’t turn their back on her, Craig Boseman her ex-fiancé’s co-writer and bandmate. As they reunite to rebuild her career Lorelai learns what friends aren’t supposed to do: have scratch-the-itch sex or write erotic poetry about each other, and they sure as heck don’t fall in love right?
This feels like it could be a possible slow-burn romance situation as well which I’m a sucker for so I’m definitely excited to see what ride we go on with this book.
Artifacts of an Ex By Jennifer Chen
Slated Release Date: November 14th
Everyone has a breakup box, full of things from their exes that they just can’t part with. When Chloe Chang gets dumped via the mail after moving across the country, she’s tempted to throw away her breakup box. But instead she gets an idea and starts buying up other teenager’s breakup boxes to create an art exhibit, Heartifacts.
Her opening night is going well until she catches Daniel Kwak filming his best friend’s reaction to his ex’s box but when she tries to stop him they end up bonding and launching a creative partnership and friendship. Of course, Chloe develops a massive crush but Daniel is not going to be another rebound, been there done that didn’t get the t-shirt the other five times it’s happened. Chloe’s got some work to do to prove to Daniel that she’s completely over her ex, but it won’t be easy to prove.
Sounds good right? I’m ready to relive my glory days of young love and see how Chloe will find herself, her art, and figure out what love really is (and maybe her journey will help me figure it out).
Technically Yours by Denise Williams
Slated Release Date: December 5th
I’m bummed this one isn’t coming out until December because I have been craving a good second chance romance and this one has the added benefit of a quasi forbidden romance. Pearl is a super smart woman who has been recently appointed the head of a nonprofit, OurCode, that aims to inspire high school students to code, and she has the chance to really make a difference, but there’s a scandal with the organization that has put it’s reputation at risk.
As if that wasn’t enough drama for Pearl, the man she met seven years ago and hasn’t stopped thinking about has just become the newest member of her board of directors. Enter Cord Matthews, who gives me major grumpy vibes since he’s sworn off love since Pearl broke his heart all those years ago.
But the kicker is, she’s just his type so I’m interested to see how these two overcome their roadblocks to find their happy ever after or is their love just so debugged that it’s a disaster?
On the Plus Side by Jenny L. Howe
Slated Release Date: December 16th
When the book description starts with “Queer Eye and What Not to Wear meet All the Feels” I’m low-key already sold. I’ve been a fan of Queer Eye since the first ideation back in the early 2000s and back in the day I wanted Stacey and Clinton to come overhaul my closet and give me a makeover (still do tbh) and All the Feels was one of my favorite books I have ever read. So before even diving into the full description, I’m in. But then reading how Everly Winters after a traumatic public break-up in college just wants to blend in because if they can’t see you they can’t hurt you or say you’re “too much” (which I still flinch hearing an ex say that to me).
When she’s nominated for the show On the Plus Size and becomes overwhelmed by the hosts, she finds comfort with the honest cameraman Colton which of course their connection is caught on camera and the ratings go crazy high. But the question is, can Everly rick another public heartbreak?
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I Have Some Questions For You By Rebecca Makkai
Genre: Mystery
Rating: 4 Stars
Bodie Kane, a successful podcaster and part-time film professor, doesn’t like to dwell on her past – the family tragedy that screwed up her adolescence, her time spent at Granby School, a boarding school in the woods of New Hampshire, and most importantly the murder of her former roommate Thalia King during the spring of her senior year. But when Granby comes calling, asking her to come back and teach a course Bodie is forced to face her past and really take a look at what she thought happened with what really happened. Of course, her trip down the rabbit hole of her memories stirs up a lot of memories that might just hold the key to solving the case.
I want to preface my review of this book by saying that overall I liked this book. It’s an interesting look at how collective memory can change once you’re not actively in a situation and are able to look back at it with the eyes of someone with more experience. It’s also a very interesting and authentic look at just how flawed our justice system was back in the 90s but also how failed it still is in 2023.
At the heart of this book is a case of a girl being murdered and the police royally bungled up the investigation and settled on the easy suspect, the young black athletic trainer despite there being almost little evidence that shows he actually did it. Now, this part of the book is fascinating, probably the most redeeming quality of the book. It’s a great depiction of just how unjust our justice system can be with the cops feeling pressured by the headmaster of the school to quickly wrap up the investigation since their alumni weekend was the following weekend and they wanted to keep the scandal quiet.
There are so many twists and turns as Bodie and her students try to figure out if Omar, the athletic trainer currently sitting in jail, actually did it or if someone else had taken Thalia’s life that I loved every single minute of it. I found myself buying into every theory and seeing how it was possible that each new suspect could’ve done it. I really liked how Bodie herself was almost writing to her main suspect as she went through the investigation and it was fascinating to see how Bodie’s classmates reacted to her stirring up this case and making them take a hard look at their own memories was interesting.
But then Makkai had to add in other levels of complication with Bodie’s own life like stuff with her estranged husband, her obsession with some dude, and her own history that in my opinion made it hard for me to really like Bodie’s character. I’m not sure how it really serves the plot of the story, it almost detracts from it because it feels like a bored middle-aged white woman decides to take on the justice system for attention. There were parts when she was thinking about her affair that it was like she was obsessed with him and I had to force myself to read because I hope that it would ultimately serve a purpose toward the real heart of the book.
There was also the minor issue of not realizing that Bodie was actually speaking to someone with her narration, almost like she was writing a journal or letters for a person to read later on. It was a little confusing until I realized that she was actually narrating to someone but I’m not sure if that was an issue with the book or if I just hadn’t realized it until much later when it’s literally thrown in our faces.
What saved this book for me was the ending. It was the most authentic ending that felt more like reading a newspaper article than a fictional book. I would recommend this book just so you guys can experience the ending that felt like a gut punch.
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The Bodyguard by Katherine Center
Genre: Romance
Rating: 4 StarsHannah Brooks is an executive protection agent, aka a bodyguard, and despite her small stature is really good at her job. Well usually good at her job, but right now after losing her mom and her boyfriend she’s in a little bit of a tailspin. But after being forced to take a mini break, which she swears she didn’t need, she’s ready to be put back in action. Only problem is the client she’s being tasked with protecting is Hollywood heartthrob Jack Stapleton and the case isn’t her usual cut-and-dry protection case. Hannah’s used to blending into the background with the principal she’s charged with protecting but with Jack she’s going to be front and center as his girlfriend because Jack doesn’t want to worry his mom about the danger he’s in so Hannah’s going under as Jack’s girlfriend after Jack’s mom insists that Jack and Hannah come stay on the ranch until Thanksgiving.
Being in the middle of nowhere should be perfect to keep Jack safe right? Except since they’re out in the middle of nowhere things become much more complicated when feelings get involved no matter how allergic Hannah might think she is to feelings.
This book was like reading one of those classic romance TV movies, ya know the ones guaranteed to end with a happy ending but with a few dramatic moments thrown in to make it seem not completely unrealistic. And since I LOVE those movies, love as in I was watching one this afternoon kinda love so course I love this book.
Jack’s your classic Hollywood heartthrob with his classic Texas cowboy good looks and Hannah, well Hannah’s a mess. Her mom died, her boyfriend breaks up with her the night after the funeral claiming she’s a bad kisser (which eww this is when we start to hate Robby), and then she’s benched at work so she can’t even work to distract herself. Hannah’s used to blending into the crowd with her clients but with Jack, she’s going to be front and center and confront her feelings and figure out what she’s going to do now.
This book was good, I only had to deduct a star from the review because of a few “dramatic moments” that in my opinion didn’t serve the story well. The first is Robby, he’s a douche if you looked up the definition of a f*** boi his picture would be next to it. While I understand that part of what happens with Robby had to happen for Jack and Hannah’s romance, it still felt gross and I just wanted to punch him in the face for most of the book. And the other issue I had was the whole Jack’s Hollywood girlfriend thing, she was mentioned a few times but then all of a sudden appears? It felt unnecessary to the overall story and really what her character was meant to come in and achieve could’ve been done with Robby’s character because he was already heavily engrained in the story.
But still that little issue aside, I do highly recommend this book. It’s a cute love story that had one moment between Hannah and Connie, Jack’s mom who has cancer, that made me cry with how heartfelt and sweet it was. Just thinking about that scene brings tears to my eyes it was that touching and great.
So if you love a good romance with a hot Hollywood heartthrob with some fun mild life-threatening drama with a badass female in charge of keeping her love safe, definitely pick up The Bodyguard.
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2023 Thriller Book Released I’m Dying to Read
The thriller genre is one of my favorite genres because they have mystery, intrigue, and suspense that has been eagerly racing towards the finish line to see how it ends. Here are six books releasing in 2023 that I’m dying to read and almost counting down the days until their release to get my hands on them.
I Have Some Questions for You
Rebecca Makka (released on 2/21)
Why I’m hyped to read this book: I love podcasts that look back at crimes like Serial where they thought they had the killer but there are so many questions and almost holes in the case that will make you second guess if the police really have the right person or just took the easy way out and called it a day to get the family justice. So this book where a podcaster and successful film professor has the chance to go back to her former boarding school to teach a class, the same place where her former roommate was killed in their senior year. And now that she’s back at the school she can’t deny the apparent flaws of the case and see that maybe the conviction of the athletic trainer might be wrong. I’m excited to see what kind of rabbit hole this character can take us down in her search for the truth that will test her own past.
This book was released on February 21st so grab your copy here.
The Only Survivor
Megan Miranda
I’m a Megan Miranda stan, I’ve read three of her books and loved them so much. So when I saw that she was coming out with a new book I didn’t really need to read the description to add to my anticipated releases list for 2023 because I know that it will be good. But of course, I was curious as to what she would give us this time so I took a gander at the description and oh boy did that only fuel my excitement:
Ten years ago, two vans of high school students crashed into a ravine and only nine students manage to survive. As the one-year anniversary approaches one of the nine survivors dies by suicide and the rest of them make a pact: every year they’ll get together to remember those that were lost and look out for each other.
But now ten years later, Cassidy Bent is done with the remainder of the crash. She’s taken every step necessary to put space between her and the remaining eight: changed her phone number, blocked their email addresses, etc. She’s doing well with putting it behind her until she learned that another survivor is gone so now there are only seven and suddenly Cassidy is back in the fold with the group although this year something is off.
They made a pact all those years ago, but how far will they actually go when one of them goes missing during a storm?
Sounds good right? Preorder your copy before its release on April 11th.
You Should’ve Have Come Here
Jeneva Rose
I have both of Jeneva’s two books on my TBR and I really should read them before adding another to my TBR list but after reading the plot of this one I had to add it. First of all, I love books that are told from a dual point of view because I like to see how both of our main characters are interpreting what’s happening and what their ulterior motives and feelings are throughout the novel. Secondly, this plot sounds like it’s going to be a wild ride: city girl needs a breath of fresh air and books an Airbnb ranch in the middle of Wyoming, only to discover that out in the sticks there’s little cell service and she’s got a nagging feeling that there’s something wrong with the town. Oh, and did I mention there’s a missing woman?
But despite all of those red flags, Grace Evans meets Calvin Wells, the handsome owner of the Airbnb she’s staying in and of course, sparks fly, but things aren’t exactly what they seem for either of these two and remember there’s still a missing woman so we’re in a roller coaster ride of a novel.
And if you follow Jeneva on social media I really need to see if Scott’s going to hate this novel as much as the other one. So I’m preordering my copy here before its release on April 25th.
Vera Wong’s Unsolicited Advice for Murderers
Jesse Q. Sutanto
Vera Wong is a lady of a certain age (cough old cough), who lives above her tea shop in the middle of San Francisco’s Chinatown. She enjoys a good cup of tea while doing some online detective work to keep up with her Gen-Z son. But when she finds a dead man in the middle of her tea shop with a flash drive in her hand she grabs the flash drive because she’s sure that she’ll do a better job figuring out what happened than the police. She knows the killer will be back for the drive so she just has to bide her time and watch her customers.
But she doesn’t expect to become friendly with her customers and start to care about them like a protective mother hen, but can she potentially turn one of them over to the police?
This plot reads like the plot of a Murder, She Wrote episode and since that’s one of my all-time favorite shows I’m so incredibly excited to read this book. I think that the idea of using an older woman as the main sleuth in a mystery novel is genius because most people have no problem opening up to an old lady because they think she’s innocent. And I’m also very interested to see who the killer might be because with it could honestly be anybody and I have so many questions about the dead body already which always bodes well for a book for me.
It’s slated for release on March 14th so preorder your copy here to read with me.
None of This is True
Lisa Jewell
As a true crime podcast junkie, any time I stumble upon a thriller that revolves around a true crime podcast I’m going to give it a go. Right off the bat the main character Alix Summers, a true crime podcaster, runs into a random woman who claims to be her birthday twin and a fan of her show with an interesting life that would make her an excellent subject for Alix’s podcast and suddenly Josie is missing and Alix find herself unraveling Josie’s life and the terrible legacy she left in her wake. This book feels like it’s going to have a psychological aspect to it that usually only adds to the suspense.
I can’t wait to see how this story unravels when it releases on August 8th. Preorder your copy!
How To Find a Missing Girl
Victoria Wlosok
This book claims to be perfect for fans of A Good Girl’s Guide to Murder, which is a book that I love. So immediately that has me clicking to read the description. Iris Blackthorn’s sister Stella went missing a year ago without a trace. Iris tries to launch her own investigation but only manages to screw it up so badly she’s warned that when she turns 18 any more meddling will mean prison-level consequences. But then the worst happens, Iris’s ex-girlfriend goes missing right after dropping the latest episode of her podcast about Iris’s sister. So now Iris has to act and she has to act fast because the clock is ticking toward her 18th birthday.
I’m interested to see just how similar this book is to Good Girl’s Guide to Murder but hopeful that it only builds on that premise of an amateur sleuth and hopefully wows me even more. I can’t wait to read this when it’s released on September 19th. You can preorder your own copy here!
Drop the thrillers/mysteries releases you’re looking forward to in the comments below!
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Tempt By Melanie Harlow
Genre: Romance, Smutty
Rating: 5 Stars
Started it for the spice, stuck around for the heart melting love story that unfolded.
Millie thinks she’s cursed like “Good Luck Chuck” cursed since three of her ex boyfriends immediately found their “one” right after dating her, so she feels like her dream of wanting to find a husband and have kids is so far out of reach. It doesn’t help that she spends all her time surrounded by weddings, giving her brides their dream day that she’ll never have. While stuck in New York because of snow and feeling sorry for herself her sister coerces her into heading to the hotel bar to try and find a hot guy to spend the night with.
Enter Zach, her older deliciously built knight in shining armor, who helps Millie thwart off a married creep but also fulfill her sister’s plea for her to experience a steamy night of passion she’ll never forget. She thought they’d only that night and to her shock and slight horror but who walks in at her ex-boyfriend’s rehearsal dinner but the father he finally found.
Zach knows they can’t be together. Mostly because of Zach being Mason’s father and Millie’s history with Mason, but also because Zach doesn’t live in Michigan. He’s based in San Diego and his marriage ended because his job in private security had him always traveling. So their relationship would only be that one night in New York.
Their attraction is too tempting to ignore and nothing is hotter than illicit love affair since they can’t keep their hands off each other. But Millie still wants the dream wedding to her soulmate and kids and Zach is struggling to be a father figured to a son he never knew existed, so this tempting affair is destined to crash and burn, right?
This is one of those books that I read in one sitting, like I just couldn’t put my kindle down until I finished reading at almost 2 am. Every ounce of exhaustion I felt the next day was 100% worth because this book not only had the spice but also a beautiful love story that gripped me from the beginning.
While I loved the spice and the romance between these two characters, what I really loved the most was the friendship between the two of them. I loved how even though Zach knew they couldn’t be together, he still wanted to be in Millie’s life and was her biggest cheerleader in her finally pursuing her dream and doing something she was passionate about. The scenes of them catching up with each other after their days were some of my favorite and the ones that I found myself thinking about long after I read the last page.
This was also one of the few books that I didn’t skip to the end to read the last sentence, but having read Tease last year I knew that I was in a for a good ride with Melanie Harlow at the helm and as expected she blew my expectations out of the water. I finished this book last week and I’m still thinking about it all this time later because it’s so good.
So you should definitely give this a read if you love: a good age gap romance with a burly older man and plus size female lead with a beautiful friendship and a hot love affair with toe curling spice.
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In A New York Minute by Kate Spencer
Genre: Romance
Rating: 5 StarsHave you ever read a book with the most satisfying yet infuriating slow burn romance that literally makes you want to throttle the main characters for being such oblivious boneheads?
Franny Doyle is having a DAY, ya know one of those everything that can go wrong will go wrong? Yeah one of those days. First she gets laid off from her job at a design startup and has to schlep all her stuff back to her apartment on the subway, then once she barely makes the train her beautiful thrifted satin dress gets caught in the door and you can guess what happens. As if almost flashing a bunch of random New York strangers wasn’t bad enough the interaction between her knight in shining armor Hayes Montgomery III is captured by a girl on the subway and suddenly the #SubwayQTS have gone viral.
What starts out as a simple kind gesture from a handsome stranger to help the damsel in distress not expose herself to all of New York suddenly becomes a thing neither of them can escape. And suddenly Franny is running into Hayes everywhere and Hayes can’t stop thinking about Franny and her infectious personality. But just like Franny’s delicate silk dress that fateful day on the subway their budding relationship tears easily and with these two who knows if it can stand up to the stress of being #SubwayQTs.
This is one of those rare books where the slow burn was so frustratingly slow that I actually wanted to throttle both Hayes and Franny at different points. They were so oblivious it hurt my soul, but that frustrating burn led to such a satisfying ending that even had me tearing up at certain points.
I really identified with Franny, not just because I too have been recently laid off from my job, but struggling with imposter syndrome or that insecurity that you’re not enough. It’s an ugly feeling that I think Kate Spencer captured really well and made me really relate to Franny and ultimately rooting for her to get the guy, figure out her life, and just be happy.
There’s one part of the book that really struck with me to sum up how both Franny (& I) were feeling about life at the moment:
“This was the dark, murky hole of insecurity that I fell into the second self-doubt came knocking at my door. Not that this was a new feeling, of course, I was good at pushing it aside most of the time, but getting laid off was like a welcome mat, inviting it to show up whenever it wanted. It crept into my brain as my head hit the pillow, sat across from me at my tiny kitchen table as I drank my morning coffee.”
That quote hits home because that’s exactly how it feels when you’re unemployed and everyone else in your inner circle isn’t. It’s like you can’t shake the feeling of not being good enough or that nagging insecurity that there’s something wrong with you. It’s a dark feeling that just sits there festering no matter how hard you try to shake it. It’s easier to shake though when you do have a job, or some sense of purpose, because you have other things to focus on.
When I mentioned earlier wanting to throttle Hayes for being a bonehead I wasn’t kidding. He did several things that made me grip my book tighter and take a deep breath in through the nose and out through the mouth because he was being so dense and I just wanted him to see some sense.
My, albeit intense, connection with these characters is what I loved most about this book. I was rooting for them to overcome everything that was being thrown at them because I could see that they were the perfect compliment for each other. This was exactly what I want out of a romance because just when I thought we were wrapping it up to the happy ending something else would pop up and we’d be back so many steps that it seemed that they were never going to figure out.
I swear I could go on way more about this book, but that would give away so many details and I don’t want to spoil this satisfying slow burn of a romance book.
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