These past few months have been tough to say the least. Self care has, unfortunately, been my lowest priority and that has definitely been reflected in my reading. I’m hoping that April is brighter in many ways and lends more time to reading.
As you’ll see, I’ve been reading a lot of romance and contemporary reads lately. That’s honestly all my very full brain and heart have been able to handle. I miss getting lost in complex fantasy reads, and really hope to dive back into those in April.
If you’ve read anything lately that you think I just have to add to my TBR, please let me know in the comments!
March Reads
In Five Years by Rebecca Serle
Rating: 4.5/5 stars
What I Liked/Disliked: Everything I’ve ever heard about this book was absolutely correct. I loved every bit of it, way more than I expected to. I don’t know if it’s the season of life that I’m currently in or what but this book make made question myself deeply about how I view my relationships to work and my close friends. This book is super short, but evokes so much feeling. If you’re looking for a fast paced read that will keep you turning pages and isn’t easily predictable, I definitely recommend this one.
Act Your Age Eve Brown by Talia Hibbert
Rating: 3.5/5 stars
What I Liked/Disliked: This was the final book of the Brown Sisters Trilogy and it I’m honestly sad it’s over. I will say that out of all three books, this one wasn’t my favorite. I loved the pacing, the representation and Eve as a character, but the pacing felt so off. It was almost like we were shoved into the story after a really abrupt intro. The ending seemed just as rushed to me. But the loveliness of the characters and steaminess of the romance more than make up for it! I would definitely reread this book and the entire trilogy again (and likely will soon).
February Reads
Romancing Mister Bridgerton by Julia Quinn
Rating: 4/5 stars
What I Liked/Disliked: Finally, Collin’s story! You all know I’ve been loving making my way through the books in the Bridgerton series and I was really excited to get to this one. This book focuses on Penelope, who’s been secretly in love with Collin Bridgerton, as both of them settle into their late 20s/early 30s (which is really old in 1814 apparently). I loved how the love story developed and really enjoyed getting to know Collin and Penelope better! As with most of the Bridgerton books, there’s a good sprinkling of unacceptable sexist behavior and toxic masculinity that, I think, the author adds to be in step with the times, but is really distracting in the stories.
Love is a Revolution by Rene Watson
Rating: 3.5/5 stars
What I Liked/Disliked: This was a super cute YA romance that 16 or 17 year old Amber would have completely related to in her quest for young love. We follow Nala who lives her with her aunt, uncle and cousin in NYC and falls for a guy she meets at an open mic night. She goes through the process of trying to figure out who she is while also trying to be who everyone wants her to be — the ideal girlfriend, cousin, friend, granddaughter, daughter. I loved her earnest and genuine Nala was, and also loved the way NYC was used as the perfect setting and backdrop.
An Offer from a Gentleman by Julia Quinn
Rating: 4.5/5 stars
What I Liked/Disliked: I’ve seen a lot of people mention that they didn’t love this book, but it was one of my favorites! I think it’s the Cinderella retelling elements that do it for me. This book follows Benedict and Sophia, the illegitimate daughter of an Earl living with her evil stepmother and stepsisters. Her life changes when she sneaks into a masquerade ball and, while in disguise, meets Benedict Bridgerton. This book was high on steam and high on drama and I really hope they don’t change too much when they recreate this for Netflix!
Crazy, Stupid Bromance by Lyssa Kay Adams
Rating: 5/5 stars
What I Liked/Disliked: This series is just *chefs kiss* perfection. Companion series can be hit or miss but this one was definitely a hit! I loved Alexis and Noah as characters, and love a good friends to lovers troupe. This one was really well done, and they both had emotional side stories that kept me hooked! I also love seeing my favorite side characters from the other books reappear. This series is super special and I’m sad that we only have one book left. I cannot recommend it enough!
Heiress Apparently by Diana Ma
Rating: 4.5/5 stars
What I Liked/Disliked: This book is technically YA but reads more like NA because the characters are a bit older, which I think made it even more enjoyable. Gemma is a Chinese American actress who finally gets her big break and is cast in a movie set to film in China. Her parents have always banned her from ever visiting China, so she goes behind their backs to take the role. When she gets there, she discovers family she never knew and a secret family legacy. This book was a lot of fun to read! It kept me interested and I also really enjoyed the romance. I found Gemma relatable in a lot of ways and enjoyed her story. I think if you like forbidden love, friends to lovers and a good dose of Chinese culture, you’d enjoy this book. This book is the first in a series, and I honestly felt like it could be a standalone. The side characters were well done, and I’d pick up the next book if it followed someone I was interested in, but would also be fine stopping with Gemma’s story.
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Have you read any of these reads? Let me know your thoughts in the comments, or if you plan to pick up anything I’ve mentioned!