Funny Story by Emily Henry Review

This is a spoiler-free review! You can also read my review of Book Lovers on my blog, now!

I picked this up unexpectedly as I wanted to use up store credit at my local bookstore - I did not have the faintest idea of the book's plot, but since I enjoyed Book Lovers so much, I figured I would add it to my cart. Emily Henry seems to have such a way with writing unexpected pairings, and I found myself totally sucked into the absolutely insane predicament that Daphne and Miles were thrown into - I cannot even imagine being in their shoes. With relationships in shambles and exes off galavanting with each other, Miles and Daphne find themselves as roommates when their respective partners abandon them for one another.

Seeing how Miles and Daphne seem to have opposite personalities, their sudden living arrangements causing them to live one room over from one another proves to be more entertaining than either of them imagined. With an unconventional plan to make their exes believe there is something more going on between them than meets the eye, they form an unlikely alliance in order to make everyone believe that they are doing just fine. This was such a fun concept to me, and as a lover of the fake dating trope, I knew I was going to eat this book up as soon as I realized what was going on.

Daphne's relationship with Patrick was always playing it safe and following his lead, whether it came to working out together, spending time with his family, or eating certain foods. It felt as though Daphne could not be her own person in their relationship, and from an outsider's perspective, it was a relationship that was destined to fizzle out one way or another. Miles and Petra's relationship mirrored Daphne and Patrick's, in the sense that Miles was longing for something more while Petra was determined to have Patrick fall into the same ways as her family. While we do not get a super in depth look at both of the relationships, it is clear that they were on roads headed south, and it was only a matter of time before they fell apart.

I loved how much Miles was able to make Daphne come out of her shell and finally start living her life - from what we saw from her relationship with Patrick, the man was holding her back from experiencing everything life had to offer. And for a woman in her thirties, she certainly should have been taking advantage of her youth and exploring the area. On the other hand, Daphne's influence on Patrick when it came to sticking up for himself -- and often times, sticking up for Daphne -- showed how much he was able to mature and really take a look at his life.

If you are looking for a fun, fast-paced romance, Funny Story is in the cards for you. I do wish there were a few less pop culture references, only because I felt like they date a book and it gives off millennial vibes to me. Some plot points felt as though they were repeated from another one of Henry's works, but I still had an absolute blast reading this book, and can't wait to dive into another one of her works.

You can add Funny Story on Goodreads now, and follow the author to stay up to date on releases and publications.

You can catch up with me and my current reads by friending me on Goodreads and following this blog, my Twitter (X), and my Instagram in order to stay up-to-date with any reviews, blog tours, and more!

Relentless Pursuit (Boneless Redemption Duet, #2) by Isabella Alexander Review

This is a spoiler-free review! You can read my review of Forbidden Obsession on my blog, now!

I told myself I needed to see how this duet ended despite my original feelings for the first installment. Penelope and Dominic's relationship was nothing short of interesting and complicated... and after the end of Forbidden Obsession, I could not even imagine their relationship ever working out in the long run. They have so many issues and even more secrets from one another, one can only see their relationship going downhill one month into anything serious. 

This final installment was filled with mediocre spicy scenes and juvenile writing that had me questioning the dialogue every other page. I had my qualms with the first book, and I truly thought that there would be some form of improvement to see this duet through -- unfortunately, that was not the case. Penelope is just as naive as she was in the first book, and Dominic is just as irrational and territorial as I remember. When they are not in bed together, they are keeping secrets from one another or trying to get the upper hand to satisfy their own agendas.

The "twists" in this book were incredibly predictable and the pacing is so rushed, it feels as though obstacles pop up on one page and then get immediately resolved within the next two pages. I wish the story improved as the book progressed, but the plot was essentially at a stalemate for me - I could see everything coming from a mile away, and since I was not particularly attached to Penelope and Dominic's relationship, I frankly did not care what happened to them. To echo my statement from my Forbidden Obsession review, I once again felt like I was being held hostage when I was reading this book.

With underdeveloped lead characters and a storyline that has taken more turns than necessary, Alexander's duet leaves the reader feeling jolted around as they attempt to make sense of every decision a character made. I wish I had more positive things to say about this book, but I was left incredibly underwhelmed and to be honest, grateful once it was finally over. It is a very quick read, so if you are looking for a duet that you can fly through, it may be up your alley.

You can add Relentless Pursuit on Goodreads now, and follow the author to stay up to date on releases and publications.

You can catch up with me and my current reads by friending me on Goodreads and following this blog, my Twitter (X), and my Instagram in order to stay up-to-date with any reviews, blog tours, and more!

Six Scorched Roses (Crowns of Nyaxia, #1.5) by Carissa Broadbent Review

This is a spoiler-free review! You can read my review of The Serpent and the Wings of Night on my blog, now!

I loved how this novella was its own story and can be read as a standalone - its dark tones and romantic incorporation allows the reader to remain in the world, but explore a new relationship and see other characters develop outside of the first installment of this series. The concept of Lilith dying since the day she was born was so intriguing to me - as she has accepted her fate, the constant death surrounding her has her searching for a cure. Making a deal with a vampire is risky, but for someone who is willing to do whatever it takes, it seems like an easy choice.

When Lilith offers roses in exchange for vials of Val's blood, she does not realize that this is only the beginning of their relationship before it develops into something they both never expected. As a lover of vampire romance, it was fun to watch their "business transactions" turn into something romantic, even more so watching Lilith slowly turn from being weary of Val to falling in love. While Val and Lilith's interactions were not super long, the author certainly was able to depict their relationship deeply and how their very different lives have been affected by one another.

This novella felt much more fleshed out compared to other fantasy series novellas - it felt as though I read a complete story, and I do hope they come into play more in the main series. I would love to see more of what is in store for their relationship. Since their story is not directly related to the first book in this series, you can choose to read this or skip, but I would recommend reading it for the essence of the series. There was such a heavy yearning aspect to Val and Lilith's romance that it truly holds the reader captive until the very end.

You can add Six Scorched Roses on Goodreads now, and follow the author to stay up to date on releases and publications.

You can catch up with me and my current reads by friending me on Goodreads and following this blog, my Twitter (X), and my Instagram in order to stay up-to-date with any reviews, blog tours, and more!

Lead (Stage Dive, #3) by Kylie Scott Review

This is a spoiler-free review! You can read my reviews of Lick and Play on my blog, now! Lick is now available to stream on Passionflix.

Jimmy has also intrigued me as a character since his introduction in Lick, so I was excited to see how he developed in his own story and how he would welcome the idea of a romantic interest in his life. Since I am a sucker for the personal assistant trope, I knew this book would keep me hooked, especially considering Jimmy is not the picture perfect man - he has his ups and downs, which makes him all the more interesting to read about. When Lena ends up as his personal assistant, she certainly does not expect it to be as intense as Jimmy makes it for her.

Lena wants to keep everything professional between her and Jimmy, and seems to be the only person in his life that does not walk on eggshells around him when it comes to his past, and she is the only one able to put him in his place. They have pretty solid banter and while we only get Lena's perspective in the book, we can tell how much Jimmy cannot stay away from Lena, despite his somewhat idiotic actions he does in order to make her stay. Despite Lena's determination to stay professional is definitely put to the test throughout this book, and she has to deal with a lot personally as she manages Jimmy's professional life.

Of the three leading ladies that we have seen in the Stage Dive series, I have to say that Lena is at the top of my list - all of them have their own strengths and compliment their romantic counterparts, but there was just something about the characterization of Lena that was more compelling. Her relationship with Jimmy was one that seemed the most organic out of the other relationships, and as I have said before, I love the tropes in the other books, but this one really takes the cake for me.

Once again, the friendships in this book series really make everything work - the support systems they have solidify the characters and their personalities without sacrificing the romantic development between the main leads. It was nice to see that the other band members went to bat for Lena when she was being wronged, or even when Jimmy was not acting in the best light towards Lena when he was upset at the consequences of his own actions. These books are great when you just need a moment to have a low-stakes romance that you know will work out in the end, but there are still obstacles that keep the story moving.

You can add Lead on Goodreads now, and follow the author to stay up to date on releases and publications.

You can catch up with me and my current reads by friending me on Goodreads and following this blog, my Twitter (X), and my Instagram in order to stay up-to-date with any reviews, blog tours, and more!

The Crown of the Dark Prince (House of Hyrax, #2) by Arcadia Rayne ARC Review

This is a spoiler-free review! You can read my review of The Rose in the Shadows on my blog, now! The Crown of the Dark Prince will be available on May 8, 2025.

I would first like to thank NetGalley and Victory Editing for providing me a copy in exchange for an honest review. I absolutely loved The Rose in the Shadows, and was incredibly excited to dive back into the world and see what was in store for these characters. Thea is now even deeper into Athenian Court and Council member life, and as she continues her internal battle between following her feelings and looking for the truth, she finds herself more isolated than ever. After the events of The Rose in the Shadows, she is essentially moving through life with determination to understand what the God of the Dead has in store for her.

Her attraction to Clay and their complicated relationship continue in this installment, and the will-they-wont-they is addicting. Every interaction they have is like adding fuel to the fire to their story, and I found Thea's complex and guarded actions towards Clay an intriguing part of her character that made her more nuanced as the story went on. Clay's reactions to her approach were completely valid, and his determination toward understanding the situation really solidified him as a character and as a potential love interest.

The Dragon continues to be one of the most vile characters in this series and the introduction of another foe only causes Thea, Clay, and the rest of their friends to face even more difficulties and loss throughout this installment. Thea is truly put through the ringer at every chance, and I felt as though she could never catch a break - there would be fleeting moments where she was content or at ease, but two chapters later, she would be fighting for her life or trying to save someone. That being said, she certainly had her moments and needed to lock into her common sense skills - I think she would become so overwhelmed at the state of the madness that she was unable to focus on how to solve issues.

Friendships in this series have been at the root for logical thinking and holding each other accountable. The majority of the characters either go through something horrific or bear witness to something of that nature, and the outcome tends to impact their relationships with one another. Considering what occurred in The Rose in the Shadows, it comes to no surprise that particular characters are not acting like their usual selves, while other characters attempt to aid those affected in the best way possible. Secrets are uncovered and loyalties are put to the test as everyone seeks to end the suffering around them.

Once again the ending of this book was insane and now I cannot believe I have to wait for the third installment. I had a feeling things were going in that direction, but when it actually happened, I still could not believe what I was reading. Rayne does such a fantastic job at pulling readers into the story, and coming off the intense battles these characters fight in, it felt like another blow by a sword, in the best way possible. I absolutely will be continuing on with this series, and cannot imagine what trials and tribulations this group of friends will have to endure.

You can add The Crown of the Dark Prince on Goodreads now, and follow the author to stay up to date on releases and publications.

You can catch up with me and my current reads by friending me on Goodreads and following this blog, my Twitter (X), and my Instagram in order to stay up-to-date with any reviews, blog tours, and more!

Dyscalculia: A Love Story of Epic Miscalculation by Camonghne Felix Review

I do not know how to comment on someone else's trauma - reading memoirs or nonfiction books is not my typical choice, but I had heard some interesting thoughts regarding this book, so I figured I would expand my reading genre and give it a try. I certainly did not expect the extensiveness that this book dives into the author's past traumas - I knew it would be discussed, but it seemed to override the comparison or relationship to mathematics and calculations. As someone who has studied dyscalculia, I was excited to see how it would be incorporated beyond neuropsychology, but instead, I was left unsatisfied.

Based on the summary, I anticipated this memoir would rely more heavily on dyscalculia and her interest in mathematics - it was more so present in the beginning, but soon felt abandoned in favor of recollections of various therapist appointments and polarizing encounters with her past partner. She is plagued with a number of mental health obstacles, ranging from figuring out the right medication as a child to continues diagnoses well into adulthood - all while tackling relationships outside of the one she has with herself.

The pacing of this memoir felt as though I was being jerked around in a number of directions - it honestly was a bit disorienting at times, and often left me trying to understand where her timeline was by the time she was done with an inserted tangent. That being said, the author does have great prose and I was definitely able to lock into her story - she clearly has the ability to story tell, but this book in particular did not showcase her full potential in my opinion. It often felt as though she was going on an extended tangent recounting so many random instances. Just as her stories were coming together, the book was over and I felt left with more confusion and questions than a sense of completion.

Maybe memoirs are not the genre for me, but I am always open to read anything - this book really did draw my attention and I was excited to see what was in store regarding how the author would be able to convey personal experiences to the directness of mathematics. I may return to her work in the future, but for now, this experience was enough for me to table that idea for now.

You can add Dyscalculia: A Love Story of Epic Miscalculation on Goodreads now, and follow the author to stay up to date on releases and publications.

You can catch up with me and my current reads by friending me on Goodreads and following this blog, my Twitter (X), and my Instagram in order to stay up-to-date with any reviews, blog tours, and more!

The Serpent and the Wings of Night (Crowns of Nyaxia, #1) by Carissa Broadbent Review

This is a spoiler-free review!

Finally, and adult vampire fantasy book that actually has a solid balance of romance and fantasy - I could cry. I have had this book on my TBR for what feels like forever and it was high time that I finally picked it up and saw what all of the hype was about. Oraya was adopted by the Nightborn vampire king after being found alone and was raised among vampires as a human. In order to prove herself worthy of more than she appears, she decides to compete in the Kejari to solidify her presence and power. Along the way, she makes an unlikely ally in a vampire she wants nothing to do with, yet cannot stay away from. As she encounters attacks she never saw coming, Oraya must decide if her victory is worth the price.

Broadbrent does an excellent job is creating the most interesting dynamic between Oraya and her adopted father - I could literally feel their bond off of the page, and it was refreshing to see how he had his own way of caring for her while still being a king with a brutal past. She very much understands what he has done in order to secure his throne, and she knows that without that brutality, vampires would not be the creatures they are.

The intensity of the Kejari is tangible - I was on the edge of my seat. The pacing is essentially electric and the reader feels as though they are competing alongside the others and fighting for their lives. Oraya's determination as a human in a world of vampires is amplified by her position as the king's adopted daughter - while she is basically out-ranking everyone else, she has the illegitimacy haunting her, allowing others to speak freely towards her and doing everything in their power to take her out of the running.

Raihn... where do I even begin with this man... he is everything that Oraya cannot stand, and yet they gravitate towards one another like they belong in each other's solar systems. The banter was fantastic to witness - they both do not take anyone's B.S. and challenge each other to the fullest capacity. Raihn's vampiric nature is everything opposite to Oraya's humanistic characteristics, making their balance something so intense and complex - she cannot stand what vampires are doing to humans, and he cannot understand why she is set on competing with centuries-old vampires for the chance for a single wish.

You can feel Raihn and Oraya's struggles to come to turn with their feelings towards one another while also battling their own struggles - with attacks coming from all sides, they are forced to not only compete in Kejari, but compete for their lives and their own desires as those around them attempt to shatter the world they live in. I truly appreciated how much their actions impacted their emotions, and seeing how they decided to put their own needs above others in a number of situations.

The pacing of this book was insane at the end - I felt as though I was being swung around in the air at twenty miles per hour - they hits just kept coming. To echo what some other reviews note, a number of the plot twists were certainly able to be spotted from a mile away, but there were a few at the end that caught me off guard so much so that my jaw dropped and I had to take a minute to process what just occurred. The alliances and friendships in this book were so interesting - all were complex with layers, even when ulterior motives were at play. I cannot wait to see what is in store for these characters, and considering this series is going to be compiled of three duologies, I will have plenty to dive into.