I felt like I was still reading the first book and kept waiting for something to happen. Gave up at 40%

When I first started reading this I felt like it was not the book for me. Because I went in with expectations of what I wanted this book to be, and it was giving me something else: A story I was wanting to read but didn‘t know it yet.

I did not expect to be rooting for Xiomara the way that I did, her aimlessness, her grief, were so vividly depicted by the author that all you were left with were whispers of: “Yes, you can do this, you can.” 👇🏽

Read this to see what the hype was about, and I get it now!

Took me exactly a month to read this, but I‘m glad I took my time with it, because I sometimes felt that this was way too long.

*Please read all trigger warnings before starting this*

Looking forward to reading the next book!

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Starting this and hoping to finish before the #Booker shortlist is announced.

Went into this one because I loved the cover. As with any short story collection, I liked some more than others, but I had a good time reading this, overall.

⭐️⭐️⭐️ #arc

Wonderful debut!

I became very invested in the story early on (Morrow's narrative does not really give you space for anything else), and as the layers of the story started to unfold, you just keep wanting to know more.

This story touches on so many topics: race, class, privilege, friendships, family.

The only thing I have to say about the betrayal mentioned in the synopsis: WTF?!

Loved!

⭐️⭐️⭐️⭐️ #arc

Out today!

Really enjoyed this. Felt that Piñeiro‘s journalist side shined through on this book. The plot twists on this one were the least shocking to me, since the way situations were handled in the story are still very common in Latin America, unfortunately.

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I will finally admit to myself that one sided-conversations in books are not for me.

I do appreciate what this book is doing and it did open up a few perspectives for me when it comes to polyamory. But, I would‘ve have enjoyed this more if I had some POV of the other parties involved.

That being said: Did I enjoy the spiraling this unnamed character had throughout this story? Absolutely!

3.5⭐️ #arc Out tomorrow!

A story that gives you so much to think about. Riki becomes a surrogate for Motoi and Yuko, mostly because she is tired of struggling in Tokyo. All parties go into this believing that it would just be a business transaction, but so much more comes into play.

Loved this book! The ending was not what I expected, which made me love this even more.

Can't wait to read more from this author.

⭐️⭐️⭐️⭐️ #arc

This was beautiful! It took me way too long to finish this, but when I picked it back up recently, I could not put it down.

Loved Hannah, Sam and Hannah‘s bubbe! The remaining cast of characters are also memorable.

This novel was written with so much care and humanity. Finding out at the end that the author is also an oncology nurse makes sense and makes it even more special.

Read this!! #arc

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This book was everything I've been looking for when I thought about a dark romance! (Bear with me, I'm new to this genre 🤣).

I became so invested in this story that I could barely put it down.

*Please read all the trigger warnings before starting this one*

Lola King, you have just become a favorite.

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Trying another dark romance and have to say that I‘m very invested!

Almost DNF‘d this twice because I was so frustrated and ANGRY with Tom that I was about to start pulling my hair out…But, I‘m so glad I stuck with it, because I ended up loving the story!

And, yes, the rumors are true: The ending of chapter 1 😱

Overall, a good story, but it felt like a long, painful road to get there.

3.5⭐️ #arc

2nd installment of this series and it just keeps getting better! So glad I came in late to the game and I still have 3 more books available to read 😊

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Current audiobook…Latest Piñeiro and I‘m already so invested in the story!

I was drawn to it because it dealt with the death of a musician, and I just love drama that involves musicians. But this book delivered so much more than that. It dealt with that uncomfortable part of life called grief and not knowing how you are going to handle it when it comes, how the process is not lineal.

I can't fully describe how this book made me feel, but Muharrar's writing just kept me coming back over and over.

5⭐️ Out now! #arc

Current audiobook…I‘m loving book 2!

⭐️⭐️⭐️ #arc Out Today

The premise of this book looked promising, but the story is full of stereotypes about Dominicans and the tourism industry. I am not saying these isolated incidents do not happen at the resorts, but the book just focused on the rich tourists getting to do whatever they want and getting away with it, and the resort workers just catering to their whims and cleaning up their messes.

👇🏽

I had such a great time reading this. The story was very realistic and I became invested in the story very early on.

Loved the ending!

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I don‘t normally read YA, but damn…

Current audiobook…Already loving this!

Well, this book surprised me in all the best ways! Iris gets a special gift from her neighbor friend: a custom perfume that promises to empower her.

We follow Iris as her life experiences change because of this fragrance…But is that what is really happening?

Loved how this author weaved this story in such a way that when plot twists happened I found myself gasping a couple of times.

Loved, LOVED this!

Out now 😊

⭐️⭐️⭐️⭐️⭐️ #arc

I liked this one so much more than the first book! Listened to the audiobook and loved the narrators.

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Even though I was initially liking it, I was not a fan of the lack of chapters and paragraphs on this since it made it hard to find a good stopping point.

This was just a continuous rant and maybe would‘ve worked better as an essay.

2.5⭐️

US Pub Date: 9/2/25 #arc

Entering my Backman era…

Current audiobook… After DNFing the first book, decided to try again with the second installment. Going well, so far!

When I received the ARC for this book, I started it that same night! The premise just looked right up my alley. I am happy to report that this book did not disappoint!

The author parsed out the tension in a way that kept me hooked. Somewhere around 75%, I thought that I had the whole plot figured out, but I was very far from the truth. The turn of events in Athens left me shocked and I was satisfied with the ending.

Loved! Pub Date: 8/12/25

I‘m dubbing this the year of getting books with beautiful covers! 😍

Came on here to start putting this on your radar…Started it last night and cannot put it down!

#arc

I took my time reading this (almost 2 months!) and I‘m so glad I did. The story is packed-full of characters that might make you feel overwhelmed at times, but to me it just added to the richness of the story.

Loved the way Desai delivered Sonia and Sunny‘s stories through the pages. And loved the sprinkles of comic relief to break up the tension in some parts.

One of my Top 5 reads this year!

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#arc Pub Date: 9/23/25

Stumbled upon this audiobook on my library‘s selection, and decided to give it a try…and I have no words to really describe how much I loved this! What a powerful memoir and Quiara‘s narration is magnificent!

Now I am even more excited to have been sent an ARC of her upcoming novel 🥹

Loved this debut, even though I was over Ruth‘s naïveté at about 75%. Not mad about it, since the author was that good at depicting the unbalance of the power dynamics in the friendship.

The RI setting was also a high point for me. And the cover ?

Read this!

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Out today! #arc

This book was enjoyable for the most part, until it became aimless and I just wanted it to end.

We follow Allison, who is still dealing with the grief of losing her brother and gets into a relationship with her Dad‘s favorite radio host.

I feel that this would‘ve worked better as a short story, the author is a good storyteller but it just didn‘t work for me as a novel. #arc

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Interesting memoir!

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I‘m trying to finish (or DNF) the many books I‘m in the middle of and this is one of them. I read a few chapters a few weeks ago, decided I liked it but never went back…Picked it up again last night and I am loving it. #arc

I started really liking this but at 25% it seems like the story is going in circles…

This was a very tough memoir to get through. Damatac does not hold back in her accounts of everything she went through while being undocumented in the US for 20 years. More stories like this need to be told so that we do not forget how lucky and privileged we are.

*TW: Abuse is addressed HEAVILY throughout the book*

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This is one of the most beautiful writing I've encountered, ever. Hilje manages to deliver a story filled with longing and lost love between partners, in life and country.

Possibly my favorite book this year!

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#arc

I was on such a good streak reconnecting with Allende‘s writing in recent years, but this story was not a favorite. I felt it dragged on, I didn‘t feel a connection with any of the characters, and just found the overall story underwhelming.

I did not DNF‘d this out of loyalty to Allende, but it did take me almost 3 months to finish it. Overall, I‘m glad I read it, and hoping I have a better experience with her next book.

⭐️⭐️⭐️ #arc

Current audiobook…I started reading this on Kindle, but was not connecting with it, so I tried on audio and I can‘t stop listening to it!

This story sucks you in, you immediately feel that you want to protect these girls who have been shunned by the whole town for the choices that they've made. These girls fight with and for each other and as the book progresses and dynamics shift, the story never loses its focus: The power of sisterhood and the female spirit.

One of the most beautiful stories I've read this year. The last chapter will forever hold a special place in my heart.

Current audioboook…Liking the narration on this!

Time to start this one…Been putting it off for way too long and I‘m challenging myself to finish reading it by Tuesday (pub date!).

And isn‘t this a gorgeous cover?

#arc

There was a time on my reading journey where I was obsessed with Grisham‘s books. He couldn‘t write them fast enough 😅

My taste has evolved and I haven‘t been keeping up with his books in a while. But receiving and ARC of his latest book just felt like a full circle moment to me ❤️

#arc

This was cute but a little predictable. Had a fun time with it. Thanks @Reggie for the rec! 🤗

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Been slowly chipping away at this for the past week (daughter had national exams last week and HS graduation on Saturday 🎉🥹). And it was tough to put this one down because it‘s SOOO good!

First Oates and I loved the experience! What a great (also, very disturbing!) story.

I took my time reading this one, because I did not want to miss any details. Even though I kind of figured out who killed Fox early on, the story becomes so twisted that I started to feel that any of the characters could've done it.

Highly recommend this one and I can't wait to read more Oates! #arc

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Enjoyed the first installment of this thriller series!

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Current audiobook… Didn‘t know this was a thing! 😮

This was great! I watch SNL sporadically, so I am not very familiar with cast members. When I came across this audiobook, decided to give it a try and I was laughing most of the time.

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Started this one last night and I‘m loving the way Oates writes! #arc