Heart of the Sun Warrior is the second book in this duology, following Daughter of the Moon Goddess. This story is a magical fairy tale that has everything you could want. An epic tale of love, loyalty, loss, grief, resilience and honor, this story will stay with you for a long time. The various facets of the world are unique and authentic, the characters are complex and flawed and the writing weaves a truly magical tale. Well done!

This book is a delicious treat! Framed through the lens of magic, this book looks at how we all need people to love and be loved by. A reminder that all anyone wants is to be seen and accepted for who they are. Mika takes you on a magical journey as she explores herself, her past and her future. And a man who is a librarian and can quote Jane Austen…Jamie will make your heart pitter-patter. With House on the Cerulean Sea vibes…read this book!

I am a long time fan of Emily Giffin and her books. Anyone who has followed her for a long time knows of her love of the Kennedy family and of JFK Jr. in particular. Meant To Be, which is a fictionalized tale inspired by JFK Jr. and Carolyn, feels like a book that Giffin was always going to write. Her ability to help you see inside the minds of her main characters is fantastic. Both Joe and Cate have clear voices. Well done Emily Giffin!

The Thirteenth Tale was a mixed experience for me. The beginning was so slow and took quite awhile to get a hold of my interest. At about the halfway mark, I did become fully invested in the story and the pace improved. However, by that point I was frustrated with the pace of the beginning portion. All that said, this book tells a compelling story. This book weaves a complex tapestry of the lives of the characters. And , oh, Aurelius..my heart! ❤️

Writers & Lovers: A Novel was tough to get through for me. The protagonist, Casey, is mourning her mother‘s death and this overshadows all elements of her life. She is conflicted about men, both wanting and not wanting relationships with multiple men. Her writing career has been a six year slog to reach the completion of her first novel. This book dragged for me and I did not find Casey to be a character that I ended up rooting for. Tough read.

This fiercely-feminist book tells the fictional (maybe?) story of when women threw off the chains of society and stepped fully into their power. Women from all walks of life dragonned, then set off to burn the houses, factories and offices where they had been held down by the patriarchy. The story of Alex, Beatrice and Marla is fraught with burdens and responsibilities, but also has deep love, caretaking and growth. Become a dragon? Yes!

This book took me a minute to get into, but really picked up about 45% of the way in. Could your soulmate be found using your DNA? The fictional Dr. Peña at GeneticAlly thinks so, until it happens to him. Single mom Jess, her spitfire daughter Juno, best friend Fizzy and the amazing Nana Jo and Pops have a tight knit village with no openings for newcomers. But what happens if you think you are pre-determined to fall in love? Only time will tell!

Women who eschew societal expectations and come fully into their power….hell yes! Something is happening on Culling Pointe and Harriett, Jo and Nessa are drawn together by their unusual abilities to find out what. A commentary on how women hold themselves back and make themselves smaller to appease society, men and sometimes other women. The Change takes a hard look at wealth, power, gender and asks what makes vengeance justified?

Something Wilder is a fun, adventure-filled tale that makes for a quick read. Influenced by movies like Romancing the Stone, whose heroine Joan Wilder lends her name to this book, Something Wilder takes the reader on a fast-paced adventure filled with treasure hunts, double crosses and of course a love story. Can being thrown back together rekindle the lost love between Leo and Lily? Led by tough, strong women, Something Wilder is a good time!

This book caught me off-guard. I was prepared for a rom-com, which it was. But it was also a brutally honest look at infertility, periods, the challenge women face in getting proper healthcare and much more. Above all, it is a treatise on friendship and those who are there when the whole world crumbles around you. Romance, humor, heartbreak…this book has it all!

I went into this book not knowing much about the premise and I did not enjoy it. I do not DNF books, but this was a struggle to get through. Although it did have some good moments, overall the story fell flat for me. Unfortunately, I cannot recommend this one.

I have a deep and abiding love of Hallmark Christmas movies, which meant I would surely enjoy this book based on those same tropes. However, Book Lovers looks at the city girl character and wonders what a happy ending looks like for her. Nora and Libby‘s sister relationship is both sweet and misguided. I love that they learn they can support one another without sacrificing their own dreams. I love how much Charlie loves Nora. Thoroughly enjoyed!

I don‘t usually read romances, but I really enjoy Tessa Bailey‘s books, including It Happened One Summer. Piper, while seemingly ditzy and materialistic, is endearing and you grow to love her right along with the residents of Westport. Brendan is 🔥 🌶, but I love that he has to grow too in order for their relationship to stand a chance. Fast read that is perfect for escapism or lovers of romance and HEA. ❤️

This book was a treat! Knowing Tahir from her Ember in the Ashes series, I was unsure how to feel about a book that was such a departure, but she does not disappoint. The tale this book tells is a difficult one, full of hardships, poor choices and betrayal; but also of love, loyalty and forgiveness. Just like in life, I was rooting for the characters while acknowledging their faults. Misbah, Noor and Salahudin will stay with me for a long time.

I am far from alone in saying that I loved The Midnight Library. I read it in one day and was transfixed from beginning to end. The concept that our lives are the products of tiny decisions that could each lead to wildly different outcomes forces us to beg the question…who would I be if I had picked differently? Everyone has missed opportunities in their lives. Nora‘s experience in the Library shows us that different isn‘t always better. Bravo!

The Rose Code was an enthralling look at female code breakers in WWII. Simultaneously fast-paced and detailed, this book swept me up in the story immediately and never let me go. I was wholly unfamiliar with this portion of WWII history and found both the story and the characters to be captivating. Be sure to read the Author‘s Note at the end, as it contains extremely interesting information. Cannot recommend this one highly enough!

Like everyone else, I loved this book! A fantastic peek into a magical world filled with all sorts of wonders. A true parable, The House in the Cerulean Sea reminds us that we are all the same on the inside. And that with love and acceptance, we can all thrive. This book is truly a treat!

800 pages in 2 days is how you know a book is a page turner! Sarah Maas‘s 2nd Crescent City book takes you on a crazy, sexy, plot-twisting ride. But you haven‘t seen anything until you get to the end. Burning fucking Solas this book was fun!

I picked up West with Giraffes not knowing really anything about it and found it very enjoyable. I felt connected to Boy and Girl and invested in their journey. Woody, Red and the Old Man each gave an insight into the human condition. I read this on the heels of The Four Winds, which gave an in-depth look at the Dust Bowl. That detail made this story even richer. A truly unique journey to learn about!

The Island of the Sea Women was a truly unique book. It tells the story of the haenyeo of the island of Jeju. I was entirely unfamiliar with these women or this place before delving into this story. Lisa See does a tremendous job of painting the world in rich details. The story is not a happy one, spanning decades of war in which people lost so much, but the themes of enduring love, motherhood, friendship and forgiveness are deeply meaningful.

“The library. Books held the answer to every question.”

I‘ve barely started this book, but love this quote! 📖 ❤️

I know that a lot of people really love this book, but it just didn‘t connect for me. I didn‘t particularly enjoy Addie as a character. The story missed the mark for me…it glossed over historical events that would have been super interesting to hear about. One part that I really did enjoy was the theme of being able to leave a mark through inspiring others to create something. Also, when Remy pushed those coins into her hand the next morning…💔.

This book was like prose and poetry and a song all rolled up together. A story of love, loss, bravery, reconciliation, birth, death and rebirth. May we all find our way back to each other, like Xan, Luna, Antain and the madwoman.

I release a sigh that seems to go on for a thousand years. “I‘m so tired of being a girl”.

“Yeah, if you were a boy, you‘d be ruling the world by now.”