I Read a Book Once

I Only Liked This Book (A Man Called Ove - Fredrik Backman)

Let's start this off by saying please don't send me any hate for only liking your favorite book. A Man Called Ove by Fredrik Backman is a beloved book that follows a grumpy old man and his crazy neighbors. It is a favorite by many, just not me. I explain the reasons why I didn't love it, focus on the ending of the book, and wonder if Ruin really could have been taken away.

I Write a New Scene (Take a Hint, Dani Brown - Talia Hibbert)

Ready for a change of pace after my spooky fall reads, I picked up the second book in the Brown Sisters series: Take a Hint, Dani Brown by Talia Hibbert. We get the classic fake dating trope mixed with friends with benefits. What could go wrong? I fail to give a short plot summary after promising to do so, explore Hibbert's unique writing style, and write the scene she never gave us on how Dani and Zaf met.

I Have a Guest! (Ninth House - Leigh Bardugo)

After months of my friend and guest Laura Nobel trying to convince me to read Ninth House by Leigh Bardugo, I finally picked it up. Ninth House brings us to Yale and the dark magic surrounding the secret societies. We marvel at the realness of the characters and the setting, express our shock at the plot twists, and speculate on Darlington's future. Most of all we have a good time going back and forth over the book.

Be Careful Who You Curse (Magic Lessons - Alice Hoffman)

Take a trip back in time to the Salem witch trials in Magic Lessons by Alice Hoffman. The book follows the main character Maria over the course of her life as she practices magic, finds love, and sets a major curse. I wax poetic about the writing in this book, question what in the world Maria was thinking when she set her curse, and divulge my worst reading habits.

The Romantic Chemistry is Off the Charts (Ties That Tether - Jane Igahro)

After the insanity that was the Harley Merlin Halloween special, I'm back with our regularly scheduled programming. This week I'm talking about Ties That Tether by Jane Igahro, which is a book about Azere, who has to decide between being with the man she loves or being in her mother's life. I get off topic at least five times during the plot summary, finally find a book with good romantic chemistry between the two main characters, and reveal my love of angst.

Halloween Special Part 3 (Harley Merlin Series - Bella Forrest)

Happy Halloween! It's time to celebrate with the final part in my Halloween Special. Let's wrap up with books 7-9 in the Harley Merlin series by Bella Forrest. I get the shock of a lifetime with the biggest plot reveal yet, get emotional TWICE, and get really salty over the second POV in book 8. And by the end of the ninth book I'm still convinced that we can't trust adults. 

Halloween Special Part 2 (Harley Merlin Series - Bella Forrest)

I return to the Harley Merlin series by Bella Forrest with Part 2 of my special three part Halloween series. I cover books 4-6, which include my absolute least favorite book, the beginning of the character redemption arc I have been waiting for, and Harley and Wade FINALLY getting together. I discuss the moral of the series, which is don't trust adults, as well as Forrest's writing style, which honestly could use some work.

Halloween Special Part 1 (Harley Merlin Series - Bella Forrest)

There's no better way to celebrate Halloween than with a three-part series on a Bella Forrest's Harley Merlin series about magicals. Yes, that's right magicals (i.e. people who have magic but for some reason don't use familiar titles like witch, wizard, or warlock). Part One covers books 1-3 setting up the world, the bad guy, and the characters backstory. I rant about my least favorite character, question the antagonist of the first book, and have opinions on the romantic relationships.

Immortal Beings are the Worst (Star Daughter - Shveta Thakrar)

In Shveta Thakrar's YA Fantasy book Star Daughter, Sheetal a half-mortal half-star high school student must ascend to the heavens and reunite with her mother in order to save her father. Court politics and character development dominate the rest of the story. I criticize Sheetal's star family for being the worst, question why immortal beings hate humans, and ask for a glossary.

They Don't Get Married at the End (A Rouge of One's Own - Evie Dunmore)

Of course my first romance book on the podcast is the follow-up to my favorite book from 2019. Evie Dunmore returns with A Rouge of One's Own, which tells the story of suffragist leader Lucie as she tries to walk the line between business and pleasure with Tristan in 1880s England. I get heated over slights against my favorite characters from the first book, gush over the ending of the book, and probably spend more time than I should comparing this book to the first one.