Book reviews are back! I've finally had some time to get some reading in this month, and I am so glad that I have enough books to talk about for a full Read with Kayla post! I'm looking forward to the new monthly format of these posts and getting to share great books with y'all.
Here is what I've been reading this month:
I put off reading this book for way too long, but in a way I'm glad because now I can jump straight into the sequel! This is definitely not your traditional Romeo and Juliet retelling - but it is so much better! I loved how it incorporated so many different genres into one beautiful world. We definitely got some of the classic R&J storyline + the historical fiction elements from being set in 1920s Shanghai + the adventure of a gang war story + plus fantasy/sci fi elements? Chloe Gong merged it all seamlessly! Never did this book feel like it was trying to be too many things. I look forward to reading more from Chloe!
Rating: ★★★★
Read if you love: Shakespeare retellings, gangsters, fantasy, 1920s
Purchase: Barnes and Noble | Amazon
I love Alexandria Bellefleur. A lot. She write the most beautiful romances and Count Your Lucky Stars did not disappoint! We've seen Margot as the loveable best friend in the first two books in this series, so it was great to get to see her finally get her love story. Olivia makes a great addition to this fabulous group of friends and I thought it was really cool to see her grow up in a lot of ways through her divorce and relationship with her father while also being reunited with her High School love. I was not ready to say goodbye to Elle, Darcy, Brendon, Annie, Margot and Olivia, but I was glad we got this ending to the trilogy that we did! I cannot recommend these books enough!
Rating: ★★★★★
Read if you love: friends to lovers, reluctant romance, Seattle
Purchase: Barnes and Noble | Amazon
I will never say no to a fake dating romance, and The Love Hypothesis did not disappoint! I really enjoyed both Olive and Adam as characters and as a couple. Not only was the romance amazing but it also tackled some really important side topics. The issues within both of Olive and Adam's friendships and the darker and corrupt sides of academia. I immediately needed to find more academia based romances - fake dating or not!
Rating: ★★★★
Read if you love: fake dating, science, exposing academia's darkside
Purchase: Barnes and Noble | Amazon
Yes, I finished a Christmas book in February... I know. But if you don't think about the fact that it takes place at the holidays, it is just a lovely romance full of baking and sister hijinks and sweetness. I'm usually not a huge fan of switching places books, and I'm not entirely sure I think these twins did a great job at it, but I did enjoy both of their love stories and the way their sister bond grew toward the end. It was a perfect quick, adorable read.
Rating: ★★★★
Read if you love: baking, twin hijinks, Christmas
Purchase: Barnes and Noble | Amazon
Never did I ever expect that Francesca's book would become one of my favorites. Ever. But I absolutely loved this book! I love friends to lovers as much as any other trope, and Francesca and Michael did not disappoint. Michael may be one of my favorite Bridgerton suitor. He was funny and caring and a major upgrade from reading about Sir Philip in the previous book. All in all, this was a great romance and I continue to love Julia Quinn's work!
Rating: ★★★★★
Read if you love: Bridgerton, second chance romance, friends to lovers
Purchase: Barnes and Noble | Amazon
Sarah J Maas has done it again. I have never lost my mind so many times while reading a book as I did during House of Sky and Breath. Sarah packed this book with so many OMG moments, I am terrified about what she will do next! I loved seeing a lot of character development of minor characters in this book and I definitely have some new favorites. Bryce and Hunt's romance progressed wonderfully as well and there was definitely more spice in this book than the first, so I was not disappointed there! She did leave us with a few MAJOR cliff hangers, so I hope she is writing fast on that third book! It may not be my favorite SJM book ever (I think ACOMAF still holds that title), but it definitely is in the top three now!
Rating: ★★★★★
Read if you love: SJM, badass women, PLOT TWISTS, sexy tatted fae princes (okay maybe I'm a little obsessed with Ruhn)
Purchase: Barnes and Noble | Amazon
I am a huge Gabby Bernstein fan and have loved all of her books I've read, and I did enjoy this one as well. However, it is definitely her heaviest book content wise and theory wise and that did make it difficult to get through. She packed a lot of her story and her favorite metaphysical and psychological methods in one book and it was a lot to take in. I'm looking forward to reading it again at a later date when I'm ready to dive into some of the activities she suggested, but on a first read it was definitely hard to get through. It is well written and has the same Gabby spirit I love, and I am glad I read it!
Rating: ★★★
Read if you love: facing your past, motivation, meditation, psychology
Purchase: Barnes and Noble | Amazon
I stumbled across this book on tik tok the other day advertised as a girl with a terrible choice between two potential soulmates given to her by the gods and I instantly had to order it and OMG it did not disappoint. I loved the way the world was built around this modern worlds' connection to the Greek gods and goddesses and loved the elements of dreams and flashbacks that the author incorporated through out. Though I did guess the twist a few chapters before it was revealed, I was so excited about what it was that I didn't even care! The three main characters and their relationships were amazing and I could read about them all day. I can't wait to see what Jenna writes next!
Rating: ★★★★★
Read if you love: Greek myth, strong friendships, polyamory
Purchase: Amazon
Have you read any of these books? Let me know over on Instagram!
xo,
Kayla