BOOKS | Review: Done and Dusted by Lyla Sage

Name: Done and Dusted (Rebel Blue Ranch #1)

Author: Lyla Sage

Publisher: Quercus

Date published: June 2023

Genre: Fiction, adult, romance, contemporary, small town, cowboys

Pages: 340

Rating: 4/5

She’s off-limits, but he’s never been good at following the rules.
For the first time in her life, Clementine “Emmy” Ryder has no idea what she’s doing. She’s accomplished everything on her to-do list. She left her small hometown of Meadowlark, Wyoming; went to college; and made a career for herself by doing her favorite thing: riding horses. But after an accident makes it impossible for her to get back into the saddle, she has no choice but to return to the hometown she always wanted to escape.
Luke Brooks is Meadowlark’s most notorious bad boy, bar owner, and bachelor. He’s also the unofficial fifth member of the Ryder family. As Emmy’s older brother’s best friend, Luke spent most of his childhood antagonizing her. It’s been years since he’s seen her, but when she walks into his bar and back into his life, he can’t take his eyes off her. Despite his better judgment, he wants to do a whole lot more than just look at her.
Emmy’s got too much on her mind to think about romance. And Luke knows he should stay away from his best friend’s younger sister. But what if Luke is just what Emmy needs to get her spark back? Or will they both go up in flames?

- From Goodreads.

This was such a fun and comforting book. It was very easy to read, had some great humourous moments and some really emotional ones too, it almost had me tearing up at one point!

The setting of Meadowlark was wonderful, it felt very real, I could picture it so clearly and you could really feel the strong sense of community there. The description of the nature and the landscape of the area were especially lovely.

The characters were great, Emmy was very likeable and it was wonderful to see her slowly recover from her riding accident and find the confidence to get back on a horse. I think I would even have liked for the book to spend more time on that part of her story, but it was still heartwarming. I also don't remember ever reading a main character with ADHD, at least not explicitly on page, and I liked that Emmy got to talk about her diagnosis, how it made her feel and how it was affecting her, and that the love interest Luke listened to her and made her feel safe and comfortable and calm and like she could talk about anything with him.

Luke was a great love interest, I liked that he was so surprised by his feelings for Emmy but was not afraid to be honest about them. I also liked that although he had his troubles in the past and had made mistakes, he was trying to do better and become a better person.

I think one of the only things that frustrated me was Emmy's oldest brother's behaviour, I know the protective older brother is a pretty classic romance trope, but it felt pretty old-fashioned the way it was done and some of the moments with him were difficult to read.

Overall though this was a very enjoyable book and I will definitely be continuing in the series. I am looking forward especially to learning more about Wes, Emmy's other brother, as he seemed very sweet and thoughtful. I would recommend this if you're looking for a fun cowboy romance!

BOOKS | Review: The Wishing Game by Meg Shaffer

Name: The Wishing Game

Author: Meg Shaffer

Publisher: Jo Fletcher Books

Date published: 2023

Genre: Fiction, adult, romance, contemporary, mystery, books about books

Pages: 283

Rating: 4/5

Make a wish...
Lucy Hart knows better than anyone what it’s like to grow up without parents who loved her. In a childhood marked by neglect and loneliness, Lucy found her solace in books, namely the Clock Island series by Jack Masterson. Now a twenty-six-year-old teacher’s aide, she is able to share her love of reading with bright, young students, especially seven-year-old Christopher Lamb, who was left orphaned after the tragic death of his parents. Lucy would give anything to adopt Christopher, but even the idea of becoming a family seems like an impossible dream without proper funds and stability.
But be careful what you wish for...
Just when Lucy is about to give up, Jack Masterson announces he’s finally written a new book. Even better, he’s holding a contest at his home on the real Clock Island, and Lucy is one of the four lucky contestants chosen to compete to win the one and only copy.
For Lucy, the chance of winning the most sought-after book in the world means everything to her and Christopher. But first she must contend with ruthless book collectors, wily opponents, and the distractingly handsome (and grumpy) Hugo Reese, the illustrator of the Clock Island books. Meanwhile, Jack “the Mastermind” Masterson is plotting the ultimate twist ending that could change all their lives forever.
... You might just get it.

- From Goodreads.

This story was whimsical and delightful but also able to deal with some darker and more emotional themes. Anyone sensitive to themes around childhood abuse and neglect may want to tread carefully with this book as it is a big theme. The foster system and adoption are also mentioned because of Lucy's struggle to adopt Christopher, and there is a lot of discussion in general of the terrible things children can go through. Lucy's sister is ill throughout their childhood so that is also something that is dealt with. As well as that, and this is something that does not happen to any of the main characters, and it is just mentioned in backstory as happening to a child that one of the characters knew, but there are mentions of sexual abuse and the death of a child. I thought it was all dealt with well and with sensitivity and thoughtfulness but these things can effect everyone differently so you may just need to consider your own tolerance levels to these topics when picking up this book.

I liked the concept of the book in general, the idea of the eccentric author of a fantasy series actually living on an island like the one from his books and inviting people there to take part in a game also as from his books was a lot of fun and entertaining to read. 

I really loved the romance in the book. Hugo and Lucy were really sweet together and it was lovely to see them open up to each other and understand each other. I think it would have been nice to get a little more focus on their romance towards the end, maybe a scene or two more with just the two of them, but overall I was really happy with how their story ended.

The only other thing I thought could have been improved was that some of the side characters and minor characters did not feel completely fully rounded out and like they needed a little more development to feel more like real people. They were not completely flat, I think they just needed a little more work to feel like they were not just waiting in the background until they were necessary. All of the main characters felt fully developed though, all of them were interesting and I was happy to follow their journey through the book.

Overall, while it was not perfect, I still enjoyed the book a lot, I thought it was very wholesome and had a great message to it. I might pick up another book from the author in the future if she writes a similar romance.

BOOKS | Review: Girls Like Girls by Hayley Kiyoko

Name: Girls Like Girls

Author: Hayley Kiyoko

Publisher: Penguin Books

Date Published: June 2023

Genre: Fiction, young adult, contemporary, romance, drama

Pages: 309

Rating: 5/5

Still spiralling after the death of her mom, Coley is flung into the middle-of-nowhere Oregon to live with her long-lost father. Life pretty much sucks. Until she meets Sonya. Sonya with her head-turning beauty and her laugh that imprints itself in Coley's brain. Sonya who cuddles just a little bit closer and flirts a little bit harder whenever Coley's around. But Sonya's stuck in an on-again-off-again relationship with her jerk of an (ex)boyfriend and hounded by the expectations of her parents. Will Sonya ever be ready to take a chance on this unexpected love?

- From Goodreads.

This story was quick and easy to read. The tension and intrigue of the plot built up well, it was nicely paced and kept me turning the pages.

The characters were developed thoroughly and felt real. I could understand their feelings and motivations, and the main character and her love interest were especially compelling.

I think it portrayed well the struggles of a teenager trying to figure out how to be who they are, especially around new people, and all while dealing with grief and a difficult family situation. I think all of these themes were woven together well in the story and it all came to a satisfying conclusion at the end.

I would definitely recommend this if you are looking for a summer teen romance with queer characters. It had a lot of heart and emotion and felt like a really meaningful story.

BOOKS | Review: The Very Secret Society of Irregular Witches by Sangu Mandanna

Name: The Very Secret Society of Irregular Witches

Author: Sangu Mandanna

Publisher: Hodder & Stoughton

Date published: August 2022

Genre: Fiction, adult, fantasy, romance, contemporary, paranormal

Pages: 336

Rating: 5/5

As one of the few witches in Britain, Mika Moon knows she has to hide her magic, keep her head down, and stay away from other witches so their powers don’t mingle and draw attention. And as an orphan who lost her parents at a young age and was raised by strangers, she’s used to being alone and she follows the rules... With one exception: an online account, where she posts videos "pretending" to be a witch. She thinks no one will take it seriously.
But someone does. An unexpected message arrives, begging her to travel to the remote and mysterious Nowhere House to teach three young witches how to control their magic. It breaks all of the rules, but Mika goes anyway, and is immediately tangled up in the lives and secrets of not only her three charges, but also an absent archaeologist, a retired actor, two long-suffering caretakers, and… Jamie. The handsome and prickly librarian of Nowhere House would do anything to protect the children, and as far as he’s concerned, a stranger like Mika is a threat. An irritatingly appealing threat.
As Mika begins to find her place at Nowhere House, the thought of belonging somewhere begins to feel like a real possibility. But magic isn't the only danger in the world, and when a threat comes knocking at their door, Mika will need to decide whether to risk everything to protect a found family she didn’t know she was looking for....

- From Goodreads.

This was a very sweet, heartwarming book that really got to my emotions and made me very happy to read. It had a good balance of lighthearted and serious moments and had a really joyful conclusion.

The descriptions of the setting, atmosphere and magic were all wonderful to read. I could really picture everything and felt really immersed in every scene. I loved how the magic was described, it was really exciting and fun and the author really showed how much Mika loved her magic and her joy of sharing her magic with other characters was so lovely and sweet.

I loved Mika as a main character, she had a great way of thinking about the world and she was so thoughtful and sensitive towards other people. Her relationships with the other characters were all interesting, and all of the other characters felt realistic and well rounded. Her romantic relationship with Jamie and the way everything developed between them was so perfect and I thought the way they communicated and how they treated each other with kindness was so nice to read and I really believed the feelings between them.

I really enjoyed the plot, there was a lot of room for character development and plenty of moments that helped build the relationships between the characters. There were some great funny moments as well as some really emotional and heartfelt ones. Overall it was a great story and everything I could want from a cosy fantasy romance.

BOOKS | Review: Everything Everything by Nicola Yoon

Name: Everything, Everything
Author: Nicola Yoon
Publisher: Corgi Books
Date published: 2015
Genre: Young adult, contemporary, romance
Pages: 306
Rating: 3/5

 Madeline Whittier is allergic to the outside world. So allergic, in fact, that she has never left the house in all of her seventeen years. She is content enough—until a boy with eyes the color of the Atlantic Ocean moves in next door. Their complicated romance begins over IM and grows through a wunderkammer of vignettes, illustrations, charts, and more.

- From Goodreads.

I mostly enjoyed reading Everything, Everything and I thought the story was definitely unique. I really liked the format with the physical book, as the illustrations and diagrams were really inventive and definitely added to the story.
I really like Maddy and Olly as characters, I cared about their lives and I wanted things to work out well for them both. Their romance happened quite quickly but it still seemed believable and realistic enough.
However, not all of the rest of the story felt that realistic and I felt distanced from the story slightly because I was not sure it could all really happen, but I could tell it had been researched and thought out, and I was invested enough in the characters that I could suspend my disbelief.
One of the parts that felt slightly improbable was a plot twist towards the end of the story. I did sense the twist coming a little, but it was very unique and I really felt how much it devasted Maddy, and it was an interesting enough plot point that I did not mind so much that it felt a little implausible.
Another thought on plot is that I was not sure that the ending wrapped up everything well enough that I felt completely satisfied, it was sweet and it seemed hopeful, but I felt like I wanted a little more.
Overall I did like the book although I was left feeling like it was not completely for me. I still really loved some of the characters, and I would recommend picking it up if it sounds like something you might enoy.

BOOKS | Review: Under Rose-Tainted Skies by Louise Gornall

Name: Under Rose-Tainted Skies
Author: Louise Gornall
Publisher: Chicken House
Date published: 2016
Genre: Contemporary, young adult, mental health, romance
Pages: 275
Rating: 4/5

Agoraphobia confines Norah to the house she shares with her mother.
For her, the outside is sky glimpsed through glass, or a gauntlet to run between home and car. But a chance encounter on the doorstep changes everything: Luke, her new neighbour. Norah is determined to be the girl she thinks Luke deserves: a ‘normal’ girl, her skies unfiltered by the lens of mental illness. Instead, her love and bravery opens a window to unexpected truths …

- From Goodreads.

Under Rose-Tainted Skies was a wonderful story to read, and about an area of mental health I had not read very much about before. I thought Norah's condition was portrayed in a very thoughtful, respectful and emotional way that gave real insight into what a life like hers would be like.
I thought it was so fascinating to read a story that really focused on one setting and very few characters. It meant you could really come to understand the characters and their feelings, and the close examination gave an opportunity to make everything feel very real.
In terms of plot, there was a twist in the story towards the end of the book that I did not see coming, but that was very well set up and helped bring a satisfying conclusion to the novel.
The romance in the story was very heartwarming and although both characters made mistakes with each other, those mistakes were understandable and they tried to work through problems and actively worked to act kindly and thoughtfully towards each other.
Overall, although of course some parts of the book made me feel anxious and emotional, I finished the book feeling happy and hopeful, and when I think back to the book I am very glad I read it.

BOOKS | Review: The Paper & Hearts Society by Lucy Powrie

Name: The Paper & Hearts Society
Author: Lucy Powrie
Publisher: Hodder & Stoughton
Date published: June 2019
Genre: Young adult, contemporary
Pages: 365
Rating: 4/5

Tabby Brown is tired of trying to fit in. She doesn't want to go to parties - in fact, she would much rather snuggle up on the sofa with her favourite book.
It's like she hasn't found her people ...
Then Tabby joins a club that promises to celebrate books. What could go wrong? EVERYTHING - especially when making new friends brings out an AWKWARD BUZZING feeling all over her body.
But Olivia, Cassie, Henry and Ed have something that makes Tabby come back. Maybe it's the Austen-themed fancy-dress parties, or Ed's fluffy cat Mrs Simpkins, or could it be Henry himself ...
Can Tabby let her weird out AND live THE BEST BOOKISH LIFE POSSIBLE?

- From Goodreads.

The Paper & Hearts Society was such a sweet and lovely read that I really related to. It made me feel very nostalgic and took me right back to when I was Tabby's age, how my love for reading felt at that point in my life, and how I had a countless amount of insecurities but really valued the friendships I managed to find and the friends who really understood me and my interests.
Tabby's voice was so endearing and funny, I found myself smiling and laughing a lot while reading the book. I especially enjoyed her relationship and interactions with her grandmother as I thought they felt very warm and real. I also rooted for the romance that develops through the story, Tabby and her love interest really suited each other and I thought it was a very well protrayed teenage romance.
I thought the topics of anxiety, depression, bullying and family relationships were dealt with well and all of them were addressed in a comforting and satisfying way.  I did see where the story was going mostly and guessed a couple of the plot points but I did not feel that ruined the story for me and I think all of the plot points were executed in an interesting way.
There were a couple of points where there could have been slightly more editing to tidy up a little awkward piece of writing, but overall it was very easy to read and a very good debut novel. And I definitely enjoyed all the pop culture references (especially the Taylor Swift mentions).
If you are looking for a sweet, upbeat, contemporary story that deals well with serious topics, I definitely recommend giving this a try! I will definitely be picking up the sequel.