The Cuban Heiress by Chanel Cleeton | ARC Review

Posted April 10, 2023 in Books, Reviews / 1 Comment

I’ve had the privilege of receving ARCs for several Chanel Cleeton’s Cuba inspired historical fiction books, and they have never let me down. I’m pleased that The Cuban Heiress continues this tradition, as I thoroughly enjoyed this fast paced historical mystery! Set aboard the real-life cruise ship the SS Morro Castle, the novel follows two women, Elena and Catherine, who are both on the ship at the same time for its week long journey from New York to Havana and back again. Told in alternating POVs, both women’s true motives slowly unravel- and eventually intertwine- over the course of the […]

What Happened to Ruthy Ramirez by Claire Jimenez | ARC Review

Posted April 3, 2023 in Books, Reviews / 1 Comment

I love a good mystery or thriller, and when I read that this one featured a missing sister that potentially pops up on a reality show years later? Sign me up! Told in alternating POVs among two sisters and their mother, the story follows the family several years after the middle daughter, Ruthy, goes missing after track practice one day. Years later, one sister is convinced she sees Ruby on a reality tv show, which leads to the family reuniting and reopening old wounds as they reflect on Ruthy’s disappearance and potential reunion, often overstepping in the pursuit of finding […]

In the Weeds by B.K. Borison (Lovelight #2) | Review

Posted March 13, 2023 in Books, Reviews / 1 Comment

I swear I was the biggest hype woman for this series after I read the first book, so I’m not quite sure what happened here! Don’t get me wrong, I still enjoyed it and found it to be well-written, but I found it to lack some of that ~small town magic~ that the first book gave in spades. After chatting with some of my bookstagram friends about this one, I think my main issues with this book come down to two things: Evie is not a small town local The story hinges on the lack of communication trope So problem […]

Lessons in Chemistry by Bonnie Garmus | Review

Posted March 6, 2023 in Books, Reviews / 0 Comments

I ADORE a good historical fiction novel, and Lessons in Chemistry did not disappoint! I honestly didn’t know much about the book other than always seeing it featured on blogs and book lists last year, and seeing even my non bookish friends reading and posting about it. I decided to request it on a whim from my library and was like 128th in the hold line (lol) when I was selected for a “lucky day” copy (basically a copy with a shorter check out date that you can’t renew). I immediately jumped on downloading it to my Kindle and went […]

The Serpent and the Wings of Night (Crowns of Nyaxia #1) by Carissa Broadbent | Review

Posted February 27, 2023 in Books, Reviews / 0 Comments

Have you ever gotten that feeling when you finish a book that you just know it’s going to make it into your top ten (or even five) of the year? That’s exactly how I felt upon finishing The Serpent and the Wings of Night, and I now have a raging book hangover thanks to it! First off, I want to address that the comp titles for this novel are ACOTAR and FB&A, and I’d also argue a dash of hunger games. And while there are similarities, I think this book does an amazing job at holding its own and creating […]

The Epic Story of Every Living Thing by Deb Caletti | Review

Posted February 20, 2023 in Books, Reviews / 0 Comments

I’ve said it before and I’ll say it again- there’s something about Deb Caletti’s books that feel so profound. She takes the teenage/early adult experience and makes it so raw and real and universal, that even a 30-something like me can find it relatable. The Epic Story of Every Living Thing is no exception, as Caletti explores what family and DNA really mean, and how our identities are tangled up in elements that we might not even be aware of. The story follows Harper, who’s always grown up believing her mom used a sperm donor to conceive her, but doesn’t […]

Disney100 Celebration Disneyland Trip! | 2023

Posted February 15, 2023 in Travel / 0 Comments

After taking a several years long break from traveling due to COVID, I’m so excited to finally begin traveling again and share my trips on the blog! Max and I kicked off 2023 with a quick trip to the Disneyland Resort as a belated birthday treat for me and to check out the 100 Years of Disney celebration! We went a few days after the celebration officially kicked off and I’m so glad we did- it’s so special to get to experience special events, new rides, and limited edition snacks while at the parks! Day 1 We kicked off our […]

Seven Percent of Ro Devereux by Ellen O’Clover | ARC Review

Posted February 13, 2023 in Books, Reviews / 1 Comment

I love a good YA novel that features girls in tech, and Seven Percent of Ro Devereux is one of the best I’ve read so far! The story follows Ro, a high schooler who created an app (with the help of a good family friend who happens to be a behavioral scientist) based on the popular children’s game MASH (honestly, this took me back!! I didn’t know the kids were still playing MASH these days LOL). The app has a 93% accuracy rate (hence the 7% reference in the title) and hits all of the main points of the original […]

Lovelight Farms by B.K. Borison | Lovelight #1

Posted January 30, 2023 in Books, Reviews / 3 Comments

I decided to treat myself to a Kindle Unlimited subscription for my birthday this year, and I’m so so happy that my first read using KU was Lovelight Farms, because WOW it was amazing! I was seeing it hyped up a lot on Booktube and adored the look of the cover, so decided to give it a shot despite not usually being a fan of the friends-to-lovers romance trope. B.K Borison has converted me! Not only did I love the romance, but the Christmas Tree farm setting, the small town, the quirky cast of characters…I wish I could crawl inside […]

Thriller Mini Reviews: More Than You’ll Ever Know & I’m the Girl

Posted January 23, 2023 in Books, Reviews / 1 Comment

I honestly can’t remember how More Than You’ll Ever Know ended up on my radar- probably a Goodreads email or round up post. However, I do remember the striking cover and vaguely knowing that it was a thriller/mystery. When my library hold came in, I didn’t rush to read it, and almost let it slip through the cracks. I’m so glad I didn’t, because it ended up being one of my favorite reads of 2022! Told in a dual POV with alternating timelines, More Than You’ll Ever Know centers around Cassie, an aspiring true crime writer, and Lore, an infamous […]