en-US Sun, 20 Sep 2026 17:54:05 -0700 60 144 41 https://www.goodreads.com/images/layout/goodreads_logo_144.jpg 199757490
When horrifying incidents around the house signal that Other Mommy is growing tired of asking Bela the question over and over, Bela understands that unless she says yes, her family will soon pay.

Other Mommy is getting restless, stronger, bolder. Only the bonds of family can keep Bela safe, but other incidents show cracks in her parents’ marriage. The safety Bela relies on is about to unravel.

But Other Mommy needs an answer.

Incidents Around the House is a chilling, wholly unique tale of true horror about a family as haunted as their home.]]> 367 Josh Malerman 0593723120 taylor ୨୧ 0 currently-reading 3.54 2024
author: Josh Malerman
name: taylor ୨୧
average rating: 3.54
book published: 2024
rating: 0
read at:
date added: 2026/09/20
shelves: currently-reading
review:

]]> 243596193
Struggling actress Marin Keane is shocked when she lands a role in a major motion picture about the unsolved mystery of New Avalon, an island on sprawling Lake Faraday in Vermont. She’s even more surprised when she learns that the role requires a weeklong research trip to that very spot.

Because New Avalon isn’t your ordinary island. A century ago, it was a commune for spiritual mediums—until they all vanished in 1926. The only trace of them was five dresses hanging from the branches of an old oak tree in the middle of the island, one for each missing woman. Some locals say they simply left. Others think they were murdered. But the prevailing opinion, thanks to a diary left behind by one of the vanished, a young woman named Daisy Rue, is that a séance gone wrong conjured something supernatural that took them all one by one.

Not long after arriving, Marin and her castmates, including legendary actress Violet Wright and white-hot director Ronan Peters, begin to realize all is not right with New Avalon. They hear strange noises in the night and notice mysterious symbols left behind by the island's previous occupants. And after a sudden health emergency leaves Marin, Ronan, and the other actors stranded on the island, the disappearances begin again.

Is it the work of someone trying to derail the movie? Or is the island’s alleged supernatural past catching up with the present? As fear and suspicion mount, Marin turns to Daisy’s diary, hoping it holds the key to figuring out what really happened to the women of New Avalon—and how to keep the island’s terrible history from repeating itself.]]> 368 Riley Sager taylor ୨୧ 2 3.87 2026
author: Riley Sager
name: taylor ୨୧
average rating: 3.87
book published: 2026
rating: 2
read at: 2026/09/20
date added: 2026/09/20
shelves:
review:
i was invested until everything started unfolding and then i just got annoyed. as someone who went into this thinking it was going to be a spooky read, this felt like a waste of time.
]]> 199798006
As a young, queer couple who flip houses, Charlie and Eve can’t believe the killer deal they’ve just gotten on an old house in a picturesque neighborhood. As they’re working in the house one day, there’s a knock on the door. A man stands there with his family, claiming to have lived there years before and asking if it would be alright if he showed his kids around. People pleaser to a fault, Eve lets them in.

As soon as the strangers enter their home, inexplicable things start happening, including the family’s youngest child going missing and a ghostly presence materializing in the basement. Even more weird, the family can’t seem to take the hint that their visit should be over. And when Charlie suddenly vanishes, Eve slowly loses her grip on reality. Something is terribly wrong with the house and with the visiting family—or is Eve just imagining things?

This unputdownable and spine-tingling novel “is like quicksand: the further you delve into its pages, the more immobilized you become by a spiral of terror. We Used to Live Here will haunt you even after you have finished it” (Agustina Bazterrica, author of Tender Is the Flesh).]]> 312 Marcus Kliewer 1982198788 taylor ୨୧ 4 3.56 2024
author: Marcus Kliewer
name: taylor ୨୧
average rating: 3.56
book published: 2024
rating: 4
read at: 2026/09/19
date added: 2026/09/19
shelves:
review:
what kind of mindfuckery is this… i read this in one sitting because i couldn’t put it down. this was spooky — not scary per say, but the idea of this happening to me is HORRIFYING
]]> 258010567
Bash isn’t looking to be her savior.



After a constant string of loss and trauma in her life, Lydia has mastered the art of quiet destruction. She’s losing herself one hit at a time.

After surviving what no one should have to, she’s drowning in the only thing that makes life bearable—whatever she can take to quiet her mind and keep her heart from remembering the pain.



Then there’s Bash.

A boy with his own ghosts. Grief he can’t shake, guilt he can’t confess, and new faith that’s still learning how to stand. Yet, he still carries light like it’s something he was born with, and no matter how far Lydia goes, he keeps showing up—through the walls she built, the sharp words meant to cut deep, and the darkness she thinks will swallow her whole, he holds on to her when she can't hold on for herself.

He doesn’t try to fix her.

He doesn’t run from her darkness.

He stays. Steady. Unmoving.

And in the quiet wreckage, Lydia starts to experience what love looks like when it doesn’t hurt…]]> 738 Faith Pincay taylor ୨୧ 0 3.77
author: Faith Pincay
name: taylor ୨୧
average rating: 3.77
book published:
rating: 0
read at: 2026/09/15
date added: 2026/09/19
shelves:
review:

]]> 211004893
As they attempt to evade the boy's increasingly desperate father, Jess slowly comes to a horrifying understanding of the butchery that follows them―the boy can turn his every fear into reality.

And when the wolf finally comes home, no one will be spared.]]> 304 Nat Cassidy 125035434X taylor ୨୧ 0
i just can’t for the life of me get into this. the writing style and the FMC’s inner monologue bother me but i was willing to look past it for the actual story. the story itself was intriguing, but it just became so dumb. i was expecting to be uneasy at the things happening, but rather, i just felt like i was on some insane hallucination trip. i understood why they were happening, they were childlike fears come to life, but that mixed with the writing style was not for me. ]]> 4.06 2025
author: Nat Cassidy
name: taylor ୨୧
average rating: 4.06
book published: 2025
rating: 0
read at: 2026/09/19
date added: 2026/09/19
shelves:
review:
DNF at 34%

i just can’t for the life of me get into this. the writing style and the FMC’s inner monologue bother me but i was willing to look past it for the actual story. the story itself was intriguing, but it just became so dumb. i was expecting to be uneasy at the things happening, but rather, i just felt like i was on some insane hallucination trip. i understood why they were happening, they were childlike fears come to life, but that mixed with the writing style was not for me.
]]> 62322599 filthy rich.

When I started working at Salacious Players’ Club, I never expected to end up on the auction block ready to grant a date to the highest bidder.

This club is not really my scene. I’m not the kind of girl rich guys take home. I’m more a piano playing, van-living, free spirit kind of girl.

So when Ronan Kade, the richest man at the club, puts down over a hundred grand for my time, how can I tell him no?

But he’s too old. Too rich. Too cocky.

And oh yeah…he once dated my mother.

Except he doesn’t know that. He has no idea who I am.

One date turns into a trip to Paris. And an offer to live with him in his penthouse. Then a promise to take care of me.

Before I know it, I’m calling this silver fox my daddy.

Ronan Kade only bid on one date, but I think he’s winning much more than that.

Can we overcome the years between us to find happiness?

And will he find it in him to forgive me when he learns the secret I’ve been keeping?]]> 336 Sara Cate taylor ୨୧ 1 4.03 2023
author: Sara Cate
name: taylor ୨୧
average rating: 4.03
book published: 2023
rating: 1
read at: 2024/02/01
date added: 2026/09/17
shelves:
review:
re-rating this 2 years later because i can’t get how much i despised it out of my head. a ridiculously creepy age gap. he dated her MOTHER and put money in an account for her to have when she turned 18…. then he whisks her off and she immediately gets pregnant. no thank you.
]]> 246196551 From #1 New York Times bestselling author Victoria Aveyard comes an epic adventure of love and betrayal, amid a brutal war for the high seas.

May the sea always sing for you

Cat Rose knows what it is to live in two worlds, in two times. Before—as Lady Catrine Rose of the Meridian Empire, chained to a loathsome lord with a dwindling fortune. And after—as the Widow Rose, queen of a pirate tavern in the Lyrian Sea, determined to be the master of her own fate.

But tides turn and winds change. The Meridian Empire looms on the horizon, the full weight of her navy falling on the Lyrian, bent on reclaiming the wealthy colonies and crushing the pirate republic once and for all. Ship after ship is captured, save for one, captained by a pirate who continually evades both noose and blade: the legendary Valerian Kane.

With his fearsome ship and uncanny connection to the song of the sea, Valerian is the only man who might rally the pirates who remain. The only man who threatens the Empire. And the only man Cat has ever loved, blazing in and out of her life like a star.

Desperate for victory, the Empire offers Cat a devastating choice: bring them Valerian or hang. In truth, no choice at all.

But Cat Rose is nothing if not a survivor.

A storm is rising on the Lyrian Sea—the question is, what will it leave in its wake?]]> 464 Victoria Aveyard 0063451395 taylor ୨୧ 3 3.76 2026
author: Victoria Aveyard
name: taylor ୨୧
average rating: 3.76
book published: 2026
rating: 3
read at: 2026/09/13
date added: 2026/09/16
shelves:
review:
the first half of this dragged but it was hinting at things that made me excited to keep going; so although i was bored, i was invested in what i knew was to come. the back and forth dual timeline was confusing at first but once i understood the baseline of what was happening, i LOVED that aspect. the halfway point of this was the breakthrough for me. there was a moment where i was bored and then like a switch flipping, suddenly i was locked in and couldn’t put it down. i need more of this hot, angry pirate immediately. THAT CLIFFHANGER?
]]> 50659471
Yet even the festive atmosphere can't keep the shadows of the past from looming. As Feyre navigates her first Winter Solstice as High Lady, her concern for those dearest to her deepens. They have more wounds than she anticipated-scars that will have a far-reaching impact on the future of their court.

Bridging the events of A Court of Wings and Ruin with the later books in the series, A Court of Frost and Starlight explores the far-reaching effects of a devastating war and the fierce love between friends.]]> 272 Sarah J. Maas 1635575621 taylor ୨୧ 5 currently-reading 3.67 2018
author: Sarah J. Maas
name: taylor ୨୧
average rating: 3.67
book published: 2018
rating: 5
read at: 2023/01/22
date added: 2026/09/16
shelves: currently-reading
review:

]]> 50659472 The epic third novel in the #1 bestselling Court of Thorns and Roses series by global phenomenon Sarah J. Maas.

Feyre has returned to the Spring Court, determined to gather information on Tamlin's actions and learn what she can about the invading king threatening to bring her land to its knees. But to do so she must play a deadly game of deceit. One slip could bring doom not only for Feyre, but for everything-and everyone-she holds dear.

As war bears down upon them all, Feyre endeavors to take her place amongst the High Fae of the land, balancing her struggle to master her powers-both magical and political-and her love for her court and family. Amidst these struggles, Feyre and Rhysand must decide whom to trust amongst the cunning and lethal High Lords, and hunt for allies in unexpected places.

In this thrilling third book in the #1 bestselling series from Sarah J. Maas, the fate of Feyre's world is at stake as armies grapple for power over the one thing that could destroy it.]]> 699 Sarah J. Maas 1635575605 taylor ୨୧ 5 god-tier 4.45 2017
author: Sarah J. Maas
name: taylor ୨୧
average rating: 4.45
book published: 2017
rating: 5
read at: 2026/09/16
date added: 2026/09/16
shelves: god-tier
review:
reread review: this remains one of my favorite books of all time. feyre and rhysand are truly one of my favorite couples — the sacrifices rhysand made and continues to make; i just love him so much. i love seeing feyre grow into her powers and overcome everything. getting more about azriel and cassian. the politics of it all. everything about it, i love.
]]> 242765273 A heartwarming debut about overcoming grief and finding love when—and where—you least expect it

Twenty-six-year-old Violet’s usually bulletproof optimism is faltering. Crushed by the sudden death of her father and subsequent custody of her rebellious teenage sister, Phoebe, it’s a struggle to do much of anything other than survive each day and try not to feel like she’s the world’s worst sister. 

Then Phoebe discovers a love letter written by the man who used to live in their apartment, a letter begging for its recipient to give him another chance. Reading it, Phoebe shows signs of life for the first time since their dad died—and Violet will stop at nothing to keep that smile on her face. Together, they track down the letter’s author, hoping to rectify a derailed happily ever after. 

Despite Dex being rather abrasive (valid) and more than a little enigmatic (intriguing), Phoebe talks him into a cross-country road trip to put the letter in the right hands.

Violet is thrilled to see Phoebe thriving again, and with every pit stop they chip away at Dex’s moody exterior, finding that he’s actually charming, funny, and unfalteringly interested in everything Violet shares with him. Violet and Dex’s chemistry only grows the further west they travel, but the closer they get to their destination—and Dex’s former great love—something’s got to give.]]> 352 Stephanie Parente taylor ୨୧ 0 to-read 3.72 2026
author: Stephanie Parente
name: taylor ୨୧
average rating: 3.72
book published: 2026
rating: 0
read at:
date added: 2026/09/13
shelves: to-read
review:

]]> 173363865
Never underestimate the power of a pawn.

My life seemed pretty perfect until I turned twelve. Then everything was destroyed with a fainting spell, a doctor’s visit, and a diagnosis that rocked me to my core. Now at seventeen, I am being shipped to a new country and school with no support from my father. I’m facing a tangled web of lies and truths that will test and threaten to break me, but I’ve never been the type to back down.

The Kings of Wayward Academy set their eyes on me, and the chess game begins.

We are the Kings of Wayward Academy, but this school is not like others for the filthy rich with pretentious attitudes. The most ruthless families in the world have attended Wayward for generations. The land is neutral ground, heavily guarded, and the laws upheld by an unseen organization that no one dares to take on.

But, boredom, for people like us, is a deadly disease. One that usually ends badly for anyone caught in our snare.

Then Princess arrives, Ren Davies, the new girl. Armed with her sharp tongue and striking looks, she has everyone taking a second look. I’ve never met anyone with a fearless streak like hers. It was inevitable that she would attract our attention. The game begins, and the bets are set. Which King will win?

There are just some games that were never meant to be won.]]> 448 Brooklyn Cross 199801522X taylor ୨୧ 0 to-read 4.16 2023
author: Brooklyn Cross
name: taylor ୨୧
average rating: 4.16
book published: 2023
rating: 0
read at:
date added: 2026/09/13
shelves: to-read
review:

]]> 35522836
Darby Thorne is a college student stranded by a blizzard at a highway rest stop in the middle of nowhere. She’s on the way home to see her sick mother. She’ll have to spend the night in the rest stop with four complete strangers. Then she stumbles across a little girl locked inside one of their parked cars.

There is no cell phone reception, no telephone, no way out because of the snow, and she doesn’t know which one of the other travelers is the kidnapper.

Who is the little girl? Why has she been taken? And how can Darby save her?]]> 287 Taylor Adams 1912106760 taylor ୨୧ 0 to-read 3.96 2017
author: Taylor Adams
name: taylor ୨୧
average rating: 3.96
book published: 2017
rating: 0
read at:
date added: 2026/09/10
shelves: to-read
review:

]]> 235993046 Follow the Rites...

Nothing less than the survival of humanity is at stake.

From Marcus Kliewer, a new “titan of the macabre and unsettling” (Erin A. Craig, #1 New York Times bestselling author), comes a supernatural horror about a young woman who accepts a caretaking job from Craigslist, only to discover the position has consequences far greater—and more dangerous—than she ever could have imagined.

EXCITING OPPORTUNITY:
Caretaker urgently needed. Three days of work. Competitive pay. Serious applicants ONLY.

Macy Mullins can’t say why the job posting grabbed her attention—it had the pull of a fisherman’s lure, barbed hook and all—vaguely ominous. But after an endless string of failed job interviews, she's not exactly in the position to be picky. She has rent to pay, groceries to buy, and a younger sister to provide for.

Besides, it’s only three days’ work…

Three days, cooped up in a stranger’s house, surrounded by Oregon Coast wilderness.

What starts as a peculiar side gig soon becomes a waking nightmare. An incomprehensible evil may dwell on this property—and Macy Mullins might just be the only thing standing between it, and the rest of humanity.

Follow the Rites...

Follow the Rites...

Follow the Rites...

..--- / ..... / ---..]]> 295 Marcus Kliewer 1982198818 taylor ୨୧ 0 to-read 3.56 2026
author: Marcus Kliewer
name: taylor ୨୧
average rating: 3.56
book published: 2026
rating: 0
read at:
date added: 2026/09/10
shelves: to-read
review:

]]> 50659468
Feyre has undergone more trials than one human woman can carry in her heart. Though she's now been granted the powers and lifespan of the High Fae, she is haunted by her time Under the Mountain and the terrible deeds she performed to save the lives of Tamlin and his people.

As her marriage to Tamlin approaches, Feyre's hollowness and nightmares consume her. She finds herself split into two different one who upholds her bargain with Rhysand, High Lord of the feared Night Court, and one who lives out her life in the Spring Court with Tamlin. While Feyre navigates a dark web of politics, passion, and dazzling power, a greater evil looms. She might just be the key to stopping it, but only if she can harness her harrowing gifts, heal her fractured soul, and decide how she wishes to shape her future-and the future of a world in turmoil.

Bestselling author Sarah J. Maas's masterful storytelling brings this second book in her dazzling, sexy, action-packed series to new heights.]]> 626 Sarah J. Maas 1635575583 taylor ୨୧ 5 god-tier
third read review: this is forever a god tier read for me. i love to see feyre start to gain her strength and become this independent, strong character. i just love her so much. i love meeting everyone from the night court and seeing everything fall into place — it’s like coming home to my family again.]]> 4.63 2016
author: Sarah J. Maas
name: taylor ୨୧
average rating: 4.63
book published: 2016
rating: 5
read at: 2026/09/08
date added: 2026/09/08
shelves: god-tier
review:
rhysand is the most handsome high lord

third read review: this is forever a god tier read for me. i love to see feyre start to gain her strength and become this independent, strong character. i just love her so much. i love meeting everyone from the night court and seeing everything fall into place — it’s like coming home to my family again.
]]> 58724923 From Jason Rekulak, Edgar-nominated author of The Impossible Fortress, comes a wildly inventive spin on the classic horror story in Hidden Pictures, a supernatural thriller about a woman working as a nanny for a young boy with strange and disturbing secrets.

Fresh out of rehab, Mallory Quinn takes a job as a babysitter for Ted and Caroline Maxwell. She is to look after their five-year-old son, Teddy.

Mallory immediately loves it. She has her own living space, goes out for nightly runs, and has the stability she craves. And she sincerely bonds with Teddy, a sweet, shy boy who is never without his sketchbook and pencil. His drawings are the usual fare: trees, rabbits, balloons. But one day, he draws something different: a man in a forest, dragging a woman’s lifeless body.

Then, Teddy’s artwork becomes increasingly sinister, and his stick figures quickly evolve into lifelike sketches well beyond the ability of any five-year-old. Mallory begins to wonder if these are glimpses of a long-unsolved murder, perhaps relayed by a supernatural force.

Knowing just how crazy it all sounds, Mallory nevertheless sets out to decipher the images and save Teddy before it’s too late.]]> 372 Jason Rekulak 1250819342 taylor ୨୧ 3
i don’t typically read much outside of the fantasy/romance genre but this had me HOOKED. this was such a quick, easy, addicting read. the illustrations were my favorite part and truly added to the reading experience. i do wish it had been more spooky at the end. i think i’m definitely more of a paranormal/horror girl rather than a thriller, but i enjoyed this nonetheless. ]]> 4.10 2022
author: Jason Rekulak
name: taylor ୨୧
average rating: 4.10
book published: 2022
rating: 3
read at: 2026/09/07
date added: 2026/09/08
shelves:
review:
3.75 ⭐️

i don’t typically read much outside of the fantasy/romance genre but this had me HOOKED. this was such a quick, easy, addicting read. the illustrations were my favorite part and truly added to the reading experience. i do wish it had been more spooky at the end. i think i’m definitely more of a paranormal/horror girl rather than a thriller, but i enjoyed this nonetheless.
]]> 37914571 “What do you do when you meet your soul mate? No wait… that’s too easy. What do you do when you meet your soul mate and have to spend a lifetime loving him in secret?
I’ll tell you what you do.
You lie.”

REN

Ren was eight when he learned that love doesn’t exist—that the one person who was supposed to adore him only cared how much he was worth.
His mother sold him and for two years, he lived in terror.
But then… he ran.
He thought he’d run on his own. Turned out, he took something of theirs by accident and it became the one thing he never wanted and the only thing he ever needed.

DELLA

I was young when I fell in love with him, when he switched from my world to my everything.
My parents bought him for cheap labour, just like they had with many other kids, and he had the scars to prove it.
At the start, he hated me, and I could understand why.
For years he was my worst enemy, fiercest protector, and dearest friend.
But by the end… he loved me.
The only problem was, he loved me in an entirely different way to the way I loved him.
And slowly, my secret drove us apart.]]> 386 Pepper Winters 1986221946 taylor ୨୧ 0 to-read 4.35 2018
author: Pepper Winters
name: taylor ୨୧
average rating: 4.35
book published: 2018
rating: 0
read at:
date added: 2026/09/07
shelves: to-read
review:

]]> 18007535
Now, in present day, nineteen-year-old Ruthie lives in Sara's farmhouse with her mother, Alice, and her younger sister. Alice has always insisted that they live off the grid, a decision that has weighty consequences when Ruthie wakes up one morning to find that Alice has vanished. In her search for clues, she is startled to find a copy of Sara Harrison Shea's diary hidden beneath the floorboards of her mother's bedroom. As Ruthie gets sucked into the historical mystery, she discovers that she's not the only person looking for someone that they've lost. But she may be the only one who can stop history from repeating itself.]]> 317 Jennifer McMahon 0385538499 taylor ୨୧ 0 to-read 3.79 2014
author: Jennifer McMahon
name: taylor ୨୧
average rating: 3.79
book published: 2014
rating: 0
read at:
date added: 2026/09/06
shelves: to-read
review:

]]> 45885644 The secrets lurking in a rundown roadside motel ensnare a young woman, just as they did her aunt thirty-five years before, in this new atmospheric suspense novel from the national bestselling and award-winning author of The Broken Girls.

Upstate NY, 1982. Every small town like Fell, New York, has a place like the Sun Down Motel. Some customers are from out of town, passing through on their way to someplace better. Some are locals, trying to hide their secrets. Viv Delaney works as the night clerk to pay for her move to New York City. But something isn't right at the Sun Down, and before long she's determined to uncover all of the secrets hidden…]]> 327 Simone St. James 0440000173 taylor ୨୧ 0 to-read 3.97 2020
author: Simone St. James
name: taylor ୨୧
average rating: 3.97
book published: 2020
rating: 0
read at:
date added: 2026/09/06
shelves: to-read
review:

]]> 244709963
Summertime is off-season in southern Florida. Families leave their homes to escape the heat, the streets are empty, and the nights are quiet. Perfect time for a little mischief while the police aren’t looking.

As the middle Jaeger brother, Dallas was often lost in the shuffle growing up. Now a man, he’s prideful of his community on the wrong side of the tracks—Sanoa Bay—and aggressively protective of his land and his inner circle. He’s hungry and ready for a fight.

Callum Ames has a reputation in St. Carmen, the affluent neighborhood abutting Sanoa Bay. The hottest. The most popular. Rich. Powerful. Strong. The one all the women want. After four years away, he’s back, but for all his bravado, he’s got one major secret: he doesn’t want a woman.

Summer is also storm season. Heat, wind, rain…

And a lockdown.

In a desperate bid to impress his influential father, Callum suggests a curfew to hinder their rivals in the Bay.

Unfortunately, the Jaegers don’t like rules.

As Dallas and Callum face off and engage, out for each other's blood, they can't stop the consuming fire between them and the outcome they already see coming...

The storm of the century.]]> 544 Penelope Douglas 0593956605 taylor ୨୧ 0
i felt like i was being told more than i actually was experiencing it which just made this super boring to me. i’m sad because i love the other books in the Tryst Six world but the writing style of this one was just not for me. ]]> 3.89 2026
author: Penelope Douglas
name: taylor ୨୧
average rating: 3.89
book published: 2026
rating: 0
read at: 2026/09/06
date added: 2026/09/06
shelves:
review:
DNF at 50%

i felt like i was being told more than i actually was experiencing it which just made this super boring to me. i’m sad because i love the other books in the Tryst Six world but the writing style of this one was just not for me.
]]> 194941077
Now, two years later, she's ready to tell her story.

Through a series of interviews with a local writer, single mother Tabitha relives every harrowing detail of her trauma, haunted by the memory of the man she was held captive with and ultimately lost. As she confronts her demons, she finds solace in Gabe—the new man in her life who will do whatever it takes to prevent her from slipping back into the shadows.

But Gabe has his own troubled past that threatens to unravel their fragile connection. And just when Tabitha begins to believe in the possibility of new love and a fresh start, her world is turned upside down once again.

Gabe always tells her not to look down, to keep flying. But even stars fall…

And no one ever talks about the crash.

The Stars Are on Our Side is a FOLLOW-UP novel to Still Beating and Lotus, featuring fan-favorite characters Tabitha and Gabe. It is HIGHLY recommended that you read both Still Beating and Lotus prior to reading this book for the most effective reading experience.
]]> 480 Jennifer Hartmann taylor ୨୧ 4
jennifer, you never let me down. gabe is by far my favorite JH mmc — he was the most selfless, caring, down bad, hot cinnamon roll. i’m obsessed with him. the way he loved tabitha with everything in him and took such good care of her. he deserved better and so did tabitha. she went through so much and the past chapters with matthew broke my heart. to see her healing journey was really special.

my only complaints about this are that i feel like the conflict was solved in a sort of strange way (without spoiling things) and i wish her daughter had been in the book more — i feel like her presence really could have brought something more to the table, as she plays such a big role in tabitha’s trauma. ]]> 4.21 2024
author: Jennifer Hartmann
name: taylor ୨୧
average rating: 4.21
book published: 2024
rating: 4
read at: 2026/09/05
date added: 2026/09/05
shelves:
review:
4.5 ⭐️

jennifer, you never let me down. gabe is by far my favorite JH mmc — he was the most selfless, caring, down bad, hot cinnamon roll. i’m obsessed with him. the way he loved tabitha with everything in him and took such good care of her. he deserved better and so did tabitha. she went through so much and the past chapters with matthew broke my heart. to see her healing journey was really special.

my only complaints about this are that i feel like the conflict was solved in a sort of strange way (without spoiling things) and i wish her daughter had been in the book more — i feel like her presence really could have brought something more to the table, as she plays such a big role in tabitha’s trauma.
]]> 56732449 When a fake relationship between scientists meets the irresistible force of attraction, it throws one woman's carefully calculated theories on love into chaos

As a third-year Ph.D. candidate, Olive Smith doesn't believe in lasting romantic relationships—but her best friend does, and that's what got her into this situation. Convincing Anh that Olive is dating and well on her way to a happily ever after was always going to take more than hand-wavy Jedi mind tricks: Scientists require proof. So, like any self-respecting biologist, Olive panics and kisses the first man she sees.

That man is none other than Adam Carlsen, a young hotshot professor—and well-known ass. Which is why Olive is positively floored when Stanford's reigning lab tyrant agrees to keep her charade a secret and be her fake boyfriend. And when a big science conference goes haywire, putting Olive's career on the Bunsen burner, Adam surprises her again with his unyielding support and even more unyielding. . . six-pack abs.

Suddenly their little experiment feels dangerously close to combustion. And Olive discovers that the only thing more complicated than a hypothesis on love is putting her own heart under the microscope.]]> 373 Ali Hazelwood 0593336828 taylor ୨୧ 4
olive is one of my favorite FMCs — she really made me feel seen with her awkwardness. she was also so funny and intelligent and i could not get enough of her. don’t even get me started on adam. a grumpy professor who is so down bad and soft for only her from the beginning. i read this in one sitting and could not put it down. i’m mad at myself for letting it collect dust on my shelf for years. ]]> 4.07 2021
author: Ali Hazelwood
name: taylor ୨୧
average rating: 4.07
book published: 2021
rating: 4
read at: 2026/09/05
date added: 2026/09/05
shelves:
review:
4.75 ⭐️ IM UNWELL OVER THIS BOOK

olive is one of my favorite FMCs — she really made me feel seen with her awkwardness. she was also so funny and intelligent and i could not get enough of her. don’t even get me started on adam. a grumpy professor who is so down bad and soft for only her from the beginning. i read this in one sitting and could not put it down. i’m mad at myself for letting it collect dust on my shelf for years.
]]> 30314992
My name is Greer Galloway, and I serve at the pleasure of the President of the United States.

This is the story of an American Queen.]]> 393 Sierra Simone 153344367X taylor ୨୧ 1
we have 3 main characters…. i liked 1 of them. the FMC is a pushover and one of the MMCs was a creep — obsessed with her when she was underage and lusting after her for years. this was also so unbelievably insta-lusty/lovey. you’ve met these people maybe 3 times in your entire life and you’re immediately in love? yeah, no. this plot literally went: spice, cheating, random political topic, random mention of ptsd from the war, spice, cheating, repeat. i would have DNFed this but embry, our other MMC, intrigued me so i wanted to see this one through. however, it’s headed into a direction i don’t care about (and saw coming).]]> 3.75 2016
author: Sierra Simone
name: taylor ୨୧
average rating: 3.75
book published: 2016
rating: 1
read at: 2026/09/05
date added: 2026/09/05
shelves:
review:
1.5 ⭐️

we have 3 main characters…. i liked 1 of them. the FMC is a pushover and one of the MMCs was a creep — obsessed with her when she was underage and lusting after her for years. this was also so unbelievably insta-lusty/lovey. you’ve met these people maybe 3 times in your entire life and you’re immediately in love? yeah, no. this plot literally went: spice, cheating, random political topic, random mention of ptsd from the war, spice, cheating, repeat. i would have DNFed this but embry, our other MMC, intrigued me so i wanted to see this one through. however, it’s headed into a direction i don’t care about (and saw coming).
]]> 37564071 It was love at first sight when I met Mr. Cane.
He was handsome, broody, tattooed, and rich. For years, he's been mine. He just didn't know it.

I wasn't expecting to fall in love with him, or for him to want me in the ways that he did.
None of it was ever supposed to happen, but after all we've done together, it's too late to turn back now. A once harmless crush had blossomed into so much more.

CANE
When we first met, she was just a kid - my best friend's daughter. A sweet, young girl with a big heart. But now, she's a young woman who knows what she wants, and all she wants is me.

I've tried holding back, pretending the connection meant nothing, but my sweet candy cane made it impossible. If anyone finds out, I'll be ruined. I've worked too hard to lose everything I've built. But there's just something about her that tempts me, making me want to sacrifice just about anything to have her.]]> 314 Shanora Williams taylor ୨୧ 0 to-read 3.68 2018
author: Shanora Williams
name: taylor ୨୧
average rating: 3.68
book published: 2018
rating: 0
read at:
date added: 2026/09/01
shelves: to-read
review:

]]> 60183043 THE TRUTH WILL SET YOU FREE.

Sinner. Saint. Lost. Found.

I never intended to leave Blackwood Institute alive. Instead, I found a whole new family. A reason to live. Hope. Belonging. Acceptance. Love.

We barely made it out with our lives.

Now, the real fight to survive begins.

In a world of false allegiances, corruption and violence, Incendia Corporation wants to silence our voices. We survived the sickness at the heart of their twisted medical marvel. Our truth is all we have left, but the world doesn’t want to hear it.

We’re just six unhinged criminals, on the run.

When tragedy strikes at the heart of our family, we must forge new alliances and brave the cruelty of an indifferent world. Enemies are gathering to watch our destruction, but the greatest threat still lies within.

There’s a vicious monster buried inside of me, battling for control. Patient Eight kept me alive in the dark, but Brooklyn West wants a future. The two cannot co-exist without imploding. Forging a new path will cost me everything – including the people I love.

In death and blood, we will find our happy ending.

The game is almost over.

Check mate, motherf*ckers.

Author's Note: Desecrated Saints is book three in the Blackwood Institute trilogy. They must be read in order. Full trigger warning is available inside the book.]]> 470 J. Rose 1739234367 taylor ୨୧ 4 4.26
author: J. Rose
name: taylor ୨୧
average rating: 4.26
book published:
rating: 4
read at: 2026/08/31
date added: 2026/09/01
shelves:
review:
god, this series was good. this reminded me of when i started heavily reading again for the first time years ago — it just had a sort of nostalgic vibe to it. i loved each of these MMCs and just when i thought i had my favorite, a new one came along. i loved each of the MMC’s backstories and the FMC’s backstory as well. this might be one of my favorite FMCs of all time — she didn’t take anyone’s shit and she stood up for herself and that’s exactly what i need in a dark reverse harem when the MMCs all have territorial personalities. i loved them individually as much as i loved them together. the spice was incredible. the PLOT. the flowing plot throughout this entire trilogy was insane and so addicting. i do wish this had ended a little differently. i was content with their ending, but i almost wish it hadn’t been wrapped up as well as it did. it almost felt TOO perfect after everything they had gone through.
]]> 50659467
At least, he’s not a beast all the time.

As she adapts to her new home, her feelings for the faerie, Tamlin, transform from icy hostility into a fiery passion that burns through every lie she’s been told about the beautiful, dangerous world of the Fae. But something is not right in the faerie lands. An ancient, wicked shadow is growing, and Feyre must find a way to stop it, or doom Tamlin—and his world—forever.

From bestselling author Sarah J. Maas comes a seductive, breathtaking book that blends romance, adventure, and faerie lore into an unforgettable read.]]> 419 Sarah J. Maas 1635575567 taylor ୨୧ 4 4.13 2015
author: Sarah J. Maas
name: taylor ୨୧
average rating: 4.13
book published: 2015
rating: 4
read at: 2026/08/31
date added: 2026/08/31
shelves:
review:
finally actually writing a review after my third time reading this. i really enjoyed this the first time around. after many times of reading it, i continue to enjoy this book and find it, overall, a good introduction to the series. each time i reread it, i get more upset at how feyre is treated by every single person around her — the most selfless character who just constantly gets torn down or made fun of. this one does get a little long winded towards the middle, but it’s overall still a fun time (and knowing what’s coming is even better).
]]> 249856010
It is the first installment of The Falling Star Trilogy.


The world knows Jude Graves as the untouchable rockstar with a wicked smile and a platinum record.

Emma Easton knew him before the fame. Before the darkness.

Before the night he shattered her heart and disappeared without a word.


Seven years later, a very public overdose sends Jude crashing off tour and straight back into her life.

The headlines call it reckless, but Emma isn’t so sure.

He’s unraveling in slow motion, desperate to hide the reasons why.

And this time, she refuses to look away. Because Jude didn’t walk away all those years ago.


He was forced.


Powerful people still own him. Still control him. The kind who stage narratives, bury secrets, and silence anyone who gets too close.

Including her.

Loving him once nearly destroyed her. Trying to save him now might destroy them both.]]> Adeline Humphries taylor ୨୧ 0 to-read 3.86
author: Adeline Humphries
name: taylor ୨୧
average rating: 3.86
book published:
rating: 0
read at:
date added: 2026/08/30
shelves: to-read
review:

]]> 58919720 RUN BY THE INSANE, FOR THE INSANE.

Monster. Victim. Predator. Prey.

I’ve always been certain of one hard fact – I don’t deserve to live. For all the pain and
suffering I’ve inflicted, I tried to take the ultimate punishment. Anything to escape the
horror of living with my crimes.

Survival wasn’t part of the bargain. The family I never intended to find are determined to
keep me alive, but my mind has been turned against me.
I don’t know what’s real anymore.

When the devil comes knocking, I’m forced to confront the truth. Blackwood Institute is far
from what it seems. Now, I must learn how deep the darkness truly goes.

As our lives are thrown into chaos, harrowing secrets are uncovered and the carefully
constructed illusion begins to unravel. I’ll stop at nothing to protect my family, even if that
means sacrificing myself to the horrors of the Z Wing.

I’ve been running from my demons for a long time, but the truth is about to catch up to me.
Time to become the monster the world thinks I am.]]> 498 J. Rose 1739234340 taylor ୨୧ 4
the plot in this one was INSANE. i was worried after book one i’d get bored but this was so good. sometimes i truly didn’t know what was real and what wasn’t. i also can’t wait to learn about our new character 👀]]> 4.21 2022
author: J. Rose
name: taylor ୨୧
average rating: 4.21
book published: 2022
rating: 4
read at: 2026/08/28
date added: 2026/08/28
shelves:
review:
4.25 ⭐️

the plot in this one was INSANE. i was worried after book one i’d get bored but this was so good. sometimes i truly didn’t know what was real and what wasn’t. i also can’t wait to learn about our new character 👀
]]> 55435543 Now she's his student.

Lyra Lennox has spent the last four years mourning Blue, the boy from the house next door.
For Lyra, the boy with cuts and bruises was everything she loved, everything she craved, a teenage fantasy in a bitter and cruel world. Until the night he left.
Now, heartbroken and unwilling to let go, she sets out to fulfill a promise she once made.

Jack Cross has spent four years escaping the events that forced him to leave his home and never go back. He has a new existence now, one filled with freedom from the destructive cycle he once called life, and one where he has long forgotten what it feels like to be her Blue.

Until Lyra appears.

Things have changed.
Between them lies a web of secrets and regrets.
But some things never change... can they resist one another, or will the call of their twisted love story finally break them both?]]> 400 Anna Bloom taylor ୨୧ 0 to-read 3.79 2020
author: Anna Bloom
name: taylor ୨୧
average rating: 3.79
book published: 2020
rating: 0
read at:
date added: 2026/08/26
shelves: to-read
review:

]]> 248321980
Bash isn’t looking to be her savior.



After a constant string of loss and trauma in her life, Lydia has mastered the art of quiet destruction. She’s losing herself one hit at a time.

After surviving what no one should have to, she’s drowning in the only thing that makes life bearable—whatever she can take to quiet her mind and keep her heart from remembering the pain.



Then there’s Bash.

A boy with his own ghosts. Grief he can’t shake, guilt he can’t confess, and new faith that’s still learning how to stand. Yet, he still carries light like it’s something he was born with, and no matter how far Lydia goes, he keeps showing up—through the walls she built, the sharp words meant to cut deep, and the darkness she thinks will swallow her whole, he holds on to her when she can't hold on for herself.

He doesn’t try to fix her.

He doesn’t run from her darkness.

He stays. Steady. Unmoving.

And in the quiet wreckage, Lydia starts to experience what love looks like when it doesn’t hurt…]]> 738 Faith Pincay taylor ୨୧ 5
going into this, a 700 page romance book intimidated me. eventually, i wanted it to be longer. i flew through this in almost one day and it didn’t feel like a long book at all. i was hooked from the beginning to the very last page.

what a ode to mental health, addiction, and trauma representation. the care that this author had towards these topics — they were handled with such grace and rawness. this book was heavy. there were some parts of this that hit me hard personally and i had to disconnect a bit because they were SO real. this was beautifully done, difficult to read at times but also impossible to put down, and overall, one of my new favorite books of all time.]]> 3.40
author: Faith Pincay
name: taylor ୨୧
average rating: 3.40
book published:
rating: 5
read at: 2026/07/31
date added: 2026/08/24
shelves:
review:
god tier. incredible.

going into this, a 700 page romance book intimidated me. eventually, i wanted it to be longer. i flew through this in almost one day and it didn’t feel like a long book at all. i was hooked from the beginning to the very last page.

what a ode to mental health, addiction, and trauma representation. the care that this author had towards these topics — they were handled with such grace and rawness. this book was heavy. there were some parts of this that hit me hard personally and i had to disconnect a bit because they were SO real. this was beautifully done, difficult to read at times but also impossible to put down, and overall, one of my new favorite books of all time.
]]> 58699911 WHERE BAD GIRLS COME TO DIE.

Murderer. Unhinged. Remorseless. Insane.

I’ve been called it all while rotting away in a maximum security psych ward, imprisoned for my crimes. When I’m given a chance to escape this hell, it’s an offer I can’t refuse.

I’m transferred to Blackwood Institute, purgatory for the dangerous and disturbed. The deal is simple. Complete the three-year experimental program and you’re free to leave.

I have no such intentions. People like me; we’re born to die. There’s no life for me out there. I’ll do whatever it takes to end my pitiful existence.

This time, nobody can stop me. Not even the four fellow patients with dark secrets and damage that rivals my own.

A tight lipped cutter.
A manic nymphomaniac.
A possessive control freak.
A shadowy ghost from my past.

The clock is ticking. If I’m not careful, the demons that frequent these blood-stained halls will get to me before I can take my own life.

Game on.

AUTHOR'S NOTE: Twisted Heathens is a reverse harem contemporary romance set in a mental health institution. It contains very dark and triggering content including references to self harm, suicide, sexual assault, and violence. This is book one in the trilogy and it does end on a cliffhanger.]]> 444 J. Rose taylor ୨୧ 4
(side note but the spice in this is also ridiculously good) ]]> 3.85 2021
author: J. Rose
name: taylor ୨୧
average rating: 3.85
book published: 2021
rating: 4
read at: 2026/08/24
date added: 2026/08/24
shelves:
review:
THAT ENDING? i’m surprised at how much i enjoyed this. typically when it comes to multiple MMCs, i lean towards one and like the others a bit less, but i like all of these guys. they each have their own traumatic backstory which was interesting to learn and i’m excited to learn more about them. our FMC, brooklyn, is so complex and i NEED to know more about her backstory.

(side note but the spice in this is also ridiculously good)
]]> 236245129
Hockey star Grayson Crawford is in hot water. Amidst grieving a family member, he can’t seem to pull his act together, threatening everything he’s worked so hard for—and the team he can’t live without. To clean up his image and prove he can change, he agrees to a PR relationship, but there’s only one woman he wants by his side.
Except, Bella Stratford couldn’t be a worse candidate. Only recently taking the role of his personal assistant to pay for her mother’s medical bills, she already has her hands full dodging puck bunnies and fixing Grayson’s messes. Not to mention her heart is under strict lock and key after life taught her that men cannot be trusted. But when her mother’s health gets worse, becoming Grayson’s fake girlfriend is the last solution left.
In public, they’re the perfect doting couple. In private, all those carefully drawn lines are beginning to blur. Because the shy, sweet man is not what she expected, and the guarded, caring woman just needs someone looking out for her. And with each stolen glance and tender kiss, their broken hearts might be starting to heal.]]> 456 Mads Rafferty 1764156005 taylor ୨୧ 4 4.11
author: Mads Rafferty
name: taylor ୨୧
average rating: 4.11
book published:
rating: 4
read at: 2026/08/20
date added: 2026/08/21
shelves:
review:
her mom has cancer and he helps her hand write the FMC letters for if she passes…. he read her mom books and buys audiobooks of her entire physical TBR so she’s able to still enjoy her books….. helps pay for her mom’s cancer treatment….. oh i’m sick over this man. i LOVED this. i wish there had been a bit more OCD representation, but i loved seeing those aspects of the FMC. i loved their tension, their banter…. fake dating x assistant x boss x NHL player, sign me up.
]]> 247144397 Two broken souls and a spark that can't be ignored.

Famous hockey player Kieran Ashford is the NHL's favorite headline, but when his reputation catches up to him in the form of a surprise phone call and a mute three-year-old daughter he didn't know existed, Kieran is suddenly thrown into the depths of fatherhood. Now, at least, the quick-witted book addict has something she can't say no to—a job offer.

Because Layla Carson needs a paycheck. After spending over a year in Berlin participating in a clinical trial for her lupus, Layla is painfully aware of how her medical bills have drained her parents' bank account. When the opportunity arises to become a nanny, Layla can't refuse.

As the pair help build a home for the little girl who desperately needs them both, the walls around their hearts begin to crumble. Layla learns there's more to Kieran than the flirtatious winks and playful personality, while he's determined to show her more beyond her temporary reality.

But when forever was never guaranteed for either of them, they'll need to fight for the chance of a new life.]]> 494 Mads Rafferty 1764156021 taylor ୨୧ 0 to-read 4.15 2026
author: Mads Rafferty
name: taylor ୨୧
average rating: 4.15
book published: 2026
rating: 0
read at:
date added: 2026/08/21
shelves: to-read
review:

]]> 208461905 This is what I have been training for. Finding my mate after months of practising the art of wooing the human who is scientifically best suited for me. I am too old to feel this nervous about meeting her in person for the first time, but that won’t stop me. Now when she wakes up, I just have to convince her we are meant to be. Will she still accept me after taking her away from Earth?

Odette
The worst way to start a date? Show up late. The best way to end it? Alien Abduction. After a RomCom worthy first date, I never expected it to take an out of this world turn. When a hot giant shark man who owns his own home on a tropical planet wants to spoil me, who am I to say no? Now if only I can get him to accept his retirement so I can spoil him back.

First Date Abductions is a low stakes, high heat alien romance series that focuses on plus size and LGBTQ+ leads]]> 159 Ash Raven taylor ୨୧ 1 3.42 2024
author: Ash Raven
name: taylor ୨୧
average rating: 3.42
book published: 2024
rating: 1
read at: 2026/08/18
date added: 2026/08/19
shelves:
review:
“his toenails are as sharp as his teeth” is enough to get one star alone
]]> 223852556 HALLE DAWSON didn’t know the whole truth.

For years, Halle believed her brother had run away, leaving her to fight the darkness alone. The mean words, fear, and loneliness wrapped around her mind, dragging her down. But when Halle stumbles upon an unexpected letter, everything changes.
With nowhere else to go and drowning in her emotions, Halle takes a chance at a new life. Moving to Sunlit Cove was only supposed to be temporary–move in with her brother, get back on her feet, and leave.
She didn’t plan for them. For him.

He’s broody, cruel, and thinks she’s here for all the wrong reasons. ASHER HAYES is loved by everyone in Sunlit Cove, and he doesn’t want Halle to stay, even if everyone’s welcomed her with open arms.
Finding each other under the stars, their walls begin to crumble. Their connection deepens, and Asher is forced to face his own demons.
Can Asher stop running from what haunts him? Can Halle find the strength to heal and forgive? Is it possible to ever really heal from your past, or do some scars stay with you forever?

Where The Stars Heal is book one in the Sunlit Cove series. A found family, small town romance full of all the angst and emotion. This story will take you on a journey of healing, self discovery, and finding love.]]> 312 K. Garrod 1763872009 taylor ୨୧ 0
something about this wasn’t for me. i was interested in the story at first, but as it went on i just kept feeling something off about the writing style. i also wasn’t a fan of asher and his immediate hatred towards her while also feeling immediate lust for her at the same time — his actions felt childish to me. ]]> 4.02
author: K. Garrod
name: taylor ୨୧
average rating: 4.02
book published:
rating: 0
read at: 2026/08/16
date added: 2026/08/16
shelves:
review:
DNF at 31%

something about this wasn’t for me. i was interested in the story at first, but as it went on i just kept feeling something off about the writing style. i also wasn’t a fan of asher and his immediate hatred towards her while also feeling immediate lust for her at the same time — his actions felt childish to me.
]]> 250681590
Born in dirt, raised in rot, I dig graves for the dead, while the living decay around me. When my brother coughs blood, he appears. A man too polished for the graveyard, with a bargain too cruel for the light: Seduce the King. Become the Queen. Die. And my brother lives.

Kael is a nightmare of living ruin, the rotting ruler of a festering realm. And Vale is his shadow, the cold architect of my demise. One man needs my heart to beat. The other plans to stop it forever. They think I’m a pawn. But I’m the gravedigger's daughter. And I know exactly where to bury them.

Welcome to the funeral.

Darkly seductive, beautifully written, and deeply emotional, the Heartstring Duet will sweep you away into a world of forbidden desire, deadly intrigue, shocking twists, and impossible choices.]]> 270 Liv Zander 1955871140 taylor ୨୧ 2 4.16 2026
author: Liv Zander
name: taylor ୨୧
average rating: 4.16
book published: 2026
rating: 2
read at: 2026/08/07
date added: 2026/08/16
shelves:
review:
after loving court of ravens, this just did not live up to my expectations. i didn’t care about anything that was happening. the end was wild and definitely pulled me back in a little, but not enough for me to be interested in reading book 2.
]]> 243594910 An unexpected spark between a hockey player and the coach’s daughter might cause them to cross the line in the next Dalton University book from international bestselling author Bal Khabra.

Kian Ishida is all about parties, hockey, and living in the moment. But when he realizes he’s headed to the NHL without his degree, his late dad’s one wish for him, he’s determined to make up those last few credits. Desperate for help, he joins a study group led by none other than Scarlett Kilner. She’s as gorgeous as she is smart. Too bad he doesn’t know yet that she’s his coach’s daughter.

After making a reputation for herself, all Scarlett wants for her senior year is to prove she’s more than her mistakes and graduate without tarnishing her well-respected father’s name. But when Kian Ishida, one of her dad’s star hockey players, joins her study group, things get complicated.

As Scarlett helps Kian, their study sessions turn into something more—stolen glances, lingering touches, and a connection neither of them expected. Kian has to decide what’s more the dream he’s worked for his whole life or the girl he never saw coming.]]> 396 Bal Khabra taylor ୨୧ 5 3.92 2026
author: Bal Khabra
name: taylor ୨୧
average rating: 3.92
book published: 2026
rating: 5
read at: 2026/08/15
date added: 2026/08/16
shelves:
review:
this was so good. i’m so sad that this series is over but i loved each book so much and they truly just got better in my opinion. i loved their relationship and how they valued their friendship so much 🥹
]]> 254446756
Stuck together inside her dark dungeon of a house, Casey becomes an unexpected source of light and happiness in Elliot’s sheltered world. But their budding romance is soon complicated by Elliot’s best friend, the perfect and dependable Michael Harris, who’s been harboring feelings of his own for Elliot. And when Elliot makes a shocking discovery about Casey, she’s doubly torn—between the boy who already knows her darkest secrets and the one who pulls her deepest truths to the surface.

Then everything changes the night a reckless decision lands Elliot in jail, where she begins writing letters to Casey—even though he visits her weekly. As her sentence draws to an end, so does Elliot’s emotional unraveling of their history, and she faces the same gut-wrenching questions once again.

How far will she go to protect Casey’s heart? And when he holds the darkest pieces of Elliot in his hand, will Casey still want to claim hers?]]> 736 Haley Graham taylor ୨୧ 0 to-read 4.48
author: Haley Graham
name: taylor ୨୧
average rating: 4.48
book published:
rating: 0
read at:
date added: 2026/08/09
shelves: to-read
review:

]]> 243895755 What if grief doesn’t just take the ones you love but every piece of who you used to be?

She’s the girl unraveling under the weight of loss. He’s the boy who meets her where the shadows live.
Savannah doesn’t know if grief changed her—
or if it only stripped away the illusion that she was ever whole.

Since her mother’s death, she’s been unraveling. Pills blur the ache. Silence hides the truth. To her dad, she’s distant. To her friends, she’s fine. To Ethan, her boyfriend, she’s a ghost of the girl he remembers.

Then there’s Cole.
All sharp edges and quiet shadows, he doesn’t try to drag her back into the light. He meets her in the dark. He sees the pieces she can’t hold together—and, for a moment, she feels almost alive again.

But grief doesn’t let go easily.
And addiction doesn’t steal all at once. It waits in the cracks, takes root in the silence… until it becomes the only thing left to hold.


Rainfall is a raw and unforgettable new adult contemporary romance about grief, love, and the ways addiction can both numb and destroy. Savannah’s story is one of aching vulnerability, destructive choices, and the quiet hope that even in the darkest moments, connection can keep us breathing.]]> 531 Nikki Jimenez taylor ୨୧ 0 to-read 3.97
author: Nikki Jimenez
name: taylor ୨୧
average rating: 3.97
book published:
rating: 0
read at:
date added: 2026/08/09
shelves: to-read
review:

]]> 249495343 Every kiss hurt, every touch burned, but we could bear the pain because it wasn't as suffocating as the one in our hearts.

On the anniversary of her parents' death, Morgan finds herself sharing a cigarette with a hooded stranger in the cemetery. What begins as a chance encounter grows into something intoxicating, and with new friends who make the world seem lighter, she starts to remember what it was like to truly live.

But beneath his charm lies secrets and darkness she never could have suspected, and the love Morgan clings to begins to show its cracks.

As the delicate threads of their relationship start to slip between her fingers, Morgan must decide whether to hold onto the memory of the man she fell for or find the strength to reclaim herself before she loses everything.]]> 593 A. Noire taylor ୨୧ 0 to-read 4.67
author: A. Noire
name: taylor ୨୧
average rating: 4.67
book published:
rating: 0
read at:
date added: 2026/08/09
shelves: to-read
review:

]]> 232289808
Gabrielle Voss spent her childhood battling cancer inside the sterile walls of a Hospital, where heartbreak and healing lived side by side. But through it all, there was one bright Cameron Hayes, the boy who made her laugh, broke the rules with her, and promised to stay in her life forever.

Until he didn’t.

Twelve years later, Gabrielle has built a life as a veterinarian, five years cancer-free and trying to leave the past behind. That is, until one chance encounter in a hospital café brings everything rushing back—including Cameron.

Now a pediatric oncology resident, Cameron has returned to the place that saved his life, only to find the one girl he could never forget standing in line behind him. The spark between them is instant, the chemistry undeniable, but the wounds they carry run deep.

As they reconnect over shared memories and late-night hot chocolate, Gabrielle and Cameron are forced to face everything they left unsaid—and everything they lost. But with a secret threatening to break the fragile peace they've found, their second chance might slip through their fingers before it ever really begins.]]> 396 Faith Pincay taylor ୨୧ 5 god-tier
“He was my best friend. My first love. Even when we were dying, he taught me how to live.”]]> 4.41
author: Faith Pincay
name: taylor ୨୧
average rating: 4.41
book published:
rating: 5
read at: 2026/08/07
date added: 2026/08/07
shelves: god-tier
review:
this book solidified faith in my god tier author list. this is the most devastating book of all time but so unbelievably beautiful. the way that they continued to love each other throughout the years and went through SO much together…. their love was captivating. they truly were the best of friends and soulmates in every way. UGH. so good. she continues to wreck me with her writing.

“He was my best friend. My first love. Even when we were dying, he taught me how to live.”
]]> 240375294
Sure, Gabriel Francis was all cheekbones and dishevelled hair with a voice that made women swoon and incited bidding wars with record labels. A pure drop of light in a sea of grunge. The soul of a romantic poet.

None of that swayed me though.
I didn’t trust rock stars.
Besides, he was off-limits.

But as Annika’s infatuation grew, and we were forced to spend more time together, I became enamored with Gabriel, too.
A friendship was forged, and we became each other’s muses.
My art. His music. An artistic collaboration, nothing more.

Until I heard the lyrics to his new song. So eerily familiar. And just like that, my dreams were shattered. Fate had done me dirty, and I tried my best to forget him.

Even so, I couldn’t help wondering, How much would you risk for a once in a lifetime love?

I DREAMT THAT YOU LOVED ME is an angsty, emotionally-charged, rockstar romantic standalone set in the 90s New York City.]]> Emery Rose taylor ୨୧ 0 to-read 4.24
author: Emery Rose
name: taylor ୨୧
average rating: 4.24
book published:
rating: 0
read at:
date added: 2026/08/06
shelves: to-read
review:

]]> 59589158 The perfect family. The perfect grades. The perfect life.
At least, that was how it looked from the outside.

No one saw what Ainsley’s family was going through.
No one saw what it was doing to her.
She was spiraling down a road paved with drugs and self-destruction.

No one saw her, but him and he wanted to ruin her.

Killian Stone was out for blood.
And Ainsley was ready to bleed.]]> 322 C.M. Radcliff taylor ୨୧ 1 3.51
author: C.M. Radcliff
name: taylor ୨୧
average rating: 3.51
book published:
rating: 1
read at: 2026/08/06
date added: 2026/08/06
shelves:
review:
if i had to hear them call each other “baby girl/baby boy” one more time, i was going to lose it. i didn’t like this at all. i feel like nothing happened plot-wise and i couldn’t stand the characters. the MMC gets brought into a rich foster home and immediately hates his foster sister, the FMC, for no reason. from day one of meeting her, he says she’s “an angel sent to destroy his life” and that he’s going to “ruin her” but then proceeded to act like a territorial asshole over her. the FMC had an annoying victim complex who acted like her entire life was in shambles when in reality, she just didn’t get the attention from her parents that she wanted. she’s valid to be upset over that but she was genuinely acting like she had the worst home life of all time, when in reality she just had absent parents. this was somehow insta-love and insta-hate at the same time and made no sense.
]]> 86113733
To the rest of the world, he was the little boy who went missing on the Fourth of July. But to Sydney Neville, he was everything. Her heart hasn't been the same since her best friend disappeared, but she's learned to build her life around that missing piece.

Twenty-two years later, the last thing Sydney expects is for Oliver Lynch to return. Having been captive underground for decades, he's unfamiliar with the strange new world that awaits him―but he's alive. He's here. And no matter how he's changed, he and Sydney both still feel the connection that runs between them.

But as their reborn friendship begins to feel like something more, Sydney and Oliver realize there are still jagged, painful truths creating space between them. The walls Sydney's built don't want to come down, and as Oliver hunts for his missing memories and lost time, he realizes his nightmare is not yet over.

With nothing as it seems, is there space for love to bloom in this dark place?]]> 352 Jennifer Hartmann 1728290503 taylor ୨୧ 3
i liked this but a lot of it just felt really surface level to me. i have loved the mental health and trauma representation in all of JH’s books that i’ve read so far, but this one just didn’t feel as solid. i loved our MMC and his journey — he was the most wholesome character ever. i ended up not caring for the FMC at all. she jumped to conclusions and never gave anyone the benefit of the doubt. ]]> 4.14 2021
author: Jennifer Hartmann
name: taylor ୨୧
average rating: 4.14
book published: 2021
rating: 3
read at: 2026/08/05
date added: 2026/08/05
shelves:
review:
3.25 ⭐️

i liked this but a lot of it just felt really surface level to me. i have loved the mental health and trauma representation in all of JH’s books that i’ve read so far, but this one just didn’t feel as solid. i loved our MMC and his journey — he was the most wholesome character ever. i ended up not caring for the FMC at all. she jumped to conclusions and never gave anyone the benefit of the doubt.
]]> 238124112
Dylan’s back in town after eight years away.

With tourism on the decline, both are counting on Ravenridge’s fall festival to breathe life into the struggling town.

After Mara accidentally breaks an ancient artifact rumored to be cursed, Dylan—her childhood best friend turned world-traveling blogger—spins the story into a viral 'cursed festival' rebrand. Thrown into a partnership neither of them wants, they’re forced to work side by side to save the event—and maybe the town itself.

Dylan is charming, infuriating, and maybe exactly what Mara didn’t know she needed. As sparks fly and old wounds resurface, Mara must decide what’s worth the past she’s clung to or the future she’s only just begun to imagine.]]> 312 Kelsey Brownlee 1957243147 taylor ୨୧ 3
this was cute, i just wasn’t super invested and didn’t feel connected to the characters. i think this type of small town romance just isn’t for me but i can definitely see others loving it. ]]> 4.27
author: Kelsey Brownlee
name: taylor ୨୧
average rating: 4.27
book published:
rating: 3
read at: 2026/08/03
date added: 2026/08/03
shelves:
review:
2.5 ⭐️

this was cute, i just wasn’t super invested and didn’t feel connected to the characters. i think this type of small town romance just isn’t for me but i can definitely see others loving it.
]]> 44432616 For some, first love is a fleeting spark heralding the greater loves to come. For others, first love is the greatest love. The only love.

When a music audition at the world-renowned LaGuardia Arts high school brings together two thirteen-year-olds, unassuming Aurelia Ramirez Preston and confident Chadwick David, the serendipitous encounter becomes an unbreakable friendship.

A friendship develops into an unyielding love.
A love spanning decades and continents.

With New York City as their playground, best friends Chad and Aurelia navigate the turbulence of adolescence. They blossom, and so does their love. An awkward first date turns into a night of intoxicating kisses and together, they lose their innocence.

Years later, Chad is “Maestro,” the tattooed virtuoso, the James Dean of classical music.

And Aurelia is an accomplished cellist. His muse. The enduring love behind his greatness.

But when the maestro falters, even for a moment, the most beautiful symphony can spiral into unrelenting chaos. And the greatest of loves can become the most tragic heartbreak.

Maestro is a symphony of words, four movements filled with longing, secrets, betrayal, and the grace of forgiveness.]]> 604 Auden Dar taylor ୨୧ 0
(it was definitely far too long winded though) ]]> 4.17
author: Auden Dar
name: taylor ୨୧
average rating: 4.17
book published:
rating: 0
read at: 2026/08/03
date added: 2026/08/03
shelves:
review:
don’t even ask me to rate this book because i genuinely can’t tell if i loved it or hated it. i’ve never been so angry at a book in my entire life but i also couldn’t put it down??????????? maybe one day i’ll be able to form a cohesive thought about this

(it was definitely far too long winded though)
]]> 243315086
Alex’s Corbeau-Green’s world is burning down around him, and Ophelia Winters is desperate to prove she didn’t light the fire.

When Ophelia first accepted a scholarship from Sorrowsong, an elite university in the Scottish Highlands, she wanted nothing more than to destroy Alex and his family at any cost. But that was before she knew him, before they became each other’s everything. Now, after an unthinkable betrayal and the disappearance of his father, Alex is forced to return to New York, desperate to forget what they had, and salvage the damage done to his family. In Scotland, Ophelia is left reeling, alone . . . and watched.

With a new anonymous tormentor threatening to release evidence that Ophelia and Alex committed a murder on campus, it’s clear that they’re going to need each other once again. But can they find a way to trust each other, and repair the love that they had? And even if they can—will it be enough this time to keep them alive?]]> 416 Autumn Woods 1638933758 taylor ୨୧ 4 4.04 2026
author: Autumn Woods
name: taylor ୨୧
average rating: 4.04
book published: 2026
rating: 4
read at: 2026/08/01
date added: 2026/08/01
shelves:
review:
alex is forever the most down bad, boy obsessed, in-love MMC of all time. their banter was incredible and had me giggling and so giddy, as always. overall, i really loved this. i found the first 20% a little boring and felt like the conflicts just felt really anticlimactic — i kept thinking “that’s it?” and thinking something else was going to happen.
]]> 242361655
After a constant string of losses, she thought the boy she met at fifteen was the one for her. The first boy to show her any attention, and the first love she ever experienced from a man.
Their relationship doesn't make sense to anyone, but to Lydia, it feels like everything. It's electric, passionate, all-consuming, and because it's her first love, Lydia doesn't question it.
But the deeper she gets, even through the haze, she realizes the relationship is slowly chipping away at her sense of self. She fights to hide the ugly parts of it from the world…until she can't anymore.
After Eli breaks her in the worst way possible, Lydia is pushed into a chaos of her own making, unable to cope with the devastating aftermath.
Unfortunately, when chaos is all you've known…peace feels foreign.
Lydia learns the only way to survive is to numb.
She doesn’t think she can feel anything for anyone again…Until Bash.
A boy with his own past, his own struggles, and new faith, still learning how to stand.
Bash and Lydia both fight their constant pull to each other.
She doesn’t want to be saved, and he doesn’t want a savior complex.
But no matter how far Lydia goes, he keeps showing up for her—through the walls she built, the sharp words meant to cut deep, and the darkness she thinks will swallow her whole, he finds all the small ways to hold on to her when she can't hold on for herself.
He doesn’t try to fix her, and he doesn’t run from her darkness.
He stays steady for her, walking her through things they both don’t understand.
And in the quiet wreckage, Lydia starts to experience what love looks like when it doesn’t hurt…

Tell Me I'm Not the Villain is not your typical coming-of-age romance – it's gut-wrenchingly raw and human.]]> 736 Faith Pincay taylor ୨୧ 5 god-tier
going into this, a 700 page romance book intimidated me. eventually, i wanted it to be longer. i flew through this in almost one day and it didn’t feel like a long book at all. i was hooked from the beginning to the very last page.

what a ode to mental health, addiction, and trauma representation. the care that this author had towards these topics — they were handled with such grace and rawness. this book was heavy. there were some parts of this that hit me hard personally and i had to disconnect a bit because they were SO real. this was beautifully done, difficult to read at times but also impossible to put down, and overall, one of my new favorite books of all time.]]> 4.03
author: Faith Pincay
name: taylor ୨୧
average rating: 4.03
book published:
rating: 5
read at: 2026/06/20
date added: 2026/07/31
shelves: god-tier
review:
god tier. incredible.

going into this, a 700 page romance book intimidated me. eventually, i wanted it to be longer. i flew through this in almost one day and it didn’t feel like a long book at all. i was hooked from the beginning to the very last page.

what a ode to mental health, addiction, and trauma representation. the care that this author had towards these topics — they were handled with such grace and rawness. this book was heavy. there were some parts of this that hit me hard personally and i had to disconnect a bit because they were SO real. this was beautifully done, difficult to read at times but also impossible to put down, and overall, one of my new favorite books of all time.
]]> 59989037 A rumored sorceress. A villainous scoundrel. An ancient castle. What could go wrong?

A woman in hiding, Lenore Emmeranne finds herself at Verenmore after a series of unfortunate events, hoping it would be a clean slate for her. Keeping her head down and blending into the shadows, she simply wants to rest her feet before taking off again.

A man in power, Draven Constantine knows every crack and crevice of the castle. So when he finds her, it breaks his ennui and piques his interest, and their descent into doom begins.

Set in 1872 at the University of Verenmore, death, deceit, and darkness invade the mountain. Something beyond the understanding is at play, slithering down the spine as Lenore and Draven weave through lies, sink into lust and hold onto life.

From the bestselling author of Gothikana, comes a gripping tale of the gloomy, the grotesque, the gothic, and the gravest flavor of love in the unlikeliest of places.]]> 0 RuNyx taylor ୨୧ 4
RuNyx is a god tier author of mine so to have the opportunity to read this as an ARC is something i don’t take lightly. i really enjoyed this. RuNyx manages to build the perfect gothic universes. the plot of the MMC was INCREDIBLE and unlike anything i’ve ever read.

i did find myself lacking a connection to the characters and their love. i was having a great time with the plot itself, but i wish there had been more yearning between the FMC and MMC. their relationship felt a little rushed to me so i felt disconnected.]]> 4.34 2027
author: RuNyx
name: taylor ୨୧
average rating: 4.34
book published: 2027
rating: 4
read at: 2026/07/29
date added: 2026/07/29
shelves:
review:
3.75 ⭐️

RuNyx is a god tier author of mine so to have the opportunity to read this as an ARC is something i don’t take lightly. i really enjoyed this. RuNyx manages to build the perfect gothic universes. the plot of the MMC was INCREDIBLE and unlike anything i’ve ever read.

i did find myself lacking a connection to the characters and their love. i was having a great time with the plot itself, but i wish there had been more yearning between the FMC and MMC. their relationship felt a little rushed to me so i felt disconnected.
]]> 255768395
He lived. He always does. But something followed him out of the flames.

A shadow clung to his bones when he crawled from the ashes, whispering, watching, wearing his grief like a second skin. They call it madness, but Caelan knows better.

Ten years later, he’s rotting in the gutters of a dying world, hollowed out by grief and surviving on scraps. When a demonic cadaver tears apart the only person who shows him mercy, death finally finds him. Until a silver-haired stranger splits the sky with lightning and drags him back.

She claims he’s destined to wield a god-forged blade and stand against the rising tide. But Caelan doesn’t believe in destiny. He barely believes in his own humanity.

The road to the sword is paved in blood. The truth is warped. The blade in the stone is waiting.

Fate is tightening around his throat. And if Caelan cannot become what it demands, something ancient will answer in his place.

A Fracture of the Damned is a dark new adult epic steeped in brutal trials, ancient prophecy, and a world on the brink of ruin. With demons surfacing from the underworld, forbidden magic tightening its grip, and a reluctant hero bound to a shadowy entity, this gritty grimdark fantasy delves into power, guilt, fate, and the cost of becoming something more than human. As the line

between saviour and destroyer blurs, Caelan must decide what he is willing to become before the fire that once cursed him consumes everything.]]> Maryam A.H. taylor ୨୧ 0 to-read 5.00
author: Maryam A.H.
name: taylor ୨୧
average rating: 5.00
book published:
rating: 0
read at:
date added: 2026/07/25
shelves: to-read
review:

]]> 244241746 From New York Times bestselling author Rina Kent comes a nail-biting MM dark romance between two hockey rivals.

When two ruthless enemies collide.

My name is Preston Armstrong, and I’m the most depraved bastard you’ll ever meet.
I take what I want, ruin what I don’t, and live exactly how I please.
That is, until I crash into the force of nature that is Marcus Osborn.
Captain of our rival hockey team, and the perpetual thorn in my side.
A migraine in human form and the one person who refuses to play by my rules.
He’s my brand of heartless and just as deranged.
I set out to crush him, his career, and his infuriatingly gorgeous face.
But Marcus hits back with equal force, turning our rivalry into a violent, addictive dance neither of us can walk away from.
We were supposed to annihilate each other.
Instead, we spark a fire that threatens to devour everything in its path.
In this battle of two unhinged souls, our bodies become collateral damage.
But I never expected our stone-cold hearts to get involved.

Tempting Venom is a male x male college romance. While this book can be read on its own, for a better understanding of the world, it's recommended to read Beautiful Venom & Sweet Venom first.]]> 577 Rina Kent 1685451608 taylor ୨୧ 3
i enjoyed this. after having read all of RK’s books, they’re just starting to get really repetitive to me. also considering the major conflict of this happened in book 2 and we were basically spoiled the entire plot of this one in that book, i don’t really know what the point of this was? despite that, i did love them as a couple and enjoyed their story. i loved seeing their soft sides 🥹 but it wasn’t anything special to me. ]]> 4.32 2026
author: Rina Kent
name: taylor ୨୧
average rating: 4.32
book published: 2026
rating: 3
read at: 2026/07/22
date added: 2026/07/22
shelves:
review:
3.75 ⭐️

i enjoyed this. after having read all of RK’s books, they’re just starting to get really repetitive to me. also considering the major conflict of this happened in book 2 and we were basically spoiled the entire plot of this one in that book, i don’t really know what the point of this was? despite that, i did love them as a couple and enjoyed their story. i loved seeing their soft sides 🥹 but it wasn’t anything special to me.
]]> 228752172 Their forbidden love tore the world apart.
Now two broken gods might be the only ones able to heal it.

Haunted by his past and the evil forces he commanded, Noctis, once the God of Darkness, cannot forget Rada, the former Goddess of Light—and the queen who ruled at his brother’s side. Condemned to mortality, thought dead to the whole world, Noctis craves one last meeting …

Stripped of her magic and exiled for treason, Rada has built an idyllic new life on a farm at the edges of the realm. But her peace is shattered one stormy night when Noctis—the enemy who caused her downfall, the lover she betrayed in turn—appears at her door, wounded and desperate.

When a sinister attack reveals the powers of Chaos are stirring once more, Noctis’s dark past begins to unravel. As desire and duty entwine, Rada faces an impossible choice. Can she become the ally of the man who broke her heart to save everything she holds dear?

Inspired by Nordic mythology, this first book in a series follows star-crossed lovers, their fall from grace and their quest for redemption. Sizzling, tension-filled romance, high-stakes magical battles, and morally-grey characters make this the perfect read for fans of Gild, The Cruel Prince and When the Moon Hatched.

Are you prepared to touch the Darkness?

]]> 710 Sarah Lee Wohn taylor ୨୧ 0 to-read 4.13 2025
author: Sarah Lee Wohn
name: taylor ୨୧
average rating: 4.13
book published: 2025
rating: 0
read at:
date added: 2026/07/20
shelves: to-read
review:

]]> 20613920
After moving to Austin following six months of unemployment back home, Iris Taylor knows she should be glad to have landed a job so quickly... even if the business is owned by a member of the same motorcycle club her estranged father used to belong to. Except Dex Locke might just be the biggest jerk she’s ever met. He’s rude, impatient and doesn’t know how to tell time.

And the last thing they ever expected was each other.

But it was either the strip club or the tattoo shop.

… she should have chosen the strip club.]]> 497 Mariana Zapata taylor ୨୧ 1
she said the word “friggin” a whopping 127 times and i wanted to gouge my eyes out. she was called “babe” 159 times. i cannot.

she was naive and although she ended up growing a backbone when it came to other people, she continued to let him walk all over her. he was this alpha-male, territorial guy from the beginning and she just let him do it. she was upset with him, for something VALID, and he told her to “quit trippin” …… every time they had a disagreement, he rationalized his angry behavior with “well that’s just me” or “i was in a bad mood” and she forgave him EVERY TIME. i could not stand him. and why was there a scene about him farting??? i want to go back in time to this morning when i hadn’t yet read this.]]> 3.88 2014
author: Mariana Zapata
name: taylor ୨୧
average rating: 3.88
book published: 2014
rating: 1
read at: 2026/06/20
date added: 2026/07/19
shelves:
review:
WOW am i disappointed with this one. this is one of the oldest books on my tbr and probably one of the most anticipated because i typically love MZ books.

she said the word “friggin” a whopping 127 times and i wanted to gouge my eyes out. she was called “babe” 159 times. i cannot.

she was naive and although she ended up growing a backbone when it came to other people, she continued to let him walk all over her. he was this alpha-male, territorial guy from the beginning and she just let him do it. she was upset with him, for something VALID, and he told her to “quit trippin” …… every time they had a disagreement, he rationalized his angry behavior with “well that’s just me” or “i was in a bad mood” and she forgave him EVERY TIME. i could not stand him. and why was there a scene about him farting??? i want to go back in time to this morning when i hadn’t yet read this.
]]> 123272656 They came to earth—Pestilence, War, Famine, Death—four horsemen riding their screaming steeds, racing to the corners of the world. Four horsemen with the power to destroy all of humanity. They came to earth, and they came to end us all.

When Pestilence comes for Sara Burn’s town, one thing is certain: everyone she knows and loves is marked for death. Unless, of course, the angelic-looking horseman is stopped, which is exactly what Sara has in mind when she shoots the unholy beast off his steed.

Too bad no one told her Pestilence can’t be killed.

Now the horseman, very much alive and very pissed off, has taken her prisoner, and he’s eager to make her suffer. Only, the longer she’s with him, the more uncertain she is about his true feelings towards her… and hers towards him.

And now, well, Sara might still be able to save the world, but in order to do so, she'll have to sacrifice her heart in the process.

From bestselling indie author Laura Thalassa comes a dark fantasy romance between the Horseman Pestilence and Sara, the girl who shoots Pestilence down only to realize he can't be killed. He takes her as prisoner, but the longer they're together, the more uncertain their feelings for each other grow.]]> 416 Laura Thalassa 1728280168 taylor ୨୧ 0
the first couple of chapters intrigued me but for almost 100 pages, they’ve been doing the same things over and over — riding on his horse, staying somewhere at night, and arguing. i’m just bored. i don’t find myself intrigued by pestilence at all and i find the fmc to be naive. this also had a sense of humor to it rather than darkness which i wasn’t a fan of (but that’s on me for assuming this was dark). ]]> 3.77 2018
author: Laura Thalassa
name: taylor ୨୧
average rating: 3.77
book published: 2018
rating: 0
read at: 2026/07/18
date added: 2026/07/18
shelves:
review:
DNF at 28%

the first couple of chapters intrigued me but for almost 100 pages, they’ve been doing the same things over and over — riding on his horse, staying somewhere at night, and arguing. i’m just bored. i don’t find myself intrigued by pestilence at all and i find the fmc to be naive. this also had a sense of humor to it rather than darkness which i wasn’t a fan of (but that’s on me for assuming this was dark).
]]> 232477281 From New York Times bestselling author L.J. Shen comes a dark age-gap mafia romance.

He's Deathless.
She's trying to find a reason to live.

Lila

My innocence was ripped from me one fateful night under the starless sky.
Resulting in an unwanted teenage pregnancy and a secret the Camorra must bury.
My father decided to hand me off to the highest bidder.
The lucky winner? Tiernan Callaghan, psychopath extraordinaire.
The Irish mafia prince wants me for all the wrong reasons.
Alliance. Money. Prestige. War.
I am but a pawn in his twisted game.
The man who sits on a throne of his enemies' skulls thinks I'm a weakling.
Little does he know, in this chess game, the underdog wins.
Because the thing about bad bishops?
They protect good pawns.

Bad Bishop is a dark and twisted romance. Please read trigger warnings before reading.]]> 448 L.J. Shen 1464252041 taylor ୨୧ 0
i was liking this at first and then i decided mid-chapter that i just didn’t care anymore. something about the whole “faking an intellectual disability” and the way that that was treated just really rubbed me the wrong way. i felt for the FMC — she was groomed into an awful situation but she managed to become a strong character. i also just wasn’t a fan of the MMC and didn’t care for anything that was happening. ]]> 4.10 2025
author: L.J. Shen
name: taylor ୨୧
average rating: 4.10
book published: 2025
rating: 0
read at: 2026/07/17
date added: 2026/07/17
shelves:
review:
DNF at 70%

i was liking this at first and then i decided mid-chapter that i just didn’t care anymore. something about the whole “faking an intellectual disability” and the way that that was treated just really rubbed me the wrong way. i felt for the FMC — she was groomed into an awful situation but she managed to become a strong character. i also just wasn’t a fan of the MMC and didn’t care for anything that was happening.
]]> 22299763
Kaz Brekker and his crew of deadly outcasts have just pulled off a heist so daring even they didn't think they'd survive. But instead of divvying up a fat reward, they're right back to fighting for their lives.

Double-crossed and badly weakened, the crew is low on resources, allies, and hope. As powerful forces from around the world descend on Ketterdam to root out the secrets of the dangerous drug known as jurda parem, old rivals and new enemies emerge to challenge Kaz's cunning and test the team's fragile loyalties.

A war will be waged on the city's dark and twisting streets - a battle for revenge and redemption that will decide the fate of the Grisha world.]]> 561 Leigh Bardugo taylor ୨୧ 4
and don’t even get me started on kaz brekker — my peaky blinder-esque king. i could write a whole essay on him. ]]> 4.56 2016
author: Leigh Bardugo
name: taylor ୨୧
average rating: 4.56
book published: 2016
rating: 4
read at: 2026/07/17
date added: 2026/07/17
shelves:
review:
my heart can’t take this. that last chapter with inej had me tearing up :’). i really enjoyed this duology. i found the plot interesting, but it definitely fell a little flat for me in some areas interest-wise. however, i loved the characters. this was such an incredible found family and i loved seeing them each grow individually.

and don’t even get me started on kaz brekker — my peaky blinder-esque king. i could write a whole essay on him.
]]> 215624406
Attempting to adjust to my new life of madness, I find myself plunged into a waking nightmare: Hellion, the ringleader of The Hollow’s. With eyes like swirling vortexes and tattoos that seem to writhe and pulse across his skin, he ensnares me in his twisted web, his sinister obsession fixating on his broken dolly.

Hellion seeks to shatter me, to break me down through pain and suffering for his own sick pleasure. But what he fails to realize is that pain is not foreign to me—it’s my home. As he delves deeper into his depraved games, he’ll come to understand that I am not so easily broken. I am a mosaic of splintered fragments and intricate puzzle pieces, a complex enigma that even Hellion, with all his distorted needs, may struggle to grasp or comprehend.

Once a sadist’s cravings collide with a masochist’s submissive desires, the world around us dissolves into a mist of forbidden darkness and insatiable bliss, where boundaries blur and inhibitions fade into oblivion. As evil as this carnival may be, where illusions intertwine with shadows, the essence of who we are remains incomparable, defying the delirium that surrounds us.

But, beneath our facade of face paints and behind our veils of secrecy, lie haunting truths that have the power to reshape the very fabric of our deranged reality.

Authors note: Please check the trigger warnings at the BACK before you start. This book is very dark, with horror, gore, extremely explicit content, and unsettling situations/flashbacks. Readers are warned to read at their own risk.]]> 404 Jodie King taylor ୨୧ 0 to-read 4.18 2024
author: Jodie King
name: taylor ୨୧
average rating: 4.18
book published: 2024
rating: 0
read at:
date added: 2026/07/15
shelves: to-read
review:

]]> 220237144 I made a deal with the devil to save my mother…
But is it really hell if I love the way it burns?

Gia

The monster from my nightmares crawled into my reality, masquerading as my boss.
Tatum Blackthorne is Lucifer, personified.
When he discovers my weakness, he makes me an offer I cannot refuse, and I become his wife.
I always knew he was depraved, but as his twisted vendetta unfurls, so does my darkest secret.
Now we’re both the target of very nefarious people…
They’re about to find out no one matches my husband’s wrath.

Tate

I am a man of a few pleasures, one of which is destroying Gia Bennett.
Slowly. Patiently. Systematically.
My fixation with my secretary has an origin, but no limits.
When my revenge spree sparks into an all-consuming Mafia war, I expect nothing but a good time.
After all, death cannot come too soon.
Alas, it isn’t just my life that’s on the line now.
In this chess name, the king protects the queen.
Even at the price of burning down his entire empire.

Handsome Devil is a mafia-themed, enemies-to-lovers standalone romance. It deals with sensitive subject matters and includes violence, gore and explicit scenes some might find disturbing. Reader discretion is advised.]]> 450 L.J. Shen taylor ୨୧ 0 to-read 4.09 2025
author: L.J. Shen
name: taylor ୨୧
average rating: 4.09
book published: 2025
rating: 0
read at:
date added: 2026/07/14
shelves: to-read
review:

]]> 250634497
Mason only understands that love is something you survive rather than rely on and lean on.

A boy raised too quickly after his mother’s death, left with responsibilities far beyond his years, and stuck with a heartless father determined to break him down.

Mason has learned to protect his emotions by hiding behind humor and being the center of attention so nobody sees the emptiness under it all.
Simone is used to being the strong one, the responsible one around, the one who never needs anyone else.

They’re complete opposites.
They shouldn’t need each other.

They shouldn’t want each other.

Yet, through late-night conversations, shared secrets, and the moments when the masks they always wear drop, Simone begins to see Mason in a different light.

Mason has always seen Simone as the girl with a light so bright it shines on all his darker parts.

And he secretly wants to keep her.

Simone is the friend who will sit with Mason in every dark moment, proving to him he’s worth loving and worth saving…even from himself.

And Mason is the friend who finally puts Simone first when all she’s ever done is put everyone else around her before herself.
From friends, to secret lovers too scared to commit, to just two people fighting to be enough in this world, they’re forced to figure out if their relationship is built on just lust and stolen moments, or if they can truly love each other in a way that doesn’t hurt and take from the other.]]> 728 Faith Pincay taylor ୨୧ 5 god-tier
“Simone?” “Yeah?” I answer, brushing some hair away from his forehead. His voice comes out so small, barely even a whisper. “You’re—you’re my… best friend.”

“My heart can’t take another person who doesn’t want to be here.”

“I’m always everyone else’s shoulder that they lean on, and I just want someone I can fucking lean on, too. Someone who doesn’t disappear into a bottle. Someone who doesn’t make me question whether I matter or not.” WOW DID THIS ONE GET ME. straight to the gut.]]> 4.33
author: Faith Pincay
name: taylor ୨୧
average rating: 4.33
book published:
rating: 5
read at: 2026/07/11
date added: 2026/07/11
shelves: god-tier
review:
never did i think that book one could be topped, but here we are. i genuinely don’t know what this author puts in these books to make them so addicting but i physically cannot put them down — both were read in one day and i need MORE. this was significantly less heavy than book one, but still carried a great emotional impact. mason, my sweet angel who only wants to break the cycle. simone, my girl who deserves someone to take care of her the way she takes care of others. this was an incredible example of mental health and addiction representation. the friends to lovers in this was everything to me and the amount of times he called her “pretty girl” had me swooning.

“Simone?” “Yeah?” I answer, brushing some hair away from his forehead. His voice comes out so small, barely even a whisper. “You’re—you’re my… best friend.”

“My heart can’t take another person who doesn’t want to be here.”

“I’m always everyone else’s shoulder that they lean on, and I just want someone I can fucking lean on, too. Someone who doesn’t disappear into a bottle. Someone who doesn’t make me question whether I matter or not.” WOW DID THIS ONE GET ME. straight to the gut.
]]> 23437156 Alternate cover of ISBN 9781627792127

Ketterdam: a bustling hub of international trade where anything can be had for the right price—and no one knows that better than criminal prodigy Kaz Brekker. Kaz is offered a chance at a deadly heist that could make him rich beyond his wildest dreams. But he can’t pull it off alone...

A convict with a thirst for revenge

A sharpshooter who can’t walk away from a wager

A runaway with a privileged past

A spy known as the Wraith

A Heartrender using her magic to survive the slums

A thief with a gift for unlikely escapes

Six dangerous outcasts. One impossible heist. Kaz’s crew is the only thing that might stand between the world and destruction—if they don’t kill each other first.]]> 465 Leigh Bardugo 1627792120 taylor ୨୧ 4
OH IM HOOKED. kaz, the love of my life. this is very peaky blinders meets heist meets fantasy world and i’m obsessed. i thought the first half was a bit slow but that slow burn tension between kaz and inej…. GIVE IT TO ME]]> 4.45 2015
author: Leigh Bardugo
name: taylor ୨୧
average rating: 4.45
book published: 2015
rating: 4
read at: 2026/07/10
date added: 2026/07/11
shelves:
review:
4.25 ⭐️

OH IM HOOKED. kaz, the love of my life. this is very peaky blinders meets heist meets fantasy world and i’m obsessed. i thought the first half was a bit slow but that slow burn tension between kaz and inej…. GIVE IT TO ME
]]> 247128055
Halfway through her freshman year of college, all Ivy wants is to fly under the radar. Stay quiet, stay invisible. Putting up walls is the only way she knows how to cope with the trauma she’s been carrying since that horrible night in high school. But no matter how hard she tries to compartmentalize the past, it seeps into everything—her classes, her friendships, her sense of self. Withdrawn and anxious, she’s barely holding it together as second semester starts with the worst class imaginable: Public Speaking.

Then she meets Wes.

Smart, athletic, and effortlessly charming, senior Wes Tucker is the kind of guy everyone notices—and the kind of guy she’ll do anything to avoid. When a class project throws them together, Ivy braces for the worst. Wes isn’t what she expected, though. He’s kind, he’s patient, and Ivy finds herself wanting to believe in someone for the first time in a while.

Too bad learning to trust again seems impossible. She knows she can’t move forward without confronting her past; yet, tragically, healing isn’t linear. It’s raw, messy, and rarely ever simple…but maybe it’s not something she has to do alone.]]> 482 Alyssa Wilde taylor ୨୧ 0 to-read 4.29 2026
author: Alyssa Wilde
name: taylor ୨୧
average rating: 4.29
book published: 2026
rating: 0
read at:
date added: 2026/07/10
shelves: to-read
review:

]]> 68964688 Shattered…

Evangelina Ricci is trapped in a world that’s a never-ending nightmare, a constant ache in which consumes her every breath. Unable to bear the torture any longer, she does the one thing she can to take back control.

Run.

With her best friend Jace in tow, Evangelina attempts to escape her darkened past by leaving for college and diving head first into an aggressive schedule, determined with everything she is to make a name for herself. There’s only one problem—she can’t run away from the demons she struggles with. The demons that’ll forever be there, locked inside, battering her soul. Hiding behind a flawless façade, Evangelina faces her ghosts until her world is turned upside down, invaded by…him.

Blake Turner. Sweet, witty, flirtatious and drop-dead gorgeous, he finds Evangelina at every turn. Scared he’ll uncover the truth she keeps so well guarded, Evangelina tries her best to put on her act, deterring him like she has so many times before—only this guy’s different. He’s relentless. Utterly, absolutely and completely relentless. He sees her and he wants her and won’t stop until she’s his.

Will Evangelina succeed in pushing Blake away? Or will he break down her walls and be the person to make her realize life is worth living?]]> 1 Celeste Grande taylor ୨୧ 0 to-read 0.0 2015
author: Celeste Grande
name: taylor ୨୧
average rating: 0.0
book published: 2015
rating: 0
read at:
date added: 2026/07/06
shelves: to-read
review:

]]> 65648955
After fifteen years together, he walked away from me, and into the arms of another.

I didn’t know how to cope. I didn’t know my worth. I didn’t know how to exist without him by my side.

All I wanted was for him to come back to me.

Then, Jackson Emery appeared.

He was supposed to be a distraction for my mind. A summer fling. A confidence boost to my bruised heart.

We were perfect for one another, because we both knew we wouldn’t last. Jackson didn’t believe in commitment, and I no longer believed in love. He was too closed-off for me, and I was too damaged for him.

Everything was fine, until one night my heart skipped a beat.

I didn’t expect him to make me laugh. To make me think. To make my sadness somewhat disappear.

When our time was up, my heart didn’t know how to walk away.

Each day I prayed for my husband to love me again, yet slowly my prayers began to shift toward the man who wasn’t right for me.

I prayed for one more smile, one more kiss, one more laugh, one more touch…

I prayed for him to be mine.

Even though I knew his heart wasn’t destined to love.

*This book was previously known as Between the Notes.*]]> Brittainy C. Cherry taylor ୨୧ 0 to-read 4.15 2018
author: Brittainy C. Cherry
name: taylor ୨୧
average rating: 4.15
book published: 2018
rating: 0
read at:
date added: 2026/07/03
shelves: to-read
review:

]]> 220287154
On the morning of her wedding, Lia flees to a distant village. She settles into a new life, hopeful when two mysterious and handsome strangers arrive—and unaware that one is the jilted prince and the other an assassin sent to kill her. Deception abounds, and Lia finds herself on the brink of unlocking perilous secrets—even as she finds herself falling in love.

The Kiss of Deception is the first book in Mary E. Pearson's Remnant Chronicles]]> 497 Mary E. Pearson taylor ୨୧ 0 to-read 3.84 2014
author: Mary E. Pearson
name: taylor ୨୧
average rating: 3.84
book published: 2014
rating: 0
read at:
date added: 2026/07/02
shelves: to-read
review:

]]> 14061957 Alternative Cover Edition #1

The capital has fallen.

The Darkling rules Ravka from his shadow throne.

Now the nation's fate rests with a broken Sun Summoner, a disgraced tracker, and the shattered remnants of a once-great magical army.

Deep in an ancient network of tunnels and caverns, a weakened Alina must submit to the dubious protection of the Apparat and the zealots who worship her as a Saint. Yet her plans lie elsewhere, with the hunt for the elusive firebird and the hope that an outlaw prince still survives.

Alina will have to forge new alliances and put aside old rivalries as she and Mal race to find the last of Morozova's amplifiers. But as she begins to unravel the Darkling's secrets, she reveals a past that will forever alter her understanding of the bond they share and the power she wields. The firebird is the one thing that stands between Ravka and destruction—and claiming it could cost Alina the very future she’s fighting for.]]> 432 Leigh Bardugo taylor ୨୧ 2
slightly more interesting than the second one, but still quite boring. this series really took a major decline for me and i’m so disappointed by that. the darkling is the only part of this series that truly interested me and considering he’s not really a main character, that made it hard for me to be entertained. i feel like this author could have really written something great had the darkling been the main love interest. his ending had me tearing up and to know that he was this villain who just didn’t want to be alone BROKE ME. i can see why the author ended it that way, but i really think had he been the main love interest, the enjoyment from this series would have skyrocketed significantly. ]]> 3.96 2014
author: Leigh Bardugo
name: taylor ୨୧
average rating: 3.96
book published: 2014
rating: 2
read at: 2026/07/02
date added: 2026/07/02
shelves:
review:
2.5 ⭐️

slightly more interesting than the second one, but still quite boring. this series really took a major decline for me and i’m so disappointed by that. the darkling is the only part of this series that truly interested me and considering he’s not really a main character, that made it hard for me to be entertained. i feel like this author could have really written something great had the darkling been the main love interest. his ending had me tearing up and to know that he was this villain who just didn’t want to be alone BROKE ME. i can see why the author ended it that way, but i really think had he been the main love interest, the enjoyment from this series would have skyrocketed significantly.
]]> 14061955 Alternative Cover Edition #1

Darkness never dies.

Hunted across the True Sea, haunted by the lives she took on the Fold, Alina must try to make a life with Mal in an unfamiliar land, all while keeping her identity as the Sun Summoner a secret. But she can’t outrun her past or her destiny for long.

The Darkling has emerged from the Shadow Fold with a terrifying new power and a dangerous plan that will test the very boundaries of the natural world. With the help of a notorious privateer, Alina returns to the country she abandoned, determined to fight the forces gathering against Ravka. But as her power grows, Alina slips deeper into the Darkling’s game of forbidden magic, and farther away from Mal. Somehow, she will have to choose between her country, her power, and the love she always thought would guide her—or risk losing everything to the oncoming storm.]]> 435 Leigh Bardugo taylor ୨୧ 2
i also don’t care for mal — i don’t hate him, but i don’t love him. he didn’t like alina before but suddenly likes her now that she’s powerful. and now that she’s leaning more into her power, he’s saying he wants her to go back to “how she used to be” ??? he wants to pick and choose what versions of her to love. i’m not a fan of them or really anything else going on.]]> 3.81 2013
author: Leigh Bardugo
name: taylor ୨୧
average rating: 3.81
book published: 2013
rating: 2
read at: 2026/07/01
date added: 2026/07/01
shelves:
review:
this was a draaaag. the only aspect of this world that i really care about is the darkling and he wasn’t in this much at all. i find the plot interesting, but there’s a lot of filler information that just doesn’t matter.

i also don’t care for mal — i don’t hate him, but i don’t love him. he didn’t like alina before but suddenly likes her now that she’s powerful. and now that she’s leaning more into her power, he’s saying he wants her to go back to “how she used to be” ??? he wants to pick and choose what versions of her to love. i’m not a fan of them or really anything else going on.
]]> 10194157 Alternative Cover Edition #1

Surrounded by enemies, the once-great nation of Ravka has been torn in two by the Shadow Fold, a swath of near impenetrable darkness crawling with monsters who feast on human flesh. Now its fate may rest on the shoulders of one lonely refugee.

Alina Starkov has never been good at anything. But when her regiment is attacked on the Fold and her best friend is brutally injured, Alina reveals a dormant power that saves his life—a power that could be the key to setting her war-ravaged country free. Wrenched from everything she knows, Alina is whisked away to the royal court to be trained as a member of the Grisha, the magical elite led by the mysterious Darkling.

Yet nothing in this lavish world is what it seems. With darkness looming and an entire kingdom depending on her untamed power, Alina will have to confront the secrets of the Grisha . . . and the secrets of her heart.]]> 358 Leigh Bardugo 1250048117 taylor ୨୧ 4 3.93 2012
author: Leigh Bardugo
name: taylor ୨୧
average rating: 3.93
book published: 2012
rating: 4
read at: 2026/06/28
date added: 2026/06/28
shelves:
review:
i’ve heard some pretty awful things about this so i think i went into it with super low expectations and came out thoroughly surprised! i really enjoyed this. it wasn’t anything super special, but it was a fun time and there were a couple of twists i didn’t expect. plus the darkling is hot even though i know i don’t need to think he’s hot. i’m just a sucker for a villain, what can i say?
]]> 61337559
Only, my plan unravels when she accidentally spills her darkest secrets to me one night, triggering a profound connection neither of us saw coming.

And when those dark secrets come back to haunt her, threatening more than just the new life she’s built for herself, I’m the one she runs to.

I know I should run the other way—I’m a single father who’s been burned before.

Not to mention, she’s my front man’s girl.

But in my crusade to drive her away, I fell for her instead, and now, I’ll do whatever it takes to keep her safe… whether she’s mine, or not.]]> 428 Jennifer Hartmann taylor ୨୧ 0 to-read 4.12 2020
author: Jennifer Hartmann
name: taylor ୨୧
average rating: 4.12
book published: 2020
rating: 0
read at:
date added: 2026/06/28
shelves: to-read
review:

]]> 204125964 "Kissing you feels like catching the sun…"

At seven years old, Ella Sunbury and Max Manning were inseparable—until life scattered them in different directions, forcing Ella to abruptly leave town. A decade later, she returns for their senior year of high school, moving in across the street from her childhood best friend.

But she's not the same girl Max once knew.

She now lives in the shadow of her brother: a notorious felon on death row, convicted of a crime that shook the nation. Reeling from the fallout and shunned by her peers, all Ella wants is to fade into the background.

Max has little room for distractions, juggling responsibilities for a disabled father and a distant twin brother. But Ella's return reignites something within him. He wants to be close to her again, to understand her…and to turn their friendship into more.

But as their relationship blossoms, new tragedy strikes, and darkness threatens to tip their delicate balance. In order to find the light, they'll have to navigate the shadows.

And to catch the sun…they must first endure the flames.]]> 448 Jennifer Hartmann 1464218684 taylor ୨୧ 0 to-read 4.15 2024
author: Jennifer Hartmann
name: taylor ୨୧
average rating: 4.15
book published: 2024
rating: 0
read at:
date added: 2026/06/28
shelves: to-read
review:

]]> 56699049
Then everything crumbled.

Thanks to Benjamin Grant, I became a joke. A divorced man. A shell. Thirsty for revenge, I needed him to feel the weight of loss like I did.

Enter Josie—Benjamin's wife and the key to my vendetta. My aim was to infiltrate her life, seduce her, and use that to hit my enemy where it hurt most. It was supposed to be straightforward. But as any writer knows, stories rarely stick to the script. Now I’m caught in a plot twist I never intended to write.

Vengeance was the goal, and Josie Grant was my way in.
I never meant to fall in love with her.
Now?
There’s no way out.]]> 493 Jennifer Hartmann taylor ୨୧ 0 to-read 4.10 2021
author: Jennifer Hartmann
name: taylor ୨୧
average rating: 4.10
book published: 2021
rating: 0
read at:
date added: 2026/06/28
shelves: to-read
review:

]]> 246619132 SHE BUILT A WORLD WHERE NO MAN COULD OWN HER.
THEN HE WALKED IN.

Andrew Harding is a bartender by night, bellhop by day, and a heartbreaker by accident.
But after hours, he's whoever you want him to be—slow hands, sad eyes, filthy Jersey drawl.
He gives girls their fantasy for one night only. Then the show's over.
No follow-ups. No attachments. No return favors needed.

But Allison Taylor? She's his fantasy.
Ghost of the music industry in her NYC penthouse.
Rich. Rude. Untouchable.
You want her? You sign the contract.

Her rules?
No kissing.
No sleeping over.
No penetration.
No feelings.
Oh—and only her orgasms matter.

Guess which rules Andrew breaks?
Every f*ckin' one.]]> 910 Nicole Fiorina taylor ୨୧ 0 to-read 4.16
author: Nicole Fiorina
name: taylor ୨୧
average rating: 4.16
book published:
rating: 0
read at:
date added: 2026/06/27
shelves: to-read
review:

]]> 55882116 WARNING: This book contains subject matter that may be sensitive for some readers. There is dark and triggering content between these pages. 18+ only. Please read responsibly.

When Cora attends her sister’s birthday party, she expects at most a hangover or a walk of shame. She doesn’t anticipate a stolen wallet, leaving her stranded and dependent on Dean—her arch nemesis and ultimate thorn in her side.

And she really doesn’t anticipate waking up in shackles in a madman’s basement.

To make matters worse, Dean shares the space in his own set of chains.

After fifteen years of teasing, insults, and practical jokes, the ultimate joke seems to be on them. The two people who always thought they’d end up killing each other must now work together if they want to survive.

But Cora and Dean have no idea their abductor has a plan for them. A plan that will alter the course of their relationship, blur the line between hate and love, and shackle them together with far more than just chains.]]> 314 Jennifer Hartmann taylor ୨୧ 4
JH remains an author that’s going to do it for me every time. THE angsty romance author who will always get me out of a slump.

i loved this. what they went through was heartbreaking and raw and to see their bond form was beautiful. i got annoyed at the back and forth towards the end though. ]]> 4.13 2020
author: Jennifer Hartmann
name: taylor ୨୧
average rating: 4.13
book published: 2020
rating: 4
read at: 2026/06/27
date added: 2026/06/27
shelves:
review:
4.25 ⭐️

JH remains an author that’s going to do it for me every time. THE angsty romance author who will always get me out of a slump.

i loved this. what they went through was heartbreaking and raw and to see their bond form was beautiful. i got annoyed at the back and forth towards the end though.
]]> 34950852
The average song is three and a half minutes long; those three and a half minutes could lead to a slow blink, a glimpse of the past, or catapult the soul into heart-shattering nostalgia.

At the height of my career, I had the life I wanted, the life I’d always envisioned. I’d found my tempo, my rhythm. Then I received a phone call that left me off key.

You see, my favorite songs had a way of playing simultaneously. I was in love with one man’s beats and another’s lyrics. But when it came to the soundtrack of a life, how could anyone choose a favorite song? So, to erase any doubt, I ditched my first-class ticket and decided to take a drive, fixed on the rearview.

Two days.

One playlist.

And the long road home to the man who was waiting for me.]]> 412 Kate Stewart 1978098758 taylor ୨୧ 0
i was invested at first, but i eventually found the characters to be annoying and as though they lacked depth. i got to a point where i really wasn’t rooting for anyone because i just didn’t care. this is my fourth book by this author and will probably be my last because i’ve felt this way with every book of theirs.]]> 4.28 2017
author: Kate Stewart
name: taylor ୨୧
average rating: 4.28
book published: 2017
rating: 0
read at: 2026/06/25
date added: 2026/06/25
shelves:
review:
DNF at 69%

i was invested at first, but i eventually found the characters to be annoying and as though they lacked depth. i got to a point where i really wasn’t rooting for anyone because i just didn’t care. this is my fourth book by this author and will probably be my last because i’ve felt this way with every book of theirs.
]]> 217245639 A radiant escape to the lake from #1 New York Times bestselling author of Every Summer After and This Summer Will Be Different.

I never anticipated Charlie Florek.

Good things happen at the lake. That’s what Alice’s grandmother says, and it’s true. Alice spent just one summer there at a cottage with Nan when she was seventeen—it’s where she took that photo, the one of three grinning teenagers in a yellow speedboat, the image that changed her life.

Now Alice lives behind a lens. As a photographer, she’s most comfortable on the sidelines, letting other people shine. Lately though, she’s been itching for something more, and when Nan falls and breaks her hip, Alice comes up with a plan for them both: another summer in that magical place, Barry’s Bay. But as soon as they settle in, their peace is disrupted by the roar of a familiar yellow boat, and the man driving it.

Charlie Florek was nineteen when Alice took his photo from afar. Now he’s all grown up—a shameless flirt, who manages to make Nan laugh and Alice long to be seventeen again, when life was simpler, when taking pictures was just for fun. Sun-slanted days and warm nights out on the lake with Charlie are a balm for Alice’s soul, but when she looks up and sees his piercing green gaze directly on her, she begins to worry for her heart.

Because Alice sees people—that’s why she is so good at what she does—but she’s never met someone who looks and sees her right back.]]> 370 Carley Fortune 0593638913 taylor ୨୧ 4
this was SIGNIFICANTLY better than the first one. i really enjoyed this. i really don’t have any complaints other than it’s a fairly short book, which makes it feel short. it’s fast paced and not much happens, but overall, it’s a good, quick, summer read.]]> 4.24 2025
author: Carley Fortune
name: taylor ୨୧
average rating: 4.24
book published: 2025
rating: 4
read at: 2026/06/22
date added: 2026/06/22
shelves:
review:
i write this review in shame, as i once vowed to never read charlie’s book and here we are. i am a liar. i genuinely had no desire to read charlie’s book after reading every summer after but once i watched the show, my opinion on him changed. the show made me more invested in his story so i decided to give it a shot and i’m so glad i did.

this was SIGNIFICANTLY better than the first one. i really enjoyed this. i really don’t have any complaints other than it’s a fairly short book, which makes it feel short. it’s fast paced and not much happens, but overall, it’s a good, quick, summer read.
]]> 220983386 A city girl fleeing an abusive marriage suddenly finds herself working on a cattle ranch with a sexy but grumpy rancher as her boss in this spicy cowboy romance from the author of Seeing Red and Change of Hart.

He’s worried she won’t stay. She’s worried she will.

City girl Cecily Kennedy never expected to step foot on a cattle ranch, but when her already strained marriage takes a violent turn, a kind friend offers her a job and refuge at Wells Ranch.

Ranch life is hard enough without her new boss, Austin Wells, sending mixed signals about whether he wants her or hates her. But Cecily can’t risk getting involved with her grumpy yet alluring employer—she has nowhere else to go, and getting over her ex by getting under Austin isn’t worth the potential fallout.

As far as Austin’s concerned, Cecily won’t be sticking around for long. He’s learned the hard way that nobody ever stays, and the indent on her ring finger makes him certain the sexy city gal is no exception.

But when Cecily’s troubled past threatens her safe haven, Austin realizes that somewhere between their trail rides and late night talks, she’s branded herself on his heart. He desperately wants her to stay, and whether or not she feels the same, he’ll be damned if he lets anyone or anything hurt her under his watch.

Don’t miss any of Bailey Hannah’s steamy Wells Ranch
ALIVE AND WELLS • SEEING RED • CHANGE OF HART]]> 311 Bailey Hannah taylor ୨୧ 0 to-read 3.83 2023
author: Bailey Hannah
name: taylor ୨୧
average rating: 3.83
book published: 2023
rating: 0
read at:
date added: 2026/06/18
shelves: to-read
review:

]]> 227786648 Two brand-new romantasy novellas bound into one deluxe, novel-length volume written from the perspectives of Grim and Oro, from #1 New York Times-bestselling author and #BookTok sensation Alex Aster

True love knows no bounds. This premium, dual-sided volume includes two complete novellas bound together to create one can’t-miss collector’s item. The first novella—told from Grim’s perspective—gives readers insight into his past: the motivations and events that cemented his fate as Isla’s eventual love interest. The second is narrated by Oro and offers a window into his complex identity: that of a king torn between desire for justice and passion for the woman he loves more than anything. Grim and Oro: Dueling Crowns Edition includes key moments from the rulers’ love stories with Isla, expanded upon in their own voices.

This gorgeous dual-sided Lightlark companion book from #1 New York Times bestselling author Alex Aster contains two full novellas bound together in one breathtaking package that boasts a suite of premium features:

Dual-sided slipcase with two unique cover designs
Die cuts and foil stamping in two colors on both sides of slipcase
Full-color case with illustrations on both sides
Full-color, stenciled edges
Full-color endpapers with never-before-seen illustrations

Grim and Oro is certain to thrill readers and test allegiances, leaving new and longtime fans second-guessing who they’re rooting for in the breathtaking battle for Isla’s heart.]]> 504 Alex Aster 1419785621 taylor ୨୧ 3
oro’s first 100 pages were interesting and then i found it dreadful. i just do not care about that man. grim, my beloved, i loved his side… though i really don’t think any of this was necessarily needed. flashback chapters would’ve sufficed in the main books.]]> 4.06 2025
author: Alex Aster
name: taylor ୨୧
average rating: 4.06
book published: 2025
rating: 3
read at: 2026/06/14
date added: 2026/06/15
shelves:
review:
every book i read in this series just truly solidifies my love for grim. these are two novellas in grim and oro’s POVs that take place prior to and during lightlark. i found the chapters prior to lightlark interesting and i do think it was helpful to see a bit more into grim and oro’s former friendship. by seeing them go from enemies to friends to enemies again, it added another level of understanding to their dynamic in the main books. do i think a whole book was needed for this? no. nor do i think this is necessary to read moving forward.

oro’s first 100 pages were interesting and then i found it dreadful. i just do not care about that man. grim, my beloved, i loved his side… though i really don’t think any of this was necessarily needed. flashback chapters would’ve sufficed in the main books.
]]> 242214592
With the New Year around the corner and her being on winter break, she has a few weeks to figure out a new game plan. Wishing for a Christmas miracle seems hard but not impossible, and she’s willing to do anything to make it happen.

Until it happens in the form of a six-foot-four hockey player, who she doesn’t have fond memories of.

King’s Yard University hockey star Sylas Lenoir Alves has everything anyone could wish for. However, there is one thing he’s not content with and wishes he could end: the need his mom has to pair him with a girl he has no interest in dating or ever marrying.

Feeling overwhelmed with her insistence, he’s wishing for a miracle. Luckily for him, he quickly finds the answers to his problem, but it happens to be the girl who couldn’t care less who he is.

*Book 1 of a Duet series. Has a cliffhanger*]]> 232 E. Salvador taylor ୨୧ 0 to-read 3.67 2025
author: E. Salvador
name: taylor ୨୧
average rating: 3.67
book published: 2025
rating: 0
read at:
date added: 2026/06/15
shelves: to-read
review:

]]> 200320170
It was supposed to be nothing more for Lola Larson and TJ Kingston than three days of fake dating before going back to their everyday lives. Not thinking they will see each other again, they part ways without getting each other’s last names or phone numbers.

Two years later, they’re in college, where they meet again. However, their priorities are different from the last time they saw each other.

TJ wants nothing more than to enter the draft and play for the NBA. It’s all he’s worked hard for, and has made sure that nothing and no one hinders him from achieving his dream. That is until he sees Lola again, and realizes that basketball is no longer his sole priority when he finds out he has a kid.]]> 552 E. Salvador taylor ୨୧ 0 to-read 3.94 2024
author: E. Salvador
name: taylor ୨୧
average rating: 3.94
book published: 2024
rating: 0
read at:
date added: 2026/06/15
shelves: to-read
review:

]]> 236669889 He felt like he was drowning.

She was about to drown.

Josefine Resendiz, is struggling to figure out her life. Between her complicated relationship with grief and not having a single clue how to feel what she can't understand, she's sinking and isn't sure how to float back up to the surface.

Daniel Garcia, shortstop, a budding ray of sunshine, and potential first round pick for the MLB Draft, has life figured out. At least, that's what everyone assumes. On the surface, he's the embodiment of happiness and life. But beneath it all, guilt and grief have been consuming him since his brother passed away. Unsure how to deal with his feelings, he bottles them up and masks the pain of haunting reminders behind a mask of smiles.

That's until he stumbles upon Josefine on Christmas Day. That wasn't supposed to happen. He wasn't supposed to be there but neither was she, at least not for long. The night evolves into something neither one of them expected and when morning comes, she's nowhere to be found.

He can't stop thinking about her. She wants to forget him. But fate seems to have plans for them.

Once the semester begins they find out they have a class together, and avoiding Daniel becomes hard when they're paired to be hiking buddies. Much to Josefine's chagrin, she likes him more than she cares to admit. And Daniel is struggling to keep everything he's bottled up around her.

Hesitantly and unknowingly, they're opening up old wounds they wanted to keep closed. Feeling grounded around each other. And unintentionally falling in love.]]> 591 E. Salvador taylor ୨୧ 4
i loved everything about this. anything with trauma representation, angst, and yearning… i’m there. the spice in this was also incredible which was shocking??? my only complaint is that the conflict felt a little abrupt
to me. i also wish the trauma/mental health aspects were incorporated more throughout rather than mostly in the beginning and end. ]]> 4.13 2025
author: E. Salvador
name: taylor ୨୧
average rating: 4.13
book published: 2025
rating: 4
read at: 2026/06/14
date added: 2026/06/15
shelves:
review:
4.5 ⭐️

i loved everything about this. anything with trauma representation, angst, and yearning… i’m there. the spice in this was also incredible which was shocking??? my only complaint is that the conflict felt a little abrupt
to me. i also wish the trauma/mental health aspects were incorporated more throughout rather than mostly in the beginning and end.
]]> 58014893
Until she receives the call that sends her racing back to Barry’s Bay and into the orbit of Sam Florek—the man she never thought she’d have to live without.

For six summers, through hazy afternoons on the water and warm summer nights working in his family’s restaurant and curling up together with books—medical textbooks for him and work-in-progress horror short stories for her—Percy and Sam had been inseparable. Eventually that friendship turned into something breathtakingly more, before it fell spectacularly apart.

When Percy returns to the lake for Sam’s mother’s funeral, their connection is as undeniable as it had always been. But until Percy can confront the decisions she made and the years she’s spent punishing herself for them, they’ll never know whether their love might be bigger than the biggest mistakes of their past.

Told over the course of six years and one weekend, Every Summer After is a big, sweeping nostalgic look at love and the people and choices that mark us forever.

Six summers to fall in love. One moment to fall apart. A weekend to get it right.]]> 320 Carley Fortune taylor ୨୧ 2
original review: 3⭐️ i LOVED their past chapters and found myself not caring much about the present. the friends to lovers aspect was incredible and i loved seeing them become best friends and slowly fall for one another. i found his brother, charlie, incredibly weird so i don’t know if i will ever read his book. other than that, this would’ve had a higher rating but what she did…. absolutely not. the ending was rushed and quite frankly, sam deserves better.]]> 4.13 2022
author: Carley Fortune
name: taylor ୨୧
average rating: 4.13
book published: 2022
rating: 2
read at: 2026/05/28
date added: 2026/06/11
shelves:
review:
decreasing my rating to 2.5 ⭐️ now that i’m watching the show because the more i think about this book, the more i get pissed off.

original review: 3⭐️ i LOVED their past chapters and found myself not caring much about the present. the friends to lovers aspect was incredible and i loved seeing them become best friends and slowly fall for one another. i found his brother, charlie, incredibly weird so i don’t know if i will ever read his book. other than that, this would’ve had a higher rating but what she did…. absolutely not. the ending was rushed and quite frankly, sam deserves better.
]]> 244120095
When she arrives at a new foster home, Milow expects nothing. Just another place where she doesn’t belong and isn’t loved. But then she meets Ashby, her new foster brother, who has lived through his own hell. Somehow, he sees her, and without words or judgment, he understands her in a way no one else ever has.

Growing up together, their bond deepens into something unbreakable. Ashby becomes her protector and the one constant in her life. They spend years leaning on each other, but childhood doesn’t last forever, and that closeness starts to shift into something more complicated and intense.

As they grow older, the world gets crueler. The bullying Milow has endured her whole life never lets up, and it only becomes heavier. At the same time, the pressure on Ashby keeps building as school and swimming demand more from him.
Milow has to decide how much of herself she can risk in a world that has never treated her gently, while Ashby has to choose what he’s willing to sacrifice to reach his goals.

But after everything, they know one truth: no matter what it costs, they will always choose each other.



CLOSE TO YOU is an epic and emotional coming-of-age novel with a HEA that deals with heavy topics.
This book is not meant for sensitive readers.


AUTHOR'S NOTE
Each book in this series focuses on a different couple and tells their story. All the stories take place during the same time period, so events in one book may overlap with those in another. You will encounter familiar situations, locations, or characters from the other books, but from the couple's perspective featured in the current story. Because the books share the same timeline and interconnect in this way, they are meant to be read in order (or, in the future, as tandem reads) and cannot be fully understood as standalone stories. Together, the books form a continuous, interconnected series.

That said... Milow and Ashby will get at least 1 more book!]]> 545 Nissa Renzo taylor ୨୧ 3
i was hooked with this one right away and then it just kind of went downhill. i love an angsty romance with a traumatic backstory — it’s my favorite genre. two foster siblings who have both undergone trauma finding solace within each other; right up my alley. with that being said, i could not stand how everyone in this book treated the FMC like she was this fragile damsel in distress who needed to be treated like she was made of glass. yes, she’s undergone trauma, but that doesn’t mean her friends need to treat her like a helpless child all of the time; there’s a difference in supporting vs coddling. while i loved this couple, they also somehow managed to feel insta-lovey despite yearning after each other for years. i found some of the dialogue cringey as well. despite these things, i did still really enjoy it and it was overall a good, easy read. i’m excited to read about the other couple. i just feel like so much random information was thrown in at the end and now the next book is about another couple when this couple isn’t complete? we don’t even dive into the MMC’s traumatic past once despite him having flashbacks. i don’t know. i will 100% read the future books but this one kind of felt all over the place to me. incredible premise and SOOO much potential. i just feel like the execution wasn’t the best.]]> 3.74 2026
author: Nissa Renzo
name: taylor ୨୧
average rating: 3.74
book published: 2026
rating: 3
read at: 2026/05/03
date added: 2026/06/06
shelves:
review:
2.75 ⭐️

i was hooked with this one right away and then it just kind of went downhill. i love an angsty romance with a traumatic backstory — it’s my favorite genre. two foster siblings who have both undergone trauma finding solace within each other; right up my alley. with that being said, i could not stand how everyone in this book treated the FMC like she was this fragile damsel in distress who needed to be treated like she was made of glass. yes, she’s undergone trauma, but that doesn’t mean her friends need to treat her like a helpless child all of the time; there’s a difference in supporting vs coddling. while i loved this couple, they also somehow managed to feel insta-lovey despite yearning after each other for years. i found some of the dialogue cringey as well. despite these things, i did still really enjoy it and it was overall a good, easy read. i’m excited to read about the other couple. i just feel like so much random information was thrown in at the end and now the next book is about another couple when this couple isn’t complete? we don’t even dive into the MMC’s traumatic past once despite him having flashbacks. i don’t know. i will 100% read the future books but this one kind of felt all over the place to me. incredible premise and SOOO much potential. i just feel like the execution wasn’t the best.
]]> 216815055 When The Moon Hatched. Prepare for more danger, magic, romance and dragons!

The #1 Sunday Times bestselling sensation When the Moon Hatched continues with the second book in The Moonfall Series, The Ballad of Falling Dragons…

Discover the phenomenon everyone's falling

‘With dragons, doomed lovers and magic, this will be huge' Stylist

' Hailed as the fantasy phenomenon of 2024… You'll be transported into a world of magic, dragons and love' Sun

‘Terrific […] A gore-steeped romance of lost gods, lost loves and lost memories' Daily Mail

'An absolutely stunning fantasy world’ Raven Kennedy, author of international bestseller, The Plated Prisoner Series

‘A wild ride that thrills as much as it enchants … An instant classic’ Thea Guanzon, Sunday Times bestselling author of The Hurricane Wars]]> 540 Sarah A. Parker 000871035X taylor ୨୧ 5 god-tier 4.33 2026
author: Sarah A. Parker
name: taylor ୨୧
average rating: 4.33
book published: 2026
rating: 5
read at: 2026/05/29
date added: 2026/06/03
shelves: god-tier
review:
forever a god tier series for me. i truly did not expect for this book to top the first one for me, but somehow it did. the world has been built up so perfectly and now we’re getting to see it fully play out. the politics in this is so intriguing, i love seeing more of the dragons, more POVs!!!! new POVs can ruin a book so easily for me but this did it in the most tasteful way. i loved it. the ending had me tearing up and shocked all at once. here’s to desperately and not-so-patiently awaiting the next book for years again.
]]> 220888603
Everything came crashing down around me when my ex-boyfriend decided to return to Brookhaven with his two best friends in tow—friends who hated me just as prominently as he did. If that wasn’t the icing on the freaking cake, they have made it their mission to break me, to destroy me, to take everything from me.

Ashton. The boy who had convinced himself and his friends that I’d betrayed him. The one who might have been the most ruthless of them all.

Jameson. His best friend who had also become mine. Yet, there was always something more between us. A blurred line that we’d tiptoed around on more than one occasion.

Kash. The one who chose to keep his distance, scared to confront the scorching attraction between the two of us. He’d been more of an acquaintance to me, but also a friend in his own, distant way.

They want to see me break, to paint themselves in my despair and watch as I begged for a mercy none of them were keen on granting.

They think they know the truth. But they only know the lie. A lie that’s going to set us all aflame.]]> 578 Annika Nofal taylor ୨୧ 0 to-read 4.32
author: Annika Nofal
name: taylor ୨୧
average rating: 4.32
book published:
rating: 0
read at:
date added: 2026/05/27
shelves: to-read
review:

]]> 220066949
Hailey Ross and Logan Tate have been dating for six years. Thus far, their relationship has withstood the test of time, but when Hailey is ready for the next step, Logan is hesitant. They have had their fair share of arguments, but marriage has been on Hailey’s mind since the beginning of their love story.

While Hailey is working toward getting a ring, Logan is working toward selling a house. His priorities revolve around his new career path as a real estate agent and less on the current status of his relationship. Although Logan’s goal is to be able to financially support the life that they had been dreaming of, his views change when he realizes that Hailey may not be the one that he wants to continue his life with.

Logan and Hailey know that their future together is on the rocks, but they have invested so much time into each other. It’s hard to walk away from the person that you have spent over half a decade with, even if things are headed in the wrong direction.

Is their love for each other enough, or should they just let each other go?]]> 255 Bailey Thomas taylor ୨୧ 0 to-read 3.59 2024
author: Bailey Thomas
name: taylor ୨୧
average rating: 3.59
book published: 2024
rating: 0
read at:
date added: 2026/05/26
shelves: to-read
review:

]]> 223641012 The road to redemption is far from smooth as ice in this sweeping romance between a figure skater and hockey player from the USA Today bestselling author of Collide.

Sierra Romanova was an Olympian figure skater before a life-altering accident on the ice left her with panic attacks every time she enters the rink. Now, back for her final year at Dalton University, she’s ready to reclaim the spotlight, with all eyes on her…including those of hockey player Dylan Donovan, whose audacious words goad her back into her skates to prove him wrong.

After getting kicked off his hockey team for his reckless behavior, Dylan is left with slim chances of making it to the NHL draft. But Dylan’s whole world revolves around the ice, and if hockey is forbidden, well at least there’s figure skating. Even better, it means more time at the rink with Sierra. Sure, he’s helping her rebuild her confidence, but pushing her buttons along the way? That’s just a bonus.

As the figure skating world awaits Sierra's comeback, she finds herself in need for a new pairs partner. The only person she knows who can match her skill on the ice is none other than the cocky hockey player who refuses to cut her any slack. Dylan's a wildcard, Sierra's a seasoned pro, but together, they might just be the perfect match on the ice.]]> 416 Bal Khabra 059381830X taylor ୨୧ 4
OH THIS WAS EVERYTHING TO ME. this couple was perfection. he’s a hockey player who becomes her figure skating partner and he helps her work through her trauma from her injury… yup yup yup. she was incredible — an olympic gold medalist and someone who never gave up. he was perfect and wanted her to be her true self. he taught her not to be a people pleaser and to be loud, take up space, LIVE. he really encouraged her to be her authentic self and god did i love them.

the only reason this wasn’t 5 stars was because i felt like it took me a bit to really get hooked but gosh was this good. ]]> 3.91 2025
author: Bal Khabra
name: taylor ୨୧
average rating: 3.91
book published: 2025
rating: 4
read at: 2026/05/24
date added: 2026/05/25
shelves:
review:
4.5 ⭐️

OH THIS WAS EVERYTHING TO ME. this couple was perfection. he’s a hockey player who becomes her figure skating partner and he helps her work through her trauma from her injury… yup yup yup. she was incredible — an olympic gold medalist and someone who never gave up. he was perfect and wanted her to be her true self. he taught her not to be a people pleaser and to be loud, take up space, LIVE. he really encouraged her to be her authentic self and god did i love them.

the only reason this wasn’t 5 stars was because i felt like it took me a bit to really get hooked but gosh was this good.
]]> 241686780 In this lush, slow-burning romance, two childhood neighbors, connected by a shared tragedy, unexpectedly reunite to ghostwrite a love story for a reclusive author. Spending the summer at her secluded Hamptons estate, they soon discover that dozens of classic romance tropes, including the ones they’re crafting on page, are mysteriously playing out in real life.

Katie Caruso is a completely normal twenty-five-year-old girl. At least, for the past eight years, she’s tried to be. She likes glitter and sequins and flirting with cute boys at New York City bars. She’s also a ghostwriter for Meredith Bradford, the bestselling romance novelist of all time. But then Tyler McNally walks back into Katie’s life, and that bedazzled facade crumbles at her platform-sneakered feet.

Katie and Tyler haven’t seen or spoken to each other since the overdose death of Katie’s older brother, a standout MLB pitching prospect. Tyler was her brother’s best friend, and Katie—naturally—was the girl next door. But now, Tyler is a sleeve-tattooed, Ivy League-educated aspiring literary fiction novelist, nine years sober . . . and Katie’s writing partner for the summer.

As genre conventions require, Katie and Tyler soon find themselves removed from Manhattan and instead writing their love story in “forced proximity” at Meredith’s isolated Southampton home. As the summer unfolds, the tropes Katie and Tyler have written into their novel begin to play out in their own lives. Call it destiny, fate, or magic It’s clear their love story is unfinished. This time, though, they’ll fight for their happy ending.

Heart-wrenching and tender, Tropesick is a love letter to the romance genre. With a wink and a nod, Okie has packed the novel with listeners’ favorite

Grumpy/Sunshine Brother’s best friend Girl next door Forced proximity Forbidden love Kissing in the rain Groveling hero Second-chance romance Slow burn Only one bed]]> 416 Lauren Okie 0063479613 taylor ୨୧ 3 3.43 2026
author: Lauren Okie
name: taylor ୨୧
average rating: 3.43
book published: 2026
rating: 3
read at: 2026/05/25
date added: 2026/05/25
shelves:
review:
this love story was so beautiful. i loved the tension and yearning between them, especially the past chapters. this was an addicting, entertaining read that ended up being a lot deeper than i expected. my issue with this one lies within the fmc and the ending. the fmc — i found her to be annoying and selfish at times, though i understood her at the same time. she just wasn’t my favorite. as for the ending, i LOVED the idea of it; i just don’t think it was executed well. to me, it felt like it came completely out of left field and just felt randomly thrown in for shock value. it felt like we made a complete genre shift out of nowhere and i wish i didn’t feel so thrown by it.
]]> 210458862 The Creators did not expect their beloved dragons to sail skyward upon their end. To curl into balls just beyond gravity’s grip, littering the sky with tombstones. With moons. They certainly did not expect them to FALL.

As an assassin for the rebellion group Fíur du Ath, Raeve’s job is to complete orders and never get caught. When a rival bounty hunter turns her world upside down, blood spills, hearts break, and Raeve finds herself imprisoned by the Guild of Nobles—a group of powerful fae who turn her into a political statement.

Crushed by the loss of his great love, Kaan Vaegor took the head of a king and donned his melted crown. Now on a tireless quest to quell the never-ebbing ache in his chest, a clue lures him into the capitol’s high-security prison where he stumbles upon the imprisoned Raeve …

Echoes of the past race between them.

There’s more to their story than meets the eye, but some truths are too poisonous to swallow.

The bestselling phenomenon, When the Moon Hatched, is a fast-paced fantasy romance featuring an immersive, vibrant world with mysterious creatures, a unique magic system, and a love that blazes through the ages.]]> 576 Sarah A. Parker 006341581X taylor ୨୧ 5 god-tier
original review:
what am i supposed to do with my life until fall 2025

(this might be my favorite book i’ve read all year)]]> 4.23 2024
author: Sarah A. Parker
name: taylor ୨୧
average rating: 4.23
book published: 2024
rating: 5
read at: 2026/05/24
date added: 2026/05/25
shelves: god-tier
review:
reread review: this was even better the second time around. the most intricate, unique, incredible fantasy world. the timeless romance of true yearning and devotion. the dragons. the setting up for an incredible political plot. that CLIFFHANGER. i knew what was coming but rereading it truly felt like i was reading it for the first time again. forever one of my god tier books that i hold so close to my heart.

original review:
what am i supposed to do with my life until fall 2025

(this might be my favorite book i’ve read all year)
]]> 239703816
Frankie and George have been best friends since they were eight years old. Both passionate, impulsive, and headstrong—they’ve always clashed . . . and come back together. Until now. It’s the eve of Frankie’s wedding weekend, and she doesn’t know where they stand or even if George will show up as her best man.

Then, at the start of the festivities, in walks George. For one glorious evening, surrounded by her loved ones, Frankie’s life is finally perfect. But it all comes crashing down when her fiancé dumps her the next morning, leaving only a note as an explanation.

Crushed and confused, Frankie returns to her family’s home to wallow. But George has a different idea and a plan for healing Frankie’s broken heart. He wants her to go on her honeymoon. With him. For one week, to the lush rainforests and misty beaches of Tofino.

Frankie agrees, seeing the trip for what it really is: one last chance to repair their friendship. Even if it means unearthing secrets and long buried feelings neither knows how to handle. Even if it means falling apart for good.]]> 432 Carley Fortune 059395324X taylor ୨୧ 4 3.96 2026
author: Carley Fortune
name: taylor ୨୧
average rating: 3.96
book published: 2026
rating: 4
read at: 2026/05/24
date added: 2026/05/25
shelves:
review:
i really did not expect to love this as much as i did. tom welling clark kent-esque MMC? sign me up. i loved seeing them go from genuine best friends to lovers and how that relationship changed between them. i also found her healing her familial trauma super bittersweet and loved those aspects. my problem with this was how they would argue about something, disappear from each others lives for a month or two, and then reconvene and work it out… separation is sometimes beneficial but in this case, it felt extremely unnecessary. overall, i really enjoyed this. slightly annoying main characters sometimes but i had a great time.
]]> 242765313
In the summer of 2000, AJ Graves dreams of writing for SNL; instead, she’s stuck working in a video rental store, with slim odds of escaping her Massachusetts small town and large family. Then in walks Noah Drew, the enigmatic and intense scion of the Drew acting dynasty, and her life changes forever. Despite wildly different upbringings, the two forge a deep, cosmic bond first as friends, then as acting partners—until one day, Noah disappears without a word.

Seven years later in New York City, AJ is shocked to find herself cast in the same intergalactic TV production as Noah, by then a well-known Hollywood heartthrob. As their on-screen characters grow closer every day, the lines between reality and acting begin to blur. Unable to stay away from each other, AJ and Noah are forced to confront the truth of what happened years ago—and the devastating secret that will send their lives careening apart, even as fate continues to draw them together.

Blending unforgettable characters, explosive chemistry, and devastating emotion, Into the Blue is a journey unlike any other—one that asks: What does it mean to diverge from the script to forge your own story?]]> 448 Emma Brodie taylor ୨୧ 3
such a beautiful story of heartache and yearning. i loved them together so much and their love throughout the years was truly something that transcended time. with that being said, i can’t help but feel a little underwhelmed with this one. i found part two, especially, quite boring because of how much we were getting into the plot of the show they were doing — although much of their communication happened through their characters, i just feel like that really took over the plot sometimes and i wasn’t super invested in that.]]> 3.98 2026
author: Emma Brodie
name: taylor ୨୧
average rating: 3.98
book published: 2026
rating: 3
read at: 2026/05/23
date added: 2026/05/25
shelves:
review:
3.75 ⭐️

such a beautiful story of heartache and yearning. i loved them together so much and their love throughout the years was truly something that transcended time. with that being said, i can’t help but feel a little underwhelmed with this one. i found part two, especially, quite boring because of how much we were getting into the plot of the show they were doing — although much of their communication happened through their characters, i just feel like that really took over the plot sometimes and i wasn’t super invested in that.
]]> 240687164
A treasure rumored to be worth millions of dollars. If it even exists.

These days, however, the former BFFs have traded adventure for reality. Paige is home for the summer and is spiraling after losing her college financial aid. While across town, Seb fell in with a bad crowd and now regrets his life choices, big time. Both feel colossally stuck. And alone.

But when Paige stumbles upon a hidden secret in her grandmother’s beach cottage, she must get their old treasure-hunting gang back together to finally unravel the mystery that has eluded her family for generations. Who knows: the thrill of the hunt might help Paige and Seb find a path back to their lost friendship… or something more.]]> 384 Jenn Bennett 0063452235 taylor ୨୧ 0 to-read 3.69 2026
author: Jenn Bennett
name: taylor ୨୧
average rating: 3.69
book published: 2026
rating: 0
read at:
date added: 2026/05/23
shelves: to-read
review:

]]> 169690624 Perfect for fans of Lynn Painter and Jenny Han, this romantic comedy follows a hopeless romantic finishing college who agrees to embark on a fake relationship with her childhood best friend, who, unfortunately for her, also happens to be her first love.

Daniella Daisy Maria wanted love. It’s all she hoped for when watching endless rom-coms every Friday night. What she hadn't hoped for was to find it in her childhood best friend Levi. It was the hand-trembling, heart-thumping kind of love that wasn't supposed to happen when you saw your best friend. But it all ended when he didn’t feel the same way and she vowed to never see him again.

Four years later and one night in a crowded bar in the West Village, there he was, just as perfect as ever. Maybe it was the lighting or the way his hair curled above his brow, but she couldn’t say no when he asked her to be his fake girlfriend for his sister’s wedding. Another chance at being his friend and mending her immature mistake? How was she supposed to say no?

The weight of possible rejection from her dream grad school quickly became the least of her problems. With old, resurfacing feelings at every staged, romantic interaction and stolen glance, she struggles to find confidence. She couldn't help but think that maybe she should’ve said no to protect her heart for a second time.]]> 327 Liana Cincotti taylor ୨୧ 4
“If hearts were meant to love, then why did mine feel so empty?”

"I've never felt this conscious of the beat of my heart before. It was like it was sleeping without you.”]]> 3.98 2023
author: Liana Cincotti
name: taylor ୨୧
average rating: 3.98
book published: 2023
rating: 4
read at: 2026/05/19
date added: 2026/05/19
shelves:
review:
this was so cute and everything i needed right now. best friends who reunite after years apart who have also secretly been in love and yearning for each other for their whole lives? i loved them. writing an entire poetry book about how much he loves her IN FRENCH? where is this in my life, truly? i felt so seen by this fmc — wishing to falling in love and for it to be your time but continuing to be disappointed. ugh, i loved this.

“If hearts were meant to love, then why did mine feel so empty?”

"I've never felt this conscious of the beat of my heart before. It was like it was sleeping without you.”
]]> 233717187
Viv Abbot is an average twenty-one-year-old girl. She lives in an expensive city where the rent is too high, works long hours at a thankless job, and is dating a guy she doesn’t even like in the hopes of winning her prickly mother’s approval.

She also happens to be a demon hunter.

Ever since her father’s murder, she’s been forced to hunt deviants alone, meaning everyone, including her family, sees her as an outsider . . . until the day she crosses paths with a dangerously alluring demon, Reid Graveheart. The reformed deviant tells her of a school for people just like her: Harker Academy for Deviant Defense. If she enrolls, she’ll learn to hone her craft, work with other hunters, and never be alone again.

But Viv has a deadly secret. One that not even her new friends at Harker can know about, not if the school might hold the answers to untangling the mystery surrounding Viv’s father’s death. When strange occurrences begin to plague the students, Viv will have to figure out who she can trust, all while trying to ace her classes, avoid falling for a demon, and make it through her first year at Harker in one piece. How hard could that be?]]> 496 Kate Golden 0593953436 taylor ୨୧ 4 4.03 2026
author: Kate Golden
name: taylor ୨୧
average rating: 4.03
book published: 2026
rating: 4
read at: 2026/05/17
date added: 2026/05/17
shelves:
review:
OKAY WAIT. i will admit this took me a bit to get into but once the mystery picked up, i was hooked. i loved the teacher x student, demon hunter x demon, he calls her “huntress.” very dean winchester of her. two of the main plot twists were predictable but overall, i loved this. now deacon 👀 i need to know more about you immediately and honestly need you to be the mmc in the second book
]]> 236544245 I made it into the special forces course, but there are three problems.

Problem number one? One of my instructors is the infamous Special Operator Beast—a man everyone fears due to his cold heart and polished career. He loathes being away from his team, which makes graduating nearly impossible for all of us, mainly his least favorite student, me.

Problem number two? My heart skips a beat whenever I look into his cruel eyes, and my blood heats whenever he’s near me. He’s tall, scarred, and a devastatingly irresistible man who never smiles.

Oh, and problem number three? He’s my ex-boyfriend’s dad.
We try to stay out of each other’s way to make our reckless attraction fade, but fate keeps bringing us together. The military calls me The Unbreakable Soldier, but falling for Kade O’Connell might be my undoing.

Mariposa is a standalone dark military romance set in the Scarred Executioners world.]]> 414 Lexie Axelson taylor ୨୧ 0 to-read 3.95 2025
author: Lexie Axelson
name: taylor ୨୧
average rating: 3.95
book published: 2025
rating: 0
read at:
date added: 2026/05/14
shelves: to-read
review:

]]> 11561469 "No one tried to get involved with me, and I kept to myself. This was the place where everything was supposed to be safe and easy. How could Evan Mathews unravel my constant universe in just one day?"

In the affluent town of Weslyn, Connecticut, where most people worry about what to be seen in and who to be seen with, Emma Thomas would rather not be seen at all. She’s more concerned with feigning perfection while pulling down her sleeves to conceal the bruises - not wanting anyone to know how far from perfect her life truly is. Without expecting it, she finds love. It challenges her to recognize her own worth - but at the risk of revealing the terrible secret she’s desperate to hide.

Reason to Breathe is an electrifying page turner from start to finish, a unique tale of life-changing love, unspeakable cruelty, and one girl’s fragile grasp of hope.]]> 377 Rebecca Donovan 145243512X taylor ୨୧ 0 to-read 4.22 2011
author: Rebecca Donovan
name: taylor ୨୧
average rating: 4.22
book published: 2011
rating: 0
read at:
date added: 2026/05/13
shelves: to-read
review:

]]> 60060431 Bearded, bad-boy barber Knox prefers to live his life the way he takes his coffee: Alone. Unless you count his basset hound, Waylon.
Knox doesn’t tolerate drama, even when it comes in the form of a stranded runaway bride.

Naomi wasn’t just running away from her wedding. She was riding to the rescue of her estranged twin to Knockemout, Virginia, a rough-around-the-edges town where disputes are settled the old-fashioned way…with fists and beer. Usually in that order.

Too bad for Naomi her evil twin hasn’t changed at all. After helping herself to Naomi’s car and cash, Tina leaves her with something unexpected. The niece Naomi didn’t know she had. Now she’s stuck in town with no car, no job, no plan, and no home with an 11-year-old going on thirty to take care of.

There’s a reason Knox doesn’t do complications or high-maintenance women, especially not the romantic ones. But since Naomi’s life imploded right in front of him, the least he can do is help her out of her jam. And just as soon as she stops getting into new trouble he can leave her alone and get back to his peaceful, solitary life.

At least, that’s the plan until the trouble turns to real danger.]]> 572 Lucy Score 1945631848 taylor ୨୧ 0 to-read 4.13 2022
author: Lucy Score
name: taylor ୨୧
average rating: 4.13
book published: 2022
rating: 0
read at:
date added: 2026/05/12
shelves: to-read
review:

]]> 45857086
Despite her losses, Rin hasn’t given up on those for whom she has sacrificed so much—the people of the southern provinces and especially Tikany, the village that is her home. Returning to her roots, Rin meets difficult challenges—and unexpected opportunities. While her new allies in the Southern Coalition leadership are sly and untrustworthy, Rin quickly realizes that the real power in Nikan lies with the millions of common people who thirst for vengeance and revere her as a goddess of salvation. 

Backed by the masses and her Southern Army, Rin will use every weapon to defeat the Dragon Republic, the colonizing Hesperians, and all who threaten the shamanic arts and their practitioners. As her power and influence grows, though, will she be strong enough to resist the Phoenix’s intoxicating voice urging her to burn the world and everything in it? ]]> 622 R.F. Kuang 0008339147 taylor ୨୧ 4
WHAT AN ENDING. this one was my favorite by far. i loved the action and overall plot lines in this one. the ending was so bittersweet and kind of leaves things up to interpretation, which i loved. overall, i really enjoyed this series. it’s not god tier by any means, which i expected, but rin is definitely a character i’m going to think about for a long time. she’s not good or bad — she has good intentions but is the queen of causing chaos and destruction and doesn’t realize her faults sometimes. she’s frustratingly naive and often leads people into a battle she knows they won’t win, but you also understand her to a fault. such a difficult, complex character that you feel deeply for but also don’t know where she stands. such a unique take on a character that truly shows that war does no good for anyone — everyone loses somewhere.]]> 4.25 2020
author: R.F. Kuang
name: taylor ୨୧
average rating: 4.25
book published: 2020
rating: 4
read at: 2026/05/12
date added: 2026/05/12
shelves:
review:
4.25 ⭐️

WHAT AN ENDING. this one was my favorite by far. i loved the action and overall plot lines in this one. the ending was so bittersweet and kind of leaves things up to interpretation, which i loved. overall, i really enjoyed this series. it’s not god tier by any means, which i expected, but rin is definitely a character i’m going to think about for a long time. she’s not good or bad — she has good intentions but is the queen of causing chaos and destruction and doesn’t realize her faults sometimes. she’s frustratingly naive and often leads people into a battle she knows they won’t win, but you also understand her to a fault. such a difficult, complex character that you feel deeply for but also don’t know where she stands. such a unique take on a character that truly shows that war does no good for anyone — everyone loses somewhere.
]]> 61469918 He’s devious. Corrupted. And his brutal heart wants me.

Lazzaro Rosetti just locked eyes with fresh prey: the virginal, high-school girl from a rival family. Me, Mia Bianchi.

He’s screwed his way through half the city’s female population and he’s running wild—until his family finds a way to curb his behavior by forcing him to wed.

When he speaks his vows at the altar, he’s holding Mom’s hands, but his menacing green eyes are staring right at me.

From the moment he crosses our threshold, Lazzaro makes my life hell. I’m Mom’s unprotected and despised youngest daughter and Lazzaro inhales my vulnerability like it’s the finest perfume.

Someone’s going to pay dearly for his bachelor wings being clipped, and I’m his perfect victim.

Author’s note: Brutal Intentions is a standalone MF romance with forbidden themes, breeding, an age gap, a possessive alphahole and a virgin. Laz is married, and not to the heroine. All characters are over eighteen. The story is dirty and delicious, so please read at your discretion.]]> 284 Lilith Vincent taylor ୨୧ 0 DNF. absolutely fucking not 3.68 2022
author: Lilith Vincent
name: taylor ୨୧
average rating: 3.68
book published: 2022
rating: 0
read at: 2026/05/12
date added: 2026/05/12
shelves:
review:
DNF. absolutely fucking not
]]> 249749009
SLATER HUDSON, known to the world as the "Prince of Punk," is spiraling. Haunted by his late rockstar father's legacy and reeling from a messy breakup splashed across every tabloid, he's desperate to win back his ex. So after a brief but unforgettable run-in with Raquelle goes viral, he proposes a deal. If she pretends to be his girlfriend to make his ex jealous, in return, he'll use his star power to help launch her band into the spotlight. It's a win-win... until the spotlight shines a bit too bright.

As staged kisses turn electric and public chemistry starts to feel like private longing, Raquelle and Slater must figure out where the performance ends-and where their hearts begin. But in a world fueled by fame, secrets, and social media, falling for the real thing might be the riskiest move of all.]]> Bri Monet taylor ୨୧ 0 to-read 0.0
author: Bri Monet
name: taylor ୨୧
average rating: 0.0
book published:
rating: 0
read at:
date added: 2026/05/11
shelves: to-read
review:

]]> 57813869
Sich zu verlieben, das stand nicht auf Emmas Agenda, als sie für ein Auslandsjahr an der schottischen DUNBRIDGE ACADEMY angenommen wird - dem Internat, an dem sich ihre Eltern kennengelernt haben. Hier will sie Hinweise auf ihren Vater finden, der die Familie vor Jahren verlassen hat. Ablenkung von ihrem Plan kann sie dabei nicht gebrauchen, aber als sie Schulsprecher Henry trifft, weiß Emma sofort, dass sie ein Problem hat. Während geheimer Mitternachtspartys und nächtlicher Spaziergänge durch die alten Gemäuer der Schule wachsen Gefühle zwischen ihnen, gegen die Emma schon bald machtlos ist. Doch Henry hat eine Freundin und Emma kein Bedürfnis, sich das Herz brechen zu lassen ...]]> 464 Sarah Sprinz 3736316550 taylor ୨୧ 0 to-read 3.92 2022
author: Sarah Sprinz
name: taylor ୨୧
average rating: 3.92
book published: 2022
rating: 0
read at:
date added: 2026/05/10
shelves: to-read
review:

]]> 61197505 linaawritess taylor ୨୧ 0 4.51
author: linaawritess
name: taylor ୨୧
average rating: 4.51
book published:
rating: 0
read at: 2026/05/09
date added: 2026/05/09
shelves:
review:
DNF. i want to finish this so badly because it seems like something i will really enjoy but it’s taking me forever to get through and i’m not even that far in. they’ve also already started to fall for one another and for people who i expected to be emotionally unavailable, it feels insta-lovey to me. i might come back to this one day.
]]> 41212753
With no other options, Rin joins forces with the powerful Dragon Warlord, who has a plan to conquer Nikan, unseat the Empress, and create a new Republic. Rin throws herself into his war. After all, making war is all she knows how to do.

But the Empress is a more powerful foe than she appears, and the Dragon Warlord’s motivations are not as democratic as they seem. The more Rin learns, the more she fears her love for Nikan will drive her away from every ally and lead her to rely more and more on the Phoenix’s deadly power. Because there is nothing she won’t sacrifice for her country and her vengeance

The sequel to R.F. Kuang’s acclaimed debut THE POPPY WAR, THE DRAGON REPUBLIC combines the history of 20th-century China with a gripping world of gods and monsters, to devastating effect.]]> 654 R.F. Kuang 0062662635 taylor ୨୧ 3
this is probably my most unpopular opinion of all time but i just didn’t care about a lot of things happening. there were definitely moments that had me hooked, but i feel like these books start and end INCREDIBLY and we’re just kind of stagnant in the middle. i’m starting to like rin a lot more — though she is still immensely frustrating. she’s a flawed character who wants to be powerful but hasn’t yet reached her full potential. she’s also at a cross with her morals of wanting to be good but also wanting to be this all-powerful person. she’s never been wanted or needed before and so now that she is, she lets people take advantage of her and she can be naive and contradictory at times. she came to this realization about herself at the end, and i’m hoping to see her grow from this in the third book. i feel like i’m constantly waiting for something to happen and i’m not getting that, so i think that’s why this one disappointed me. regardless, the end was insanity and i’m excited to dive into the third one.]]> 4.26 2019
author: R.F. Kuang
name: taylor ୨୧
average rating: 4.26
book published: 2019
rating: 3
read at: 2026/04/30
date added: 2026/04/30
shelves:
review:
3.5 ⭐️

this is probably my most unpopular opinion of all time but i just didn’t care about a lot of things happening. there were definitely moments that had me hooked, but i feel like these books start and end INCREDIBLY and we’re just kind of stagnant in the middle. i’m starting to like rin a lot more — though she is still immensely frustrating. she’s a flawed character who wants to be powerful but hasn’t yet reached her full potential. she’s also at a cross with her morals of wanting to be good but also wanting to be this all-powerful person. she’s never been wanted or needed before and so now that she is, she lets people take advantage of her and she can be naive and contradictory at times. she came to this realization about herself at the end, and i’m hoping to see her grow from this in the third book. i feel like i’m constantly waiting for something to happen and i’m not getting that, so i think that’s why this one disappointed me. regardless, the end was insanity and i’m excited to dive into the third one.
]]>