Fat Stack Friday December 26, 2025

 

Check out my goodies I got this week!

In the mail:

These are my monthly Fariyloot books. So pretty!

Coldwire by Chole Gong

Dawn of the Firebird by Sarah Mughal Rana

The Charmed Library by Jennifer Moorman

This was a Goodreads win! It comes out January 6, 2026. I don't think I'll get to read it before that, though!

West of Wicked by Nikki St. Crowe

This one was sent to me by Bramble. The cover is totally awesome. It comes out April 14, 2026.

Burnout Summer by Jenna Ramirez

This one is from Saturday Books. I've not heard of it but I love the cover so much. It comes out May 12, 2026.

Everyone Here is Lying by Shari Lapena

This came from a good bookish friend as a holiday gift. I've read only one other book by this author. I hope I enjoy this one!

NetGalley/Edelweiss/Booktrovert:

The Phone Swap by Lia Louis

I hemmed and hawed on this one. It was a read now on NetGalley and I already have so many books. but it looks so cute. And I usually really enjoy Atria romances!

Gifted:

An Archive Of Romance (A Study in Drowning Novella) by Ava Reid

My oldest bought this for me for Christmas. I love this series and got to read this one early. You can see my review HERE. This book is gorgeous inside. My only complaint is I wish it had the edges the other books in the series have.

Kindle:

Claimed by the Winter Realm by Aidy Award

This is Amy Award's pen name. It's part of the stuff your Kindle freebies available today. It's a Nutcracker retelling!

What did you get?

MERRY CHRISTMAS!

 

A very Merry Christmas to all those who celebrate!

I hope you were nice and not naughty. Santa's looking for a place to leave his gifts!

ARC Review: See You at The Summit by Jordyn Taylor

 

For fans of Alison Cochrun and Abby Jimenez, a heartfelt and sexy romantic comedy following one bi woman’s messy journey through coming out—and reluctantly falling for a straight man. From the USA TODAY bestselling author of Wicked Darlings.

Girl comes out as bi. Girl falls for a straight guy.

Simone Whittaker has spent the first three decades of her life pretending to be straight. But when the girl she never dared call her girlfriend walks away, she decides she’s done living in fear. Her uptight parents don’t take the news well, but a viral coming-out post and a new job at Toronto’s Rainbow Museum offer a fresh start—and a crash course in queer adulthood.

That is, until her first day of work, when Simone ruins a project designed by Ryan Foley—the museum’s gruff and annoyingly hot carpenter—earning her the top spot on his enemies list. When they’re forced to take a work trip to the Whistler Pride and Ski Festival together, Simone vows not to let a grumpy straight guy ruin her first Pride. But Ryan keeps surprising her—thoughtful, vulnerable, and impossible to ignore. As sparks fly on chairlifts and by crackling fires, one snowstorm—and one bed—changes everything.

Back in Toronto, however, reality sets in. Dating a guy—and being mistaken for straight—weren’t exactly part of Simone’s coming-out plan. As the pressure builds between the identity she’s just beginning to explore and the relationship that wasn’t supposed to happen, she starts to wonder: What if claiming one part of herself means erasing the other?

Title: See You At The Summit

Author: Jordyn Taylor

Publisher:

Expected Publication Date: January 20, 2026

Review:

Thank you to Gallery Books and NetGalley for providing me with a copy of this title to read and give my honest review. The opinions expressed here are my own.

I really love the idea of more diversity and inclusivity in books. Especially romances. I love to learn about things I'm unsure of. Especially when it comes to the LBGTQ community. I want to be able to understand better the things this community endures and how I might be able to help educate others. When I read the blurb of this book, I was totally intrigued.

Simone Whittaker has just come out as bisexual. She's spent her life keeping this part of herself under lock and key. But her new job at the Rainbow Museum has inspired her to embrace who she is. Even if it puts a rift between her and her mother. Or causes her anxiety because she isn't quite comfortable in her own skin. Then she meets Ryan Foley and finds herself attracted to him. 

I enjoyed Simone's character. Her anxiety over her identity was quite palpable throughout the book. Taylor did a good job helping the reader understand the stress this was causing. Ryan was interesting enough though I found it hard to really get to know him since the book is told from Simone's POV.

While the book is an attempt to explore queerness, I just felt it was not articulated as well as it could have been. I really struggled with the relationship between Simone and Ryan. I wanted to love it but I just didn't feel the connection. It was almost forced so you could see a bisexual woman who is dating and falling for a straight man. I needed more chemistry and it just didn't exist where I needed it to. I also would have liked more exploration for Simone with other relationships. She doesn't even give herself much of a chance to explore it. She's out and then, BOOM, in love with a straight man. It didn't track for me.

Unfortunately, I wasn't a lover of the writing. It's a bit choppy and the pacing was not consistent. It made it hard to connect with the story. There's a lot of telling in the story rather than showing what was going on.

Overall the story was just ok for me. There was so much more that could have been explored but was left kind of blowing in the wind. I'm happy to see stories exploring this community in main stream publishing but I just wish there would have been deeper connections with the characters, especially the romantic ones.

Author:

Jordyn Taylor is a New York City–based writer and journalist, currently the deputy editor at Men’s Health magazine; her work has appeared in the New York Observer, Mic, and Glamour.com.

ARC Review: Cross Your Heart and Hope He Dies by Jenny Elder Moke

 

Hobnobbing with Seattle's elite on a super-yacht, Juliette Winters is about to land the deal of the century—if she doesn't get arrested first. She Doesn't Have A Clue author Jenny Elder Moke returns with another riotous mystery rom-com that delights in rich people behaving badly.

Juliette Winters is used to taking care of business alone. She has no time for petty things like romance, friendships, or emotional commitments. Love is for people who believe in reality TV dating and holding hands in public. She's too busy dominating the publishing world by single-handedly saving her company from financial ruin with the book deal of the century.

Business magnate Warren Ellingham has guaranteed Juliette exclusive rights to his explosive memoir that promises to expose the secrets of his ultra-exclusive country club, Pacific Pines. But when Warren drops dead of an apparent heart attack and the memoir is stolen, Juliette suspects that someone was willing to resort to murder to keep their secrets from being exposed.

Enlisting the help of Charlie Hawkins, a doctor with a heart of gold and abs of steel, Juliette dives into the glamorous and messy world of Pacific Pines Country Club. As the investigation heats up, so does the tension between Juliette and Charlie. But Juliette can't afford any distractions because the bodies keep dropping, and Juliette is tee-d up to take the blame. If she doesn't uncover Warren's killer soon, the thing that was supposed to secure her future might just be the thing that ends it.

Title: Cross Your Heart and Hope He Dies

Author: Jenny Elder Moke

Publisher: St. Martin's Press/Macmillan Audio

Expected Publication Date: January 20, 2026

Review:

Thank you to St. Martin's Press, Macmillan Audio, and NetGalley for providing me with an eARC and audio ARC of this title to read/listen to and give my honest review. The opinions expressed here are my own.

I fell in love with Elder Moke's writing when I had a chance to listen to She Hasn't Got a Clue (the first book in this connected world). I loved the narrator. I was so happy to see the narrator continued on with this installment. Sarah Moll0-Christensen has the perfect voice for all these characters. Not only does she do a great job with voicing each character individually, but her tone and cadence are really perfect for the story. She kept me engaged and definitely had me laughing many times throughout the story.

This book is slightly connected to the one written pervious. You will see cross over characters. And this takes place after the events of the first book. A few times in this story the other story is mentioned and that may spoil things if you have not read it. If you are a stickler for reading books in order in a series, I suggest reading that one first. But this one can definitely be read as a stand alone if you choose to do so.

This book follows Juliette Winters, who we have met previously. She's trying hard to save Simon Says, an indie publisher that is struggling to stay afloat. She has the chance to acquire the memoir of a famous mogul and her hope is to take that story and save the company. But murder ensues and things take a turn for the worse with the manuscript going missing and Juliette being accused of potential murder. She must do everything in her power to clear her name and get that manuscript back. I really loved Juliette. She is totally no nonsense, Not afraid to speak her truth and stay true to what she believes. But she's also carrying a bit of baggage from her past that weighs her down and has her keeping her friends at arms length. She doesn't like to take help and she doesn't like to get emotionally involved. Of course this doesn't work well for her friends, and potential love interest. Throughout the story we see her struggle with feelings she doesn't really want to allow herself to have. She has a fair amount of growth in the book both professionally and personally.

I really loved all the side characters in this book. Not only do they offer lots of comic relief, but they also offer great support to Juliette. They don't let her shut down, they call her out on what she is and how she handles things, and most of all they are just there for her throughout the story. And the love interest was fun. I really enjoyed the romance being a part of this story. While the mystery is truly the main part of everything that happens, getting to know Charlie and seeing his care for Juliette really pulled at my heart strings.

Elder Moke knows pacing. It took me no time to read this installment. The mystery was interesting and had enough nuance to keep you guessing who the culprit truly is. I did have my feelings but wasn't truly sure and I loved that I really coudln't actually guess.

If you're looking for a cozy and fun murder mystery with diverse side characters and a bit of romance, give this series a try!

Author:

Jenny Elder Moke is the award-winning author of children's and adult literature. She enjoys fast-paced adventures with plenty of mysteries, surprising turns, and laughs along the way. CROSS YOUR HEART AND HOPE HE DIES, a mystery rom-com mash-up, available January 20, 2026.

Fat Stack Friday December 19, 2025

 

Here's what I got this week!

NetGalley/Edelweiss/Booktrovert:

Full Throttle by J.K. Maclaren

I have been really obsessed with F1 books this year. But I haven't found many I truly have liked. Most have been flops for me. I'm really hoping this one is not. I also love the fact that the author's last name is Maclaren (McLaren!).

Heart's Gambit by J.D. Myall

Yes, I have a Kindle version. Yes, I'm obsessed with audio and also reading along. So when I saw this I jumped on the the request!

Spellcast (A Fire In the Sky #3) by Sophie Jordan

I really hope this one is better than the second book in this series. Though this doesn't necessarily seem to be the continuation of the story before. It is set in the same world but seems to be a totally different story. So I'll see how it relates when I get to it!

Strange Familiars by Keshe Chow

I had requested this one a while back and was still waiting for the publisher to approve. Then I saw in my NetGalley group it was read now and you know I had to jump on it. I love the blurb so much and cannot wait to read this one!

In the Mail:

The Gravewood by Kelly Andrew

I cannot tell you how I squealed when I opened this package. I was lucky enough to get an early eARC of this book so I was not expecting this to arrive in the mail. Look how pretty it is! It's one of my most anticipated releases of 2026! I cannot wait to read it!

Kindle:

A Very Merry Mistake (Very Merry #1) by Lyra Parish

This was free on Amazon (I saw it in one of my romance book groups). So I grabbed it as it's first in a series. I have not read this author (though I think I have at least one other book by her on my Kindle somewhere) but have seen the name around. Hoping to get to this one this weekend for a little Christmas read!

The Twelve Holidates (Love Clichés #3.5) by Emma St. Clair

A Holly Jilly Christmas (Love Stories In Sheet Cake, Texas #2.5) by Emma St. Clair

I was looking for holiday shorts and I saw St. Clair doing a video about hers. These are part of a series, which I have not read, but she said you can read them as stand alones. I wanted a few cute novellas for this weekend going into the holiday and I loved When All Else Sails by this author.

What did you get?

ARC Review: Catch Her If You Can (Big Shots #5) by Tessa Bailey

This special paperback features gorgeous sprayed edges with stenciled artwork.

#1 New York Times bestselling author Tessa Bailey is back with an all-new marriage of convenience, friends-to-lovers sports romance about a baseball catcher and the burlesque club owner he can’t get out of his head.

Madden Donahue, the newest catcher for the Yankees, has been in love with Eve Mitchell since high school, but for some mysterious reason, the burlesque club owner always turns him down. That never stopped him from being her self-appointed protector. Case in point, now that Eve’s sister has left Eve with her two children indefinitely, Madden steps in with a proposition—marry him for the much needed health benefits.

Eve has secretly harbored feelings for Madden all along, but there’s one problem—her best friend Skylar called dibs on him when they were fourteen. Eve has always put their friendship above all else, and she’s not willing to risk losing Skylar over a man. Raised by the local strip club owner, Eve is woefully short on friends and treasures the ones she has. But with Skylar happily paired off, Eve finds herself accepting Madden’s proposal—on the condition that their marriage remains strictly private. She’s not about to let her unique profession and maligned reputation destroy Madden’s shiny new career.

Madden won’t let Eve get away that easily, though. What starts as a marriage of convenience soon ignites into something much hotter, and now it’s up to Madden to convince Eve that their connection is far more than 

Title: Catch Her If You Can (Big Shots #5)

Author: Tessa Bailey

Publisher: Avon Harper Voyager

Expected Publication Date: Janaury 20, 2026

Review:

Thank you to Avon Harper Voyager and NetGalley for providing me with a copy of this book to read and give my honest review. The opinions expressed here are my own.

I really enjoy the stories Tessa Bailey puts out. Every time I read her, I'm immersed and don't want to put the book down. I was very excited to get Madden's story. He was a bit of a mystery in Pitcher Perfect. I loved the glimpses we got of him. How he was shy and reserved and grumpy. I needed to know more about him and Bailey made that happen.

Eve and Madden have known each other since they were teens and Madden moved from Ireland to America. They have both harbored feelings for all that time but have not been able to act on it (she because of her best friend Skylar's crush and him because of his preoccupation with their age gap). When Madden finds out Eve needs help, he jumps in with a proposal, literally. Marry him for the benefits, just for six months, so she can get back on her feet. A marriage of convenience, though his plan is anything but. Of course they cannot help their feelings getting in the way of their arrangement.

I will say the vibe of this book was unlike the first four. There are much more serious topics in this book. Much more trauma the character have endured from physical to emotional and mental abuse. Madden escaped by moving far away from his abuser. But Even is still stuck in the same town where her father's legacy has followed her and the bullying towns people all her life. 

Madden, oh Madden. Gah, I just love him. He's grumpy and totally possessive. But his heart is so very big. Considering his background, and the trauma he seems to have endured during his childhood, it's surprising he is so well adjusted. One thing I really need more of from him was his background. We get it from him, he tells a bit of his story, but not as much as I would have liked. I really would have liked to see more of what he endured so I can understand how he was able to come out on the other side with such a positive attitude. Then again, we endure trauma and it often makes us stronger and we figure out ways for that trauma not to enter into our lives again.

I liked Eve but not as much as bailey's other FMCs. She nice enough. I love her connection with her niece and nephew. I love the fact that she is selfless enough to take on their care when it's needed and her act of selflessness towards Madden (I will not get into it since it's kind of a spoiler though I figured it out right away).  I just wish she would have been stronger in her conviction of who she is and what she stands for. We do get this a bit at the end of the book. But mostly she keeps her head down and kind of lets others abuse her with their snark and gross comments. Most of the time she just walks away. Ok, we are taught to walk away from the bullies, I get it. But I needed her to really start to stand up for herself and who she was deep down. To show everyone how selfless and loving she could be.

The spice is absolutely spicing in this one. I love the exploration of the voyeur kink. It wasn't unexpected given the background of the character, to be honest. I actually thought it was a little too on point and kind of wished it was a different kink that was explored.

This one was a fast read. I started and finished in less than 24 hours. The flashbacks at the beginning were a nice addition, giving us a good background for Eve and Madden's romance. Their chemistry was definitely off the charts. Bailey made that attraction very palpable throughout the book. Bailey throws in the virgin card for one of the characters, which could have been such a better plot line if explored a bit. It just kind of comes up and then it's like it wasn't that big of a deal when I feel like it kind of should have been. Especially given the reasoning for it. And while it was fast paced and for the most part I enjoyed the story, there were some plot holes that I had a hard time getting over which lowered my rating.

I will forever pick up Bailey's books as I really do love the stories she tells. She always keeps me entertained, even if I've read the tropes a million times in other stories. I love the journey she takes and how she brings her characters together with such great connections. Fingers crossed she continues because I need Elton's story! I was totally shipping him and Veda in this book!

Autor:

New York Times Bestselling author Tessa Bailey can solve all problems except for her own, so she focuses those efforts on stubborn, fictional blue collar men and loyal, lovable heroines. She lives on Long Island avoiding the sun and social interactions, then wonders why no one has called. Dubbed the “Michelangelo of dirty talk,” by Entertainment Weekly, Tessa writes with spice, spirit, swoon and a guaranteed happily ever after. Catch her on TikTok at @authortessabailey or check out tessabailey.com for a complete list of books.

 

Blog Tour: Love In Plane Sight by Lauren Connolly

 

Beth Lundberg has always dreamed of becoming a pilot, but financial barriers and tricky family dynamics prevent her from soaring through the clouds—until George Bunsen flies into her life.

 

Sure, her brother’s best friend may be both a talented pilot and an extremely good-looking man—but Beth can’t stand him. He’s always been frosty towards her, and Beth assumes that George is just another member of the pompous boys’ club that dominates the skies. But when her first ride-along with George dives toward disaster, Beth is horrified to find herself with an adrenaline-fueled crush on the sexy pilot who just saved her life. 

 

Feeling guilty for their near-catastrophe, George offers Beth free flying lessons. The more time the duo spends navigating the sky, the more the turbulence between George and Beth dissipates. But can Beth really take a risk on romance when her pilot career isn’t even off the ground?

 

LOVE IN PLANE SIGHT is the perfect high-flying read for fans of Emily Henry, Carley Fortune, and Beth O’Leary. Connolly’s blend of wry millennial wit, laugh-out-loud humor, and stirring emotional depth will have readers soaring on a fun-filled journey through the pages. In addition to serving up a charming love story, Connolly draws attention to the sexism and inequality that female pilots often face.

Title: Love In Plane Sight

Author: Lauren Connolly

Publisher: Berkley Publishing Group

Publication Date: December 16, 2025

Review:

Thank you to Berkley Publishing Group and NetGalley for providing me with a copy of this title to read and give my honest review. The opinions provided here are my own.

To say I was excited to get a copy of this book to read early is an understatement. I absolutely adored P.S. I Hate You by Connolly and was excited to see what she would write next. And this book was chef's kiss for me. I adored the characters and the plot.

Beth Lundberg is no stranger to her brother's best friend, George Bunsen. For as long as she's known him, he has never liked her, going as far as leaving rooms when she enters. When a ride along flying lesson with him goes horribly wrong, Beth finds herself with an adrenaline fueled crush. And when he offers to give her lessons for free as she struggles to pay her mother's medical bills, she truly cannot say no. As they spend more time together, the walls that have been built between them start to melt and they find themselves bonding and even, maybe, liking each other just a little bit more than they should.

I loved how Connolly built the relationship between George and Beth. Not only is there intense chemistry, but their banter is top notch. I love how sarcastic they are with one another. There were so many laugh out loud moments that had my family looking at me like I was losing my mind. I'm a sucker for a good pining story and this one had that in loads. 

Beth is well developed but I had just a few issues with how often she was trying to convince herself that George just did not like her. That he was only doing things for her because of his guilt due to their emergency landing. That her brother, Shawn, was the one to make him spend time with her. This particular trope drives me bananas. Miscommunication can absolutely be done well but it was a little over the top in this book with how many times the FMC mentioned the MMC not liking her. I understood where it was coming from and why it was being used, but there were so many times I wanted to bonk Beth on her head. I did enjoy her inability to ask for or take help. She wants so badly to be independent she just cannot find it in her to accept when others are truly wanting to help her without her having to give anything in return. The guilt associated with this is palpable throughout the book. It was nice to watch her slowly realize others are happy to assist her when she needs it.

The pacing of the book was great. I didn't want to put it down. I needed to find out how Beth and George's story would play out. And the first chapter truly starts with a bang and pulls you right into the story. I was hooked right from the start!

It was so easy to fall in love with this story and all the characters contained within it. I especially loved Beth and Shawn's relationship. He was such a great support for her. Their relationship was so sweet. You could really feel how much they truly cared for each other. The tricky family dynamics seemed like they would interfere with this relationship, but the characters did not allow it. I absolutely would not mind a story for Shawn in the future because I feel like he truly deserves to be happy.

Overall I was delighted with this book. It was fun and fast paced and touched on some really important topics. If you love Katherine Center, Abby Jimenez, and Carley Fortune, you will be sucked right into Connolly's story. I can't wait to see what Connolly comes up with next!

Author:

Lauren Connolly is an award-winning author of contemporary and magical romance stories. She’s lived among mountains, next to lakes, and in imaginary worlds. Lauren can never seem to stay in one place for too long, but trust that wherever she’s residing there is a dog who thinks he’s a troll, twin cats hiding in the couch, and bookshelves bursting with stories written by the authors she loves.

Most Anticipated Releases Tuesday December 16, 2025

So looking forward to all of these!

Love In Plane Sight by Lauren Connolly

 

I was so excited for this one. I got lucky and got an early copy AND I got picked for the blog tour (you'll see that published tomorrow). This one was so fun!

The Once and Future Queen by Paula Lafferty

This one is really pretty but also the story sounds like it would be good. 

How about you?

 

ARC Review: The Lust Crusade (Raiders of the Lost Heart #3) by Jo Segura

 

A plucky librarian and an archaeologist on the run fake an engagement to save their lives, leading them into the labyrinth of their own desires.

Daniela Guiterrez has been in love with her brother’s best friend for as long as she can remember—until he went missing a year ago during an archaeological expedition. But on a solo trip to Greece, the intrepid librarian discovers that Theo is very much alive, although judging by the criminals holding him hostage, he is not doing well.

An expert in Ancient Greek archaeology, Dr. Theo Galanis has been abducted by artifact smugglers in search of a priceless gemstone—the Eye of the Minotaur. This ridiculous assignment was supposed to get Dani out of his system, not keep her tied up next to him. But when a little white lie spirals into his captors believing Theo and Dani are engaged, they must utilize her research skills and his expertise to solve the centuries’ old Minoan mystery, all while feigning a romance to keep each other alive.

Now with less than six days to find the jewel, underground societies, mythological beings, and pesky abductors are only half the battle. Because among the ancient ruins and temples they explore is an even bigger falling in love for real.

Title: The Lust Crusade (Raiders of the Lost Heart #3)

Author: Jo Segura

Publisher: Berkley Publishing Group

Expected Publication Date: January 13, 2026

Review:

Thank you to Berkley Publishing Group and NetGalley for providing me with a copy of this title to read and give my honest review. The opinions expressed here are my own.

I'm a huge Indiana Jones lover. Write a romance that has that as it's base and I'm hooked. I adored the first two books in this series. They were so cute and just a little bit spicy. Plus they hit my adventurous side. I was excited to dive into this one and see where it went.

While these books are a series, they can absolutely be read as stand alones. There are some cross over characters, particularly the villain, but you could still understand this story without reading the other. However, for me, it was fun to see the characters from the previous books pop up.

This book was so much fun. I loved the adventure the two main characters went on. I've never been to Greece but Segura really made me feel like I was there with her lush descriptions of the different areas the characters visit. It just made me want to visit Greece even more than I already wanted to. And I really enjoy Greek mythology, so this one hit a great spot with that.

While not strictly a second chance romance, this title gave that vibe. Childhood friends who were pining for each other. Brother's best friend banned from touching his sister. Families who spent holidays together. I loved the entire vibe Segura set. The FMC and MMC have so much chemistry. The longing each of them felt was palpable throughout the book. However, if you're not a fan of the miscommunication trope you're not going to like this one. For me, I don't hate it or love it but it was stretched out so long in this book. Which is why I only gave this book 4 stars.

The vibe of this book was quite different from the first two. While there is adventure, they are in civilization the whole time. But Segura set it up and made it fun despite it being a very different setting. She kept the pacing up, inserted lots of shenanigans, and gave a plot that was fun and mysterious.

I'm not sure if Segura is done with this series, since the villain technically got captured in this one but perhaps she has something up her sleeve. Whatever it is, even if it's a different series, I will be reading it!

Author:

USA Today bestselling author Jo Segura lives in the Pacific Northwest with her doggo, who vies for her attention with his sweet puppy dog eyes whenever she’s trying to write. 

Fat Stack Friday December 12, 2025

Check out what I've gotten since last week!

NetGalley/Edelweiss/Booktrovert:

Cross Your Heart and Hope He Dies by Jenny Elder Moke

I already have the Kindle version of this one but I was excited to get the audio, too, so I can read and listen along! I had the audio version of She Doesn't Have a Clue  from her and really liked the narrator.

Catch Her If You Can (Big Shots #5) by Tessa Bailey

I love me some Bailey. Her romances are always so much fun. I cannot wait to see where this one leads. I'm not a big baseball fan but I know it's about one of the characters from book #4 so I need to see where it goes!

It Could Have Been Her by Lisa Jewell

Lisa Jewell is pretty much an auto-read author for me. I was excited to request this one and receive my approval within just a few hours. Cannot wait to see what kind of ride she takes me on with this one!

The Shippers by Katherine Center

Anything by Katherine Center goes on my list immediately and becomes one of my most anticipated reads. I actually requested this on on Edelweiss but was declined. I wrote to the publisher to ask for a copy as I saw lots of people in my NetGalley group getting a widget and was told if more copies became available I would be considered. Of course I was disappointed as I've reviewed her last two books. But then it went up for read now and you can see I jumped on that!

The Summer of Second Chances by K.L. Walther

I just saw The Summer of Broken Rules at Five Below and was tempted to buy it but didn't. I came home and this one was up for read now, so I figured it was kismet and grabbed it. I'm hoping I've found myself another auto-read author.

The Crowned Mystic (The Royal Insights #1) by Lauren Kutney

I'm really loving Booktrovert and their book offers. This one already published 12/1/25 so it's not super high on my priority list, but I'm hoping to get to it soon!

In The Mail:

Her Hidden Fire by Clidhna O'Sullivan

The publisher contacted me to see if I wanted a hard copy arc of this one. I do have a Kindle version but I like when I can get things in physical form.

Kindle:

Not Just a Crush by Helena Hunting

This freebie came in Hunting's newsletter. I'm always looking for cute novellas to break up my longer books. Hoping to get this one in before the new year comes!

Better in Black by Cassandra Clare

I will forever buy all the shadowhunter books. I love this world so much. And I love Clare's writing!

What did you get?