ARC Review: Light Up My Life by Kasie West

 

Beloved YA romance author Kasie West (P.S. I Like You) returns with a charming, hilarious modern-day Romeo & Juliet story about two rival families, one Christmas house decorating competition, and a blossoming forbidden relationship. Perfect for fans of Pumpkin Spice and Everything Nice and the forthcoming Mint To Be!

Sixteen-year-old Jasmine Costas is a sensitive, shy artist who has spent her entire life going out of her way to avoid the bane of her existence, Ryan Moreno. On top of being an arrogant jerk, Ryan hails from the Moreno family, the Costas's next-door neighboors and longtime enemies. But this is Jasmine's older brother's last year of high school, so she's determined to make it the Best Christmas Ever. When it's announced that their town is holding an actual contest for Best Decorated House, Jasmine and her family are ready to wage an all-out war to claim the trophy. Until Jasmine and Ryan are accidentally locked in a pantry together during a holiday party, and she's forced to wonder if there's actually more to Ryan Moreno than meets the eye. And unfortunately, their chemistry is undeniable.A secret relationship blooms that threatens to completely upend the lives of their families as the Christmas decoration schemes and rivalries get wilder and more chaotic.

Jasmine and Ryan want to be together. Can they convince their families to patch things up and embrace the holiday spirit? This charming story from the master of romantic-comedy, beloved author Kasie West, is a spirited exploration of the chaos of change, and the enduring magic of Christmas.

Title: Light Up My Life

Author: Kasie West

Publisher: Scholastic Press

Publication Date: October 20, 2026

Review:

Thank you to Scholastic Press 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've been a fan of Kasie West for a long time. She really does right quintessential young adult romance. This title is right in line with what I've always loved from her: just a little angsty, conflict, swoon worthy moments, and much more. Plus she takes the classic Romeo and Juliet theme and gives it a cute little Christmas twist.

Jasmine and Ryan's families have been enemies for as long as she can remember. So falling for Ryan is the last thing on Jasmine's bucket list when she just wants to win the annual Christmas decorating contest. But with the threat of a lawsuit hanging over her small town well knows for it's Christmas spirit, she's determined to find out just who the Grinch is who wants to ban Christmas decorations and holiday fun. In order to do that, she slowly becomes friends with her rival, Ryan, only it blossoms into more and she starts having to keep secrets from her moms and brothers. As the secrets pile up, Jasmine finds herself wondering if the stress is causing is really worth keeping what she believes will hurt her family all to herself.

I really liked Jasmine. As a teen character she's very relatable. There's so much that happens as a teen that you wonder if you should tell your family. And what they think of you is often so important you don't want to disappoint them. It's no wonder she keeps her relationship with Ryan and her sleuthing to find the grinchy neighbor who wants to ruin futures Christmas's a secret. 

I will be honest and say it was hard to get to know Ryan. Since the book is single POV from Jasmine's side, you only get to see what she wants to show you. I wish we had had his POV to even things out. He definitely comes across as a golden retriever boy mixed up with the wrong crowd. He's smart and sweet and really seems to care for Jasmine. But he's also worried about his family.

I liked the underlying mystery West weaves into the story. As someone who loves Christmas, I don't understand those who turn their noses up at all the joy it brings. But once we found out the reasoning behind the Grinch's law suit, you could understand it. I just wish that neighbor would have been honest with those around him. Communication is so important with neighbor relations.

Overall, this is classic West. She sets a great scenes during this fun Christmas season romance. As with her other young adult romances, this one is firmly in that spot. Some light kissing are all we get from the couple. And the side characters really are fun and lend a lot to the story. I'll continue to read her titles as long as she continues to write them.

3.5 stars rounded to 4

Author:

I write YA and adult romance novels. I eat chocolate cinnamon bears. Sometimes I go crazy and do both at the same time. A few of my works are: SUNKISSED, PS I LIKE YOU, MOMENT OF TRUTH, WE MET LIKE THIS, and more. My agent is the talented and funny Michelle Wolfson.

ARC Review: The Holiday House Swap by Lauren Applebaum

 

Two homes, two holidays, and one spontaneous switch change everything for two women in this warm and festive holiday romance perfect for readers of The Holiday Honeymoon Switch and A Winter Wish .When go-getter Phoebe Keller is fired right before the holidays, the last thing she wants is to face her family—so she impulsively decides to swap homes with Arden Torres, a teacher desperate to escape her own holiday blues.
 When Phoebe’s protective brother finds out Arden’s spending Hanukkah alone, he insists on inviting her to the family celebration. Neither expects the undeniable spark between them—or its messy implications. Phoebe is in for her own surprise when a night at a Christmas market turns into a run-in with her old college friend—whose heart she broke years ago.  
 Between snow-dusted nights in Seattle and sunlit mornings in Florida, two love stories unfold. But as the new year draws near, Phoebe and Arden must each decide if they’re ready to stop running from the past and open their hearts to the kind of love that feels like coming home.

Title: The Holiday House Swap

Author: Lauren Appelbaum

Publisher: Forever Grand Central

Publication Date: October 20, 2026

Review:

Thank you to Forever Grand Central Publishing and NetGalley for providing me with a copy of this title to read and review. The opinions expressed here are my own.

I will admit, I have never watched the movie, The Holiday. And maybe if I had had that background I would have liked this book a bit more than I did. But I don't think you should have to know a movie to like a story, so my opinions are valid in my mind.

This book is told in dual POV from Arden and Phoebe. I liked that part. It was a nice dual POV along the same time line with things happening on opposite sides of the country. And I loved the idea of this plot.

What I wasn't really a fan of were the characters, to be honest. I just didn't connect to either of them and in turn it was hard for me to care about their stories. There was so much miscommunication on both their parts with their potential partners it was unnerving. I don't mind a bit of miscommunication, it often can build really great tension. But it happened throughout the book with no real resolution developing until the very end. I was frustrated with both female characters throughout the book. And maybe that was the point? But, honestly, they swapped houses to grow and learn and become more independent and I just didn't see that happening all that much.

I liked how it touched on Chanukah and Christmas. There were some good holiday celebrations and it was nice to see the characters learn about traditions outside of what they grew up with. I do wish there was more explanation of Chanukah. Not everyone knows why we eat donuts and latkes, why we do Chinese food and movies on Christmas day, so including that would have been a nice touch. More people know Christmas than they do Chanukah, which is actually not a huge holiday for Jewish people but has been made so because of when it falls in the year.

On top of this, there's a lot of telling when there should have been showing. I hate being told things. I want to picture them in my mind.

As for the love interests, Johnathan was rather flat while I enjoyed Sam's golden retriever vibes. But I could not really picture either of them in my mind. Their development was truly lacking and I didn't find myself rooting for either of them to get their HEA with their girl. On top of that, where was the chemistry? We get kissing and some sex scenes but there was no real build up and longing. 

While I finished this in one day, it was really because I pushed myself. I was hopeful things would pick up or the characters would start to learn things, But that just didn't happened and I was bored.

I'm sure others will like this one much more than I did. I'm giving it three stars but it's more like 2.5 for me.

Author:

Lauren Appelbaum graduated from the University of Washington with a B.S. in Informatics and worked in tech for over a decade while writing fiction on the side. She grew up in Gainesville, Florida before moving to the Seattle area, where she lives with her husband and two kids. 

Most Anticipated Releases Tuesday October 20, 2026

 

Here are the books I'm really looking forward to releasing this week.

The Tarot Trials by Katee Robert

I actually have a copy of this one, an ARC, but never got to it. The hardcover is so pretty!

A Married Little Christmas by Abby Jimenez

I tried my hardest to get an early copy of this but, alas, it was not meant to be. So I'll have to grab a copy from the library and then order my own!

Land of Ghosts by E.l. James

Not sure if I'll like this. I wasn't a huge fan of 50 Shades, I thought the writing was terrible. But maybe she's honed her craft a bit. We shall see!

Lemon Tea and Library Dragons by Emma St. Clair

I love St. Clair and I'm so excited she's branching into some fantasy. I pre-ordered a signed copy of this one and I'm waiting on it to arrive!

Wild Wicked Mate (Maple Hollow #2) by Laurie Gilmore

I loved the first book in this series and was excited for this one. I got an early copy. I wasn't thrilled with this one, honestly. It was missing a bunch of things I needed it to have. You can see my thoughts HERE.

Light Up My Life by Kasie West

I have an early copy and I'm reading it now. Hoping to get my review up on Thursday this week! Keep an eye out for that one.

Undone (The Undone #4) by Peyton Corrine

I loved the first two books in this series. The third book was just ok. I was really looking forward to this story, though. I needed to be in Toren's head. I was excited to get an early copy but disappointed in what I read. You can see why I'm sad HERE on November 9th, 2026 (I purposely am waiting to give the book a chance for sales).

Twisted Vows (The Souls of Blackwood Academy #0.5) by I.V. Marie

I am in love with this world and the author's writing. I highly recommend it if you like dark academia and fantasy. It's like Harry Potter in the underworld! Check out my thoughts HERE.

What are you most anticipating?

ARC Review: Twisted Vow (The Souls of Blackwood Academy #0.5) by I.V. Marie

Step into the mysterious, gothic world of Blackwood Academy eighteen years prior to the events of the New York Times bestselling Immortal Consequences in this darkly enchanting prequel novella that traces the origins of fan-favorite couple August and Wren’s heated rivalry and eventual romance.

She’d hate him for the rest of eternity. She’d hate him until the very end.

When Wren Loughty finds herself dropped outside the gates of Blackwood Academy, the infamous magical boarding school located on the fringes of the afterlife, she quickly realizes that she's dead. Worse, she's stuck between life and death, eternally tasked with learning the magical skills required to guide lost souls to the Other Side.

And her first assignment? A class project with the boy known as the notorious "Demon of Blackwood," Augustine Hughes.

August doesn't do friends. He has his own reasons for wanting to get close to the new girl...reasons that are quickly becoming more complicated the more time he spends with her.

As Wren and August navigate the darkly enchanting Blackwood campus and their cutthroat fellow students, an undeniable connection grows between them. But some connections can be twisted.

And some betrayals can’t be undone.

Title: Twisted Vows (The Souls of Blackwood Academy #0.5)

Author: I.V. Marie

Publisher: Delacorte Press

Expected Publication Date: October 20, 2026

Review:

Thank you to Random House Children's Books/Delacorte Press 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 am totally in love with this series. Every word, every scene, every character has my heart. So give me a novella and I'm surely going to read it. And make it one that gives great background about the two main characters and I'm sure to be hooked.

If you have not read the first two books in this series, I do not recommend reading this one first as it will spoil things from those two books. I am actually surprised it is labeled as #0.5 given the information it gives that is held as a surprised for the first and second books. So I highly recommend holding off. I hope the publisher will consider changing the number for this to at least #1.5 if not #2.5.

That being said, I adored everything about this novella. There is so much great background in this story about both Augustine and Wren. The story told here, which does happen prior to the first book, is very important indeed. It shows the length both characters will go through to fight for themselves but also what one will go through to keep the other safe.

This story also builds the relationship between Wren and Augustine and gives us a better understanding of the rivalry we see between them when Immortal Consequences begins. Not just the rivalry, though. You see how they both come to care for each other even if there is some betrayal overall.

This world is just amazing and I cannot wait for more from Marie. She's cemented herself into my auto-read author pile!

Author:

 

I.V. Marie is the instant New York Times, USA Today and Indie Bestselling author of Immortal Consequences. She was born and raised in Miami to a Peruvian mother and Chilean father, where she acquired a penchant for afternoon cafecitos and developed an all-consuming obsession with books. Her writing ambitions began behind her grandparents’ computer, where she spent her childhood crafting spooky and fantastical short stories. When she is not writing, you can find her rock climbing or watching atmospheric Youtube videos with her dog, Mr. Darcy.

Fat Stack Friday October 16, 2026

 

Some fun goodies this week! A little slower than usual for me. 

Sharpest Court (Thorn Season #2) by Kiera Azar

I have a kindle copy but I love me some audio. I'm actually listening to the first book again (see below for Libby/Hoopla) because I want to remember all that happened.

Every Ordinary Thing by Jessica Joyce

This is my most anticipated book of 2027. I'm so excited to have a copy and it's taking everything in me not to start it now because I have other books that are due for review before this one.

Libby/Hoopla:

Thorn Season (Thorn Season #1) by Kiera Azar

As I said above, I'm listening to this one so I can jump into the next one.

What did you get?

ARC Review: Wild Wicked Mate (Maple Hollow #2) by Laurie Gilmore

From #1 New York Times bestselling author Laurie Gilmore, comes a brand new small-town romance set in the quirky town of Maple Hollow!

The closer the proximity, the stronger the spark...

Phoebe and Theo have been best friends for years, never anything more, despite the sparks between them. And after ignoring her desire for so long, Fee has become adept at ignoring their connection.

Until now.

Because when Theo invites her on a road trip, Fee can’t say no. But the only thing separating them on their journey is the heated tension in the cab of his truck...

Acting on their attraction might change everything for Fee and Theo, but is it a risk they’re willing to take?

Title: Wild Wicked Mate (Maple Hollow #2)

Author: Laurie Gilmore

Publisher: Harper 360/Harper Collins

Expected Publication Date: October 20, 2026

Review:

Thank you to Harper 360/Harper Collins 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.

To say I'm a Gilmore fan is an understatement. I really love her Dream Harbor series so it's no surprise I'm enjoying this series, as well. And I adore paranormal romance, which I don't think we see as much of these days. I tore through the first book of this series and then Gilmore left me with a cliffhanger! How dare she. So I was excited to jump into this one and see where it lead.

I will say, I loved the romance in this one. The pining, the will they/won't they, the close proximity, the sunshine/sunshine of Theo and Phoebe, the miscommunication of it all; it was all done very well. What I was disappointed in was the lack of plot related to the wolf packs and the town. I wanted to see how Lena was involved with this. Why Rafe was acting as he was. But there was barely any of this in the book. It was like Gilmore decided we didn't need to know any of that and she only focused on Theo and Fee's relationship. Don't get me wrong, I totally appreciated this and I loved seeing both their POVs for it. And the flashbacks leading up to present were a nice touch to build the relationship for us. But where was the overall advancement of the plot the books are based on? Where was the wolf pack rivalry tension? Where was the developers wanting to take over Maple Hollow and the lands surrounding it? I needed more of this as it's why the story truly exists in the first place. We do get a bit of a mystery as they try to locate Lena, but we don't get any information about why she was there or how it will impact the packs.

The character development is done very well in this book. We see more of who we met in the first book. Those characters become even more ingrained in the mind of the reader. And we see the development of characters that were just touched upon in the first book, mainly Theo and Fee since it's their story. One of my favorite parts of this series is the found family aspect of the story. Yes, there is true family, but all the friends that the characters make along the way and how those relationships become essential to their development is something I adore.

I will say there were times when the miscommunication between Theo and Fee really tried my patience and had me wanting to slap them both. They were hiding so much from each other (I know, I know, that was the point!) and I just wanted to grab them, shake them, and say, "snap out of it!""

Unfortunately, basing this book only on the relationship between Theo and Fee didn't satisfy me as much as if I had some other information about what was going on in the background. It dropped my rating by a star. This book picks up right where book 1 left off. If you have not read that book, don't read this. You'll surely be lost not having the background of the packs, the town, the general world building, and the supporting cast of characters. I still loved the writing. I still loved all the characters. The the sexy/spicy times had me sweating, a lot. I love a fated mates story.

I definitely have theories for who the next couple will be, at least the hints in the book put my brain there (though maybe Gilmore will surprise us and take a different path than what I'm hoping). I'm thinking the reasoning for keeping us in the dark about the underlying plot has to do with that story. I'm still anxious to read more in this world and hopeful Gilmore will turn the next book back to the underlying plot of the story. 

Author:

Laurie Gilmore is a #1 New York Times, Sunday Times, and Globe & Mail bestselling author who writes steamy small-town romance. Her Dream Harbor series is filled with quirky townsfolk, cozy settings, and swoon-worthy romance. The first book in the series, The Pumpkin Spice Cafe, was featured on Good Morning America and was named the TikTok Shop Book of the Year 2024.

She loves finding books with the perfect balance of sweetness and spice and strives for that in her own writing. If you ever wished you lived in Stars Hollow (or that Luke and Lorelai would just get together already!) then her books are definitely for you.

 

ARC Review: Winterveil by Ava Reid

 

The Secret History meets The Ballad of Songbirds and Snakes in #1 bestselling author Ava Reid’s brand new, thrilling, dystopian YA novel.

There is no application process for Valeran Academy, but it boasts the brightest – and precociously criminal – students in the nation.

A disgraced politician from a powerful American dynasty.

A coldly brilliant strategist who will sacrifice anything to win.

A former pageant queen with a talent that could change the world.

A prodigious female soldier with an enigmatic past – and a dangerous secret.

With eerie war simulations, cutthroat competitions and foreboding new technology, Valeran trains its students to be elite assets in a Cold War that has dragged on for nearly a century. But as a sinister conspiracy takes shape and these four are drawn together for a mysterious mission, their loyalties are tested, their convictions shaken and they all begin to are they ushering in a new era of freedom, or tyranny?

Title: Winterveil

Author: Ava Reid

Publisher: Harper Collins

Publication Date: September 24, 2026

Review:

Thank you to Harper Collins and Edelweiss for providing me with a copy of this title to read and review. The opinions expressed here are my own.

I really love Ava Reid's writing. And when I read the burb for this one I was sucked right in. I love anything dark academia but then add a dystopian type quality to it and you've got me hook, line, and sinker!

The alternate reality of this book is what truly makes it unique. Imagine the Cold War still happening because Russia has won such in the past. Imagine a war college where kids are recruited because of their strengths and how that will help the government fight the enemy. Imagine being given a chance to get out of jail time by accepting entrance to said college. Reid takes all these things and puts them into a story that was truly hard to put down.

I really enjoyed the audio version of this book. The narrators were excellent and really shaped the characters well. I knew a few of them and a few were new to me. I think for a multiple POV book it's so important to have different voices. Since this book contains four POVs, it was easy to keep them all separate with each narrator. I highly recommend listening to this story, even doing an immersive read with the print version. 

Warning here, suspend your disbelief. If you go in thinking you know how government is supposed to work, you're going to be disappointed in how this is presented. There is a lot of AI, virtual reality, and competition. For me, it totally worked. I enjoyed the world Reid built. I understood it. I was also surprised at the reveal towards the end as I didn't see it coming at all. I am betting there were context clues throughout that I would see if I read this again, but Reid did a great job disguising what was actually going on with these characters.

I loved what each character brought to this story. Klaudia and her mind for tactics. Nadiya and her mind for combat. Giselle and her eidetic memory. And Julian and his ability to schmooze whoever must be schmoozed. Together they make a formidable crew. Their bonds form quickly once they are thrown together. I will say I was thrown off when it happened as I hadn't realized they hadn't met before that time. 

There is some romance in this book. It works well enough. You definitely feel the chemistry build between the characters. It's not the main point of the plot, though it's important to how they react in the situations into which they are placed. There was one scene in the middle of the book I was not expecting and it really surprised me that it was written into the book. I wasn't sure what the point of it was, to be honest, except maybe to show the lengths characters will go to to feel something when they can't seem to feel anything at all.

There's quite a bit of action in this book. It worked well to advance the story. I liked the idea of the characters having to figure out the puzzle of why they were placed into certain situations. It made them operate as a team and use each others unique talents to solve the mysteries presented to them. The pacing of the book is pretty fast. I didn't find myself bored or wanting to pause. I wanted to get to the end to see what happened.

I honestly didn't know this was going to be a duology, but I'm not unhappy about it. The ending definitely leaves rooms for the characters to come together and solve their personal issues as well as the main plot at hand. I'm interested to see how Reid will approach both in the next installment. 

Author:

Ava Reid is the #1 New York Times bestselling author of gothic fantasies, including A Study in Drowning, Juniper & Thorn, and Lady Macbeth. She lives in California.

Most Anticipated Releases Tuesday October 13, 2026

Check out the books I'm excited about releasing this week!

Entities to Lovers by Mallory Marlowe

These books are so cute. This is my favorite from this world so far. I got to read it early and you can see my thoughts HERE.

Look What The Cat Dragged In by Jason Rekulak

I read a book by this author but wasn't truly impressed despite everything good I'd heard. But I'm ready to give him a second try!

Peck & Peck by Bzonnie Garmus

I really wanted to read this early but didn't manage to get a copy. I loved Lessons in Chemistry so I hope this one is just as good!

A Very Good Bad Idea by Emma Chase

A long time ago I read Tangled by this author and laughed through the entire book. I hope this one prooves to be just as funny!

Hone for the Homicides (Holly & Mark Mystery #1) by Elle Coimano and Hannah Morrisey

This might be one of my favorite books I got to read this year. I had a Kindle copy but then heard such things about the audio, I requested it. And I am so glad I did. The narrators were fabulous and the story was so much fun! I cannot wait for more installments in this series! Check out my review HERE.

What are you exited about?

 

Fat Stack Friday October 9, 2026

 

Look at all the goodies I got this week!

NetGalley/Edelweiss/Booktrovert:

The Stars Look Like Home by TJ Klune

I was so excited to be approved for this one. I tried getting and eARC on NetGalley and Edelweiss but was denied. When this came through, I squee'd. I love Klune!

We Only Have Summer by Paige Toon

This will be my first Toon book. I've heard good things and people seemed really excited about this in my book groups. Fingers crossed I like it.

The 25:00 Magic Lantern Express by Shim Eunjung, Choi Hyunyu, Gene Png (translator) 

I'm taking a chance here on this read now. This one is translated and I hope they did a good job because the blurb gives all the cozy vibes I love.

Her Life In Ruins by Cynthis W. Gentry

I got this on in audio but I also have a paper copy sent to me by the publisher. See that below.

Behind the Movies (Better Than the Movies #3) by Lynn Painter

I was denied this on Edelweiss Wednesday and then yesterday was approved on NetGalley! I'm excited as I love this series.

Kindle:

The Sixth Faction  (New Divergent #1) by Veronica Roth

Pretty excited about this one. I've also put a hold on it through Libby, which hasn't come through yet. I'm interested to see this take on the story.

Broken Rival by Tessa Bailey

Really wanted to read this one early but no such luck for me. I do love me some Bailey!

Prime Time Romance (Dial Delights #2) by Kate Robb

I read a book by this author and really liked it so I wanted to get her others. Apparently this is a series. Or at least an interconnected series. The two below also belong to the series.

Kitty St. Clair's Last Dance (Dial Delights #2)by Kate Robb

Solar Eclipse of the Heart (Dial Delights #4) by Kate Robb

Hallowed Bones by Lucy Smoke

The cover for this is gorgeous. But also the story sounds good.

Counting Down to You by Emily Stone

I contemplated requesting this but I've never read this author and was worried I might now like it. This looks cute, though.

Reap & Sow (Reap & Sow #1) by Charlotte B. Plumb

Apparently I love pretty covers, I'll admit it! I was drawn to this because of how it looks. I have a reader friend who really wanted to read it, as well. So here we are with me having a copy on my Kindle.

In The Mail:

Her Life In Ruins by Cynthia W. Gentry

This one came but I'm not sure I requested it. Looks cute. I also got the audio version on NetGalley.

Libby/Hoopla:

Winterveil by Ava Reid

I have a kindle copy of this but didn't get to it in time. So once I finish Threshing Day I'm going to dive into this so I can review it!

What did you get?