Can't Wait for Room to Breathe

Can't-Wait Wednesday is a weekly meme hosted by Wishful Endings to spotlight and talk about the books we're excited about that we have yet to read. Generally they're books that have yet to be released as well. It's based on Waiting on Wednesday, hosted by the fabulous Jill at Breaking the Spine. Find out more here.

Room to Breathe

By: Kasie West

Expected Publication: January 6, 2026 by Delacorte Romance

272 pages

Genre: Young Adult, Contemporary

( Goodreads | Amazon )

*Note: The above link to Amazon is an affiliate links. Affiliate links support giveaways for Somewhere Only We Know readers.

Goodreads description--From the critically acclaimed author of Sunkissed comes a new swoony YA romance. Indy and Beau’s friendship is shattered, but getting accidentally locked in a bathroom together just might be what's needed to reconnect.

When the walls close in, the truth comes out.

When Indy’s life came crashing down, she made a no one could know. To the world, she’s still the same Indy—cool, calm, unshaken. But behind the scenes? It’s chaos.

Her tight-knit crew—Beau, Caroline, and Ava—were once her everything. Now they’re strangers she can’t seem to reach—especially Beau. And the only person she talks to these days is Cody, a skater-boy she used to think was so not her type. Funny how everything changes when your world flips upside down.

And then, as if things couldn’t get weirder, Indy finds herself literally stuck in a school bathroom with Beau. After months of silence, and there’s no escape. If they want out, they’ll have to face the messy truth about what happened between them and find a way back to what they once had. Or maybe even more . . .

What are you guys waiting on this week? Let me know!

Heart Marks the Spot - Review

Heart Marks the Spot

By: Libby Hubscher

Publication: July 22, 2025 by Berkley

384 pages

Genre: Adult, Contemporary

Source: Publisher via NetGalley (Thank you!!)

( Goodreads | Amazon )

*Note: The above link to Amazon is an affiliate links. Affiliate links support giveaways for Somewhere Only We Know readers.

Goodreads description--A treasure hunter and the bestselling adventure novelist who broke her heart after one successful expedition reunite for a summer to search for lost riches.

Treasure hunter Stella Moore dreams of having it all—wealth, love, and a flourishing career—but knows she’ll never be that lucky. Every summer she and her childhood friends travel to search for hidden treasure, but she can barely manage her bills, let alone a relationship. Then, a chance encounter with alluring novelist Huck Sullivan during an expedition in Iceland has Stella thinking maybe her fortune has changed.

After his last book bombed, Huck hasn’t written a word. Joining Stella and her crew on an adventure seems like the perfect distraction from his problems, and when the crew finally uncovers hidden treasure, he is certain that he’s found more than just inspiration for his next novel. Huck and Stella’s undeniable connection gives way to an unforgettable night on a black sand beach.

After Huck disappears without a goodbye, Stella vows to put the heartbreak behind her—but that’s easier said than done when, a year later, every bookstore has a life-size cutout of her ex-lover next to stacks of his latest record-breaking bestseller. Good thing it’s time for another summer treasure hunt. Stella throws herself into mapping the path to a shipwreck off Key West, but the last thing she expects is an extra crew member showing up in search of material for a sequel and a second chance.

Stella and Huck are prepared for storms, sharks, sea sickness, even a tentative truce. But facing the feelings they buried and confronting the devastating truth about why Huck left is the only way to find what their hearts have been searching for all along.

Stella has abandonment issues. Her parents were treasure hunters, and she grew up following them on various hunts all over the world. Yet, treasure seeking tore her family apart. If I remember correctly, her mother left first. And then her father, shortly after, ended up abandoning Stella. Stella was a teenager at this point, and she was kind of adopted by a group of friends on a beach one day. Since then, she's worked hard to find a treasure that her mother was searching for. The exact treasure that broke her family apart. She thinks that if she locates it, her parents will realize that she is worth sticking around for. Her friends have been hunting with her every summer, but they do it for Stella and for fun, not the borderline fanatic way she searches. 

Huck is an author. His father has always talked down to him, basically telling him that he will amount to nothing, no matter how well he did. Turns out that Stella and Huck have a friend in common, Teddy. Teddy was friends with Huck in school...best friends in fact. Yet Teddy is the one who first adopted Stella into their friend group. Teddy spies Huck in Iceland on their treasure hunting adventure at a bar one night. They reconnect, and Huck is invited to tag along on some of the adventures. Huck has had writer's block for a while now. He had a successful book series, but the last book kind of tanked, and he hasn't been able to write a single word since. His dad's voice is playing on loop in his head, so having an adventure and meeting a beautiful woman that he connects with immediately sounds right up his alley. 

The side characters were easy to love. Teddy is a fun character, yet he annoyed me. And I know if I knew him in person, I wouldn't really want to hang out with him. The excessive drinking and sleeping around aren't things I can be supportive of. Zoe and Gus make up the last of their quad. Zoe is a lawyer and Stella's best friend. She and Gus have slowly turned into more, and Stella isn't quite sure how their changed relationship will affect their friend group and their adventures. I enjoyed seeing this aspect, as no matter how much we might want to freeze time in place and our friends in certain roles and physical proximity to us, life is always moving, always changing.

As the book description says (too much information if you ask me, but since it's out there, I'll discuss it), Huck leaves Stella after they've had a night together on the beach. There is so on-page action, but at this point, it isn't described in too much detail. Stella wakes up the next morning alone, abandoned again--triggering all of her previous childhood trauma. She does her best to move on, but that's not easy at all. Huck went on to write an adventure novel about treasure hunters, and he and Stella are the main characters. Stella would know that, but she can't bring herself to read his book.

Around a year later, the group is meeting up for another hunting session, and Teddy springs it on Stella that he's invited Huck. Stella is livid and determined to ignore Huck as much as possible. But their attraction is too strong. And they have to face the reason why Huck left in the first place.  Heart Marks the Spot was entirely predictable to me. I wasn't surprised by anything that happened. At all. But that doesn't mean it wasn't an enjoyable story or journey to go on. Even though the group didn't spend a large amount of time in Iceland compared to the entire story, I could picture the country and landmarks very well from the description. And even Key West--a little easier since I've actually been to Key West before. This book triggered a desire to travel in me. 

***A spoiler I am dying to discuss: (highlight for spoiler) Teddy tells Stella that he's been in love with her and that's why he told Huck to leave. I LOVE that Stella told him that he doesn't actually love her, because you don't treat someone you love like that. So often, especially in literature, we see characters or people doing things they claim to be spurred on by love, but really it's selfishness, a desire to be with someone. But when those actions are done to the detriment of the other party, that cannot be considered love. At all. I love that Stella called Teddy on this. And I appreciate the author not letting it fly. End spoiler****

Favorite quote:

-It's something precious and rare to be chosen.

Heart Marks the Spot was a fun read. I doubt I'll ever scuba dive or go to Iceland, so it was fun to live vicariously through the characters on these adventures. Nothing surprised me, but I did enjoy the journey. I'd recommend this one. Heart Marks the Spot gets 4 Stars. Have you read Heart Marks the Spot? What did you think? Let me know!

PS I will note coarse language and physical scenes are present. I skim these, but if that bothers you, now you know.

Can't Wait for And Then There Was You

Can't-Wait Wednesday is a weekly meme hosted by Wishful Endings to spotlight and talk about the books we're excited about that we have yet to read. Generally they're books that have yet to be released as well. It's based on Waiting on Wednesday, hosted by the fabulous Jill at Breaking the Spine. Find out more here.

And Then There Was You

By: Sophie Cousens

Expected Publication: November 18, 2025 by G.P. Putnam's Sons

384 pages

Genre: Adult, Contemporary

( Goodreads | Amazon )

*Note: The above link to Amazon is an affiliate links. Affiliate links support giveaways for Somewhere Only We Know readers.

Goodreads description--From the New York Times bestselling author of This Time Next Year comes another "what if" romance about a floundering young woman who signs up for an unusual dating service to find The One . . . at a special cost.

Chloe Perfect is thirty-six, and despite her surname, suspects she’s not most men’s idea of the perfect woman. She wears too much corduroy, has an unglamorous job marketing gardening supplies online and her hair refuses to be straightened however much she tries. Between looking after her plants and her bad-tempered grandmother, she finds herself lonely, despairing she will never meet "her person."

So on a whim, she signs up to Perfect Partners, an experimental dating agency with an unusual model. The caveat? There are many, but Chloe must agree not to date anyone else outside of the program for the duration of the trial. Well, she's never had much luck finding someone the "normal" way, anyway.

After a few days, Chloe is matched with Rob, who checks off all her boxes, and she's instantly smitten. But the more seamless the dates, the more seriously she's forced to weigh the moral complexities of their setup.

And when she meets Oliver, another Perfect Partners participant, who quickly takes on the role of her confidante away from Rob, the more Chloe starts to perhaps her person isn’t someone perfect after all. Perhaps it’s someone just as kooky as she is. But is she really prepared to jeopardise the perfect life she's been wanting for so long? And more importantly, can she?

What are you guys waiting on this week? Let me know!

Sanskari Sweetheart - Review

Sanskari Sweetheart

By: Ananya Devarajan

Publication: May 20, 2025 by HarperCollins

272 pages

Genre: Young Adult, Contemporary

Source: Publisher via Edelweiss (Thank you!!)

( Goodreads | Amazon )

*Note: The above link to Amazon is an affiliate links. Affiliate links support giveaways for Somewhere Only We Know readers.

Goodreads description--Raina needs to win the National Bollywood Dance Circuit Scholarship. That will show her mother that dance can be a financially stable career and prove to her boyfriend and co-captain, Aditya, that they’re still the perfect couple, even if all they seem to do these days is fight. There’s only one problem—Aditya breaks up with her, their Nationals choreography crumbles on stage, and Raina, as well as her hopes of winning the scholarship, is taken right down with it.

All Raina wants is a do-over, so when she wakes up the next morning to a miracle—another chance at Nationals with Aditya by her side—she couldn’t be happier. But as the events of the day start repeating, Raina realizes she’s stuck in a time loop, cursed to humiliate herself at Nationals and then get dumped—over and over again.

Raina is certain that if she follows all the right steps, she can break out of the time loop, win Nationals, and earn back the heart of her one true love in the process. But what if perfection isn’t enough?

I've been on an adult romantasy kick for a while. So I needed a change of pace, and that usually means changing genres. I decided to pick up Sanskari Sweetheart. The description tells pretty much everything you need to know. But I will say some things were confusing or needed more fleshing out for me. I felt the author understood the missing pieces, but they were never fully spelled out to the reader. One of those things is Raina's mom being so kind of a prophetess. That was never explained. Mentioned in passing as though the reader should understand or accept it as fact and move on.

Raina starts the book showing up at Nationals with her mother, whom she just dropped the bomb on that she wants to pursue dance as a career. She doesn't really give her mother a chance to discuss things with her as she drops the bomb and rolls out of the car at the same time. As she's running away, she basically declares that if she wins the scholarship offered at Nationals, then she will choose dance. 

Raina and Aditya have been dating for four years. They're madly in love. Yet they fight all the time. Raina is obsessed with being the perfect girlfriend for him, but she refuses to have any conversation with him about any important topics. The initial breakup felt jarring. I suppose it was supposed to feel that way. The couple went from "we're so in love" to "we should break up" in 0 to 60. Only after exploring many of the loop days do you begin to piece together what's missing in their relationship. I guess that was because Raina needed to figure it out, and as the narrator, it would only be frustrating for the reader to fully understand the issues while Raina continually repeats the same day and the same mistakes over and over again.

Raina does change things up. It isn't like she can't change the day she experiences. But it doesn't matter. Every time she gets to the end of the day she and Aditya break up. Then the day starts over. 

I liked that these two have such an innocent relationship. There is passion between them, but things don't progress physically, and I respect that. It is counter-cultural (American culture at least). And I'm all about that. They have found their person so early in life, which also isn't normal. I can respect that as well. 

I did appreciate the lessons that Raina and even Aditya learned along the way. I don't think I would want to read many books that follow this same format, but overall, I enjoyed Sanskari Sweetheart. A few things were confusing, like Raina's mother's prophecies, why Raina had an obsession with being the perfect girlfriend, and a few other things. But overall, I read this book quickly and wanted to keep reading when I needed to stop. Sanskari Sweetheart gets 3.5 Stars. Have you read Sanskari Sweetheart? What did you think? Let me know!

Risking It All - Review

Risking It All (Pushing the Limits: The Next Generation, # 1)

By: Katie McGarry

Publication: October 21, 2024 by Katie McGarry LLC

271 pages

Genre: Young Adult, Contemporary

Source: Personal Kindle Library

( Goodreads | Amazon )

*Note: The above link to Amazon is an affiliate links. Affiliate links support giveaways for Somewhere Only We Know readers.

Goodreads description--From Award Winning, Critically Acclaimed Author Katie McGarry comes the Next Generation of Pushing the Limits characters.

Her life has been shattered. His life was never whole. Can one summer change everything?

After a violent carjacking left her bleeding in the street, Macie Hutchins fears she’ll never be the same. She’s not the girl she once was—even if she puts up a good front.

Head down, she tries to survive the sweltering summer—and group therapy sessions—with secrets intact and scars hidden. Both those on the outside and inside.

But Relic Aslanov has always been trouble. Complicated trouble. Dangerous trouble. And his presence in therapy is making Macie’s plan to lie low and cope on her own trickier than her life has already become.

She can’t seem to hide from him, though. And he can’t seem to stay away from her—even when the long-standing rivalry between their families should keep them apart.

But as the summer simmers on, so do the looks, the touches—and the kisses that were never supposed to happen.

As things heat up between Macie and Relic, her white-picket-fence world collides with his wrong-side-of-the-tracks hell, and the truth about the carjacking bubbles to the surface.

When the dust settles and the truth is revealed, will the risk they took be worth it? Or have their pasts already doomed their future?

Katie McGarry sucked me in with her Pushing the Limits series many moons ago. I've been keeping my eyes out for more of her books, so when I saw a release featuring Noah & Echo's daughter as the FMC, I knew I wanted to get my hands on it. I didn't see it on NetGalley or Edelweiss, so I bought this with some Christmas gift cards that I got. 

Macie is Noah & Echo's daughter. And she has suffered a tragedy. She was carjacked and shot. Now she's in trauma group therapy, where no one wants to talk. As a matter of fact, Macie can't talk. Every time she tries to talk about the "accident," she triggers a panic attack. Since the attack, Macie hasn't been able to drive either. Being in the car triggers panic attacks as well. She only has two friends that she still talks to. One is her best friend, who lives next door, Isaiah and Rachel's daughter--Ariel. And Gianna is the other. Ariel spends most of the book out of the country otherwise, the story wouldn't have the conflict it needed in some areas. 

The MMC, Relic, is doing court-ordered group therapy as part of a plea deal after he got caught stealing money from a car. Relic has it rough. His mom left after he was born. His dad has just gotten out of prison. But he is right back in the clutches of a local drug dealer and gangster boss who happens to have ties to the previous series of books — specifically Chasing Impossible. Relic has an older sister who isn't all that reliable. And he has a younger sister that he's trying to protect at all costs. 

Group therapy is where we meet most of the side characters from this story. They are all in therapy because of the trauma they are trying to overcome, process, and deal with. I don't want to spoil their stories, but I will say that I was frustrated with the bisexual(?) character. Basically, a boy who likes to wear girls' clothes. I liked Lev, and I felt terrible for the situation he was in. Yet, I can't say that I support his decisions or choices either. You can disagree with someone without hating them. And you can feel the same about a book character, also. I wish this weren't included in the story, but I'm mentioning it in case it affects other readers' desire to pick up this book. 

Favorite quotes:

-"I'm not honest. I'm a survivalist. Those are two different traits. But here, tonight, I have no reason to lie."

-"You apologize for things that aren't your fault. Don't." "I'm not apologizing, I'm saying that I hurt for you."

Macie and Relic faced an incredibly difficult situation. I was thankful that Relic was as open with Macie as he was. So often, the MMC would try to hide everything he was going through if it were of the nature that Relic was. It was fun to see the old Pushing the Limits crew as adults and parents. 

Risking It All gets 4 Stars from me. I wasn't surprised by the pieces that were intended to be surprises. I liked Macie and Relic. They had a sweet relationship. I enjoyed seeing the old characters from the previous series as adults and parents. And even though I didn't enjoy the pro-LGBT included, I still liked the side characters. I'm curious if we'll get to read more of the children from the original series. Ariel, perhaps. Have you read Risking It All? What did you think? Let me know!

The Perfect Rom-Com - Review

The Perfect Rom-Com

By: Melissa Ferguson

Expected Publication: February 11, 2025 by Thomas Nelson

336 pages

Genre: Adult, Contemporary

Source: Publisher via NetGalley (Thank you!!)

( Goodreads | Amazon )

*Note: The above link to Amazon is an affiliate links. Affiliate links support giveaways for Somewhere Only We Know readers.

Goodreads description--She's written dozens of smash hit novels as a ghostwriter. Too bad no one knows it.

Aspiring author Bryony Page attends her first writers conference bursting with optimism and ready to sell her manuscript with long-shot dreams of raising awareness for The Bridge, her grandmother's financially-struggling organization where she teaches ESL full-time. But after a disastrous pitching session, she stumbles into correcting another author's work in a last-ditch attempt to make a good impression with the agent. And she, as it turns out, is spot on.

No one is more surprised than Bryony when the agent offers her the opportunity to be a ghostwriter for Amelia Benedict, popular rom-com novelist. Bryony agrees on one she'll write books for this vain, demanding woman just as long as Jack Sterling, literary agent of the legendary Foundry Literary Agency, works to sell her own book too.

What nobody predicted, however, was that Bryony's books would turn Amelia Benedict into the Amelia Benedict, household name and bestselling author with millions of copies sold around the world.

And just like that, the Foundry Agency can't let her go.

But on a personal note, Jack is realizing he can't either.

The Perfect Rom-Com is the fifth book I've read by Melissa Ferguson. I won't say it was my favorite, but I have found that I've enjoyed the books where her characters are part of the publishing industry the best. 

Bryony is an aspiring author. She's been working as an ESL (English Second Language) teacher at a facility her grandmother founded. She's fallen in love with the people who come through her classes. But the facility is losing its funding, and Bryony wants to publish the book she's written about the facility and her grandmother to support it financially and raise awareness about it. The only problem is that Bryony keeps getting turned down by agents. She needs representation to get her book in front of different publishers.

After a disastrous meeting with agent Jack Sterling, Bryony leaves, not realizing that she left her manuscript on the table. Jack sees enough promise in her from reading what she left that he hunts her down to get her opinion on a new book being ghostwritten under a famous name. Jack convinces Bryony to sign on as a ghostwriter for Amelia in exchange for representation. 

The romance was SLOW building. So slow that tension wasn't even there until about 65% or more. Usually, that would bother me, but truthfully, I was enjoying the story just fine without a heavy romantic push. Bryony's struggle with writing for someone else was the heart of the story. And it's not even that she couldn't get credit for her work; the real issue was how resentful Amelia was toward Bryony, who was literally saving her. At the same time, Bryony is struggling to wait for her own book, continuing in limbo. Plus, there's the added pressure of the center she works for rapidly running out of funds and nearing closure. 

The big conflict resolution was entertaining but highly improbable in the real world. 

I didn't highlight much, but this quote does a good job of showing Bryony's struggles. 

-But the fact is, these books are meaningful to me. They’re meaningful to readers. And I sit by my computer, day in and day out, living on crumbs of news about my own story. When on earth will it be my turn to write under my name? When on earth will I get the chance to reach readers with words only influenced by my mind and not dampened by Amelia’s input?

Most of all, I enjoyed another look into publishing, writing, and all of the aspects of the industry that Melissa Ferguson highlighted. I find the whole industry so fascinating. And man, I know the waiting and not hearing back would drive me crazy. 

I also want to mention that I appreciated how the ESL topic was handled. She could have gone completely political over this topic. Even the funding being lost was handled well. I applaud this because most authors, when touching on subjects like this, can't help but be divisive. Good job, Melissa and the editors.

Also, on that note, this was a clean book. There's no on-page spice at all. And I don't remember any language used. Proof that those things are not necessary to write a good book. 

I read The Perfect Rom-Com quickly, especially given that I've been in a little reading slump. I liked the romance even though it wasn't at the forefront of the entire book. I loved the view inside the industry. And so much more. The Perfect Rom-Com gets 4 Stars. Have you read The Perfect Rom-Com ? What did you think? Let me know!

Can't Wait for Threaded Lies

Can't-Wait Wednesday is a weekly meme hosted by Wishful Endings to spotlight and talk about the books we're excited about that we have yet to read. Generally they're books that have yet to be released as well. It's based on Waiting on Wednesday, hosted by the fabulous Jill at Breaking the Spine. Find out more here.

Threaded Lies (Tangled Hearts, # 2)

By: K. Bromberg

Expected Publication: October 14, 2025 by Bramble

352 pages

Genre: Adult, Contemporary

( Goodreads | Amazon )

*Note: The above link to Amazon is an affiliate links. Affiliate links support giveaways for Somewhere Only We Know readers.

Goodreads description--Holden
I let my guard down.
And got screwed over by a woman without even knowing why.
But it won’t happen again.
Because the only thing I care about is burning this whole place down.

Rowan
Two can play this game.
I gave my heart to a man who set out from the get-go to destroy it.
Now I’m more than ready to show him just who he messed with.
You wanted a war, Holden Knight.
You’ve got one.

What are you guys waiting on this week? Let me know!

Midnights with You - Review

Midnights With You

By: Clare Osongco

Publication: November 12, 2024 by Disney-Hyperion

368 pages

Genre: Young Adult, Contemporary

Source: Publisher via Edelweiss (Thank you!!)

( Goodreads | Amazon )

*Note: The above link to Amazon is an affiliate links. Affiliate links support giveaways for Somewhere Only We Know readers.

Goodreads description--“Where were you thinking of going?”
“Nowhere.”
“Great,” he says lightly, putting the car in gear. “Then we’ll go there.”

Seventeen-year-old Deedee’s life is full of family ghosts and questions she can’t ask. She longs for an escape, but guilt holds her back—that, and the fact that her strict Filipino single mom won’t let her learn to drive. But one sleepless night leads Deedee down a road she never thought possible: secret driving lessons with the new boy next door, Jay, whose turbulent family life also keeps him up until sunrise.

As midnights stretch into days, Jay helps Deedee begin to unravel her past, and as shared secrets blossom into love, Deedee starts to imagine a life where happiness is possible. But the deeper she digs into the trauma that has shaped her, the more that trauma threatens to tear Deedee and Jay apart. Together, these two must decide if the pain they’ve both inherited has the power to choose their fate, or if they have the power to choose for themselves.

Man oh man! What do I say about Midnights with You? I needed a genre change after reading several fantasy books in a row. But I also wanted something that would hook my attention quickly. I've picked up and put down so many books lately. They're all ones I want to read, but I just haven't felt hooked on any characters quickly. And to be honest, Midnights with You didn't hook me too quickly either. The book starts with Deedee's mom berating her. And I wasn't sure I was in the head-space for this kind of book. And really, Midnights with You ended up being an incredibly complex book. 

Deedee's mom has anger issues. And she talks to Deedee so horribly. I mean it's abusive really. The things that she says have affected Deedee deeply. She's begun to think that she's broken, flawed, toxic, unlovable. Her mother refuses to talk about her extended family. And Deedee's dad died several years ago. Since then, Deedee has pretty much no one. She does have one friend at school, bless Suzy's heart. But Deedee doesn't know how to share with Suzy how bad things are at home. And her mom always puts on a front. Deedee is mostly just incredibly sad. All the time. She gets the itch to find out what her mother is hiding. Her extended family. Why she doesn't allow Deedee to do anything because she's scared of her getting hurt, yet her mother's words are often what hurts her the most. And she also begins to feel a little bit rebellious. That leads her to the desire to learn to drive. 

Jay is the boy next door, and his family is struggling also. His parents have divorced, and they moved. His older sister is away at college. And he's working to help fill in financially and fill the fatherly role for his younger sister as much as possible. His mom depends on him a lot. And while she's not quite as mean constantly as Deedee's mom, Jay's mom can say some pretty hurtful things to him as well. Deedee runs into Jay late at night and they go for a drive. In the end, she asks him if he'll teach her how to drive. But then she backs out. They end up making a deal where she will tutor him in English and history (two subjects he's not doing so hot in) if he will teach her how to drive. 

Of course, Deedee and Jay develop feelings for each other. And this is where the rollercoaster ride begins. Deedee and Jay are both screwed up mentally. And that doesn't make for the healthiest relationship. These two were so hot and cold, on and off, fast and slow. This book was a trainwreck in the best possible way. I couldn't look away. I ended up reading until 1 am one night and forced myself to put this book down at 80% knowing it would take me at least another hour to finish it. Even then I couldn't go to sleep. And I don't normally enjoy "coming of age" stories.

There was something so relatable to me about this story. All of the characters. Even as scary as it sounds, the terrible mother and the partially terrible one. Since becoming a mother, I find it much easier to relate to the mothers in books. And even though, I can say that I don't treat my kids like Deedee's mom, I know I've slipped up and said hurtful things to my kids. I've behaved in ways that I've had to apologize for. All of this story was heartbreaking.

Favorite quotes:

-She's given me a good life, and I'm grateful. And the way she treats me hurts, too. Both things are true.

-"You know how they say, your trauma isn't your fault, but it's your responsibility?"

-You did a bad thing and you can learn from it. You can know why you did it. You can work on it. You can be different. You can change, because you want to change.

-"Maybe if you change the way you think about the past," I say, voice hard-edged, "you'll be able to make some different decisions. Today, tomorrow, the day after. Maybe if you could tell yourself you didn't deserve it, you would see I don't deserve this, either."

-"Some of the things you do make more sense to me now," I swallow hard as she picks up the letter and slowly opens it with trembling hands. "But some of the things you do aren't okay."

"Coming of age" really is the best description for Midnights with You. It's about growing up, first love, generational curses, depression, anger, and so much more. I didn't quite cry while reading this, and I didn't always "like" this book, but sheesh, it gave me so much to contemplate. It was incredibly complex and well done overall. Midnights with You gets 4 Stars. Have you read Midnights with You? What did you think? Let me know!

Can't Wait for Heart Marks the Spot

Can't-Wait Wednesday is a weekly meme hosted by Wishful Endings to spotlight and talk about the books we're excited about that we have yet to read. Generally they're books that have yet to be released as well. It's based on Waiting on Wednesday, hosted by the fabulous Jill at Breaking the Spine. Find out more here.

Heart Marks the Spot

By: Libby Hubscher

Expected Publication: July 22, 2025 by Berkley

384 pages

Genre: Adult, Contemporary

( Goodreads | Amazon )

*Note: The above link to Amazon is an affiliate links. Affiliate links support giveaways for Somewhere Only We Know readers.

Goodreads description--A treasure hunter and the bestselling adventure novelist who broke her heart after one successful expedition reunite for a summer to search for lost riches.

Treasure hunter Stella Moore dreams of having it all—wealth, love, and a flourishing career—but knows she’ll never be that lucky. Every summer she and her childhood friends travel to search for hidden treasure, but she can barely manage her bills, let alone a relationship. Then, a chance encounter with alluring novelist Huck Sullivan during an expedition in Iceland has Stella thinking maybe her fortune has changed.

After his last book bombed, Huck hasn’t written a word. Joining Stella and her crew on an adventure seems like the perfect distraction from his problems, and when the crew finally uncovers hidden treasure, he is certain that he’s found more than just inspiration for his next novel. Huck and Stella’s undeniable connection gives way to an unforgettable night on a black sand beach.

After Huck disappears without a goodbye, Stella vows to put the heartbreak behind her—but that’s easier said than done when, a year later, every bookstore has a life-size cutout of her ex-lover next to stacks of his latest record-breaking bestseller. Good thing it’s time for another summer treasure hunt. Stella throws herself into mapping the path to a shipwreck off Key West, but the last thing she expects is an extra crew member showing up in search of material for a sequel and a second chance.

Stella and Huck are prepared for storms, sharks, sea sickness, even a tentative truce. But facing the feelings they buried and confronting the devastating truth about why Huck left is the only way to find what their hearts have been searching for all along.

What are you guys waiting on this week? Let me know!

Running Wild - Review

Running Wild (The Simple Wild, # 3)

By: KA Tucker

Publication: January 25, 2022 by K.A. Tucker

370 pages

Genre: Adult, Contemporary

( Goodreads | Amazon )

*Note: The above link to Amazon is an affiliate link. Affiliate links support giveaways for Somewhere Only We Know readers.

Goodreads description--Veterinarian Marie Lehr knows unrequited love all too well after pining for her best friend, only to watch him marry another woman. It’s a mistake she will never make again, especially not when she can practically hear the clock ticking on her childbearing years.

The trouble is, she can’t seem to find anyone who appeals to her even a fraction as much as that burly bush pilot did. Competitive musher Tyler Brady certainly doesn’t, especially not after the heated altercation with the handsome but arrogant, spiteful man.

Or so she thinks.

While volunteering at the Iditarod Sled Dog Race, Marie discovers that first impressions may have been false, and her attraction to Tyler is very real. But his heart belongs to someone else, leaving him with nothing to offer but friendship. Marie’s been down this road before and knows how that ends. Yet, no matter how hard she works to keep from falling for Tyler, it seems she’s doomed to follow her own trail once again.

From the internationally bestselling author of The Simple Wild comes the story of a woman at a crossroads in her life, struggling between the safe route and the one that will only lead to more heartbreak.

Oh man, I did not like Marie in the previous books. Having a little too much personal experience with women who want to be friends with married men yet are actually in love with them (or have a crush on them), I'm not a fan of this at all. As a matter of fact, I have a strong stance on how much men and women can be friends when one of them is married. It wouldn't be a popular stance, but protecting my marriage is more important to me than any other friendship could ever be. So I would have been happy for Marie to fall off the face of the book world.

Yet I also knew I would soften to her if I were in her head. I put off reading her book because I wanted to stay mad at her for existing and for daring to have feelings for Jonah. Thankfully, in most of this book, Marie is past her feelings for Jonah. She sees what he has with Calla. And if anything, she's not jealous of Calla being with Jonah but of wanting what Calla and Jonah have together. She just wants to love someone and be loved in return. And she's beginning to feel like it is impossible. Being in rural Alaska, her choices are slim. Not to mention, the amount of time she dedicates to her business doesn't allow for much time to socialize. 

Marie gets a tip that a new musher has moved into the area and might be mistreating his dogs. She enters his property illegally to accuse him of animal abuse. Unsurprisingly, Tyler doesn't take kindly to the accusations, stated or implied. Tyler is a widow, and his wife's younger brother lives with him. Everything he knows about mushing comes from his wife and her family. He plans to do the Idatrod Sled Dog race in honor of his wife, and he doesn't appreciate people storming onto his property and accusing him of mistreating his dogs.

Of course, Marie realizes she's wrong about her accusations, and it doesn't take her long to catch feelings for Tyler. Unfortunately, Tyle isn't quite emotionally available at first. And Marie has had her fill of emotionally unavailable men. She doesn't see the point in pursuing something that is going nowhere. And I felt for her in this respect. I was proud of her for holding her ground. But yet, I was rooting for her and Tyler at the same time.

Running Wild did exactly what I expected it to do. I softened towards Marie once I could read her thoughts and emotions. I wanted to see her get her happily ever after because she was so, so lonely. Running Wild gets 4 Stars. Have you read Running Wild? What did you think? Let me know!

Can't Wait for We Met Like This

Can't-Wait Wednesday is a weekly meme hosted by Wishful Endings to spotlight and talk about the books we're excited about that we have yet to read. Generally they're books that have yet to be released as well. It's based on Waiting on Wednesday, hosted by the fabulous Jill at Breaking the Spine. Find out more here.

We Met Like This

By: Kasie West

Expected Publication: September 16, 2025 by Saturday Books

368 pages

Genre: Adult, Contemporary

( Goodreads | Amazon )

*Note: The above link to Amazon is an affiliate links. Affiliate links support giveaways for Somewhere Only We Know readers.

Goodreads description--Beloved author Kasie West's sparkling adult rom-com debut about a hopeless romantic falling for the one man she never expected

Can a swipe right turn into swept away?

Margot Hart is a hopeless romantic. That’s why she wants to be a literary agent—to help bring romance books to the world. It’s also why she hates dating apps with all her romance loving soul. She wants her own love story to be just as much fun as the books she reads—a mixed up coffee order, a mistaken identity. She’s not going to tell the story that she swiped right on future husband’s shirtless pic for the rest of her life.

The problem is that her most consistent relationship over the last several years is with Oliver, a guy she keeps rematching with on the apps. They’ve only been on one date and it was a disaster…well, until the make out session in the car before parting ways. But, she keeps reminding herself, a make out session does not a relationship make. And so there will not be a date two regardless of how witty their app banter is.

When Margot gets fired from her job on the same day she meets Oliver again, her life becomes a veritable shit show. Her dream career is dying right before her eyes, and Oliver thinks she’s interested in only one a repeat of the hot make out session they had three years ago so she can get him out of her system. And maybe that is all she wants from him, because she and Oliver are definitely not compatible—he doesn’t hit the snooze button, he runs five miles every morning, he reads nonfiction, and worst of all, she didn’t meet him in cute way! But in her scramble to keep her dream career alive, by opening her own agency, Oliver is there with his golden retriever energy, more steady and helpful than any man she’s ever dated. Just when she thinks she’s overcome her app bias, she realizes that maybe it’s not her who’s holding back, but him. And his reasons are more than she bargained for.

Kasie West's romantic adult debut is full of witty banter, meet cutes gone awry and, ultimately, true love.

Kasie West is an author I've really enjoyed in the young adult genre. I can't wait to see what she does with an adult book. I know I'll love it though. What are you guys waiting on this week? Let me know!

Can't Wait for Great Big Beautiful Life

Can't-Wait Wednesday is a weekly meme hosted by Wishful Endings to spotlight and talk about the books we're excited about that we have yet to read. Generally they're books that have yet to be released as well. It's based on Waiting on Wednesday, hosted by the fabulous Jill at Breaking the Spine. Find out more here.

Great Big Beautiful Life

By: Emily Henry

Expected Publication: April 22, 2025 by Berkley

384 pages

Genre: Adult, Contemporary

( Goodreads | Amazon )

*Note: The above link to Amazon is an affiliate links. Affiliate links support giveaways for Somewhere Only We Know readers.

Goodreads description--Two writers compete for the chance to tell the larger-than-life story of a woman with more than a couple of plot twists up her sleeve in this dazzling and sweeping new novel from Emily Henry.

Alice Scott is an eternal optimist still dreaming of her big writing break. Hayden Anderson is a Pulitzer-prize winning human thundercloud. And they’re both on balmy Little Crescent Island for the same reason: To write the biography of a woman no one has seen in years--or at least to meet with the octogenarian who claims to be the Margaret Ives. Tragic heiress, former tabloid princess, and daughter of one of the most storied (and scandalous) families of the 20th Century.

When Margaret invites them both for a one-month trial period, after which she’ll choose the person who’ll tell her story, there are three things keeping Alice’s head in the game.

One: Alice genuinely likes people, which means people usually like Alice—and she has a whole month to win the legendary woman over.

Two: She’s ready for this job and the chance to impress her perennially unimpressed family with a Serious Publication

Three: Hayden Anderson, who should have no reason to be concerned about losing this book, is glowering at her in a shaken-to-the core way that suggests he sees her as competition.

But the problem is, Margaret is only giving each of them pieces of her story. Pieces they can’t swap to put together because of an ironclad NDA and an inconvenient yearning pulsing between them every time they’re in the same room.

And it’s becoming abundantly clear that their story—just like the tale Margaret’s spinning—could be a mystery, tragedy, or love ballad…depending on who’s telling it.

What are you guys waiting on this week? Let me know!

Cruel Winter With You - Review

Cruel Winter With You (Under the Mistletoe Collection, # 1)

By: Ali Hazelwood

Publication: November 12, 2024 by Amazon Original Stories

73 pages

Genre: Adult, Contemporary, Holiday, Christmas

( Goodreads | Amazon )

*Note: The above link to Amazon is an affiliate links. Affiliate links support giveaways for Somewhere Only We Know readers.

Goodreads description--For two former childhood friends, a blustery winter storm stirs some frosty—and scorching—memories in a delightful short story by #1 New York Times bestselling author Ali Hazelwood.

All newly minted pediatrician Jamie Malek wants is to borrow a roasting pan for Christmas dinner. Unfortunately, that requires her to interact with Marc—her best friend’s troublemaking brother, who’s now a tech billionaire. He’s the one who got away. She’s the one who broke his heart. Outside, a howling blizzard. Inside, a crackling fire. Suddenly, being snowbound with the man she never expected to see again might not be such a bad way to spend a winter’s night.

Ali Hazelwood’s Cruel Winter with You is part of Under the Mistletoe, a stirring collection of December romances that thrill and tingle all the way. They can be read or listened to in one swoony sitting.

I got the Under the Mistletoe short story collection from Amazon Prime. I love that I can both read these books and listen to the audio exactly where I left off reading. Love this technology. I was able to read a little, and then listen in the car going to pick my kid up from school. Now, I will say that this is only the second of this series that I've read. And I haven't read them in order. I read book 4, Merriment and Mayhem first and was disappointed in it. My biggest issue is that with a short story, the characters don't feel like they have adequate time to get to know each other before jumping to the spicy scenes that actually feel like the point of these books--based upon these two. 

That being said, Cruel Winter With You felt different. Because the characters have a history with each other, the chemistry between them felt realistic even though the page count was so low. And I say "so low" 72 pages is a good bit better than 50 like the other one of these I read. I can't help but continue to compare them since they are a collection.

Jamie shows up next door to her best friend's parent's house hoping to ask to borrow a roasting pan. However, the weather is ridiculous, and the only one home is Marc. Marc is Jamie's best friend's brother and her ex. These two have so much history, baggage, and tension. I really appreciated how much Ali Hazelwood accomplished in relationship building in such a short amount of pages. I was hooked. And I would have loved a full-length book for these two characters.

I don't read for the spicy stuff so be warned if that's an issue for you. Thankfully, it didn't take up 30% of the book as it did with Merriment and Mayhem.

Cruel Winter with You gets 4 Stars. I really appreciated the amount of development in the characters in such a short space of pages especially considering they were stuck in a house and the events happened basically in 24 hours (minus flashbacks). Have you read Cruel Winter with You? What did you think? Let me know!

PS. I haven't read any of the others in this series, but I'm not sure they're worth it. I think this might have been the best one of the entire collection, and I might decide to end on a high note. Have any of you read the others? Are they worth a read/listen? 

Lets Call a Truce - Review

Let's Call a Truce

By: Amy Buchanan

Publication: January 14, 2025 by St. Martin's Griffin

336 pages

Genre: Adult, Contemporary

Source: Publisher via NetGalley (Thank you!!)

( Goodreads | Amazon )

*Note: The above link to Amazon is an affiliate link. Affiliate links support giveaways for Somewhere Only We Know readers.

Goodreads description--LET’S CALL A TRUCE is a sexy contemporary romance about second chances at life and love, bursting with humor and a touch of angst from debut author, Amy Buchanan.

After Juliana Ryan's husband dies unexpectedly, leaving her with two grieving kids and a stunted career from years as a stay-at-home mom, she has no choice but to make it work all on her own. But her confidence crashes around her when she overhears her condescending but infuriatingly attractive new colleague, Ben Thomas, talking about how her kids and inexperience are a liability the company can’t afford. This sets off a feud between the two, as Juliana vows to prove him wrong.

Two years later, their feud rages on, but it may be charged with something they aren't willing to admit. When they are forced onto a career-making project together, Juliana has no choice but to call a truce. As their lives become more intertwined in and out of the office, Juliana finds it hard to ignore Ben’s perpetual smile and charming determination. What started as a truce grows into more, as boardroom-clearing arguments turn to desk-clearing kisses. Could the man she deemed her nemesis understand her life–her stress and responsibilities–better than anyone?

But just when Juliana decides to open her heart again, Ben’s past threatens their newfound bliss, and she has to figure out whether this second chance at love is worth it after all.

I don't know how much more outside of the description listed for this book I can tell you without spoilers. This isn't the type of book where having spoilers would really kill the vibe or experience, but some things are best left unknown to the reader until the main character, Juliana learns about them or experiences them herself. 

I listened to the audio version of this book. Charlotte North narrates Let's Call a Truce and does a great job. 

Like the description says, Juliana's husband died suddenly and left her as a grieving widow with two grieving children. Her entire purpose has switched to making sure her kids are okay. And well that job just got harder as she has to take on roles that weren't meant to be hers. Most importantly, she needs to provide for their physical needs. And that means she needs this job. So when she overhears a co-worker blasting her on day 1, she feels justifiably irate. Who does this guy think he is? How can he judge her or her life or her kids on day 1 without knowing her or anything about her? She strikes out in a campaign against him. 

And well, as the description says, two years later the feud is still going strong. An added complication is that Juliana and Ben share a best friend. The best friend, I can't remember her name, doesn't want to play the middleman. She always indicates that she knows more than Juliana does, and Juliana ought to give Ben a break.

There are "on-page" scenes that are descriptive. It's been a month and a half between listening to this book and writing my review. So I don't remember it all clearly. I've stated frequently that I have a lower spice tolerance than most people. And well some of the scenes made me cringe a little if I remember correctly. However, audiobook versions of these scenes are always harder than paper because skipping ahead is a little more complicated. 

In the end, I decided that Let's Call a Truce gets 4 Stars. I enjoyed the relationship build-up and transition from enemies to lovers between Juliana and Ben. Their backstories and the resolution worked really well. Have you read (or listened to) Let's Call a Truce? What did you think? Let me know!

Better Than Revenge - Review

Better Than Revenge

By: Kasie West

Publication: December 31, 2024 by Delacorte Romance

320 pages

Genre: Young Adult, Contemporary

Source: Publisher via NetGalley (Thank you!!)

( Goodreads | Amazon )

*Note: The above link to Amazon is an affiliate links. Affiliate links support giveaways for Somewhere Only We Know readers.

Goodreads description--A swoony new romance from the author of Sunkissed! When her football-player boyfriend and now ex lands the podcast job she’s been dreaming of, a girl takes matters into her own hands by enlisting the help of his nemesis to get revenge.

Seventeen-year-old Finley has only ever had one to become a famous podcaster. This includes coming up with the perfect pitch to land her on her school's podcast team. But when her football-obsessed boyfriend, Jensen, decides to also try out—and uses her idea—she's left confused and betrayed.

Determined to get back at him, Finley and her friends try to find the perfect revenge scheme, but quickly discover that Jensen is almost-impossible to best. Keyword, almost.

By chance, Finley discovers a knack for kicking and decides to take Jensen's spot on the football team. To help her train, she recruits Jensen's cute but conceited nemeses, Theo. Soon the two discover that their connection runs deeper than football. But Finley can't let herself get distracted, and Theo has secrets of his own. Is true love really better than the perfect revenge?

I have been a long-time Kasie West fan. I've read 15 books by her with 3ish left unread. When you look at someone's entire catalog of work and you've read most or all of their published books, I think you can consider yourself a fan. I haven't loved every single book by Kasie West. There are a few that I didn't enjoy as much. But overall, I find her to be a consistent author with consistent content. That said, I was a little disappointed that she joined the LGBTQ bandwagon in Better than Revenge. The main characters are straight, but there's a gay secondary couple. 

Basically, Finley has dreamed of becoming one of the two podcast hosts for her school's podcast. This is for two reasons. One, she loves podcasts. Two, the podcast hosts will have an internship or scholarship, I can't remember which. The only problem is that Finley's long-term boyfriend decides last minute to try out for the position, using one of Finley's ideas. An idea that he guided her away from using. And he doesn't seem to take it seriously or realize how hurt Finley is over his choice--which proves that he isn't right for her. Heartbroken, Finley breaks up with him and vows revenge. 

Enter Theo. Jensen (the traitor-ex) has always had some kind of rivalry with Theo. Theo has always played first-string kicker and Jensen wants the position. Jensen always felt like he deserved the spot. And well, Finley is determined to get Theo to teach her how to kick (now that Theo is injured and out of the running for first string) to get back to Jensen for stealing her dream position. Only, Finley didn't count on liking Theo. But can she trust that Theo isn't just using her to get revenge on Jensen, also? I really liked the relationship between Finley and Theo. Theo is just a really nice guy, and he deserves an award. I also liked the message of the story. I don't want to give too much away, but is revenge ultimately satisfying? I also liked Finley's podcast with her grandma. It was so heartwarming to see her trying to preserve her grandmother's memories while she still has them. My siblings and I did something similar with my dad a few years ago (although he doesn't have Alzheimer's).

Favorite quotes:

-"That's what Jensen said...about you." "He appreciated my peak physical condition?" I shook my head. "No. He said you were full of yourself." "Who else am I going to be full of?"

-"Am I going to hurt you?" I said through my shivering lips. "You're not going to hurt me. I have you." "I don't feel had." He reached up, took me by the waist, and lifted me up and around until both my feet were on the patio next to the steps. I gasped in a cold breath of air. Oh. I was had.

-"I hope you get to it soon," he said. "I need the kiss." His smirk was back. The little punk knew exactly what he was doing.

-"Imagine," Grandma said in an ill-timed moment of clarity, "what you could've accomplished if you spent that much time and energy doing something for yourself."

-"Can mistakes be purposeful, though?"

All in all, Better than Revenge was really good. I liked the story. I liked Finley even if her motivations were misplaced. I liked her journey and the moral of the story. I liked Finley with Theo. I just plain liked Theo. I liked Grandma. But I still felt sad over Kasie West's step into woke culture. Better than Revenge gets 4 Stars. Have you read Better than Revenge? What did you think? Let me know!

In the Likely Event - Review

In the Likely Event

By: Rebecca Yarros

Publication: August 1, 2023 by Montlake

348 pages

Genre: Adult, Romance, Contemporary, Military

Source: Personal Kindle Library

( Goodreads | Amazon Currently On Sale )

*Note: The above link to Amazon is an affiliate links. Affiliate links support giveaways for Somewhere Only We Know readers.

Goodreads description--When Izzy Astor gets on a plane to go home, she isn’t expecting much. It’s the usual holiday travel experience: busy, crowded, stressful.

Then she spots her seatmate, who is anything but ordinary. Nate Phelan sports dark hair, blue eyes, and a deliciously rugged charm that Izzy can’t resist. Their connection is undeniable. Izzy never believed in destiny before, but she does now.

Just ninety seconds after takeoff, their plane goes down in the Missouri River.

Their lives change. They change. Nate goes on to a career in the military while Izzy finds her way into politics. Despite a few chance encounters over the years, the timing never feels right.

Then comes a high-stakes reunion in Afghanistan, where Nate is tasked with protecting Izzy’s life.

He’ll do anything to keep her safe. And everything to win her heart.

I've only read Rebecca Yarros's fantasy books Fourth Wing and Iron Flame. Her writing was impressive enough that I wanted to check out more books. And I got In the Likely Event when it went on sale. Historically, I don't read as many adult contemporary books. But I see that transition coming.

In the Likely Event is told in then and now chapters alternating points of view between Izzy and Nate. As the description says, Izzy and Nate meet on a flight when they are seatmates. Izzy is terrified of flying, and this flight is Nate's first. Izzy is headed back to college and Nate is off to basic training. The two start a conversation while waiting for the plane to take off. And then the plane crashes into the Missouri River shortly after takeoff. Nate and Izzy pair up to help other passengers off the plane and get to shore. When Izzy is taken to the hospital with some internal bleeding and a ruptured spleen, Nate is whisked off to basic training. They lose contact but continually wonder about the person they had such an intense connection and encounter with over time. 

In the now, Izzy is a lawyer working for a senator doing some charity work while trying to get a girl's chess team out of Afghanistan in 2021 when the American troops are exiting the country. Thankfully, even though some of these events have a political nature, the characters had no political commentary. No agenda or narrative was pushed. Events were just recorded as they happened in a way that didn't feel like the author was trying to push the reader into feeling one way or the other about the events. All authors could take note of this. I much prefer this method over any agenda being pushed--even if it's an agenda I might agree with. Nate is now in Special Forces and tasked with protecting the Americans on this mission. Specifically, he has been assigned as Izzy's bodyguard. Their history is palpable because their last encounter before this one didn't end well. Yet the reader doesn't know what happened. 

The "then" chapters are sprinkled throughout the book, building from their first meeting until that last one that leads to three years of no contact between them. Izzy is now engaged and working in a field she always hated. Nate is finding it hard to believe she hasn't changed. To make matters worse, Izzy is on a personal side mission while in Afghanistan increasing the danger she will face. 

Guys, I loved this story. It is a retelling, or at least inspired by, Ladyhawke. Two star-crossed lovers are destined to meet briefly, repeatedly, but they can't spend much time together before being whisked away again. The tension and hope build and build. I didn't understand why Nate never felt like the timing was right for them. And then I didn't understand why Izzy was not okay with waiting for him. Yet, I really had to stop and put myself in her shoes. Literal years went by with no timeframe to guess when they might actually be able to be together for more than 9 days at a time. For like years. I mean they might go an entire year with that short time together. Living like that long term is impossible. And I can see how I wouldn't be able to sustain that or the hope needed to see the light at the end of the tunnel. 

There were also a lot of pop culture references as well as book references. Sometimes this bothers me because it can date a book. Other times, I don't mind when the readers aren't referencing things as present pop culture. The references made were already out of date which makes them okay in my opinion. 

Favorite quotes:

-Go figure we'd meet again like this. We'd always had a habit of colliding at the worst times and in the most inconvenient places. It was almost fitting that it was a battlefield this go-round.

-I took the hint and retrieved my own book out of my purse, flipping to the bookmark in the middle of chapter eleven of Jennifer L. Armentrout's Half-Blood.

-"Very Jess Mariano of you."

-...the way I see it, there are all kinds of wars. Some are just more visible than others. It won't exactly be the first time someone has swung for me, and at least this time I'll be armed.

-"I mean, there was totally room on the door, but I loved the rest of it."

-"She'll be safer with me." "Because you're in love with her?" Torres questioned. I shook my head. "Because Jenkins isn't willing to die for her."

-That was all we were together: one giant, crossed line that neither of us belonged on the other side of.

-"What changed?" "It became one of the lesser traumatizing things I've seen," he said softly. "But if I do get them, they're usually that I can't get you out, or that you slip away in the current. Never gets past that, though. I'm perpetually battling to get you to shore."

-It was impossible to give away a heart I'd never gotten back in the first place.

-I could almost taste the butter pecan. It was a lifetime ago, and yesterday, all in the same breath. That's what Nate was to me. As far away as a lifetime and as close as yesterday, as near as twelve inches.

-"I'm capable of a lot of things, but unfortunately for my own sanity, I seem to be incapable of not looking at you."

There were maybe three on-page sexual scenes that were descriptive, but not the worst I've seen or the most descriptive I've seen from Rebecca Yarros. But I'm telling you in case you care. Cursing was also present. Not so much that I felt like it was excessive. 

And there was one "twist" that I didn't see coming that makes me look forward to doing a re-read on this one. 

In the Likely Event starts out pretty quickly. The plane crash isn't in the first chapter, but it does happen quickly. And I was hooked on Izzy and Nate's love story. I can definitely see myself re-reading this book in the future as I'd like to see the signs of that twist coming. And I really just loved this story. In the Likely Event gets 4.5 Stars. Have you read In the Likely Event? What did you think? Let me know!

Merriment and Mayhem - Review

Merriment and Mayhem (Under the Mistletoe Collection, # 4)

By: Alexandria Bellefleur

Publication: November 12, 2024 by Amazon Original Stories

58 pages

Genre: Adult, Contemporary, Holiday

Source: Amazon Prime

( Goodreads | Amazon )

*Note: The above link to Amazon is an affiliate links. Affiliate links support giveaways for Somewhere Only We Know readers.

Goodreads description--This Christmas, a hot fireman makes a holiday rescue and sparks fly in this funny, sexy holiday short story by bestselling author Alexandria Bellefleur.

When Everleigh Dangerfield’s baking disaster necessitates a call to 911, firefighter Griffin Brantley douses the flames in the kitchen, but the ones he stokes in Everleigh are an entirely different story. Unfortunately, Everleigh’s only visiting and doesn’t do casual hookups, no matter how smoldering the temptation. But Everleigh’s holiday mishaps have just begun. And Griffin is seemingly always on call. If Everleigh is game for a change of plans, he can give her the merriest Christmas of her life.

Alexandria Bellefleur’s Merriment and Mayhem is part of Under the Mistletoe, a stirring collection of December romances that thrill and tingle all the way. They can be read or listened to in one swoony sitting.

I didn't request this book from NetGalley when I saw it available for review because I don't usually do short stories. But when I saw it free on Amazon for Prime I figured I would snag it for a short Christmas story. I didn't even read the description. This was doubly exciting when I realized that I also had access to the audiobook which would sync with my reading. So I could read when I had time and then switch to the audiobook while driving or cooking. 

The beginning of Merriment and Mayhem was good. I liked the repeated 911 calls that forced Everleigh and Griffin together. I liked that there was an instant attraction that prompted Griffin to pursue Everleigh. But I felt like the pacing was completely off. I don't know this author at all. And I know this was always intended to be a short story, but so many pieces were mentioned that went nowhere. It felt like this was written for a longer story and things were cut or not addressed to force it to fit the short story needs. 

Because it was a short story, Everleigh flipped quickly from rejecting Griffin to being "so, so tired of pretending this is not what I want." Thankfully there were no declarations of deeper feelings at this point.

However, it felt like half the story was the sex scene. Granted it was only about the last 30%. Regardless, I wasn't a fan of these two jumping into the sheets. It felt jarring to me. Too much, too soon. Of course, as a Christian, my preference would be for them to wait until they get married, but that's not today's culture. I spent this entire section of the book skipping ahead and rolling my eyes. 

I also felt like the language was excessive for this story. And all of these things put together turned me off the idea of searching for more books by this author. 

Merriment and Mayhem's pacing felt completely wrong to me. The plot and details didn't fit the story length. The characters went from one thing and then completely flipped to a different thing. And things progressed in their relationship (physically and relationally) entirely too fast. Thankfully no "I love yous" were thrown out, but one character is considering a move to be with the other after three/four encounters. Merriment and Mayhem gets 2 Stars. Have you read Merriment and Mayhem ? What did you think? Let me know!

Can't Wait for The Folklore of Forever

Can't-Wait Wednesday is a weekly meme hosted by Wishful Endings to spotlight and talk about the books we're excited about that we have yet to read. Generally they're books that have yet to be released as well. It's based on Waiting on Wednesday, hosted by the fabulous Jill at Breaking the Spine. Find out more here.

The Folklore of Forever (Moonville, # 2)

By: Sarah Hogle

Expected Publication: April 8, 2025 by G.P. Putnam's Sons

400 pages

Genre: Adult, Fantasy, Contemporary

( Goodreads | Amazon )

*Note: The above link to Amazon is an affiliate links. Affiliate links support giveaways for Somewhere Only We Know readers.

Goodreads description--From the acclaimed author of Old Flames and New Fortunes comes a steamy enemies-to-lovers romantasy about a paranormal skeptic who is roped into a ghost hunting romp by the charming boy next door . . . who might just show her what real fantasies are made of.

Paranormal skeptic Zelda Tempest is hoping for a much-needed creativity boost for a new paranormal mystery novel. But despite the alleged magic of her hometown, Moonville, Ohio, she’s as stuck as ever.

With two witch sisters, not believing in magic is strange for a Tempest, but no one is more disappointed than Morgan Angelopoulos, the charming man next door. So, to cure her of her writer's block and her disbelief in magic, Morgan ropes her into a ghost-hunting romp, only for Zelda to discover something else bizarre, never-before-seen creatures that appear as ordinary pets to everyone else.

Curious about what else might be lurking in Moonville's woods, Zelda and Morgan embark on a quest to uncover the true magic that lies in their midsts . . . and perhaps, just maybe, they will find that the magic they're searching for has been with them all along.

What are you guys waiting on this week? Let me know!

Not in My Book - Review

Not In My Book

By: Katie Holt

Publication: December 10, 2024 by Alcove Press

320 pages

Genre: Adult, Contemporary

Source: Publisher via Edelweiss (Thank you!!)

( Goodreads | Amazon )

*Note: The above link to Amazon is an affiliate links. Affiliate links support giveaways for Somewhere Only We Know readers.

Goodreads description--The Hating Game meets Beach Read in this sexy and hilarious contemporary romance from a debut Peruvian-Tennessean voice.

Rosie, an idealistic and passionate Peruvian-American who has grown up without strong ties to her culture, leaves her Tennessee hometown to pursue her dream of making it in New York as a writer. But her plan is derailed when she ends up in class with her arch-nemesis and ex-crush, Aiden Huntington—an obnoxious, surly, and gorgeous literary fiction writer who doesn’t have much patience for the romance genre, or for Rosie.

Rosie and Aiden regularly go to verbal battle in workshop until their professor reaches her breaking point. She allows them to stay in her class on one condition: they must co-write a novel that blends their genres.

The reluctant writing duo can’t help but put pieces of themselves into their accidentally steamy novel, and as they slowly get to know each other, they try to put their differences aside. Meanwhile, their manuscript-in-progress provides an outlet for them to confess their feelings—and explore their attraction toward each other.

When Rosie and Aiden find themselves competing against each other for a potentially career-changing opportunity, the flames of old rivalry reignite, and their once-in-a-lifetime love story is once again at risk of being shelved—unless they can find a way to end the book on their own terms.

I don't often read a book and say the description was 100% on point. But the description for Not in My Book tells you pretty much everything you need to know about what happens in this book. As stated, Rosie is doing her best to get her degree, but she can only afford to take one class at a time. She's also working a part-time job every spare moment (except the weekends). And she's writing in her off time as her dream is to become an author. But she's been struggling to be vulnerable in her writing. She needs this class. To begin with, she worked hard to get into this class. She really respects the teacher. Rosie also reluctantly admits that Aiden is a talented author. She saw him read a piece of his writing before they officially met, and she immediately developed a crush on him. He was cute and talented. But when they are in a previous class together, Aiden responds negatively to Rosie's preferred genre--romance--and boundary lines formed marking them both clearly in enemy territory. Now, their repeated disruptions of heated arguments in class have the professor ready to force them both to drop the class. Reluctantly, Rosie and Aiden agree to work together on their writing project for this class. The criteria is that they must have a romance with a literary fiction ending--meaning no happily ever after. 

This book was so fun. The banter between Rosie and Aiden was on another level. I mean heated. And the tension was so thick you could cut it with a butter knife. I loved seeing how uncomfortable Aiden was with trying to write a romance. Yet, Rosie annoyed me because she was even more against literary fiction and stories that end unhappy or unresolved. There was one scene in particular that was so intense because the two of them wrote it together. If you've read the book then you know the one. And this is coming from someone who has a lower tolerance level for explicit scenes.

Favorite quotes:

-Aiden had an annoying editorial eye that ended up making everyone around him a better writer.

-There's so much more to a romance than just love.

-I wanted the kind of love you treated gently, like it could break. The kind that was intense and real. The kind you fought for, not against.

-"We get close but not close enough to get burned, right?"

-The best part of my day was fighting with him.

-"When I am in love, I don't want to have to wonder, if it's love, you know? I want to know with certainty that there is nothing else I would rather feel."

-I just...wanted to be loved so badly that I thought being hurt was part of the deal.

-"What do you want for Christmas?" .... "Right now I feel like I have everything I need."

-"You know, ever since your family arrived, you've developed a southern accent."

-"Love wouldn't seem worth it without the risk of losing it."

-The love I had read in romance novels was so epic and monumental. I'd spent a lifetime craving grand gestures and sweeping proclamations. I hadn't known the small moments like this would feel as good.

Any other quotes are spoilers. 

I did notice a few small inconsistencies. For example, at one point Aiden criticizes the phrase often used in romance "eyes darkening" and he wonders what that even is. But in one of his sections of writing for the joint project, he uses the same phrase. I don't know if this was an accident. Like, it was overlooked by the editing. Or if this was done purposefully to show that he's grown as an author to include things he never once would have considered. But I lean toward the first option as he didn't seem willing to compromise what he considers good writing to fit a specific genre. I think there was another small inconsistency, but I didn't see it highlighted when I went back to look so I can't remember. 

Overall, I devoured Not in My Book. I've read several books now that focus on the love of writing in various forms. I have adored them all. But Not in My Book was focused on a love for the romance genre, as well as writing in general. And I'm here for it. Not in My Book gets 4.5 Stars and is easily one of my favorite reads of 2024. Have you read Not in My Book? What did you think? Let me know!