Olivia Dade bursts onto the scene in this delightfully fun romantic comedy set in the world of fanfiction, in which a devoted fan goes on an unexpected date with her celebrity crush, who’s secretly posting fanfiction of his own. 
 
Marcus Caster-Rupp has a secret. While the world knows him as Aeneas, the star of the biggest show on TV, Gods of the Gates, he's known to fanfiction readers as Book!AeneasWouldNever, an anonymous and popular poster.  Marcus is able to get out his own frustrations with his character through his stories, especially the ones that feature the internet’s favorite couple to ship, Aeneas and Lavinia. But if anyone ever found out about his online persona, he’d be fired. Immediately.
 
April Whittier has secrets of her own. A hardcore Lavinia fan, she’s hidden her fanfiction and cosplay hobby from her “real life” for years—but not anymore. When she decides to post her latest Lavinia creation on Twitter, her photo goes viral. Trolls and supporters alike are commenting on her plus-size take, but when Marcus, one half of her OTP, sees her pic and asks her out on a date to spite her critics, she realizes life is really stranger than fanfiction.
 
Even though their first date is a disaster, Marcus quickly realizes that he wants much more from April than a one-time publicity stunt. And when he discovers she’s actually Unapologetic Lavinia Stan, his closest fandom friend, he has one more huge secret to hide from her.
 
With love and Marcus’s career on the line, can the two of them stop hiding once and for all, or will a match made in fandom end up prematurely cancelled?

I really liked the heart of this book. I loved April and her unapologetic geekiness, and I liked what Dade has to say about body positivity, and that she wrote a male protagonist that walks the talk. What I wasn’t expecting was just how detailed into the fanfiction subculture this was going to go. It’s one of the few times I’ve started a book and thought “oooh, I might be too old for this”. Fanfiction as a concept was certainly around when I was in college, but not with all these abbreviations and dedicated websites. I eventually figured out what everything meant, but it took time. And while sometimes I enjoyed the little fanfiction pieces between chapters, other times I felt like they pulled me out of the story and didn’t really tell me anything new.

I definitely will read more from Olivia Dade, just maybe not if it’s about fanfiction.

I read this for the following reading challenges:

• 2021 POPSUGAR Reading Challenge — a book that discusses body positivity
• Year of Smut 2021 Challenge — a book Rate the Romance rated 5 stars

Other reviews:

• “But I will say, the cover does not do the book justice because I really enjoyed Spoiler Alert! It was a really cute book and I loved the fandom aspect, the romance, body positivity, women in science, family complications, and character development. Olivia Dade really wrote a story that tied everything seamlessly and every plot made sense.” — Floweringpages
• “This was a fun read, but it did take me a bit to get into it. That tends to happen with fandom/fanfic type books. But the relationship with April and Marcus kept me wanting to read.“ — Confessions of a YA Reader
• “Overall I really enjoyed Spoiler Alert! I loved Marcus and April together. I enjoyed seeing how their relationship grew over time and how they overcame their secrets. I loved the fanfic aspect of the book. I read a lot of fanfic myself so it was fun to see it play out in a book as well. If you are a fan of romantic comedies, I highly recommend this one.” — Mom with a Reading Problem

Don't Look
 
At first, they struggle to escape. Then a torrent of blows rains down upon their bodies until their eyes cloud over in final agony. The killer shows no remorse--just a twisted need to witness each victim's last terrified moments.
 
Don't Speak
 
Public defender Rachel Wainwright is struggling to reopen a decades-old case, convinced that the wrong man is in prison. Homicide detective Deke Morgan doesn't want to agree. But if Rachel's hunch is correct, whoever fatally bludgeoned young, beautiful Annie Dawson thirty years ago could be the source of a new string of brutal slayings.
 
Just Prepare To Die
 
Rachel's investigation is about to reveal answers--but at a price she never thought to pay. Now she's become the target of a rage honed by years of jealousy and madness. And a murderer is ready to show her just how vicious the truth can be. . .

I generally enjoy Mary Burton’s books and this was no exception. Someone is killing women with a tire iron, and some of the victims are tied to lawyer Rachel Wainwright’s work to prove a jailed man innocent. Deke Morgan is the detective assigned to the case, and it was his father who put the man in jail 30 years before. Deke and Rachel start out mixing like oil and water, but things soon change as they realize they have a common goal.

I guessed a number of the end details of the story before they were revealed, but it was still an entertaining read. Even though there was one twist in particular I figured out, I still wanted to keep reading to see how it happened. It was a little light on romance for a book billed as romantic suspense, but there was enough. This is the first of a 4-book series set in Nashville, and I’ll likely read more of them.

I read this for the following reading challenges:

• Year of Smut 2021 Challenge — a book by an author in your state

Other reviews:

• “Burton once again pens a thrilling mystery though I was a little dismayed by the lack of heat and visibility of the romance in a book published as a romance suspense.” — Smexy Books
• “Cover Your Eyes has a strong suspenseful, plotline with many twists and turns. Rachel and Deke are very formidable, very likeable characters, who pair well together and work off each other’s strengths while working on the new murder investigations.” — Mysterious Reviews
• “I had an inkling about something- but for the actual why, how, and the bad guys- well, nope, didn’t see that coming. And just as you are scratching your head- and thinking about all the pieces and how they fit together- Mary Burton has 1 more up her sleeve.” — Traveling with T

This is an epic of love, hatred, war and revolution. This is a huge novel that follows five families through the world-shaking dramas of the First World War, the Russian Revolution, and the struggle for votes for women.
 
It is 1911. The Coronation Day of King George V. The Williams, a Welsh coal-mining family is linked by romance and enmity to the Fitzherberts, aristocratic coal-mine owners. Lady Maud Fitzherbert falls in love with Walter von Ulrich, a spy at the German Embassy in London. Their destiny is entangled with that of an ambitious young aide to U.S. President Woodrow Wilson and to two orphaned Russian brothers, whose plans to emigrate to America fall foul of war, conscription and revolution. In a plot of unfolding drama and intriguing complexity, "Fall Of Giants" moves seamlessly from Washington to St Petersburg, from the dirt and danger of a coal mine to the glittering chandeliers of a palace, from the corridors of power to the bedrooms of the mighty.

No one writes a historical saga quite like Ken Follett. Is it entirely historically accurate? Probably not. Is it fine literature? No. Did it keep me entertained for 30 hours? It did! For the most part. There was a fair amount of political stuff at the end that I found myself tuning out on, but I’m always interested in the stories of the people. I particularly appreciated the depiction of the Bolshevik Revolution, because that is a piece of history that I’m not very familiar with. I’m sure I’ll be reading the final 2 books in the trilogy.

I read this for the following reading challenges:

• 52 Book Club 2021 Challenge — a family saga

Other reviews:

• “If you’re looking for love, you’ll find that in here. If you’re looking for a political discussion and questions of class, you’ll find it here. It really is a saga.” — Read with Amie
• “The development of the book was also really well done and I loved the characters, the plot, and the historical topic! So good!” — HookedtoBooks
• “After finishing the novel, I realized that I learned more about WWI, the Russian Revolution, English politics in the 20th century, the origin of the League of Nations,  communism, and Leninism than I had in the last 25 years, within a 30 hour novel.” — Eat Cook Read

A world divided. A queendom without an heir. An ancient enemy awakens.
 
The House of Berethnet has ruled Inys for a thousand years. Still unwed, Queen Sabran the Ninth must conceive a daughter to protect her realm from destruction—but assassins are getting closer to her door.
 
Ead Duryan is an outsider at court. Though she has risen to the position of lady-in-waiting, she is loyal to a hidden society of mages. Ead keeps a watchful eye on Sabran, secretly protecting her with forbidden magic.
 
Across the dark sea, Tané has trained all her life to be a dragonrider, but is forced to make a choice that could see her life unravel.
 
Meanwhile, the divided East and West refuse to parley, and forces of chaos are rising from their sleep.

This is the epic tale of a world trying to stop the rise of the Wyrms (think: fire-breathing dragons) after 1000 years of banishment below the seas. It is told through the eyes of several characters — a lord doomed by a childhood friendship, a court outsider with a secret, a dragon-rider with a rebellious streak, a banished alchemist determined to return home — and from different corners of the world.

The book is a slow start, because there is a lot of world building in the first several chapters. I personally found it helpful to refer to the map, because for a while I didn’t realize that the people that were focused on were in different regions of the world. But all of that world building pays off in the end as the story is woven together and our narrators cross each others paths.

A strength of this novel is the complexity of its female characters. Some are strong, some feel trapped, some are leaders, some are traitors. They are witches and queens, pirates and dragon-riders, spies and priestesses.

This particular book is a standalone, but I would definitely read more from this author!

I read this for the following reading challenges:

• 2021 POPSUGAR Reading Challenge — a book from your TBR list you meant to read last year but didn’t
• 52 Book Club 2021 Challenge — watch out for dragons!

Other reviews:

• “Like all epic fantasies, it’s not an easy read; it takes some legwork to figure out who everyone is and what the different countries believe and the conflicts between them, but once you have that under you it’s a very rewarding read.” – A Blog of Books and Musicals
• “I know many people have this on their list. Well get to it already! It has dragons, magic, romance, fight scenes, warriors, intrigue, mystery, and Lore. This story has heart. What are you waiting for Slackers!” — The Book in Hand
• “The mythology and faith system within The Priory of the Orange Tree was fascinating to watch, especially with the twists and turns that they each bring into the story and the politics for each of the countries.” — The Book Blog Life

A groundbreaking thriller about a vigilante on a Native American reservation who embarks on a dangerous mission to track down the source of a heroin influx. 
Virgil Wounded Horse is the local enforcer on the Rosebud Indian Reservation in South Dakota.  When justice is denied by the American legal system or the tribal council, Virgil is hired to deliver his own punishment, the kind that’s hard to forget. But when heroin makes its way into the reservation and finds Virgil’s nephew, his vigilantism suddenly becomes personal. He enlists the help of his ex-girlfriend and sets out to learn where the drugs are coming from, and how to make them stop.
 
They follow a lead to Denver and find that drug cartels are rapidly expanding and forming new and terrifying alliances. And back on the reservation, a new tribal council initiative raises uncomfortable questions about money and power. As Virgil starts to link the pieces together, he must face his own demons and reclaim his Native identity. He realizes that being a Native American in the twenty-first century comes at an incredible cost.

Virgil is a guy who gets by by doing odd jobs for people, usually involving violence. His latest job, which he takes reluctantly due to it coming from his ex-girlfriend’s father (a tribal leader), is to track down the guy who is bringing drugs onto the Reservation and “convince” him to stop. But when his nephew, who is under his care, unexpectedly overdoses on heroin, this mission becomes much more personal than Virgil expected.

I really enjoyed this debut novel and the peek it gives into life on a Reservation. Weiden expertly weaves issues that Native Americans face into this story of violence and revenge but also gives us beautiful portrayals of the Lakota culture.

Back in the time before Columbus, there were only Indians here, no skyscrapers, no automobiles, no streets. Of course, we didn’t use the words Indian or Native American then; we were just people. We didn’t know we were supposedly drunks or lazy or savages. I wondered what it was like to live without that weight on your shoulders, the weight of the murdered ancestors, the stolen land, the abused children, the burden every Native person carries.

This book is well worth the time.

I read this for the following reading challenges:

• 52 Book Club 2021 Challenge — a book with an endorsement by a famous author on the cover

Other reviews:

• “This is a medium paced read that is marketed as a thriller however, I didn’t really see it as such. This reads more like Crime Fiction that covers a lot of the real life issues plaguing Native American reservations. It’s a dark and heavy read with tons of content warnings that I’ll try to cover down below. I found myself unable to walk away from this story for too long and ended up finishing it in just about one sitting.” — Lair of Books
• “With beautiful, visually descriptive prose, action filled scenes, strong emotional undertones and a truly thought provoking narrative, this is most definitely recommended. a truly stunning read.” — Jen Med’s Book Reviews
• “Why should you read this book? If you enjoy energy driven and thrilling novels about Native American vigilantes out for revenge and self-discovery, this is the book for you.” — Elizabeth Reads Books

Kailyn Flowers was always calm and controlled - until she ended up sprawled all over Daxton Hughes, the former actor she totally crushed on as a teenager. In seconds, she became a mortifying fangirl and oddly enough, he didn't run away. Instead, their meet cute led to something she never expected: a friendship. Of course, she never expected him to betray her, either.
 
Eight years later, Dax needs Kailyn's help. Years of anger towards him haven't exactly left Kailyn inclined to oblige, but she also isn't heartless enough to turn him down. She vows to be friendly, but soon their 'friendly' meetings turn into flirty dinner dates, and Kailyn can feel their chemistry is as explosive as ever. But how can she possibly let down her guard again to a guy who has heartbreak written all over him?

I felt like there was a little bit of bait and switch here. This is not the cute romance you might be expecting. It starts out that way, but then gets very dark, very quickly. I also had difficulty with Kailyn. She’s pretty unlikeable at the start of the book, and I had a hard time warming up to her once she softened up. But overall I enjoyed the story enough to read another by this author.

I read this for the following reading challenges:

• Year of Smut 2021 Challenge — a book with food on the cover

Other reviews:

• “While I enjoyed the read, my biggest issue was that these two LAWYERS didn’t even guess at something stupidly obvious. I literally started grumbling at my Kindle, so much that my seatmate asked what my Kindle did to me! I also felt that the fact that he was a childhood star she crushed on kind of got lost in the story and wasn’t quite necessary.” — Ana’s Attic
• “The story reminded me a bit of Sustained by Emma Chase, which I loved. So, if you love books with kids, great banter, and a couple that works well together, this the right story for you. The novel was moving and heartwarming, uplifting and entertaining. The perfect summer read!” — The Brown Eyed Bookworm
• “Although I really enjoyed the chemistry between the characters as well as the overall plot, the book is not without flaws. Some elements of the story just don’t ring true. Kailyn’s grudge against Dax is overemphasized and rather childish. Dax also has an incredibly annoying friend who pops up occasionally and shows zero character growth.” — Reading Frenzy Book Blog

Meet Pepper, swim team captain, chronic overachiever, and all-around perfectionist. Her family may be falling apart, but their massive fast-food chain is booming ― mainly thanks to Pepper, who is barely managing to juggle real life while secretly running Big League Burger’s massive Twitter account.
 
Enter Jack, class clown and constant thorn in Pepper’s side. When he isn’t trying to duck out of his obscenely popular twin’s shadow, he’s busy working in his family’s deli. His relationship with the business that holds his future might be love/hate, but when Big League Burger steals his grandma’s iconic grilled cheese recipe, he’ll do whatever it takes to take them down, one tweet at a time.
 
All’s fair in love and cheese ― that is, until Pepper and Jack’s spat turns into a viral Twitter war. Little do they know, while they’re publicly duking it out with snarky memes and retweet battles, they’re also falling for each other in real life ― on an anonymous chat app Jack built.
 
As their relationship deepens and their online shenanigans escalate ― people on the internet are shipping them?? ― their battle gets more and more personal, until even these two rivals can’t ignore they were destined for the most unexpected, awkward, all-the-feels romance that neither of them expected.
 
A fresh, irresistible rom-com from debut author Emma Lord about the chances we take, the paths life can lead us on, and how love can be found in the opposite place you expected.

This was a really cute YA book about two teens who get caught up in the drama between their two family businesses (one much larger than the other) and discover that they may be friends (or something more) along the way. I really enjoyed both Jack and Pepper, though I thought both of their families stunk. Jack’s a little less-so than Pepper’s. Pepper’s mother was really ridiculous and blind to the pressure she was putting on her younger daughter, and her father was essentially absent and powerless. At least Jack’s parents seemed caring, if a bit overwhelmed. But overall, I liked this story and how it unfolded.

I read this for the following reading challenges:

• 2021 POPSUGAR Reading Challenge — a book set in a restaurant
• 52 Book Club 2021 Challenge — a book with multiple character POV

Other reviews:

• “In conclusion, I am proferring this novel with a verdict of 80%. I thought it was a solid novel and it definitely deserves all the hype that it has gotten. Do give this novel a try if you are interested in what I had said.” — Maxxesbooktopia
• “This book was adorable. I loved every page. This book was so cute and I can’t believe I thought I didn’t like contemporary romances – I was very wrong.” — Books Over Everything
• “A whole lot of banter, a slow-burning relationship, family pressure and expectations, unlikely friendships and a whole lot of cheese…. Tweet Cute has got it all in this modern rom-com that had me smiling from page one. I devoured this book and I just can’t, can’t wait for you all to fall in love with these characters the way I did.” — Drizzle and Hurricane Books

A nice, normal life. Is that too much to ask? For Riley Thorn it is. Divorced. Broke. Living with a pack of elderly roommates. And those hallucinations she's diligently ignoring? Her tarot card-dealing mom is convinced they're clairvoyant visions.
 
Just when things can't get worse, a so-hot-it-should-be-illegal private investigator shows up on her doorstep looking for a neighbor...who turns up murdered.
 
Nick Santiago doesn't play well with others. Unless the "others" are of the female persuasion. Wink. He's a rebel, a black sheep, a man who prefers a buffet of options to being stuck with the same entree every night, if you catch his drift.
 
When the pretty, possibly psychic Riley lands at the top of the list of suspects, Nick volunteers to find out whodunit. Only because he likes solving mysteries not because he wants to flex his heroic muscles for the damsel in distress.
 
All they have to do is figure out who pulled the trigger, keep the by-the-book detective with a grudge at bay, and deal with a stranger claiming he was sent to help Riley hone her psychic gifts. All before the killer discovers she's a loose end that requires snipping.

This book is like if Stephanie Plum were competent. And a psychic. It was so much fun! Score gives us a wild cast of characters ranging from a giant stinky dog to a gentle giant of a spirt guide to a vengeful granny. The mystery is almost an afterthought to seeing Riley figure out what she’s doing with her life and her psychic abilities and whether private investigator Nick should be part of it. Almost every character adds their own spice to the story. I can’t wait to read the next one in the series and I hope Score writes several more!

I read this for the following reading challenges:

• Year of Smut 2021 Challenge — a book by an indie author

Other reviews:

• “Riley Thorn and the Dead Guy Next Door was laugh-out-loud shenanigans at its best and I had a blast reading it. If you’re looking for an escape and need to get your laugh on, look no further. You have found your next read!” — about that story
• “The only downside of Lucy’s books is I read them too quickly, which can’t be helped. As always, I eagerly await her next one.” – After the Rain

Joe Goldberg is no stranger to hiding bodies. In the past ten years, this thirty-something has buried four of them, collateral damage in his quest for love. Now he’s heading west to Los Angeles, the city of second chances, determined to put his past behind him.
 
In Hollywood, Joe blends in effortlessly with the other young upstarts. He eats guac, works in a bookstore, and flirts with a journalist neighbor. But while others seem fixated on their own reflections, Joe can’t stop looking over his shoulder. The problem with hidden bodies is that they don’t always stay that way. They re-emerge, like dark thoughts, multiplying and threatening to destroy what Joe wants most: true love. And when he finds it in a darkened room in Soho House, he’s more desperate than ever to keep his secrets buried. He doesn’t want to hurt his new girlfriend—he wants to be with her forever. But if she ever finds out what he’s done, he may not have a choice…

This book could be subtitled “Joe goes to Hollywood”. After taking care of his Beck problem in the first book, Joe has found himself another girl. He’s deliriously happy — until she does him wrong and flees to Los Angeles. What else could your intrepid stalker/murderer do, but track her down and get his revenge?

I highly recommend the audio version of this book, because I think it really helps you get onto the emotional roller coaster in Joe’s brain. He can spin from happy to furious back to happy in an instant, and the narrative really requires you to give yourself over to it. I enjoyed this as much as the first one, and look forward to catching up on the second season of the show. 

I read this for the following reading challenges:

• 52 Book Club 2021 Challenge — a book with a character “on the run”

Other reviews:

• “Much like YOU, Hidden Bodies is an intriguing look into the mind of someone like Joe. I found his character progression really fascinating. While Joe has always been smart, Kepnes manages to portray the highs and lows of his mental state to the point where you can never quite tell what’s going to happen. Is Joe going to be his own undoing? Is his past going to catch up with him? Is he going to manage to evade being found out again? It’s almost impossible to tell until the very end, which accounts for the book’s fast pace.” — Book. Blog. Bake.
• “Hidden Bodies isn’t a deep, thought-provoking novel–it’s a fun continuation of one. And though I usually hate sequels, and though You was perfectly fine as a standalone, I enjoyed Hidden Bodies where most people didn’t. I love Joe’s character, I love his messed up life, and I love Kepnes’s writing style. This is actually a sequel I recommend.” — Read ’em and Weep
• “If you’re on the fence about this one, since it has gotten a lot of mixed reviews, my biggest suggestion to you is to pick up the audiobook. The narrator is absolutely fantastic and truly brings Joe to life! I will continue to pick up anything and everything Caroline Kepnes creates! She has an amazing talent and her stories are always keeping me on my toes!” — What Jess Reads

Khai Diep has no feelings. Well, he feels irritation when people move his things or contentment when ledgers balance down to the penny, but not big, important emotions—like grief. And love. He thinks he’s defective. His family knows better—that his autism means he just processes emotions differently. When he steadfastly avoids relationships, his mother takes matters into her own hands and returns to Vietnam to find him the perfect bride.
 
As a mixed-race girl living in the slums of Ho Chi Minh City, Esme Tran has always felt out of place. When the opportunity arises to come to America and meet a potential husband, she can’t turn it down, thinking this could be the break her family needs. Seducing Khai, however, doesn’t go as planned. Esme’s lessons in love seem to be working…but only on herself. She’s hopelessly smitten with a man who’s convinced he can never return her affection.
 
With Esme’s time in the United States dwindling, Khai is forced to understand he’s been wrong all along. And there’s more than one way to love.

I didn’t like this as much as I liked The Kiss Quotient, but I still thought it was very enjoyable. I like the strong families that Hoang writes around her characters. The miscommunication parts of this story are quite frustrating, but also understandable due to Khai’s neurodiversity. The one thing that made me slightly uncomfortable was the treatment of Esme’s relationship with her daughter. It often felt like she was an afterthought, except when it served the plot (like a nightmare about her leading to Esme in Khai’s bed). I definitely will read more Hoang though, because there is a lot here that is good.

I read this for the following reading challenges:

• 2021 POPSUGAR Reading Challenge — a book that has a heart, diamond, club or spade on the cover
• 52 Book Club 2021 Challenge — a book recommended on BookBub
• Year of Smut 2021 Challenge — a book with a neuro-diverse lead character

Other reviews:

• “The romance was so sweet that it made me cry more than a couple of times. I was rooting for Khai and Esme as soon as they connected, and it was beautiful to see that so many other characters were as well. Not everyone, autistic or not, is capable of expressing emotion through words as well as others, and while Khai was busy denying that he had emotions, they bled through in all of his actions.” — Leah’s Books
• “Of course, the author herself is diagnosed with autism, making her take on Khai’s character credible and convincing. The author’s passion to tell these people’s stories translated to both Khai and Esme as layered characters with real-life problems, insecurities, and motivations. Both of them jumped off the page and made me, the reader, care for their happiness.” — rurouni jenni reads
• “If you thought that Helen Hoang succeeded in writing only one good book, you couldn’t be more wrong. I loved her first book The Kiss Quotient and I equally enjoyed The Bride Test. Helen is an amazing author creating diverse books where she talks about autism and different cultures without missing the romance and the sensuality.” — Elena’s Bookblog