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Book Review: When Dimple Met Rishi

August 5, 2017/22 Comments/by Suzanne
Book Review:  When Dimple Met RishiWhen Dimple Met Rishi by Sandhya Menon
Also by this author: From Twinkle, with Love, There's Something About Sweetie
four-stars
Published by Simon Pulse on May 30th 2017
Genres: Contemporary Fiction, Young Adult Fiction
Pages: 380
Source: Library
Amazon
Goodreads

MY REVIEW:

I was looking for a light contemporary read for my day off and when I read the synopsis for Sandhya Menon’s When Dimple Met Rishi, it sounded exactly like what I was looking for.  And what a cute read it was! It’s fun, romantic in an adorably nerdy kind of way, and it also focuses a lot on family, especially the drama that can arise when children have hopes and dreams that are at odds with what their parents want for them.

Dimple Shah is a career-minded young woman.  She has just graduated from high school and plans to attend Stanford University in the fall, where she will study web development and coding.  She can’t wait to move out and get away from her overbearing mother, who is obsessed with finding Dimple the “Ideal Indian Husband” and is constantly criticizing Dimple for not wearing makeup, for not doing more with her hair, and for, just in general, not doing more to attract the ideal husband.  Dimple desperately wants a break from her mom’s nagging and knows what would make for a perfect means to escape, if her parents will go along with the idea: a summer program at San Francisco State University for aspiring web developers.  Dimple doesn’t think her parents will go for the idea, but when she broaches the subject with them, they’re all for it so off Dimple goes to SFSU.

Rishi Patel is also college-bound.  He will be attending MIT, a prestigious university that is sure to secure him a lucrative career.  Rishi is also a hopeless romantic who embraces the idea of arranged marriages.  He knows that his parents have selected an ideal candidate to be his future wife, and so he is 100% on board when they tell him that he can meet her if he attends a summer camp at SFSU.

Who is this ideal candidate?  Why, Dimple of course, which explains why her parents were so quick to agree to her attending this summer camp.  What a plan these parents have come up with!  Too bad no one thought to clue Dimple in.  When she arrives at campus, she is immediately accosted by some weird guy who greets her as his future bride.  Talk about awkward!  Dimple flings an iced coffee all over Rishi and runs off, afraid that he’s some kind of crazy stalker dude.  Things take a turn for the even more awkward when Dimple and Rishi are then assigned to be partners for the duration of the camp and have to work on a project together.

Will Dimple be so put off by what her parents have set her up for that she refuses to make nice with Rishi, or will Rishi be able to win her over?

LIKES

Dimple and Rishi.  These two are such likeable characters.  At first I wasn’t super crazy about Dimple because she was so rude when it came to pretty much anything her mom said. I just kept thinking ‘Be nice. She’s the only momma you’ve got.”  At the same time though, I could completely understand her frustration.  When you’re heart set on pursuing a career, and a good career at that, it’s got to be a kick in the head having your mom so focused on you “improving” your appearance so that you can bag the ideal husband.

Although it took me some time to warm up to Dimple, with Rishi, on the other hand, it was love at first sight.  He’s just this precious young man who is totally into his heritage and who also wants to make his parents happy. I just wanted to give him a hug when he came bounding up to Dimple, like an enthusiastic puppy, only to end up shot down and drenched in iced coffee.  Rishi, of course, has no idea that Dimple has been left in the dark about the whole arranged marriage idea, but as soon as he realizes she’s at the camp for her career and that she has no interest whatsoever in making a love connection while there, Rishi apologizes and is even willing to withdraw from the camp and go home to make things less awkward for Dimple so that she can focus on what she came to learn.  How can you not fall for a guy who is willing to do that?

Nerds!  I also loved that both of them are basically awkward nerdy types.  Dimple’s into coding, and Rishi, even though he’s going to MIT, which is nerdy enough on its own, also has a secret passion – he loves to draw comics and is exceptionally gifted at it too.  Books that feature nerdy characters are my favorites, so this was just perfect for me.

Diversity.  If you’re looking for a great diverse read, When Dimple Met Rishi fits that bill as well since the two main characters are both Indian Americans. I liked that many aspects of Indian culture were presented and that they were worked into the story in a way that flowed very naturally in conversations like one between Dimple and Rishi where Rishi explains to Dimple why he embraces the idea of an arranged marriage.  I just loved Rishi talking about why so many Indian traditions are important to him.  It’s nice to see a young person who sees the value in heritage and tradition, and he seems to open up Dimple’s eyes to aspects of her own culture that she had paid little attention to as a child.

DISLIKES/ISSUES

My only real issue was the subplot with Rishi’s brother.  It just felt unnecessary since the main purpose the brother served in the story was to help explain why Rishi feels so strongly about not ever disappointing his parents.  He’s trying to make up for his brother’s behavior.  That’s not to say his brother is a bad kid.  It’s just that Rishi’s brother does whatever he wants, whenever he wants, whether it makes their parents happy or not.  Beyond that, his character wasn’t really developed too much more. I actually can’t even remember his name as I’m sitting here typing my review, so I think the story would have worked even better without him showing up at the university and inserting himself into the plot.

 

FINAL THOUGHTS

If you’re looking for a fun and diverse summer read that’s delightfully nerdy and contains a hint of romantic possibility, you’ll definitely want to check out When Dimple Met Rishi.

 

RATING:  4 STARS

 

 

GOODREADS SYNOPSIS

Dimple Shah has it all figured out. With graduation behind her, she’s more than ready for a break from her family, from Mamma’s inexplicable obsession with her finding the “Ideal Indian Husband.” Ugh. Dimple knows they must respect her principles on some level, though. If they truly believed she needed a husband right now, they wouldn’t have paid for her to attend a summer program for aspiring web developers…right?

Rishi Patel is a hopeless romantic. So when his parents tell him that his future wife will be attending the same summer program as him—wherein he’ll have to woo her—he’s totally on board. Because as silly as it sounds to most people in his life, Rishi wants to be arranged, believes in the power of tradition, stability, and being a part of something much bigger than himself.

The Shahs and Patels didn’t mean to start turning the wheels on this “suggested arrangement” so early in their children’s lives, but when they noticed them both gravitate toward the same summer program, they figured, Why not?

Dimple and Rishi may think they have each other figured out. But when opposites clash, love works hard to prove itself in the most unexpected ways.

four-stars

About Sandhya Menon

Sandhya Menon is the New York Times bestselling author of When Dimple Met Rishi, From Twinkle, With Love, and There’s Something About Sweetie. A full-time dog servant and part-time writer, she makes her home in the foggy mountains of Colorado.

Website | Goodreads | Instagram | Pinterest

https://thebookishlibra.com/wp-content/uploads/2017/08/when-dimple-met-rishi.jpg 1920 1280 Suzanne http://thebookishlibra.com/wp-content/uploads/2018/06/trimmed-Copy-of-Bookish-Logo-copy.png Suzanne2017-08-05 09:17:242017-08-05 09:17:24Book Review: When Dimple Met Rishi

Update Post # 2: Summer TBR Wipeout 2017

August 5, 2017/10 Comments/by Suzanne

 

It’s time to post my update for the first leg of the Summer TBR Wipeout challenge.  So, how am I doing?  Not as great as I had hoped because I had to get some ARCs read that I hadn’t put on my list.  This time around I have managed to knock a couple off my TBR that had been on there for way too long though so I am happy about that.  Out of the twelve books I had originally put on my challenge list, I’ve managed to read 5 so far.

 

BOOKS I READ FOR THIS UPDATE…

 

 
 

Of these two, Heartless was definitely my favorite.  It was just so whimsical and fun, and I think if I lived in the sexist environment that Cath did, I’d probably turn into a raging ‘Off with his head!’ kind of girl myself, haha.  Caraval, which was one of my most anticipated reads of this year, didn’t quite live up to the hype for me, although I still thought it was an entertaining read.  It just seemed to drag out the ending. I’m curious to see how that one will be turned into a series because I felt like the story was pretty well wrapped up by the time I finally reached the end.

 

BOOKS STILL LEFT ON MY CHALLENGE LIST…

 

   
      
I don’t know if I’ll make it through all 7 by the end of the challenge or not, but we’ll see how it goes!  Hope everyone else is doing great with their challenge!

https://thebookishlibra.com/wp-content/uploads/2017/07/summer-tbr-wipeout-1.png 315 560 Suzanne http://thebookishlibra.com/wp-content/uploads/2018/06/trimmed-Copy-of-Bookish-Logo-copy.png Suzanne2017-08-05 07:51:492017-08-05 09:17:58Update Post # 2: Summer TBR Wipeout 2017

Book Review: Words in Deep Blue by Cath Crowley

August 4, 2017/16 Comments/by Suzanne
Book Review:  Words in Deep Blue by Cath CrowleyWords in Deep Blue by Cath Crowley
four-stars
Published by Alfred A. Knopf Books for Young Readers on June 6th 2017
Genres: Young Adult Fiction, Contemporary Fiction
Pages: 273
Source: Library
Amazon
Goodreads

MY REVIEW:

I went into Words in Deep Blue not really knowing what to expect.  I had read that it was a book about books and the people who love them, and that was more than enough to pique my curiosity.  It was also my first time reading anything by Cath Crowley and I’m always game to try out a new author.

What I experienced, however, was so much more than just a book about books.  Words in Deep Blue is a beautifully written and moving novel that deftly explores themes of love and friendship, as well as those of loss and the grieving process.

The story centers on life-long best friends Rachel Sweetie and Henry Jones.  Over the years, Rachel grows to have more than just friendly feelings toward Henry and when she learns her family is moving away from the area, she decides to confess her feelings to Henry via a love note, which she leaves in Henry’s favorite book at his family’s bookshop.  She sends Henry a message letting him know about the letter and hopes that he’ll read it and come visit her before she moves away.  She waits as long as she can, but when Henry is a no-show, Rachel moves away and vows to cut all ties with him because she feels so hurt.

Rachel stays gone for three years and only returns after a family tragedy – her brother Cal drowns – leaves her so deep in the throes of grief that she needs to get away from everything that reminds her of Cal, the ocean that took his life, and the fact that her own life has pretty much fallen apart since he died.  Consumed by grief, Rachel has failed Year 12 and now cannot see a clear future for herself.  Before her brother’s death, she and Cal shared a fascination with the ocean and all ocean life, so much so that Rachel had planned to pursue a career in the field of Oceanography.  But now she can’t even stomach the sight of the ocean, so she feels lost.

Henry, although going through nothing as tragic as the death of a sibling, is still having a pretty rough go of things himself.  Henry is pining after Amy, a girl he was dating during the entire time Rachel was away, but who has since broken up with him.  To make matters worse, Amy not only dumped Henry, but she also started dating a guy that Henry absolutely hates.  So Henry spends most of his time embarrassing himself by trying to get Amy back or seething because he hates her new boyfriend so much.  In addition to his girlfriend troubles, Henry is also dealing with the fact that his parents are splitting up and may also be selling their beloved second hand bookstore, Howling Books.  Everything he has ever known and loved could be about to change.

When Rachel comes back to town and ends up working at Howling Books, where Henry also works, will it be impossibly awkward or will Rachel and Henry embrace this second chance to rekindle their friendship and help each other work through their troubles?

 

LIKES

Relatable Themes.  As I’ve already mentioned, Words in Deep Blue explores the themes of friendship, love, loss, and the grieving process.  We’ve all experienced one or more of these in our lives and so I think this just makes Words in Deep Blue such an easy book to connect with.  That and Crowley does a wonderful job of exploring each of these themes in such a realistic way that you can’t help but see yourself in her characters and what they’re going through.

Realistic, Flawed Characters.  I loved both Henry and Rachel, not because they were the perfect characters, but for the exact opposite reason…because they both had their fair share of flaws and it made them so easy to relate to.  In the case of Rachel, it was easy to understand why she wanted to escape from her life for a while to work through her grief, but at the same time, it really started to frustrate me that she wouldn’t open up to any of her friends from her old town to let them know what had happened to Cal.  Everyone is constantly asking her how Cal’s doing and she just makes up lies, saying that he’s fine and living with his Dad.  How can you work through your grief when you’re carrying around this burden and adding to it by telling lies?

In much the same way, it’s easy to understand why Henry is upset about losing Amy.  They had been dating for years and had started to make serious plans for the future together, starting with a big trip around the world together.  Amy really pulls the rug out from under Henry, and he’s left there holding a non-refundable, non-transferrable airline ticket.  That said, however, it becomes increasingly frustrating the longer Henry pines over her because the more we see Amy in action, the more clear it becomes that she doesn’t love Henry, probably never did, and on top of that, is just a nasty person all the way around.  The fact that Henry started to see what we were seeing about Amy and continued to think about getting her back made me want to scream.  But at the same time, haven’t we all been there at some point?  So yeah, totally relatable.

Dual Narration.  I’m always a big fan of dual point of views and this book is no exception.  What I always like about dual narratives and especially liked about reading the alternating chapters from Rachel and Henry’s point of view was that peek behind the curtain, so to speak.  I get to see firsthand how they are actually feeling about something versus how they then choose to present themselves to others.  I loved it for both characters but really liked the added depth that it added to Rachel’s story.

The Setting.  I don’t know that I have ever loved the setting of a book more than Howling Books.  Seriously.  I want this shop to open up in my town. I’d be there everyday.  I loved the atmosphere, with the coffee shop next door with the quaint little garden between the two shops, and with its monthly book club. It was perfect in every way.  I loved the caring customer service that Henry and his family provided, especially with respect to the customer who is looking for a second hand copy of a book that he once owned and gave away and now desperately wants to get back because it belonged to his deceased wife.  Henry and his family located copy after copy of this book in hopes of locating the special one for their customer.  The amount of effort they put into trying to find that book was just so touching to see.

As if that wasn’t enough, the whole concept of the Letter Library moved me to tears.  As Henry’s dad says, it’s the heart and soul of their bookshop.  The Letter Library is a collection of books that cannot be purchased but that customers are allowed to peruse as they wish and even make notes in.  It embraces the idea that each reader brings their own experiences to a book and gives them the opportunity to leave behind their unique experience for the next reader to find.  The Letter Library also goes a step further in that some people actually leave letters, sometimes signed and sometimes anonymous, within the pages of the books.  That whole idea was just so romantic and charming.  Again, why is there not something like this in my town?

 

DISLIKES/ISSUES

I hate to even put anything in this section since it is such a lovely read, but I do have to confess that as much as I adored the concept of the Letter Library, it was hard for me to imagine some of the characters in the book actually using it, especially since they’re all carrying around smart phones and texting each other.  It was hard to reconcile the idea that the same kid who just sent someone a text would then sit down and handwrite a letter to that same exact person and put it in a book for them to read and reply to.  It didn’t really take away from my enjoyment of the book at all, but it was a niggling thought in the back of my mind every time a letter was left or retrieved.

 

FINAL THOUGHTS

Words in Deep Blue is one of those books that I wouldn’t hesitate to recommend to anyone.  It’s filled with so many relatable themes and life lessons that I think any reader could easily connect to it.  And of course, I would highly recommend it to anyone who loves books and the power of the written word because the world of Howling Books is one you’ll want to immerse yourself in.

 

RATING:  4 STARS

 

GOODREADS SYNOPSIS

Love lives between the lines.

Years ago, Rachel had a crush on Henry Jones. The day before she moved away, she tucked a love letter into his favorite book in his family’s bookshop. She waited. But Henry never came.

Now Rachel has returned to the city—and to the bookshop—to work alongside the boy she’d rather not see, if at all possible, for the rest of her life. But Rachel needs the distraction, and the escape. Her brother drowned months ago, and she can’t feel anything anymore. She can’t see her future.

Henry’s future isn’t looking too promising, either. His girlfriend dumped him. The bookstore is slipping away. And his family is breaking apart.

As Henry and Rachel work side by side—surrounded by books, watching love stories unfold, exchanging letters between the pages—they find hope in each other. Because life may be uncontrollable, even unbearable sometimes. But it’s possible that words, and love, and second chances are enough.

 

four-stars

About Cath Crowley

Cath Crowley is an award-winning author of young adult fiction. Her novels include Words in Deep Blue, Graffiti Moon, Chasing Charlie Duskin (A Little Wanting Song) and the Gracie Faltrain trilogy and Rosie Staples’ Magical Misunderstanding. Awards include The Prime Minister’s Literary Award (2011), The Ethel Turner Prize for Young Adult Literature (2011), Winner of the Indie Book Awards (2017), YALSA Best Fiction for Young Adults List (2013), Cooperative Children’s Book Centre (CCBC) Recommended Book.

Cath is also a freelance writer, editor and teacher.

Website | Facebook | Goodreads

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About Me

me

Hi, I'm Suzanne. Proofreader by day, book blogger by night, devourer of books 24/7. My reading tastes: Basically you name it, I probably like it. I read a lot of contemporary and historical, both adult and YA, and I've also been enjoying more and more fantasy lately. Hobbies include: buying and hoarding of books, rambling about books to anyone who will listen, and trying to recommend books to my family and friends whether they are readers or not - because seriously, how can you not love to read books?

BOOKSTAGRAM

🎃👻 CANDY CORN BOOK STACK 👻🎃 Happy Fri 🎃👻 CANDY CORN BOOK STACK 👻🎃

Happy Friday, book friends! I’ve been seeing candy corn stacks all over my feed today and they inspired me to create my own stack. This candy corn stack is filled with some of my recent favorite reads from @berkleyromance . Have you read any of these?

BOOKS FEATURED:

👻Wedding Dashers by Heather McBreen
🧡 Finders Keepers by Sarah Adler
💀 Happy Place by Emily Henry
🖤 No Ordinary Love by Myah Ariel
🎃If Only You by Chloe Liese
👻Book Lovers by Emily Henry 
🧡 Dust Storm by Maggie Gates
💀Addicted to You by Krista and Becca Ritchie 

❓QOTD - Are you a fan of candy corn? What’s your favorite kind of candy?

AOTD - I’ll eat a couple of pieces of candy corn but I prefer candy with chocolate and peanuts or peanut butter. My favorites are Snickers and Reese’s Peanut Butter Cups. 

👻🧡💀🖤🎃🖤💀🧡👻
Thanks for the free book & #gifted ALC @berkleyrom Thanks for the free book & #gifted ALC @berkleyromance @acebookspub #BerkleyPartner #Berkley & @prhaudio #prhaudiopartner

🩷 Review - THE KEEPER OF MAGICAL THINGS 🩷

Author - Julie Leong

Pub Date - 10/14/25

Cozy, charming, and truly magical, The Keeper of Magical Things was everything I hoped it would be and so much more. I’ve been really loving cozy fantasies this year and I think this book is my favorite one yet!

Certainty is a mage-in-training but hasn’t been having much luck with her magic.  What she is good at though is communicating with objects, especially magical ones, in order to find out what kind of magic they do.  When strange things start happening, like people being transformed into cabbages because of encounters with less important magical artifacts, Certainly and Mage Aurelia are tasked with transporting all of these magical artifacts to the village of Shpelling, which is deemed a safer place for long-term storage because it’s dull and nonmagical. 

If you enjoy a grumpy-sunshine romance, you’re going to love this one. Certainty is an absolute sweetheart who just wants to complete this task and finally earned her Mage status, while Aurelia has the grumpiest and iciest of personalities and resents that she has tasked with this menial assignment.  When Certainty and Aurelia arrive in Shpelling, they learn that the residents don’t really trust them or their magic and set out to win them over by using the magical artifacts to bring this dying village back to life. The two of them bond in the process and start having real feelings for one another, and it was all just so cute to follow. 

In addition to the grumpy-sunshine romance, there’s also friendship, found family, a journey of self discovery for both Certainty and Aurelia, and there’s even the most adorable cat dragon. It’s all just cozy perfection!

I did an immersive read and just flew through the pages because I found Natalie Naudus’ narration of the audiobook to be absolutely delightful. She captures the chemistry between Aurelia and Certainty, as well as the overall whimsical feel of the story. 

⭐️⭐️⭐️⭐️⭐️

❓QOTD - What was your last 5 star read?
👻 Let’s Get Spooky Collab 👻 Lit’s get 👻 Let’s Get Spooky Collab 👻 

Lit’s get spooky! 🎃📚👻 I opened a haunted book and now a Victorian ghost won’t stop judging my reading. Honestly? Fair. 

To see everyone’s spooky vibes check the hashtag #theseBOOkiesarehaunting 

👻🧡💀🖤🎃🖤💀🧡👻

I’m honestly such a scaredy cat so I’m not a big horror reader, but I do enjoy reading books that have spooky, haunting vibes, especially Gothic vibes or even dark academia.  Here’s a flatlay and spooky bookstack of some of my favorite reads with spooky vibes from recent years.

👻The Near Witch by V.E. Schwab
🧡 Gallant by V.E. Schwab
💀 Rebecca by Daphne du Maurier
🖤 The Hacienda by Isabel Canas
🎃Vampire of El Norte by Isabel Canas
👻Murder Road by Simone St. James
🧡 Ninth House by Leigh Bardugo
💀Middle of the Night by Riley Sager
🖤Home Before Dark by Riley Sager

❓QOTD - Have you read any of these? What’s your favorite spooky book?

👻🧡💀🖤🎃🖤💀🧡👻

This collab & more bookish community fun is hosted by the members of  @bookends.friends 🫶🏻

#bookendsfriends #bookishcollab #bookstafriends  #booklovers  #bookishcommunity #bookishfun
💍 REVIEW - MARRIAGE IS A SHORE THING 💍 Auth 💍 REVIEW - MARRIAGE IS A SHORE THING 💍

Author - Laura Langa

Pub Date - 10/10/2025

Thanks so much to @lauralangawrites for the #gifted e-arc!

Geneva is a boxing instructor who could use a little color in her life. She wears all black, lives in a beige, boring house, and because her trust has been violated in the past, she has really put some walls up and closed herself off from others. While on a trip to Vegas with some friends, she meets Van, a guy who seems like he could use a friend. Even though those walls are up, Geneva still feels her heart go out to Van and they end up hanging out together and then somehow accidentally married by an Elvis impersonator.  Even though the marriage was a mistake, Van doesn’t want to just give up on it quite yet because of a promise he made to his sister who recently passed away.  Geneva reluctantly agrees to stay married to him for 3 months and Van moves into her home in Wilks Beach. 

This book was such a fun read! I loved being back in the charming small town of Wilks Beach and I absolutely loved the black cat/golden retriever dynamic between the main characters. Van is such a sweetheart and he seems like exactly the kind of guy that Geneva both needs and deserves.  I loved the playful banter between the two of them, and I especially loved how Van was so determined to get Geneva to let her guard down and let people into her life.  I also loved that it wasn’t just Van, but that the women in the town also put in the work to make Geneva feel like she belonged.  The found family vibes were fantastic!

Highly recommend for fans of:

✨Small Town Romance
✨Black Cat/Golden Retriever
✨Found Family
✨Accidental Marriage
✨Forced Proximity
✨He Falls First
✨He takes care of her
✨No Spice/Closed Door Romance

⭐️⭐️⭐️⭐️💫

❓QOTD - What new releases have caught your eye this week?
✨25 IN 2025 CHALLENGE MINI REVIEWS ✨ ✨Revie ✨25 IN 2025 CHALLENGE MINI REVIEWS ✨

✨Review - A Breath of Snow and Ashes (Outlander #6, Book 18 - 25 in 2025)✨

Author - Diana Gabaldon

Pub Date - 9/27/2005

What impresses me most about the books in this series is that even though the books are well over 1,000 pages each and each one takes me about three weeks to read, they never feel like a chore or like they’re just packed with filler. My love for Jamie and Claire and all of the other major characters is just as strong as ever, and my interest in their journey only grows stronger the closer the timeline moves to the onset of the American Revolution.  This book was an emotional roller coaster and was also filled with twists and turns that kept me fully invested every step of the way. ⭐️⭐️⭐️⭐️⭐️

✨Review - Hooked (Never After #1, Book #19 - 25 in 2025)✨

Author - Emily McIntire

Pub Date - 9/5/2021

I have mixed feelings about this book.  It was definitely an addicting read, but I can’t decide if I really liked it or not.  This take on the Peter Pan fairytale was pretty interesting and I enjoyed the twists, but I honestly wasn’t as invested in the couple as I would like to be, and I’m not sure if fractured fairy tales are really my thing. ⭐️⭐️⭐️

✨Review - Twisted Love (Twisted #1, Book 20 - 25 in 2025)✨

Author - Ana Huang

Pub Date - 4/21/2021

This is one of those books where I enjoyed it while I was reading it but have already forgotten so much of what I read. I think it’s a me thing because I did enjoy the author’s writing style and had no complaints while I was reading. The highlights for me were that it’s a brother’s best friend, grumpy-sunshine dark romance, that both characters had bad experiences when they were children and it was interesting to follow that storyline and see how it played out, and I especially liked that the male main character is morally gray. Because I did forget most of the story within two weeks of finishing it though, I’m on the fence about whether or not to continue. ⭐️⭐️⭐️✨

❓QOTD - Have you read any of these series? If so, do you think I should try another book before I give up on the two I’m on the fence about continuing?
Thanks so much to @arndellbooks for the #gifted e- Thanks so much to @arndellbooks for the #gifted e-arc and ALC!

✨ REVIEW - A LOVE LETTER TO WHISKEY ✨

Author - Kandi Steiner

Pub Date - 10/19/21 (Indie), 10/7/25 (Arndell)

A Love Letter to Whiskey is one of those books I’ve been hearing my fellow romance readers rave about for years and I’m so glad I finally read it because it definitely lives up to all of the hype! 

This book took me on such an emotional roller coaster! It’s so full of angst and heartbreak that I had moments where I truly doubted there would be a happily ever after, but I was so invested in B and Jamie’s relationship that I was willing to follow it even if I ended up with my heart broken.

Steiner’s writing is gorgeous, and the emotions these two characters are feeling, particularly the passion and that aching sense of longing, practically jump off the page.

When I finished the book, I originally rated it 4 stars and thought it was a solid read, but that was two weeks ago and I haven’t stopped thinking about these characters and how truly painful it can be to meet the right person at the wrong time.  A story that resonates like that is definitely a five star read! 

I did an immersive read with the e-book and audiobook. The audiobook is narrated by Audrey Obeyn and Edward Black and they both perfectly captured the angst, the tension, and the heartbreak these characters experience as well as their all consuming love for one another.  The story is addicting and the audiobook truly elevates the reading experience.

Perfect for Fans of:

Friends to Lovers
Second Chances
Angsty, Emotional Reads
It’s Always Been You
Right Person, Wrong Time
Slow Burn
Forced Proximity

⭐️⭐️⭐️⭐️⭐️

❓QOTD - Have you ever changed your mind about a rating you gave a book?  Or what are you reading this weekend?
🩵Friday Favorite - Story of My Life 🩵 Thank 🩵Friday Favorite - Story of My Life 🩵

Thanks so much to @read_bloom and @scorelucy for the #gifted copy and for the invitation to be part of Lucy’s Story Lake Squad! ♥

As we get closer and closer to the end of 2025 (How the heck is it October already?!), I start reflecting on my favorite reads of the year and which books will probably end up on my Best of 2025 list. 

When I think about romance books, and specifically about romcoms, Lucy Score’s Story of My Life is at the top of that favorites list. I first read it back in April and I still think about Hazel and Cam and the town of Story Lake all the time. 

As you can tell from my photo, I’m a huge Lucy Score fan anyway, but Story of My Life quickly became my favorite book of hers. It’s both heartwarming and hilarious and filled with so many of my favorite tropes. 

It also features a main character who is a romance author looking for inspiration for her latest book, as well as a sexy contractor who becomes that inspiration. That was a scenario that I just couldn’t get enough of, and which lent itself to so many fun moments. 

When it first came out, I remember it being described as Gilmore Girls meets Schitt’s Creek, and I think that description is so perfect. The story is filled with cozy, small town vibes, a grumpy-sunshine couple with incredible chemistry and top notch banter, a full cast of lovable quirky characters, hilarious town hall meetings, adorable scene-stealing animals, and over-the-top romcom antics that will have you absolutely cackling.

Story of My Life is the first book in the Story Lake series, and I can’t wait to continue the series and get to know more of the residents from this charming small town!

I highly recommend Story of My Life to anyone who enjoys:

💙Spicy Rom-Coms
🩵Bookish Main Characters
💙Small Town Romance
🩵Grumpy - Sunshine
💙Forced Proximity
🩵Found Family

❓QOTD - What tropes immediately make you want to pick up a book?
🎧 AUDIOBOOK MINI REVIEWS 🎧 Thanks to @macmi 🎧 AUDIOBOOK MINI REVIEWS 🎧

Thanks to @macmillan.audio #macaudio2025 for the gifted ALCs

OVERDUE by Stephanie Perkins

Pub Date - 10/7/25

Overdue is a slow burn romance that features two librarians, Macon and Ingrid. I love books that feature bookish characters and I did enjoy the chemistry between Macon and Ingrid, but the slow burn was a little too slow for me. I actually found myself more invested in Ingrid’s very relatable personal journey than in the romance.  Ingrid’s journey was one of growth and self discovery and I loved watching her move on from a relationship that wasn’t working and also branch out and open her own Indie bookstore.  Eva Kaminsky narrates and I very much enjoyed her narration, especially her portrayal of Ingrid. ⭐️⭐️⭐️💫

THE SCORE by Elle Kennedy (#17 for my 25 in 2025 challenge, purchased by me)

Pub Date - 1/11/16

I’ve really been enjoying the Off-Campus series and The Score is another bingeable installment. I loved the dynamic between Dean and Allie and it was just so much fun watching their relationship evolve over time, especially since Dean has historically been such a ladies’ man.  It’s a spicy romance and the spice was definitely spicing, but the story also had some nice emotional depth. Savannah Peachwood & Andrew Eiden narrate and they are fantastic, especially when it comes to delivering Kennedy’s banter. So fun! ⭐️⭐️⭐️⭐️

GAME ON by Ki Stephens

Pub Date - 9/9/25

Game On is a spicy college sports romance that features Ella, a cheerleader from England who is spending a year at Whitland University in Nashville as part of their elite cheering squad, and Hudson, Whitland’s star quarterback. I enjoyed the chemistry between Ella and Hudson, and I always enjoy a good “He Falls First” story. There was some drama that I wasn’t entirely sold on, but overall, this was a fun, fast-paced read for me that I binged in a couple of days.  Jane Grove and Charlie Valentine narrate and do a wonderful job of capturing that chemistry between Ella and Hudson. ⭐️⭐️⭐️

❓QOTD - Describe your current read in one sentence.
🩷 PINK WEDNESDAY 🩷 On Wednesdays, we post p 🩷 PINK WEDNESDAY 🩷

On Wednesdays, we post pink books! 

Hey book friends, I hope your week is going well. I needed an excuse to show off my cute pink ghosts, so I figured Pink Wednesday is as good an excuse as any other. 👻

I also wanted to do a fall-ish, spooky season assortment of books but ran out of books with pink in them so it kind of went off the rails and is now mainly just a mix of recent pink reads I loved and others that are on my TBR.

Books Featured:

Ready or Not by Cara Bastone (TBR)
Uncharmed by Lucy Jane Wood
A Witch’s Guide to Magical Innkeeping by Sangu Mandanna
The Seven Year Itch by Amy Daws (TBR)
The Devil She Knows by Alexandria Bellefleur (TBR)
Fall into Temptation by Lucy Score

❓QOTD - Do you try to plan your posts for the week (or month) in advance or do you mostly wing it? 

AOTD - I usually have a rough outline of what I want to post each week, but I do wing it if I’m in the mood to post something different at the last minute.  This post was supposed to be another review but I ran out of steam and didn’t feel like writing another one. 😅
Thanks for the free book @berkleyromance #berkleyp Thanks for the free book @berkleyromance #berkleypartner #Berkley

🤠 Review - DUST STORM (Griffith Brothers #1) 🤠

Author - Maggie Gates

Pub Date - 10/7/25

I’m a sucker for a good spicy, single dad romance and Dust Storm by Maggie Gates just completely stole my heart!

The story follows Cassandra, a consultant from NYC whose career takes a hit when one of her clients makes false accusations against her.  To do damage control, Cassandra’s firm exiles her to a ranch in Texas to do work for the Griffiths, another client of theirs.  Cassandra is angry and frustrated but reluctantly agrees to go. 

Christian Griffith is a widower and a single dad of two tween girls.  He is totally focused on being the best possible dad he can be to his girls, even growing out his own hair so that he can practice doing the hairstyles that his daughters want to wear.  Christian also runs the ranch where Cassandra has been sent.  The sparks fly between Cassandra and Christian from the moment they meet, and I was so here for it!  They are opposites in almost every way and really get under each other’s skin.  Cassandra is career-driven and headstrong, while Christian is old-fashioned in many ways and always cool-headed.  At first it seems like they may actually drive one another up the wall, but as with any good forced proximity story, close quarters really helps them to better see and understand one another.

I adored these characters! At first Cassandra comes across as abrasive, but it’s easy to understand why especially as we learn more about her situation. I also just loved how much she grows as a person the more time she spends on the ranch, and specifically the more time she spends around Christian and his daughters. Christian is a total swoonworthy single dad and the scenes where he spends quality time doing his daughters’ hair every morning just melted my heart.  His daughters were also adorable and it was so fun to watch them win over Cassandra, who swears she doesn’t like kids. 

I just loved this book and highly recommend it for fans of:

🤠Single Dad
🤠Forced Proximity
🤠Cowboy Romance
🤠Opposites Attract

⭐️⭐️⭐️⭐️💫

❓QOTD - Do you prefer city life or rural life?
Thanks for the free book @berkleyromance @acebooks Thanks for the free book @berkleyromance @acebookspub #berkleypartner #Berkley

🐦‍⬛ Review - HOLLOW 🐦‍⬛

Author - Karina Halle

Pub Date - 10/7/2025

When I was growing up, The Legend of Sleepy Hollow was one of my favorite spooky stories so I couldn’t resist diving into this spicy retelling to see a new twist on my old favorite.  And it did not disappoint. I devoured this book! 

Hollow is not only a Legend of Sleepy Hollow retelling. It’s also part dark academia and part why-choose romance with major Gothic vibes.  It follows Kat Van Tassel, a young woman who knows she possesses magical abilities but has been told by her parents to hide her magic at all costs.

Her parents have also arranged things so that Kat will marry her childhood best friend, Brom Bones, when she is of age.  When Brom disappears from Sleepy Hollow and Kat’s father dies, that plan goes out the window and Kat’s mother enrolls her at the secretive academy that her family runs.  It is here Kat meets and falls for her new and much older professor, Ichabod Crane. Crane is fascinated by dark magic and the occult, and he also expands Kat’s horizons when it comes to sex. 

Brom suddenly reappears as a student at the school, but he is not the Brom Kat grew up with. He’s moody and prone to angry outbursts, and not only that, but his reappearance coincides with several horrific decapitations that have taken place in Sleepy Hollow, which are believed to be the work of the Headless Horseman.  Brom also shares a secret past with Ichabod but doesn’t seem to remember it.

Kat and Ichabod set out to figure out what is going on and how it relates to Brom, and the three of them end up intertwined in a dangerous game of dark magic and desire. 

This book was so good! I thought the chemistry between Kat, Ichabod & Brom was captivating, & I loved all of the spooky Gothic vibes that surrounded Sleepy Hollow, the academy with its dark magic, as well as the terrifying lore of the Headless Horseman. 

If you like spicy romance, dark academia, & Gothic vibes, Hollow is the perfect spooky season read for you!

⭐️⭐️⭐️⭐️ 💫

❓QOTD - Favorite retelling? If you don’t read them, what was your last 5 star read?
🍁 OCTOBER HOPEFULS 🍁 Happy Tuesday, book fr 🍁 OCTOBER HOPEFULS 🍁

Happy Tuesday, book friends! I hope your week is off to a good start and that you’ve already had some great reads this month.  I’m a few days late sharing the books I’m hoping to read this month, but I think I’ve got a pretty good line up and I’ve already finished a couple of these so be on the look out for my reviews. 

There are several in my hopefuls list that were gifted, so I’ve tagged those publishers. Thanks so much to all of them for their generosity! ♥

📚 Physical Copies: 📚

Hollow by Karina Halle (Finished, review to come soon)
The Cinnamon Bun Bookstore by Laurie Gilmore
Fall I Want by Lyra Parish
The Keeper of Magical Things by Julie Leong
Dead & Breakfast by Kat Hillis and Rosiee Thor (Currently reading)
Witches of Dubious Origin by Jenn McKinlay
The Devil She Knows by Alexandria Bellefleur
Last on the List by Amy Daws
Rewitched by Lucy Jane Wood
Mate by Ali Hazelwood
Dust Storm by Maggie Gates (Finished, review to come soon)
Backslide by Nora Dahlia
Anne of Avenue A by Emily Harding and Audrey Bellezza
Never Over by Claire Gilmore
Gideon the Ninth by Tamsyn Muir (25 in 2025 book)
Twisted Love by Ana Huang (25 in 2025 book)
The Italian Secret by Tara Moss

🎧📱E-ARCs/ALCs: 📱🎧

Play Nice by Rachel Harrison (Finished, review to come soon)
The Bone Thief by Vanessa Lillie
Yours for the Season by Emily Stone

❓QOTD - What are some books you’re hoping to read in October? Do we have any in common?
Thanks for the free e-book & #gifted ALC @berkleyp Thanks for the free e-book & #gifted ALC @berkleypub @acebookspub #BerkleyPartner #Berkley & @prhaudio #prhaudiopartner

🔥 Review - COLIN GETS PROMOTED AND DOOMS THE WORLD 🔥

Author - Mark Waddell

Pub Date - 10/7/2025

Colin is a low-level employee at Dark Enterprises, a Hell-like corporation that uses questionable methods to solve many of the world’s most difficult problems. Colin spends most of his days getting bullied by his coworkers and desperately wants a promotion and the power that he thinks comes along with it.  To get said promotion, he makes a deal with a mysterious shadowy figure, not realizing at the time that making this deal unleashes an ancient evil capable of bringing about the end of the world. No worries though!  Colin has a great plan. Since no one knows he’s the one who has doomed the world, he’ll just figure out a way to recapture the evil he has unleashed so that he can take credit for saving the world, and in the process, really impress his bosses. What could possibly go wrong?

This was such a fun read and just an all around wild ride!  Colin is this fascinating mix of underdog and anti-hero.  So many of his actions are questionable and completely motivated by self interest and getting revenge against those who have bullied him, and every time there’s a choice to be made, he seems to choose wrong, yet you really can’t help but root for him to pull off his crazy plan. 

The worldbuilding is also phenomenal! Dark Enterprises is such a frightening place. There are monsters who eat people living in the stairwells and being terminated is often done quite literally with a “firing squad.” I couldn’t figure out for the life of me why Colin even wanted to work there, but I was fascinated by the place every time he stepped foot inside or visited a different floor of the mysterious building. 

I read the e-book and listened to the audiobook, which was narrated by Pete Cross.  If you’re into audiobooks, I highly recommend giving this one a listen because Cross is absolutely hilarious and had me laughing out loud even when destruction and death is everywhere. 

⭐️⭐️⭐️⭐️

❓QOTD - What was your first read of October? How was it?
📚 MESSY MONDAY - SEPTEMBER WRAP-UP 📚 Hey bo 📚 MESSY MONDAY - SEPTEMBER WRAP-UP 📚

Hey book friends! I hope your October is off to a great start. Was September a good reading month for you? 

I had another really solid reading month.  I was able to finish 24 books, including almost all of the books from my list of September hopefuls, 2 more books from my 25 in 2025 challenge, and a couple of other books that have been on my physical TBR for a while. 

My photo features all of the physical copies I read, but I also read a few e-arcs and listened to several audiobooks as well. I am somewhat behind on posting reviews, but will be playing catch up this week so you can expect to see quite a few review posts from me in the upcoming days.

❓QOTD:  How was your reading month? What were some of your favorite September reads?

❤️ 5 STARS ❤️

A Breath of Snow and Ashes (Outlander #6) by Diana Gabaldon (25 in 2025 book, review to come)
Wild Side by Elsie Silver (Review to come)

🧡 4.5 STARS 🧡

It Had to be Him by Adib Khorram
Pitcher Perfect by Tessa Bailey
We Met Like This by Kasie West
The Heartbreak Hotel by Ellen O’Clover
Roadtrip with a Vampire by Jenna Levine

💛 4 STARS 💛

A Love Letter to Whiskey by Kandi Steiner (Review coming this week)
Colin Gets Promoted and Dooms the World by Mark Waddell (Review coming this week)
Soul Searching by Lyla Sage
Ghost Business by Jen DeLuca
Love Walked In by Sarah Chamberlain
People Watching by Hannah Bonam-Young
Obsession Falls by Claire Kingsley
The Princess and the P.I. by Nikki Payne
Blood Sisters by Vanessa Lillie (Review to come)
Uncharmed by Lucy Jane Wood
A Hexcellent Chance to Fall in Love by Ann Rose

💚 3.5 STARS 💚

Storms and Secrets by Claire Kingsley
Overdue by Stephanie Perkins (Review to come)

💙 3 STARS 💙

Hooked by Emily McIntire (25 in 2025 book, review to come)
Game On by Ki Stephens (Review to come)

💜 2 STARS 💜

NONE

1 STAR or DNFs

NONE
Thanks for the #gifted ALC @prhaudio #prhaudiopart Thanks for the #gifted ALC @prhaudio #prhaudiopartner

👻🎧 Audiobook Review - SOUL SEARCHING 🎧👻

Author - Lyla Sage

Pub Date - 9/30/25

If you’re a small town romance fan, Lyla Sage’s new book Soul Searching is the perfect spooky season read for you! It has all of the cozy, small town charm of her popular Rebel Blue Ranch series, but with a ghostly twist added into the mix.

Collins Cartwright has reluctantly returned home to Sweetwater Peak after unexpectedly losing her job as a photographer. She says she’s there to help her parents with their antique shop, but Collins is also really just trying to figure out what comes next for her.  She’s also feeling off kilter because she has always been able to communicate with ghosts, but now suddenly she can only see them, not actually connect with them.  Collins ends up renting a room from Brady Cooper, the new guy in town who happens to have a spare room above his upholstery shop. 

I love a good forced proximity story, and this one doesn’t disappoint, especially since this is also a black cat/golden retriever romance. The sparks fly between Collins and Brady from the moment they first meet and things only get more interesting once they’re under the same roof.  I especially enjoyed the paranormal element as there are meddling ghosts who are trying to push the two of them together.  The romance itself is a slow burn, as both characters are working on themselves and growing, but the payoff is spicy and worth the wait. There are also plenty of fun moments along the way so the overall read is just such a good time.

Samantha Brentmoor and Jason Clarke narrate the audiobook and these two are truly the dynamic duo when it comes to narrating romance audiobooks.  They made these characters and their chemistry just leap off the page for me, and I binged the whole audiobook in a day. 

⭐️⭐️⭐️⭐️

❓QOTD - What’s a trope you’ve been enjoying lately?
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