• Link to X
  • Link to Facebook
  • Link to Pinterest
  • Link to Instagram
The Bookish Libra
  • Home
  • Review Archive
    • Reviews by Author
    • Reviews by Genre
  • Review Policy
    • Review Policy
    • Review Ratings System
  • About Me
    • Contact Me
  • Click to open the search input field Click to open the search input field Search
  • Menu Menu
  • book blog
Previous Previous Previous Next Next Next
12
top ten tuesday

Top 10 Underrated Books I Enjoyed Reading

July 5, 2016/6 Comments/by Suzanne

top ten tuesday

Top Ten Tuesday is a fun weekly meme hosted by The Broke and the Bookish. This week’s topic is Top Ten Books We Enjoyed That Have Under 2000 Ratings On Goodreads.

One thing this week’s topic taught me is that I don’t read nearly enough underrated books, so I’m very excited to do a little blog hopping after work to see what others are posting so as to expand my reading horizons.

 

Top Ten Tuesday: Top 10 Underrated Books to add to your TBR List


1. Annapurna by Sharr White

03 I don’t know if drama in general is underrated on Goodreads or if Sharr White himself is because I’ve read two wonderful plays by him that both have less than 2,000 reviews. For those unfamiliar with Mr. White, he is a master at writing powerful roles for women. Even if you don’t read the plays, definitely don’t hesitate to check them out on stage. Brilliant stuff!

Synopsis from Goodreads: “Twenty years ago, Emma walked out on her husband, cowboy-poet Ulysses, in the middle of the night. Now hearing he’s in dire straits, she tracks him down in the wilds of Colorado to a filthy trailer, where he’s hooked to an oxygen tank and cooking sausage in the buff. Their reunion, charged by rage and compassion, brings back the worst and best of their former bond.”

2. A Stranger in the Kingdom by Howard Frank Mosher

04 It has been a number of years since I read this so I don’t remember much about it other than that it reminded me a lot of To Kill a Mockingbird because of the themes it tackled.

Synopsis from Goodreads: Howard Frank Mosher has earned both critical acclaim and a wide readership for his vivid historical portraits of northern New England residents in his fictional Kingdom County, Vermont. A Stranger in the Kingdom tells the unforgettable story of a brutal murder in a small town and the devastating events that follow. The town’s new preacher, a black man, finds himself on trial more for who he is than for what he might have done in this powerful drama of passion, prejudice, and innocence suddenly lost . . . and perhaps found again.

3. The Memory of Things by Gae Polisner

01 The Memory of Things actually hasn’t been published yet, so I’m kind of cheating a bit here because I think this should be on everyone’s radar for when it does come out in September. I just recently read it and thought it was such a moving and poignant read.

Synopsis from Goodreads: “The powerful story of two teenagers finding friendship, comfort, and first love in the days following 9/11 as their fractured city tries to put itself back together.” Read More…

4. Burying the Honeysuckle Girls by Emily Carpenter

05 This is a suspenseful page turner and a recent release that I’m frankly surprised hasn’t wracked up anymore reviews than it has.

Synopsis from Goodreads: Althea Bell is still heartbroken by her mother’s tragic, premature death—and tormented by the last, frantic words she whispered into young Althea’s ear: Wait for her. For the honeysuckle girl. She’ll find you, I think, but if she doesn’t, you find her. Adrift ever since, Althea is now fresh out of rehab and returning to her family home in Mobile, Alabama, determined to reconnect with her estranged, ailing father. While Althea doesn’t expect him, or her politically ambitious brother, to welcome her with open arms, she’s not prepared for the chilling revelation of a grim, long-buried family secret. Fragile and desperate, Althea escapes with an old flame to uncover the truth about her lineage. Drawn deeper into her ancestors’ lives, Althea begins to unearth their disturbing history…and the part she’s meant to play in it. You can also read my review HERE.

5. All the Missing Girls by Megan Miranda

06 This book is a fairly recent release that, like Burying the Honeysuckle Girls, so far hasn’t gotten as much attention as I thought it would have. It reminded me a lot of Gone Girl and to The Girl on the Train, except with the added twist that it’s told in reverse.

Synopsis from Goodreads: “Like the spellbinding psychological suspense in The Girl on the Train and Luckiest Girl Alive, Megan Miranda’s novel is a nail-biting, breathtaking story about the disappearances of two young women—a decade apart—told in reverse.

It’s been ten years since Nicolette Farrell left her rural hometown after her best friend, Corinne, disappeared from Cooley Ridge without a trace. Back again to tie up loose ends and care for her ailing father, Nic is soon plunged into a shocking drama that reawakens Corinne’s case and breaks open old wounds long since stitched.” Read more…
Read more

https://thebookishlibra.com/wp-content/uploads/2016/06/toptentuesday.png 864 1600 Suzanne http://thebookishlibra.com/wp-content/uploads/2018/06/trimmed-Copy-of-Bookish-Logo-copy.png Suzanne2016-07-05 12:35:472016-07-05 12:35:47Top 10 Underrated Books I Enjoyed Reading
air awakens

Book Review – Air Awakens by Elise Kova

July 3, 2016/2 Comments/by Suzanne
Book Review – Air Awakens by Elise KovaAir Awakens (Air Awakens, #1) by Elise Kova
four-half-stars
Published by Silver Wing Press on August 27th 2015
Genres: Fantasy, Young Adult Fiction
Pages: 377
Amazon
Goodreads

FTC Disclosure: I received a complimentary copy of this book from the publisher via Goodreads. All opinions are my own.

Goodreads Synopsis:

A library apprentice, a sorcerer prince, and an unbreakable magic bond…

The Solaris Empire is one conquest away from uniting the continent, and the rare elemental magic sleeping in seventeen-year-old library apprentice Vhalla Yarl could shift the tides of war.

Vhalla has always been taught to fear the Tower of Sorcerers, a mysterious magic society, and has been happy in her quiet world of books. But after she unknowingly saves the life of one of the most powerful sorcerers of them all—the Crown Prince Aldrik—she finds herself enticed into his world. Now she must decide her future: Embrace her sorcery and leave the life she’s known, or eradicate her magic and remain as she’s always been. And with powerful forces lurking in the shadows, Vhalla’s indecision could cost her more than she ever imagined.

My Review:

I went into Air Awakens not at all sure of what to expect. I had never heard of the series or the author Elise Kova before and had only purchased the book because it was the topic of an upcoming Books Are My Fandom chat. Sadly, my schedule did not allow me to finish the book in time to participate in the chat, but since then, I have finished reading Air Awakens. So what did I think of it? What a wonderful read this turned out to be! I was thoroughly entertained from beginning to end. I may not have heard of her before, but Elise Kova is on my radar now and I really cannot wait to read more of her books!

What I Loved:

Fascinating Main Characters:

Vhalla: What’s not to love about a socially awkward bookworm protagonist who learns she has magical powers? As soon as I read the line “Vhalla wasn’t exactly good at relationships as she preferred to spend more time with books than people,” that instantly made her a character I could relate to and I always prefer books where I make that kind of connection with the protagonist.

I also found her overall struggle very compelling. The search for identity and trying to figure out one’s place in the world is one of those universal themes that we can all relate to. In Vhalla’s case, the search for identity is compounded further by the fact that she has been told all of her life that magic is bad, something to be avoided and shunned. To embrace her magic abilities is to fly in the face of everything that she and her family and friends have ever known. How will those she loves react if she becomes a sorceress? As Vhalla says, “she would be eighteen and had never made a decision for herself that mattered.” And now she has to make a decision that could change the course of her entire life!

Aldrik – Aldrik is perhaps one of the most interesting characters in the book. Even though he is the Crown Prince, he is still basically the black sheep of the royal family because of the stigma associated with magic. He’s dark and brooding and can also be condescending and a bit obnoxious. To further cloak him in mystery, throughout the kingdom, there are many rumors swirling around about terrible things he has supposedly done with his magic. Part of the fun of Air Awakens is actually trying to unravel the mystery of who Aldrik really is.

What you realize, especially once he meets and starts to interact with Vhalla, is that there is a lot more to Aldrik than meets the eye. As a sorcerer himself, Aldrik of course has his own motives for wanting Vhalla to embrace her magical abilities and at first, he forges full speed ahead with his agenda. The trouble Aldrik encounters, however, is that when he’s with Vhalla, he always seems to say and do the wrong thing, even endangering her life at one point because he acts recklessly in pursuit of his goal. Aldrik is horrified by his own actions and when he goes to Vhalla to apologize, he starts to let his guard down and we see a whole different side of him – a side that makes him much more endearing both to Vhalla and to the reader.

Baldair – Baldair, or the Heartbreaker Prince, is basically the polar opposite of his brother, Aldrik. Where Aldrik is dark and brooding, Baldair is golden and a huge flirt. Where dark rumors about magic surround Aldrik, gossip about romantic conquests surround the royal family’s golden boy. On the surface Baldair appears to be all fluff and little substance, but yet something about his relationship with his brother really intrigues me. I can’t tell exactly where they stand with one another and that adds a layer of complexity to everything Baldair does, especially when it comes to Vhalla, whom he really has no reason to interact with at all, yet goes out of his way to do so. Does he like Vhalla? Is he being nice to her to get under his brother’s skin? Is there more to it than that? I’m hesitant to boil it down to just being a love triangle, because it seems like something more is going there. I’m hoping future books in the series will unfold the exact nature of the relationship.
Read more

four-half-stars

About Elise Kova

Elise Kova has always had a profound love of fantastical worlds. Somehow, she managed to focus on the real world long enough to graduate with a Master’s in Business Administration before crawling back under her favorite writing blanket to conceptualize her next magic system. She currently lives in St. Petersburg, Florida, and when she s not writing can be found playing video games, watching anime, or talking with readers on social media. She is the author of the Air Awakens Series as well as the upcoming Loom Saga (Keymaster, 2017).

Website | Facebook

https://thebookishlibra.com/wp-content/uploads/2016/07/air-awakens.jpg 1059 700 Suzanne http://thebookishlibra.com/wp-content/uploads/2018/06/trimmed-Copy-of-Bookish-Logo-copy.png Suzanne2016-07-03 09:50:402016-07-05 21:30:03Book Review – Air Awakens by Elise Kova
top ten tuesday

Top Ten Tuesday: Top 10 Books on My Summer TBR List

June 28, 2016/8 Comments/by Suzanne

top ten tuesday

Top Ten Tuesday is a fun weekly meme hosted by The Broke and the Bookish. This week is “FREEBIE WEEK — topic of your choice or go back and do one you missed!” This is my first week participating so I’m choosing to go back and do an earlier top 10 list, so without further ado, here’s my first Top Ten Tuesday!

 

Top Ten Tuesday: Top 10 Books on My Summer TBR List


A Darker Shade final for Irene 02 03 04 05 06 07 08 09 10
1. A Darker Shade of Magic by V. E. Schwab – Nearly everyone I follow has given this one rave reviews, plus I’m kind of intrigued by the idea of London parallel universe style, so I’m super excited to give it a read this summer.

2. Red Rising by Pierce Brown – Back when I read Red Queen, I remember a lot of reviews saying that it was similar to Red Rising but that Red Rising was the superior series. I’ve decided I want to see for myself which is better.

3. A Court of Thorns and Roses by Sarah J. Maas -Again, major rave reviews for this series and the blurb on Goodreads sold me as soon as it mentioned Beauty and the Beast!

4. My Brilliant Friend by Elena Ferrante – After starting out with so many fantasy novels, I like to switch gears and read something a little different. I chose this one because I love novels that focus on the bonds of friendship and also because it’s set in Italy and I went there last year and fell in love with the country.

5. Modern Lovers by Emma Straub – This one appeals to me because of all of the positive buzz it has gotten and also when I read the blurb on Goodreads, it sounded like a book I would be able to relate to: “Straub packs wisdom and insight and humor together in a satisfying book about neighbors and nosiness, ambition and pleasure, the excitement of youth, the shock of middle age, and the fact that our passions—be they food, or friendship, or music—never go away, they just evolve and grow along with us.”

6. A Storm of Swords, Game of Thrones # 3, by George R. R. Martin – As much as I enjoy the Game of Thrones series, I can only tackle one of these behemoths a year and it’s that time again…

7. A Little Life by Hanya Yanagihara – The cover of this novel is what initially drew me in – the look of pain on that man’s face. The synopsis sounds pretty compelling as well: “When four classmates from a small Massachusetts college move to New York to make their way, they’re broke, adrift, and buoyed only by their friendship and ambition. There is kind, handsome Willem, an aspiring actor; JB, a quick-witted, sometimes cruel Brooklyn-born painter seeking entry to the art world; Malcolm, a frustrated architect at a prominent firm; and withdrawn, brilliant, enigmatic Jude, who serves as their center of gravity. Over the decades, their relationships deepen and darken, tinged by addiction, success, and pride. Yet their greatest challenge, each comes to realize, is Jude himself, by midlife a terrifyingly talented litigator yet an increasingly broken man, his mind and body scarred by an unspeakable childhood, and haunted by what he fears is a degree of trauma that he’ll not only be unable to overcome—but that will define his life forever.”

8. Girls on Fire by Robin Wasserman – The reviews I’ve read on this book have been somewhat mixed, but I’m still intrigued and want to give it a shot. From Goodreads: “Girls on Fire tells the story of Hannah and Lacey and their obsessive teenage female friendship so passionately violent it bloodies the very sunset its protagonists insist on riding into, together, at any cost.”

9. Your Heart is a Muscle the Size of a Fist by Sunil Yapa – This book was on a lot of the Must Read lists at the beginning of the year. Although it isn’t my usual reading fare, it sounded very interesting so I entered a Goodreads giveaway and won a copy. I’m excited to give it a try and see if it lives up to the hype. From Goodreads: “The Flamethrowers meets Let the Great World Spin in this debut novel set amid the heated conflict of Seattle’s 1999 WTO protests.”

10. Fire Falling, Air Awakens # 2, by Elise Kova – I just started the Air Awakens series this week and am already so in love with it that the second book in the series bumped another TBR book from my top 10 list.

https://thebookishlibra.com/wp-content/uploads/2016/06/toptentuesday.png 864 1600 Suzanne http://thebookishlibra.com/wp-content/uploads/2018/06/trimmed-Copy-of-Bookish-Logo-copy.png Suzanne2016-06-28 09:36:152016-06-28 09:36:15Top Ten Tuesday: Top 10 Books on My Summer TBR List
Page 347 of 352«‹345346347348349›»

Follow Me on Social Media

  • Instagram
  • Facebook
  • Goodreads

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?
Load More... Follow on Instagram

Other Places to Follow Me

Follow The Bookish Libra on WordPress.com

Follow

Recent Book Reviews

The Co-op by Perfect Fit by Holding the Reins (Silver Pines Ranch, #1) by Fragile Sanctuary by Catherine CowlesA Very Bad Thing by The Hitchcock Hotel by Under Loch and Key by Lana FergusonHer Knight at the Museum by Bryn DonovanThe Boyfriend by Original Twin by

Giveaways

Stay tuned for my next giveaway!

Professional Reader

Reviews Published50 Book Reviews
Professional Reader80%
 

Currently Reading

Suzanne (The Bookish Libra)'s bookshelf: currently-reading

The Girl Who Escaped from Auschwitz
The Girl Who Escaped from Auschwitz
by Ellie Midwood
tagged: currently-reading
A Reaper at the Gates
A Reaper at the Gates
by Sabaa Tahir
tagged: currently-reading
Alexander Hamilton
Alexander Hamilton
by Ron Chernow
tagged: currently-reading

goodreads.com

Goodreads Challenge

2024 Reading Challenge

2024 Reading Challenge
Suzanne (The Bookish Libra) has read 11 books toward her goal of 175 books.
hide
11 of 175 (6%)
view books

2024 Goal – Read More Books From My Own Shelves

I have read 3 books from my bookshelves so far this year. My goal is to read at least 70.

4 %

Categories

  • Audiobook Review (2)
  • Author Interviews (1)
  • Blog Tours (48)
  • Bookish Tags and Memes (347)
  • Challenges and Readathons (19)
  • Discussion Posts and Lists (46)
  • Giveaways (9)
  • Personal (3)
  • Reviews (624)
  • Uncategorized (2)

Meta

  • Log in
  • Entries feed
  • Comments feed
  • WordPress.org

Privacy Policy

View Our Privacy Policy, last updated May 21, 2018.

Categories

  • Audiobook Review
  • Author Interviews
  • Blog Tours
  • Bookish Tags and Memes
  • Challenges and Readathons
  • Discussion Posts and Lists
  • Giveaways
  • Personal
  • Reviews
  • Uncategorized

Archives

SEARCH

Search Search
© 2016-2025 - The Bookish Libra - powered by Enfold WordPress Theme
Scroll to top Scroll to top Scroll to top

This site uses cookies. By continuing to browse the site, you are agreeing to our use of cookies and our privacy policy.

OKLearn more

Cookie and Privacy Settings



How we use cookies

We may request cookies to be set on your device. We use cookies to let us know when you visit our websites, how you interact with us, to enrich your user experience, and to customize your relationship with our website.

Click on the different category headings to find out more. You can also change some of your preferences. Note that blocking some types of cookies may impact your experience on our websites and the services we are able to offer.

Essential Website Cookies

These cookies are strictly necessary to provide you with services available through our website and to use some of its features.

Because these cookies are strictly necessary to deliver the website, refusing them will have impact how our site functions. You always can block or delete cookies by changing your browser settings and force blocking all cookies on this website. But this will always prompt you to accept/refuse cookies when revisiting our site.

We fully respect if you want to refuse cookies but to avoid asking you again and again kindly allow us to store a cookie for that. You are free to opt out any time or opt in for other cookies to get a better experience. If you refuse cookies we will remove all set cookies in our domain.

We provide you with a list of stored cookies on your computer in our domain so you can check what we stored. Due to security reasons we are not able to show or modify cookies from other domains. You can check these in your browser security settings.

Other external services

We also use different external services like Google Webfonts, Google Maps, and external Video providers. Since these providers may collect personal data like your IP address we allow you to block them here. Please be aware that this might heavily reduce the functionality and appearance of our site. Changes will take effect once you reload the page.

Google Webfont Settings:

Google Map Settings:

Google reCaptcha Settings:

Vimeo and Youtube video embeds:

Privacy Policy

You can read about our cookies and privacy settings in detail on our Privacy Policy Page.

Privacy Policy
Accept settingsHide notification only