Category: Books

Fiction Friday: Book Review- Ghosted by Emily Barr

Ghosted by Emily Barr

My rating: 5 of 5 stars


I received a review copy of this book on Netgalley. This book hurt me and I was so not ready.
When Ariel’s toxic, hot-tempered father turns his back on their family, Ariel retreats to an abandoned store-room in a corner of the mall. But then she encounters Joe and the two of them exchange numbers.
Joe is on his way to France and he knows he should be excited but he just feels dread.
Ariel tries to text Joe but it turns out that his number is disconnected. Hurt, Ariel goes back to where she met him. There he is, with no memory of her or their meeting. And he still claims that he is leaving to France that afternoon.
Soon Ariel and Joe realize that Joe is reliving the same day over and over. Ariel promises to solve the mystery of Joe but eventually starts to turn her back on her reality in order to fix Joe’s.
I actually have no words to adequately describe this book. It was engaging, it was gripping, it was emotional. IT WAS EVERYTHING!
This book was alot but in the best way possible.
Ariel and Joe are adorable and by the end of the book, I was ugly-crying. If you want a book that is thrilling and will not let you go, I recommend this one.



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“This addictive enemies-to-lovers romance…captures both characters’ intense emotions and undeniable chemistry. It’s sure to have readers hooked.” —Publishers Weekly

Ruthless Rival, an all-new addictive and emotional romance from Wall Street Journal and USA Today bestselling author L.J. Shen is now live!

From Wall Street Journal bestselling author L.J. Shen comes an enemies-to-lovers romance about the fine line between seeking revenge and finding love.

When she was young, Arya Roth became best friends with her housekeeper’s son. Soon, friendship turned to young love, and when Arya dared him to kiss her, a chain reaction of disastrous events led to the boy being sent away and out of Arya’s life.

Now, two decades later, Arya is an on-the-rise publicist with her beloved father as one of her biggest clients. So when her father is sued by a former employee, Arya sets out to prove that her father is not the monster he is accused of being. The only problem is the attorney who is determined to destroy her father’s good name. Christian Miller is charming, ambitious, and devilishly good looking, and Arya has no idea he is that same boy who kissed her all those years ago.

Past and present collide as Arya falls hard for Christian. But when she finds out who he really is and about his obsession with getting revenge on her father, can she choose love over family?

Fall in love today!
Amazon: https://amzn.to/3N3FScV
Amazon Worldwide: http://mybook.to/RuthlessRivalLJ
Amazon Paperback: https://amzn.to/3tlAkmf
Audiobook: https://amzn.to/3N32B9b

Add Ruthless Rival to Goodreads: https://bit.ly/3IoIVJ6

About LJ Shen
L.J. Shen is a USA Today, Washington Post and Amazon #1 best-selling author of contemporary, New Adult and YA romance. Her books have been sold to nineteen different countries.

She lives in California with her husband, son, cat and eccentric fashion choices, and enjoys good wine, bad reality TV shows and catching sun rays with her lazy cat.

Connect with L.J. Shen
Facebook: http://bit.ly/2OhSvp1
Twitter: http://bit.ly/36ELHZc
Pinterest: http://bit.ly/2oMbFsu
Instagram: http://bit.ly/2AIOiTo
TikTok: https://bit.ly/3wDlGa7
Stay up to date with L.J. Shen by signing up for her mailing list:
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Website: http://www.authorljshen.com/

Fiction Friday: Book Review- Sticky Fingers #2 (Sticky Fingers Collection) by J.T. Lawrence

Sticky Fingers 2 by J.T. Lawrence

My rating: 5 of 5 stars


I desperately wanted to read a book but I know that my attention span has been horribly short lately. And then I found this on my Kindle app and knew it was a winner.
J.T Lawrence has a wonderfully entertaining writing style but the “Sticky Fingers” collection is one of my favorites because of how unexpected and unusual the stories are.
I figured this would be easier to read than a novel and I was right. I finished this book in one sitting and was left wanting more (a rather unfortunate side-effect of this collection).
I do not want to binge read because at some point I will then run of books to read but I cannot wait to start another “Sticky Fingers” book.
This series is well-written, gripping and entertaining. If you’re looking for a good book, need to fall back into the habit of reading or just want to escape reality, this is the series for you!
You could pick up any of these books and they will do a great job pulling you in.



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Fiction Friday: Book Review- One of Us is Lying by Karen M. McManus

One of Us Is Lying (One of Us is Lying, #1)

One of Us Is Lying by Karen M. McManus

My rating: 5 of 5 stars


I received a review copy of this book from Penguin Random House.
I have read “One of Us is Lying” when it first came out. However with the release of the TV series, it was time to catch up.
I did not remember enough of this book so rereading was such a pleasure.
Five students from different cliques at a high school walk into detention but only four walk out.
The nerd, the popular girl, the bad boy, the athlete and the outcast who ran a gossip app.
Except Simon, the creator of the gossip app, dies in detention.
Eventually it is revealed that Simon’s next post was supposed to ruin the lives of his classmates. They all have motive, they were all present at detention and because of this they are all suspects.
Even all these years later, “One of Us is Lying” is still so thrilling.
I tore through these pages eagerly and cannot wait to start watching the Netflix show



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Fiction Friday: The Love Hypothesis by Ali Hazelwood

The Love Hypothesis

The Love Hypothesis by Ali Hazelwood

My rating: 5 of 5 stars


I received a copy of this book from Jonathan Ball publishers in exchange for an honest review. It did take me a while to pick this one up but that is because I heard such great things. I didn’t want to go into this book without being able to binge-read it.
Ph.D. candidate, Olive invents a fake boyfriend in order to coax her best friend, Anh into dating the guy she went out with once.
Desperate to convince her friend, Olive kisses the first man she sees. Her unsuspecting victim turns out to be Adam, a brilliant professor who has the reputation of being an ass.
One thing leads to another and the two are then forced to pretend to be in a relationship. Adam has his own (very valid) reasons for needing to be in a fake relationship. Of course, events transpire that bring them a little too close to each other (which I loved).
This book has all the tropes (okay, I lie. Most of the tropes) and does them all beautifully. Adam and Olive have a very clear chemistry and the events that lead to them pretending to be together are genuine. I loved that everything did not seem forced. This was just two people with no interest in dating who needed to appear to be in a relationship.
“The Love Hypothesis” was a well-written, fun read that I really enjoyed. If you’re a fan of contemporary romance, definitely give this a go.





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Fiction Friday: Book Review- Her Perfect Twin by Sarah Bonner

Her Perfect Twin

Her Perfect Twin by Sarah Bonner

My rating: 5 of 5 stars


I received a review copy of this book from Jonathan Ball publishers.
There were a few things that drew me to this book- the plot, the mention of the lockdown, the fact that obviously it couldn’t be that the main characters hubby cheated on her with her sister (or did he? Read this book to find out).
Megan has an adoring husband that she cannot stand, a beautiful home, bad memory and a sister that loves to steal whatever is hers.
But when Megan finds pictures of her twin sister on her husband’s phone, she tracks Leah down for answers. Their relationship has always been strained and their conversation ends with Megan killing her twin.
Desperate to hide what she’s done, Megan decides to take over Leah’s life and pretends to be her. The juggling act of living two lives as two people is difficult enough but then lockdown hits and Megan learns that someone knows what she did. And that person plans on using the situation to their advantage.
This was a thrilling read that I couldn’t put down. From the very first line I was entranced and eventually ended up buying an ebook copy so I could read on the go. If you’re looking for a gripping read, I strongly recommend “Her Perfect Twin”

Fiction Friday: Book Review- The Girl He Used to Know by Tracey Garvis Graves

The Girl He Used to Know

The Girl He Used to Know by Tracey Garvis Graves

My rating: 4 of 5 stars


“The Girl He Used to Know” tells the story of Jonathan and Annika who used to be college sweethearts until something tore them apart.
Now years later the two reunite and Annika is desperate to show Jonathan that she has changed and is a stronger person.
I was drawn to this book because I felt like I could relate to Annika (and honestly that didn’t change once I started reading it either).
I loved this book but it was also pretty predictable. It was easy for me to predict what tore the couple apart as well as what would bring them together.
This is a beautifully sad novel that I enjoyed immensely however I’m rating it four stars instead of five because I thought that the plot twist at the end was just extra.
Nonetheless Jonathan and Annika are an adorable couple and I couldn’t stop rooting for them!

Fiction Friday: Book Review- The Unhoneymooners by Christina Lauren

The UnhoneymoonersThe Unhoneymooners by Christina Lauren
My rating: 5 of 5 stars

Olive and Ethan are enemies who are forced to to on their siblings honeymoon when the entire wedding party gets food poisoning.
Neither of them can stand each other however they both desperately need a vacation.
Olive and Ethan decide to avoid each other on their fake honeymoon but a series of awkward run-ins with Ethan’s ex-girlfriend and Olive’s future boss leads the two enemies to fake an actual marriage.
I was hooked on this book from the very first page. Ethan seemed unlikable at the beginning but I grew to like him especially once the misunderstandings were cleared up.
I kept seeing this book recommended on BookTok and I have to say, I definitely think this is a must-read

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Recommended Reads: Books to Read if You Enjoyed The Hating Game by Sally Thorne

It’s been way too long since I did a recommended reads post and since I just watched “The Hating Game”, here are my recommendations for fans who are looking for something similar. Note- the links listed below are affiliate links which mean I earn a small commission when you purchase using those links.

1) The Unhoneymooners by Christina Lauren: Sworn enemies Olive and Ethan are forced to pretend to be newlyweds when their siblings get food poisoning and have to forfeit their all-expenses paid vacation. From the first page I was hooked on this novel. The enemies-to-lovers plot is fairly similar to “The Hating Game” and the chemistry between the two main characters is amazing.

2) The Spanish Love Deception by Elena Armas: Similar to “The Hating Game”, this novel has a pretend relationship in order for one of the main characters to save face at a wedding. There’s always amazing chemistry and once again enemies-to-lovers (so apparently I have a type when it comes to my romance novels?)

3) The Flatshare by Beth O’ Leary: “The Flatshare” doesn’t have any of the same themes as “The Hating Game” however somehow it just conveys the same flawless chemistry and romantic energy.

4) You Deserve Each Other by Sarah Hogle: A quirky lovers-to-enemies-to-lovers, “You Deserve Each Other” is another gem that is a quick, easy-to-read with a really cute couple.

Is there any books that you think I missed? Let me know below

Fiction Friday: Book Review- A Cuban Girl’s Guide to Tea and Tomorrow by Laura Taylor Namey

A Cuban Girl's Guide to Tea and Tomorrow

A Cuban Girl’s Guide to Tea and Tomorrow by Laura Taylor Namey

My rating: 5 of 5 stars


I received an unsolicited copy of this book for review and it was such a pleasant surprise. Look at that cover!
Lila Reyes loses her grandmother, her best friend and her boyfriend in a short period of time. When it is clear that Lila is unable to cope with her grief, her parents send her away to England for 3 months.
I remember hearing someone on BookTube mention once that kids who are forced to go on vacation and hate it, are plot devices that make no sense. In this case however, I really did feel for Lila.
It is clear that she has suffered tremendously and she is genuinely hurt.
Like Lila, from the get-go, I wanted her back home with her family.
Orion took a painfully long time to appear. Orion has some family issues of his own but when he meets Lila he offers to be her tour guide.
It isn’t long between something starts to build between them (and I mean it really isn’t long. From their first few meetings, these two have an instant connection. IT’S ADORABLE!)
In terms of plot I feel like this was a story that we have seen before. But I loved it nonetheless. I enjoyed every second of this book and even took it with me to work so that I didn’t miss out on any reading time.

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