REVIEW: Whisked Away by Melanie Summers

Title: Whisked Away (Paradise Bay #2)
Author: Melanie Summers
Narrator: Matthew Lloyd Davies; Esther Wane
Publisher: Indigo Group
Publication Date: April 2019
Genre: Contemporary Romance
Buy the Book: Amazon | BN | Audible

Description: He’s a rich, famous writer. He doesn’t work or play well with others. He’s under an insane deadline. And I’m stuck on a private island with him for the next two months.

I was supposed to be taking my rightful place as head chef at one of my family’s resort restaurants.

Instead, I’m stranded on our new private island getaway, where I’ll be catering to Pierce Davenport, an infuriatingly arrogant guest with a palate that’s about as adventurous as a plain boiled potato.

His personality leaves a lot to be desired, too—imagine if the Grinch and Oscar the Grouch had a baby.

That child would end up almost as grumpy as Pierce.

So when disaster strikes and he’s forced to rely on me to type for him, we wind up spending twenty-four hours a day together.

And when I have to transcribe a sexy time scene for him…well, let’s just say things heat up like a gas burner—fast and hot.

I can’t be falling for him, can I? I hate him. Like really hate him.

Only maybe I don’t…

Whisked Away is an irresistibly romantic, delightfully funny, enemies-to-lovers tale of passion, books, and food. It stars a writer who’s as talented as he is hot, a feisty chef who won’t put up with his crap, a ferocious iguana, and one of the most hilarious grand romantic gestures of all time. It can be enjoyed as a standalone. Strawberry daiquiris not included.

My Thoughts: I don’t know where this author has been—or why it took me so long to discover her and this series—but I’m loving both. Although several of Melanie Summers’s books have been languishing on my enormous to-be-read pile, the Paradise Bay series is my first experience with her work.
I loved the first book, and this installment was even better. I had no idea how enjoyable the grumpy-sunshine trope could be, but I’m now a confirmed fan.

The story centers on Emma Banks, sister of the male lead from the first book. Fresh out of culinary school, she returns to her family’s resort expecting to take charge of one of its restaurants. Instead, she is assigned to the resort’s private-island retreat, where she must serve as the personal chef for a VIP guest.

Although disappointed, Emma sees the assignment as a chance to prove herself to her brother—and as a possible stepping stone toward running a restaurant of her own.

The VIP is Pierce Davenport, a wealthy, successful author who has retreated to Paradise Bay to overcome writer’s block and finish the latest book in his popular series. With the novels already adapted for television, the screenwriters are threatening to take control of the story if he misses his deadline.

Private, antisocial, and undeniably arrogant, Pierce clashes with Emma from the start. The two get along like oil and water.

Their banter had me laughing out loud, while their chemistry had me reaching for a fan. Pierce causes several unfortunate mishaps entirely on his own, yet it is difficult not to feel sorry for him—even if the iguana remains unconvinced.

Emma was instantly likable. She appears briefly in the first book, but not long enough for readers to truly know her. Here, her relatable personality and feisty nature shine. My opinion of Pierce softened as his character unfolded. Beneath his arrogance is a man who uses that façade to keep others at arm’s length.

My Final Verdict: Whisked Away is a funny, steamy, and thoroughly entertaining grumpy-sunshine romance. Emma’s warmth and determination balance Pierce’s prickly personality perfectly, and their witty banter, undeniable chemistry, and gradual emotional connection kept me invested from beginning to end. With its memorable characters, island setting, and scene-stealing iguana, this installment was even more enjoyable than the first. I highly recommend it to readers who love enemies-to-lovers romances filled with humor, heart, and plenty of heat.

REVIEW: Tailing a Tabby by Laurie Cass

Title: Tailing a Tabby (Bookmobile Cat Mystery #2)
Author: Laurie Cass
Narrator: Erin Bennett
Publisher: Berkley
Publication Date: July 2014
Genre: Cozy Mystery
Buy the Book: Amazon | BN | Audible

Description: In the bookmobile, librarian Minnie Hamilton and her rescue cat, Eddie, roll out great summer reads to folks all over the lake town of Chilson, Michigan. And when real-life drama turns deadly, Minnie makes sure justice is never overdue.

The bookmobile is making its usual rounds when Minnie and Eddie are flagged down by a woman in distress. The woman’s husband, a famous artist, needs emergency medical care. After getting him into the bookmobile, Minnie races the man to the hospital in time…but his bad luck has only just begun.

After disappearing from the hospital, the artist is discovered slumped over the body of a murdered woman. Minnie knows that her new friend didn’t commit the crime, but the evidence paints an unflattering picture. Now this librarian and her furry friend have to put the investigation in high gear and catch the real killer before someone else checks out.

My Thoughts: Although the story was fairly predictable and didn’t keep me riveted, I loved the premise: a librarian and her rescue cat travel by bookmobile, deliver books to the community, and solve crimes along the way. As the second installment in a fourteen-book series, this adventure leaves Minnie and Eddie with plenty more ahead of them.

I like Minnie and Eddie and enjoyed their banter. I’m convinced that Eddie understands English, even though he can’t speak it. I paired the print book with the audiobook narrated by Erin Bennett. While the narration of Eddie’s mrrr began to grate on my nerves, I otherwise enjoyed Bennett’s performance. I’m not sure I’ll finish the entire series, but I’m committed to reading the first eight books.

My Final Verdict: A charming, cat-filled cozy mystery with an appealing bookmobile premise and likable leads. Although the plot was predictable and the audiobook’s repeated mrrr became distracting, Minnie and Eddie’s banter made this an enjoyable read—and one worth continuing with the series.

REVIEW: The Sunflower Cottage Breakfast Club by Lynsey James

Title: The Sunflower Cottage Breakfast Club (Luna Bay #2)
Author: Lynsey James
Publisher: HQ Digital
Publication Date: August 2016
Genre: Contemporary Romance / Women’s Fiction
Buy the Book: Amazon | BN

Description: The perfect summer romance for a sunny afternoon and a picnic in the park.

Emily Reed is having a bad day. Her mother has just dropped a devastating bombshell—the dad she’s known and loved for twenty-five years isn’t her biological father!

Desperately in need of answers, Emily heads to Luna Bay covering her personal quest up as a work trip to Sunflower Cottage B&B.

Setting up the ‘Sunflower Cottage Breakfast Club’ should be a great way to meet the locals and maybe even find out who her father is. The only problem is brooding and insanely gorgeous, Noah, who is determined to make Emily’s stay perfectly uncomfortable.

Discovering the truth after all these years was never going to be simple, but Emily will stop at nothing to uncover her past… even if her heart is getting in the way!

My Thoughts: The Sunflower Cottage Breakfast Club by Lynsey James is the second book in the Luna Bay series. Although I enjoyed it, it did not engage me as much as the first book.

Emily’s indecision—both about securing the purchase of Sunflower Cottage for her job and about searching for her biological father—was frustrating. The breakfast club also felt like an afterthought; I wish the story had spent more time developing that part of the premise.

I enjoyed meeting Noah and Rose, and the subplot involving Noah’s mother was interesting. However, that storyline also needed more development.

I also struggled with Emily’s relationship with Diane. Their dynamic shifted dramatically before Diane discovered Emily’s identity, again after the truth came out, and once more at the end. The constant back-and-forth between them—and between Emily and Noah—was difficult to follow.

One book remains in the series, centered on one of the girls who attends the breakfast club. I plan to read it to finish the series, and I hope it draws me in more than this installment did.

My Final Verdict: Recommended for readers who enjoy gentle, character-driven contemporary romance, inviting small-town settings, and family-secrets storylines. While the underdeveloped breakfast club premise, uneven relationship dynamics, and Emily’s prolonged indecision kept it from being as engaging as the first book, fans of the Luna Bay series should still find this a pleasant continuation worth reading.

REVIEW: Stone Broke Heiress by Danielle Owen-Jones

Title: Stone Broke Heiress
Author: Danielle Owen-Jones
Publisher: Bookouture
Publication Date: March 2022
Genre: Women’s Fiction
Buy the Book: Amazon | BN | Audible

Description: Six months ago, I was the heiress to a soup empire worth millions. Now, I’m standing in a giant dumpster.

Bella Whittington’s caviar-and-Cristal life comes crashing down when she walks in on her fiancé and best friend tangled up in page 34 of the Kama Sutra, limbs everywhere. But her plan to dull the pain with Daddy’s credit card is totalled by the news that they’ve lost the family business. Suddenly Bella’s both single and completely broke.

Shivering in her dingy new studio apartment after a traumatic incident with a homemade turmeric face mask (Hello Tangerina Jolie!), Bella realizes she must pull up her Gucci socks and get a job, fast. But Dan, the gorgeous grumpy owner of the local soup kitchen, hates the Whittingtons, so a teensy lie about her surname gets Bella through the door, and set loose on the stove… Minestrone with a side of melted spatula, anyone?

When Bella’s ex returns with a golden ticket back to her glitzy old life, should she accept? Because that would mean no more box wine and frozen pizza nights with Dan. No more singalongs to the crackly kitchen radio. No more my-heart-is-as-melted-as-that-spatula moments when he finally cracks a reluctant smile… But if Dan finds out the truth about who she really is, will she even have the choice?

My Thoughts: When Bella Whittington first appears, she inspires little empathy or sympathy. She is not a bad person, but she is unmistakably a product of her environment: wealthy, spoiled, and entitled. As she celebrates her engagement to Francis, the son of her father’s business partner, everything in her world seems golden. Her extravagant purchases are covered without a second thought; whether she needs another Hermès bag or pair of Jimmy Choo strappy sandals—and what they cost—never crosses her mind. She has no understanding of how the other half lives or how less fortunate people navigate everyday struggles.

In the blink of an eye, Bella’s perfect life comes crashing down. She catches Francis with her best friend, and her father is ousted as CEO of the family soup business, which has been in the Whittington family for generations. Suddenly, Bella is single, broke, and homeless.

It may sound depressing, but this upheaval is exactly what Bella needs. After an embarrassing visit to the job center, she realizes she must keep her true identity quiet. Her new neighbor connects her with Dan, who runs the local soup kitchen and needs help with cooking and cleaning.

This is where the story became truly engaging for me. Bella has no cleaning experience, and soup is the only food she can make that comes close to being edible. Despite several false starts, her determination and eagerness to prove herself begin to pay off. She discovers that she genuinely enjoys both her work at the soup kitchen and the people she meets there.

Complicating matters, Bella learns that Dan despises her family and the company that bears its name. Her small lie about her identity and background is now waiting to unravel.

This book made me laugh, frustrated me, and tugged at my emotions as Bella began to understand the real world and chose to make a difference in people’s lives. The supporting cast—Bella’s parents and neighbor, Dan’s grandmother, and Dan’s dog, Herbie—adds welcome depth, warmth, and humor to the story.

My Final Verdict: Stone Broke Heiress is a funny, warmhearted story about losing everything and discovering what truly matters. Bella’s transformation from a sheltered heiress into someone determined to build a meaningful life gives the novel its heart, while the lively supporting cast and slow-building romance keep the journey entertaining. Readers who enjoy uplifting women’s fiction filled with humor, personal growth, and a satisfying fresh start should find plenty to love here.

Thank you to the publisher, Bookouture, who provided an advance reader copy of this book via NetGalley.

REVIEW: What I Like About You by Marisa Kanter

Title: What I Like About You
Author: Marisa Kanter
Narrator: Dara Rosenberg
Publisher: Simon and Schuster Children’s Publishing
Publication Date: April 2020
Genre: Teens / Young Adult
Buy the Book: Amazon | BN | Audible

Description: Can a love triangle have only two people in it? Online, it can... but in the real world, it's more complicated. In this debut novel Marisa Kanter explores what happens when internet friends turn into IRL crushes.

There are a million things that Halle Levitt likes about her online best friend, Nash.

He’s an incredibly talented graphic novelist. He loves books almost as much as she does. And she never has to deal with the awkwardness of seeing him in real life. They can talk about anything…

Except who she really is.

Because online, Halle isn’t Halle—she’s Kels, the enigmatically cool creator of One True Pastry, a YA book blog that pairs epic custom cupcakes with covers and reviews. Kels has everything Halle doesn’t: friends, a growing platform, tons of confidence, and Nash.

That is, until Halle arrives to spend senior year in Gramps’s small town and finds herself face-to-face with real, human, not-behind-a-screen Nash. Nash, who is somehow everywhere she goes—in her classes, at the bakery, even at synagogue.

Nash who has no idea she’s actually Kels.

If Halle tells him who she is, it will ruin the non-awkward magic of their digital friendship. Not telling him though, means it can never be anything more. Because while she starts to fall for Nash as Halle…he’s in love with Kels.

My Thoughts: Several things surprised me about this book. First, it is the author’s debut novel. Kudos to Marisa Kanter for crafting such a polished, engaging story—it reads like the work of an author with several published titles to her credit.

I was also struck by the premise. In a world where anyone can create an entirely different identity online, this is the first book I’ve read in which a character’s online persona differs so dramatically from her real-life self—and the two identities are on the verge of colliding. It’s a compelling trope I would love to see explored more often.

From the outset, the reader knows chaos will erupt when the truth about Kels’ identity comes to light. It is easy to judge Halle and insist that she should have told the truth immediately. However, the author gives us a front-row seat to how difficult such openness can be for someone who is highly introverted in real life.

Although I don’t agree with keeping secrets, I understood and empathized with Halle’s desire to protect parts of herself, especially because the internet can be a hateful place. Her reluctance to benefit from the success her grandmother built also made sense. Wanting to know whether her content could succeed on its own—without people knowing who her grandmother was—is a valid concern.

I was also surprised that Halle had virtually no face-to-face friendships. Moving to Connecticut and meeting Nash in person would be overwhelming enough, but he also comes with an established circle of friends that Halle must learn to navigate.

The biggest surprise was how much I loved this book. I wasn’t sure what to expect when I began, but the author quickly drew me in by showing how distinct Halle and Kels are—and how much they still have in common.

I especially enjoyed the different friendship dynamics Halle experiences, both online and in person. I also loved her banter and chemistry with Nash. How he failed to recognize her sooner is beyond me, but perhaps that is the point: we all spend so much time in our own heads that what is right in front of us is not always easy to see.

My Final Verdict: What I Like About You is a thoughtful, charming debut that explores online identity, vulnerability, friendship, and first love with warmth and insight. Halle’s choices may be frustrating at times, but her fears feel genuine, and her journey toward honesty gives the story emotional depth.

With engaging characters, lively banter, and a fresh take on the complications of digital relationships, this is an easy recommendation for readers who enjoy heartfelt young adult contemporary romance.

Thank you to the publisher, Simon and Schuster Children’s Publishing, who provided an advance reader copy of this book via NetGalley.

REVIEW: If I Can Make It Here by Jamie Rose

Title: If I Can Make It Here
Author: Jamie Rose
Narrator: Stefanie Kay
Publisher: Jamie Rose
Publication Date: April 2019
Genre: Contemporary Romance
Buy the Book: Amazon | Audible

Description: Is it too late for coffee or too early for wine? That’s a question Madeline Burke has come to ask herself all too often. She needs a change, and a big one at that.

Coming into her late 20s, she finally finds the courage to pull herself out of a boring 9-to-5 life in Texas and launch the exciting new career she’s always dreamed about. Thanks to a little chutzpah and some quick thinking, she has landed an internship working in film publicity in New York City. It’s her favorite city in the world, concrete jungle where dreams are made…or crushed. The prospect is both exciting and intimidating for a woman with an ambitious work ethic and a pesky anxiety problem. What could possibly go wrong?

As Madeline goes behind the velvet ropes of movie premieres and celebrity press tours, she finds out what really happens after the cameras flash. Navigating her way through splashy scandals, inflated egos, romantic entanglements, and impossible office demands has her catching her breath behind one too many bathroom stall doors.

The hectic and fast-paced reality that is her new life has her questioning whether or not she has what it takes to stick it out. She decides it is up to her and her alone to make it in New York City.

As the saying goes, if you can make it there, you can make it anywhere…right?

My Thoughts: If you enjoy stories about people stepping beyond their comfort zones to pursue their dreams—especially underdog triumphs filled with pop-culture references and plenty of emotion—this book is for you. Madeline Burke dreams of working in the movie industry, so when she is offered an internship at a New York City film production company, she cannot say no. It is her chance to get a foot in the door and open the way to future opportunities.

I liked Madeline immediately and admired her courage in stepping into the unknown. The internship offers an inside look at film publicity and, she hopes, a path to a permanent role as a publicist. First, she must complete the program while balancing the demands of a new job with her anxiety. I loved Maddie’s determination not only to succeed professionally, but also to build a new life in the Big Apple—where romance may be waiting just around the corner.

I enjoyed seeing the work that begins after filming wraps and the publicity campaign takes over. Maddie’s growing friendships and sense of solidarity add warmth as she learns the ropes, while her chemistry with Drake brings a compelling romantic spark. The story also explores potentially triggering topics, but the author weaves them naturally into the narrative, adding depth and emotional resonance.

My Final Verdict: If I Can Make It Here is an engaging, heartfelt story about ambition, resilience, and finding the courage to begin again. With a relatable heroine, an intriguing look at film publicity, supportive friendships, and a touch of romance, it offers an enjoyable read for anyone who loves hopeful stories about chasing big dreams despite anxiety and uncertainty.

Thank you to the author, Jamie Rose, for the invitation to read and review this book.

REVIEW: Falling for You by Portia Macintosh

Title: Falling for You (Marram Bay #1)
Author: Portia Macintosh
Narrator: Karen Cass
Publisher: HQ Digital
Publication Date: May 2018
Genre: Contemporary Romance
Buy the Book: Amazon | BN | Audible

Description: Lily Holmes is ready for a fresh start. And there’s no better place to begin again than the idyllic seaside town of Marram Bay.

All Lily wants to do is focus on making her new deli a success and ensuring her son’s happiness. Not the postcard creeping out of her handbag, and definitely not finding a new man in her life!

But this isn’t going to be as easy as she first thought. The town is in an uproar about the city girl who’s dared to join them and she’s fighting a battle at every turn.

Perhaps with a little help from the gorgeous cider farmer next door, she may be able to win them over, but her past secrets threaten to ruin everything…

My Thoughts: Falling for You by Portia Macintosh caught my attention when I realized I owned the third book in the Marram Bay series but had not yet read the first two. Since I am determined to read every series in order, this was the perfect opportunity to start at the beginning—and the story’s strong autumn atmosphere made the timing even better.

I loved the setting of Marram Bay and the vivid way Macintosh brings it to life. At first, it seems like the kind of village where everyone knows one another and neighbors readily lend a hand. That impression changes when Lily Holmes and her eight-year-old son, Frankie, move there from London. Lily plans to open and manage a new deli, but the locals make it clear that they are not pleased. Their protests—complete with signs and cow-dung decorations—quickly turn the village’s cold shoulder into open hostility, and even Frankie feels the effects.

Lily soon meets her neighbor Alfie, a cider farmer who understands her situation because he also had to earn the village’s acceptance. I loved their easy rapport and his determination to help Lily win over the town. The supporting characters were equally enjoyable, especially Alfie’s pug, Pugsley.

Although the story is lighthearted, full of laugh-out-loud moments, and populated by appealing characters, it also delivers plenty of drama. The townspeople’s hostility creates ongoing tension, while the arrival of Frankie’s father—a man who has never made an effort to know his son—raises the emotional stakes.

My Final Verdict: Falling for You is a warm, charming read that blends small-town drama, humor, and romance with an inviting autumn atmosphere. Lily’s fresh start, her easy connection with Alfie, and the lively supporting cast kept me invested, even when Marram Bay was not especially welcoming. I would recommend it to readers who enjoy uplifting contemporary romance, close-knit communities, and stories about finding where you belong.

REVIEW: The Art of Being a Vampire by Kate Karyus Quinn

Title: The Art of Being a Vampire
Author: Kate Karyus Quinn
Publisher: Rosen Publishing Group
Publication Date: August 2022
Genre: Fantasy / Teen – Young Adult
Buy the Book: Amazon

Description: With an addict mother and deadbeat dad, Shelby truly hopes that blood does not define her. She discovers a passion for photography, hoping to make something of herself through art. But when her mother dies of an overdose, Shelby finds herself in a dark place. Taken in by her aunt, she rebels in school and turns away from everyone, except a mysterious classmate named Brandt. Shelby doesn't realize that Brandt is a vampire--until it's too late.

Overwhelmed by new cravings for blood, Shelby must decide whether to abandon her values to satisfy her hunger--or fight for the life she's always wanted.

My Thoughts: The premise drew me in quickly, but the story’s short length ultimately left me feeling unfulfilled. I didn’t have enough time to get to know Shelby before the story ended, and too many questions remained unanswered. With more space for character development, this could have been a story I loved.

Brandt also left me unsure of how to interpret him: Is he a villain, or is he, like Shelby, a victim of circumstance?

I was especially intrigued by Shelby’s love of photography and the way she channels her vampirism into her art. Unfortunately, the story does not spend enough time exploring that compelling idea.

My Final Verdict: An intriguing, creatively grounded vampire story with compelling ideas, but its short length leaves the characters and themes underdeveloped. A promising read that would have benefited from greater depth but will still likely appeal to fans of vampires.

Thank you to the publisher, Rosen Publishing Group, who provided an advance reader copy of this book via NetGalley.

REVIEW: Dear Emmie Blue by Lia Louis

Title: Dear Emmie Blue
Author: Lia Louis
Narrator: Katy Sobey
Publisher: Atria Books
Publication Date: July 2020
Genre: Women’s Fiction
Buy the Book: Amazon | BN | Audible

Description: At sixteen, Emmie Blue stood in the fields of her school and released a red balloon into the sky. Attached was her name, her email address… and a secret she desperately wanted to be free of. Weeks later, on a beach in France, Lucas Moreau discovered the balloon and immediately emailed the attached address, sparking an intense friendship between the two teens.

Now, fourteen years later, Emmie is hiding the fact that she’s desperately in love with Lucas. She has pinned all her hopes on him and waits patiently for him to finally admit that she’s the one for him. So dedicated to her love for Lucas, Emmie has all but neglected her life outside of this relationship—she’s given up the search for her absentee father, no longer tries to build bridges with her distant mother, and lives as a lodger to an old lady she barely knows after being laid off. And when Lucas tells Emmie he has a big question to ask her, she’s convinced this is the moment he’ll reveal his feelings for her. But nothing in life ever quite goes as planned, does it?

My Thoughts: This book surprised me in the best way. I expected an engaging story, but I did not expect it to pull so deeply on my emotions. The premise immediately drew me in: a young girl, carrying the weight of trauma and rejection from people she once trusted, releases a red balloon from her school with the hope that someone, somewhere, might find it and respond.

That simple act felt both vulnerable and brave—like casting her pain into the wind and waiting to see whether the world would answer. When the balloon is discovered hundreds of miles away in France by Lucas, the boy who becomes her best friend, the story gains a sense of wonder and possibility. Although these events happen before the novel begins, they are woven into the narrative through flashbacks and memories, giving Emmie’s present-day story greater emotional depth.

Fourteen years later, Emmie is hopelessly in love with Lucas and has become part of his family. They have shared birthdays, holidays, and countless meaningful moments together. At the same time, Emmie’s own family history remains painful: her mother has never been emotionally present, and Emmie has never known her father. I felt tremendous empathy for her, but I also held onto hope for what her future might become.

I loved the dynamic between Emmie, Lucas, and Lucas’s brother, Eliot. In many ways, they felt like the three musketeers: deeply connected, loyal, and bound by years of shared history. However, by the time the story begins, that bond has been damaged by events that took place when Emmie and Lucas were nineteen.

One of the things I appreciated most was the way the author gives equal attention to Emmie’s present and her past. Those shifts in time helped me understand not only what happened to her, but also why she sees herself, Lucas, and their friendship the way she does. The structure made Emmie feel more layered and allowed her emotional journey to unfold with honesty and care.

This book held so many surprises, and I loved every bit of it. It moved me to tears, made me laugh, and left me breathless more than once. I do not know how I missed Lia Louis before now, but after reading this story, I definitely want to explore more of her work.

I listened to the audiobook, and Katy Sobey’s performance was excellent. Her narration heightened the emotion of the story, captured the distinct personalities of the characters, and made them feel fully alive. She added warmth, nuance, and depth to an already moving novel.

My Final Verdict: Dear Emmie Blue is a heartfelt, beautifully layered story about friendship, longing, family, and learning to choose yourself. Lia Louis balances humor and tenderness with emotional honesty, creating characters who feel real and a journey that is both moving and hopeful. The audiobook narration by Katy Sobey adds even more warmth and depth, making the story especially immersive. This is an easy recommendation for readers who enjoy emotional women’s fiction, complicated friendships, found family, and romances that unfold with heart rather than predictability.

Thank you to the publisher, Atria Books, who provided an advance reader copy of this book via NetGalley.

REVIEW: Thicker Than Water by JD Kirk

Title: Thicker Than Water (DCI Logan Crime Thrillers #2)
Author: JD Kirk
Narrator: Angus King
Publisher: Zertex Crime
Publication Date: June 2019
Genre: Thriller
Buy the Book: Amazon | BN | Audible

Description: Not all monsters are make-believe.

When a badly mutilated body washes up on the shores of Loch Ness, DCI Jack Logan's dream of a quiet life in the Highlands is shattered.

While the media speculates wildly about monster attacks, Jack and the Major Investigations Team must act fast to catch the killer before they can strike again.

But with Nessie-hunters descending on the area in their dozens, and an old enemy rearing his ugly head, the case could well turn out to be the most challenging of Jack's career.

And, if he isn't careful, the last.

Death and dark humor combine in this fast-paced Tartan Noir crime thriller set in the Highlands of Scotland.

My Thoughts: This series continues to deliver everything I enjoy in a crime thriller: intense storylines, compelling characters, sharp banter, and well-timed humor. I am especially enjoying the audiobook format, and I highly recommend experiencing the series that way. Angus King gives a top-notch performance that makes the story even more gripping and entertaining.

Because this is only the second book, I am still getting to know Jack and the members of his team. One detail I appreciate is that the author does not focus solely on Jack. The story gives meaningful time and attention to the rest of the team, allowing their personalities to come through and adding more depth to the investigation.

Readers should be aware that the author does not shy away from the gruesome details of the murder investigation, so it may be worth checking trigger warnings. At the same time, the pacing works very well. The story moves forward steadily without revealing too much too soon or slowing down with unnecessary details.

There are plenty of suspects to consider, and I enjoyed watching Jack and his team work through them methodically. Their careful approach keeps the mystery engaging while making the progression of the case feel satisfying and believable.

My Final Verdict: Thicker Than Water is a gripping, well-paced crime thriller that blends dark humor, sharp characterization, and a compelling investigation. The mystery kept me engaged, the team dynamic added depth, and Angus King’s narration made the audiobook especially enjoyable. I’m looking forward to continuing the series and spending more time with DCI Jack Logan and his team.

REVIEW: Katie Comes Undone by Jared Wynn

Title: Katie Comes Undone (Katie McGuire, Vampire #1)
Author: Jared Wynn
Publisher: Easy Wynn Publishing
Publication Date: March 2022
Genre: Fantasy / Young Adult
Buy the Book: Amazon | BN

Description: As if high school wasn't hard enough, Katie McGuire just died, and her new life is about to get even more complicated. Because in a world where Vampires have civil rights, the last thing they can allow is for mortals to think that people are still being turned against their will. So in order to maintain the fragile peace, a 600-year-old Vampire must bring Katie into the fold - or silence her.

She can't run, and she can't hide, not with midterms, a pregnant best friend, and a nerdy new love interest all needing her attention. Katie must learn to live with her condition while navigating the horrors of high school and trying to figure out what to do with the rest of her afterlife.

This is the story of Katie McGuire, Vampire.

My Thoughts: Katie McGuire had me at teenage vampire problems. She’s a typical teenager, surviving the hellscape of high school—midterms, prom, the usual. She’s also dating Brian, sort of. Brian is the new kid, except his classes are in the basement because he’s a vampire. In Katie’s world, vampires are out of the coffin, walking among us, enjoying civil rights, and following a strict code against turning humans who didn’t ask for it. In Brian’s defense, I don’t think he meant to kill Katie, and he definitely wasn’t thinking clearly when he gave her his blood after taking too much of hers. Unfortunately, intent does not cancel consequences.

Katie is, understandably, less than thrilled with her new condition. High school was already bad enough; doing it as a vampire is going to suck in entirely new ways. And when much older vampires—think 600 years old—need to keep her unwanted transformation quiet, things are not going to stay neat, simple, or remotely pretty for Katie or Brian.

This is the first book in a six-book series, and it’s a very short, quick read. Honestly, the whole setup probably could have fit into one book, but Katie’s new undead existence has me curious enough to keep turning pages—preferably before sunrise.

My Final Verdict: A fun little bloodsucker of a book—short, messy, dramatic, and absolutely committed to making high school even worse.

Thank you to the publisher, Easy Wynn Publishing, who provided an advance reader copy of this book via NetGalley.

REVIEW: The Mini-Break by Maddie Please

Title: The Mini-Break
Author: Maddie Please
Publisher: Avon Books UK
Publication Date: March 2019
Genre: Contemporary Romance / Women’s Fiction
Buy the Book: Amazon | BN

Description: Sometimes you just need to get away…

Lulu has it all; a romance writer at the height of her career, she can often be found attending glittery parties or spending time with her good-looking, health-fanatic boyfriend, Benedict.

When writer’s block strikes she goes on a mini-break to Devon, which proves just the tonic she needs. But upon her return to London, she finds her usual perfect life in chaos.

Will escaping back to the countryside be the answer? And will life become even more complicated when Lulu runs into handsome, brooding farmer Joe?

A funny, feel-good and fabulous read that will take you on a trip you never knew you needed. Have you packed…?

My Thoughts: I was immediately intrigued when Lulu and her sister, Jassy, leave London for a sabbatical in the Devon countryside to find inspiration for their writing projects. Their remote retreat—with no Wi-Fi, no cellphone signal, and now a flat tire—sets up a wonderfully inconvenient escape. When Lulu meets Joe, the nearest neighbor, she feels an instant pull toward him, even though her life in London still includes her boyfriend, Benedict.

Once Lulu returns home, she finds Benedict with another woman in her apartment and begins to reassess everything she thought she wanted. She realizes that both her London life and her relationship with Benedict no longer fit who she wants to become. From there, she decides to sell her apartment and, after several attempts, finally ends things with Benedict.

I liked both Lulu and Joe, and I was interested to see where their connection would lead. That said, Lulu’s attraction to Joe—and how quickly it seems to deepen into love—felt a little rushed to me. I also struggled with how quickly Lulu shifts from city life to country living, especially when she begins making big decisions like moving to the countryside and buying chickens. Her plan felt more impulsive than carefully considered, as though she was winging it rather than truly preparing for such a major change.

Despite my reservations about Lulu’s choices, I loved the sense of community the author creates in Devon and enjoyed meeting the supporting characters. This was my first time reading Maddie Please’s work, and the warmth of the setting and cast makes me curious to read more from her.

My Final Verdict: The Mini-Break is a warm, feel-good read with an inviting countryside setting, a lively supporting cast, and plenty of charm. While Lulu’s major life changes and the romance with Joe sometimes felt a little rushed, the book still offers an enjoyable escape and a strong sense of community. Readers who enjoy light contemporary romance with humor, heart, and a fresh-start storyline will likely find this a pleasant and easygoing read.

Thank you to the publisher, Avon Books UK, who provided an advance reader copy of this book via NetGalley.

REVIEW: If I Never Met You by Mhairi McFarlane

Title: If I Never Met You
Author: Mhairi McFarlane
Narrator: Sara Novak
Publisher: HarperCollins Publishers
Publication Date: March 2020
Genre: Contemporary Romance
Buy the Book: Amazon | BN | Audible

Description: If faking love is this easy... how do you know when it’s real?

When her partner of over a decade suddenly ends things, Laurie is left reeling—not only because they work at the same law firm and she has to see him every day. Her once perfect life is in shambles and the thought of dating again in the age of Tinder is nothing short of horrifying. When news of her ex’s pregnant girlfriend hits the office grapevine, taking the humiliation lying down is not an option. Then a chance encounter in a broken-down elevator with the office playboy opens up a new possibility.

Jamie Carter doesn’t believe in love, but he needs a respectable, steady girlfriend to impress their bosses. Laurie wants a hot new man to give the rumor mill something else to talk about. It’s the perfect proposition: a fauxmance played out on social media, with strategically staged photographs and a specific end date in mind. With the plan hatched, Laurie and Jamie begin to flaunt their new couple status, to the astonishment—and jealousy—of their friends and colleagues. But there’s a fine line between pretending to be in love and actually falling for your charming, handsome fake boyfriend...

My Thoughts: Although I completely understood and empathized with Laurie’s situation, I’m not a fan of the fake-dating trope. When a relationship is built on a lie, it sets a troubling precedent, no matter how justified the participants may feel.

I’m also wary of workplace romances—not because dating a boss or coworker is inherently wrong, but because private lives can quickly become office gossip. Laurie and Jamie face intense scrutiny from their colleagues, even after their relationship becomes genuine. If the relationship ends, the workplace can become a battleground, creating awkwardness, discomfort, and an unwelcome loss of privacy.

What makes the story compelling is how convincingly the fake relationship develops, even though the eventual outcome is easy to anticipate. I enjoyed Laurie and Jamie’s chemistry, the ease with which they connect, and the support they offer each other when painful events from their pasts come to light.

McFarlane also blends romantic comedy with sensitive subjects and emotional upheaval remarkably well. This is only the second book I’ve read by her, but it left me eager to explore more of her work.

My Final Verdict: Despite my reservations about the fake-dating and workplace-romance tropes, If I Never Met You won me over with its engaging chemistry, emotional depth, and thoughtful balance of humor and heavier themes. The destination may be predictable, but the journey feels sincere, entertaining, and ultimately satisfying. I would recommend it to readers who enjoy character-driven contemporary romance with wit and heart.

Thank you to the publisher, HarperCollins Publishers, who provided an advance reader copy of this book via NetGalley.

REVIEW: Little Girls Sleeping by Jennifer Chase

Title: Little Girls Sleeping (Detective Katie Scott #1)
Author: Jennifer Chase
Narrator: Lisa Rost-Welling
Publisher: Bookouture
Publication Date: May 2019
Genre: Thriller
Buy the Book: Amazon | BN | Audible

Description: He looked down at the little girl, sleeping peacefully, her arms wrapped around a teddy bear. He knew he was the only one who could save her. He could let her sleep forever.

An eight-year-old girl, Chelsea Compton, is missing in Pine Valley, California and for Detective Katie Scott it’s a cruel reminder of the friend who disappeared from summer camp twenty years ago. Unable to shake the memories, Katie vows she won’t rest until she discovers what happened to Chelsea.

But as Katie starts to investigate, the case reveals itself to be much bigger and more shocking than she feared. Hidden deep in the forest she unearths a makeshift cemetery: a row of graves, each with a brightly colored teddy bear.

Katie links the graves to a stack of missing-persons cases involving young girls—finding a pattern no one else has managed to see. Someone in Pine Valley has been taking the town’s daughters for years, and Katie is the only one who can stop them.

And then another little girl goes missing, snatched from the park near her home.

Katie’s still haunted by the friend she failed to protect, and she’ll do anything to stop the killer striking again—but can she find the little girl before it’s too late?

My Thoughts: Little Girls Sleeping is the first book in a series with fifteen published installments as of this review. The story follows Katie Scott, a police officer and Army veteran who returns to her hometown with her K9 partner, Cisco. Katie carries significant emotional trauma that is not fully explained, though I hope the series sheds more light on her past as it develops. Her uncle, the town sheriff, offers her an administrative position with the department while she decides what comes next.

Katie inadvertently discovers the graves of two little girls who disappeared several years earlier, their murders still unsolved. Determined to identify the person responsible for the abductions and killings, she makes the case a personal priority—even if pursuing it means stepping on the assigned detective’s toes.

I adore stories in which dogs and cats play prominent roles, and this book was no exception. I loved Cisco and hope he appears throughout the series.

Overall, the story was good, but I am still trying to understand what Katie endured in her youth, later as an adult, and while serving overseas. The book offers vague hints about her trauma without providing concrete answers, which can be frustrating for a reader like me who prefers loose threads to be tied up.

Even so, I enjoyed the story enough to continue the series and see what Katie and Cisco get into next.

My Final Verdict: Little Girls Sleeping is an engaging start to the Detective Katie Scott series, pairing a compelling mystery with a likable K9 partner in Cisco. Although Katie’s unresolved backstory left me wanting more clarity, the investigation held my interest and the characters have enough promise to bring me back for the next book.

Thank you to the publisher, Bookouture, who provided an advance reader copy of this book via NetGalley.

REVIEW: The Bitter Season by Tami Hoag

Title: The Bitter Season (Kovac and Liska #5)
Author: Tami Hoag
Narrator: David Colacci
Publisher: Brilliance Audio
Publication Date: January 2016
Genre: Thriller
Buy the Book: Amazon | BN | Audible

Description: EVERY FAMILY HAS A SECRET. THEIRS WILL CHILL YOU TO THE CORE.

A murder from the past. A murder from the present. And a life that was never meant to be... As the dreary, bitter weather of late fall descends on Minneapolis, Detective Nikki Liska is restless. After moving to the cold case squad in order to spend more time with her sons, she misses the rush of pulling an all-nighter, the sense of urgency of hunting a murderer on the loose. Most of all she misses her old partner, Sam Kovac.

Sam is having an even harder time adjusting to Nikki's absence, saddled with a green new partner younger than pieces of Sam's wardrobe. Sam is distracted from his troubles by an especially brutal double homicide: a middle-aged husband and wife bludgeoned and hacked to death in their home with a ceremonial Japanese samurai sword. Nikki's case, the unsolved murder of a family man, community leader, and decorated sex crimes detective for the Minneapolis PD, is less of a distraction: Twenty years later, there is little hope for finding the killer who got away.

On the other end of the spectrum, Minneapolis resident Evi Burke has a life she only dreamed of as a kid in and out of foster homes: a beautiful home, a family, people who love her, a fulfilling job. Little does she know that a danger from her past is stalking her perfect present. A danger powerful enough to pull in both Kovac and Liska and destroy the perfect life she was never meant to have.

My Thoughts: Because The Bitter Season was published in 2016 and, as of 2026, no additional books have featured Sam Kovac and Nikki Liska, it seems reasonable to view this as the likely final installment in the series. That gives the story a bittersweet quality, especially after the events of the previous book.

Nikki and Sam are no longer partners in this book, and that shift is felt throughout the story. Nikki misses working with Sam, but her move to the cold case unit gives her more time with her sons and keeps her away from the immediate danger of chasing active killers. I was glad to see that they still cross paths, and their scenes together continue to deliver the camaraderie and banter I enjoy so much.

Nikki’s twenty-five-year-old murder investigation eventually connects to the new case Kovac and his inexperienced partner are working, though not in the way I expected. That connection added tension and kept me invested as the two storylines began to overlap.

Because this series is so character driven, I recommend reading the books in order. Doing so makes it easier to understand the characters’ personalities, appreciate their growth, and notice the nuances in their relationships. This installment is also intense and violent at times, so readers may want to check content warnings before diving in.

Several jaw-dropping twists genuinely surprised me and heightened my apprehension as the story unfolded. David Colacci’s excellent audio narration added to that tension and made the suspense feel even sharper. My only real disappointment was the lack of closure around Sam and Nikki’s personal lives, especially if this is the final book in the series. The author may have left that door open intentionally in case she wants to revisit these characters, but I also do not want to hold on to false hope.

My Final Verdict: The Bitter Season is a gripping, character-driven thriller that blends a chilling cold case with a brutal present-day investigation. While I wish the ending had offered more personal closure for Sam and Nikki, the suspense, twists, and emotional weight make this a strong and bittersweet installment in the Kovac and Liska series. Recommended for readers who enjoy dark police procedurals with layered relationships and tense, unsettling mysteries.

REVIEW: A Witch in Time by Constance Sayers

Title: A Witch in Time
Author: Constance Sayers
Narrator: Courtney Patterson, Claire Christie, Brittany Wilkerson, Stephanie Willis
Publisher: Redhook Books
Publication Date: February 2020
Genre: Fantasy / Women’s Fiction
Buy the Book: Amazon | BN | Audible

Description: A young witch is cursed to relive a doomed love affair through many lifetimes, as both troubled muse and frustrated artist, in this haunting debut novel.

In 1895, sixteen-year-old Juliet LaCompte has a passionate, doomed romance with the married Parisian painter Auguste Marchant. When her mother -- a witch -- attempts to cast a curse on Marchant, she unwittingly summons a demon, binding her daughter to both the artist and this supernatural being for all time. Juliet is fated to re-live her affair and die tragically young lifetime after lifetime as the star-crossed lovers reincarnate through history.

The demon -- who appears to Juliet in all her reincarnations as a mysterious, handsome, and worldly benefactor -- has been helplessly in love with her since 19th century France, even though she forgets him each time she dies. He falls for her in 1930s Hollywood, in 1970s Los Angeles, and finally in present-day Washington D.C. -- where she begins to develop powers of her own.

In this life, she starts to remember her tragic past lives. But this time, she might have the power to break the cycle...

My Thoughts: A Witch in Time by Constance Sayers is spectacular: heartbreaking, atmospheric, and ultimately hopeful. The story introduces a woman bound by a witch’s curse to live many lives across more than a century, repeatedly drawn toward the wrong man while the love that may truly be meant for her remains just out of reach.

What makes the novel even more remarkable is that it is Sayers’s debut. The plotting and pacing are so assured that the book reads like the work of a seasoned author with several titles already to her credit. Her attention to historical detail gives each time period a vivid sense of place, making it easy to feel fully immersed in the world of the story.

Following Helen as she begins to remember her past lives as Juliet, Nora, and Sandra took me through a wide range of emotions. While a few moments were somewhat triggering for me, they never disrupted the story’s flow or diminished my overall enjoyment of the book.

My Final Verdict: Overall, A Witch in Time is a beautifully written and emotionally rich debut that blends romance, history, and fantasy into a haunting, memorable story. Constance Sayers creates an immersive reading experience through vivid historical settings, a layered curse, and characters whose choices echo across lifetimes. The novel’s mix of heartbreak, longing, and quiet hope makes it especially compelling for readers who enjoy atmospheric, character-driven stories with a touch of magic.

I highly recommend this book to anyone drawn to reincarnation, doomed love, historical fiction, and emotional fantasy with strong storytelling at its center.

Thank you to the publisher, Redhook Books, who provided an advance reader copy of this book via NetGalley.

REVIEW: The Date by Louise Jensen

Title: The Date
Author: Louise Jensen
Publisher: Bookouture
Publication Date: June 2018
Genre: Thriller
Buy the Book: Amazon | BN | Audible

Description: One night can change everything.

‘I know it as soon as I wake up and open my eyes... Something is wrong.’

Her Saturday night started normally. Recently separated from her husband, Ali has been persuaded by her friends to go on a date with a new man. She is ready, she is nervous, she is excited. She is about to take a step into her new future. By Sunday morning, Ali’s life is unrecognizable. She wakes, and she knows that something is wrong. She is home, she is alone, she is hurt and she has no memory of what happened to her.

Worse still, when she looks in the mirror, Ali doesn’t recognize the face staring back at her…

My Thoughts: This was a true nail-biter and an excellent choice for thriller fans. Newly separated from her husband, Ali agrees to go on a date with a man she has been talking to online. When she wakes the next morning, she has no memory of the night before, but she is injured and covered in blood.

As if that were not terrifying enough, Ali no longer recognizes her own face in the mirror—or anyone else’s. That detail immediately raises the stakes and makes her situation feel even more vulnerable and unsettling. I would love to see this story adapted for the screen.

As the story unfolds, the reader learns that the person who hurt Ali is stalking her and knows about something terrible from her past. That thread made the tension especially effective because Ali’s prosopagnosia—face blindness—means the danger could be standing directly in front of her, and she still would not know who to fear.

The structure and pacing are excellent. I was invested in Ali’s situation from the beginning and stayed on edge, eager to see how everything would play out. The finale and big reveal were genuinely shocking and took me through a wide range of emotions.

The supporting characters also added to the suspense. Many of them felt unreliable, which kept suspicion shifting and made Ali’s fear more convincing. I felt tremendous empathy for her and, like Ali, was never sure who could be trusted.

My Final Verdict: The Date is a gripping, twist-filled thriller that kept me turning the pages from start to finish. Louise Jensen builds tension beautifully, using Ali’s fear, confusion, and vulnerability to create a story that feels both unsettling and impossible to put down. With its fast pacing, unreliable characters, and shocking reveal, this is a strong recommendation for readers who enjoy psychological thrillers with emotional impact and plenty of suspense.

Thank you to the publisher, Bookouture, who provided an advance reader copy of this book via NetGalley.

REVIEW: The Lion's Den by Katherine St. John

Title: The Lion’s Den
Author: Katherine St. John
Narrator: Christine Lakin
Publisher: Grand Central Publishing
Publication Date: June 2020
Genre: Women’s Fiction
Buy the Book: Amazon | BN | Audible

Description: Belle likes to think herself immune to the dizzying effects of fabulous wealth. But when her best friend, Summer, invites her on a glamorous getaway to the Mediterranean aboard her billionaire boyfriend's yacht, the only sensible answer is yes. Belle hopes the trip will be a much-needed break from her stalled acting career and uniquely humiliating waitressing job, but once she's aboard the luxurious Lion's Den, it soon becomes clear this jet-setting holiday is not as advertised.

Belle's dream vacation quickly devolves into a nightmare as she and the handful of other girls Summer invited are treated more like prisoners than guests by their controlling host-and in one terrifying moment, Belle comes to see Summer for who she truly is: a vicious gold digger who will stop at nothing to get what she wants.

Belle realizes she's going to have to keep her wits about her -- and her own big secret closely hidden -- if she wants to make it off the yacht alive.

My Thoughts: The Lion’s Den blends thriller elements with women’s fiction, pulling the reader into a world of extreme wealth, luxury, and excess. It is a world filled with lavish, materialistic temptations, but beneath the glamour is a darker current of corruption, manipulation, and desperation.

The story is a very slow burn, moving between Belle and Summer’s past and present in a way that made me question how they ever became friends in the first place. I liked Belle, even though she often comes across as naïve and gullible. I kept hoping she would find her backbone and finally tell Summer where to go.

At first, being invited to cruise around the Mediterranean on a super-yacht for Summer’s birthday sounds exciting. But after seeing so clearly how selfish Summer has been—and continues to be—I struggled to understand why Belle would accept the invitation at all.

The final quarter of the book takes a dramatic turn, pulling the story together in a way that gave me the answers I had been looking for. At the same time, the shift was so sharp that I briefly wondered whether I was reading two different books. Somehow, though, the approach works. By the end, I was completely invested—hands fisted and white-knuckled—waiting to see how everything would play out.

Readers who are not fans of slow-burn plots should be prepared to exercise patience. The payoff is there, but getting to it felt tedious at times. Most of the characters are deeply unlikable, yet they are written well enough that it was easy to form strong impressions and assumptions about who they really were.

I do wish the ending had been more fleshed out after the major plot twist. I finished the book wanting a little more closure—perhaps even an epilogue—to show what ultimately happens to all the players.

My Final Verdict: The Lion’s Den is a slow-burn, character-driven thriller wrapped in sun-soaked luxury and simmering tension. While the pacing requires patience and the ending could have offered more closure, the final twists are compelling enough to make the journey worthwhile. Readers who enjoy messy friendships, glamorous settings, and secrets that unravel piece by piece will likely find this an entertaining and suspenseful read.

Thank you to the publisher, Grand Central Publishing, who provided an advance reader copy of this book via NetGalley.

REVIEW: Don't You Forget About Me by Mhairi McFarlane

Title: Don’t You Forget About Me
Author: Mhairi McFarlane
Narrator: Madeline Gould
Publisher: HarperCollins Publishers
Publication Date: September 2019
Genre: Contemporary Romance / Women’s Fiction
Buy the Book: Amazon | BN | Audible

Description: You always remember your first love... don’t you?

If there’s anything worse than being fired from the lousiest restaurant in town, it’s coming home early to find your boyfriend in bed with someone else. Reeling from the humiliation of a double dumping in one day, Georgina takes the next job that comes her way—bartender in a newly opened pub. There’s only one problem: it’s run by the guy she fell in love with years ago. And—make that two problems—he doesn’t remember her. At all. But she has fabulous friends and her signature hot pink fur coat... what more could a girl really need?

Lucas McCarthy has not only grown into a broodingly handsome man, but he’s also turned into an actual grown-up, with a thriving business and a dog along the way. Crossing paths with him again throws Georgina’s rocky present into sharp relief—and brings a secret from her past bubbling to the surface. Only she knows what happened twelve years ago, and why she’s allowed the memories to chase her ever since. But maybe it’s not too late for the truth... or a second chance with the one that got away?

My Thoughts: This book had far more depth than the description suggests. At first, the premise sounds like an engaging second-chance romance: Georgina crosses paths with Lucas, her first love, after twelve years, only to discover that he does not seem to remember her. That question alone creates instant tension—does he truly not remember, or is he pretending? And if he is pretending, why?

The story took me in directions I did not see coming, and those unexpected turns made it even more captivating. I wanted to understand both Georgina and Lucas, and McFarlane does an excellent job of filling in the gaps by revisiting their teenage years. Learning why they did not end up together back then was heartbreaking, and the way McFarlane slowly revealed the truth drew out real emotion.

McFarlane blends humor and romance beautifully with more serious subject matter, including infidelity, toxic relationships, death, and other sensitive topics. Readers may want to be mindful of potential triggers. Even when the story moved in directions I did not expect, those choices ultimately brought everything full circle, and I absolutely loved how it all came together.

Georgina was easy to like right away, and her warmth, humor, and vulnerability made her immediately relatable. I also enjoyed the energy and support of her friends, who helped round out her world, as well as Lucas’s brother, Devlin, who was instantly likable.

Lucas took longer for me to warm up to, largely because I knew he had broken Georgina’s heart. That made me cautious about him at first, but as the story unfolded, McFarlane gave him enough depth and context for me to see him differently.

My Final Verdict: Don’t You Forget About Me is a witty, emotional, and ultimately satisfying read that delivers much more than a simple second-chance romance. With relatable characters, heartfelt revelations, and McFarlane’s sharp blend of humor and vulnerability, this is a story that lingers after the final page. I would recommend it to readers who enjoy contemporary romance with emotional depth, complicated pasts, and a strong sense of hope.

Thank you to the publisher, HarperCollins Publishing, who provided an advance reader copy of this book via NetGalley.