illstoptheworldandreadwithyou's reviews
779 reviews

The Beasts We Bury by D.L. Taylor

4.0

The heir to the throne thinks she’s working to prevent war by aiding a young man, who’s posing as a servant in her father’s castle. 

The young man is doing what he can to protect himself and his friends, performing multiple jobs that will add up to a major heist for a man he’s not entirely sure he can trust.

She’s filled with an army’s worth of animals, a spirit for each and every animal she has (unwillingly) killed with her own two hands, but all she wants is peace.

He wants revenge against her father, but the more he gets to know her, the more he wonders if more violence is really the answer.

This dual POV, YA fantasy novel is full of secrets, the fierce loyalty of found family, feelings of betrayal, moral dilemmas, and a hint at the blush of young love.

Brenda Scott Wlazlo and Jake Chronister do an excellent job of capturing the youthfulness of the characters in their audiobook narration.

I received an advance copy of the audiobook from Macmillan Audio. All review opinions are my own.

The Serpent and the Wolf by Rebecca Robinson

4.25

A political marriage of convenience, a dark magic that threatens to consume the wife and everything around her, and a scheming brother that would like nothing more than to see her and her new husband dead—this is the stage set in Rebecca Robinson’s romantasy debut: The Serpent and the Wolf.

Vaasa never intends to stay with her new husband, Reid of Mireh, until he offers her a deal, three years as his wife on the political stage in exchange for help training the dark magic she fears will consume her. And so begins this enemies-to-lovers, slow burn, fantasy romance.

Reid is fantastic; the tension between him and Vaasa is scorching; and I loved watching them become a team. 

Lines like “people, much like homes, would always be taken away and she had no clue how to let someone close enough for that to hurt” and “‘You have grown my capacity for hope.’” pulled on my heartstrings. 

I enjoyed seeing Vaasa’s growth, her vulnerability, and how she warms to the idea of having a sense of home and community.

What kept this from being a 5⭐️ read for me:
- I'm still a little fuzzy on some of the details surrounding Vaasa's magic.
- The sudden switch to dual POV near the end of the book (for which I understand the reasoning but which was initially jarring to me)
- Battle scenes can feel chaotic in fantasy books (especially on audio) for me, and that is the case here
- This is a slow burn, not just in a romantic sense, so there’s a slow buildup of everything and then BAM: it’s all happening at once.

In the grand scheme of things, those are minor complaints, and I'm invested in seeing what comes next for these characters. I look forward to reading the next two books in this trilogy!

Jesse Vilinsky does a fantastic job with the narration. This is the difference between a narrator reading an audiobook and performing. I could feel the emotion. There were a couple of moments when I caught tears tracking down my cheeks. 

4.25⭐️

I received an advance copy of the audiobook from Simon and Schuster Audio. All review opinions are my own.

Servant of Earth by Sarah Hawley

5.0

 

When I saw that Sarah Hawley had a fantasy book coming out, I got grabby hands. I LOVE her Glimmer Falls series and feel like I am in my fantasy era. I knew I needed to read this one. 

 

And it did not disappoint. 

 

A headstrong human who trips into the world of the Fae must help her mistress to succeed the six deadly trials representing the six houses of Mistei—Fire, Earth, Light, Void, Illusion, and (the many-centuries-banished) Blood—while navigating the different moral code, caste system, and strict ruling regime of the underground Fae kingdom. 

 

Armed with a sentient dagger and her own wits, Kenna soon learns that the trials are not the only dangers that she faces in Mistei. 

 

Y’all, I LOVED this one. I would have read it in one sitting if life responsibilities hadn’t gotten in the way. (Silly responsibilities, always messing with my reading time….) 

 

Here’s a list of words I jotted down while reading this one: loyalty, courage, potential love triangle, HEAT, friendship, testing the bonds of loyalty and friendship, disillusionment, politics, courage, caring, and learning who you can trust. 

 

I look forward to reading the next book in this series. 

 

I received an advance copy of the book from Berkley Publishing and Ace. All review opinions are my own. 

Let's Call a Truce by Amy Buchanan

4.0

 

Following her husband’s unexpected death, single mom Juliana Ryan returns to the workforce after years of staying home with their two kids in this workplace, enemies-to-lovers romance from Amy Buchanan. Although Juliana and coworker Ben Thomas have an adorable meet-cute, their feelings for each other quickly sour. 

 

Fast forward two years, and Juliana and Ben are forced to spend time working together on a project. On top of that, their personal lives outside of work begin to intersect more and more. As it turns out, they have more in common than Juliana originally thought. 

 

What I liked: 

• The lip-print meet-cute
• The verbal sparring
• Main characters in their 30s
• Mental health rep (grief and anxiety)
• The supportive friendships
• The smoking hot chemistry between Juliana and Ben
• The exploration of love after loss
• Seeing Juliana’s confidence grow

The main things I didn’t love:
 

• I understand why this is written in single POV, but I wish we had gotten glimpses into Ben’s perspective.
• Due to emotions running high, Juliana makes a snap judgment about Ben based on one encounter and clings to that opinion despite evidence to the contrary for years. I didn’t love how she is so myopic when it comes to him.
• The tone of the book shifts about halfway through, so in some ways, it felt like I was reading two separate books.
• Some side characters come across as one-dimensional and are more plot devices than characters in their own right.

The audiobook is narrated by Charlotte North. North captures the strength, determination, and frustration of Juliana. North also captures the children’s voices well, but I didn’t love her voice for Ben.
 
I received an advance copy of the ebook from St. Martin’s Press and an advance copy of the audiobook from Macmillan Audio. All review opinions are my own.
 

The Bride's Runaway Billionaire by Pippa Grant

• Loveable characters? Yes

4.25

An unlikely friendship forged in Fiji when they both needed it most leads to a son neither of them expected and a second chance at love in The Bride’s Runaway Billionaire. 

 

Emma Monroe, of viral video fame, meets Jonas Rutherford, of Razzle Dazzle fame, while both are hiding out in Fiji. She’s running from the dramatic discoveries she learned at her wedding. He’s hiding from the public after details of his recent divorce were plastered across the media. They may seem like unlikely friends, but they form a strong connection in a short period of time. After spending a night together, he ends up ghosting her. 

 

But he left a little something behind. 

 

Fast forward a couple of years, and Jonas shows up in her hometown looking to meet his toddler son. 

 

Emma has been burned before, though, so she’s slow to invite anyone into her son’s life and into her heart. 

 

At a glance: 

• Dual POV (+ a bonus epilogue from a third POV)
• Second chance after a vacation fling
• Celebrity romance 
• He’s an actor from a very famous family
• Small town
• Found family
• Secret baby—but not one she tried to hide—who readers meet as a toddler
• Single parent

 
Read it for
 

• Yolko Ono, a one-legged, white Silkie chicken
• A visit with beloved characters from the other Three BFFs and a Wedding books and from The Last Eligible Billionaire
• The protectiveness of the family / found family and how they support each other
• A hot tub scene that ends in an unexpected way

 
This one is narrated by Connor Crais and Savannah Peachwood. They always do a great job; if you pick this one up, you’re in for an enjoyable listen. 


 
I received a copy of the audiobook from the author. All review opinions are my own.
 

The Whispering Night by Susan Dennard

4.0

Just as things seem to be getting back on track for Winnie Wednesday, new visitors start coming to town for the Nightmare Masquerade celebration. Some of those visitors have nefarious intentions, and Winnie must confront them in order to protect herself, her loved ones, and the woods.

There is a lot going on in this one. Secrets are revealed; questions are answered; and the war between the Luminaries and the Dianas comes to a head.

We still see the budding romance between Jay and Winnie and the rekindled friendship between Winnie and Erica, but they take a bit of a backseat to all of the moving pieces and parts that lead to a massive face-off between Winnie and the witches.

Note: This is the third book in the trilogy. The books in this series are meant to be read in order.

As with the first two audiobooks, Caitlin Davies does a great job with the narration here. I enjoyed the various voices she uses to portray different characters. Her portrayal of soft-spoken Jay is still my favorite of the group.

I received an advance copy of the audiobook from Macmillan Audio. All review opinions are my own.

My Favorite Holidate by Lauren Blakely

4.75

If you like your holiday romances filled with spice and everything nice, I highly recommend checking this one out.

A designer and her billionaire boss strike up a fake dating deal to thwart his matchmaking relatives and to help her save face with her cheating ex in My Favorite Holidate by Lauren Blakely.

He’s the owner of the football franchise she works for, her soon-to-be brother-in-law’s best friend, and the best man to her maid of honor at her sister’s upcoming wedding. She’s the woman he’s been crushing on for a long time, who recently caught her (now ex-) boyfriend, who is also in the wedding party, cheating on her between the main meal and dessert on Thanksgiving.

At a glance:
- Dual POV
- Holiday romance
- Fake dating
- Workplace
- Billionaire romance
- Single father
- Best man + maid of honor
- Small-town Christmas competitions
- Only one bed
- 🔥🔥🔥 chemistry
- He falls first

Reasons to read it:
- The banter and verbal sparring!!!
- How Wilder dotes on Fable and shows her how a romantic partner should be treated
- Seriously y’all, the off-the-charts chemistry
- The father-daughter relationship 
- The mistletoe kiss
- The Christmas games
- I did mention only one bed, right, because ONLY ONE BED 
- Ribbon 😏
- The supportive friendships
- The incident involving glitter *****
- Some seriously swoony moments
- How Fable supports Wilder

This audiobook has full cast narration. I sure do love full cast narration. Wilder is voiced by Jason Clarke, and you know how I feel about his deep, grumbly voice. (Yum! That is how I feel.) Fable is voiced by Samantha Brentmoor, who does a fantastic job capturing the character’s approachability, playfulness, and backbone. Other narrators include Andi Arndt, Connor Crais, Vanessa Edwin, Andi Eloise, Teddy Hamilton, Erin Mallon, Noah B. Perez, Shakira Shute and Ryan West. Anyway, if enjoy audiobooks, this one is a delightfully spicy treat to listen to while you deck the halls.

4.75⭐️

I received advance copies of the ebook and audiobook from Hambright PR. All review opinions are my own.

If You Need Me by Helena Hunting

4.75

Wilhelmina “Hemi” Reddi-Grinst is the kick*** head of PR for the Toronto Terror hockey team. She’s strong; she’s confident; and she knows how to get things done. 

 

She’s always been straight-talking, straightforward, and determined to succeed. 

 

But she does have one chink in her armor: the memory of being betrayed by her ex-best friend and high school crush ten years ago. 

 

And now their high school reunion is coming up. 

 

And that ex-best friend and high school crush just announced their engagement. 

 

Dallas Bright has been a goner for Hemi since the third grade. She just doesn’t know it. As a player on the Toronto Terror, he gladly jumps at any opportunity to work with her, even the ones where she seems to delight in his misery. He messed up with her long ago, but maybe one day he’ll be able to make it up to her. Going as her fake date to their high school reunion seems like a good place to start. 

 

At a glance: 

• Dual POV
• Hockey romance
• Workplace romance
• Black cat + golden retriever
• Enemies-to-lovers
• Fake dating + fake engagement
• Longtime crush
• He falls first and hard
• Found family
• Only one bed

I sure do adore Dallas and his golden retriever energy. He could not be any more in love with Hemi; and she could not be any more oblivious; and frankly, their dynamic is fantastic.
 
Read it for
 

• Dallas and Hemi’s insane chemistry (and the steamy scenes it leads to)
• How genuine Dallas is
• Hemi’s all-around awesomeness
• How over-the-moon Dallas is for Hemi
• Banter, banter, banter
• Hemi’s brothers (Please tell me that they will be getting their own books.)
• The close-knit group of friends
• A front row seat to former high school tormentors getting their comeuppance

Andi Arndt and Stephen Dexter do a fantastic job of bringing Hemi and Dallas to life in the audiobook. They capture the characters emotions and energy and play up the humorous moments. I highly recommend listening to this one audio.
 
If You Need Me is the third book in the Toronto Terror series but can be read as a standalone. 

I received an advance copy of the book from Good Girls PR. All review opinions are my own.
 

 

Under Loch and Key by Lana Ferguson

4.5

Well, I, for one, am certainly glad Lana Ferguson decided to dip her toes into monster romance. 

Under Loch and Key tells the tale of Keyanna “Key” MacKay, who discovers that her late father’s tale of the Loch Ness Monster turns out to be true when she goes to Ireland to connect with the extended family she’s never met.

Lachlan Greer has been taught to never trust a MacKay, so he hates Key on sight and wants her to go somewhere else, anywhere else really. He certainly doesn’t find her attractive or intriguing at all, and he definitely doesn’t want her to learn any of his secrets.

At a glance:
- Dual POV
- Irish setting
- Monster romance
- Ancient curse
- Enemies-to-lovers
- Reconnecting with family
- Uncovering secrets
- Grief

Read it for
- The banter and humor
- How fiercely Lachlan loves Key (once he realizes he doesn’t hate her after all)
- The meddlesome twins
- How Key reconnects with her family
- And how she accepts Lachlan for who he is
- Their determination to end the curse
- The Highland games scene (Hello, men in kilts!)
- Some (ahem) scenes involving certain aspects of Lachlan’s inner monster
- An epilogue that gave me the biggest grin

4.5⭐️

I received an advance copy of the book from Berkley. All review opinions are my own.

The Worst Wedding Date by Pippa Grant

4.5

She’s always been a rule follower, and he’s known for breaking them. 

The last thing Laney expects to be tasked with at her best friend’s wedding is babysitting the bride’s older brother, but here she is sharing a room with him. And spending most of her time with him. And learning that he’s not the person she always believed him to be. 

 

He’s much more. 

 

At a glance: 

• Dual POV
• Destination wedding in Hawaii
• Best friend’s brother
• Forced proximity
• Enemies-to-lovers
• Teenage crush
• Only one bed
• Opposites attract
• Kittens!

 
Read it for:
 

• The banter
• Theo’s huge heart
• And his sense of humor
• Laney learning to let go
• I did mention the kittens, right?
• The scene with a pig
• The laugh-out-loud moments
• The 🔥 tension and chemistry between Laney and Theo

 
I loved the narration by Kit Swann and Ryan West. They captured Laney and Theo perfectly. I highly recommend listening to this one on audio. 


 
Stick around for the bonus epilogue; it made me cackle.

I received a copy of the audiobook from the author. All review opinions are my own.