niftyreads's reviews
162 reviews

We all know why I picked this book. It’s the perfect sapphic title for a Regency romance. I sing it every time I see it. Was it the ideal sapphic Regency romance? No. Did I enjoy it? Yes. Would I have liked a little more from it? Also, yes. 

 

DON’T WANT YOU LIKE A BEST FRIEND by Emma R. Alban is by no means a bad book; it’s just not the book I hoped for. While I wanted more pining and secret trysts between two best friends in 1857, what I actually got was more scheming and plotting, aka “parent-trapping” their parents together. 

 

I liked it, but I felt it was like 25% secret love and 75% parent-trapping. It’s just not the book I expected. It’s fun and cute but definitely not spicy enough, lol. I did laugh a lot, which is always a plus for me when I read. I think that had a lot to do with the audiobook narration by Mary Jane Wells and Morag Sims, which I enjoyed and kept me interested in the book. Especially when I thought the book was going to be over and it kept going giving us a reason to listen to book two, YOU’RE THE PROBLEM, IT’S YOU. You just read DON’T WANT YOU LIKE A BEST FRIEND and stop. It’s unnecessary to move on, but it is fun as I started it right away and already like this one better! I may reread the first book at some point, knowing what to expect now, to see if my thoughts change. 

 

If you go in knowing what to expect, it will be a good experience. 

Thanks, Macmillan Audio, for the ALC! 

 

I’m a fan of Ann Liang’s writing, and I’m a fan of Natalie Naudus’ narration. To have them combine on Liang’s new book, A SONG TO DROWN RIVERS, for its audiobook was very exciting for me! The book is inspired by the legend of Xishi, one of the famous Four Beauties of Ancient China, which I know nothing about. For me, this was a gorgeous fantasy novel filled with love and hate, war and traitors, sacrifice and hope. There’s no surprise that lots of tears were shed. 

 

I found some difficult and sad to read, while others were full of joy and light. The pace was strange, but then again, it was a different type of tale, so it made sense. I think having Naudus as the narrator helped a lot. They are one of my favorites because they are so skilled in their profession, bringing stories to life that I forget I’m listening to one person and not a full cast. 

 

This is a book I can’t wait to reread because of the beauty of it! 

 

Content warnings: child death, grief, violence, war, animal cruelty 

Thanks, Macmillian Audio, for the ALC! 

 

If you loved (or just liked) TFOTA, you’ll want to read this series. It’s definitely different, but it has CRUEL PRINCE vibes and the open-door scenes we wish it had. 

 

I’ve never read a Mary Pearson book, so THE COURTING OF BRISTOL KEATS is my first. But with an excellent fae world and the audiobook narrated by one of my favorites, Brittany Pressly, I’m willing to bet this will turn into one of my favorite series! 

 

And after that ending, I’m ready for book two! 

Thanks, Macmillan Audio and Minotaur Books, for the ALC and arc! 

 

I needed the second book when I finished the first book in the LADY PETRA INQUIRIES series. One year is much too long to wait, but I have to say the wait for ALL’S FAIR IN LOVE AND TREACHERY was worth it. Lady Petra returned strong, smart, and snarky, and I love her so much. She also gets the best book blurb, “BRIDGERTON meets Agatha Christie in this dazzling next installment in a captivating Regency-era mystery series with a feminist spin.” Are you excited about her books now? 

 

The ending of the first book solved a case but left us with a devious cliffhanger that surprised me. I started reading as soon as I received the arc because I had to find out what would happen. I missed the audiobook and ended up pausing my read until I got the new audiobook because Eilidh Beaton is such a good narrator for this series!! I love her voice for Lady Petra! Plus, her side characters are excellent! Reading is a splendid decision, but I adore this series on audio. 

 

I love how quirky this series is. It truly is BRIDGERTON meets Agatha Christie. We get the gorgeous dress descriptions, the events of the ton, the tea, and then we get the crime-solving - sometimes in the silliest of ways! 

 

If you’re a fan of either of the previously mentioned series, this is a series for you! 

Thanks, Kate Callaghan, for the arc! 

 

MS. PERFECTLY FINE by Kate Callaghan was another book I’m sad I sat on because I really enjoyed it, but tbh, I think I read at the perfect time for me when I was having a bad flare-up of my health. I needed to read a story of a girl similar to me struggling through life with her chronic condition and knowing she had people there for her and that it’s okay to let new ones in. Plus, this is just a cute romance with a surprising bit of suspense! 

 

Autumn is written with an excellent chronic pain representation. I really related to her and understood her feelings and insecurities. I felt seen, and I liked that. I appreciated how Elijah was written. Sure, he was a jerk initially, but once he realized she had real issues, he did what he could to adapt and help her. 🥹 (If only the whole world were this way…) 

 

The forced proximity was great. I laughed a lot and loved how they fell into a relationship. And I was super surprised about the suspense! I did not expect it to be that suspenseful, and I felt like I was reading a thriller at some points. It made the book a lot of fun between the romance, comedy, and suspense! 

 

I think this is a fun book for anyone, but I hope whoever reads it gives grace to Autumn and remembers that there are real people like her out there (Hi! It’s me!). I hope that you enjoy this book like I did because it was a lot of fun! 

 

Content warnings: stalking, gaslighting, death, grief, chronic illness, medical trauma, ableism 

Thanks, Macmillan Audio, for the ALC! 

 

I was sold with the first line of the book blurb for THE NIGHTMARE BEFORE KISSMASS, “RED, WHITE, & ROYAL BLUE” meets The Nightmare Before Christmas in this sexy, quirky rom-com where the golden-hearted Print of Christmas falls for the totally off-limits Prince of Halloween.” Thank you for giving me everything I like. Then I met the characters with whom I truly fell in love, and this has become a new favorite book of mine! 

 

I love holiday books, but if you can have a competition for a marriage of convenience and make it between the Princes of Halloween and Christmas who want nothing to do with the girl, you’ve written a rom-com that will bring me lots of joy. And THE NIGHTMARE BEFORE KISSMASS brought me lots of joy, lots and lots of joy. 

 

Plus, the audio was perfection! Ellis Evans did an incredible job differentiating between Prince Coal and Prince Hex. You knew their voices, feelings, laughter, and afflictions—it was just excellent audio all around. 

 

If laughter and joy are your thing and you are intrigued by the holidays competing against one another, pick this book up! 

Thanks, St. Martin’s Press, for the arc! 

 

I have one question—why did I not read this book sooner? Honestly, this is one of those moments when I’m so mad I sat on a book! I knew of Nora Roberts because my mom read her when I was younger, but I have yet to read her. Then I read INHERITANCE, and I’m a fan!! It’s the first book in a trilogy, filled with ghosts, love stories, a haunted house, and fantastic characters I want to know more about! 

 

I dually read and listened to the book, which was the best decision because Brittany Presley narrates the audiobook, and we all know she’s one of my favorite narrators! She brought this book to life! Reading and listening was a wise decision because it made me love it even more. 

 

Nora Roberts has been writing for a long time because my mom read her when she was younger than me. But this book shows what an incredible author she is because she spans generations—both in real life (my mom and me) and in the actual plot of the book! 

 

I highly recommend starting this trilogy; you will be entertained! 

Thanks, Elewyn Publishing, for the arc! 

 

Sometimes, you need a silly rom-com to make you happy, and that is exactly what MY BILLIONAIRE FAKE BOYFRIEND is. I honestly could see this book play out as a cute movie, except I’m not sure how exactly that would work with the number and variety of dogs. But I would love to see it! 

 

I usually don’t read books with dogs in them because I can’t handle it if anything happens to animals, especially dogs. We did have a moment in this book, but everything was okay, and it’s marked SAFE for animal lovers. 

 

Now I need to move to the beach with my dog and make sure it’s next to a single movie star so this story can happen to me!

I really enjoyed reading about 25 pages of this book, but unfortunately, I had to stop. I suffer from chronic migraines and eye migraines, and reading on my phone on the NetGalley app is not helpful for my health. I usually read on my Kindle because it's like reading a book page—there's no light. 

Rating and reviewing what I read: I was very surprised by the knowledge base and information that Gemma Styles provided. I didn't expect this to be such a science-driven book, but it was wonderful! I have a lot of health problems, and I don't want someone just saying, "I suffer from this and do this, so you should, too." Styles backs up her health problems (and similar ones) with research, but it's not like reading a stuffy textbook. I feel like I'm talking to an intelligent friend who wants to help me or a doctor who listens to me and then explains the problem and how to solve it. 

I look forward to purchasing this book and reading it in its entirety. 

Thanks, Sourcebooks Fire, for the arc! 

 

I’ve decided I’m a big fan of vampire books in the 1920s. Maybe it started with my love of The Originals and all the flashbacks to that era on the TV show? THIS RAVENOUS FATE by Hayley Dennings is a fantasy set in Jazz Age Harlem, and it’s the humans vs. the vampires, aka reapers. I always love when an author finds a new name for fangtastic beasts. Elise Saint, the heir to one of the strongest human organizations, is forced to work with Layla Quinn, a reaper with a vendetta against the Saints and a past with Elise. 

 

It took me a bit to get into the story. It wasn’t until Layla and Elise were forced to work together that I really started to enjoy it. There were a couple of unnecessary characters unless they will play an essential role in the next book. Otherwise, their interactions with Elise and/or Layla were just filler to me. Then there were the people I wish we had more time with, and it was just like sprinkles of time, so I hope they appear more in the next book. 

 

Would I reread this? Yes. I want to try it on audio because I think it would be an awesome listen. Am I excited for the final book in the duology? Yes! At first, I thought this was going to be a standalone and cleaned up all nicely, which I wasn’t really feeling. Then, the last few chapters changed things up and left me with an excellent cliffhanger that excited me for book two! 

 

Content warnings: (per the author in the book) This book includes scenarios involving emotional abuse, obsessive compulsive disorder, anxiety, suicidal ideation, violence, murder, and mentions of racism and a race massacre.