I Wish You Would

⭐⭐⭐⭐⭐

Rating: 5 out of 5.

I cry wondering what is so wrong with me that no one stays for me.

-Eva De Lauriers, I Wish You Would

My Review:
Eva has created a story that so many of us can identify with. If you’re in high school you can see your current life reflected in it. If you’re several (ahem, almost 20 years) out of high school, you can still put yourself back there. The main conflict (at least the one on the surface, not the actual one) is that the private “Lion Letters” of over 50 high school seniors get accidentally scattered along the beach. Thinking about that from the eyes of a 35 year old, it’s not as big of a deal because of the experiences I have had. However, the way Eva crafts this book, I can 100% remember just how devastating that would have felt to me as a senior in high school.

The romance is sweet and you spend so much time just wanting the two main characters to just TALK TO EACH OTHER. Because so many of their issues could be solved with communication.

Ok, I’m rambling now. But tldr, this book is amazing. If you’re a YA fan you should read it, if you’re a romance fan you should read it, if you’re a coming of age fan you should read it, if you’re a swiftie, you should read it. If you are someone who just craves a story that you cannot put down? Read it. You will not regret it, I promise.

Book Particulars:

• Page Count: 288Pages
• Publisher: MacMillan Children’s Publishing
• Edition Read – Ebook ARC
• Release Date: May 21, 2024
• Dates Read: November 20-28, 2023

Book Synopsis:
It’s Senior Sunrise, the epic overnight at the beach that kicks off senior year. But for Natalia and Ethan, it’s the first time seeing each other after what happened at junior prom―when they almost crossed the line from best friends to something more and ruined everything. After ghosting each other all summer, Natalia is desperate to pretend she doesn’t care and Ethan is desperate to fix his mistake.

When the senior class carries out their tradition of writing private letters to themselves―what they wish they would do this year if they were braver―Natalia pours her heart out. So does Ethan. So does everyone in their entire class. But in Natalia’s panicked attempt to retrieve her heartfelt confession, the wind scatters seven of the notes across the beach. Now, Ethan and Natalia are forced to work together to find the lost letters before any secrets are revealed―especially their own.

Seven private confessions. Seven time bombs loose for anyone to find. And one last chance before the sun rises for these two to fall in love. Perfect for fans of You’ve Reached Sam.

Can’t Wait Wednesday!

Can’t Wait Wednesday is hosted by Tressa at WishfulEndings.com! This weeks Tressa is looking forward to Find Him Where You Left Him Dead by Kristen Simmons.

As for me, my can’t wait Wednesday this week is….

Top 10 Tuesday: Book Boyfriends

This week’s Top 10 Tuesday, hosted by The Artsy Reader Girl is a Genre Freebie! Which made it harder for me considering I’ven been out of practice for Top 10 lists for the past several months. So I thought I would do one that admittedly was done in August 2021, but I missed out on that one. So I give you:

*drumroll please*

Top 10 Bookish Boyfriends!

These are ranked in ascending order, but it’s a very loose ranking. Except the top three slots. Those I will defend with my honor as a book girl (and one of them is likely to piss some people off). One thing to note: I tried to only choose one person from each series. Which means there may be someone left off that I normally would have chosen, but I was trying to diversify and not choose all Bat Boys.

10. Ned Nickerson

Nancy Drew’s dreamy boyfriend in the entire series, following his introduction in Nancy Drew #7 The Clue in the Diary, Ned was the definition of my crush growing up. I will always have a spot in my heart for him <3.

_{**Photo is from HER Interactive Nancy Drew games**}

9. Tiberias Calore VII

I really loved Cal when I first read the Red Queen series. Don’t get me wrong, he majorly pissed me off on many occasions, but all in all he tried to be honorable, and I could always tell he loved Mare.

_{**Artist credit Morgana0nagram**}

8. Will Herondale

I loved the Clockwork Angel/Prince/Princess series from Cassandra Clare’s Shadowhunter universe. It is likely my favorite of all the series. I also love the adult version of him in the most recent Chain of Gold/Iron/Thorns series. He is a stable friend and brother, and is willing to defend his found family with his life.

_{**Art from 10th Anniversary Edition of Clockwork Angel**}

7. Vincent Aldrhe

I love a good Beauty & the Beast retelling as much as anyone (looking at you ACOTAR), but somehow this one felt fresh. Likely because it went beyond the moment of “Happily Ever After” and let me actually get to see what happens after.

_{**Artist credit watermarked as Gabrielle Ragust on image**}

6. Captain Carswell Thorne

I love Carswell Thorne so much. He’s like if you take Mal Reynolds (Firefly), Nathan Drake (Uncharted), and Han Solo (Star Wars). He’s so sarcastic, cocky, hilarious, and above all else, loveable. I love how he is with Cress, and I love how he is when he loses his sight, he never fails to be himself, he’s strong through all.

_{**Art from Wiki and credited artist is lostie815**}

5. Fitzwilliam Darcy

I can’t imagine a list about book boyfriends not including the original swoon-worthy male. I have read Pride & Prejudice an uncountable number of times, and each time it’s easy to fall in love with the proud Mr. Darcy.

_{**Photo of Mathew McFayden as Mr. Darcy in 2005 P&P**}

4. Roman Kitt

The newest addition to my heartthrob list is Roman Kitt from Divine Rivals. I easily fell in love and wish that I could open my closet to find a letter from him. Although, maybe my husband wouldn’t want that, haha.

_{**Artist credit Rosalynnart**}

3. Chaol Westfall

Chaol Westfall is likely to be the most controversial pick for me, but I’ll stand by my choice. I know that he did things that were wrong, but so did many other men on this list as well as many others. Chaol and Aelin may have been a ship that sank, but his friendship with Dorian was what I was always more invested in.

_{**Artist credit Charlie Bowater**}

2. Rhysand

The Bat Daddy to end all bat daddied (sorry Cassian, Azriel, and Hunt). Rhysand saves Feyre, but ultimately, he gives her the tools to save herself. He is fierce and strong when he needs to be, but soft and tender with those he loves.

_{**Artist credit to Morgana0Anagrom**}

1. Valek Icefaren

Oh Valek. My original book boyfriend. Valek was the reason I discovered the term book boyfriend, and since then he has never been removed from the top spot. And I can’t imagine he ever will be.

_{**Fanart of Valek and Yelena credit to reebardin.art**}

Honorable mention goes to Xaden Riorson from Fourth Wing. Since I just finished reading it a few days ago I felt like I couldn’t put him on the list until my brain settled down from the roller coaster of that book.

Fourth Wing by Rebecca Yarros

⭐⭐⭐⭐⭐

Rating: 5 out of 5.

I cry wondering what is so wrong with me that no one stays for me.

-Eva De Lauriers, I Wish You Would

My Review:
Eva has created a story that so many of us can identify with. If you’re in high school you can see your current life reflected in it. If you’re several (ahem, almost 20 years) out of high school, you can still put yourself back there. The main conflict (at least the one on the surface, not the actual one) is that the private “Lion Letters” of over 50 high school seniors get accidentally scattered along the beach. Thinking about that from the eyes of a 35 year old, it’s not as big of a deal because of the experiences I have had. However, the way Eva crafts this book, I can 100% remember just how devastating that would have felt to me as a senior in high school.

The romance is sweet and you spend so much time just wanting the two main characters to just TALK TO EACH OTHER. Because so many of their issues could be solved with communication.

Ok, I’m rambling now. But tldr, this book is amazing. If you’re a YA fan you should read it, if you’re a romance fan you should read it, if you’re a coming of age fan you should read it, if you’re a swiftie, you should read it. If you are someone who just craves a story that you cannot put down? Read it. You will not regret it, I promise.

Book Particulars:

• Page Count: 288Pages
• Publisher: MacMillan Children’s Publishing
• Edition Read – Ebook ARC
• Release Date: May 21, 2024
• Dates Read: November 20-28, 2023

Book Synopsis:
It’s Senior Sunrise, the epic overnight at the beach that kicks off senior year. But for Natalia and Ethan, it’s the first time seeing each other after what happened at junior prom―when they almost crossed the line from best friends to something more and ruined everything. After ghosting each other all summer, Natalia is desperate to pretend she doesn’t care and Ethan is desperate to fix his mistake.

When the senior class carries out their tradition of writing private letters to themselves―what they wish they would do this year if they were braver―Natalia pours her heart out. So does Ethan. So does everyone in their entire class. But in Natalia’s panicked attempt to retrieve her heartfelt confession, the wind scatters seven of the notes across the beach. Now, Ethan and Natalia are forced to work together to find the lost letters before any secrets are revealed―especially their own.

Seven private confessions. Seven time bombs loose for anyone to find. And one last chance before the sun rises for these two to fall in love. Perfect for fans of You’ve Reached Sam.

House of Roots & Ruin by Erin A. Craig

⭐⭐⭐⭐⭐

Rating: 5 out of 5.

I’m sorry, I just…I had this awful image in my mind that when I came in, you wouldn’t be here, that you’d be…And I….I’m not ready to live in a world without you, Verity.

-Erin A. Craig, House of Roots & Ruin

I was so excited to read this book after speed reading House of Salt & Sorrows. I don’t know why, however, I read the first few chapters, then put it down for 2 weeks. I do know that when I picked it back up yesterday, I read the last 90% of it in one sitting. I legit could not put it down it was that good.

House of Roots & Ruin picks up around 14 years after the events of House of Salt & Sorrows. This time we are following Verity, the youngest of the Thaumas sisters. The girl who at age 4 in HoS&S was drawing graphic pictures of her dead sisters. Even the ones she had no way of remembering. Almost 18, Verity has honed her drawing and painting enough that she is asked to go to a far away manor in the area of Bloem to do the official portrait of the duke’s son. Against the wishes of her oldest sister and duchess Camille, Verity flees in the night to go on her own adventure. But similarly to her own home, the enormous manor house and it’s inhabitants hold very dark and disturbing secrets. Verity is caught between hiding a part of herself to seem more normal, and wanting to solave the mystery she has stumbled upon. All while getting no sleep due to a pair of screaming birds who roam the grounds (or is it always the birds).

I loved Verity as our new FMC. It’s not that she isn’t afraid to do things, but she is willing to push past that fear if she knows it’s going to get her where she wants and needs to go. Pushing past fear, to me, is an even stronger quality than being fearless. Alex our MMC was such a sweet soul with a quick sense of humor and sarcasm, but a huge open heart. You can feel the draw between the two of them instantly. One of my favorite things about them as a couple is Verity’s reactions during their first romantic liasons. They are very real for anyone who has not had any romance in their life. Yes, it’s awkward, no it’s not perfect. And you likely will spend a good chunk of it overthinking everything. (Or, wait, was that just me?). I also loved that despite Alex being confined to a wheelchair since he was 4, he never views it as a disability. He talks about adjustments that had to be made to their manor and grounds, but he never comes off as biter or upset. Which is something I love. He is happy with who he is, and he doesn’t spend the whole book wishing he could walk or stand.

Just like the first one, this book had me opening my mouth in horror and fear at many moments. So many things to terrify lie in the pages. But, if you liked House of Salt & Sorrows, you should definitely pick up this book. And Erin Craig definitely has left the door open for another book, which I anxiously await!

Thank you to Delacourte Press, Random House, & NetGalley for the ARC of this book!

Book Particulars:

• Page Count: 544 Pages
• Publisher: Delacorte
• Edition Read – eBook – ARC from NetGalley
• Projected Release Date: July 25, 2023
• Dates Read: March 22, 2023 – April 5, 2023

Book Synopsis:
In a manor by the sea, one sister is still cursed.

Despite dreams of adventures far beyond the Salann shores, seventeen-year-old Verity Thaumas has remained at her family’s estate, Highmoor, with her older sister Camille, while their sisters have scattered across Arcannia.

When their sister Mercy sends word that the Duchess of Bloem – wife of a celebrated botanist – is interested in having Verity paint a portrait of her son, Alexander, Verity jumps at the chance, but Camille won’t allow it. Forced to reveal the secret she’s kept for years, Camille tells Verity the truth one day: Verity is still seeing ghosts, she just doesn’t know it.

Stunned, Verity flees Highmoor that night and – with nowhere else to turn – makes her way to Bloem. At first, she is captivated by the lush, luxurious landscape and is quickly drawn into charming, witty, and impossibly handsome Alexander Laurent. And soon, to her surprise, a romance…blossoms.

But it’s not long before Verity is plagued with nightmares, and the darker side of Bloem begins to show through its sickly-sweet facade.