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This weekend, I graduated from Emerson College with my Master of Fine Arts degree in Popular Fiction and Publishing. I often shortened this to Creative Writing when asked what I was studying, but my program specifically allowed me to study genre fiction and become an expert on the publishing industry.
This program transformed me both as a writer and a person, and I couldn’t be prouder of that journey. It’s been quite an experience writing a book for the first time, and while it’s not finished yet, having guidance throughout my thesis semester and turning in 120+ pages of edited work feels like a huge step in going from having a handful of chapters to a manuscript.
As always, thank you to everyone for listening to me talk about my love of the romance genre, writing, and my book as I’ve been creating it. I am beyond grateful for the love and support and can’t wait to continue sharing this journey with you all here! 💜
#emersoncollegealumni #popularfiction #mfa
** I was an ARC reader for the wonderful @swatihegdeauthor and her new book Love Beyond Reasonable Doubt! Love Beyond Reasonable Doubt is out NOW, and y’all should absolutely give it a read! ⚖️🩷
After reading Love Beyond Reasonable Doubt, I need about seven hundred more books like it! Naina and Tejas are an instant delight and their reunification had me laughing out loud. The duality of their budding romance and their workplace situation was so intriguing and had me turning pages as fast as I could!
Naina and Tejas’ initial premise of “wrong answers only” coming to a front when they meet again in person is hilarious, and it is really the epitome of how a holiday romance could manage to go wrong. I enjoyed seeing both that holiday itself and the present moment and how those two timelines compared. One thing is for sure: the chemistry in Love Beyond Reasonable Doubt is never lacking.
The angle of the law case that Naina and Tejas are solving was so compelling! The way that Swati Hegde was able to weave in that plot alongside the love story was incredible. I would have happily read this book for either of those plots, and I was able to get them both here!
Thank you to Ballantine and Dell for the opportunity to read and review this book! I received a free advance copy of this book via NetGalley and am voluntarily leaving a review. All opinions expressed are my own.
QOTD: Would you rather be able to fly or breathe underwater?? I’d take flying!
#swatihegde #lovebeyondreasonabledoubt #netgalley
** I was an ARC reader for the darling @hinnywhowrites and her new book Coupling Up! Coupling Up is out TODAY, May 15th, and y’all should absolutely give it a read! 🏝️🩵
As such a huge fan of all things reality tv, Coupling Up was an instant hit for me. I loved how behind the scenes the relationship between Libby and Cam was from their first meeting. Even once Libby was on the Villa, we got such a clear view of what her life was really like, and that was both hilarious and endearing on so many levels.
Libby and Cam have a very different reality-tv-esque love story than most who go on a dating show to find love, but it was such a treat to see! They had SUCH good chemistry and it was so funny to see it in contrast to Libby with the guys on the actual reality show. There was never a dull moment with these two, and it truly was a story that I would have watched play out on my screen.
I also loved seeing Libby go through such a journey on her own adventure! While she was finding love with Cam, she was clearly also finding self love too. It was so funny seeing her sass her fellow contestants on the reality show and seeing how far she had come from the beginning of Coupling Up.
Thank you to Boldwood Books for the opportunity to read and review this book! I received a free advance copy of this book via NetGalley and am voluntarily leaving a review. All opinions expressed are my own.
QOTD: Do you like reality tv? If so, what’s a show you like? I like love island… I mean… duh 😂🫣
#jolyons #couplingup #netgalley
** I was an ARC reader for the incredible @jaquelinesnowe and her latest book The Best Player! The Best Player is out TOMORROW, May 7th, and y’all should absolutely give it a read! ⚾️🖤
I love a forbidden romance, and The Best Player absolutely nailed it. Kenzie and Tanner’s chemistry was off the charts, even when they were trying to hide it. The two of them, in the same house as her brother? Absolute chef’s kiss.
Kenzie and Tanner are both on individual journeys in this book, and I loved how Kenzie’s involved a good ol’ fashioned list to accomplish. It was so fun to watch Tanner get involved in helping her accomplish tasks on that list- from getting her ID photo taken to the more risqué moments just between the two of them. It was a great way to bring the two of them closer together and made for so many hilarious and sweet moments. ;
Jaqueline Snowe lives in my sports romance HOF section for how good these books always are. Whether the book is a new adult like this one or just a pure romance, she always finds the perfect balance of sports content with the romance itself. I wholeheartedly loved this book and am so excited that she’s rereleasing it as well as No Easy Catch, which comes out May 21st!
I voluntarily reviewed a free advance copy of this book provided by the author. The opinions expressed are my own.
QOTD: What’s a hobby you’re enjoying right now?
#jaquelinesnowe #thebestplayer #baseballromance
** I was an ARC reader for the lovely @rebeccaraisinwrites2 and her new book The Barefoot Bookshop on the Beach! The Barefoot Bookshop on the Beach is out NOW, and y’all should absolutely give it a read! 🏖️🩷
Rebecca Raisin has once again delivered a cozy romance in a fun setting! The Barefoot Bookshop on the Beach was an easy read and I loved seeing Harper’s journey to happiness and eventually love with Xavier. With the tropical setting and a delightful cast of characters, this book was a great escape from real life!
The island of Ésperé is the perfect backdrop for a restart and to fall in love- two things that Harper truly needed! As Xavier warmed up and the tension between him and Harper heated up, I was absolutely dying to see more of them together. It may not have been an instant love, but it definitely is a lasting one!
Rebecca Raisin’s stories always bring me to a fun place and take the characters on a journey of self growth, and I love that. I also am 100% looking forward to reading her books on the beach this summer. They’re the perfect companion to a holiday away, and are always such a delight to read.
Thank you to Boldwood Books for the opportunity to read and review this book! I received a free advance copy of this book via NetGalley and am voluntarily leaving a review. All opinions expressed are my own.
QOTD: Where is a beachside destination you’d like to visit? I’d love to go to Greece!!
#thebarefootbookshoponthebeach #rebeccaraisin #netgalley
** I was an ARC reader for the fantastic @elleriversauthor and her new book Ruin the Friendship! Ruin the Friendship is out May 1st, and y’all should absolutely give it a read! 🚢🧡
It had been WAY too long since I’d indulged in a good friends-to-lovers story, and Ruin the Friendship just scratched that itch in the best way. Maisie and Nate’s relationship in this book was both hilarious and tender, and I really enjoyed seeing them realize their true feelings for one another. The forced proximity of it all helped immensely, and I was absolutely delighted throughout the whole story!
Throughout Ruin the Friendship, Maisie has to come to terms with how she had previously shrunk herself down to fit with her ex’s expectations. I loved how Nate never once asked her to be anything less than who she is and only ever loved her for the person that she was in that moment. Even when they were simply friends, you could truly feel his love through every interaction between the two of them.
This book was just the most lovely story to read and enjoy, and Maisie and Nate’s dynamic brought me so much joy. Maisie grows so much throughout this story and learns so much about herself, and that is always a beautiful thing. I needed a good friends-to-lovers story, and boy did this one bring me all the good feelings in spades!
I voluntarily reviewed a free advance copy of this book provided by the author and Literary Rising. The opinions expressed are my own.
QOTD: Would you rather only watch scary movies or romcoms for the rest of your life? I think we all know what I’d pick 😁
#ellerivers #ruinthefriendship #friendstolovers
** I was an ARC reader for the brilliant @authorbridiecharles and her new book Lost in You! Lost in You is out April 29th, and y’all should absolutely give it a read! 📸💚
Fake dating is always a good idea, but it especially is for Leo and Marisol! Lost in You took me back to one of my favorite places in Ruby Cove with Leo and Marisol, who embark on a quest to help Marisol’s modeling career through a fake relationship. Leo is perpetually obsessed with Marisol and has been for years, and seeing him have that chance with his dream girl was just peak rom-com material.
We LOVE a man who is down so bad for his woman, and Leo is clearly the epitome of the he-falls-first trope. He has such a deep love for Marisol and there is never a doubt of that love in their relationship. It was so entertaining to watch Marisol realize her own feelings over the course of Lost in You, and her moments of having to come to terms with those feelings were both so real and so amusing to see.
Lost in You brought back the incredible cast of characters in the entire Ruby Cove series, and they all played such pivotal roles in helping Leo and Marisol find their ways to their own happily ever after. I loved this book so much, and I was so delighted to see these characters find their ways to each other. Bridie Charles’ books always bring such warmth and joy, and you can’t go wrong with a trip to Ruby Cove!
I voluntarily reviewed a free advance copy of this book provided by the author. The opinions expressed are my own.
QOTD: How was your weekend? Mine was busy, but fun!
#bridiecharles #lostinyou #fakedating
** I was an ARC reader for the fantastic @lyraparish and her new book Just Another Summer Crush! Just Another Summer Crush is out NOW, and y’all should absolutely give it a read! 🏖️🩷
We all know that Lyra Parish is the fall queen, but this book just proves how good she is at summer romances too! Just Another Summer Crush was warm in all the right places and hot in the right ones too. Carter and Wendy have the most delicious tension and no shortage of good spice, and the romance between them is full of summer heat!
I loved seeing how Carter showed up for Wendy in small ways, being himself without flexing his wealth constantly. Without spoiling it- his grand gestures at the end of the book had my heart so happy! These two are so meant for each other, and it’s so adorable watching their love story play out.
Give me ALL the small town, summer romance stories immediately! Wendy and Carter’s story was a total delight and I was so happy to read Just Another Summer Romance- even as I’m quite happy with summer not being here just yet. This book hit all the boxes and is an absolute must-read for these upcoming summer beach or poolside reading days!
I voluntarily reviewed a free advance copy of this book provided by the author. The opinions expressed are my own.
QOTD: What’s your favorite comfort rewatch? Mine is probably The Office!
#lyraparish #justanothersummercrush #summerromance
** I was an ARC reader for the wonderful @readinromance and her new book The Last Page! The Last Page is out May 12th, and y’all should absolutely give it a read! 📖🩵
I was so lucky to get to read The Last Page early! Henry and Ella have a hilarious meeting involving a New York subway- which had me attempting not to burst into laughter in public. This story was such a sweet story about community and the way that community brings us all together.
Henry and Ella’s story is a perfect example of how the book’s cover isn’t the entire story. They each have so much more going on beneath the surface- Henry’s mental health and Ella’s family dynamics, for example- than appears to the eye. Once they take the time to truly learn about each other, their friendship really begins to take flight.
As much as I was rooting for a happy ending between Henry and Ella, I was also rooting for a happy ending for their bookstore The Last Page! Seeing both these characters and their group of family and friends come together to support the bookstore was so lovely. The sense of community is so poignant in this story, and I loved seeing them unite for a shared love of stories.
Thank you to Alcove Press for the opportunity to read and review this book! I received a free advance copy of this book via NetGalley and am voluntarily leaving a review. All opinions expressed are my own.
QOTD: What’s the last book, movie, or tv show that made you cry?
#thelastpage #katieholt #netgalley
** I was an ARC reader for the lovely @authorrileypaige and her newest book Kiss Me First! Kiss Me First is out TODAY, and y’all should absolutely give it a read! 🏒💜
Harlow and Grayson’s story in Kiss Me First had my heart from the very beginning! It was adorable seeing them learn to sit in comfortable silence together amidst the chaos of their college campus & shared friends. There was so much tenderness about their friendship and romance, and it felt so real to me in each and every moment.
Harlow and Grayson are a slow burn, yes, but in the sense that they take their time learning one another as people before discovering a romance. Their love develops in the quiet moments and in being seen when no one else has taken the time to notice. I felt so comforted in seeing their journey from strangers to friends to more and knowing that above all else, they were always there for each other in those quiet moments.
I loved all of Riley Paige’s PCU football books, and I am so stoked she’s moved onto hockey romance now. Kiss Me First was the perfect start to a new series, and I am so ready for Kai’s story in Lose You Twice. When it comes out, I will be ready and waiting to read and share!
I voluntarily reviewed a free advance copy of this book provided by the author. The opinions expressed are my own.
QOTD: What’s your go-to coffee order?
#kissmefirst #rileypaige #hockeyromance
** I was an ARC reader for the darling @authorkaylaolson and her latest book The Great Outdoors! The Great Outdoors is out June 16th, and y’all should absolutely give it a read! 🏕️🩷
Like Sadie, I have a plan for everything and could absolutely be called high maintenance at times. Unlike Sadie, I’m not sure I’m ballsy enough to hop on a hiking trip to prove an ex wrong. The Great Outdoors was such a great read that took me down the hiking journey along with Sadie and Thorn.
I loved seeing Sadie’s individual journey through this story. Watching her grow through her experience hiking into someone so independent and brave was amazing. She became the epitome of the saying “do it even while scared,” and that was such a highlight of this story.
The love that grows between Sadie and Thorn in this story was beautiful. Their stolen moments clearly meant so much to each of them, and the tenderness that grows was so special. I was so happy to see them find their dynamic together and the warmth between them was everything!
Thank you to Atria Books for the opportunity to read and review this book! I received a free advance copy of this book via NetGalley and am voluntarily leaving a review. All opinions expressed are my own.
QOTD: What’s one item you can’t leave home without? I’d have about six chapsticks on my hiking trip if I went on Sadie’s journey!
#kaylaolson #thegreatoutdoors #netgalley
** I was an ARC reader for the incredible @mazeyeddings and her new book You Won’t Forget Me! You Won’t Forget Me is out June 8th, and y’all should absolutely give it a read! 🎼💕
MAZEY EDDINGS, WOW. This book is the slow burn trope at its absolute finest, and I am thoroughly wrecked. You Won’t Forget Me is peak pining and the dynamic between Cubby and Darcy is everything. The two bandmates falling in love story is always a good one, and this was a spectacular take on that specific trope.
After ARC reading Well, Actually, I was so stoked to have You Won’t Forget Me wind up in my inbox. The love and shared history between Cubby and Darcy flows so smoothly through this story. The subtle moments between them truly gave light to the difference between the love of two lifelong friends and the romantic love shared between those in love.
I loved the songwriting aspects of this story as well as the performances. The interactions between the bandmates were so entertaining, and each character really read as unique. It may have taken Cubby and Darcy a while to realize the true depth of their love for one another, but the journey was totally worth the wait.
Thank you to St. Martin’s Press and St. Martin’s Griffin for the opportunity to read and review this book! I received a free advance copy of this book via NetGalley and am voluntarily leaving a review. All opinions expressed are my own.
QOTD: What’s a song you grew up loving? I was a biiiig One Direction girlie 😅
#mazeyeddings #youwontforgetme #netgalley
