four star – THE BOOKISH MOM

Book Review // Exes & O’s

Bookstagrammer heroine?! SIGN. ME. UP. Exes and O’s is Amy’s second rom-com and second in her Influencer series. You don’t have to read the first book, Set on You, or read this one, but I would recommend it because you get the same cast of characters and it makes it more fun!

I thought this book was a fun rom-com that made me smile and swoon! Tara was funny and sweet, and Trevor a sexy player with a hidden thoughtful side.

My biggest critiques for this book was I found the romance to be slow for my liking, and thought multiple times how much I wished it was dual POV. But it was fun reading about Tara’s bookstagrammer life, her Ex List, and her and Trevor’s roommate turned friendship turned relationship develop.

Tropes:
💗 slow burn
💗 friends to lovers
💗 forced proximity
💗 bad boy/player

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🔥🔥🔥 (open door)

Exes and O’s is a great book to pick up before Valentine’s Day if you want a steamy slow burn romance!

Thank you Berkley Romance for the free copy — all opinions are my own. Post may contain affiliate links

Book Review // On a Night Like This

On a Night Like This was such a refreshing, light, and entertaining read, perfect for when you just want to escape into a book. The nod to Cinderella wasn’t too much, which I’m glad because I don’t particularly love retellings. I did think the book felt a little cut in half, like the first half was one story and the second was totally different.. The romance was also a smidge insta-love, and light on the romance in general, but honestly I was enjoying the story so much I didn’t even care about those things.

This book was just overall a fun read that I thoroughly enjoyed! It was exactly what I needed when I wanted a fun escape!

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On a Night Like This comes out 1/18! Thank you Harper Collins UK and NetGalley for the gifted eARC in exchange for an honest review!

Book Review // Never Fall for your Fiancée

*Never Fall for your Fiancée by Virgina Heath*

I’m going to have TWO pub day reviews coming at you and the first one is #NeverFallForYourFiancee !! This historical RomCom took a minute for me to get into, but when I did I didn’t want to stop and stayed up until 2am finishing the book because I was enjoying it so much! I loved Hugh and Minerva, both are entertaining, kind, and fun characters to read about. It was definitely a “knight in shining armor” type story.. but she wasn’t helpless by any means, so I appreciated that. I was dying for more angst and swoony moments between them, and while it had a bit of steam it was like, one scene out of the entire 330+ pages.. if you’re gonna have it, HAVE IT (or don’t)! 😂

I really enjoyed Never Fall for your Fiancée and if you like historical RomComs I think you should check it out TODAY!

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Thank you @smpromance for the gifted copy for an honest review

Book Review // Nick & Noel’s Christmas Playlist

*Nick & Noel’s Christmas Playli*st *by Codi Hall*

Nick and Noel was one of my first holiday reads this year and while I was love me some Hallmark cheese around Christmas time, this book was a little that but also a dynamic story that gave me so much more than a cute holiday romance. I fell in love with every single character! Nick is Christmas book boyfriend perfection and Noel’s personal story is mainly grief focused, followed by the romance, and lastly Christmas love (not an accident though and you will see why when you read it).

If you want a holiday romance that has amazing characters and more than a cheesy romance (although there’s nothing wrong with cheese and there’s a bit in here!) check out Nick & Noel’s Christmas Playlist!

TW: death of parents

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[thank you Sourcebooks Casablanca for the gifted copy in exchange for an honest review]

Book Review // Window Shopping

Window Shopping was a quick, steamy holiday read with a grumpy heroine and sunshine hero (you read that right!) Even though this book is a holiday romance and had Christmas coming out of every page, it was also probably my limit of drama and suspense as well (which I wasn’t expecting from a holiday romance) but I’m a baby when it comes to drama so I’m sure it’s generally tame. ⁣
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Aiden was so fun to read, and even though I felt his end was a little insta love, I didn’t even care because he was such a lovable character (and it’s a Christmas romance – everyone falls in love in like a day). Stella was a little harder for me to picture, but I ended up with Emma Stone in Cruella image and it made it a lot better! ⁣
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The story was amazing and super fresh, fun, and did I mention steamy? As I was reading this I thought to myself “Tessa might be my all time favorite steamy author” she is 𝘵𝘩𝘢𝘵 good. ⁣
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If you’re into a more modern Christmas romance grab this one up on 𝐓𝐔𝐄𝐒𝐃𝐀𝐘 (𝟏𝟎/𝟏𝟗)!⁣

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🔥🔥🔥⁣ (open door)

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Thank you Tessa for the gifted arc for an honest review!

Book Review // Simmer Down

I thought this was a fun beach read that made my mouth water with the yummy food truck dishes and swoon from the yummy British man dish!

I loved the Hawaiian setting and story with Nikki and Callum, and would have loved to see a bit more angsty scenes between them. The steam is a little on the tamer side, but was done very well and the story lent itself perfectly to it, so I didn’t mind and expected it.

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This is a throwback from my partnership with The Book Drop so thank you very much for the gifted copy!

Book Review: The Promised Prince

*The Promised Prince by Kourtney Keisel*

I went a bit out of my comfort zone with the post-desolation (but still a romance) book The Promised Prince… and man it was AMAZING!! I was pulled in from chapter 1 and had to binge it because I couldn’t stop thinking about it! The way Kourtney wrote the characters was just so good – I loved every single one of them and while this is a cleaner romance, I didn’t miss the steam (although I wouldn’t have said no to it lol)! To me this books has a post modern world American Royals or The Royal We vibe! Trev and arena have amazing chemistry… I was living for every moment they were together. I also thought that the relationship between Rena and Seran was so well written. Their relationship was so complicated and sometimes hard, but you could see the love they had for one another.

I don’t want to give anything away with my review so it’s kind of vague – but The Promised Prince is definitely a book to add to your TBR!!

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[Thank you Kourtney Keisel for the gifted copy]

Book Review: A Match Made at Christmas

*A Match Made at Christmas by Courtney Walsh*

A Match Made at Christmas was such a fun, magical, heartwarming holiday book – I had a smile on my face the entire time I was reading it!

First off, Christmas in Nantucket!? Talk about a dream setting! I loved the small town feel of this story with the location and characters. Hayes sounds like a handsome, sweet play boy of sorts who loves life and is always up for an adventure. I love how him and Pru have a long close friendship that they are so protective of (even though everyone can see they’re meant for each other)! The meddling grandmother and big family makes for a happy and heartwarming story!

This friends to lovers holiday novella is a must read for the season!

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Thank you Courtney Walsh for the gifted copy in exchange for my 100% honest review

Book Review: Jingle All the Way

Synopsis

Everly Lancaster is over worked, over stressed, and in desperate need of a vacation. When her executive assistant books her an explorer cruise down the Amazon River, she needs to avoid the piranhas and handsome naturalists like Asher Adams.

Review

This was such a fun holiday romance! Debbie Macomber is my ultimate go to for feel good stories any time of year, and Jingle all the Way does not disappoint!

Everly and Asher’s friends to lovers, vacation romance definitely gave me an escape down the Amazon. One thing I really loved is the story had some unexpected elements in it that is so refreshing, but brings it back the Christmas romance I love.

I also REALLY appreciated the aspect of them getting to know each other. Typically in Christmas romances it’s more of an insta-love situation, but with Everly and Asher Mrs. Macomber did a fantastic job building in that “get to know you” time!

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This book is a fun, quick read that will for sure put a smile on your face and Christmas on your mind!

Thank you Debbie Macomber and Penguin Randomhouse for this gifted copy! Review is my own honest opinion!

Review: A Princess for Christmas

*A Princess for Christmas by Jenny Holiday*

Synopsis

This was very much a modern fairy tale with Princess Marie of Eldovia and taxi driver Leo, who is raising his kid sister just trying to get through the holidays.

Review

I really enjoyed this Christmas romance! It had the feel good Hallmark style story I love this time of year with the steam I want in a romance. Although the steam didn’t come until later on in the book, it was good! Leo was the perfect mix of sweet and grumpy, while Marie grew so much from beginning to end it was wonderful to see.

I also loved how they traveled from New York to Eldovia. The description of her country was picture perfect (like I was watching a hallmark movie) and I was just so happy to see Leo put himself out there for Marie and her open up to him as well!

I did feel their romance leaned a little more on the insta love side… but again with Hallmark style Christmas stories that’s usually how it goes so I don’t mind it so much!

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Thank you Avon Books for the gifted copy for an honest review!