Daisy Jones and the Six
Joan Goodwin
Project Hail Mary
TBD
TBD
Good Joy, Bad Joy
Joy
The Forest Kingdom
Project Hail Mary
The Thorn Queen
Natalie
Yesteryear
Arlo
Asperfell
Toven Hearst
Rose in Chains
Atmosphere
Daisy Jones
Daisy Jones and the Six
Sam Florek
Every Summer AFter
Viscario
The Shining City
Viscario
The Shining City
The Thorn Queen
Joy
Good Joy, Bad Joy
Daisy Jones Daisy Jones and the Six
Sam Florek
Every Summer After
Daisy Jones and the Six
Taylor Jenkins Reid
GENRE
Fiction
SERIES
Standalone
TIMELINE
June 1st-June 6th
FORMAT
Physical/E-book/Audiobook
Tropes
Similar Vibes
Forbidden Attraction, Found Family, The Cost of Fame
The Seven Husbands of Evelyn Hugo
RATING
SPICE LEVEL
THE Summary
THE REVIEW
This is a book, written in interview format, about the meteoric rise and fall of a fictional band, named The Six and their mysterious singer-songwriters, Daisy Jones. Daisy's entrance into the band changes the onstage and offstage dyanmics of the group. The band quickly rose to fame in the 70's and seemed to just as suddenly break apart. Now, decades later, the inner workings of what was going on behind the scenes are revealed by members of the band and those closest to them.
I loved that Taylor Jenkins Reid chose to tell this story in interview format. It made the whole story seem even more legendary, like I really was hearing the story of an old popular rock band. Daisy and Billy were both alluring and complex characters, and the tension between them was very intriguing to read. A story about ambition, fame, addiction and loyalty, Daisy Jones and the Six is my favorite Taylor Jenkins Reid book yet! Definitely lent itself to listening via audiobook!
"I think you have to have faith in people before they earn it. Otherwise it's not faith, right?"
"It didn't seem right to me that his weakest self got to decide how my life was going to turn out. What my family was going to look like. I got to decide that."
"Art doesn't owe anything to anyone. Songs are about how it felt, not the facts. Self expression is about what it feels to live, not whether you had the right to claim any emotion at any time. Did I have a right to be mad at him? Did he do anything wrong? Who cares? Who cares? I hurt, so I wrote about it."
"You show up for your friends on their hardest days, and you hold their hands through the roughest parts. Life is about who is holding your hand and I think whose hand you commit to holding."
"Don't count yourself out early, Daisy. You're all sorts of things you don't even know yet."
Favorite Quotes
Fury Bound
Sable Sorenson
GENRE
Romantasy
SERIES
Wolves of Ruin #2
TIMELINE
May 24th, 2026-June 7th
FORMAT
E-book
Tropes
Similar Vibes
Hidden powers, Emotionally unavailable MMC, Mate bond
Fourth Wing, Kindred's Curse
RATING
SPICE LEVEL
THE Summary
THE REVIEW
Picking up where DireBound left off, Meryn is now not only an alpha, but also a long lost princess. But because of the lies spread by Killian and Alistair Brightbane, the kingdom of Nocturna is divided on whether she is to be their salvation or their ruin. To save her kingdom and her sister, Meryn will have to become stronger than ever before. In a time when pack is turning against pack, Meryn bands together with her friends, Stark and their wolves to save Nocturna.
I can't explain why I do not like these Wolves of Ruin books more. They certainly have all the elements I like in my romance books, and I really want to be more invested, but there is just something about this book, just like the first, that did not hold my interest. It feels like the author made a list of all of the things that worked in other fantasy books and incorporated them into her story (magical animal bonding, mate bonds, hunt for magical artifacts, heroine with hidden powers, etc.). But something about those individual elements did not add up to an intriguing story. Also, the romantic conflict felt fabricated/forced. I was really hoping the 2nd would reel me in in a way that the first did not, but that was not the case.
Favorite Quotes
"Do not stifle your anger because someone told you it wasn't polite or proper. Anger can change the world when wielded correctly."
Every Summer After
Carley Fortune
GENRE
Romance
SERIES
Barry's Bay #1
TIMELINE
June 4th, 2026-June 9th, 2026
FORMAT
E-book
Tropes
Similar Vibes
Childhood friends to lovers, second chance romance
Love and Other Words
RATING
SPICE LEVEL
THE Summary
This book starts when our main character, Percy, gets a call from Barry's Bay. It's not the voice of the man she thought or hoped it would be on the other line. Instead it's his brother, Charlie Florek, calling to tell Percy his mother died and to ask her to come to the funeral.
It is clear that Percy has not been to Barry's Bay or seen the Floreks for 10 years, but that this place and these people meant a lot to her, once upon a time. What is not clear, however, is why.
Interspersed with Percy's trip back to the place where she spent all of her summers as a teenager are scenes of the past, where we see Percy first meeting Charlie, and his brother Sam, and what happened to drive the wedge between them.
"I used to count the number of days until my family would head up to the cottage so I could see Sam again. Now he's a painful memory I keep hidden deep beneath my ribs."
" "Sam has it in his head that you belong to him. Not in a creepy possessive way, but its more like he has this belief that everything is meant to work out between you two in the end. And I think that's bullshit.' I blanched. 'You don't think its meant to work out?' I whispered. 'I don't think anything is meant to be,' he said flatly. 'He already screwed things up when you got that hockey player boyfriend. I hope he fights harder this time,' he said, starting the engine. 'Or someone else will.' "
Favorite Quotes
THE REVIEW
I read this book last summer but wanted to read it again before the show came out. I don't remember it leaving too much of an impression on me the first time around, other than the fact that it was so similar to Christina Lauren's Love and Other Words, which is one of my favorite books of all time. While its similarity to Love and Other Words is still true, for some reason Every Summer After hit so much harder on the second go. Sam and Percy's friendship turned romance was so sweet and the timing of the chapters, going back and forth between past and present, were so well placed and well timed. Each chapter gave just enough of their story to keep me saying "just one more chapter."
What stood out most to me was the way Carley Fortune captured that bittersweet feeling of growing up, the friendships, first loves, mistakes, and regrets. Sam and Percy felt authentic, both in the joy of their relationship and in the ways they hurt each other. Their chemistry was undeniable, and their falling out was heartbreaking, but it was the years of history between them that made their story so compelling.
The Thorn Queen
Sasha Peyton Smith
GENRE
Romantasy
SERIES
The Rose Bargain #1
TIMELINE
May 17th-June 18th
FORMAT
Physical (Hardcover)
Tropes
Similar Vibes
Faerie Court Politics, Sisters, Trials
Cruel Prince, Bridgerton
RATING
SPICE LEVEL
THE Summary
THE REVIEW
Ivy won Bram's hand in marriage and is now Queen of England. Sounds like a Happily Ever After. But Bram is not the prince Ivy thought he was and all Ivy wants is to be reunited with her sister, Lydia, and her real love, Bram's brother, Emmett.
When Ivy finds her way to them in the Otherworld, however, she receives a much colder welcome than she anticipated. She finds it has been much longer for Lydia and Emmett in the Otherworld than it has been for her and they have had to make tough choices to survive.
When Bram follows Ivy to the Otherworld he finally realizes having two wives is one too many and forces Ivy and Lydia into a series of trials to prove who the true Queen of both England and the Otherworld should be. Those trials are not the only games Ivy must play, however, as she maneuvers within the political landscape of the cruel faerie court and her husband's mercurial nature.
The drama in this book was messy—and not necessarily in a fun way.
A fairy king deciding that his two wives, who also happen to be sisters, should compete in a series of trials to earn his favor? All while one of those sisters is in love with the king's brother? Messy.
There was so much happening in this book that I never felt like we got the chance to fully explore the complexities of the characters and their relationships. The plot was constantly moving, but I often found myself wanting to slow down and spend more time understanding the people at the center of the story.
Bram was the biggest example of this for me. I think the book wanted readers to mourn the person he once was and understand how immortality corrupted him over time, but I never quite got there. I would have loved flashbacks showing the man Bram used to be before his descent, because as it stands, I mostly just found him awful. As a result, it was difficult for me to empathize with the characters who remained fiercely loyal to him.
That said, the world remains intriguing, the stakes are high, the romance and tension is pretty good and there are plenty of twists and betrayals to keep the pages turning.
“Because love doesn't care if you're deserving or not. It just is."
Favorite Quotes
Half a Soul was a quick, charming read that I thoroughly enjoyed, even if it didn't ultimately leave a lasting impression.
There is something about the restrained manners of Regency-era nobility mixed with the untamed chaos of the faerie world that is simply fun to read. Olivia Atwater captures that contrast well, balancing etiquette with magical mischief in a way that kept the story moving at an enjoyable pace.
I also thought Dora was a wonderfully crafted heroine. The author did an excellent job portraying what it might actually mean to have lost half your soul. Dora's muted emotional responses never made her feel cold or unlikeable; instead, they gave her a unique perspective that was often refreshing and unexpectedly humorous among the Regency-era nobility, for which there are usually strict rules and stubborn scripts to follow.
The premise itself felt fresh. I had never read a story centered around someone who had literally lost half their soul, though it did remind me of similar concepts from old shows like Buffy the Vampire Slayer and Supernatural. Unfortunately, once that initial hook was established, much of the rest of the story felt exceedingly familiar. From the morally gray love interest to the beautiful but cruel faerie court, many of the fantasy elements echoed tropes that have become staples of romantasy. That's not necessarily a flaw, but in a genre that has become increasingly crowded with faerie stories, it can be difficult for a book to distinguish itself.
SPICE LEVEL
Half a Soul
Olivia Atwater
GENRE
Romantasy
SERIES
Regency Faerie Tales #1
TIMELINE
June 20th, 2026- June 25th, 2026
FORMAT
E-Book
Tropes
Similar Vibes
Lost Soul, Morally Grey MMC, Faerie Court
Jonathan Strange and Mr. Norrell, Bridgerton, The Thorn Queen, The Cruel Prince
RATING
THE Summary
THE REVIEW
When Dora was little, a fairy stole half of her soul. This has muted her emotional responses, which has made her somewhat of a social pariah in Regency-era England. When she travels with her aunt and cousin to London for the Season, she has accepted her fate as a wallflower, who will be happy in seeing her cousin wed and happy. With half a soul, she is incapable of love, after all.
Things change, however, with her introduction to Elias Wilder, the Prince's magician and the least-liked man in society. He is rude and he doesn't play by society's strict rules. As someone who has also been othered by society, Dora is inexplicably drawn to him.
But Dora is more concerned with helping the sick and destitute than in finding a husband. She joins surgeon Albert Calloway on his trips to the workhouses, under the guise of courtship. Here they find that children are falling victim to a mysterious sleeping illness. Together, Dora, Albert and Elias work to figure out how to save the children and in doing do, may just learn how to save Dora's soul as well.
Favorite Quotes
“I cannot help but feel that if we had fewer pleasant-mannered people, then perhaps there would also be fewer of these hideous wars.”
“I have known many human beings with a full soul to their name who do not have half so much compassion or practicality as you."
"There is power in a voice such as you cannot imagine."
In this epic conclusion to the Asperfell Trilogy, Briony finally learns to embrace her Orare abilities as she fights to protect the people she loves.
I did find the middle of the book dragged at times. As the Asperfell team returns home and seeks aid in their war against Keric and Viscario, they are bound to introduce new locations and people, but that coupled with a growing list of new magical creatures and lore, there were moments where I felt overwhelmed trying to keep track of everything. I also would have liked to see more Arlo. He is a great character and was criminally underused in this third installment.
That said, the final act more than made up for it.
The ending features one of the best fantasy battle sequences I've ever read. The stakes felt impossibly high, the use of magic was imaginative and exciting, and every victory and loss carried emotional weight because of the journey these characters had taken over the course of all three books. Jamie Thomas wasn't just writing an epic battle—she was bringing years of character growth and relationships to a satisfying conclusion.
By the final chapters, I found myself crying, literally gasping out loud, and smiling at the bittersweet ending. Those are the kinds of books that stay with you long after you've turned the final page.
While I don't think this was the strongest installment of the trilogy from beginning to end, it was undoubtedly the ending Briony and Elyan deserved, and it provided a heartfelt, emotionally satisfying conclusion to a story I've loved following.
The Shining City
Jamie Thomas
GENRE
Fantasy
SERIES
Asperfell Trilogy #3
TIMELINE
June 9th, 2026- June 27th, 2026
FORMAT
E-Book
Tropes
Similar Vibes
Fight for the Throne
Game of Thrones, Spark of the Everflame
RATING
SPICE LEVEL
THE Summary
Briony, Elyan and the gang have returned through the Gate and are ready to help Elyan take back his throne. But what they find is a fraught political landscape. Elyan is not the only one vying for Keric's throne and Briony, Elyan, Phyra and Arlo must form alliances and convince the powerful forces around Tiralean to rally behind Elyan. There is nothing Briony would not do to furhter Elyan's cause, including travelling far and wide in search of the Old Spells that will make her the most powerful Orare in history. In this final installment in the Asperfell Trilogy, alliances will be formed and broken, new powers will be discovered and kingdoms will be reformed.
THE REVIEW
Favorite Quotes
"Women hear things men do not. Because men never stop talking long enough to listen."
"If I fall, know that in a short life full of extraordinary things, you were the most extraordinary of all."
"Do not fear the end...For it is from all ends that all new beginnings are born."
Good Joy, Bad Joy
Mikki Brammer
GENRE
Fiction
SERIES
Standalone
TIMELINE
May 25th, 2026- June 30th, 2026
FORMAT
Audiobook
Tropes
Similar Vibes
Bucket List, Senior Coming of Age
Tuesdays with Maurie, A Man Called Ove, Remarkably Bright Creatures
RATING
SPICE LEVEL
No Spice
THE Summary
THE REVIEW
Joy as always been good. She is 89 years old and has spent decades being a devoted wife, a loving mother, and a helpful neighbor. Her best friend, Hazel, was always the risk-taker between the two of them.
When Joy finds out Hazel is dying, she starts taking risks that she was always too afraid to take in life, determined to make the most of the time they have left together. Throughout the story, Joy must try to find a balance between the "Good Joy" she has always been and the fun and freedom that "Bad Joy" offers.
This is not typically the type of book I go for, but I picked it up because it was Barnes and Noble's book of the month, and I usually have decent experiences with those books, I figured this was a book I should read not for its high stakes fantasy or its compelling romance, but for the life lessons it would impart. And I was right.
The first moment of self reflection I had while reading this book came while reading about Joy's understanding of how people perceived her as an "old lady". Whether it was with frustration or pity, Joy had a keen sense of how the people around her viewed her (she sometimes even used the old lady persona to her advantage). This made me question my own interactions with the elderly and resolve to make more of an effort to make sure they do not feel around me as Joy felt in those moments.
Do people as kind as Joy actually exist in real life? Being inside the mind of such an altruistic and understanding person made me really think about the grace I give others. At first glance, one may think this book is about the regrets of a life not fully lived or the danger of being so kind that you let people walk all over you. But as I got into this book, I realized the lesson is that you can have both. You can ask for the things you want in life while still being generous to those who deserve it. You don't have to choose to be a Joy or be a Hazel. You can sometimes just choose to be a little bad.
"As children we are canvases, eager to be painted by our parents' brush of life wisdom. We don't question the quality of the tools or the paint, or the skill of the artist. "
"I can't say I've ever felt invisible. But that's because I made sure to take up space, even when no one was willing to give it to me."
"I think reading a book beside someone you care about is one of the loveliest feelings. There is such intimacy in that shared silence. "
"Parenting isn't about creating someone in your own image. It's about giving them the clay to shape themselves as they see it and celebrating whatever form they end
Favorite Quotes
The Ties that Bind Us
Deidra Duncan
GENRE
Romantasy
TIMELINE
Start Date-End Date
Tropes
Prophecy, Chosen One, Past Lives
RATING
SERIES
Bonds of Fate #1
FORMAT
E-book (ARC received from Author)
Similar Vibes
The Mortal Instruments
SPICE LEVEL
THE Summary
THE REVIEW
That Ties That Bind Us takes several familiar romantasy tropes and turns them on their head in ways I wasn't expecting.
The fact that the two main characters are male is, in itself, fairly unique within the romantasy genre. Duncan also flips the typical character dynamics, giving us a dark, brooding blond MMC alongside a dark-haired golden retriever love interest. I've also never seen a protagonist fight the restrictions of a fated mate bond so vehemently before, and that resistance made the romance feel much more interesting than the trope usually does, especially when the mated pair are obviously not right for one another.
The concept of heirs inheriting both the memories and powers of their ancestors was one of the book's strongest and most unique ideas, but it was also the aspect that confused me the most. Were they simply descendants? If so, how were they able to experience the memories of those who came before them? The story repeatedly stresses that they are not reincarnations, yet I never felt like I fully understood how the magic system worked. I also did not understand how their could be 4 rulers of the same kingdom/same people. Where did Sean's jurisdiction start and end, as opposed to Bel's, David's and Autumn's.
David was by far my favorite character. His tragic backstory and emotional complexity made him incredibly compelling, while Sean never quite captured my attention in the same way.
My biggest issue, however, was the ending. I understand this is the first book in a planned trilogy, but I still expected some sense of resolution by the final page. Instead, it felt less like the conclusion of a first installment and more like the story simply stopped in the middle of a chapter.
Even with those criticisms, there are enough unanswered questions, intriguing mythology, and fresh takes on familiar romantasy tropes that I'm genuinely interested in continuing the series. While it wasn't a perfect start, it laid enough groundwork to make me curious about what comes next.
Favorite Quotes
"Ah, yes. tradition....The best way to ensure the past keeps ruining the future."
"Do you choose the window, the prism, or the mirror? One shows you the whole world as it is. One distorts that world and smears it into individual parts, maybe a little easier to understand. The last only looks backward and ignores everything on the other side."
"Regret the crash, not the high."
Sean Archer has had a pretty normal life. Despite the fact that his mother died under suspicious circumstances, he has an intense hatred for a man, David Berkeley, who he barely knows, and his aunt is adamant he never leave the small town he grew up in.
David Berkeley has a voice that can control and he has been used as a weapon in his father's crime empire for as long as he can remember. Too bad his magic voice does not work on the one person he hates most- Sean Archer.
When they are sent across the mist, they discover that they are both heirs to a magical realm, and while Sean's ancestor was a hero, David's was the villain. As the enemy draws nearer, as well as an unknown threat in the shadows, they must determine what role fate plays in their decisions, and decide if they will live up to their people's expectations of them, or rise above.