Rose in Chains
Project Hail Mary
Joan Goodwin
Atmosphere
Project Hail Mary
The Forest Kingdom
Natalie Heller Mills
Yesteryear
Arlo
Asperfell
Rose in Chains
Toven Hearst
Joan Goodwin
The Forest Kingdom
Natalie
Yesteryear
Arlo
Asperfell
Toven Hearst
Rose in Chains
Atmosphere
The Escape Game
Marissa Meyer, Tamara Moss
GENRE
Mystery
SERIES
Will be a sequel
TIMELINE
April 28th, 2026 - May 2nd, 2026
FORMAT
Physical (Hardcover)
Tropes
Puzzles, Mystery
SImilar Vibes
The Inheritance Games
RATING
SPICE LEVEL
No Spice
THE Summary
THE REVIEW
The Escape Game, where groups of teenagers compete to see who is the ultimate puzzle solver, is one of the most popular reality tv shows on air. But last season ended in an unsolved murder. This season, Carter, a socially awkward Escape Game influencer, Beck, a friendly escape game designer and Adi, a reluctant son of a famous actress, are teamed with Sierra, a contestant from last season. Sierre is the sister of the girl who was murdered, and everyone thinks she did it, though the police were never able to prove it. Sierra doesn’t care what anyone else thinks and she is back to find out who killed her sister, with a little help from her new team, if only they can stay in the game long enough to do so.
This book was so fun and unique. As a reader and a lover of escape rooms, this book felt like it was made for me. I was expecting glossed over details about the rooms themselves, but we actually got a lot of detail about the puzzles within the game rooms, and they were really fun to read! It felt like I was going through the escape room myself. I thought this was a standalone, and am so excited that we will be in for a second. I am excited to see what puzzles Team Helsing solves next.
We Burned So Bright
THE Summary
It is the end of the world and husbands Don and Rodney set out cross country to tend to some unfinished business. At the end of times, the roads are filled with people, all handling the end of the world in their own ways and Don and Rodney meet some interesting characters along the way.
TJ Klune
GENRE
Sci-fi
TIMELINE
May 1, 2026 - May 2nd, 2026
Tropes
End of the World, Road Trip
RATING
Favorite Quotes
“We made music. We wrote books. Machines that chased stars. We created civilizations. We followed religions. We built. We destroyed. We loved. We killed. We started wars.”
“You love someone long enough, their bodies become comfort, a home in blood and bone.”
SERIES
Standalone
FORMAT
Physical (Hardcover)
Similar Vibes
Under the Whispering Door
SPICE LEVEL
No Spice
THE REVIEW
Darn, TJ! This book was tragic and beautiful. I knew what was coming, in more ways than one, and yet Klune completely wrecked me with this one. It was short but mighty, a tale of human connection, and kept promises and hope and regret. I felt like this is exactly how the world would be if we found out the world was ending in a couple of years. This is probably TJ’s most emotional work yet.
Asperfell
Jamie Thomas
GENRE
Fantasy
SERIES
Asperfell Trilogy #1
TIMELINE
April 15th, 2026 - May 3rd, 2026
FORMAT
E-Book (ARC received from NetGalley and Orbit Books)
Tropes
Childhood Connection, Hidden Powers, Reluctant allies to lovers
Similar Vibes
Howl's Moving Castle
RATING
SPICE LEVEL
THE Summary
THE REVIEW
When Briony was young, the king was murdered with magic and his son, Prince Elyan, was found guilty and sent to the prison world of Asperfell, where their magical prisoners have been sent for generations. Elyan’s brother inherited the throne and with it a hatred for all things magical. Briony grows up in the 10 years that follow secluded away in a kingdom that misuses, imprisons or kills those with magic. When it is discovered Briony has had magic all these years, she is sent by a resistance movement to Asperfell, to find Prince Elyan and bring him home, to become the rightful king.
“Asperfell was made of shadows, and made shadows of us all.”
I have read many books set at magical schools and royal courts, but never magical prisons. While unique, this book had all of the elements of a great fantasy adventure: a king who hates magic, a rebellion, a mystery, a FMC who is thrust into an unknown world and must quickly learn its ways, and an emotionally complex MMC with a secret heart of gold. Excited to read the next book.
Atmosphere
Jamie Thomas
GENRE
Fiction
SERIES
Standalone
TIMELINE
April 10th, 2026 - May 4th, 2026
FORMAT
Audiobook
Tropes
Space Survival
Similar Vibes
Apollo 13, Hidden Figures, Top Gun
RATING
SPICE LEVEL
THE Summary
THE REVIEW
The story opens with Joan in Mission Control, helping guide a team of astronauts in space. When something goes wrong, Joan must keep a level head to bring the team, or what’s left of it, home. Interspersed in this drama are flashbacks from Joan’s early years in the NASA training program, finding friendships, romance and herself.
Saying Taylor Jenkins Reid has a way with words is a serious understatement. You would think in a book about astronauts, the best parts of the book would be about the space travel. But with TJR, I am most riveted by the thought provoking dialogue (that being said, I was pacing and crying in my kitchen listening to the space stuff...so I'd have to say that was pretty well done too). In this book, Reid manages to broach subjects of sexism in male dominated professions, whether there is room for both religion and science in one’s belief system, queer romance and self acceptance, among others. Each of these topics are approached with a depth and a sense of authenticity that really makes them linger long after their pages have been read.
Favorite Quotes
“This probably wasn’t what an astronaut looked like to most people, but she was one, so their definition was going to have to change.”
“Happiness is so hard to come by. I don’t understand why anyone would begrudge anyone else for managing to find some of it.”
“Persistence. Highly underrated in women. Overrated in men, but underrated in women.”
Rose in Chains
Julie Soto
GENRE
Fantasy
SERIES
Rose in Chains #1
TIMELINE
May 9th, 2026 - May 10th, 2026
FORMAT
Physical Book (Hardcover)
Tropes
Forced Proximity, Morally Grey MMC
Similar Vibes
Alchemized
RATING
SPICE LEVEL
THE Summary
THE REVIEW
The war is lost and Briony's brother, who was the prince prophesized to save them, is dead. Now, Briony is auctioned off as a human familiar/magic boost to Toven Hearst, a powerful man from her past and a former classmate she once found both intriguing and intimidating. Now, Briony enters Toven’s household as essentially a prisoner, unsure whether he bought her out of cruelty, obsession, pity, revenge, or something more complicated. As they are forced into close proximity, old memories, buried feelings, and dangerous secrets begin to surface.
I think the fact that I read this book 3 times in 10 months says it all. I LOVED the tension in this book. It kept all of the best parts from the fanfic it was based off of, while still creating a new world/magic system that felt unique and did not feel underdeveloped. The one weakness of the fanfic, was Draco and Hermione’s time at school was already determined. I loved that that was not a hindrance in Rose in Chains and I loved all of the flashback scenes. I thought the ending was a bit abrupt, but it made me that much more excited for the next one.
Favorite Quotes
"There is a lake with still waters."
"Sometimes I have to act without your approval to do what's best for my family! Not just you! All four of us!"
The Forest Kingdom
Jamie Thomas
GENRE
Fantasy
SERIES
Asperfell #2
TIMELINE
May 4th, 2026 - May 16th, 2026
FORMAT
E-Book (ARC received from NetGalley and Orbit Books)
Tropes
Found Family, Emotionally Guarded MMC, Ancient magic awakening
Similar Vibes
Asperfell, Uprooted
RATING
SPICE LEVEL
THE Summary
THE REVIEW
The Forest Kingdom picks up after the events of Asperfell, with Briony finally free from the prison realm she fought so hard to escape, but still far from getting Elyan back to their home kingdom of Tiralaen. While on a journey north in search of a rumored passage home, Briony, Elyan, Phyra, Arlo and Thaniel discover a hidden kingdom buried deep within the forests of Asperfell. Though this kingdom is filled with impossible beauty, beneath lies a web of secrets stretching back generations, along with the awakening of a vengeful goddess who has never forgiven Briony’s people for invading this world centuries before.
This story was a natural continuation of Briony and the gang’s storyline from Book 1. I enjoyed delving more into the individual characters of Phyra, Arlo and Thaniel, as well as their combined found family dynamic. Just like the first, the setting of this book was dynamic with dark and mysterious undertones. However, this book was a bit frustrating in that it felt like just a stop along the road of getting Briony and Elyan to their desired destination. While the stakes seemed high for the people who lived in the Forest Kingdom, I couldn’t help but feel removed from it, as our main characters were not from there, and were not planning to stay. I want desperately to see Elyan retake the throne, and this book just seemed like obstacles in the way of that path. I am hoping book 3 will provide the payoff.
“How is it that we can so fiercely claim responsibility for our kingdom’s future and yet absolve ourselves of responsibility for its past?”
“I don’t want to do extraordinary things. I just want to do the right thing.”
“A good king cares for his people…but a good man cares for all people. To be a good king, I rather think I must first be a good man.”
Favorite Quotes
Bound
Ali Hazelwood
GENRE
Fantasy
SERIES
Bound and Unbound #1
TIMELINE
May 9th, 2026 - May 10th, 2026
FORMAT
Audiobook
Tropes
Similar Vibes
Dark Academia, Reluctant Partnership
Bride, A Discovery of Witches
RATING
SPICE LEVEL
THE Summary
THE REVIEW
Vero is a grad student by day, an art forger by night. When her work gets her noticed by the mysterious Professor Viktor Ashworth, he seeks her help in forging something of great importance. The deeper she’s pulled into his world of rare manuscripts, hidden histories, and academic secrets, the more clear it becomes that something unnatural lurks beneath the polished surface. During their time working together, their connection grows into a tense slow burn filled with suspicion, secrets and magnetic attraction, forcing Veronica to question not only who Viktor truly is—but what she herself is willing to become.
If Ali Hazelwood releases a book, I must read it. Audiobooks are not my favorite format of reading, especially when in comes to romance and fantasy, but for Ali I will make an exception. This book was a bit slow to start for me, and I wasn't feeling some of the voice acting at first, but then I got used to it, I guess. As the story picked up, I was drawn in by the romantic pining. No one does the "he falls first and faster" trope quite like Ali Hazelwood.
Beneath
Ariel Sullivan
GENRE
Fantasy
SERIES
Reform #0
TIMELINE
May 16th, 2026 - May 24th, 2026
FORMAT
E-Book (ARC received from NetGalley and Ballantine Books)
Tropes
Found Family, Dystopian Survival, He Falls First/Harder, Forced Proximity
Similar Vibes
Brood, Divergent
RATING
SPICE LEVEL
THE Summary
THE REVIEW
The apocalypse has come and gone, and what's left of society lives in a underground bunker city called Haven. Life beneath the surface is harsh and tightly controlled, with dwindling resources, constant illness, and the looming fear that humanity may not survive much longer. Life in the bunker has taught Sasha to only rely on herself. Known as “Death’s Angel” for comforting dying patients in Haven’s overcrowded hospital ward but never getting sick herself, she now buries herself in dangerous tunnel expansion work, trying to outrun her grief and numb herself to the hopelessness around her. Her quiet routine is shattered when Tristian Hayes, a relentless and frustratingly determined commander in the Force, recruits her as a medic to join an elite team preparing for a dangerous mission to the surface. Sasha is thrown into brutal military training alongside a tight-knit group of soldiers, where survival depends as much on trust as skill. As tensions rise and secrets about Haven begin to unravel, Sasha finds herself drawn to Tristian despite every instinct telling her to keep her walls up.
I normally don’t bother with prequels or spin offs of series, but I enjoyed Conform so much earlier this year, I was excited to give Beneath a try. I wanted to like this book more than I did. I liked the found family dynamics of Unit Seven, as well as the peeks to what will become the society we see in Conform. But I found some aspects of this book hard to follow, especially the details of what went on within the Force before the events of the book. and the political dynamics among the different Sectors within Haven.
"I didn't find someone to save me Lara, but I found someone who stood by my side while I saved myself."
Favorite Quotes
Yesteryear
Caro Claire Burke
GENRE
Satirical Fiction
SERIES
Standalone
TIMELINE
May 4th, 2026 - May 27th, 2026
FORMAT
Audiobook
Tropes
Stuck in the past, Social commentary
Similar Vibes
The Compound, Don't Worry Darling, Outlander
RATING
SPICE LEVEL
“What do pioneer children do for fun?”
This is the question Natalie Heller Mills must ask herself after she is suddenly thrust into what appears to be the year 1855. For someone who has spent years cultivating an online empire around homesteading, traditional values, and the romanticized simplicity of frontier life, Natalie should feel right at home. But she doesn't because the fantasy she spent years constructing and polishing for her millions of followers was just that...fantasy.
As Natalie is forced to confront the brutal realities of actual frontier life, readers are simultaneously shown the unraveling of the life Natalie had leading up to the present. We learn that beneath Natalie's carefully curated image lies exhaustion, resentment, and a deep seated hatred for both herself and the "perfect" family she created. The further Natalie descends into this unfamiliar world, the more uncertain she becomes of what is real. Is she trapped in some elaborate punishment, losing her mind, or uncovering something far darker?
THE Summary
This book is not subtle in its social commentary, specifically as it pertains to performed identity, gender roles, feminism and religion. The main character Natalie is a contradictory and intriguing character. She's a product of a broken system and she's awful in a lot of ways, but she also recognizes the bad in everything and everyone around her. Her blunt honesty in her own inner monologue is equal parts horrifying and refreshing. This book got more unhinged as the story progressed and Burke's writing style did a good job of mimicing the mania of the characters.
THE REVIEW
“A voice in my head, echoing softly: America hates angry women. The Lord hates angry women. You hate angry women. Do not be an angry woman.”
“But that’s something I’ve learned in the years since I left the ranch: you cannot change people who refuse to be changed. You can only love them. So here it is, all the love I have to give, pressed into the pages of this book.”
Favorite Quotes
Deceptive Inheritance
Jennifer Anne Davis
GENRE
Romantasy
SERIES
Remnants of the Lost #1
TIMELINE
May 30th, 2026-May 31st, 2026
FORMAT
E-book (ARC received from NetGalley and Reign Publishing)
Tropes
Mates, Hidden Powers, Forbidden romance, Touch her a die
Similar Vibes
Twilight, The Deal
RATING
SPICE LEVEL
THE Summary
THE REVIEW
Laney Lake is starting her junior year at a new school, Stonemore University. The first time free of her very overprotective parents, she is determined to say yes to new experiences. New friends? Sure. New adventures? Absolutely. Falling for Rowan Ward, the handsome, popular rugby star who already has a girlfriend? That definitely wasn't part of the plan.
Rowan Ward has his future mapped out for him. As the son of the alpha of his werewolf pack, he is expecting to excel in school and rugby, marry his current girlfriend and take over as alpha one day. It is the future he has always envisioned for himself. That is until Laney Lake walked onto campus. From the moment he sees her, Rowan feels an undeniable connection to Laney. There is also the fact that Laney doesn't smell like a human. She doesn't smell like a wolf either, but she definitely doesn't smell completely human. Is she a threat, come to hurt him and his pack? Or is she really as ignorant to the world of werewolves as she seems? As their bond grows stronger, Rowan is forced to choose between what his pack expects of him and what his heart is telling him is right.
I have known from past experience I am very much into the possesive were-mate thing, and Deceptive Inheritance fed that niche so deliciously. This book reminded me a lot of The Deal (and its new TV adaptation Off Campus), with Laney hanging out at the team's house and getting to know Rowan's teammates. However, I feel like a better job could have been done to showcase Rowan's friendships with the team more. If anything, we mostly saw Rowan being more of an alpha to them than a friend, and I think a better found family dynamic with the team/pack would have made me root for the characters more. Maybe in a potential sequel?