adult, ARC, blog tour, contemporary, fantasy, mystery, New Adult, Romance, Sci-Fi, thriller, ya

🌞 May Wrap Up 🌞

Courtney/Enchanted.to.Read.You

Guys I am so proud of myself this month! For the first time ever, I finished all my arcs releasing this month! This is giving me a huge boost of motivation to keep it up!

I competed in both Words & Whimsy Reading Challenge and the Bookemon Readathon. I finished criteria in WWRC, which I’m always excited about. I ended up reading 12 books again this month! I also read a few books over 600 pages, which is kind of unheard of from me!

My favorite read this month was From Blood and Ash by Jennifer L Armentrout. I couldn’t put it down. My least favorite was probably The Mermaid, the Witch, and the Sea. I just had a lot of trouble with the pacing and found myself getting bored.

Here’s what I ended up reading this month!

Obsidio by Amie Kaufman and Jay Kristoff
🌞🌞🌞🌞🌞
Great conclusion to the series! It made me sob in the shower.

The Stone of Sorrow by Brook Carter
🌞🌞🌞
I still can’t get over this cover.

Sisters of the Perilous Heart by Sandra L Vasher
🌞🌞🌞
The virus in this book was SO interesting!

Serpent and Dove by Shelby Mahurin
🌞🌞🌞🌞🌞
This was a second close to being my favorite read of the month!

The Mermaid, the Witch, and the Sea by Maggie Tokuda-Hall
🌞🌞.5
I wish I liked this one more than I did. I really wanted to.

This is How I Lied by Heather Gudenkauf
🌞🌞🌞🌞
My fave thriller of the month! It got CRAY!

Breath like Water by Anna Jarzab
🌞🌞🌞🌞
This book was so beautifully written. The descriptions were swoon-worthy.

Out Now by Saundra Mitchell
🌞🌞🌞🌞
Such a fun grouping of LGBT short stories!

The Dark In-Between by Elizabeth Hrib
🌞🌞🌞🌞.5
This is an AMAZING debut! I loved it!

From Blood and Ash by Jennifer L Armentrout
🌞🌞🌞🌞🌞
The only way to describe my fave read this month : 🔥🔥🔥

Sister Dear by Hannah Mary McKinnon
🌞🌞🌞
Blog tour excerpt coming June 2!

Four Days of You and Me by Miranda Kenneally
🌞🌞🌞🌞
Super cute, quick contemporary!

🌞 Stats 🌞

🌞 Goodreads Goal : 53/120. I am FOUR books AHEAD of schedule! WHAT?!
🌞 I read 12 books again, same as last month, but I read 5025 pages! Almost 1k more than last month. I had some chunkers! My average rating was also up from last month – 3.88!
🌞 Genre wise, I read six fantasies, two contemporaries, and two thrillers, and one each of scifi and anthology!
🌞 This was a very YA fantasy heavy month – 5 of them! In total I read 9 YAs, two adult and one new adult book.
🌞 And my ARCs! I am so proud to say I finished all eight May arcs! I have 10 next month. I think I can do it!

🌞 Yearly Goal Check In 🌞

🌞 Goal of 10 books a month : I passed this again with 12! I hope to keep up the momentum!
🌞 TBR Posts : I missed last Sunday! I’m still trying to figure out a system for blogging and working out and cooking all with a three year old. My husband helps, but let’s face it. My kid is a momma’s boy! I’ll get there eventually!
🌞 Words & Whimsy : I got to chat with a great MG author this month, Sarah Mlynowski! It was so much fun and she was so knowledgeable!
🌞 Words & Whimsy Reading Challenge : Team Gaia won the Broken Worlds edition! Next month is a theme everyone is sure to love – be sure to check it out!
🌞 Mithah Reads : This poor little blog. I have so much to catch up on! I’m going to make more of an effort this month, I pinky promise!

What did your May reading month look like? What was your favorite read? Let me know in the comments below!

Until next time…

Anthology, ARC, blog tour, Four Star Book, LGBT, ya

🌈 Out Now Blog Tour 🌈

Courtney/Enchanted.to.Read.You

🌈 Title : Out Now
🌈 Author : Saundra Mitchell
🌈 Publisher : Inkyard Press
🌈 Publish Date : May 26, 2020
🌈 Genre : LGBT, Anthology
🌈 Book Form : E-ARC
🌈 Pages : 416
🌈 Dates Read : May 17 – May 19
🌈 Rating : 🌈🌈🌈🌈

Thank you to Inkyard Press for an invite to this blog tour and a free copy of this book in exchange for an honest review. All thoughts and feelings are my own.

A follow-up to the critically acclaimed All Out anthology, Out Now features seventeen new short stories from amazing queer YA authors. Vampires crash prom…aliens run from the government…a president’s daughter comes into her own…a true romantic tries to soften the heart of a cynical social media influencer…a selkie and the sea call out to a lost soul. Teapots and barbershops…skateboards and VW vans…Street Fighter and Ares’s sword: Out Now has a story for every reader and surprises with each turn of the page!

This essential and beautifully written modern-day collection features an intersectional and inclusive slate of authors and stories.

– Inkyard Press

Before I get into these stories, I just want to say you do not need to read All Out in order to enjoy this! These are all short stories spotlighting various LGBT characters and are all amazing in their own right! There were 16 short stories in this anthology. They explored so many sexualities.

My favorite story was a tie between What Happens in the Closet and The Coronation. What Happens in the Closet is about vampires who crash a homecoming dance. Austin gets locked in a closet with his arch-nemesis while hiding from them. They are not the sexy vampires we know and love. Of course, while in the closet, they find love.
The Coronation is about a trans boy and girl who are being given to the Gods but they decide to fight back. This read very much like a fantasy that picked up right when the action started. Once it ended I was yearning for a whole book!

There weren’t any bad stories in this book. There were some that featured gods and goddesses, some that read like ya contemporary love stories, and fantasies. There is something for everyone in this book! It was 416 pages long, but didn’t feel like it. I flew through it!

I recommend this to anyone who is LGBT, loves their stories, is an ally, or who wants to learn more about different sexualities. You will be sure to find a story you love.

Can’t wait to get your hands on Out Now? Order it here!
Amazon | Barnes & Noble | Indie Bound
Books-A-Million | Apple Books | Google Play

Saundra Mitchell has been a phone psychic, a car salesperson, a denture deliverer and a layout waxer. She’s dodged trains, endured basic training and hitchhiked from Montana to California. She teaches herself languages, raises children and makes paper for fun. She is the author of Shadowed Summer and The Vespertine series, the upcoming novelization of The Prom musical, and the editor of Defy the Dark. She always picks truth; dare is too easy. Visit her online at www.saundramitchell.com.

Until next time…

ARC, fantasy, Sci-Fi, three star book, ya

👑 Sisters of the Perilous Heart ARC Review 👑

Courtney/Enchanted.to.Read.You

👑 Title : Sisters of the Perilous Heart
👑 Author : Sandra L Vasher
👑 Publisher : Mortal Ink Press, LLC
👑 Publish Date : May 5, 2020
👑 Genre : YA, Fantasy
👑 Book Form : E-ARC
👑 Pages : 395
👑 Dates Read : May 4 – May 8
👑 Rating : 👑👑👑.5

Thank you to Netgalley and Mortal Ink Press for a free copy of this book in exchange for an honest review.

What would you do to save a sister?

As the last mortal kingdom of Kepler resists the Immortal Empire, its young queen faces a devastating attack. Queen Vivian is two minutes into her reign when an arrow pierces her heart and infects her with the Immortality Virus. But she has too much magic to become immortal and not enough to survive. She must find more magic fast, or she’ll die.

Meanwhile, another young mortal faces an uncertain future of her own. Carina is fleeing for her life, but her magic is a tracking beam for immortals. She must learn to harness and control it, or she’ll be captured and killed. Then she meets the queen of South Kepler.

Vivian needs Carina’s magic, and she can offer safe haven in exchange. But can Vivian trust this common girl? Carina isn’t on the kingdom’s registry of magicians. What if she’s a Northern rebel? A spy for the Immortal Empire? And will the truth be revealed in time to save them both?

– Goodreads

I just feel kind of meh about this book and I hate that. I haven’t read a lot of fantasy lately, but this month has kind of fell flat for me.

Humans have escaped to the planet Kepler to escape those with the Immortality Virus – which is a mixture of influenza and AIDs. (This I thought was super interesting). Immortals are here though – and they’re fighting to take over the planet. This isn’t a cute immortality virus like vampires normally have. This makes you go crazy and lose empathy.

Queen Vivian has just been crowned. And less than an hour later, someone tries to take her life. She is infected with the immortality virus, so she and her two brothers go off in search for a cure.
Carina has been hidden at a convent for most of her life with her sister. She has magic, but isn’t allowed to practice. Someone figured out where she is, so they are trying to capture her to put her powers to their use.
Paths cross. Stuff happens.

I don’t remember much of this book. I’m thinking back on reading it, and I can’t really remember anything? There was a romance, but it’s not jumping out at me. I think the last 15% or so picked up. It was enough to make me want to read book two, but not like RIGHT NOW.

I know this review has like, nothing really but a synopsis, but I swear to you guys. Nothing is sticking out about this book. I’m so sorry!

I would say give this a try if you like fantasy/sci-fi. It wasn’t bad by any means.

Have you read Sisters of the Perilous Heart? What were your thoughts? Let me know in the comments below!

Until next time…

ARC, blog tour, contemporary, Four Star Book, Romance, ya

🏊‍♀️ Breath Like Water BLOG TOUR 🏊‍♀️

Courtney/Enchanted.to.Read.You

🏊‍♀️ Title : Breath Like Water
🏊‍♀️ Author : Anna Jarzab
🏊‍♀️ Publisher : Inkyard Press
🏊‍♀️ Publish Date : May 19, 2020
🏊‍♀️ Genre : YA, Contemporary, Romance
🏊‍♀️ Book Form : E-ARC
🏊‍♀️ Pages : 416
🏊‍♀️ Dates Read : May 16 –
🏊‍♀️ Rating : 🏊‍♀️🏊‍♀️🏊‍♀️🏊‍♀️.5

Thank you to Inkyard Press for an invite to the blog tour and a free copy of this book in exchange for an honest review.

This beautifully lyrical contemporary novel features an elite teen swimmer with Olympic dreams, plagued by injury and startled by unexpected romance, who struggles to balance training with family and having a life. For fans of Sarah Dessen, Julie Murphy and Miranda Kenneally.

Susannah Ramos has always loved the water. A swimmer whose early talent made her a world champion, Susannah was poised for greatness in a sport that demands so much of its young. But an inexplicable slowdown has put her Olympic dream in jeopardy, and Susannah is fighting to keep her career afloat when two important people enter her life: a new coach with a revolutionary training strategy, and a charming fellow swimmer named Harry Matthews.

As Susannah begins her long and painful climb back to the top, her friendship with Harry blossoms into passionate and supportive love. But Harry is facing challenges of his own, and even as their bond draws them closer together, other forces work to tear them apart. As she struggles to balance her needs with those of the people who matter most to her, Susannah will learn the cost–and the beauty–of trying to achieve something extraordinary.

This book so was so beautiful. It was lyrical, it was descriptive, it was heartbreaking and joyous. And it was so so real.

First let me get out these trigger warnings. I don’t do them often, and nothing is super graphic, but I do want to mention the book contains struggling with mental health and self harm.

Okay, so. Susannah is a world champion swimmer. The summer after she won, she hit a growth spurt, and hasn’t been the same since. Dave has always been her coach. He’s an Olympian, so he knows what it takes to get there. This year, he hires a new coach, Beth. Susannah swears she won’t swim for her, but after finally having enough of Dave’s abusive behavior, she swims for Beth and gets better. But does she have what it takes to make the Olympics?

Along with swimming, this book mainly features Susannah’s relationship with Harry, another boy on the swim team. It is her first love. I love books about first love. The feelings are all new and exciting, and you’re just fumbling around, and it’s just great. Their relationship turned out to be so much deeper than I expected. It’s nice to see a deep, meaningful relationship between high schoolers.

Breath Like Water also showed some strong family bonds. The relationship with Susannah’s parents and sister was a huge part of the book and I loved it. I feel like I don’t get a lot of that in ya contemporaries, so it’s always a nice surprise when I do.

If you love ya contemporaries, with strong familial bonds and a backdrop of sports, this book is for you!

Want to read Breath Like Water right now? Buy it here!
Amazon | Barnes & Noble | Indie Bound
Google Play | Apple Books

Anna Jarzab is a Midwesterner turned New Yorker. She lives and works in New York City and is the author of such books as Red Dirt, All Unquiet Things, The Opposite of Hallelujah, and the Many-Worlds series. Visit her online at annajarzab.com and on Twitter, @ajarzab.

Are you planning on reading Breath Like Water? Have you already read it? Let me know in the comments below!

Until next time…

fantasy, One Star Book, Romance, ya

🦖 Hot Pterodactyl Boyfriend Review 🦖

Courtney/Enchanted.to.Read.You

🦖 Title : Hot Pterodactyl Boyfriend
🦖 Author : Alan Cumyn
🦖 Publisher : Atheneum/Caitlyn Dlouhy Books
🦖 Publish Date : March 22, 2016
🦖 Genre : Ya, Fantasy, Romance
🦖 Book Form : Ebook
🦖 Pages : 416
🦖 Dates Read : Apr 23 – Apr 25
🦖 Rating : 🦖

Prepare to be blown away—or rather, carried away on huge muscular wings—by this blissfully outlandish, bracingly-smart, tour de force about a teen who has to come to terms with relinquishing control for the first time as she falls for the hot new…pterodactyl…at school. After all, everybody wants him!

Shiels is very pleased with her perfectly controlled life (controlling others while she’s at it). She’s smart, powerful, the Student Body Chair, and she even has a loving boyfriend. What more could a girl ask for?

But everything changes when the first-ever interspecies transfer student, a pterodactyl named Pyke, enrolls at her school. There’s something about him—something primal—that causes the students to lose control whenever he’s around. Even Shiels, the seemingly perfect self-confident girl that she is, can’t keep her mind off of him, despite her doting boyfriend and despite the fact that Pyke immediately starts dating Jocelyn, the school’s fastest runner who Shiels has always discounted as a nobody.

Pyke, hugely popular in a school whose motto is to embrace differences, is asked to join a band, and when his band plays at the Autumn Whirl dance, his preternatural shrieking music sends everyone into a literal frenzy. No one can remember what happened the next day, but Shiels learns that she danced far too long with Pyke, her nose has turned purple, and she may have done something with her boyfriend that she shouldn’t have. Who’s in control now?

– Goodreads

Okay. So. This is one of those books everyone talks about how bad it is. They tell you not to read it, but you do to see how bad it is. This was also (jokingly) a group read last month in Words & Whimsy Reading Challenge. Perfect time to read it and see what the big deal was.

The deal was – it was bad. Shelis is a highschooler. She’s very into student council, so when a pterodactyl joins the school, she decides she is going to make sure he fits in. All the while, she falls in love with him, is jealous he likes her AND another high school girl, AND Shelis’ MOM FALLS FOR HIM. WHAT? They also all have purple noses after they wrangle dance with him. Aka sex. They have sex with a pterodactyl. And get purple noses. I just… what?

That was my thought throughout the whole book. Just what? I was confused. So much happened, but it also seemed like nothing happened? It was weird. And bad. Please don’t read it.

I’m going to link my friend Jordan’s review here. She says it much better than me. Her review is honestly way better than the whole book – and takes a lot less time to read!

Dear friends, please tell me you have not read this book. But if you have, I want to know your thoughts in the comments below!

Until next time…

adult, book meme, book tag, contemporary, Erotica, mystery, Romance

🧛 Down the TBR Part 24 🧛

Courtney/Enchanted.to.Read.You

Sheesh I don’t know what happened this week. I’ve joined a workout/nutrition accountability group and it’s been hard to work that into my routine along with everything else! It also didn’t help I was going to sleep before 8pm every night. ONE DAY I will figure out how to stay up like an adult. One day.

So I chose the vampire emoji today because 8/15 books we are looking at today are vampire books! I loved Crave recently, so maybe I’ll find another series to keep!

We are starting at 1790 books. Let’s see where we end!

✔ What I Kept ✔

Obsessed by Susan Andersen

An ER physician stalked! It’s two of my favorite things – medicine and crime! Not that I do crimes. I just like reading them.

Marked by PC Cast and Kristin Cast

I had this marked as read, but I have zero recollection of it. Apparently I read it 4 years ago. It sounds good, so I’ll give this series a go.

Chosen by PC Cast and Kristin Cast

House of Night #2

Betrayed by PC Cast and Kristin Cast

House of Night #3

Untamed by PC Cast and Kristin Cast

House of Night #4

Body Work by Fiona Brand

A novelist doesn’t know where her inspiration came from – real life events she has blocked. Now the killer wants to silence her. Yesssss.

Lust by Violet Blue

Set of sexy short stories. I’m remembering this for when I have my next slump!

✘ What I Deleted ✘

Dead to the World by Charlaine Harris

Sookie Stackhouse #4. I’ve read the whole series previously!

Definitely Dead by Charlaine Harris

Sookie Stackhouse #6

All Together Dead by Charlaine Harris

Sookie Stackhouse #7

From Dead to Worse by Charlaine Harris

Sookie Stackhouse #8

What Stella Wants by Nancy Bartholomew

It’s listed as romance/mystery, but just didn’t catch my attention.

The Silken Web by Sandra Brown

Sounds too much of a chick lit romance.

You’ve Got Male by Elizabeth Bevarly

The synopsis was a little weird. Seems very chick lit.

Have a Little Faith by Mitch Albom

I’m not a huge fan of his. Just not my style.

Well we are ending at 1782! Slowly but surely making it through the pile. I’m excited for the new vampire series I found. I hope it lives up to my expectations! I will say they are high after reading Crave!

What did you think of my choices? Would you have done anything different? Let me know in the comments below!

Until next time…

adult, ARC, blog tour, Four Star Book, mystery, review, thriller

🤐 This Is How I Lied BLOG TOUR 🤐

Courtney/Enchanted.to.Read.You

🤐 Title : This Is How I Lied
🤐 Author : Heather Gudenkauf
🤐 Publisher : Park Row Books
🤐 Publish Date : May 12, 2020
🤐 Genre : Mystery/Thriller
🤐 Book Form : E-ARC
🤐 Pages : 336
🤐 Dates Read : May 14 – May 16
🤐 Rating : 🤐🤐🤐🤐

Thank you to Park Row books for an invite to this blog tour and a free copy of this book in exchange for an honest review.

With the eccentricity of Fargo and the intensity of Sadie, THIS IS HOW I LIED by Heather Gudenkauf (Park Row Books; May 12, 2020; $17.99) is a timely and gripping thriller about careless violence we can inflict on those we love, and the lengths we will go to make it right, even 25 years later.

Tough as nails and seven months pregnant, Detective Maggie Kennedy-O’Keefe of Grotto PD, is dreading going on desk duty before having the baby her and her husband so badly want. But when new evidence is found in the 25-year-old cold case of her best friend’s murder that requires the work of a desk jockey, Maggie jumps at the opportunity to be the one who finally puts Eve Knox’s case to rest.

Maggie has her work cut out for her. Everyone close to Eve is a suspect. There’s Nola, Eve’s little sister who’s always been a little… off; Nick, Eve’s ex-boyfriend with a vicious temper; a Schwinn riding drifter who blew in and out of Grotto; even Maggie’s husband Sean, who may have known more about Eve’s last day than he’s letting on. As Maggie continues to investigate, the case comes closer and closer to home, forcing her to confront her own demons before she can find justice for Eve.

Guys. I could NOT put this book down! This is one of the ones I was trying to sneakily read at work. It was so twisty. I had to know what was happening next! This was a Grade A thriller!

Maggie is a detective following in her dad’s footsteps. She’s 7 months pregnant and about to tell her boss she wants desk duty until the baby comes. She goes in for a meeting and is surprised to find out they are opening up a cold case from 25 years ago – the murder of her BEST FRIEND!

This story is told in a dual timeline – what is happening now and what happened that fateful day 25 years ago. I loved reading Eve’s POV. It was so interesting to know what happened to the victim and what evens lead to her murder.

Literally everyone in this book is suspect. Maggie, her husband, Eve’s sister, Eve’s boyfriend, the neighbors. I even suspected Maggie’s dad at one point! You can trust no one in this story.

I flew through this book. I had to know who really killed Eve. I remember texting my friend saying “I’m at 89% and I cannot believe anything that is happening!” I was so surprised at the whole ending. The last 10% had me on the edge of my seat!

I fully, 100% recommend this book to any thriller lover. You will not be disappointed!

Heather Gudenkauf is the New York Times and USA Today bestselling author of many books, including The Weight of Silence and These Things Hidden. Heather graduated from the University of Iowa with a degree in elementary education, has spent her career working with students of all ages. She lives in Iowa with her husband, three children, and a very spoiled German Shorthaired Pointer named Lolo. In her free time, Heather enjoys spending time with her family, reading, hiking, and running.

Can’t wait to get your hands on This Is How I Lied? Buy it here!
Harlequin | Barnes & Noble | Amazon
Books-A-Million | Powell’s

Is This Is How I Lied on your tbr? Have you read it? Let me know in the comments below!

Until next time…

adult, book meme, book tag, contemporary, fantasy, Nursing, Romance

👩 Down the TBR Part 23 👩

Courtney/Enchanted.to.Read.You

Happy Mother’s Day to all you moms out there! I am so excited to spend the day with my son. He will be three on Tuesday and I just can’t believe how fast time is flying!

Today we’re starting the TBR at 1800. I keep adding more books! I can’t help it, they all sound so good! Hopefully we can weed some out today!

✔ What I Kept ✔

A Crack in Forever by Jeannie Brewer

This isn’t something I’d normally keep, but the MC is a doctor, and it;s written by a doctor, so I’ll give it a go.

Tending Lives by Echo Heron

I love nonfic about nursing. Love it!

✘ What I Deleted ✘

The Yada Yada Prayer Group Gets Real by Neta Jackson

I’ve deleted the rest of this series.

Being Elizabeth by Barbara Taylor Bradford

The synopsis just didn’t grab my attention.

Fat Tuesday by Sandra Brown

Just didn’t sound like something I’d enjoy. A cop goes after who he thinks is a crooked lawyer.

The Witness by Sandra Brown

Another legal drama that just seems eh.

Leaving Normal by Stef Ann Holm

Just seems too chick lit for my tastes.

Dead Until Dark by Charlaine Harris

Removing because I’ve read it already! It’s been a while, but the longer the series went on the less I liked it, so I don’t think I’ll do a reread.

Living Dead in Dallas by Charlaine Harris

Sookie Stackhouse #2

Club Dead by Charlaine Harris

Sookie Stackhouse #3

We got down to 1792! It helps that I read a series I still had listed as ‘Want to Read’. We still have a long way to go but I’m so excited to weed out all these books I won’t read!

What did you think of my choices? Let me know in the comments below!

Until next time…

ARC, fantasy, LGBT, three star book, ya

💎 The Stone of Sorrow ARC Review 💎

Courtney/Enchanted.to.Read.You

💎 Title : The Stone of Sorrow
💎 Author : Brooke Carter
💎 Publisher : Orca Book Publishers
💎 Publish Date : April 7, 2020
💎 Genre : Fantasy, YA, LGBT
💎 Book Form : E-ARC
💎 Pages : 304
💎 Dates Read : May 2 – May 4
💎 Rating : 💎💎💎.5

Thank you to Netgalley and Orca Book Publishers for a free copy of this book in exchange for an honest review.

In a land of myth and ice, seventeen-year-old Runa Unnursdóttir is not the runecaster her clan has been hoping for. She spends her days daydreaming of sailing away and exploring the world instead of studying the runes and learning her spells. The villagers consider her odd, in looks and in manner. She’s nothing like her talented sister, Sýr, keeper of the sacred moonstone that ensures the village’s continued survival. But when a rival clan led by an evil witch raids the village and kidnaps her sister, Runa is forced to act. With a fallen Valkyrie by her side, and the help of a gorgeous half-elf Runa is not quite sure she can trust, the apprentice must travel to the site of an ancient runecasting competition to try to win back the magical gem. But the journey will not be easy; the three unlikely companions encounter malevolent and supernatural creatures at every turn. Somehow, Runa must summon the courage and strength to face her destiny, a destiny she never wanted. Or die trying.

– Goodreads

Okay, first. This cover! It is gorgeousssss. I love the pop of blue on her cloak and her white hair. I think I requested this off the cover alone.

This book had a lot of positives for me. It’s based on Icelandic mythology – which I know nothing about. It was so interesting to read a book based off this and I learned a lot! It made me want to research more Icelandic myths.
Next was all the rep! There is a female-female relationship, along with an asexual character that uses they/them pronouns. I believe this is the first book I’ve read with an asexual character, too!

This was a pretty quick read for me. The story was fast paced and compelling. I did see some of the twists coming, but not all! I liked the magic system. It was well explained and thought out. The ending twist I didn’t see coming and I loved it!

There was a romance – a small one. I didn’t like the guy though. His personality reminded me of a wet noodle. I think she should have gone for the sexy Elf instead! There wasn’t much of the elf, but I’m hoping to see him again in future novels!

Runa, the MC, was interesting. She started out so unsure of herself and insecure, but grew along with the story. I really enjoyed her character arc and can’t wait to see what happens in the next novels!

The reason I gave 3.5 stars was because the story slowed down at points and it became hard to push through. Most of it was action-packed and interesting, though. The ending also kind of dragged to me.

I definitely recommend if you are a fan of fantasy, mythology, with a little bit of romance.

Have you read The Stone of Sorrow? What were your thoughts? Let me know in the comments below!

Until next time…

ARC, contemporary, Four Star Book, Romance, ya

💕 What I Like About You ARC Review 💕

Courtney/Enchanted.to.Read.You

💕 Title : What I Like About You
💕 Author : Marisa Kanter
💕 Publisher : Simon & Schuster Books for Young Readers
💕 Publish Date : April 7, 2020
💕 Genre : Contemporary, Romance, YA
💕 Book Form : E-ARC
💕 Pages : 416
💕 Dates Read : Apr 26 – Apr 27
💕 Rating : 💕💕💕💕

💕 Thank you to Simon & Schuster and Netgalley for a free copy of this book in exchange for an honest review. 💕

Can a love triangle have only two people in it? Online, it can… but in the real world, it’s more complicated. In this debut novel Marisa Kanter explores what happens when internet friends turn into IRL crushes.

There are a million things that Halle Levitt likes about her online best friend, Nash.

He’s an incredibly talented graphic novelist. He loves books almost as much as she does. And she never has to deal with the awkwardness of seeing him in real life. They can talk about anything…

Except who she really is.

Because online, Halle isn’t Halle—she’s Kels, the enigmatically cool creator of One True Pastry, a YA book blog that pairs epic custom cupcakes with covers and reviews. Kels has everything Halle doesn’t: friends, a growing platform, tons of confidence, and Nash.

That is, until Halle arrives to spend senior year in Gramps’s small town and finds herself face-to-face with real, human, not-behind-a-screen Nash. Nash, who is somehow everywhere she goes—in her classes, at the bakery, even at synagogue.

Nash who has no idea she’s actually Kels.

If Halle tells him who she is, it will ruin the non-awkward magic of their digital friendship. Not telling him though, means it can never be anything more. Because while she starts to fall for Nash as Halle…he’s in love with Kels.

– Goodreads

Oh, I love books that mesh online worlds and the real world. Halle has an altar ego – Kels. Kels is super cool on twitter and the blogging world. She has a great YA blog that pairs books with cupcakes. She’s quick, witty, and sure of herself.

Her best friend online is Nash. He is an artist. They share each other’s stuff, comment on everything, and talk in DMs. So what happens when Kels moves to middle of nowhere Connecticut and meets Nash? Please read the book and find out!

This was such a cute ya contemporary. I loved the fact that it was about a YA blogger. I also used to bake cupcakes obsessively and it really made me want to start back.

I had such a love/hate relationship with Halle. At times I just wanted to scream at her but at times I related to her so much.

The love between Halle and Nash was PERFECT. It reminded me of being young and in love. They had great times, and they fought. It seemed so real!

Another positive aspect of this book is Jewish rep! I have never read another YA with Jewish rep. I loved learning about Jewish church services and other holidays they celebrate!

The only issue I had with this book is that Halle made some comments about adults reading YA novels that were not positive. I am an adult – I’m 30. There’s no more denying. The majority of what I read is ya, so the comments honestly made me very sad.

Even with those comments, I would still recommend this book! It was so cute and fun and the romance was great!

Have you read What I Like About You? What were your thoughts? Let me know in the comments below!

Until next time…