#romance book reviews

[teabookscatsyoga]

Maneater: A Monsters of Moonvale Novella by Emily Antoinette My rating: 5 of 5 stars Thank you so much to the author, Emily Antoinette, for providing the arc! These thoughts and opinions are my own. Shane, our MMC, is the shy nerdy D&D playing virgin. He becomes the FMC Elle's hero when he saves her from a wild orgy witch cult coven. Through a miscommunication with a local witch, he attends a gathering looking to join a coven of witches since he was practicing by himself. He was not prepared for what was in store. Turns out this coven is a smex cult! They end up summoning our FMC in the middle of their circle. Elle is like "not again!" while standing in the middle of the circle in nothing but a g-string. lol! Shane gets her out of there and she invites him to the strip club she works at because she thinks he's cute and he was so sweet for getting her out of there. This is where their adventure begins. - Soft Domme Succubus FMC - Nerdy, cinnamon role Witch MMC - Bi/Pan rep - Perfect for Halloween - Set in the 80s This was the epitome of wholesome feel good cozy smut. That's not to say it its not naughty. Because it is. It's the perfect blend of sweet and spice, and there is a lot of spice! Both characters are so comfortable with themselves and their own sexualities. Elle is a soft dom. Shane is a virgin witch with a mouth on him. There was plenty of "good boy", which is always fun. This was a great little novella. I look forward to reading more of Emily's books! View all my reviews

[nerdynatreads]

☆☆YouTube | Tumblr | Instagram | Storygraph ☆☆

book review || What if You & Me by Roni Loren

video review || RomComathon -- Reading Vlog 304: 2 books finished!!

Another 5-star for this series, because I, once again, absolutely fell in love with Loren’s characters! Both Andi and Hill have fleshed-out backgrounds and personalities to match, plus fantastic chemistry that all had me completely enthralled any time I picked this book up. The way their friendship developed was so pure, only to become more and more tension-filled, though each of them is working on handling their trauma. My god, though, the way they support each other through it had my heart in a vice and I couldn’t tear my eyes away! And yet, they’re still their own people, they aren’t dependent on one another. The communication too! Everything in this book is just so healing and made me happy.

Andi was such a fun heroine while suffering from PTSD. The last-minute suspense that occurred could have been so predictable, but Loren didn’t let it and I loved Andi even more. Hill’s a recent amputee also suffering from PTSD and heartbreak. As much as I hated his ex, I was really impressed with the turn of events in regard to their past relationship. It highlighted just how perfect Andi and Hill were for each other. Alpha males are not my type, (looking at you, Tessa Bailey) but when done like this? Where they have the ability, where there’s the assumption that they fall into that type, but really they’re big golden retrievers, cinnamon roll boys? I’ll fall in love with those every time.

There’s so much emotional depth in this book, that’s backed up with a good amount of steam and laughs too. I cannot wait to read the last book in this series!

5 / 5 stars

[draghons]

Book Review : Not in Love

I can’t seem to resist picking up every single book written by Ali Hazelwood and Not in Love was no exception. Unfortunately, I was definitely not in love with the latest of Hazelwood’s works and I would honestly say that it is my least favorite of all of her works, including the lackluster Bride. I didn’t particularly like the characters or the plot, the latter of which seemed like an…

[clonerightsagenda]

Spotted the word "blorbo" in The New York Times book review. Listen NYT romance reviewer, I really do not think your paper's audience is going to recognize that one

[maishaaa]

Book Review: Play With Me - By Becka Mack (Hockey Romance - Playing for Keeps)

❝I’m gonna light up your entire sky, the same way you do mine.❞ Synopsis: I’m the star right winger for the Vancouver Vipers, an unstoppable force, fast as lightning. My dream come true, and I’ve worked my whole life to get here. I don’t plan on giving it up, but if I want to keep playing hockey, I’m going to need all my limbs. To ensure my body parts stay intact, I only need to follow one…

[untamed-allure]

I was angry at myself for that senseless waiting.

My brilliant friend (2018-2024)

[countingdots-tc]

TEACHER/STUDENT BOOK RECS

*if you want me to add a forbidden romance list, let me know*

𓃠 This is a list with hyperlinks to books that have teacher/student, age gap, and experienced/less experienced themes that I have read! These are in order from most recommended to least recommended based on my opinion.

𓃠 This will be updated as I read more! Think something should be added to the list? then let me know!

𓃠 Happy reading!

⭐️= highly recommend/changed my life

😇= no smut

🌶️=contains smut

💦=read to really get your rocks off

highlighted=warning

PROFESSOR/COACH BOOK LIST

The Unrequited by Saffron A. Kent-⭐️😇

ProfessorxStudent & mental health themes

Cute little poet embarrassingly falls for her grumpy professor. Beautiful slow burn and perfectly describes what it feels like to want someone and not feel enough for them. She is such a realistic female lead and reminds me a lot of y’all 😂. This is THE teacher crush community book. If you don’t read anything, read this!!

The Professor by Invi Wright-⭐️🌶️

ProfessorxStudent

Cute romance by young, new, and self published author. Very relatable female lead. If you enjoyed The Unrequited, you will like this book for all of the same reasons. Quick and easy read, only 240. She isn’t perfect, she’s clumsy, and I wouldn’t even say she’s socially awkward, she’s just a normal college student in her early 20s. She’s a fun narrator. This author has a lot of potential and her writing will only get better.

Gabriel’s Inferno by Slyvain Reynard-⭐️😇

ProfessorxStudent

Such a good dark academia book. Beautifully written and actually has a movie adaptation. I would definitely recommend this if you want a realistic couple but a bit more serious. Characters have so much depth

Off Balance Series by Lucia Franco- 💦

CoachxStudent

Warning: female lead is age of consent NOT legal age.

If you want something really forbidden and fucked up, read this. If you want the MOST insane sex scenes, read this (MINORS STOP). I really don’t even want to add this series to this list but for the girls who wanna go there, have fun. I started this when I was still in high school, read the 3rd one as an adult, it’s not as easy to read now. Take that info as you please. With that being said, it’s one of the best writing and plots I’ve ever read. Lucia Franco’s other work is 😍

The Professor by Skye Warren-🌶️

ProfessorxStudent

Also an ex-boyfriend’s dad book! This book was amazing! Read it in a day and immediately pre ordered the second. The plot twist in this book made me throw my phone! Narrator/FMC is a bit less relatable for me. Has a secret society plot! Potentially brooding Professor

The 4th Degree by Nikki Castle- 💦

MMA CoachxStudent

Warning: parent death & parent w/ chronic illness

Coach is so broody but has a big heart, he just doesn’t like to show it. FMC has so much depth and is really mature for a 19 y.o. Coach is a quiet character with a dirty mouth. Doesn’t talk much but when he does??? The tension between them is chefs kiss. Not too much a a slow burn. “Will they, won’t they, will they, won’t they” vibes.

Lessons In Sin by Pam Goodwin-🌶️

TeacherxStudent with 18 Y.O female lead

Troubled rich girl gets sent off to a catholic boarding school and falls for the asshole Dean of the school. Smut is pretty good, plot works. I’m not going to say it’s bad, I think whether or not it’s enjoyable depends on the person. It wasn’t bad, I just wasn’t obsessed. If you’re just trying to live vicariously through her (aren’t we all), then it works!

Teach Me by L. L. Ash-🌶️

ProfessorxStudent

Really good start, and I do mean GREAT start… I just feel like the sex scene came too soon (Ch. 9/32) and it threw me off but I also like SUPER slow burns. It’s still a good book. I enjoyed the male love interest, Professor Harlo. They’re cute together. Grump and Sunshine.

Waking Olivia by Elizabeth O’Roark

CoachxCollege Athlete & mental health themes

Great concept! Rare that you see two moody & broody MCs… not my favorite execution of it. It’s not so bad that i think it’s objectively bad. I could see where someone else likes it. But I don’t. Why are they grumpily ogling each others bodies by the 3rd chapter? If you just need ur fix, it works. Has potential

Dark Notes by Pam Goodwin-

TeacherxStudent & themes of abuse

Probably DNF-ing

AGE GAP BOOK LIST

Something In The Way Series by Jessica Hawkins-⭐️😇

Sister’s Boyfriend/Husband & “I saw him first”

Most beautiful romance series I’ve ever read, best written books by Jessica Hawkins. I recommend all of her other books. Lake is 16 when she first meets Manning but nothing sexual happens between them for another 3 books until she’s in her 20s. Beautiful slow burn with characters full of depth.

Sinner by Sierra Simone- ⭐️💦

Brother’s Best Friend & religious themes

Amazing character creation and mapping. These characters feel real! This book is about “teaching” a girl about sex before she becomes a nun. It’s not just a bang bang, hump hump book. It has heart and it really good. If you enjoy religious themed romance, you may enjoy Priest by Sierra Simone too. I didn’t 💀

Birthday Girl by Penelope Douglas- 💦

Ex’s Dad

Most popular forbidden romance so whatever you’ve heard about it, dump it. This might be the most tame book on this list. Pacing is good, well written main character. Insane amounts of smut but it doesn’t drive the story forward so feel free to skip it if you get tired.

Love Unexpected by Q. B. Tyler- 💦

Ex Stepdad & parent death

This book is HOT! However after the first few scenes, I got a bit tired of the smut. Well written enough female lead with a rushed ending. However if you just need something to read and not despise it, it’s good enough.

Strictly Off Limits by Jessica Hawkins-🌶️

Dad’s Best Friend

Jessica is my favorite author so I’m a bit biased but she definitely isn’t a smut writer. This novella would’ve been better without smut however it isn’t super present and doesn’t really drive the story forward so don’t feel like you’re missing anything if you skip the smut!

The Doctor by Nikki Sloane- 💦

Ex’s Dad

personally didn’t care for this book, smut starts off way too quick and I’m more of a slow burn girl. It is a novella yet, it was still too quick. However! You may love it <3

𓃠 If I’m not reading fast enough for you and you want to see what I will be reading in the future here is my Amazon TBR, have at it!

𓃠 If you want to see a more organized bookshelf of what I’ve read, here is my Goodreads!

[booklovers-hub]

The sluttiest thing a hero can do is showing up at the villain's doorstep while they're hurt and saying, "I didn't know where else to go."

[readtheuniverse]

[writerthreads]

Ten must-read books for writers (or anyone, really.)

By Writerthreads on Instagram

Obviously this list is highly subjective and based on my research and personal experience. Please share your favourite books as well!!

1. To the Lighthouse by Virginia Woolf

Woolf is the queen of the stream of consciousness and a master at diving into characters' inner thoughts, conveying complex emotions, themes and perspective. Her prose is breathtaking, her character memorable.

2. Beloved by Toni Morrison

Morrison tackles difficult themes with poise like no other, diving into topics like grief, trauma, and identity. Read this book to learn how to develop multi-layered narratives whilst maintaining perfect pacing and a intricate narrative structure.

3. The Great Gatsby by F. Scott Fitzgerald

A masterpiece. Sharp social commentary, eloquent prose and vivid imagery... what more can you want from a book? Every word was chosen for a purpose, and it shows the importance of restraint in writing.

4. The Lord of the Rings by J. R. R. Tolkien

Tolkien's legendary fantasy world-building makes his series a staple in fantasy literature. The geography, cultures and histories in his works are well-crafted. Anyone trying to build a complex world can learn from from this series.

5. Mrs. Dalloway by Virginia Woolf

Our second Woolf classic in this list! Mrs. Dalloway is a masterclass of a perfect character study. Woolf weaves different viewpoints intricately, capturing the essence of human experience.

6. Pride and Prejudice by Jane Austen

Austen character development is legendary, showcasing complex, evolving characters like Elizabeth Bennet and Mr. Darcy. The novel’s witty dialogue show insight into personality and societal norms, and her narrative voice and well-structured plot keeps readers hooked to the very end.

7. Never Let Me Go by Kazoo Ishiguro

Ishiguro’s novel presents a quietly devastating exploration of memory, identity, and humanity through a dystopian lens. The subtle, restrained prose and profound emotional impact illustrate how to weave complex themes into a seemingly simple narrative.

8. The Seven Husbands of Evelyn Hugo by Taylor Jenkins Reid

This book made me cry so very hard. The author explored themes like identity and fame, while creating an engaging and multi-layered plot that had me hooked. Reid’s vivid prose showcases techniques for creating emotionally resonant and storytelling that allows readers to feel for the characters.

9. One Hundred Years of Solitude by Gabriel Garcia Marquez

Márquez’s masterpiece provides a gorgeous, profound exploration of magical realism. Its intricate narrative and richly imagined world blends fantastical elements with real-world themes into something unique and breathtaking.

10. Wuthering Heights by Emily Bronte

Brontes exploration of dark themes, framed within a dark and brooding narrative, makes it the quintessential gothic read. It's emotionally intense, complex in structure, and definitely memorable, perfect for any budding writer dabbling in dark academia, modern gothic literature, horror, etc.

And here's my rather shoddy list from a non-English major who reads too much! And Sorry for the lack of accents on the required letters, I haven't figured out how to add them on my laptop. Please give me a general opinion on my book recs and whether they're good, or if you have more suggestions! Lots of love.

[kredensstuff]

— Podczas gdy moi przyjaciele zakładali rodziny, ja nie byłem w stanie zwlec się z łóżka tak kurewsko przytłoczony samotnością... Jak myślisz, co utrzymywało mnie wtedy przy życiu? Wspomnienie o tobie. Nigdy o tobie nie zapomniałem.

„Nightfall", Devil's Night #4, Penelope Douglas

[teabookscatsyoga]

Honeysuckles by January Rayne My rating: 5 of 5 stars Thank you to January Rayne for allowing me to have the opportunity to be an ARC reader for this book. These thoughts and opinions are my own. Please read all the content warnings provided in the book before diving into this work. Your mental health matters. Tropes (some could also be content warnings lol): -stalker -touch her and die (literally) -non-con -somnophilia -blood play/body fluid shenanigans -possessive mmc -monster romance -primal -dark romance with really dark themes -pregnancy So this is an unhinged dark paranormal monster romance. Which was right up my alley. Usually I am not a fan of non-con, but it made sense in the context of the story. I still got a little bit of the ick, but I couldn't stay mad at the MMC for long. He knew what he was doing was wrong deep down in the human side of him, but having all those random monsters inside of him just made him the derpiest stalker ever. Not sure what that says about me. I will not be examining that about myself any further. Haha! The MMC is a conglomeration of a bunch of different species of monster: dragon, werewolf, snake, vampire, kraken, and possibly more? It seemed a little open ended. He had been experimented on to create a super soldier and they screwed up and made him too strong. They stress tested him to see if certain traits would present themselves and that involved a lot of torture. Naturally he unalives the head doctor and scientists who have mistreated him, and then escapes to a cabin nearby formerly owned by the doctor. He's drawn to town a few miles away by sensing that his mate/beloved is nearby. This brings us to Demi Hawthorne, the FMC. She owns Demi's Diner in town and has a relatively quiet existence. She gets harassed by this douce named Daniel and his posse of idiots at the diner and Creed sees it. Daniel does not live for long. People who have insulted/injured Demi start to go missing. Also, her gyno ends up dead (poor dude). Creed does all the typical stalker things and sets up cameras, puts crushed up ambien in her tea leaves, watches Demi at night (among other things cw). He's like a hybrid species Zade Meadows with a interesting monster peen. Lol. He also does some other unhinged stuff with particular body fluids. Demi's poor friend can't tolerate being near her (he's secretly paranormal) due to Creed putting drops of his urine in her perfume to ward off potential suiters. This only works on paranormals because human dudes are still shitty to her, but then they go poof after Creed finds out about them. I found it surprising that he left her best friend alone, but he was always respectful so I guess that makes sense. Things absolutely get bonkers from there. If I continued with synopsis, there would be way too many spoilers. It's definitely worth the read if you're ok with the cw's. The ride was WILD. View all my reviews

[galina]

Anyone's Ghost, August Thompson – enjoyed this advance review copy way more than I expected, it broke through my cynical shell and turned me into a soft wobbly mess. An angsty cheesy beautiful queer love story that will be a perfect crying-on-holiday read, comes out in July.

[draghons]

Book Review : Dungeons and Drama

As someone who just participated in her first ever Dungeons and Dragons (D&D) game about two months ago, I was really excited to pick up Dungeons and Drama, which sounded like such a fun read. And thankfully, I was right, Dungeons and Drama is delightful—a fun and fast romp filled with likable characters and a cute romance between a theater kid named Riley and a D&D geek named Nathan. When Riley…

[bibliocharlie]

the perfect afternoon

[apolline-lucy]

hey i did a little redesign of my book cover because i didn’t like the way the blurb was written before… how do you like it now?

check out my book, THE SILVER BIRDS, if you’re into sapphic dark fantasy with witches, monsters, spooky deaths, and a whole cast of grey characters!