The Phantom of the Opera meets Chinese mythology? This premise made me excited for Demon Song by Kelsea Yu. This novella is set in Beijing, where Megan and her mom have just escaped an abusive man. They end up working and living in the Huihuang Opera Theater, and soon, Megan spends her free time learning... Continue Reading →
The Austen Affair by Madeline Bell came out earlier this month, and though I only found it by surprise, it's become one of my favorite reads of 2025. It starts out in modern times, where Tess Bright and Hugh Balfour are the leading actors in an adaptation of Northanger Abbey. They're opposites in every way,... Continue Reading →
Jenna Levine's My Vampires series has been one of my favorite things to happen in the last couple of years. After loving the first two books, I was excited for the third installment in the trilogy, Road Trip with a Vampire. This one introduces new characters (though Zelda was mentioned in the previous book). Zelda... Continue Reading →
I've been wanting to read Nick Medina since his first novel came out a couple years ago. Now that his third novel has published, I decided to start there. The Whistler follows Henry Hotard, a man in his early 20s who's devoted to his growing YouTube channel about ghost hunting. But after going after a... Continue Reading →
Next week the Scared Sexy collection of six short stories comes out, and I was happy to get an early look at one of them: "Beautiful Nightmare" by Katee Robert. I've read one of their books before, Hunt on Dark Waters, and was interested in this story for its focus on a sleep paralysis demon.... Continue Reading →
Books and music: two of my favorite things to read about in a novel! This drew me to With Stars in Her Eyes by Andie Burke. It starts with Courtney Starling, stage name Kestrel, at a live event to launch her solo career and debut album. But it goes horribly wrong due to a bad... Continue Reading →
Happy release day to Aurora Palit's second novel, Honey and Heat! I loved her debut, Sunshine and Spice, and was excited to see Cynthia get her chance at love here. After a memorable one-night-stand, Cynthia finds out that Rohit works at the same business she does: her father's company. And he's now her #1 competitor... Continue Reading →
Earlier this month, Adib Khorram released his second adult romance, It Had to Be Him. After getting dumped for being "boring," Ramin makes the exciting choice to take a vacation in Milan. There he coincidentally runs into Noah, once a friend back in high school, and they quickly resume their friendship. It's not long before... Continue Reading →
Since reading A Dash of Salt and Pepper a few years ago, I've been wanting to read more from Kosoko Jackson. My second foray into his work is The Macabre, his debut fantasy/horror novel for adults. Lewis is a struggling artist who suddenly gets tasked with entering magical paintings to put a stop to their... Continue Reading →
Alison Cochrun is an author I've been wanting to read for a few years, but I'm glad I started with her newest book, Every Step She Takes. Sadie is turning 35 and just realizing that she might be a lesbian, and in a panic, she goes on the Camino de Santiago trip her travel influencer... Continue Reading →
I love reading books that reimagine fairy tales, so I was instantly drawn to The Book of Heartbreak by Ova Ceren. Set mainly in Istanbul, it follows 17-year-old Sare in the countdown to the end of her curse of heartbreak. All she must do is survive until her 18th birthday without having her heart broken... Continue Reading →
I couldn't let this month end without reading Regina Black's new romance, August Lane. Set between the late 2000s and 2023, this second-chance romance takes one-hit-wonder Luke Randall back to his small hometown in Arkansas to perform a song with the new Country Music Hall of Fame inductee, JoJo Lane. But he knew JoJo's daughter,... Continue Reading →
The year of music romances continues! Emma Lord's For the Record is a second-chance, enemies to friends to lovers romance between two former rivals, pop star Mackenzie Waters and punk rock frontman Sam Blaze. After two years away from the industry, they're each ready to make a solo comeback... until their label decides to make... Continue Reading →
This year I have been loving the reprint of Aurora Ascher's Hell Bent series. A couple weeks ago, the third in the series, Demon with Benefits, got its rerelease. I was so excited for this one ever since the first book, and guys, this was my favorite one yet! Meph is the fun-loving, happy demon... Continue Reading →
I have been absolutely loving all the music-themed romances coming out this year, and one of my most anticipated was Kate Golden's If Not for My Baby. It starts with the kind of unexpected opportunity we all dream of: Small-town waitress Clementine's best friend drops out of backup singing duties in a big star's tour... Continue Reading →
Big, old buildings are always the best places to set a scary story, so when I heard about Juliet Blackwell's new mystery, Asylum Hotel, I was intrigued. Aubrey Spencer likes to photograph abandoned buildings, and that leads her to the little-known Seabrink Hotel, closed for over 50 years and mired in murmurings of past murders... Continue Reading →
Maggie North released her debut novel, Rules for Second Chances, just over a year ago, and I'm glad I've finally read it. Liz is a socially anxious introvert who is just so tired of blending into the background. She wants to be seen, not stay in her husband Tobin's shadow. She asks for a divorce,... Continue Reading →
Today Danica Nava releases her second novel, Love Is a War Song, and I loved it! This romance follows Avery Fox, a new pop singer (and former child actress) after she's been canceled for maybe lying about being Native American and misrepresenting her culture. For damage control, she goes to stay with the Grandmother she's... Continue Reading →
Though I've always been a cat person, I loving seeing any pets take a central role in books, and that includes dogs! This led me to Pardon My Frenchie by Farrah Rochon. It stars a French Bulldog and—my personal dream dog—a Standard Poodle. Ashanti runs a successful doggie daycare, Barkingham Palace, as well as her... Continue Reading →
It's been years since I worked out in a gym, but Up Close & Personal by Ana Holguin made me want to join a spin class asap. What an inspiring and heartfelt debut! Jo De La Cruz has spent the last decade as a semi-famous spin instructor, both in always-full classes at the gym and... Continue Reading →
Ruth Ware has been my favorite thriller author since I read The Woman in Cabin 10 nearly eight years ago. That book is still among my top three favorites by her, so I was excited to learn it would have a sequel: The Woman in Suite 11. It's ten years after the horrors that happened... Continue Reading →
For me, the best summer reads tend to be ones that transport me to other countries around the world. One of my favorite destinations is Italy. That led me to Jill Francis's debut, The Summer You Were Mine. Fourteen years after childhood friends almost became something more, they're back in Italy together for their respective... Continue Reading →
Mia Sosa is an author I've been wanting to read for a while now, especially since I enjoyed a short story she wrote for a holiday anthology a few years ago. Her newest novel is When Javi Dumped Mari, a friends-to-lovers romance that takes 12 years and a rapidly approaching wedding (to the wrong man!)... Continue Reading →
When the Music Hits by Amber Oliver is the book I've needed for years! A young woman trying to work her way up in the music industry, in that sweet spot between musical creativity and the business side. That's exactly what I wanted to do with my career. This sense of harmony made it easy... Continue Reading →
Amanda's Book Corner 