In an effort to catch up to my reviews, I just decided to give a short review for every book I've read so far this year. This is the adult books edition, and I plan on doing a YA one and a middle-grade one. My goal every year is to read as diversely as possible. I, for some reason, decided that this was the year of romance, so I've mostly read romance this year with a few fantasies mixed in. Fair warning, 2 books on here are ridiculous. I'm sure some romance girlies wouldn't bat an eye that I read them, but they are very out there for me.
Blitz'd by Lee McCormick & RS McKenzie - This was a ride. As far as consent in the beginning, it felt very iffy to be honest. Although both parties seemed to enjoy themselves. I felt like Zander didn't get to really ease into his newfound queerness. Zander was the best part of this story. I loved Zander. He was so sweet and open. Kerian felt like a caricature, or maybe a better word is one-dimensional. He acted tough and like he didn't care about Zander. He kind of reminded me of Ilya from Heated Rivalry. You do get some of his messed-up background, but you don't get deep into his character. I wouldn't recommend this book. It's pretty messed up. 3.5 stars
A Girl Like Her by Talia Hibbert - This is my third time reading this story. I absolutely love this couple. One of my favorite romance books. I love that Evan is very protective and nurturing towards Ruth. He cooks for her, they talk about comics together, and he doesn't listen to baseless rumors about her. Ruth is autistic, and I believe this was the first book I've read about and by an autistic person. Loved reading her perspective and seeing her personality where she was authentically herself. The sex scenes are awkward, though, but I think about that with most romances. 4.75 stars
The Amberglow Candy Store by Hiyoko Kurisu - I read this for my online book club because the theme was like myths, legends, & cats or something like that. So glad that I did because I was pleasantly surprised reading my first "healing fiction." This was told at times in the perspective of a fox who owns a candy store in this in-between, or rather, another world that humans tend to stumble upon when they need something solved in their lives. Each person who eats a particular candy learns something and is able to resolve something important in their life. I liked that each chapter was told through a new POV and that the last one rounded out everything with how and why the kitsune started his shop. 4 stars
The Starter Ex by Mia Sosa - At this point, I had bought waaayyy more books than I've read and this changed the whole trajectory for my reading year in the best possible way. I was reading a few books here and there but I loved this book so freaking much. I don't read enough Latino books. I forget that they make me feel like home. I read diversely in general because I've read 1,000+ books. Let me tell you, when you put a little bit of that culture in there, it is so much more interesting. And Latinas are (I am being biased) the best lead characters you could possibly have. Vanessa had such a witty, smart personality. She was so funny and she had this past where it had to deal with shame and her culture. This was deep at moments and so much fun the rest of the time. Number 1 top new to me romance I've read this year. Please, publishers, I need more Latino romance books! 4.5 stars
The Bridge Back to You by Riss M. Neilson - Everyone and their mama knows I love books with food as part of the storyline. This is set in a restaurant, and it's about getting old childhood loves back together. A mom meddles from beyond the grave and because of that, we get an amazing love story. Olivia is a chef who learned to love food at Celia's place. She travels the world and has never been able to settle anywhere until she learns she is a part-owner of Celia's Place. Carmello is not happy about that. He loved Olivia but she broke his heart. He tries to buy back Olivia's portion of ownership but she won't relent until she helps revive the restaurant. He has a little boy with anxiety, I believe. He is such a great father. I loved his relationship with Olivia and how their love blossomed. He has OCD, and Olivia has endometriosis, which is not something I've read much of in the past. 4 stars
Hot Chocolate on Thursday by Michiko Aoyama - I picked this book up based on my online bookclub's theme of books in translation. I was excited to read another healing fiction but reading it I was like what is this? I was shocked to find this was written by a woman because it felt outdated and a bit sexist. I can't really pinpoint anything other than why the heck painted nails were a problem in this story. It was just not good. 2.5 stars
Wooing the Witch Queen by Stephanie Burgis - I try to only pick up diverse books but I really loved Burgis' middle grade series - Kat, Incorrigible - it reminded me of Pride and Prejudice in a magical world. This was okay. I liked that the two leads were misunderstood. Queen Saskia just wanted to work on her potions and create a better world for her people. "Fabian" was such a sweet guy who had dealt with a lot of heartache and abuse. It was a bit ridiculous that his identity wasn't found out until the end but it's such a carefree, fun romance. Although something was missing. There needed to be more substance. 3.5 stars
Tusk Love by Thea Guanzon - I read one "monster romance" last year and enjoyed it (it was a merman and a human) so I thought orcs... why not? It's also part of Critical Role which I know of but don't follow. It's very nerdy and I am nerdy so I thought it would be perfect. Unfortunately, there was just too much sex. It was ridiculous. I love a slow burn and she's on a quest that will have her meeting her future husband. It's a bit silly. I will admit, though, the characters were very likable. Oskar lost his mom recently and is on a journey to meet his mom's clan. He ends up saving Guinevere who is a rich girl but has always been ostracized. She works hard to combat her elitist views. Oskar lets himself cry and feel. He's a big softie. I loved him. I was just disappointed by the ridiculous amount of sex scenes and then thinking the other person won't want to be together by the end of this journey. 3.5 stars
Love is a War Song by Danica Nava - Oh my goodness, this was so good! While reading this I was like yes, finally another lead character that is sassy and fun like the Mia Sosa book. I haven't read that much indigenous reads so I at least wanted to read one romance by an indigenous author this year and this did not disappoint. Avery grew up being a child actress. Her mother depended on her to basically survive. She doesn't really know her roots until backlash from a viral event has her shipped off to a grandmother she never knew. She gains community, family, and a cowboy who doesn't like her songs but can't help teasing her whenever she's near. This was so much fun with that added culture that makes romance books all the better. 4 stars
Whispers of the Deep by Emma Hamm - Now I see you judging me. Don't look at me like that. I was curious. I knew this was going to be silly and I just wanted to read something mindless. I did enjoy the enemies-to-lovers storyline. I got to escape to a completely different world but halfway through I was bored. Arges kidnapped Olivia to figure out how to destroy the humans who were ruining the ocean. They learn to communicate, they get interested in each other... if you know what I mean, and for the majority of the book, he's just moving her around. And she's dying! She can't survive on fish like him! It got repetitive and boring but I was having a good time turning off my brain for half of it. I'm not reading any more of these books, though. My curiosity has been satiated. 3 stars
More Like Enemigas by Stephanie Hope - A Cuban-American girl is just trying to keep her late father's restaurant afloat. Her cousin Maria schemes to get her to accept an invitation to her other cousin's wedding (it's a week-long event in a summer camp) so she can pitch an idea to her cousin's future husband to invest in her restaurant. Sounds convoluted, but I had a good time. I looked at reviews before and a lot of people didn't consider this to have that much of a romance, so I went in knowing this and still enjoyed it. This was an in-person book club pick which I've never done before outside my family. I've also never read a sapphic adult romance to my knowledge. I can think of none. Maybe I am completely wrong, but in any case, there were no sex scenes, which I avoid in any case. But also that means there was no real chemistry, which was unfortunate. There was a lot of drama. Isa's mom is the worst, and I am very happy she stood up for herself in the end. I did think it needed more food references. I don't know why the guests were acting like ropa vieja and rice pudding were revolutionary but whatever. I am Cuban so whenever I can read books with a Cuban perspective, I am happy. If you do read this, be warned she mentions the parent trap like 5 times. It drove me nuts. 3.5 stars
Can't Get Enough by Kennedy Ryan - This was the first romance book I bought this year and I am so sorry but I really didn't like it! I know Kennedy Ryan is supposed to be a prolific writer. I read The Kingmaker a long time ago. I liked the political aspect of it but the sex scenes were too much. I've learned to just skip sex scenes entirely because it's too awkward to read. In this story, Hendrix has to come to terms with her mother's alzheimer's. Those pages were truly impactful but otherwise, I was so annoyed. Hendrix spends half the book saying I want to be with him but no I can't be with him over and over again. I got tired of it. She apparently did too because she just gave up and said yes I'll be with you after Maverick kind of creepily said he wouldn't stop pursuing her even if she said no. I didn't love that. Maverick was also a billionaire and I've discovered I don't like that in my books. I love when the man takes care of the woman, like in Talia Hibbert's book, but I want a sweet, protective man, not a rich man who won't take no for an answer. I am so sad too because I bought another book by Ryan before reading this book. I will give it a shot but that might be it for this author and me. I think this book is too extroverted for me. The best friends were saying some crazy sexual stuff when they got together. I don't need to be talking to my friends about all that personal stuff in such a crude way. I know romance books tend to be all about sex but sheesh... this was not for me. 2.75 stars
Enemies to Lovers by Alisha Rai - I went back to loving romance with Alisha Rai's Enemies to Lovers. My favorite trope. This was fast-paced and fun. That's what I want in a romance. I also realized I hadn't read an asian adult romance book in forever, so I wanted to fix that. This is a sequel but you can read it on it's own. Sejal is from a crime family. Her mother had tied her up for ransom in the first book. Her sister, who she doesn't have the best relationship, with saves her. This is the ransom girl's story. She doesn't feel like she can settle anywhere. She's always looking over her shoulder. Her job is swindling cheaters with her close-up magic skills. She doesn't expect to get caught up in an FBI agent's investigation. Krish has his own past and secrets. He's trying to find his brother who got caught up in Sejal's crime family business. He thinks they've taken him based on clues his brother has left behind. They go on a road trip to save him, although Sejal has her own agenda. Enjoyed this one immensely. 4 stars
The Teller of Small Fortunes by Julie Leong - Absolutely amazing story. I went through so much with this traveling band of misfits. I cannot stress how much this story meant to me. Tao has been alone on the road for a while as a teller of small fortunes. She has the magical ability to tell you a small fortune, whether it is good or bad. When she tells the fortune of a former soldier (I think), she inadvertently sets herself on a new path of friendship and acceptance, and finds her way back home. The ex-soldier or mercenary is looking for his daughter who is four years old. He believes she was taken by bandits half a year ago. His friend was a former thief who doesn't really know how to change his fate. They also meet a baker who joins their crew, and they all quickly become a family. Tao has secrets that she's keeping hidden from everyone else. I loved all these characters immensely. I read the author's about me and she talks about living in New Jersey but also China and not feeling you know American enough or Chinese enough. You can feel that influence in Tao's story. I was moved by her storyline the most because I know that feeling. I am 100% reading Leong's other story set in this world. Fabulous. Please read this if you like heartwarming cozy fantasy. 5 stars
As you can see, I don't really write reviews. I ramble. But I got all my thoughts out there, except I want to talk more about reading diversely. I am reading diversely for a reason. I feel like it's not talked about a lot anymore, at least with people I follow. (There is a diversity year-long challenge you can find on YouTube. I also have discovered different websites that promote either Latinx in Publishing or LGBTQ Reads, which are fantastic resources.)
I am tired of seeing mostly white stories. I am saying this as a white Latina who doesn't feel Latina enough. I think most people would just categorize me as Hispanic since my ancestors were mostly Spaniard but I don't really care about how other people categorize me. This is all to say that reading diversely is important to me. It makes stories that much more compelling. We aren't one-dimensional people who have no culture or political beliefs. We need stories that have depth, and diverse stories are doing that. I want to be able to continue seeing myself in published books. I also want to learn and read about new perspectives. I think we've forgotten empathy as a society. I think we've forgotten we are all one people. We should embrace our similarities and differences.
Also, let's not make the default love interest white, please. And if a story features all white characters, why not some sort of culture in there? You can't tell me every white non-Latino person doesn't have their own set of traditions and experiences. The pumping out of the same story, especially in romance, is annoying. I know I am going off on a tangent, but I am so tired of the minority voice not being read or published as much as its white counterparts. I am sure no one cares because I am writing to a void, but I want to write this as a way to say I am committed to reading diversely now and always.
Alright, tangent over. YA books, you're next.
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