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I still remember reading The Eyre Affair by Jasper Fforde back in Year 11 literature. At the time, it felt like a complete revelation. Books had always been a big part of my life, but here was a story that treated literature itself as the characters playground. Thursday Next, literary detective, lives in a world
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Beth Bolden is one of those authors I automatically read. She writes MM sports romance that ticks all the boxes for me, and Breakaway Goals, book four in the Food Truck Warriors spin-off series, just reminded me why she is a favourite. I do not think I have ever blogged about her other series, which
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I was in Canty’s Bookshop on the weekend doing what I do best there. Lurking by the YA shelves, earwigging on good book chat and pretending I am not wanting to buy the same series for the third time, but with different covers. A girl near me was in full flight about her sexual awakening
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There is something about Russian stories. They speak to my soul. I do not know why or how Russia has snuck into my psyche. I have never been. I was planning to though. I even wrote about Six Days in Leningrad and made a mega list for Moscow and St Petersburg. Then life rolled on.
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A woman I work with recommended this to me, shamefully, weeks ago. Between uni and work I just hadn’t had time to pick it up. But this last weekend I had a six hour drive to Sydney ahead of me and, with my hubby driving, I finally had it booked. Get it? Booked? Metal Slinger
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I haven’t been reading much lately. Which feels weird to say because I still read all the time, just not the fun kind. Slightly terrifyingly, I decided to go to uni. Yep. Nearly 40 and back in the books, only this time it’s textbooks and lecture slides and APA referencing rules that haunt me. Between
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Sometimes a book just falls into your lap at the right time. Hardcore Carnivore by Jess Pryles did exactly that for me. I may have told my hubby I bought him a present, but since I get bbq out of it, I’m not sure who the present was actually for. Anyway, Jess is an Aussie,
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I had big expectations going into this one. Loving the Legend was one of those rare debut novels that just hit. It stuck with me. I still think about Sid (who I’ll cheers for forever) and Ty, who brought so much heart and softness to their story. So naturally, I was keen to dive back
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I’ve just realised something about my reading habits. I read a lot of series. Like, a lot. Sometimes they’re standalones within a shared world, but most of the time, they build. Which means I’m usually halfway through book three or four by the time I think, “Hey, I should blog about this.” But by then,
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Okay so… how hadn’t I read this before? I’m actually a bit embarrassed to admit this, but somehow The Assassin’s Blade completely slipped through the cracks. I dove headfirst into Throne of Glass years ago and just kept going, assuming I’d caught all the important bits. Turns out I’d missed quite a lot. Reading this
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So, I clearly couldn’t stop at Four Psychos and if you’ve read it, you know there’s just no way to walk away without diving straight into Three Trials. The story picks up right where it left off, and honestly? It’s even more unhinged (in the best way) and maybe a little more emotional too. SPOILER
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I still remember exactly where I was when Shaman dropped, like a sneaky little gift from Lauren Gilley back in 2017. It was a surprise release, and I was about to get on a plane from DC back to Australia after exploring Tennessee and New Orleans with my in-laws. (Spoiler alert: don’t try to wing
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The slowest burn, the biggest payoff. If you’ve read a Mariana Zapata book before, you already know the vibe. Painfully slow burn romance, characters with grit, banter that makes you smirk into your tea, and that delicious moment when it finally happens. Kulti delivers on all fronts. Let’s talk about the setup. Sal Casillas is
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Okay. I’ve just realised I never finished blogging about Lauren Gilley’s Sons of Rome series and honestly? That feels like a crime. A genuine, bookish travesty. Because this series has everything I love: ancient curses, found family, violent immortals, love in impossible places, and Dragon Slayer might just be the one that broke me a
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Alright, I might get shot for this – but I didn’t love From Blood and Ash. There, I said it. It’s one of those books that has become a bit of a romantasy rite of passage, and yet… it just didn’t hit for me the way it clearly did for the masses. Don’t get me
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Some books you return to not just because they’re good — though this one is — but because they feel like a particular kind of comfort. For me, Four Psychos by Kristy Cunning (the paranormal pen name of C.M. Owens) is that book. Or rather, that series. I’ve lost count of how many times I’ve
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I came across Meliz’s Kitchen by Meliz Berg in the loveliest way—over dinner at a dear friend’s place. Her husband is a Turkish Cypriot, and I’ll be honest, it wasn’t a cuisine I’d really thought about before. But that night? We sat on the balcony of their gorgeous North Shore home, the sky turning beautiful
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Following on from A Fate Inked in Blood (which I previously described as a comfy Viking-flavoured romp with Lagertha vibes), A Curse Carved in Bone dives deeper into the curse, the chaos, and the complicated romance between Freya and Bjorn. While it didn’t exactly surprise me, it still absolutely delivered on what I wanted: drama,
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WOLF.E by Paisley Hope – Brooklyn Biker Romance Bliss (and My Favourite Souvenir) Alright, confession time: this was a total cover buy. I was in the US last month and, after a bit of gentle persuasion (read: relentless badgering), I convinced my husband to take me to The Ripped Bodice in Brooklyn. If you’re a
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Let’s be honest—by the time you’ve reached American Hellhound in Lauren Gilley’s Dartmoor series, you’re not dabbling anymore. You’re in. You’ve got your favourites. You’ve mentally rearranged the clubhouse furniture. You know who you’d trust with your life and who you’d throttle before breakfast. And somehow, despite all that, American Hellhound still managed to surprise
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I’ve been re-reading a lot of my favourites recently. I’m in a littlew bit of a reading rut, so am returning to those tried and true books that just sneak into your soul, cause honestly, some books change you. The Outsiders is one of those. Written by S.E. Hinton when she was just sixteen, this
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After the chaos of Fallen Heir, Cracked Kingdom delivers the final, brutal chapter in Easton Royal’s story. And if you thought Easton had hit rock bottom before, think again. This book takes him to his darkest place yet, pushing him to finally face the consequences of his reckless behaviour. It’s raw, messy, and filled with
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Bit of a throwback post today. I’ve been feeling nostalgic, and that always leads me back to comfort reads — the ones you’ve got tucked away in your brain like a favourite hoodie or a beloved recipe you never have to write down (thank you, Mum, for the beautiful chocolate pudding recipe that lives rent-free
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Just when we thought we were done with the Royals, Fallen Heir throws us right back into their world—only this time, it’s Easton at the centre of the chaos. If you thought Reed was a mess, buckle up. Easton Royal is reckless, charming, and completely out of control, making for a ride that’s just as
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Some books are good, some books are great, and then there are books like The Long Game—the ones that burrow into your heart and refuse to leave. This is my favourite book in Rachel Reid’s Game Changers series, the one I go back to read over and over, because it’s just that perfect. If Heated
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The Royal rollercoaster comes to an end with Twisted Palace, and if you thought Erin Watt was done with the drama—think again. The final book in the series throws Ella and Reed straight into chaos, forcing them to fight for their future in a way neither of them saw coming. Secrets explode, betrayals cut deep,
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Sports romance is at its best when it delivers not just heart-racing chemistry but also deep emotional stakes. Played, the final book in Jen Frederick’s Gridiron series, does exactly that. With a best-friends-to-lovers dynamic, a looming NFL draft, and a long-hidden crush finally coming to the surface, this book takes readers on an emotional ride
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Few sequels manage to recapture the magic of their predecessors while expanding on the story in fresh and unexpected ways, but The Lollipop Shoes (published as The Girl with No Shadow in the U.S.) by Joanne Harris does just that. This enchanting follow-up to Chocolat takes us away from the quiet village of Lansquenet-sous-Tannes and
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I went into Role Model knowing I wasn’t supposed to like the main character, and honestly? Mission accomplished. But that’s what makes Rachel Reid so good—she takes a character you don’t want to like and makes you care anyway. Troy Barrett has been an arrogant, homophobic, antagonistic mess in previous books, and Role Model doesn’t
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It’s a bit of a different post this time, but when I spotted Pizza: The New Classics on NetGalley, I immediately hit request. No hesitation. Pizza has always been one of my great loves — it’s comfort food, it’s celebration food, and honestly, it’s just good food. I’ve travelled the world for a good slice.
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I read Loverboy on a plane to Melbourne to see my family, and when I say gut-wrenching, I mean gut-wrenching. I’m pretty sure I had tears and snot everywhere. This book doesn’t just tug at your emotions—it grabs them with both hands and squeezes until you can’t breathe. It’s hard. It’s rough. And the trigger
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Sports romance has a way of delivering intense emotions, high-stakes passion, and characters who challenge each other in all the best ways. After Sacked and Jockblocked, I dove into Downed, the third book in Jen Frederick’s Gridiron series, and it brought something entirely new to the table. With a unique dynamic and a leading couple
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There’s something about sports romance that keeps me coming back for more—the drive, the passion, and the high stakes both on and off the field. After Sacked introduced me to the genre, I naturally had to continue with Jen Frederick’s Jockblocked, and it did not disappoint. While Sacked had Knox’s unwavering devotion at its core,
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If Paper Princess was a headfirst dive into chaos, Broken Prince is the brutal crash landing. Erin Watt cranks up the drama, doubling down on heartbreak, betrayals, and enough jaw-dropping moments to leave you gasping for air. It’s messy, it’s teenage angsty, and it’s exactly the kind of wild ride I signed up for. That
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Ava’s little brother finally got a book. And honestly? I know the Lauren Gilley fandom had been calling for it, but I’m glad she took her time. That boy needed to grow the fuck up. And even by the end, I could still see that he needed more time. You know those people you look
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I have a different kind of appreciation for Common Goal. It’s not the kind of book that knocks you off your feet, but it sneaks up on you in a way that feels warm and satisfying. It’s softer, quieter, and leans into the slow burn more than some of Rachel Reid’s other books, which makes
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To continue the stand alone theme, I decided to review another stand-alone. and let me tell you, there are books that gut you, and then there are books that take your heart, squeeze it in a vice, and leave you staring at the last page, utterly wrecked. The Last Letter by Rebecca Yarros falls squarely
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I have a habit of blogging about series. It’s not intentional, but at this point, I have to ask myself—do I ever really read stand-alones? It’s a fair question, and one I should probably explore further, but today’s post isn’t about that existential crisis. It’s about From Lukov with Love by Mariana Zapata, which, yes,
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Lauren Gilley’s The Skeleton Key is another standout in the Dartmoor series, and it delivers exactly what I love in a book: layered characters, a well-crafted villain, and a sense of authenticity that pulls you in. Emmie and Walsh’s story is steeped in tension, history, and that push-and-pull dynamic that keeps you turning the pages.
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Let’s talk about Paper Princess, a book that came out years ago but still lives rent-free in my head. If you love drama, rich-boy angst, and a heroine who refuses to back down, this series is a must-read. I read Paper Princess back when it was first released, and honestly? It was one of those
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Few books capture the senses as vividly as Chocolat by Joanne Harris. This novel is a feast for the imagination, steeped in the aromas of cocoa, the warmth of a small French village, and the clash of tradition against temptation. First published in 1999, Chocolat remains a timeless tale of magic, rebellion, and self-discovery. I
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I have a complicated relationship with Tough Guy. On the one hand, it’s Rachel Reid, and she doesn’t miss. On the other, this one doesn’t hit quite as hard as Heated Rivalry or The Long Game. Maybe that’s not fair—nothing else is Heated Rivalry—but this book still has its own quiet strengths, it’s just not
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Look, I was going to write something productive today. Maybe even dust off that half-finished post about all the series I’ve started and abandoned (and for those following along at home, you know it’s a long list). But then The Prince and the Player by Nora Phoenix was released today, and since I was lucky
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Recently, when downloading my ebooks, my husband noticed I had 56 Lauren Gilley books. I think he was stunned. Then he realized I also have them as ‘book trophies’—signed physical copies. What can I say? I like what I like. And Lauren Gilley? She delivers every time. Price of Angels is a protection story at
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Some books come into your life at the right time, changing how you read forever. It sounds strange to type that about a romance novel, but yet, here we are. For me, that book was Sacked by Jen Frederick. It was my first romance novel, and unknowingly, it set me on a path of devouring
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When talking about Rachel Reid’s Game Changers series, there’s one book that stands out above the rest: Heated Rivalry. And let’s be real—Shane Hollander and Ilya Rozanov are the heart of this series. They’re the couple everyone remembers, the one that set the bar impossibly high for every hockey romance that followed. But what makes
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It’s been a month since Onyx Storm hit shelves, and while I’ve seen my fair share of criticism, I have to say—I really enjoyed it. Rebecca Yarros knows how to craft an addictive story, and this installment delivered the kind of high-stakes action and emotional gut punches that kept me hooked. I’m a child of
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I Didn’t Expect to Like It, But Here We Are… Look, sometimes you pick up a book just to shake things up. I’ve been in a bit of a reading rut lately, so I figured, why not? Ruby Dixon is basically the queen of sci-fi romance, and Bull Moon Rising sounded weird enough to be
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If you’ve dipped a toe into MM hockey romance, chances are you’ve at least heard of Rachel Reid. She’s a big hitter in this space, and for good reason. Game Changer, the first book in her Game Changers series, set the stage for what would become one of the most beloved hockey romance series out
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Last year, during a Christmas cruise with my family, I finally cracked open Rebecca Yarros’ Fourth Wing. It wasn’t just me who got swept up in its pages—my cousin, my beautiful friend and traveling companion, and I, all devoured the book together, which added an extra layer of joy to the experience. Even though I
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