ARC Review: The Summer Playbook by Jaqueline Snowe

Special thanks to Jaqueline Snowe for providing a digital ARC in exchange for an honest review!

The Summer Playbook (Central State Football #2)
Publication Date: 6 February 2024
Genre: New Adult Sports Romance

Panda Rating:

(4 pandas)

📖 SYNOPSIS

Mackenzie Mallinson is an expert at two things—playing soccer and talking about soccer. Wait, there’s a third too. Crushing on her best friend’s twin brother, the star quarterback for the football team, but no one knows about that. Her senior year is her last shot at fun before entering the pros, and she refuses to let soccer be the only thing that defines her. She wants to live life to the fullest, and that requires a summer bucket list.

Dean Romano might have a line of people wanting his signature, but he’s been off his game since someone he trusted hurt him last year. Once the life of the party, he misses the old version of himself. Not the guy who slept around version, but the fun, carefree, let’s enjoy my time on earth version. With his senior year on the team starting, he wants to get back to having a good time, and the perfect opportunity arises: The Summer Playbook.

Mack needs to let loose but wants to do it with someone she trusts. Dean wants to find his mojo again with someone who doesn’t care about his potential NFL career. The two pair up to complete a bucket list of fun while ensuring there are no feelings involved. Some items are easy, like dance on a bar or go to a concert, but skinny dipping? Body shots? Things heat up, but they both agreed their deal ends once they check off every item on the list. The question remains: is love something you cross off a list or a game you can win?

⚠️ CONTENT/TRIGGER WARNINGS

Sex on page, infidelity recounted, gaslighting

TL;DR: This book was just too freaking cute. It was like a shot of sunshine and happiness straight into my veins because it was a sweet, feel-good, low-drama, low-angst romance. Mack and Dean were so good together and I loved their healthy communication and the playfulness of their romance! If you’re a seasonal reader and are looking for a book to add to your summer reading list, you don’t want to miss out on this because it’s perfect for the summer and it will make you want to fall in love!

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ARC Review: Opium and Absinthe by Lydia Kang

Special thanks to Lake Union Publishing for providing a digital ARC via NetGalley in exchange for a (very late but) honest review!

Opium and Absinthe
Publisher: Lake Union Publishing
Publication Date: 1 July 2020
Genre: Historical Mystery

Panda Rating:

(3.5 pandas)

📖 SYNOPSIS

New York City, 1899. Tillie Pembroke’s sister lies dead, her body drained of blood and with two puncture wounds on her neck. Bram Stoker’s new novel, Dracula, has just been published, and Tillie’s imagination leaps to the impossible: the murderer is a vampire. But it can’t be—can it?

A ravenous reader and researcher, Tillie has something of an addiction to truth, and she won’t rest until she unravels the mystery of her sister’s death. Unfortunately, Tillie’s addicted to more than just truth; to ease the pain from a recent injury, she’s taking more and more laudanum…and some in her immediate circle are happy to keep her well supplied.

Tillie can’t bring herself to believe vampires exist. But with the hysteria surrounding her sister’s death, the continued vampiric slayings, and the opium swirling through her body, it’s becoming increasingly difficult for a girl who relies on facts and figures to know what’s real—or whether she can trust those closest to her.

⚠️ CONTENT/TRIGGER WARNINGS

Murder, blood, exsanguination, drug abuse, addiction, medical abuse, munchausen syndrome’s by proxy, rape recounted, physical abuse recounted

TL;DR: This was an intriguing historical medical thriller that had a bit of a slow start but that I quickly found that I didn’t want to put down. Tillie was a well-developed character whom I pitied and sympathised with, who frustrated me to no end due to her poor decision-making but whom I ultimately admired by the end. I’m terrible at solving mysteries before the great review and although I’d guessed around the motive, I did not guess at all whodunit so that was a fun surprise! Overall, an enjoyable read.

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Book Review: We Are Okay by Nina LaCour

We Are Okay
Publisher: Penguin Books
Pub Date: 14 February 2017
Genre: Young Adult Contemporary Fiction

Panda Rating:

(3.5 pandas)

📖 SYNOPSIS

You go through life thinking there’s so much you need…. Until you leave with only your phone, your wallet, and a picture of your mother. Marin hasn’t spoken to anyone from her old life since the day she left everything behind. No one knows the truth about those final weeks. Not even her best friend Mabel. But even thousands of miles away from the California coast, at college in New York, Marin still feels the pull of the life and tragedy she’s tried to outrun. Now, months later, alone in an emptied dorm for winter break, Marin waits. Mabel is coming to visit and Marin will be forced to face everything that’s been left unsaid and finally confront the loneliness that has made a home in her heart.

An intimate whisper that packs an indelible punch , We Are Okay is Nina LaCour at her finest. This gorgeously crafted and achingly honest portrayal of grief will leave you urgent to reach across any distance to reconnect with the people you love.

⚠️ CONTENT/TRIGGER WARNINGS

Death of parent, death of a grandfather from drowning, mental illness, grief

I put off reading this for years because it gave such sad read vibes that I knew I had to be emotionally prepared for it. But seeing as January 2024 seems to have me in my sad reads era, I finally picked it up and yep, we are not okay, Nina LaCour. 🥲 That is, this book was beautiful, sad, touching and healing and I’m so glad that I finally read it.

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Book Review: Divine Rivals by Rebecca Ross

Divine Rivals (Letters of Enchantment #1)
Publisher: Magpie
Pub Date: 13 April 2023
Genre: Young Adult Romantasy

Panda Rating:

(5 pandas)

📖 SYNOPSIS

NO GOD
NO CREATURE
NO WAR
CAN COME BETWEEN THEM

The latest from the number one SUNDAY TIMES bestseller Rebecca Ross


When two young rival journalists find love through a magical connection, their fate depends on their facing the depths of hell… together.

After centuries of sleep, the gods are warring again…

All eighteen-year-old Iris Winnow wants to do is hold her family together. With a brother on the frontline forced to fight on behalf of the Gods now missing from the frontline and a mother drowning her sorrows, Iris’s best bet is winning the columnist promotion at the Oath Gazette.

But when Iris’s letters to her brother fall into the wrong hands – that of the handsome but cold Roman Kitt, her rival at the paper – an unlikely magical connection forms.

Expelled into the middle of a mystical war, magical typewriters in tow, can their bond withstand the fight for the fate of mankind and, most importantly, love?

An epic enemies-to-lovers fantasy novel filled with hope and heartbreak, and the unparalleled power of love.

⚠️ CONTENT/TRIGGER WARNINGS

Death, death of a parent, war scenes, violence, explosions, serious injury, PTSD

TL;DR: This was every bit as amazing as everyone said it would be! The writing was exquisite, the world-building and magic were intriguing and the characters were so easy to love. The romance in particular was passionate, swoontastic, and had my heart soaring! Unsurprisingly, this had me sobbing big bad ugly tears and after that ending, I can’t wait to continue with the second book.

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Book Review: Forged by Magic by Jenna Wolfhart

Forged by Magic (Falling for Fables #1)
Pub Date: 11 July 2023
Genre: Cosy Fantasy Romance

Panda Rating:

(3.5 pandas)

📖 SYNOPSIS

A heartwarming, feel-good fantasy romance…with a helping of spice and only a pinch of danger.

Trapped in a tower by the emperor who conquered her homeland, Daella yearns for an escape. But as one of the few half-orcs left in the world, she knows she’ll never be free, much less find her own happily ever after.

Destiny takes an unexpected turn when the emperor offers her a deal. To earn her freedom, she must journey to the mysterious Isles of Fable and track down wielders of outlawed dragon magic. Eager to seize her chance, Daella agrees.

When a brutal storm tosses her ship off course, she washes up on the wrong island—right at the feet of Rivelin, a gruff but handsome elven blacksmith, who seems more likely to stab her than help her. To her surprise, he offers her shelter until the next ship passes through in six weeks’ time.

Daella soon realizes he’s hiding something big. It could be the very magic she’s been tasked to hunt down—the key to her long-awaited freedom. But as they bicker over the flames of his forge, her heart kindles with something she’s never felt before.

When his secrets finally come to light, Daella must decide what’s more her freedom from the wicked crown or the desires of her heart.

Forged by Magic is a complete, stand-alone fantasy romance novel set in the whimsical world of Falling for Fables.

⚠️ CONTENT/TRIGGER WARNINGS

Captivity, moderate violence, death of family recounted, sex on page

TL;DR: It took me a minute to get into this story but once I was hooked, I didn’t want to put it down! This was action-packed and full of magical adventure and a somewhat literally steamy romance. 😉 Daella and Rivelin were fun characters to root for as you see them go from untrustworthy enemies, and tentative friends to eventual lovers. It was a nice slow burn! Overall, this was a great first cosy-ish fantasy romance at the start of a new series and I can’t wait to continue it soon!

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Book Review: The Places I’ve Cried in Public by Holly Bourne

The Places I’ve Cried in Public
Publisher: Usborne Publishing Ltd.
Pub Date: 3 October 2019
Genre: Young Adult Contemporary Fiction

Panda Rating:

(3.5 pandas)

📖 SYNOPSIS

Amelie loved Reese. And she thought he loved her. But she’s starting to realise love isn’t supposed to hurt like this. So now she’s retracing their story and untangling what happened by revisiting all the places he made her cry.

Because if she works out what went wrong, perhaps she can finally learn to get over him.

⚠️ CONTENT/TRIGGER WARNINGS

Rape, emotional abuse, verbal abuse, gaslighting, cheating

TL;DR: This was such a painful read to get through. It leaves you feeling a bit helpless as you get a front-row seat to Amelie losing herself to something toxic and retracing her steps to find herself again. This is such an important story and I’m so glad that it exists, especially for young readers, as Bourne does a great job exploring what it means to be in healthy and unhealthy relationships and how to care for yourself in the aftermath. This tackles dark and heavy events that can be triggering so please do check content warnings before reading.

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Book Review: Night Hawk by Beverly Jenkins

Night Hawk
Publisher: Avon
Pub Date: 25 October 2011
Genre: Historical Romance

Panda Rating:

(5 pandas)

📖 SYNOPSIS

Outlaw. Preacher. Night Hawk. He’s had many names, but he can’t escape the past.

Since Ian Vance’s beloved wife was murdered years ago, the hardened bounty hunter know she’ll never feel love or tenderness again, so he’s made it his mission to ensure others get their justice. But when he’s charged with delivering a sharp-eyed beauty to the law, Ian can’t help but feel he may still have something left to lose.

Orphaned at twelve, Maggie Freeman has always found her way out of trouble. But now there’s a vigilante mob at her back who would like nothing more than to see her hang for a crime she didn’t commit. Maggie may have to accept help for the first time in her life… even if it’s from the one man standing between her and freedom.

As the past closes in, the sassy prisoner and toughened lawman may just find a passion between them that could bring blinding happiness… if they’ll let it.

⚠️ CONTENT/TRIGGER WARNINGS

Physical abuse, violence against women, slavery, forced prostitution, gun violence, racism, mentions of mob violence and lynching, mentions of forced assimilation and residential schools, police corruption, xenophobia

TL;DR: I can proudly call myself a historical romance girlie now because I’ve finally read a Bev Jenkins historical romance! 😂 I’m ashamed it took me so long to pick one up, even if I’ve read one of her contemporary romantic suspense novellas before. And what everyone says is true—this was fantastic! Not only was this delightfully sensual and heartwarming but I learned so much about parts of American history that were completely new to me (and perhaps will be to other readers as well). I’m so glad I’ve already got more Bev Jenkins on my Kindle because I’ll be reading more this year!

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Mini Book Review: There There by Tommy Orange

There There
Publisher: Vintage
Pub Date: 9 May 2019
Genre: Literary Fiction

Panda Rating:

(3.5 pandas)

📖 SYNOPSIS

Jacquie Red Feather is newly sober and hoping to reconnect with her estranged family. That’s why she is there. Dene is there because he has been collecting stories to honour his uncle’s death, while Edwin is looking for his true father and Opal came to watch her boy Orvil dance.

All of them are connected by bonds they may not yet understand. All of them are here for the celebration that is the Big Oakland Powwow. But Tony Loneman is also there. And Tony has come to the Powow with darker intentions.

⚠️ CONTENT/TRIGGER WARNINGS

Racism, rape, domestic violence, addiction (alcohol & drugs), alcoholism, drug use, gun violence, mass shooting, death, blood

This isn’t an easy book to review and there’s nothing I can say that others haven’t already said and done so much better than I ever could, too. This is a highly-lauded piece of literary fiction and part of me understands why but maybe this book was just too smart for me because I often struggled to really “get” it. I empathised with many of the characters and I wound up spilling tears over them by the end but, at times, it was hard to feel fully immersed in the story and to grasp what the author was trying to share.

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Book Review: Sea of Tranquility by Emily St. John Mandel

Sea of Tranquility
Publisher: Picador
Pub Date: 5 April 2022
Genre: Science Fiction

Panda Rating:

(5 pandas)

📖 SYNOPSIS

A novel of art, time travel, love, and plague that takes the reader from Vancouver Island in 1912 to a dark colony on the moon five hundred years later, unfurling a story of humanity across centuries and space.

Edwin St. Andrew is eighteen years old when he crosses the Atlantic by steamship, exiled from polite society following an ill-conceived diatribe at a dinner party. He enters the forest, spellbound by the beauty of the Canadian wilderness, and suddenly hears the notes of a violin echoing in an airship terminal–an experience that shocks him to his core.

Two centuries later a famous writer named Olive Llewellyn is on a book tour. She’s traveling all over Earth, but her home is the second moon colony, a place of white stone, spired towers, and artificial beauty. Within the text of Olive’s best-selling pandemic novel lies a strange passage: a man plays his violin for change in the echoing corridor of an airship terminal as the trees of a forest rise around him.

When Gaspery-Jacques Roberts, a detective in the black-skied Night City, is hired to investigate an anomaly in the North American wilderness, he uncovers a series of lives upended: The exiled son of an earl driven to madness, a writer trapped far from home as a pandemic ravages Earth, and a childhood friend from the Night City who, like Gaspery himself, has glimpsed the chance to do something extraordinary that will disrupt the timeline of the universe.

A virtuoso performance that is as human and tender as it is intellectually playful, Sea of Tranquility is a novel of time travel and metaphysics that precisely captures the reality of our current moment.’

⚠️ CONTENT/TRIGGER WARNINGS

Infidelity, suicide (recounted), drug use, COVID-19 pandemic and future global pandemics, false imprisonment, gun violence, death

Whoa. That’s how this book left me feeling by the end. I was concerned for a minute that maybe I wasn’t smart enough for this book because I found myself getting confused by what was happening around the 66% mark. The writing kept me gripped though and I’m glad that I didn’t waver because when it did click, it was wow. How clever and neat and entirely not what I expected! As I was reading two books of similar genres and styles came to mind: The Chronicles of St. Mary by Jodi Taylor and Cloud Atlas by David Mitchell and I think that’s what made me love this more.

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ARC Review: Sheets by Brenna Thummler

Special thanks to Oni Press for providing a digital ARC via NetGalley in exchange for an honest review.

Sheets (Sheets #1)
Publisher: Oni Press
Publication Date: 28 August 2018
Genre: Middle-Grade Graphic Novel

Panda Rating:

(4 pandas)

📖 SYNOPSIS

Marjorie Glatt feels like a ghost. A practical thirteen year old in charge of the family laundry business, her daily routine features unforgiving customers, unbearable P.E. classes, and the fastidious Mr. Saubertuck who is committed to destroying everything she’s worked for.

Wendell is a ghost. A boy who lost his life much too young, his daily routine features ineffective death therapy, a sheet-dependent identity, and a dangerous need to seek purpose in the forbidden human world.

When their worlds collide, Marjorie is confronted by unexplainable disasters as Wendell transforms Glatt’s Laundry into his midnight playground, appearing as a mere sheet during the day. While Wendell attempts to create a new afterlife for himself, he unknowingly sabotages the life that Marjorie is struggling to maintain.

⚠️ CONTENT/TRIGGER WARNINGS

Death of parent, Child death, Bullying, Grief, Depression

If you’re like me and you pick this up solely because of the cover, and you don’t look at the synopsis, you might go into this thinking it’ll be a cute story about… Sheets? Turns out, while there are many sheets involved, it’s not at all the light-hearted cutesy story that I thought it would be. This deals with heavy themes of death, grief, belonging, and loneliness.

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