Category Archives: Romance

The Hyacinth Labyrinth by Jamie Pacton

Review: The Hyacinth Labyrinth by Jamie Pacton

Blogger's Favorites, Book Review and Content, Fantasy, Romance, Young Adult/Teen 12-18, , , , , , , , ,

The Hyacinth Labyrinth
Jamie Pacton
Peachtree Teen
Published June 2, 2026

Amazon | Bookshop | Goodreads

About The Hyacinth Labyrinth

A whimsical adventure full of magic, fantastical road trips, and a sapphic slow-burn, friends-to-lovers romance—for fans of Sorcery of Thorns and Emily Wilde’s Encyclopaedia of Faeries.


All magic begins in stories. That’s what Fae princess Hyacinth has always been told. As the unmagical daughter of Queen Mab, Hyacinth has never fit in at her mother’s court. She hopes that if she learns about her father, who disappeared fifteen years ago, she can finally learn more about herself. 

When Hyacinth and her friend Chloe—a human stablehand trapped in Fae—sneak off to a riverside night market, Hyacinth learns that her father was last seen heading to a library at the heart of a treacherous labyrinth. The problem: The labyrinth was built long ago by three goddesses, and no one has ever returned from it. 

Still, Hyacinth has to try. 

With the help of Chloe and a tiny dragon named Coffee, she defies Queen Mab and sets off into the wilds of the Moonshadow Kingdom. Along the way they face bandits, magical creatures, a centuries-old human who hosts an Endless Ball, and Hyacinth and Chloe’s growing feelings for each other. Meanwhile, an ancient power lies in wait at the center of the labyrinth, and it is eager to write the girls’ ending. 

A lush, fairycore, sapphic YA fantasy that returns readers to the Fae world introduced in Jamie Pacton’s bestselling novel, The Absinthe Underground! 

Perfect for readers who love Sapphic Slow-Burn, Friends-to-Lovers, Grumpy/Sunshine, Princess/Lady Knight, Bodyguard Romance, Fae/Human Relationships, Only One Bed, and Stories Are Magic!

My Review

I was already a huge fan of Jamie Pacton going into this book, so it was a sure bet that I’d like it. And I totally did! I loved Hyacinth’s optimism and hopefulness juxtaposed with Chloe’s grim, suspicious outlook. It made perfect sense, considering the differences in their backgrounds.

The romance develops slowly– in a good way– and kept me looking forward to the moment the girls realized their feelings were returned. I loved how Pacton incorporated fun tropes into the narrative without them feeling too heavy-handed. The story had a definite playful vibe to it even though the writing wasn’t silly or goofy. I found that a lot of fun.

It’s been too long since I read The Absinthe Underground, so some of the references to elements from that story may have gone over my head. Nothing made me feel lost or like I was unable to enjoy a scene or moment. I think this could be read independently without reading the other book first.

If you like stories filled with fae mischief and sweet romance, definitely put this one on your reading list!

Content Notes

Recommended for Ages 14 up.

Profanity/Crude Language Content
Strong profanity used infrequently.

Romance/Sexual Content
Kissing. Falling asleep together.

Spiritual Content
Some characters can use magic. Fae and other mythical creatures exist in the story.

Violent Content
Situations of peril. Brief battle violence.

Drug Content
Chloe must be wary of Fae food, which can enthrall her and make her forget she’s a human from another world. Characters encounter someone who uses enchanted food to manipulate others and harm them.

Note: This post contains affiliate links, which do not cost you anything to use but help support this blog. I received a free copy of this book in exchange for my honest review. All opinions are my own.

Review: The Siren’s Kiss by Leslie Vedder

Blogger's Favorites, Book Review and Content, Fantasy, Romance, Young Adult/Teen 12-18, , , , , , , , , , ,

The Siren’s Kiss
Leslie Vedder
Abrams/Amulet
Published November 10, 2026

Amazon | Bookshop | Goodreads

About The Siren’s Kiss

Pirates of the Caribbean meets The Little Mermaid in this swashbuckling Sapphic fantasy!

Three years ago, Dead Shot Rayleigh laid hands on the legendary ruby the Siren’s Kiss andsuffered the wrath of the sea god, Red-Handed Roger.

Now bound as captain of his cursed ship, The Revenant, eighteen-year-old Rayleigh hatches a plan to win her freedom. Everyone knows that Red-Handed Roger’s heart was stolen by the Sea Witch. If she can get it back, she can barter her release.

But Rayleigh isn’t the only one with a score to settle. Fiery mermaid Maren lost her brother to the Sea Witch, and she’s come to the surface to get him back and save the last remaining mermaids at all costs.

When Maren runs afoul of the infuriating cursed pirate Rayleigh, sparks fly, and all her plans go up in flames. Now the only chance they have is each other.

Swashbuckling, sea monsters, pirate kings, siren songs, and stolen hearts!

Red-Handed Roger and the Sea Witch were once friends, before they both fell for the same mermaid and almost destroyed the world. Will Rayleigh and Maren’s love set things right, or just finish what the old gods started?​​​

Some hearts are meant to be stolen…

My Review

I’m just going to say it. I don’t think Leslie Vedder gets the recognition she deserves for her reimagined fairy-tale mashups. Her debut, The Bone Spindle, was my favorite book of the year when it was published, and the whole series is excellent. I feel the same about this book.

I love the way that she blended Pirates of the Caribbean and The Little Mermaid. The beats from the original stories are completely reimagined here, and yet they still made me think of key moments from the originals. I love it. I love the way that Vedder developed the story surrounding the rivalry between the god of the sea and the sea witch. The mermaids and their interaction with the human world was really nicely thought out.

Rayleigh as a pirate on a cursed ship, with all her backstory about her mother and her connection to the pirate community, was also really fascinating. I felt like there was so much going on in the book. So many interesting threads I wanted to follow, and it was so rewarding to find out every bit of backstory that the author included in the novel.

I read this book during a particularly hard week, and having the next chapter to look forward to at night really gave me a boost. I absolutely recommend this book for readers who enjoy books by Stephanie Garber or anyone who likes reimagined fairy tales. This is one I’m absolutely going to reread, and it’ll be on my top reads for this year without a doubt.

Content Notes

Recommended for Ages 14 up.

Profanity/Crude Language Content
Profanity used infrequently.

Romance/Sexual Content
Kissing.

Spiritual Content
The story contains lore about a god and goddess who fell in love with the same goddess and what happened when she chose one lover over the other. Rayleigh is cursed and bound to a cursed ship.

Violent Content
Situations of peril. Battle scenes involving swords and guns.

Drug Content
None.

Note: This post contains affiliate links, which do not cost you anything to use but help support this blog. I received a free copy of this book in exchange for my honest review. All opinions are my own.

Review: Girls Like Us by Jennifer Dugan

Book Review and Content, Contemporary, Romance, Young Adult/Teen 12-18, , , , , , , , , , , ,

Girls Like Us (Some Girls Do #2)
Jennifer Dugan
G. P. Putnam’s Sons Books for Young Readers
Published May 5, 2026

Amazon | Bookshop | Goodreads

About Girls Like Us

In this sequel to Some Girls Do , two girls struggle when long distance complicates their relationship.

Ruby and Morgan fell for each other during their senior year of high school, and now, almost a year later, they are fighting to keep their spark alive, even while they are Morgan is on a track scholarship at a university several hours away, studying public policy, while Ruby stayed in her hometown, exploring her love of mechanics in the automotive engineering program at the local community college.

Long distance weighs on the girls, with new friendships and flirtatious classmates adding complications, and the two are looking forward to a spring break getaway to Washington, D.C., and the bliss of a whole summer vacation together. But when Morgan discovers she’s a finalist for the perfect internship, and Ruby gets the shot to appear on her favorite automotive TV show, the trip schedule—and their summer plans—are thrown into question. With both girls unwilling to stand in the way of each other’s future, has the time come for them to go their separate ways?

My Review

As I sat down to write this review, I realized the book that I thought was the first in this series is actually a completely different standalone novel by Jennifer Dugan. For some reason, despite the clear use of totally different characters’ names, I still thought this book was a sequel to Summer Girls.

I remember being confused at a few points in Girls Like Us because I hadn’t remembered anything about the character from Summer Girls being a mechanic. I just assumed I was forgetful. Ha!

At any rate. While I think I would have enjoyed the story more if I’d actually, truly read the first book in the series, I still enjoyed this book a lot simply on its own merit. I had no trouble following the arc of Morgan and Ruby’s relationship. They face so many common obstacles in a long-distance relationship.

I really appreciated that the story didn’t cheat its way through hard things, either. For example, Morgan and Ruby both have things they need to learn, and I felt the narrative gave them space to explore those questions. It didn’t feel rushed or like we were hurrying through those challenges to shove the romance back into the center of the story.

I also like that things weren’t simple. Morgan wrestles with her budding feelings for another girl. Do the feelings mean she and Ruby are ending? Is she simply lonely living far from home? What is she supposed to do with those feelings? How much should she invest in her new college life, even if it risks leaving Ruby behind for good?

I love that the story lets the characters wrestle with hard relationship questions. I genuinely couldn’t tell which way the ending was going to go until I got there, and I love that, too.

Readers looking for a romance set after high school ends and featuring characters navigating the transition to college life will enjoy this one.

Content Notes

Recommended for Ages 16 up.

Profanity/Crude Language Content
Strong profanity used somewhat frequently.

Romance/Sexual Content
Kissing and references to sex. Some brief details about sexual encounters.

Spiritual Content
None.

Violent Content
Someone kisses another person without consent, treating them like they’re playing hard to get.

Drug Content
Characters (college-aged) attend a party where alcohol is served.

Note: This post contains affiliate links, which do not cost you anything to use but help support this blog. I received a free copy of this book in exchange for my honest review. All opinions are my own.

Review: Rainbow Boys by Alex Sanchez

Book Review and Content, Contemporary, Romance, Young Adult/Teen 12-18, , , , , , , , , , ,

Rainbow Boys
Alex Sanchez
Simon & Schuster BFYR
Published September 29, 2026 (Orig. 2001)

Amazon | Bookshop | Goodreads

About Rainbow Boys

Navigating through an intolerant world and their own insecurities, three teenage boys find each other and the confidence to come out of the closet.

Three teenage boys, coming of age and out of the closet. Jason Carrillo is a jock with a steady girlfriend, but he can’t stop dreaming about sex…with other guys. Kyle Meeks doesn’t look gay, but he is. And he hopes he never has to tell anyone—especially his parents. Nelson Glassman is “out” to the entire world, but he can’t tell the boy he loves that he wants to be more than just friends…

In a revealing debut novel that percolates with passion and wit, Alex Sanchez follows these very different high-school seniors as their struggles with sexuality and intolerance draw them into a triangle of love, betrayal, and ultimately, friendship.

My Review

This 25th anniversary edition of Rainbow Boys opens with a foreword from Maia Kobabe, who offers some context for why books like this one are so important. Not only do these books let readers see themselves as the central characters, but the stories also celebrate who they are while acknowledging challenges many LGBTQIA+ teens face. The book also includes a note from the author that tells why he wrote the book and its journey to publication.

The writing in Rainbow Boys is straightforward and easy to follow. The story alternates between Nelson, Kyle, and Jason’s perspectives, giving readers glimpses into each boy’s experience. Nelson, out and proud, faces different challenges than Jason, who is still learning to accept who he is. Kyle’s parents’ response to his coming out is very different than Jason’s parents’ reaction. I love that the book shows these different experiences side by side, highlighting a spectrum of stories that many readers will identify with.

Though Nelson begins the story out and proud, he still shows growth in how he thinks of relationships and his self-confidence. Jason and Kyle also experience some character growth throughout the story.

All in all, I can see why this book deserves to be revisited and published for a new generation. Rainbow Boys is the first book in a trilogy following Nelson, Jason, and Kyle through the summer after graduation. I’m not sure whether there are plans to release new editions of all three or just this first book.

Content Notes

Recommended for Ages 15 up.

Profanity/Crude Language Content
Strong profanity used somewhat frequently.

Romance/Sexual Content
Kissing. Some brief, scant descriptions of sexual encounters. References to sex. References to HIV and safe sex.

Spiritual Content
None.

Violent Content
One character remembers his dad beating him up after catching him with another boy. Some scenes show bullying by other students, including a fight between multiple boys. One character’s dad gets violent after having too much to drink.

Drug Content
Characters attend a party where teens drink alcohol. One character’s dad is an alcoholic and appears drunk in multiple scenes.

Note: This post contains affiliate links, which do not cost you anything to use but help support this blog. I received a free copy of this book in exchange for my honest review. All opinions are my own.

Review: Cursed Ever After by Andy C. Naranjo

Blogger's Favorites, Book Review and Content, Fantasy, Romance, Young Adult/Teen 12-18, , , , , , , , ,

Cursed Ever After
Andy C. Naranjo
Farrar, Straus, and Giroux
Published June 30, 2026

Amazon | Bookshop | Goodreads

About Cursed Ever After

Cursed Ever After is a dazzling romantic fantasy debut brimming with snark, humor, and banter-filled romance perfect for fans of The Princess Bride and Once Upon a Broken Heart.

Love is not for cursed girls. Risa is better off without it.

Risa Porto is a Bad Thing born on a Bad Day and cursed with Bad Luck. After years of taking the blame for every calamity, mishap, and minor inconvenience that befalls the townspeople of Barrow, she longs for escape. And on her seventeenth birthday, her wish is granted.

Sort of.

Risa owes a (very annoying) witch a favor, and it comes in the form of a quest: escort Prince Javi―the youngest, handsomest, and least significant prince―through the dark (and deadly) Bosque to his wedding. This measly errand quickly spirals into a struggle against greedy assassins, a murderous cult, a vicious tyrant―and Risa’s own curse.

Most unfortunate of all…

She is not immune to Javi’s charms and has a highly irritating urge to kiss the prince. Though, surviving the darkest corners of the Bosque is only the beginning. If Risa is to hold up her end of a witch’s bargain, she’ll need a lot more than luck on her side to untangle the web of lies threatening the kingdom. Is Risa willing to pay the price of happily ever after? What if the only person she’s meant to save is herself?

Don’t miss this action-packed, Latinx subverted fairytale!

My Review

I had so much fun reading this book. While it might be a stretch to compare the story to The Princess Bride, I absolutely see the comparison to Once Upon a Broken Heart. It’s got more humor and lightness than Once Upon a Broken Heart, but the characters carry the same sense of approaching doom throughout the story.

While some of the revelations in the story didn’t come as a surprise to me, I had a great time reading the story start to finish. The narrative is a bit playful, gently poking fun at fairytale tropes. Risa and Javi banter back and forth almost constantly, which never got old to me. I loved her pragmatic personality and his starry-eyed dreaminess.

If you’re looking for a lighthearted, engaging romp through a fantasy story world, definitely grab this book. I suspect this one will be on my list of favorites for the year.

Content Notes

Recommended for Ages 13 up.

Profanity/Crude Language Content
Infrequent use of profanity.

Romance/Sexual Content
Kissing.

Spiritual Content
Some characters have the ability to perform magic and cast or undo curses.

Violent Content
Situations of peril. Attempted kidnapping. One scene shows guards murdered by assassins.

Drug Content
One character is given an intoxicating substance.

Note: This post contains affiliate links, which do not cost you anything to use but help support this blog. I received a free copy of this book in exchange for my honest review. All opinions are my own.

Review: Change of Plans by Sarah Dessen

Blogger's Favorites, Book Review and Content, Contemporary, Romance, Young Adult/Teen 12-18, , , , , , , , ,

Change of Plans
Sarah Dessen
Simon & Schuster
Published May 5, 2026

Amazon | Bookshop | Goodreads

About Change of Plans

From acclaimed and #1 New York Times bestselling author Sarah Dessen comes a “sweet, nuanced, and reflective coming-of-age love story” ( Kirkus Reviews, starred review) about an unassuming girl who learns to stand on her own while falling in love during a life-changing summer.

Finley has always felt most comfortable in someone else’s shadow. Fortunately, she’s got Colin, her magnetic boyfriend, who sweeps her along for activities, friendships, and future plans. Then she goes on a last-minute trip with her distant mom to a family vacation house that Finley didn’t know existed and is now about to be sold.

Her mom was estranged from her own parents and siblings since leaving home for college, and it’s a novelty for Finley to see her aunts and cousins. There’s also the handful of teens who work at the Egg, her aunt’s diner, and make up a found family of their own—including undeniably handsome guitarist Ben.

Then her relationship with Colin goes into freefall, and Finley’s roadmap for life after high school is gone. She has no choice but to live, for the first time, without plans. The longer Finley stays, the closer she gets to the truth about why her mother stayed away—and why she’s brought Finley here now.

And the closer she grows to new friends at the Egg, the more she starts to fall for charmingly awkward, soulful Ben and to realize how much of herself she’s been missing. By the end of the summer, nothing will be the same—for this community or for Finley herself.

My Review

It’s been a long time since I’ve read a Sarah Dessen book, but this one took me right back to all the reasons I’ve loved them. Finley begins the story in desperate need of a shake-up. Though her relationship with Colin is sweet, it’s clear she’s clinging to him as much for the security and stability the relationship brings as her feelings for him. The unexpected trip with her mom forces Finley to reevaluate all her careful plans. For the first time in a long time (maybe ever), she makes new friends and makes new choices. From forging connections with estranged family members she barely knew to committing to a summer job and exploring the possibility of a new romance, Finley explores a lot of new things and what each means to her.

I love the balance of introspection to adventure in this book. Finley does a lot of soul-searching, but she also engages in what’s happening around her. As a former restaurant worker, I totally appreciated the scenes describing restaurant work. Those scenes capture the rush and chaos of food service and the way that you bond with coworkers in those roles.

I enjoyed this book a lot. It makes me want to go back and reread some of the other titles by Sarah Dessen that I’ve read in the past and try out the ones I missed. (Looking at you, Saint Anything, still sitting neglected on my shelf.)

While it’s probably too late to make this one a 2026 summer read, I think it’s a perfect summer nostalgia book to pick up as we head into the fall.

Content Notes

Recommended for Ages 14 up.

Profanity/Crude Language Content
A few instances of strong profanity.

Romance/Sexual Content
Kissing.

Spiritual Content
None.

Violent Content
References to an unsafe home life for one character. Nothing happens on scene. One character behaves (off-scene) in increasingly erratic and worrisome ways. One character learns that their parent is facing a serious illness.

Drug Content
Teens drink alcohol at home and at a party. Reference to one character’s parent being an alcoholic.

Note: This post contains affiliate links, which do not cost you anything to use but help support this blog. I received a free copy of this book in exchange for my honest review. All opinions are my own.