Category Archives: Romance

Review: Library or Lattes? by Lila Hazell

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Library or Lattes by Lila Hazell

Library or Lattes? (Love in Oak Falls #1)
Lila Hazell
Pixel + Ink
Published August 25, 2026

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About Library or Lattes?

A cozy, swoony autumn romance with a Sliding Doors twist, perfect for readers of Jenny Han and Lynn Painter. Like Pumpkin Spice & Everything Nice for this fall!

One season, two choices for love…

Willa’s small town is at its best in the fall. Think crisp air, golden leaves, bonfires, hayrides, and pumpkin spice. It’s cozy and comforting, pretty much perfect, but sometimes Willa wonders if she’s destined for more.

Then she’s left some money by a distant aunt, with one condition: It must be used to see the world. The rest of the book unfolds in alternating chapters where she makes one choice or another about this inheritance.

In one strand, Willa decides to study travel journalism, but she has to hit the books if she wants to be accepted into a program. That why she spends her weekends in the library, where Theo, a grumpy out-of-towner, also hangs out. He may think everything in this town is beneath him, but… there’s something irresistible about him when he smiles.

In the other strand, Willa begins planning a perfect round-the-world trip. Meanwhile, she’s working at her favorite coffee shop… where she suddenly gets a new boss, monosyllabic James, who’s back in his hometown to nurse a broken heart.

Each potential choice leads Willa to love, and the final chapter is classic happily ever after.

My Review

This sweet fall romance follows two possible paths that Willa’s life could take, leading her to two different romances. In effect, we get to watch her fall in love twice.

The chapters alternate between “Library” and “Lattes” timelines. The Library timeline shows what happens when she gives in to her feelings for the surly architect research student who shows up at the library just when Willa needs extra study time. The Lattes timeline follows Willa’s adventures when she winds up working with her boss’s son to save their coffee shop.

Some elements remain largely the same between the two timelines. Willa’s quirky best friend Lennie appears in both timelines, and both are set in the same small town over the same time period. Willa and Lennie’s friendship faces challenges in both versions of the story as well.

I was surprised that both stories take place in the same town. For some reason, I expected at least one to be about Willa traveling, since a letter from her aunt challenging her to travel beyond the small town she’s always known is what sets the whole story in motion. It might have been easier to differentiate between the two timelines if they were set in different places as well.

That said, I thought both romances were compelling. I liked the fact that the story treated both relationships as equal possibilities for Willa.

One thing that gave me pause is Willa’s reaction when she outs someone. She makes a comment in public about a relationship that’s not public because she got flustered and forgot for a moment. She really wants to pass this off as a mistake, which I found hard to stomach. Yes, it was absolutely a mistake, but she had been told that one person in the relationship did not feel safe coming out. The choice to remain closeted wasn’t about preference; it was about safety. I didn’t feel like Willa really grasped what she’d done. Late in the story, the person she outed confronts her about it, and I think she seemed to realize the gravity of her mistake then. So, eventually, she understands and apologizes to the person she hurt.

Overall, this is a sweet romance that will make a cozy read this fall.

Content Notes

Recommended for Ages 12 up.

Profanity/Crude Language Content
None.

Romance/Sexual Content
Kissing.

Spiritual Content
None.

Violent Content
Willa outs someone (accidentally).

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: Rolls and Rivalry by Kristy Boyce

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Rolls and Rivalry (Gaming and Romance #3)
Kristy Boyce
Delacorte Romance
Published May 5, 2026

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About Rolls and Rivalry

Roll the dice, strike up the band, and get ready for a swoon-worthy summer! A charming gaming romance that blends the magic of D&D with the camaraderie of band camp—from the bestselling author of Dating and Dragons!

Questing for love . . .

Hazel Buchanan has her senior year mapped out: Win respect as color guard captain, kick off her first D&D campaign, and steer clear of distractions. But her plan takes a critical hit when Max—her former best friend and longtime crush—returns to town with drumsticks in hand and an unexplained chip on his shoulder.

Hazel and Max can’t help bickering every time they’re together, and thanks to meddling parents, he’s invading her D&D game too. As Dungeon Master, she’s ready to shut him down, but D&D has a way of bringing people together like nothing else. Is this rivalry masking something more? With dice rolling and emotions spinning, Hazel might be in for more than she planned . . .

My Review

I really enjoyed the first book in this series, so I absolutely had to read this one. Each of the books in the series is pretty self-contained, so you could start with this one or go back to book one and enjoy them all in the order they were published. This one does have a brief cameo of a couple from book two.

All the marching band content was a lot of fun in this book. I like the way that the D&D elements and band elements intertwined. For example, Hazel invites her team to create D&D characters as a team-building exercise. It ends up becoming a long-running experience for the team, which really showcases the power of inside jokes and shared memories.

Having both D&D and marching band could have proved too many elements to bring together, but I think that the author did a great job balancing those things with the romance.

This is another book that draws on the friends-to-enemies-to-lovers trope, too. I liked getting to see Hazel and Max reconnect. I was on the edge of my seat as we learned why their friendship frayed in the first place and watched them navigate the obstacles that drove them apart.

At the beginning, I worried that the pranking was going to be too much for me. The percussion section and the color guard have an ongoing rivalry that gets kind of ugly. Like, not thriller-level ugly, but the percussionists do some pretty mean stuff to Hazel’s team. I wasn’t sure I was going to be able to like Max after some of that.

The story does address the meanness, and Max takes steps to repair his relationship with Hazel and earn back her trust. Ultimately, I felt good about that because it felt like there was course correction, not just shrugging and insisting the pranks were funny.

All in all, I enjoyed the book.

Content Notes

Recommended for Ages 14 up.

Profanity/Crude Language Content
Mild profanity used very rarely.

Romance/Sexual Content
Kissing.

Spiritual Content
None.

Violent Content
Some brief instances of bullying and mean pranks.

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: Alchemy of Souls by Adriana Mather

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

Alchemy of Souls
Adriana Mather
Feiwel & Friends
Published August 4, 2026

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About Alchemy of Souls

From New York Times-bestselling author Adriana Mather, comes the next big YA dark academia Alchemy of Souls, following two magically bound teens as they race to solve the mystery of an ancient magical key before it’s too late.

Grayson Stone is no stranger to deception. Under the watchful eye of his uncle, the High Chancellor, he has been well-trained in all four types of magic, all while secretly working against his uncle’s corrupt rule. Years of plans depend on him being marked Gifted during his University entrance exam, proving that he is the perfect heir and gaining his uncle’s trust. Unfortunately, things don’t go as planned, and he has only one person to blame: Eloise Belrose.

Raised by a family of Laborers, Eloise is the most unlikely student to become a Mage, but through her hard work and long hours spent practicing, she is finally admitted to the prestigious Mage University, guaranteeing safety and security for her whole family. Until things go very wrong, and she somehow becomes magically linked to Grayson Stone, the school’s arrogant, annoyingly attractive golden boy, putting not only her University acceptance but also her and her family’s lives at risk.

Eloise and Grayson are given less than two weeks to solve an impossible mystery—one that will give the High Chancellor even more power and control—or face the consequences. Forced to room together, with all the same classes, while pretending to date to hide their secret quest, sparks definitely fly. As their feelings grow more real it becomes harder to live the lies they’ve had to tell to survive. With time running out, will they be able to trust the bond between them or will their lies tear them apart forever?

My Review

I think this book does a good job not letting its romantic elements totally run away with it. It’s definitely got that Romantasy vibe, so there’s a lot of focus on the intense feelings blooming between Eloise and Grayson, but the quest to call the key and save its power from corruption also carries weight throughout the story.

I also appreciate that Grayson has a complex history and that his connection to Eloise forces him to grapple with his privilege in more than a superficial way. He makes plenty of mistakes, and Eloise doesn’t just forgive him because she can’t resist the mysterious pull toward his manly manliness. She actually refuses to give him the time of day unless he earns it.

The plot to claim the key and all that means moves fairly quickly. Again, much of the focus is on the romance, but the other elements are well integrated into it. The characters are strong, and their motivations make sense.

Readers looking for a well-balanced romantasy will want to check this one out.

Content Notes

Recommended for Ages 16 up.

Profanity/Crude Language Content
Strong profanity used somewhat frequently.

Romance/Sexual Content
Kissing.

Spiritual Content
Characters have the ability to perform magic.

Violent Content
Situations of peril. References to torture. References to fighting between soldiers and civilians.

Drug Content
Teen characters consume alcohol at a party.

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 Spell for Unraveling by Rochelle Hassan

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The Spell for Unraveling (The Buried and the Bound #3)
Rochelle Hassan
Roaring Brook Press
Published April 28, 2026

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About The Spell for Unraveling

Author Rochelle Hassan delivers a pulse-pounding conclusion to her dangerous and alluring trilogy, The Buried and the Bound, inviting readers into the realm of witches that churns beneath the surface of the mundane—just as it threatens to boil over. . .


After the chaos of the summer solstice, elder hedgewitch Anne Sterling steps in to take Coven Blackthorn under her wing—and to enlist their help. There’s damage control to be done as threats of a fairy war loom and the upheaval in Elphame spills into the human realm. Leo, in particular, is uniquely positioned to influence the course of events.

But Aziza’s top priority is to rescue her oldest friend and former librarian, Meryl, a selkie whose mysterious captor may have closer ties to Blackthorn—and Aziza herself—than she ever realized. To find him, Aziza will venture into the secretive community of witches hidden beneath the surface of mundane society and confront her deadliest foe yet.

Meanwhile, Tristan delves deep into the study of necromancy, certain it will be their best defense against the danger closing in on all sides. But mastery of the infernal arts is not without its own risks. And there are some things you can’t come back from.

My Review

I have been a huge fan of Rochelle Hassan’s books since I read her really imaginative middle grade debut fantasy, The Prince of Nowhere. This young adult series has been a lot of fun to read. The magical world is intricately built and contains so many facets. There are Fae courts. Selkies. Witches. Hags. All kinds of magical creatures with their own alliances and values.

The point of view alternates between the three main characters, Tristan, Aziza, and Leo. Each of them has a different connection to the magical world and different reasons to protect it. Across all three novels, we get to know each of them pretty deeply. Leo is a hopeless romantic searching for the true love he is cursed to forget. Tristan’s connection to magic also came through a curse when he was bound to a vicious hag. Aziza is the daughter of powerful witches, and she travels the borders between magical lands and the regular world, fostering peace between the creatures who live there and pursuing her own magical ability.

The Spell for Unraveling is the third book in the series, and one of the books I most looked forward to this year. Once I got the book, though, I almost dreaded reading it. This always happens to me with a series conclusion. I desperately want to know what happens, but I don’t want the story to be over.

Once I actually started reading, all the things I love about the series came rushing back. The relationships between Tristan, Aziza, and Leo are lots of fun. I love the way Aziza teases Leo, and how Leo protects Tristan. The three of them together make a pretty well-balanced team.

As the last book in the series, this one brings a potential romance to conclusion and hints at a new romance beginning as well. Though there’s a lot of pining and romantic tension across the series, this is largely a closed-door romance. Characters may fall into bed together, and the story picks up when they wake the next morning.

This isn’t the kind of series you could pick up from the third book. If you like the sound of the characters and story world, definitely start with book one, The Buried and the Bound.

Content Notes

Recommended for Ages 14 up.

Profanity/Crude Language Content
Strong profanity used infrequently.

Romance/Sexual Content
Kissing. Characters in a relationship sleep in the same bed.

Spiritual Content
Some characters can do magic. Fae and other mythological creatures exist within the story.

Violent Content
Situations of peril. Scenes depict battles with injuries and fatalities.

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: The Lure of Wolves and Whispers by Amanda Connolly

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

The Lure of Wolves and Whispers
Amanda Connolly
Sarah Barley Books
Published July 7, 2026

Amazon | Bookshop | Goodreads

About The Lure of Wolves and Whispers

A darkly addictive romantasy debut about a girl who sacrifices everything to buy the dangerous magic that could save her sister—the first in a trilogy perfect for fans of Powerless and Throne of Glass.

On the mist-shrouded Isle of Eireann, buying magic comes with a price.

But when her beloved older sister is gravely injured, Maeve risks everything to buy the forbidden magic that might save her. In exchange, Maeve trades her life to a ruthless and dangerously alluring rebel leader. Bound to do his bidding, Maeve finds herself thrown into a deadly competition to become the next queen and stand beside a prince rumored to be more brutal than his tyrannical father.

With the isle on the brink of war, trust and survival come at a terrible cost—one that will tear Maeve’s world, and her heart, in two.

What would you sacrifice to survive?

My Review

There are a lot of elements about this book that appeal to me. The wrestling with how to take down an unjust government, and how to figure out whom to trust. Maeve struggles against the idea that she’s simply a pawn in the hands of the rebellion. What agency does she have? How can she serve her own ends while protecting herself and her sister?

The romance between a rebel leader and Maeve, an unwilling spy, reminds me of the kinds of romances we’ve seen in Divergent by Veronica Roth or Heir of Storms by Lauryn Hamilton Murray.

Several scenes contain extended gratuitous violence. Guards maim and murder simply because they can. Prisoners and accused magic users are tortured and executed. I’m probably toward the more sensitive side of the scale as a reader, so the long descriptions and repeated reminders of the cruelty of those in power were a lot for me to take.

As I read, I found myself asking, is this book marketed as young adult fiction because of genre trends and not because it’s actually young adult fiction? The magical contest and scrappy rebel romance remind me of The Red Queen or Throne of Glass, so I can see why this book could do well on the YA shelf.

Besides those themes, though, the story seemed very adult to me. Maeve didn’t read as much like a teenager as she did like a repressed young woman escaping an oppressive home life. I could see this appealing to fans of Fourth Wing with the emphasis on political maneuvering and the hate-to-love romance.

I certainly think there are teens who would read this book and enjoy it. It just hits a particular nerve for me to continue seeing books that seem like adult fiction pushed onto young adult fiction shelves. (This happens more often when the books are written by women.)

Content Notes

Recommended for Ages 18 up.

Profanity/Crude Language Content
Strong profanity used fairly frequently.

Romance/Sexual Content
Kissing. An extended scene shows explicit sex.

Spiritual Content
Some characters have the ability to perform magic. It’s woven into the lore and religious practice, though magic has been outlawed now.

Violent Content
Situations of peril. Gratuitous violence and torture. Battle scenes show graphic injuries and fatalities.

Drug Content
One contest involves drinking poison.

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: To Dance the Moon and Stars by Tasia M. S. and Barbara Perez Marquez

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To Dance the Moon and Stars
Tasia M. S.
Barbara Perez Marquez
Joy Revolution
Published July 14, 2026

Amazon | Bookshop | Goodreads

About To Dance the Moon and Stars

In a kingdom where dance is forbidden, a future high priestess must bend the rules to stop an ancient evil from destroying everything and everyone she loves, including the crown prince, in this sweeping romantasy graphic novel.

Eighteen-year-old Myra has spent her entire life training to replace her grandmother as High Priestess. But with the day of her ascension rapidly approaching, she’s not sure if she’s meant for this path. How can she become the herald of the god Alrun when he forbids the thing she loves most: dancing?

Her kingdom can’t afford her hesitation though. Not only is the emperor looking for Alrun’s wisdom ahead of a peace treaty, but forces of darkness are seeping through the barrier between worlds. The only source of light Myra has is her childhood best friend, the crown prince. Without his support and…love, she may not be able to stop what’s coming.

To save her people, Myra must delve into her kingdom’s forgotten history, even if it means defying the laws of the land. But the key to salvation may just require her to make the biggest sacrifice of all.

My Review

The artwork in this graphic novel is nothing short of stunning. Bold, romantic colors fill the pages. The chemistry between Myra and Eyden is so clear in every image of them. I love the scenes showing Myra dancing and Eyden playing music. Every page is just absolutely gorgeous. The illustrations create a very immersive storytelling experience. I felt like I could almost hear and smell what was happening in each scene.

I wish that some of the plot elements had unfolded a little bit more slowly. At some points, I think the story would have benefited from an extra scene showing a transition or experience. Despite that, I still enjoyed every page.

Despite some of the quick transitions, the plot of the story is easy to follow and understand. The tension is well-portrayed. The cast size is perfect for the story. There are enough named side characters to make the story feel full and interesting, but not so many that it’s hard to keep track of them all.

I also really appreciated the Author’s Note from Tasia M. S. that explained what inspired her to create the book. I love that she has such a personal connection to the theme about dance being forbidden despite its importance to the culture.

All in all, this is a beautiful graphic novel. I think fantasy fans will want a copy of this on their shelves.

Content Notes

Recommended for Ages 12 up.

Profanity/Crude Language Content
None.

Romance/Sexual Content
Kissing.

Spiritual Content
The main character is training to become High Priestess serving the god of her kingdom. The visions he sends her seem to contrast what she’s been taught. The story shows ceremonies and prayers.

Violent Content
References to threats of war. Someone is poisoned. Dark shadows possess people, leading them to do things they don’t remember later.

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.