RECOMMENDED: The Monsters We Defy by Leslye Penelope is $2.99! Sarah read this one and gave it a B:
I liked the painstaking and careful character development of the first half more than the zoomy-zoom plot of the second half, but the foundation of historical fiction and incredible detail coupled with folk magic, ghosts, and negotiating with spirits made this an exceptionally fun, absorbing, and thoughtful story.
Big Chicas Don’t Cry by Anette Chavez Macias is $2.49 at Amazon! This seems like it leans more toward women’s fiction with some romantic threads. It has a 4.2-star rating on Goodreads.
RECOMMENDED: The Stand-In by Lily Chu is $2.24! This is a debut contemporary romance. Elyse gave this one an A:
So we have a celebrity romance, women being friends and helping each other with their mental health, and reflections on identity and community. That’s a lot to pack into a book, but it all works and delivered by Philippa Soo’s incredibly soothing voice, it was totally my jam.
RECOMMENDED: A Marvellous Light by Freya Marske is $2.99! Carrie wrote a Lightning Review for this one and gave it a B:
Readers who love thoughtful, specific worldbuilding and very thoughtful characters who slowly fall for one another will likely enjoy this book, though be warned that the tension and pace felt uneven and may require some reader perseverance.
Oooooh, folks, if you have ever thought, “I’d like a book about Pre-Code Hollywood, please, but make it queer, add magic and a dollop of horror, and have the main character be a Chinese-American lesbian who stars in monster movies as a killer mermaid,” then first of all I would say, “Wow, that’s very specific!” and then I would say, “Luckily here is the book RIGHT HERE!” because Siren Queen is pretty amazing. Our heroine, … Continue reading Siren Queen by Nghi Vo
The Chosen and the Beautiful by Nghi Vo is $2.99! This was mention in a previous Hide Your Wallet. It’s a Great Gatsby retelling with fantasy elements. I heard this one does have some significant triggers, so definitely do some research before buying.
Witchmark by C.L. Polk is $2.99! This is part of today’s Kindle Daily Deals, which also feature a lot of romance! This is the first in an alternate history fantasy romance series and Aarya gave it a B- in a Lightning Review:
If you’re looking for a thoughtful and romantic fantasy with nuanced worldbuilding, then I recommend Witchmark.
