Tourist Season by Brynne Weaver is $1.99! This is book one in a new series. It came out last year and I mentioned it on Hide Your Wallet. I do love Weaver’s blend of dark humor and romance, but often find the pacing to be a bit lopsided in her romances. What do you think?
Butcher and Blackbird by Brynne Weaver is $1.49! This is book one in The Ruinous Love series. I read this one and these are my thoughts from my Goodreads review:
This one started off really promising. Unfortunately, the pacing started to falter about about a third of the way into it. The last quarter was suspenseful and I appreciated the twist, but yeah…the middle of the book felt mostly like filler. I also didn’t feel a ton of romantic progression between the leads.
One thing that really confounded me was that Sloane is described as being in her early twenties. She’s an accomplished serial killer and quotes Zoolander (which came out in 2001). Look, I love Zoolander as much as the next person, but it’s not exactly the Criterion Collection. It really took me out and had me wondering when exactly did this story take place.
Overall, I enjoyed the tone and dark humor. It’s a unique romance, but needed some refinement.
RECOMMENDED: The Roommate by Rosie Danan is $2.99! I liked this one and gave it a B+. Ellen also read the follow-up and gave that on a similar grade.
NB: This week, we’re taking a look back at 2025. We’ve got a week of best-of posts to share, with reviews, cover snark, sales, and more. We hope you enjoy revisiting our archives, and most of all, we wish you and yours a wonderful holiday and a happy new year – with all the very best of reading. … We’re counting down the best of our 2025 reviews, which I’m sure you’re all curious about. … Continue reading Best of Reviews 2025, Part One
RECOMMENDED: Fan Service by Rosie Danan is $2.99! Lara loved this one and gave it an A:
If you’re in the mood for some giddy happiness, then I humbly put forward Fan Service as a plentiful source of it.
GUESS WHAT Y’ALL! Not only are we here at the hot pink palace celebrating our 20th anniversary (and yes, you can still get a sticker!) but guess who else is? Yup, the original Twilight! It is not an exaggeration to say that this book changed the trajectory of publishing. Seriously, think of all the trends and subgenres that grew out of Twilight. Off the top of my head, Twilight influenced so many aspects of the industry, such as: YA … Continue reading Twilight is 20, and I’m Recommending Books in The New York Times
It’s Comics, but it’s not Comic Sans! Recently Cat Sebastian revealed on Instagram the cover for her new book, Star Shipped, coming out in March 2026: Vintage comic style! I dig it. It conveys an era without being exactly specific, and it’s a style that’s nostalgically familiar. I’ve noticed this style as a growing trend in romance. Now, usually when I notice a trend, it’s after two similar occurrences. That’s a coincidence, I know. This … Continue reading Comic Style Covers Keep On Coming
I am typing this review in bits and pieces, one-handed at times, because I’m on maternity leave with my infant. Through sleepless nights, tummy time and cleaning up various poop-apocalypses, I have devoured this book. That I am making time to write this review now speaks of how desperately I want people to read this book. I know usually I include a bit of a plot summary, but this blurb is so perfectly written, I’m … Continue reading Fan Service by Rosie Danan
RECOMMENDED: Blood on the Tide by Katee Robert is $1.99! This is book two in the Crimson Sails series and Lara gave it a B+:
When I review books, I stop intermittently to jot down notes. With Katee Robert books, I get so immersed so quickly that I forget to take notes. The story sucks me in comprehensively and this book is no exception to that rule. If you’re interested in this series, definitely start with book one as the two are closely linked. I can heartily recommend both.
RECOMMENDED: The Bride Test by Helen Hoang is $1.99! I loved this book so much and gave it an A-:
The Bride Test is so beautiful and Hoang was right when she said it was impossible not to love Esme. She’s tenacious and battles against her fear of failure, of judgement, and of her own self-doubt, to become this confident and self-assured woman. This Bride Test has only solidified my love for Hoang’s romances; they are truly a gift to the genre.
