Rewrite the Stars by Lindsay Hameroff - eARC Review

 

DESCRIPTION
A sparkling romance between an ex-actress and her contractor, reminding us that it’s never too late to rewrite our destiny.

Semi-retired actress Marissa Morgan has played many parts in her life. But these days, her primary role is mother of two. Since hitting pause on her career, she’s worked hard to give her kids a normal childhood and shield them from the spotlight. So when her ex-husband announces his high-profile engagement and a media storm ensues, Marissa and her kids flee Los Angeles for a summer at her recently inherited Poconos lake house.

The long-vacant house needs major TLC, so Marissa hires a home renovation company to do repairs. But when the project hits a snag and Marissa finds herself sharing space with the crew, including Jesse, the handsome (and vaguely familiar) foreman, her plans for a drama-free summer hit choppy water.

Jesse doesn’t expect Marissa to remember him; they were just kids when they last played together at the lake. But he’s never forgotten her; he’s spent the last two decades quietly following her career, even as his own dreams fell apart. And now that she’s stumbled back into his sleepy hometown, Jesse’s predictable life has gotten a lot more complicated.

As the summer days pass, Marissa finds herself centering her own needs for the first time in years—and that includes giving into her mounting attraction to Jesse. Soon, she finds herself wondering if their fling could become something more.

After an unexpected career opportunity falls into Marissa's lap, it feels like the stars have finally aligned. But when new complications arise, the pair wonder how they’ll fit into each other’s future. Can Marissa and Jesse chart a new course together, or is it too late to rewrite the script for a happily ever after?

Publisher: St. Martin's Press
ISBN: 9781250401342
Pub Date: 7 Jul 2026


REVIEW

Overall Rating: ⭐⭐⭐⭐ (4/5)

 *May contain spoilers*

Rewrite the Stars was such a warm read, and I really loved it. I connected with Marissa, not just as a woman rebuilding her life after a very public divorce, but as a single mom trying to balance her own needs with the needs of her kids. Lindsay Hameroff writes the FMC, actress Marissa Morgan, with so much honesty and tenderness that I found myself rooting for her from the very first chapter. The lake house setting, the sentimental return to her grandmother’s space, and the rediscovery of who she is outside of fame and motherhood all gave the book this grounded, heartfelt tone I really loved.

The romance with Jesse was sweet in a way that didn’t overshadow Marissa’s personal growth. I appreciated that the story let her breathe and figure out what she wanted, what she deserved, and how to stand on her own two feet again. Jesse’s steady presence, his history with her, and the way he supports rather than “fixes” her made their connection feel genuine. And as a mom, I really appreciated the thoughtful portrayal of raising a neurodivergent child. The routines, the adjustments…just the emotional load all felt respectfully and realistically woven into the story without ever turning Marissa’s son into a plot device.

This book has that small‑town charm, second‑chance sweetness, and gentle emotional arc that makes it easy to sink into. A feel‑good romance that also carries a deeper message about healing, choosing yourself, and learning to move forward with intention. I also noticed a little heartwarming Easter egg from Till There Was You that was lovely. Be sure to add this one to the top of your TBR for a cozy weekend read! Rewrite the Stars releases July 7, 2026.

Thank you so much to St. Martin’s Press and NetGalley for an eARC in exchange for my honest review.

This review can also be viewed on my Goodreads page, here.

Click here to purchase Rewrite the Stars.

(As an Amazon Associate, I earn a small commission from qualifying purchases.)

#RewritetheStars #LindsayHameroff #NetGalley #StMartinsPress #Romance #ContemporaryRomance #SmallTownRomance #ChildhoodFriends #FriendstoLovers #Fiction #BookReview #EarlyReview

Stolen Midnights by Katherine Quinn - eARC Review

DESCRIPTION
The first in a new magical young adult romantasy duology from the New York Times bestselling author of To Kill a Shadow. A palace darling and a thief join forces after he unwittingly steals a necklace with the power to change their world forever.

This stunning hardcover edition features gorgeous, flower-patterned sprayed edges, silver foil, and embossing!

In the city of Andalay, the ruling Fates bestow gifts among society’s most favored. When Damien, a cold and hardened thief, is hired to steal one of those gifts—meant for the “princess” of Ward One, Wren Hayes—he finds himself entangled in a web of secrets.

The gift? A locket containing his own photograph.

Once the locket is opened, hidden truths unravel, shedding light on the ruthless ways of the upper class. Yearning for the three Fates and the magical gifts they bestow, the lords of Andalay will go to any length to keep their power—including murder.

Brought together by destiny, and fighting a dangerous temptation that’s becoming harder to resist, Wren and Damien navigate a seedy world where the truth can destroy not only their lives, but the city itself.

Publisher: Delacorte Press (Random House Children's Books)
ISBN: 9798217117215
Pub Date: 3 Feb 2026

REVIEW

Overall Rating: ⭐⭐⭐⭐⭐ (5/5)

Wow! Stolen Midnights pulled me in with that dreamy and dangerous atmosphere Katherine Quinn is so good at creating. I adored the heroine’s strength and the way she carries her determination like a hidden blade. Quinn has this gift for writing young women who feel real and layered, and that’s one of the reasons I keep coming back to her stories.

The unfolding mystery and the tension threaded through the plot gave the book such a steady pull. I loved watching the relationships shift and deepen, especially as Wren starts to uncover truths that feel bigger than she’s ready for. The romantic moments between her and Damien were swoony and full of that signature Quinn spark. Both characters are withholding from the other, yes, but their connection is undeniable as the story progresses.

Through the twists and turns, in the end, we are left on a cliffhanger that will have you itching to find out what happens in the next book. Definitely go pick up Stolen Midnights today and dive right in!

Thank you to Delacorte Press (Random House Children’s Books) and NetGalley for an eARC in exchange for my honest review.

This review can also be viewed on my Goodreads page, here.

Click here to purchase this stunning edition of Stolen Midnights.

(As an Amazon Associate, I earn a small commission from qualifying purchases.)

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King of Ravens by Clare Sager - eARC Review

  

DESCRIPTION

He’ll do anything to keep her. She’d do anything to escape.
 
Rhiannon is dying—of what, she doesn’t know. Kept protected by her family in their remote seaside cottage, she spends her days searching for a cure. Her world is torn apart, however, when a fae King of the Dead invades her home.
 
Cold and cruel, Drystan offers her a choice: descend to the underworld as his bride or watch her family die. Trapped in a twisted bargain, Rhiannon is thrust into a world of withered gods, scheming courtiers, and ancient magic, but she refuses to be a pawn in a game she never agreed to play. She attempts over and over to run away, until Drystan offers her a new bargain: escape his deadly labyrinth, and he will set her free. Fail, and become his bride.
 
But in a court where every promise has teeth, Annon must make an impossible choice: return to the home she's always loved or claim her place in a world where she might finally belong.

Publisher: Forever (Grand Central Publishing)
ISBN: 9781538781289
Pub Date: 27 Jan 2026


REVIEW

Overall Rating: ⭐⭐⭐⭐⭐ (5/5)

King of Ravens pulled me straight into a world that felt dark and dangerous in all the best ways. The author builds her story with this slow, simmering tension that sneaks up on you, and before I knew it, I was fully invested in Rhiannon’s fight to survive. Even though she begins the story fragile and dying, there’s a certain stubborn spark in her, and she’s impossible to ignore. It made me root for her from the start. And when Drystan drags Annon away into his shadowed fae realm, the entire tone shifts into something richer, more mythic, and absolutely addictive.

The labyrinth trials and the eerie darkworld setting stuck with me long after I finished. Every challenge felt like peeling back another layer of a world built on old magic and hidden motives. Eh hem…the dynamic between Rhiannon and Drystan? Slow-burn, morally gray, and full of that “don’t get too close… but also don’t you dare look away” energy that I love. Their tension added so much depth without ever overshadowing the story itself.

By the end, I had that familiar thrill of knowing I’d only tasted the beginning of something bigger. The atmosphere, politics, the emotional undercurrents all left me hungry for more. Fantastic!

I cannot wait to devour the next installment, Queen of Thorns.

Thank you to Forever (Grand Central Publishing) and NetGalley for an eARC in exchange for my honest review.

This review can also be viewed on my Goodreads page, here.

Click here to purchase King of Ravens.

(As an Amazon Associate, I earn a small commission from qualifying purchases.)

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We Who Will Die by Stacia Stark - eARC Review

 

DESCRIPTION
Life in the perilous Thorn district is a constant battle for Arvelle and her younger brothers. And the vampire standing on her doorstep is about to turn their world upside down.

Faced with an unthinkable choice, Arvelle makes a magically binding vow to do the impossible: kill the emperor, an ancient vampire created by the god Umbros. But first, she must enter the Sundering—an arena where only the fastest, strongest, and deadliest survive long enough to be selected for the emperor’s elite guard.

She quickly draws the ire of the Primus, the powerful figure charged with protecting the emperor. But the vampire under the armor is the last person Arvelle expects to encounter in the emperor’s court.

With her brothers’ lives in the balance, Arvelle has no choice but to ally with the man who once shattered her heart… and with the emperor’s sadistic son, Rorrik—two vampires whose motives are impossible to pin down. Rorrik holds the key to understanding the powers Arvelle is developing—abilities that would put a price on her head if discovered by the emperor.

To survive the arena and complete her mission, Arvelle must get to the bottom of a conspiracy that will change everything she thought she knew about herself—and the two vampires who are deeply entwined with her destiny…

Publisher: Avon, an imprint of HarperCollins Publishers
ISBN: 9780063436718
Pub Date: 30 Dec 2025


REVIEW

Overall Rating: ⭐⭐⭐⭐⭐ (5/5)

Thank you to Avon and Harper Voyager and NetGalley for an eARC in exchange for my honest review.

From the very first chapter, We Who Will Die pulled me straight into a world that feels both brutal and intoxicating. Stacia Stark builds an empire dripping with danger, politics, and blood-soaked spectacle, and it genuinely felt like taking that first bite of a multi‑course meal…you just know there’s so much more deliciousness coming. The FMC, Arvelle, is the kind of heroine I latch onto immediately: gritty, loyal, stubborn in all the right ways, and carrying the weight of her family on her back. The pacing is relentless in the best way, with action, strategy, and tension woven through every chapter. I found myself devouring scenes just to see how she’d claw her way through the next impossible situation.

The arena sequences were a standout for me! They were visceral, high‑stakes, and layered with political undercurrents that hint at a much bigger game being played behind the scenes. And the morally gray characters? Delicious. The Primus, the emperor’s son, even the vampires tied to Arvelle’s fate all have this magnetic unpredictability that kept me guessing. Stark gives us just enough slow‑burn tension to make you lean in, but not enough to satisfy, which honestly feels intentional for a first installment. It’s the kind of setup that makes you want to theorize, reread, and argue with your friends about who’s trustworthy and who’s absolutely not.

Closing the book left me with that familiar, slightly giddy feeling, like I’ve only just stepped into a world that is about to get much bigger, darker, and more addictive. I’m eager to learn more about the empire’s origins, the gods’ influence, and the true scope of Arvelle’s power. If this is only the beginning, I am definitely strapped in for the rest of the series. Five stars!

This review can also be viewed on my Goodreads page, here.

Click here to purchase We Who Will Die.

(As an Amazon Associate, I earn a small commission from qualifying purchases.)

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The Book of Elsewhere by Keanu Reeves and China Miéville - eARC Book Review

DESCRIPTION
She said, We needed a tool. So I asked the gods.

There have always been whispers. Legends. The warrior who cannot be killed. Who’s seen a thousand civilizations rise and fall. He has had many names: Unute, Child of Lightning, Death himself. These days, he’s known simply as “B.”

And he wants to be able to die.

In the present day, a U.S. black-ops group has promised him they can help with that. And all he needs to do is help them in return. But when an all-too-mortal soldier comes back to life, the impossible event ultimately points toward a force even more mysterious than B himself. One at least as strong. And one with a plan all its own.

In a collaboration that combines Miéville’s singular style and creativity with Reeves’s haunting and soul-stirring narrative, these two inimitable artists have created something utterly unique, sure to delight existing fans and to create scores of new ones.

Publisher: Random House Publishing Group - Ballantine
ISBN: 9780593446591
Pub Date: 23 Jul 2024


REVIEW
Overall Rating: ⭐⭐⭐ (3/5)

Thank you to NetGalley and the publisher for an eARC in exchange for my honest review.

I was thoroughly intrigued by this book, and it was truly unlike anything I have ever read. The writing style is such that you are reading a graphic novel. That is, your mind processes and narrates the illustrations in real time while simultaneously reading and interpreting the dialogue and onomatopoeias. The Book of Elsewhere is written in this manner, and it took some time for me to acclimate.

This is a fast-paced, action-packed, violent thriller involving themes of military, mythology immortality/mortality, time shifting, and questioning the meaning of life.

If you enjoy graphic novels and thrilling, mind-bending comic books like BRZRKR, definitely move this unique collaboration between two great artists to the top of your TBR list.

This review can be viewed on my Goodreads page, here.

Purchase The Book of Elsewhere in hardcover and now in paperback.

(As an Amazon Associate, I earn a small commission from qualifying purchases.)

#TheBookofElsewhere #KeanuReeves #ChinaMiéville # RandomHousePublishing #Ballantine #NetGalley #Thriller #Action #SuspenseThriller #AdultFiction #SciFi #Fantasy