I wanted to read this book because I can relate to feeling confused about your identity, especially as a child. Sheeba Varghese explains this really well at the end of the story, and delves into a little bit of backstory, history, and culture, but I wish we got to learn a little bit more and possibly have some stronger character introductions. I recommend this book because it could help children of colour better understand their identity, and other children learn about a different culture. The illustrations by Tori Tilahun are beautiful. “We are not just Indians today when we were these fancy clothes. We are Indians every day.”
https://itsybitsybookbits.com/wp-content/uploads/2020/07/IBBB_2020_logo_sq.png00Maisiehttps://itsybitsybookbits.com/wp-content/uploads/2020/07/IBBB_2020_logo_sq.pngMaisie2024-10-17 02:41:322024-10-23 06:33:00Mommy, Am I Indian Today? by Sheeba Varghese – Review by Maisie Dickinson
I wanted to read the Trouble with Possibilities because the title and the cover stood out to me, and I’m glad I did. The story follows Del, who has recently lost her husband and has decided to finally do something with her life that she has always wanted to do. She signs up to volunteer at a school in Africa, and it’s probably the best decision she ever made. I love this aspect of the story as it’s something I’ve always wanted to do as well, and I’m glad it acknowledges not only the positives but also the negatives, the hard parts. I didn’t love the romance aspect of the story as much as I feel like the audience doesn’t get shown the qualities Del appreciates about Ben, at least not until towards the end. I also feel like what stops the love interests from getting together, whilst it is a big deal, isn’t enough to cause a problem for as long as it does. It gets a bit tiring, particularly her childish behaviour which seems unfair on him at times. But nevertheless, it is well written, and the last few chapters are written exceptionally well and I did enjoy the ending. My favourite character was probably Mandi, even though we don’t see much of her, and my least favourite character was possibly David, although he does seem to redeem himself. I recommend this book because it is an inspiring story, and it’s always refreshing to see a romance centred on an older couple. “You do not have to erase the past to embrace the future, but you do have to loosen its hold.”
https://itsybitsybookbits.com/wp-content/uploads/2020/07/IBBB_2020_logo_sq.png00Maisiehttps://itsybitsybookbits.com/wp-content/uploads/2020/07/IBBB_2020_logo_sq.pngMaisie2024-10-15 09:01:512024-10-22 19:11:01The Trouble With Possibilities by Nancie Abuhaidar – Review by Maisie Dickinson
Night Sweats and Hockey Nets is the third instalment of Marika Ray and Sylvie Stewart’s Hot Flash Hookups series, and follows Nikolai Drugov, a hockey player in the midst of a custody battle with his ex-wife over their young daughter, and Chloe, a widow who has recently moved to Florida and is currently going through menopause. Like Mood Swings and Hockey Flings, it was really refreshing to read a romance story focused on two leads in their late thirties/early fourties rather than their twenties. Chloe feeling like she was starting over so late in life and still finding happiness, and everything she’s ever dreamed of, can and should be an inspiration to all. My favourite character was Chloe and my least favourite character was probably Peyton. I recommend this book because it’s a refreshing read and a good love story with a happily ever after. I also feel like the authors did a good job of portraying the voice of someone who speaks English as a second language. ‘My voice sounds foreign—a sharp strum on a cable stretched tight enough to snap.’
https://itsybitsybookbits.com/wp-content/uploads/2020/07/IBBB_2020_logo_sq.png00Maisiehttps://itsybitsybookbits.com/wp-content/uploads/2020/07/IBBB_2020_logo_sq.pngMaisie2024-09-30 03:14:022024-10-01 10:09:31Night Sweats and Hockey Nets (Hot Flash Hookups Series) by Sylvie Stewart and Marika Ray – Review by Maisie Dickinson
Forever to Fall is the fifth instalment of Libby Kay’s Buckeye Falls series, and it follows childhood friends Beckett and Mallory, who reunite after the tragic loss of Beckett’s grandfather. I loved the previous book so I was really excited to read this one. The prologue was adorable, so well written and gripping. Beckett and Mallory are clearly soulmates, as are Beckett’s grandparents whose love story was beautiful. I loved seeing Alice and James again, and how the childhood best friends to lovers/will they won’t they was executed. It was hard to read the part where Beckett goes out with Cece’s friend, despite understanding why he wanted to keep his feelings from Evan. I also think it would’ve hit harder if Cece’s friend was a pleasure to be around and we could see how he still preferred to be with Mallory. But either way, it’s clear they are the only person for each other. My favourite character was Mallory. I recommend this book because it is a beautiful friends to lovers story. ‘Trying—six little letters strung together for maximum impact.’
https://itsybitsybookbits.com/wp-content/uploads/2020/07/IBBB_2020_logo_sq.png00Maisiehttps://itsybitsybookbits.com/wp-content/uploads/2020/07/IBBB_2020_logo_sq.pngMaisie2024-09-01 02:07:282024-09-27 12:04:44Forever to Fall (Buckeye Falls Book 5) by Libby Kay – Review by Maisie Dickinson
Kimberley Packard’s This Time Around follows forty-seven year old Josie in the midst of a divorce, and the potential loss of her company looming in the distance. Then suddenly she’s seventeen again and faced with two options; to make the same choices she made the first time around, or to fix what she deems her mistakes. It’s a bit like Look Both Ways, or a reverse 13 Going On 30. I felt like there was a lot of unnecessary figurative language, and it could come across as a little misogynistic at times, but I got really hooked into the story and cried at the ending. Her relationship with the boys, her relationship with the girls, her relationship with her parents and ex-husband and children, her reunion with Daniel, it was perfect. I recommend this book because it really makes you think about life and is genuinely inspirational. I already believed this, but it reaffirmed that you shouldn’t regret any of the decisions you make as they all lead up to where you are now, where you’re meant to be. ‘I keep to myself that a decision only looks like a mistake in close proximity. When scar tissue grows around that mistake, one starts to realize something beautiful took root.’
https://itsybitsybookbits.com/wp-content/uploads/2020/07/IBBB_2020_logo_sq.png00Maisiehttps://itsybitsybookbits.com/wp-content/uploads/2020/07/IBBB_2020_logo_sq.pngMaisie2024-07-15 02:52:542024-09-26 12:15:32This Time Around by Kimberly Packard – Review by Maisie Dickinson
Marika Ray’s Salt Love follows newly divorced Kenna as she moves to Sunshine Keys, Florida to handle her late aunt’s estate and meets her next-door neighbour with a big secret, Dec. Kenna starts off a bit judgemental and Dec seems like a sweetheart, then Dec seems a bit misogynistic and Kenna becomes really relatable, but eventually they start to sync and become much more likeable. The book was really well-written, including the ending, although I felt like the ending seemed too soon. My favourite character was Maeve, she seems like my kind of person. I recommend this book mainly because I found it inspiring. I feel like I really needed to read this at this point in my life. ‘An acknowledgement that the journey was better than the ending.’
https://itsybitsybookbits.com/wp-content/uploads/2020/07/IBBB_2020_logo_sq.png00Maisiehttps://itsybitsybookbits.com/wp-content/uploads/2020/07/IBBB_2020_logo_sq.pngMaisie2024-06-15 01:33:492024-08-15 14:20:40Salt Love by Marika Ray – Review by Maisie Dickinson
Sandra L. Young’s The Ghostly Diva follows museum curator Justine, plodding along in her home town with the odd visit from a ghost, and Jackson, grumpy and mysterious screenwriter from LA whose mother has recently passed and so he’s come to the small town of LaPorte to go through her things and sell her childhood home. Jackson enlists in Justine’a help to go through his mother things, but soon realises he needs her help for much more than that. My favourite character was Justine because she’s quite relatable, the feeling quite lost and stuck in her home town. I recommend this book because it’s a cute love story and the added details of the ghost story, along with the flashbacks and the mystery, make it really interesting. ‘After dipping into real passion, mundane wouldn’t suffice in her life anymore.’ This was so relatable. ‘The hot, demanding kiss threatened to deprive her of oxygen. But what a way to expire.’ This was so beautifully written.
https://itsybitsybookbits.com/wp-content/uploads/2020/07/IBBB_2020_logo_sq.png00Maisiehttps://itsybitsybookbits.com/wp-content/uploads/2020/07/IBBB_2020_logo_sq.pngMaisie2024-05-15 14:39:032024-05-16 07:49:18The Ghostly Diva (Divine Vintage Series) by Sandra L. Young – Review by Maisie Dickinson
Mood Swings & Hockey Flings is the second installment of Marika Ray and Sylvie Stewart’s Hot Flash Hookups series. It follows Kaitlyn, hockey agent at the height of her career who, at the age of forty, is starting to think about starting a family, and Banks, hockey player who isn’t ready to retire at thirty-eight. I read a lot of hockey romances, but it was really refreshing seeing a woman of colour lead, and the leads being in their late thirties rather than early twenties. I think the authors handled the balance between having a career and starting a family really well, because I don’t think women should have to sacrifice one for the other. I also think they handled a woman nearing menopause really well, because women tend to feel old once they start thinking about menopause, but Kaitlyn is still confident and she still feels attractive, despite her mood swings or weight gain or fatigue. I did think, at the beginning, that Banks’ behaviour was immature for someone his age, but the more I read the more I changed my mind. My favourite character was Kaitlyn and my least favourite character was Ed. I recommend this book, mainly because it’s so refreshing to see an Asian female lead and a romance between two people in their late thirties. I also appreciate how the romance didn’t lead to anyone sacrificing any other important parts of their lives. ‘So much so that I might have been half in love with her by the time we said our goodbyes.’
https://itsybitsybookbits.com/wp-content/uploads/2020/07/IBBB_2020_logo_sq.png00Maisiehttps://itsybitsybookbits.com/wp-content/uploads/2020/07/IBBB_2020_logo_sq.pngMaisie2024-04-30 04:17:492024-05-14 15:13:33Mood Swings and Hockey Flings (Hot Flash Hookups Series) by Sylvie Stewart and Marika Ray – Review by Maisie Dickinson
Maggie Sims’ Charlotte’s Control follows Charlotte, a widow in her late twenties who, when she attempts to rejoin society, meets William, who is almost a decade younger than her but very eager to spend time with her. Charlotte decides to form a relationship with William on the basis of it being casual and sexual, but they can’t help falling for each other despite the age difference, the society they live in, and William’s need for heirs. I thought the age gap was perfectly fine, but it did make be a bit uncomfortable at the start as how she essentially referred to him as a child. I do think this was her way of putting her guard up, though, and as their relationship developed they came to view each other as equals. I recommend this book because it’s a really good historical romance, especially if you like erotica. It was a really beautiful story in regard to her being a widow and finding love again, with a really interesting plot that was accurate to the time it is set. ‘She needed someone to paint him smiling like that so she could look at it every day.’
https://itsybitsybookbits.com/wp-content/uploads/2020/07/IBBB_2020_logo_sq.png00Maisiehttps://itsybitsybookbits.com/wp-content/uploads/2020/07/IBBB_2020_logo_sq.pngMaisie2024-04-15 05:51:292024-05-14 14:08:09Charlotte’s Control (The Control Series) by Maggie Sims – Review by Maisie Dickinson
This travel guide explores the history and mythology or folklore of England, religion and photography, and food and sight-seeing. I’ve learnt about places and things such as Barter Books, the Banksy Street Art Tour, and the Wing Maze in Rutland. I’ve also learnt about booking flights, booking accommodation, and taking medication abroad. The book could be a bit repetitive at times but overall it was really interesting and insightful. I recommend this book because I learnt a lot about the country I was born and brought up in. I’ve added a lot of places to my bucket list and gathered some useful information for if I ever want to feature England in my own writing. ‘There are many times I’ve looked back on my photos and remembered a scene I had forgotten, relived a memory I had lost.’
https://itsybitsybookbits.com/wp-content/uploads/2020/07/IBBB_2020_logo_sq.png00Maisiehttps://itsybitsybookbits.com/wp-content/uploads/2020/07/IBBB_2020_logo_sq.pngMaisie2024-03-30 05:57:342024-05-03 11:09:20England: Cultured, Classic, and Charming: A Guide to Hidden England (The Hidden Gems Series) by Christy Nicholas – Review by Maisie Dickinson
Alicia Street’s Make Me Burn follows Jinx, who has been in love with her brother’s best friend, Logan, for as long as she can remember. The problem is, her brother Victor now hates Logan for betraying him years ago. When Jinx and Logan see each other again for the first time in years, they can no longer hide their feelings for each other, but the tension between Logan and Victor keeps coming between them. This was an enjoyable story with a lot of angst and plenty of romance. The only thing I found a problematic was the age gap, which would be fine but it was explained that he was attracted to her when he was in college and she was underage. My favourite character is Jinx because she’s a strong, independent woman, and I love it when romance books portray women as enjoyers of sex and not just innocent. I recommend this book if you can see past the age gap. Jinx and Logan clearly have a lot in common and strong feelings for each other so they are a couple to root for. ‘Every glimpse of Logan a treasured image to store away in her secret vault.’
https://itsybitsybookbits.com/wp-content/uploads/2020/07/IBBB_2020_logo_sq.png00Maisiehttps://itsybitsybookbits.com/wp-content/uploads/2020/07/IBBB_2020_logo_sq.pngMaisie2024-03-14 05:08:322024-03-19 21:32:11Make Me Burn (North Fork Series) by Alicia Street – Review by Maisie Dickinson
Phoebe Alexander’s The Scottish Play follows Molly, a bisexual polyamorous playwright, and Lachlan, the Scottish guy that Molly’s girlfriend finds to play the lead in Molly’s play. During their time together, Molly and Lachlan fall for each other, Lachlan learns more about polyamory, and both of them have to face their fears. Firstly, polyamorous romance is such an interesting concept and I think really important representation. However, I felt like the way it was portrayed – as well as bisexuality – was often inaccurate or bordering on fetishisation. It’s really well written, with strong characterisation, and detailed and interesting backstories, but at times I felt the dialogue during the intimate scenes made me cringe, and sometimes it seemed to focus more on smut than plot. I did love the way the polyamorous grand romantic gesture/happily ever after was written, though. I recommend this book because I do think it’s important representation and I admire Phoebe for writing this. I didn’t love this story but I did enjoy the writing, so I would love to read more of Phoebe’s work or this series in future. ‘She was as radiant as the sun. I shouldn’t have been surprised by her gravitational pull when I was just a fading moon.’
https://itsybitsybookbits.com/wp-content/uploads/2020/07/IBBB_2020_logo_sq.png00Maisiehttps://itsybitsybookbits.com/wp-content/uploads/2020/07/IBBB_2020_logo_sq.pngMaisie2024-02-29 05:11:522024-03-19 21:22:54The Scottish Play (Polyam Fam Series) by Phoebe Alexander – Review by Maisie Dickinson
Kingdom of the Oceans is the sixth and final instalment of Martin Ferguson’s Relic Hunters series, and it follows Adam and Matt Hunter as they finally find the lost city of Atlantis. They learn about what happened to their father and one of their enemies, and when the rest of their enemies attack the lost city, they fight alongside the Atlanteans to help save it. My favourite character is Adam and my least favourite character is probably General Walcott, because at least I understand Elizabeth Bowen’s motives. I recommend this book because it’s really interesting how Greek mythology is weaves into this modern-day story, and despite the fact that it follows multiple characters, you get a real understanding for who they are and what their voice is. I’ve only read the last two books of this series, but I loved them so much that I’m going to go back and read the series from the beginning. ‘I hope you know that the adventure of life with you gave me the happiest of memories.’
https://itsybitsybookbits.com/wp-content/uploads/2020/07/IBBB_2020_logo_sq.png00Maisiehttps://itsybitsybookbits.com/wp-content/uploads/2020/07/IBBB_2020_logo_sq.pngMaisie2024-02-11 04:56:352024-02-16 08:46:02Kingdom of the Oceans (Relic Hunters Series) by Martin Ferguson – Review by Maisie Dickinson
Deja Brew All Over Again is the third instalment of Sylvie Stewart’s Love on Tap series, and follows bad boy Miller who falls for Maisy, the runaway bride who jumps in his car and tells him to drive… on her wedding day. Miller is fascinated with Maisy from the get go, and Maisy hates letting people buy she can’t help it when it comes to Miller. They help each other out, tell each other their secrets, become genuine friends and end up solving their problems together. My favourite character is Miller and my least favourite character is Maisy’s mother. I recommend this book because of the strong characterisation, the original plot, and the detail and planning that clearly went into creating this story. I am intrigued about the rest of the series, although I don’t know if any of the brothers could beat Miller for me. ‘And, once again, I leap before I look, knowing at least I’ll enjoy the fall even if I crash and burn on the rocks below.’
https://itsybitsybookbits.com/wp-content/uploads/2020/07/IBBB_2020_logo_sq.png00Maisiehttps://itsybitsybookbits.com/wp-content/uploads/2020/07/IBBB_2020_logo_sq.pngMaisie2024-01-23 01:39:532024-02-09 14:17:56Deja Brew All Over Again: A Runaway Bride Romance (Love on Tap Series) by Sylvie Stewart – Review by Maisie Dickinson
Betrayal of the Gods is the fifth instalment of Martin Ferguson’s Relic Hunters series. The majority of the book follows Adam, and his brother, Matt, who set off to finish the mission their father started: to find the lost city of Atlantis. But the book also follows Princess Alaina of Atlantis and her experience of the Trojan War. It was really interesting reading these stories alongside each other, centuries apart, and seeing how they connected. My favourite character is Adam and my least favourite character is Elizabeth. I recommend this book because I love Greek mythology and this is a really interesting take on it, I think Martin did really well incorporating history and mythology into his own fantasy series. I’d really like to read the sixth and final instalment of the series, to see if Adam and Matt really did find Atlantis. ‘I had not known love before him. If he should fall, I would not want to live on without him.’
https://itsybitsybookbits.com/wp-content/uploads/2020/07/IBBB_2020_logo_sq.png00Maisiehttps://itsybitsybookbits.com/wp-content/uploads/2020/07/IBBB_2020_logo_sq.pngMaisie2024-01-13 03:32:262024-01-13 20:17:25Relic Hunters: Betrayal of the Gods (Relic Hunters Series) by Martin Ferguson – Review by Maisie Dickinson
Sweet Dreams by Claire is the second instalment of Nanette Littlestone’s Capture the Light series, and it follows Claire and Finn. Claire is passionate about baking, she wants to open her own bakery and create things made of wildly different ingredients and flavours, but she’s currently working in her parents bakery which is limited to items she deems vanilla and simple. Finn is a sailor, he’s adventurous, never stays in one place or with one person for too long. They meet, and have a bigger impact on each other than either of them expected. Claire steps out of her comfort zone, and Finn sees what he wants for the first time. It’s a cute and inspiring small town romance. It’s hard to choose a favourite or least favourite character because everyone in the book has their flaws and perfections. Claire puts everyone else’s needs before her own, but she lets her insecurities get in the way of growing relationships. Finn is kind, courageous, adventurous, but can sometimes come across as selfish. I recommend this book because it’s a sweet story about two people who never really thought they’d find love, but they do. It’s also inspiring when it comes to Claire’s condition, her insecurities around it, and her overcoming her fears. ‘There’s a lemon tang of surprise and a spicy heat, mixed with a cinnamon wind and a salty breeze that says, “You’re here; I found you.”’
https://itsybitsybookbits.com/wp-content/uploads/2020/07/IBBB_2020_logo_sq.png00Maisiehttps://itsybitsybookbits.com/wp-content/uploads/2020/07/IBBB_2020_logo_sq.pngMaisie2023-12-30 02:42:032024-01-13 14:32:32Sweet Dreams by Claire (Capture the Light Series) by Nanette Littlestone – Review by Maisie Dickinson
Laylah Abrams’ Unexpected follows famous Clair Morgan, who falls in love with waiter/artist Nick Holden. Despite their completely different backgrounds, they have more in common than either of them would have thought, and they’re the only people who see each other for who they truly are. They’re also both insecure for wildly different reasons, and keeping their relationship a secret doesn’t help with that. My favourite character was Clair, because despite being rich, she’s really relatable. She works hard but is never taken seriously, and she’s scared to let her guard down. I recommend this book because it’s a beautiful romance between two unlikely love interests, but you can really see why they love each other despite their differences. I cried at the ending; happy tears. ‘In a world full of tabloids and masks, they had found something pure and gleaming and were going to bury it again.’
Marcel Liemant’s Doombringer follows trans male lead, Oden, his daughter, Penny, his best friend, Tinnor, and Tinnor’s partner, Ivan, as well as side characters, Magdela the Wise, and the non-binary character Kimri. Their village, Shard Moure, has been and continues to be attacked, and most of the villagers want to leave, but Oden wants to fight for their home. I really like the premise of this story, an LGBTQ+ fantasy novel with an unexpected hero. But I found that the story moved quite slowly. The whole thing takes place over a couple of days, and then follows a time jump at the very end. There’s a lot of action and internal dialogue but not much external dialogue. And the story doesn’t really start until the last 30% of the book. My favourite character was the lead, Oden, although you don’t really get to know the other characters well enough. My least favourite characters were the Mages. I recommend this book if you are interested in getting into the queer fantasy genre. ‘Oden was running out of time on this earthly plane and he still had so much left to do.’
America Greene is pretty comfortable with her life in the city, her job as an editor, and her unrequited crush on a writer at her place of work. That is until she’s sent on a writing assignment to Christmas Cove. She expects a town full of Christmas cheer and finds just the opposite, but the lovely, handsome town mayor convinces her to stay. Together, they bring Christmas back to the Cove and of course, fall in love along the way. They are two really interesting, relatable, likeable characters and I’m glad they got their happy ending. However, I do feel like even for a Christmas romance it was a little bit rushed. They seem to fall in love very quickly and speed through their relationship but either way I’m happy for their happy ever after. I really wasn’t expecting the twist towards the end of the book, and I definitely wasn’t expecting the second twist. I wish that kind of drama had started a little bit earlier in the story but it did make it very interesting. My favourite character is America and my least favourite character is John. I recommend this book because who doesn’t love a Christmas romance? It puts an interesting new twist on the trope and is full of love without being full of cliché’s. It’s also really inspiring to see a woman who has settled for being an editor when she dreams of being a writer, and her finally getting to achieve that dream. ‘Sometimes it’s hard to see what is true and good because it hides behind fear.’
https://itsybitsybookbits.com/wp-content/uploads/2020/07/IBBB_2020_logo_sq.png00Maisiehttps://itsybitsybookbits.com/wp-content/uploads/2020/07/IBBB_2020_logo_sq.pngMaisie2023-11-14 03:16:492023-11-20 13:29:03Christmas Cove by Sarah Dressler – Review by Maisie Dickinson
Libby Kay’s fourth instalment of the Buckeye Falls series, Faking the Fall, follows Alice Snyder who has recently moved back to her hometown because she’s feeling a little lost. She’s highly educated and well travelled but doesn’t have a clue what to do next in her life, and everyone in her family and small town is waiting for her to settle down. That’s when she meets James Gibson, the new guy in town and well-known artist, the perfect guy for her to start a fake relationship with. My favourite character was Alice because she is so relatable and my least favourite character was Ara, the best way to describe her is a menace. I recommend this book because the main character is extremely relatable, the romance ticks all the boxes, and it’s set at my favourite time of year! I’m excited to read the rest of the Buckeye Falls series now. “Take a page from your beloved romance books and make a grand gesture.”
https://itsybitsybookbits.com/wp-content/uploads/2020/07/IBBB_2020_logo_sq.png00Maisiehttps://itsybitsybookbits.com/wp-content/uploads/2020/07/IBBB_2020_logo_sq.pngMaisie2023-10-29 04:50:172023-10-30 07:16:29Faking the Fall (Buckeye Falls Book 4) by Libby Kay – Review by Maisie Dickinson
TW: Rape/Domestic Violence. The first instalment of Nicole E. Kelleher’s Heart & Hand series, Wild Lavender, follows Anna who is married to Lord Roger but secretly in love with a man she had a moment with years prior, Larkin. The story focuses on Anna’s point of view but offers a few other perspectives as well. It is mainly Anna’s story focused on action, with her meeting Larkin again at the halfway point of the story. Anna is a strong main character and her relationship with Larkin has a level of understanding that you don’t always see in romance books. My favourite character was Anna and my least favourite character was Roger. I recommend this book because it has a slow start but a really interesting second half, a strong female lead, and a romance to root for. I also like the map of the fantasy world! “Neither of you should change for the other. Bend, yes. But not change. Besides, nothing is ever hopeless where love is concerned.”
https://itsybitsybookbits.com/wp-content/uploads/2020/07/IBBB_2020_logo_sq.png00Maisiehttps://itsybitsybookbits.com/wp-content/uploads/2020/07/IBBB_2020_logo_sq.pngMaisie2023-10-14 17:16:002023-10-19 07:26:59Wild Lavender (Heart & Hand Series Book 1) by Nicole E. Kelleher – Review by Maisie Dickinson
Rowan and his brother, Phaedron, survive in the World’s End in the Land Below. That is, until Phaedron’s arm is cut off by a monster, which Rowan then drags to the King before setting out for revenge on all monsters for what happened to his brother. Arryn is a lady from the Land Above, determined to show everyone she is more than just an object by travelling to the Land Below to find her beloved Prince. Rowan and Arryn meet in the Land Below and, naturally, try to kill each other. But they end up getting along better than either of them would have thought. My favourite character was Rowan and my least favourite character was Folwynn. I recommend this book because it’s an enemies to lovers fantasy romance, what more could you want? The one-bed trope, threatening each other with knives, hating everyone but each other, sacrificing their lives for each other. The characters are layered and complex, the story is interesting and compelling, the love is pure and strong. ‘How wrong I was. There is nothing cold here, nothing at all like ice.’
Content Warning: Sexual Harassment, Drug Addiction, Drug Overdose. When We Fell Again follows Jordan, lead singer of rock band Idol Rev, and Alexis, Jordan’s ex-girlfriend and tour manager of Idol Rev’s comeback tour. It’s been five years since Jordan and Alexis last saw each other and they’ve both changed a lot, but their feelings come back to the surface after spending so much time together. Jordan is immediately ready to jump back into a relationship, but Alexis isn’t so sure. When she finally makes her decision, Jordan is more than willing to show her how much he has changed for the better. And it was all going so well… but I have complicated feelings about the ending. Jordan relapsed, and it was so disappointing. I know relapses happen in real life and I understand the complexity of addiction but I was expecting a second chance romance, and I can’t support a male main character putting the female main character through this, how am I supposed to root for him after that? My favourite character was Alexis and least favourite character was Arlo. I recommend this book because it was an interesting read with the right amount of twists and turns and a good amount of angst. I am glad there’s a happy ending, and I love how their last names are Bowie and Jagger. ‘The touch felt so familiar, so intimate, like the past five years had melted away and we were the same as we once were.’
https://itsybitsybookbits.com/wp-content/uploads/2020/07/IBBB_2020_logo_sq.png00Maisiehttps://itsybitsybookbits.com/wp-content/uploads/2020/07/IBBB_2020_logo_sq.pngMaisie2023-09-10 02:20:372023-09-14 08:54:02When We Fell Again by Julie Archer – Review by Maisie Dickinson
A Rainbow Like You follows Adrian ‘Jazzer’ Johnson, lead guitarist of famous band Size of a Scandal, on tour. He meets Hastings Sinclair, a thirteen year old with synesthesia who needs a ride to New Orleans and offers to help Adrian with his songwriting. I felt like the book was a bit problematic at times but overall it’s a lovely, heartwarming, original story. Adrian and Hastings develop an unlikely but beautiful bond, and the story explores themes of grief, heartbreak, but also love, friendship, and family. My favourite character was Hastings and my least favourite character was Jillian. I recommend this book because Adrian is a very complex character and A Rainbow Like You is a very original, unpredictable story. You can even listen to one of Adrian’s songs, which I think shows real commitment to writing from Andréa Fehsenfeld. “My father used to say, if you’re ever going to fail at something, Mackenzie, fail beautifully. It wasn’t the first time I told him he was full of it. How could failure be beautiful? It was ugly, wrong. You know what he said to that? He said it isn’t in the success we find out who we really are; it’s in the failures. If you consider all of this a failure, then so be it. Just remember you’ve failed beautifully.”
https://itsybitsybookbits.com/wp-content/uploads/2020/07/IBBB_2020_logo_sq.png00Maisiehttps://itsybitsybookbits.com/wp-content/uploads/2020/07/IBBB_2020_logo_sq.pngMaisie2023-08-28 05:54:012023-09-05 14:44:44A Rainbow Like You by Andréa Fehsenfeld – Review by Maisie Dickinson
Conversations with the Tarot is a series of poems representing each card Maria DeBlassie pulls from her collection. I like how she’s able to see a positive perspective in each of the cards and how both the poems and the insights are so beautiful and useful and I have saved a lot of them to look back on in future. My favourite card was The Chariot Upright. I recommend this book because it’s interesting, insightful, relatable, and beautiful. I found it very useful as an introduction to tarot. ‘I’m dizzy with the wanting.’
https://itsybitsybookbits.com/wp-content/uploads/2020/07/IBBB_2020_logo_sq.png00Maisiehttps://itsybitsybookbits.com/wp-content/uploads/2020/07/IBBB_2020_logo_sq.pngMaisie2023-08-15 12:01:372023-08-23 08:28:09Conversations with the Tarot by Maria DeBlassie – Review by Maisie Dickinson
Content Warning: child abused/paedophilia. Indigo is a girl with a haunting past but a bright future. Gideon is her best friends brother, who is new to town and living in her guest house. When Indigo begins to receive threats regarding a new contract with work, her ex-army guest is the perfect person to keep her company. It’s got the best friends brother trope and the bodyguard trope! Indigo and Gideon have so much in common and have a really lovely friendship, which makes their love story all the better. The only issue I found was that sometimes it felt like the writing was telling rather than showing, which wasn’t needed because you could understand what was happening without it being explained. My favourite character was Indigo, although it’s hard to choose between her and Gideon. My least favourite character was Oliver. I recommend this book because Indigo’s story is an important story to tell and it’s inspiring to see her overcome her past. I also love a friends to lovers story. ‘He was my comfort spot, my safe space. My home.’
https://itsybitsybookbits.com/wp-content/uploads/2020/07/IBBB_2020_logo_sq.png00Maisiehttps://itsybitsybookbits.com/wp-content/uploads/2020/07/IBBB_2020_logo_sq.pngMaisie2023-07-30 03:23:352023-08-04 11:35:39Broken. (Green St. Girls Series) by N.D. Jackson – Review by Maisie Dickinson
Neyah from Kenya and Abby from Minnesota are unlikely friends. They become pen-pals through an assignment encouraged by their schools. Despite living in completely different worlds, they find that they have a lot in common, they develop a beautiful friendship purely through handwritten letters and help each other fulfil their purposes. Their friendship has inspired me to write letters to friends I have made across the world and to spend more time in the future volunteering to help those in need. My favourite character is Abby because even in her weakest moments, she is strong, inspiring, hopeful. My least favourite character is Neyah’s Papa because it takes a long time for him to come around. I recommend this book because there are not a lot of books that have affected me the way this book did. It’s moving and empowering. It really proves that you can do anything you set your mind to. ‘Thank you for being my inspiration.’
https://itsybitsybookbits.com/wp-content/uploads/2020/07/IBBB_2020_logo_sq.png00Maisiehttps://itsybitsybookbits.com/wp-content/uploads/2020/07/IBBB_2020_logo_sq.pngMaisie2023-07-14 09:03:152023-07-17 07:37:47Fetching Dreams by Mary Bleckwehl – Review by Maisie Dickinson
The story follows Tessa, an impulsive author with commitment issues who meets Simon, a super-organised scientist who is eager to settle down. They’re both attracted to each other and decide to meet up every now and then in various places around the world until they inevitably fall for each other and each has to decide whether the other is worth giving up what they thought they always wanted. I liked this concept, but I didn’t get attached to the characters until halfway through the book. Neither of them seemed likeable at first, their relationship seemed awkward, it seemed to be purely about sex until the halfway point. At that point, you can see that they truly care for each other and are willing to sacrifice to make the relationship work. Of course, this is when everything changes. I was gripped when reading the second half, finding myself emotionally attached to the characters and not just Tessa and Simon, but Jacob, Riley, Liam, and Will, too. I recommend this book because whilst I didn’t get too attached to the romance aspect of this book – which is probably for personal reasons, and so a lot of readers will probably not agree with my opinion – the grief aspect had me in tears, and I could not put it down once I got to part two. I even cried through the acknowledgements. I also have to commend Anna’s ability to switch from past to present tense, and her portrayal of grief. I would love to read more about Riley and Jacob’s story. “Unfortunately, time is temporary. It passes. You have to live with what you have here and now. Contentment, acceptance—these things are hard to come by. But if you spend your life living in the past, you’ll never be able to truly appreciate the present.
https://itsybitsybookbits.com/wp-content/uploads/2020/07/IBBB_2020_logo_sq.png00Maisiehttps://itsybitsybookbits.com/wp-content/uploads/2020/07/IBBB_2020_logo_sq.pngMaisie2023-06-27 11:22:272023-06-29 07:45:45My Goodbye Girl by Anna Gomez – Review by Maisie Dickinson
Catrina is a lawyer, who spends a night with a man who turns out to be her client, Nathan. As they spend more time together professionally, it becomes clear that they both want to take their personal relationship further, but their careers get in the way. It is the perfect level of “will they, won’t they?” You root for the characters to end up together but simultaneously fear that they might not get their happy ever after. A strong, independent, female love interest with a cute, sexy, male love interest, and it’s refreshing to see a male love interest that is certain of his feelings from the get go. My favourite character was Nathan, because how could I not fall in love with him? And my least favourite character was Mike, what a hypocrite. I recommend this book because I was hooked from page one. It is beautifully written, poetic, romantic, intense, with great dialogue. I think Nathan Logan might be my new favourite book boyfriend. ‘I wanted to brand myself onto her skin, her soul, make it so she could never forget these moments we’d shared beneath a sea of stars with the crash of waves our only soundtrack.’
https://itsybitsybookbits.com/wp-content/uploads/2020/07/IBBB_2020_logo_sq.png00Maisiehttps://itsybitsybookbits.com/wp-content/uploads/2020/07/IBBB_2020_logo_sq.pngMaisie2023-06-13 06:48:112023-06-19 10:56:15Acting Counsel (Kings of Screen Book 3) by Morgana Bevan – Review by Maisie Dickinson
Breathless Love is the third instalment of K. G. Fletcher’s The Bennett’s of Langston Falls series, and follows Hank, a wannabe country music star, who meets Ella Mae, songwriter and sister of a country music legend that Hank just so happens to be a huge fan of. Ella Mae invites Hank on tour to show him what a rockstar lifestyle is really like, and they get to know each other deeper than either of them imagined, and they have more in common than either of them would have thought. It’s hugely inspirational with a big focus on opportunities, dreams, and the importance of family, featuring strong characters with consistent personality traits, particularly Hank with his chivalry and Ella Mae with her independence. My favourite character was Ella Mae, as she is strong, independent, understanding, and caring. My least favourite character was Travis because he unfortunately turned out to be toxic, manipulative, and selfish. I recommend this book because it’s inspirational, especially for a reader with big dreams. I do think that the ending stretched on for a bit and it probably wasn’t all needed or at least not at that time, but it was a good ending and I really enjoyed the book. “A dream won’t chase you back, son. It’s up to you to chase this dream with everything you have.”
https://itsybitsybookbits.com/wp-content/uploads/2020/07/IBBB_2020_logo_sq.png00Maisiehttps://itsybitsybookbits.com/wp-content/uploads/2020/07/IBBB_2020_logo_sq.pngMaisie2023-05-31 14:17:402023-06-05 13:43:13Breathless Love (The Bennetts of Langston Falls Book 3) by KG Fletcher – Review by Maisie Dickinson
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Mommy, Am I Indian Today? by Sheeba Varghese
