Favourites of the Year Part 2

Highlights of the Year so Far

Romance

This year so far I have managed to read a total of 54 books. Which is good for me at this point in the year. It has been a good reading year for me, with a mix of genres, though most are romance and fantasy. I have decided to share some of the ones that have really stood out to me so far.

Say You Swear by Meagan Brandy - 5⭐

This book follows Arianna, her twin brother and her closest friends, beginning summer before starting college and goes from there. After a soul-breaking rejection during summer break Arianna goes into her freshman year down and determined to isolate herself from her friends and the one who broke her heart, That is, until she meets Noah, who slowly without her realising it, breaks down the barriers she created around herself and reminds her what living and having fun is all about. 

What can I say about this book…It’s been a long time since I’ve read a book that has gripped me so completely. It made me laugh, it made me cry and at times it made me furious. What a rollercoaster this book took me on. Not spoilers specifically (in terms of plot) but the twists and turns and emotional turmoil the author put me through was unlike anything I have experienced before. I literally threw it across the room several times. The pain was worth it though and I ultimately adored the story and Noah officially skyrockets to one of the best book boyfriends EVER.

The Right Move by Liz Tomforde - 5⭐

Ryan is the star player for the Chicago Devils basketball team. Despite his superstar status, he is somewhat of a recluse. Not knowing who to trust since he shot to fame, his sister Stevie is the only one he can really count on. Indy’s life is upended, just out of a relationship with her high school sweetheart, she has nowhere to go but possibly back to her parents. The last thing she expected was to move into her best friends brothers place. On top of it all, Ryan Shay has made it clear that she is not wanted there for long. This is a sequel to Mile High and the second in the Windy City Series. 

I really enjoyed the first book and had seen a lot of hype surrounding this one. It seems this is the favourite so far and there is so much love for Ryan Shay. Now that I have read it, I totally get it, I am on the bandwagon. Ryan is definitely in my new top 10 book boyfriends list. The development of his character from grumpy recluse to devoted partner is truly a delight to read. Despite his situation being so niche, it is still so relatable. I couldn’t imagine having his status and always having people want something from me, to not know who to trust. Indy was also a fantastic female main character. The effect her previous relationship and more importantly the way her friend dynamics changed once that relationship was over is so relatable. My heart broke for her during the interactions with her past friends, to see her in that position when she was the victim of the relationship sucks. It makes you root for her all the more, especially when Ryan goes out of his way to show her the value she holds, and that she shouldn’t have to change who she is for anyone. These two are total couple goals and I love them together. Five star read! One of my favourites of the year so far.

Yours Truly by Abby Jimenez - 5⭐

This book is about two emergency room doctors Briana and Jacob. Briana’s life is a struggle, her divorce is about to be finalised, her brothers kidneys new failing, and suddenly there is competition for the promotion that she was sure was hers. Said competition comes in the form of Jacob, who makes the worst first impression on Briana. To fix the terrible impression she has of him, Jacob writes Briana a letter and this leads to a series of letter exchanges and relationship growth. 

I loved this one, it is my favourite of the series. I found the characters so relatable, especially Jacob and his anxiety. I think the way the author handled Jacob’s anxiety was really well done. As someone who also suffers anxiety, it was nice to see it being normalised. Jacob’s inner monologue was so relatable to me, and I think really showcases exactly how I feel at times. If you don’t suffer anxiety and struggle to understand what goes through our heads, I feel this would be a good way to help others understand. The romance was believable and it was a fun and quick read. This one contains a lot of tropes, but it is predominantly the fake dating trope and in this it is done so well. As a fan of this trope, it can at times be handled poorly, but not here. I absolutely loved it from start to finish.

Just for the Summer by Abby Jimenez - 5⭐

Justin is cursed, every woman that he dates ends up finding her soul mate after they have broken up. When he posts a Reddit thread, he meets Emma, a travelling nurse who shares the same curse. Together they hatch a plan to break the curse. They will date each other for the summer and their curses will cancel each other out, so they will then find their respective soul mates. It’s a crazy idea, but it might just work.

Don’t be fooled by the lighthearted name and bright happy cover. This book tackles some pretty heavy themes, but as seems to be her gift Abby Jimenez does so with her usual brilliance. The premise is a bit goofy, but it is such an easy and entertaining read despite the somewhat heavy topics. I really enjoyed the connection to the other books in the series and the unexpected twists that this book takes. Without getting too much into spoiler territory, the main issue this book tackles is the profound affect that a caregiver can have on your life, and how their poor choices can shape and define who you become. I went through a lot of emotions reading this one, including rage at said caregiver. Overall though, despite its somewhat heavy themes, this was a really good read.

***This next part of the review contains spoilers so please proceed with caution***

What I enjoyed most about this book surprisingly was the third act break up. Generally I hate this aspect of romance books, but in this case I felt it was so realistic and carries an important message. The fact that Emma leaves to work on herself is massively important. Too many stories have their emotionally vulnerable characters be instantly fine because they have found the love of their life. Reality however, is not like that and yes I know reading is not necessarily supposed to showcase reality, but what the author has done here is important. Showing that it is not only ok to prioritise yourself and your own mental health is fantastic but on top of that essential for the relationship. If Emma did not take the time to step away and work on herself, I don’t think the relationship would have worked. Both her and Justin needed that time, and it is such an essential message to put out there. I applaud Abby Jimenez for this one, it was really well done. 

Wild Love by Elsie Silver - 4⭐

Ford Grant - World's Hottest Billionaire according to Forbes - wants nothing more than to escape the city and focus on opening his newest business venture, a recoding studio and artist haven. Focusing on the venture however, not so easy when a girl turns up at his door claiming to be the daughter he didn't know he had. Add to that his best friends sister coming back to town, the girl he hasn't been able to get out of his head despite not seeing her for 10 years and life in small town Rose Hill is not exactly as tranquil as he imagined. 

Elsie Silver does it again. I adored the Chestnut Springs series, and this new one is gearing up to be every bit as good. I enjoyed this introductory book. I was skeptical of the unexpected single dad trope, and to be honest, found it to be a tad far-fetched, but I actually really liked Cora's character. Harder to swallow was the situation that has Rosie leaving the city and returning home. It was so rage inducing and the reaction of her boyfriend just made it that much more irritating. I liked both Ford and Rosie, but at times I felt she was just a bit too immature. Also Ford's inner monologue at times was annoying. I get that he was trying to be respectful of what Rosie has been through but he just didn't read her very well. Overall though I enjoyed my time with this book and Elsie's writing is really easy to read. I can already tell that I am going to enjoy the next book more than this one. West was such a great character that I am excited to get to his book soon.