firewhiskeyreader

If I did my math right, which is honestly always a question, I’ve read 66 books in the first three months of the year so I have some really amazing books that I’m so excited to share in more depth with y’all! I have a primary list of ten and then an honorable mentions list of eight. So… You know. They’re almost comparable.

A Proposal They Can’t Refuse by Natalie Caña

The amount that I think about these two meddling grandpas is honestly wild. I mean, talk about a book that has stuck with me. I loved everything about this book featuring a people pleasing female main character who desperately wants to be in control and doesn’t understand why other people don’t see what she does. Then we have our grumpy male main character who loves so deeply, but is really not great at showing it to anyone except maybe his grandpa. And the family!! Y’all. I cannot wait for Caña’s follow up to A Proposal They Can’t Refuse! It’s going to be phenomenal!!!

Again by J.L. Seegers

I know I’m a sucker for a marriage in trouble story, but damn, the way this novella was written had me just… in flames! The sexiness, the emotions, the SEXINESS. I’m just saying. Five out of five stars isn’t quite enough to express my love of this novella.

Heartless by Elsie Silver

I FUCKING LOVE EVERYTHING ABOUT THIS BOOK EVEN THOUGH IT HAS A TROPE I HATE AND I WILL NOT BE TAKING QUESTIONS AT THIS TIME. Willa is ICONIC and Kade is a grumpy boy and then our beautiful darling child, Luke. I love them so much. I cannot imagine this book not being in my top ten at the end of the year.

Twisted Lies by Ana Huang

I’m not really positive I “should” love this book as much as I did, but honestly… Well, I did! So… Anyway, if you’re here for mess and really questionable morality in your male love interest with a too pure for this world-esque female main character, allow me to direct you to this book. It was FANTASTIC for the mood I was in at the time and I was having the best time.

Ninth House by Leigh Bardugo

I absolutely fell in love with Ninth House (and Hell Bent) and I would like to have book three immediately. (There is a book three coming, right??) There’d better be. I’m in need. Anyway, the characters are everything and I love them.

Georgie, All Along by Kate Clayborn

Georgie’s messiness, the way she felt like there was just a blank in front of her when she tried to imagine her future because she had spent so long dictating her life around fulfilling other people’s needs hit home for me in a really unexpected way that had me super emotional reading this book. And Levi’s anxious ways and isolating to protect himself was just… Plus the friendship!! I mean, I don’t know how to articulate, still, how much I loved this book. But I do have an ARC review where I at least mostly managed to pull together cohesive sentences if you’re curious.

Blind Side by Kandi Steiner

At the time I finished this book, I wound up giving it a 4 star on Goodreads, but over time, this book has really stuck with me in the sense that it was just such a good, engaging time. I devoured this book. Absolutely devoured it. I can’t really explain exactly what happened, all I know is that I picked this book up and didn’t stop until I was finished. Steiner just wrote a fully compelling fake dating book for me and I had a great time with it.

The Very Secret Society of Irregular Witches
by Sangu Mandanna

The found family aspects in this book were just everything. I really loved the cozy vibe. I loved the kids and all their personality. I loved the plot and I loved the romance. I would love about a dozen more books set in this world with the same vibes. It was great. I have a fuller review here if you’re interested.

Hotel of Secrets by Diana Biller

Y’all, I do not know how Diana Biller does it, but this book was pure gold. Everything about it was just perfection, from the setting in Vienna, to Maria, to the side characters, to Eli… The writing, the descriptions, the CHARACTERS. I just loved it. I loved it all. I want Biller to be paid massive amounts of money to write, but somehow have no pressure, but churn out a bajillion historical romances a year. Is that a logical desire? Probably not. But I just love her so much and the fact that there are only three of her books to reread is painful. Anyway, I adore this book and her other two and if you haven’t read them yet, please give them a shot. Here’s a link to my ARC review.

Heartbreaker by Sarah MacLean

I really cannot explain what had me put off Heartbreaker for so long, but I finally picked it up on audio while I was in Italy and it was a magical time. I absolutely loved it. I was listening to it while on the train and trying so hard to not let my face showcase my emotions, even though I wanted to squeal, gasp, and blush at various points. This was so much fun and I loved our characters and I cannot wait for the next books! Also, here’s a link to my ARC Review in case you’re interested in actual coherent thoughts.

Honorable Mentions

I hope you got some recommendations from this list, but also, please tell me your favorite reads of the first quarter of the year! I would love to know! Are there any books you think I would love based on this list of favorites? I’m also always looking to expand my TBR even if I shouldn’t be!

xx