Thematically writing ARC review posts is always a wee bit of a struggle because of my mood reading tendencies and the way that I will immediately rebel the second I set myself a strict TBR, but I somehow managed to read these three in quick succession so here we are with an actual themed ARC post! And beyond just finishing trilogies, these are also all super rich male main character books, so there’s that too. So proud. Anyway, I’m so grateful to have been able to read these three books “early” or at least to have complimentary copies to talk to you about from the publisher!
The Charmer by Ava Rani is the third book in Rani’s Biotech Billionaires series, which started as a self-published journey that Rani leveraged into a trad pub with Avon somewhat recently. I have read the first two books on Kindle Unlimited in the past two months in preparation for the release of The Charmer, which I was so excited to receive an ARC of via Netgalley. I can’t wait to tell you more about it in my review in a minute, but most importantly, you can already read this book because it came out officially on May 13th!
Can’t Get Enough by Kennedy Ryan came out from Forever on May 13th and it is the conclusion to the absolutely incredible, iconic Skyland series and true to form, this one was absolutely everything! I’m so, so grateful to Forever for the advanced copy and again, I really am so excited to tell you about this one!
Finally, I get to tell you about the conclusion to the Primas of Power trilogy, Along Came Amor by Alexis Daria, out on the 27th from Avon! I’m so delighted to have been able to read this one early (for real this time) and I can’t wait to tell you more about it! So let’s get started, shall we?
The Charmer by Ava Rani
The Charmer finishes off the Biotech Billionaires trilogy, but also there are several characters that I’m desperately hoping star in a feature in a spinoff to this trilogy because there are so many more stories to tell! But when the series began with The Spare, we were introduced to Marcus, Henry, Xavier, and Sloane, a group of four split between two sibling pairs, Marcus and Xavier and Henry and Sloane. Marcus and Sloane kicked us off in The Spare and watching them fall in love (or more accurately, admit their feelings to us and each other) was delightful. As was watching Henry fall hard and fast for Selena in The Heir because that man went from being extremely commitment avoidant to being like, “Hello, yes, she’s the one, where is the ring?” And now, in The Charmer, we finally get Xavier’s story. Xavier, the life of the party, with the past of overcoming a spiral into addiction after the death of his parents. Xavier who clings to the people he considers his family now because of that history. And who does he fall in love with? Penelope. Penelope who would really prefer not to be the center of attention, Penelope who keeps her walls up because her birth family is sort of toxic, Penelope who needs a husband and a residence in Singapore to secure her inheritance.
Watching these two fall in love was really, really lovely. First of all though, let me just say, if you like Ana Huang’s Twisted series, you really should pick up this one. Rich people doing crazy rich people things feels like the vibes of this book. If you like a fantasy of rich people doing crazy rich people things that only they can get away with but also caring about the state of the world, this book and series could be for you. I really love the way both of these characters were able to express themselves and their feelings. I love the nickname Poppy. I love the way they both prioritize and really see the other. If the sentiment “to be loved is to be known” then I feel like you might absolutely adore the way this book sorts itself out. I also appreciate that despite my comparison to Ana Huang, this book clocks in at only 352 pages so a much more reasonable length for a contemporary romance than some of Huang’s behemoths. Anyway, all in all, I have enjoyed this entire trilogy and I would absolutely recommend it to you if you’re in the mood for a spicy good time! (Oh, speaking of, this book has a list. Two lists, actually. And you know I love a good checklist!!)
Can’t Get Enough
by Kennedy Ryan
I really don’t think I have the words for how much this book hit and how it felt meant for me to read. I started this, finally, the day before release because I was like, “Oh, I think I’m mentally well enough to read this!” So I stayed up too late and made it about halfway through. The next morning I continued it on audio on my way to work, because I had obviously pre-ordered the audio and the physical copy. I mean, it’s Kennedy, y’all. Then, after working my day, I found out one of my best friends was in the hospital so the next thing I know, I’m booking a flight on the way to the airport and crying reading this book on the plane because of how much this book hits on friendship and community.
For other people, this story could hit them with feelings about the struggle of taking care of a parent or grandparent with Alzheimer’s, or with the more general struggle to balance juggling your career and a desire to have a partner. Or maybe it could hit if you’re also childfree by choice, like Hendrix, and tired of the judgment or comments. I, personally, related so much to the way Hendrix talks about how much she loves being an aunt figure and pouring into her people without having to sacrifice so much to be a parent.
But I’m getting sidetracked. That’s the thing about this book though! There was just so much packed into this book, but it’s done so well? Sometimes it feels like there’s way too much packed into a book when you’re reading a romance with some heavier real life concepts, but Kennedy always manages to balance all of these elements in a way that still leaves me 100% convinced that the couple will in fact be in love and together forever. Also, this book has some cameos of past Kennedy MMCs (I shout them out in my Instagram post, but just remembered that I forgot to mention Ezra over there. Did I forget anyone else? I hope not.), which genuinely had me SCREAMING. I was so delighted by this book and it made me cry. Basically, this book was perfect and I’m so sure my review is just chaotic, but Kennedy Ryan is the wordsmith, not me, so this is what you’re struck with.
Along Came Amor by Alexis Daria
The day Ava’s divorce is finalized, she winds up having a one-night stand with hotelier, Roman, and their connection goes beyond the physical, but Ava is not about to get into another relationship. Introducing someone else to her family is unfathomable. Roman is really fantastic at respecting her boundaries, but he leaps at the opportunity to see her again when she presents it. And… things go from there.
I have complex feelings about Along Came Amor, in that seeing Ava’s people-pleasing made me really reflect on my own people-pleasing tendencies in a way that had me cringing more than I would prefer. But with that being said, I think that actually goes to show that Daria did an absolutely incredible job with her character work in this book. Part of that also includes the way that Ava being loved by Roman, in the way that he prioritizes her, allows Ava to start recognizing some toxic patterns that her family has fallen into.
If you want a man who is down bad for his love interest, this book is definitely one that could work for you. (Honestly, all three of these books in this post fit that description perfectly so… Pick up any/all of them for that vibe! I do actually wonder if I wouldn’t have loved this book more if I hadn’t read it after having read Can’t Get Enough.) Anyway, I definitely recommend this book and this series. These characters are really wonderful and the similarities between the series are so interesting and really come together in this book. I’ve enjoyed my time with these characters so much!
Closing Thoughts
These three books really did have more in common than I would have anticipated when I decided to read them. But I truly enjoyed all three of these and Can’t Get Enough is definitely a favorite of the year! Have you read any of these? Let me know!
xx
firewhiskeyreader 