Summer Reads (June-August 2025)

 All the books I read in Summer 2025

***Please note that reviews may contain spoilers***

June

Rewind It Back by Liz Tomforde - 5 ⭐

Oh my this book! I love this series and this one is no exception. I’ve been waiting for Rio’s story and I am happy that it didn’t disappoint. As each book has gone on in the series I have loved all the characters interactions and the found family. Seeing Rio get his happily ever after was so satisfying. I really liked Hallie as a character. Her strength and resilience when coping with all that life threw at her at such a young age is inspiring. I loved not only watching them re-kindle their love but also seeing her form friendships after being alone/isolated for so long. My only criticism of this book is that there was not enough interactions with the group as a whole. But I am absolutely being unreasonable here since I would read a whole book with just their daily group chat. I’m sad this series is over and I will miss these characters so much. I look forward to whatever Liz Tomforde writes next (especially Monty’s book).

Taming 7 by Chloe Walsh - 4.5 ⭐

I have been putting this one off for a while now. Gibsie is my favourite character and I have been eager for his book. However, I saw so many comments on people finding this book disappointing that I decided to wait until my high expectations had died down. I am so glad I did that because I really enjoyed this one. Sadly it’s not a five star as I do feel like it spent a good portion of the story setting up for Lizzie. However, there was still enough of Gibsie and Claire to keep me happy. I knew Chloe Walsh would put me through the wringer with this one and I wasn’t wrong. Gibsie’s background story/childhood was tragic enough but learning about what happened with Mark came out of nowhere for me. Not many books make me cry but this absolutely got me. There is really no way to explain how the author manages to handle such heavy/traumatic situations the way she does, while also injecting humour into the characters as well. She is masterful. This book made me feel so many emotions, I laughed out loud (the treehouse scene IYKYK), I gasped in surprise and I sobbed. These characters feel so real and my heart breaks every time I read a Tommen book. Yet somehow it’s also filled with hope at the same time.

Releasing 10 by Chloe Walsh - 5 ⭐

After Taming 7 I have to dive straight into this one. I wasn’t sure what to expect with this given how the last one ended but it was definitely not what I got. If possible I think this is her darkest one yet. It is hard to read, upsetting and horrifying all in one book. However, once again Chloe Walsh shows her talent in handling such topics in a raw way. She doesn’t hold back with what is on the page and at times it is really difficult to read but I think it’s so important that it’s done this way. These things happen to people, to children, more than it should and it leaves a mark on them. These are stories that should be told. Survivors should be hear and not have their suffering sugar coated or swept under the rug just because it is difficult to talk about. I was enthralled by Hughie and Lizzie’s story and all they went through. I can’t wait for the next one so they can get the resolution they deserve. 

A Torch Against the Night by Saaba Tahir - 4 ⭐

Book 2 in the An Ember in the Ashes series. I enjoyed this the book just how brutal this is for a YA. I liked that we had the addition of Helene’s POV. It really feels like the world is opening up even more. I have been left with so many questions upon finishing this one, but that just makes the journey all the more worthwhile. I wouldn’t say I have a favourite character among them yet, but Helene is growing on me. Her journey in this instalment was hard to read, but I am intrigued to see where her character goes. I am now halfway through the series as a whole and I am enjoying it a lot. 

Throne of Glass by Sarah J Maas - 4 ⭐

This year marks 10 years since I first read this book, so what better way to celebrate than to re-read the series. Knowing what happens and where the series goes gives me a whole different reading experience. When I first read this, I remember loving it so much. Celeana was such a sassy and compelling character and I also remember that I loved Dorian, but by the end of the book I was team Chaol. The ‘Get Up’ scene gave me goosebumps back then and I still love it now.

Atmosphere by Taylor Jenkins Reid - 4 ⭐

One of my most anticipated reads of the year and it didn’t disappoint. TJR has such a talent for writing characters that feel like real people and this one was no exception. I ate this book up, it was so compulsively readable. TJR done an amazing job highlighting woman’s struggles within a very male dominated environment during a time where attitudes were not what they should have been. I went into this knowing it was a love story, but I got so much more than that. The pressure that Joan and Vanessa are under to be successful at NASA is one thing. But, to also be in love with each other during this really unaccepting and unforgiving point in history really pulled at my heartstrings. While these characters aren’t actually real, what they went through was. To gain insight into the reality of simply attending a social gathering with the person you love and not being able to do something as simple as hold their hand is a travesty. All because of narrow minded people who cannot accept it is ridiculous. I feel this book done a great job in showing how far we have come. However, since things like this still happen in today's society we still have a way to go yet.

The Answer Is No by Fredrik Backman - 3.5 ⭐

Fredrik Backman’s writing is so unique and I really enjoy it. His views and commentary on human behaviour is so true and hilariously executed. For a short story at only 68 pages this had me laughing out loud. I found it so enjoyable. He is very quickly becoming one of my favourite authors and at this point is an auto buy. I’d recommend this as a fun little palette cleanser. Lucas is such a relatable character who just wants some peace and quiet. I loved it.

Butcher & Blackbird by Brynne Weaver - 4 ⭐

I read this in a day. That us unheard of for me. I put the audiobook on in the morning thinking I would listen for an hour or so while lounging in bed before getting up for the day and I couldn’t turn it off. It was dark, but also hilariously funny (the accidental cannibalism scene…omg). The narrators done such a great job on this audiobook and I really feel it enhanced my enjoyment. A lot of trigger warnings for this one though, but if you don’t mind them then I would definitely say this is worth the hype it gets. I honestly couldn’t put it down.

Daisy Haites by Jessa Hastings - 4.5 ⭐

There is something about this series. I honestly don’t understand how I get so absorbed with these characters and their world. I enjoyed this one more than Magnolia Parks as I found Daisy a much more interesting character and I liked the grittiness of her life and the characters surrounding her, and it was good to get POV’s from Julian and Christian too. Christian was a little annoying in the beginning with his denial about his feelings for Daisy. I understand that this happens but I did find it dragged out a little. That is just a minor issue though and it didn’t take away from my enjoyment of the book. I didn’t realise that the timeline was in sync with book 1 so it was interesting to get Christian’s view of what was going on with Magnolia and BJ as well. Personally for me, I think I am going to love Daisy and Christian’s story more than Magnolia and BJ, but that isn’t saying much since I gave book one 4 stars.

Metal Slinger by Rachel Schneider - 4 ⭐

I have heard a lot of praise for this book so I was excited to get into it. The premise was so interesting, and the setting of people living over the sea is not something I have read before. It started off really strong for me. The FMC was really interesting and I loved the setting. I do feel it started to lose something as it went on. I feel that the revelation Brynn gets that prompts her to leave with the MMC was a little too easy. When a FMC is always quick to accept facts that should turn their world upside down annoys me. Like where is the shock? Where is the questioning? This always lowers my rating. However, the plot twist…oh my. I did not see that coming at all. In fact when I got to the end of that chapter, I had to re-read it to make sure I had read it right the first time. While it didn’t explain everything it did redeem the book enough for me to finish, bump up the rating from a 3 star and look forward to finding out more in book 2.

July

Wild and Wrangled by Lyla Sage - 4 ⭐

Last in the Rebel Blue Ranch series. It was a good ending to be honest. I really enjoyed following Cam and Dusty’s story.  It’s dual timeline so you get to see them fall in love and then find out the reason why they haven’t spoken in years. To be honest the thing I loved most about this book was the lack of a proper 3rd act break up. In fact I feel like this done the opposite. Cam was naturally angry with the secret Dusty kept from her but there was a level of over-reaction from her. What I loved about it was that it was instantly pointed out to her by Wes. He done it in such a way that highlighted the ridiculous nature of her reaction and I appreciate that. Personally, I don’t like 3rd act break-ups because a lot of them are just ridiculous and unnecessary. I am sad that this series is over, but I do look forward to whatever Lyla Sage writes next, especially since the writing in these books improved as they went.

The Book of Azrael by Amber V. Nicole - 4 ⭐

I was intending to read this anyway but Rachel from Raven Haired Reader on YouTube decided to do a readathon on Patreon. I really liked this book. It is quite different from what I usually read. To have the FMC be the morally grey one was a lot of fun. I liked Dianna’s snarkiness and the banter between her and Liam was entertaining. The world was really interesting and for once I was really glad that the book came with a map. The characters travelled around so much that it was good to look at the map and keep track of where they were. It’s a really good start to the series, the tension between the characters was so good and the ending was a total shock. I am excited to dive into the second book next month.

Zodiac Academy: Ruthless Fae by Caroline Peckham and Susanne Valenti - 4 ⭐

I enjoyed the first book, but wasn’t sure on the series after finishing it. This one however, totally raised the bar. I really liked that we got the guys POV. It doesn’t necessarily let me understand their actions but it is good to get some of their backstories and see their motivations. Especially Darius. I was really invested in the girls revenge on the heirs, especially since it was done under the radar. When Darcy gave Seth fleas I was laughing so hard. The ending was great, really action packed. I really want to know what their order is. I am so impatient lol. I feel myself getting more invested in the story now. 

Zodiac Academy: The Reckoning by Caroline Peckham and Susanne Valenti - 4.5 

I feel like this series has me in a chokehold now. I never continue series one after the other, but with this one I had to. It’s just too good. The romance in this was so good. Seeing it come to fruition after building up for 2 books was quite satisfying. I also loved the moments between Darius and Tory. For the first half of the book I was fine and quite happy. The second half of the book made me feel so uncomfortable. When Darius told the other heirs about the twins sabotaging them I was so nervous. I  was just waiting for the fall out. At times this series is just so uncomfortable to read because of heir’s back and forth attitudes towards the twins. I am so tempted to go straight into the next one, but I have so many books on my immediate TBR that I’d rather spread this series out a bit.

A Forbidden Alchemy by Stacey McEwan - 3.5 ⭐

This book had such a unique world and magic system. I have never read anything with a setting like this before. The plot was really interesting and showed a distinct class difference. Distinguishing between the two classes however, I found to be a bit clunky. The author made the upper class (Artisans) and the lower class (Craftsman) have different dialects. I understand this difference, but the use of the slang for the Craftsman threw me off quite a bit. Also, the MMC is called Patrick and having his closest friends call him Patty was something that really grated on me. As a Scottish person, this should be Paddy lol. Both of these are reflected in my rating. I also found the FMC annoying at times. I know she was young when she decided to take the alchemist vial, but she constantly felt like an imposter and I found this irritating. While I do understand her feeling this way, I do wish she had just embraced her powerful magic. Hopefully, she will grow into this in the second book. While this was a mid book for me, I will continue into book two as the ending was really good, and ended on a cliff hanger. 

Forever, Interrupted by Taylor Jenkins Reid - 4 ⭐

I have been putting this one off for a while because I want to finish all of TJR’s backlist, but also when I am done, I am up-to-date with her books. This is not my favourite, but it was a lovely book. The way that grief is shown in this is so raw and realistic. What a horrible situation both characters found themselves in. It was devastating. I really enjoyed their journey of healing through the tragedy of losing someone so young, and so suddenly. I feel the author captured this topic so well. If you are in the right head space then it could be really helpful for someone who has went through loss. I believe it would help them feel seen. It was a lovely read and I really enjoyed it.

August

The Knight and the Moth by Rachel Gillig - 4 ⭐

This book really surprised me. I have heard really good things about this one, but I wasn’t sure if it would be for me. I really enjoyed it though. It was a little slow to start but I think it was the more Gothic setting and establishing the world building. I am not used to reading this kind of setting. However, I loved the story. The characters are really likeable and I really enjoyed the tension between the two main characters. The romance in this was lovely as well. Especially seeing Rory’s change in attitude towards the FMC. Some parts of this book were a little predictable especially the ending but that didn’t diminish my enjoyment for this. The standout of the book is the gargoyle who calls everyone Bartholomew. He is so funny and unfiltered. I am excited to see where the story goes in book 2.

Silver Elite by Dani Francis - 4 ⭐

This was a fun read. It was not the most unique story I’ve read but it was enjoyable. I liked the setting, the world was interesting and the magic system was intriguing. I liked Wren as a character, and her banter with the other characters. The plot was a little predictable but that didn’t detract from my enjoyment at all. I will continue with the series when the next book comes out.

The Favourites by Layne Fargo - 4.5 ⭐

This book was messy in the best way. It was so compulsively readable and I read it so quickly. This book is perfect if you like drama. I really enjoyed the format of the book with the documentary aspect. This was especially good as I listened to the audio book along with the physical. The main characters Heath and Katerina were so dislikable but in my opinion it just added to my enjoyment and made the story compelling. Kat is so selfish/self centred and the levels that Heath goes to, to get back at her is unbelievable. I would definitely recommend this book to others. 

Bury Our Bones in the Midnight Soil by V.E. Schwab - 5 ⭐

This is officially now of my favourite books of 2025. I loved every minute of it. I immersive read this one with the audiobook which I would highly recommend. The split timelines was such an interesting way to go. At first I was so invested in Maria/Sabine’s story. The time period was so interesting and the way she was treated at times made me so mad. I was compelled to read this one. It was such a vibe. It was good to see the three characters stories come together at the end. This book gave me the same vibes as Interview with a Vampire but done so much better. I loved how V.E. Schwab explored the realities of being a woman in the past, and the pressures/expectations placed on them. Particularly the struggles with being attracted to women and not men. This was honestly a masterpiece of a book and I truly loved it.

Broken Country by Clare Leslie Hall - 3.5 ⭐

This is a book out of my comfort zone, but I have seen so many people reading it that it made me curious. It was an enjoyable read. I loved the setting and I really enjoyed the characters. It was messy and I enjoyed the pacing of the story progress. The book covered 3 different timelines which I think worked in its favour.

May Wrap Up

 All the books I read in May 2025

***Please note that reviews may contain spoilers***

Lady of Darkness by Melissa K. Roehrich - 4 ⭐

I ate this book up when I first read it and I have done so again on re-read. It is gripping, compelling and addictive. There is a large cast of characters to meet, snarky comments and witty banter plenty as well as a slow burn romance filled with tension. Scarlett was a fantastic character to follow - my favourite kind of FMC, one who has done and been through a lot, yet remains strong and sassy, she gives me Aelin vibes. She has many physical and emotional scars which are centred around some rather dark themes, which the author handles brilliantly in my opinion. This is a dark fantasy romance with themes that some may find triggering, so please search up trigger warnings before embarking on this one. I loved it and it is now also being traditionally published, so I am waiting to get my hands on the next instalments so I can continue my foray into this world. It will take some time to get through them all though as they are now being traditionally published and not all five books are out yet. 

Lady of Shadows by Melissa K. Roehrich - 4 ⭐

This was a fantastic continuation. Compulsively readable that I done it in 1 sitting. I couldn’t put it down. The direction the story went in opened up this world even more and introduced new characters with reveals on others back stories. It was incredibly enjoyable. Sorin is climbing up my rankings on the book boyfriend list. I wonder where he will fit once the series is over. Still not quite 5 star reads yet, but if they continue to build in the way I hope, I can see the next instalments reaching this.

The Bond That Burns by Briar Boleyn - 4.5 ⭐

Book 2 of Bloodwing Academy. I had a very turbulent time reading this book, mostly because of Blake. As bully romances go, I found that Blake didn’t do much of the bullying in book 1. This seemed to be reserved for this one. Which if I’m honest was so frustrating as his actions did not align with his thoughts. This is not a criticism of the plot however, because I can see why the author done this. Blake was raised to think and act a certain way and that is not going to disappear over night. Seeing him struggle and question actions that should be normal to him was refreshingly realistic but as a fan of Medra, was incredibly frustrating to read. It was really difficult to root for him at times, despite that I wanted to. Aside from that, this book was amazing. The way the story developed from the first one. The interactions with Media and Nyxaris are great, I love a grumpy dragon. Also the ending! Wow, what a way to end a book. I need the next one now! Also side note. Neville is the best character in the whole series.

Zodiac Academy: The Awakening by Caroline Peckham and Susanne Valenti - 3.5 ⭐

I have put this off for so long that it was finally time to dive in. I remain on the fence as to whether this was a good idea or not. As per all the reviews I’ve heard, I will be going beyond the first book since I have heard it is the weakest. However, while I can absolutely understand the criticisms of this book, I had a good time reading it. I knew it was a bully romance, but I swear I was not prepared for just how brutal this bullying goes. This book made me so angry for a good portion of the time. To the point where it’s clearly the series that is a bully romance, since there was definitely none of the romance part in this one. I can see the breadcrumbs to some of it. Honestly though, the main reason I want to continue is because I really want to see just how we get to the romance part. As of the ending of this book, I’m surprised Tory and Darcy have the capacity to fall for any of these characters. Personally, I would just kill them all. The last few chapters were so hard to read. At this point I just want them to get revenge. I look forward to having my mind changed. 

April Wrap Up

 All the books I read in April 2025

***Please note that reviews may contain spoilers***

Say You'll Remember Me by Abby Jimenez - 5⭐

Abby Jimenez is quickly becoming one of my favourite romance authors. How she writes these amazing love stories while also highlighting heavy and at times devastating topics is masterful. This is one that hit a little close to home for me, having watched dementia ravage a family member and see the anguish it causes to not only the person but to those closest to them. Abby Jimenez done a fantastic job of capturing this and the guilt the family feel as they struggle to cope as the disease progresses. It hurt my heart to read at times. My heart really went out to Samantha’s character navigating this loss and also trying to navigate a long distance relationship. Xavier was such a lovely MMC and I loved how the realities of life and their financial strain played a big part of their obstacles. Too often romance novels don’t have these realistic boundaries, but this is real life struggles and I really appreciated this element. To have them focus on overcoming these constraints and focus on what is important in life was refreshing. At the end of the day those we love and the memories we make with them is what life is all about.

Sunrise on the Reaping by Suzanna Collins - 4⭐

I am shocked at my rating if I’m honest, which is crazy as 4 stars is a great rating. I just expected this to be a 5 star read. I’m not sure what I was expecting to be honest, but I expected to enjoy it more. I think my biggest issue is the underlying love story. I know that young love can be all consuming but I just felt the way Haymitch was so focused on her was grating. That being said, it was really enjoyable seeing his games and learning what happened to not only him but also other characters that we know (Beetee, Mags, Wiress etc). I’m glad we got to read the book and I hope she delves more into the other stories in the future.

The Fall Risk by Abby Jimenez - 3⭐

Short stories are not usually my thing, I personally prefer to have more time with my characters. I made an exception for this one since Abby Jimenez is one of my favourite authors. I really enjoyed this story but I do feel the length let it down. I liked the characters and the plot was really engaging. I’d have loved if this was a full length novel. This felt very insta-love but that is understandable. It left me wanting more but in this case I’m taking that as a positive.

Phantasma by Kaylie Smith - 4⭐

This was such a unique reading experience. I’ve read fantasy about trials and games before but this setting was so unusual. It was quite a spooky and gothic setting which I haven’t really read before. I also got the audiobook to do immersive reading and it really enhanced the experience. I loved the banter between Ophelia and Blackwell and while the twist at the end was somewhat predictable, I enjoyed where the story went and the journey to get there. 

Off to the Races by Elsie Silver - 3⭐

As a lover of Elsie Silver I decided to embark on her backlist. I’ve heard good things about this series. This one though was not my favourite. This is the worst MMC so far (fair since it was her first). However, entitled trust fund babies don’t do anything for me. I found Vaughan to be off putting. Billie however, I loved her, she was a fantastic character to read from. She definitely made the MMC better. As her debut this was enjoyable but I am so happy to already know her books get better as they go. I hope that’s the case with the rest of this series.

On Wings of Blood by Briar Boleyn - 4.5⭐

This is a book club read, which I am really happy I participated in since I had never heard of this book. The start of this had me hooked from the beginning. I loved the setting and the interactions between the characters. I thought the enemies to lovers was done fantastically. I feel we were left with questions surrounding Medra’s past that I really hope we dive more into with future instalments. I’m not really sold on the bully romance advertised. The bullying didn’t really come from Blake but from Regan who is obviously not the love interest. I loved the slow burn and the tension between the characters. This one also ignited some strong feelings too when the sexism and classist behaviours were on page. The way Medra is treated as less, and an object to control and possess. This really ignites my feminist side. It was well done, so bravo to the author for this.

Magnolia Parks by Jessa Hastings - 4⭐

I have heard so many good things about this series that I had to try it for myself. I am really glad I did, this was really entertaining. It was like watching an episode of Gossip Girl but in London. Magnolia and BJ are so toxic but somehow I still find myself rooting for them, yet also wishing I could smack their heads together. I listened to the audiobook while reading this which really helped my enjoyment as well. I would recommend this and look forward to continuing the series.

Fave Quote - “How many loves do you get in a lifetime? I remember wondering that. How many people will look at me like he does, not just like I’m the sun but like I’m the whole god damn universe” - Magnolia - Page 62

The Strawberry Patch Pancake House by Laurie Gilmore - 3.5⭐

This is book 4 of the Dream Harbour series. It was enjoyable to read, just a silly fun time. I like the small town aspect of the book and the further we get into it, the more characters we get to know. I think this the a perfect palette cleanser book to read between heavier topics or bigger fantasy books. Also, its a side note but the covers on this whole series are so cute. I love them.

City of Gods and Monsters by Kayla Edwards - 4⭐

Yet another series that I have heard a lot about. I couldn’t wait to start my journey with it. I have seen some comments around similarities with Crescent City and while there are some in terms of the setting and the creatures I feel this story stands on its own and is unique in its own way. I really enjoyed reading this. Darien is a really interesting MMC and I can see his potential to make the book boyfriend list. Loren our FMC I am not quite sold on. I prefer my FMC’s to be a bit more kick ass than damsel and while yes, humans in this world are at the bottom of the chain, she doesn’t need to be quite such a push over. Throughout the story it was nice to see her push back (especially with Dallas) and I hope that continues to happen as the books progress. I think this was really a good entry into the world and introduction to the characters and I am excited to continue on and see where it goes.