Current Library Holds: February 2023

Another month, another glimpse at what books I’m hoping to get from the library soon! 

I’m not going to go too much into Amanda Elliot’s Best Served Hot and Rebecca Makkai’s I Have Some Questions For You, since I discussed these two in my February 2023 Anticipated Releases.

Georgie, All Along by Kate Clayborn – I haven’t yet read a book by Kate Clayborn, but her latest releases, Georgia, All Along, has been all over my bookstagram altely. This is a grumpy sunshine romance following a woman who returns to her hometown in Virginia after losing her personal assistant position in LA. 

Read More »

Just My Type by Falon Ballard Review

Summary (from the publisher):
41DFt+ktbeL._AC_SY780_Lana Parker has never been single for long. After a disastrous break-up with her high school boyfriend, Seth Carson, Lana’s bounced from long-term relationship to long-term relationship. She’s an expert girlfriend, even acting as the resident dating and relationship columnist for one of Los Angeles’s trendiest websites. But now, at the age of thirty, Lana suddenly finds herself single again, and she’s determined to stay that way, no matter how challenging.

That is, until her high school ex, Seth, now a journalist in his own right, takes an assignment at Lana’s site. Ready to put down roots after years of traveling and freelancing, Seth becomes not only Lana’s colleague but also her competitor. With their combative relationship history–and undeniable chemistry–they quickly find themselves pitted against each other in a battle of wits: writing an article series that goes against dating type. For Lana, that means writing about staying single and embracing it. For Seth, it’s learning to settle down and become boyfriend material. Whoever’s is most popular wins a highly coveted columnist spot that either could only dream of. But when the two square off against one another, it’s not only their careers on the line–it’s also their hearts.

My Rating: 4.5/5 Stars

My Thoughts:

Despite seeing all the hype, I slept on Falon Ballard’s debut Lease on Love for a few months after its release last year. I picked it up on a random Friday night that March..and had it completed by the time I went to bed that night. That being said, I couldn’t wait to get my hands on Falon Ballard’s sophomore release, Just My Type! I’m happy to report that I started this one on a holiday off from work and had it finished by early evening. 

Like I shared in my review for Lease on Love, there’s such an addictive  quality to Falon Ballard’s writing that was again captured from the very start of Just My Type (it probably had something to do with the very reminiscent (and referenced) Legally Blonde scene). I knew going in that Just My Type is a second chance romance following two writers, but I really love how the plot expanded from the basic premise, especially since (while I absolutely love it) we’ve seen more & more books following writer or even bookish couples over the past few years (hello Beach Read and The Roughest Draft). 

The book is told from the perspective of relationship columnist, Lana, who has been dreaming of getting a column where she could write about what she truly loves, books, Marvel movies, and all things pop culture. The opportunity presents itself the next day, after she is dumped by her boyfriend on the night she thought he’d propose. Lana’s company is looking for more clicks and ad revenue, so Lana’s boss challenges her to write a series of posts and complete a series of challenges to see what it’s like being single. If she’s successful, she’ll get to make the column of her choosing. The catch? Lana’s posts will go against the company’s newest hire, whose being challenged to see what it’s like be in a relationship & write a series about it: Seth, Lana’s high school sweetheart, first love,..and first ex. 

Read More »

What I’ve Been Reading Lately: February 2023

February has been such a good month of reading! While I admittedly haven’t read a YES THIS IS A FAVORITE BOOK yet, two of the following are definitely in my top 3 favorites of 2023 so far and another was a highly anticipated 2023 read. 

On a Night Like This by Lindsey Kelk – I read Lindsey Kelk’s The Christmas Wish in December & I knew I wanted to read more by her in the new year. I know British romances usually have more wit and sarcasm, bu Lindsey Kelk’s books are so laugh out loud funny with some of the one-liners. On a Night Like This was no exception and it should honestly be part of a starter kit for contemporary romances because it was THAT good. The book follows a woman who’s had a series of temporary assistant gigs and lands a high paying role as an A-list singer’s assistant aboard a private yacht on the way to a charity ball. On a Night Like This felt like two stories in one – the first half of the book follows Fran’s role as an assistant on the yacht and the second half follows her Cinderella like night at the Crystal Ball where she falls for a handsome stranger – but I love how the story came together and made for the perfect happily ever after. So looking forward to picking up more of her work! My Rating: 4.5/5 Stars

Read More »

How Many Goodreads Top 100 Romances Have I Read?

While I was checking Goodreads’s February newsletter, my attention was instantly drawn to this post, “The Top 100 Romances of the Past Three Years.” Goodreads curated this list based on how many people have read & recommended these books, and the books had to have at least a 3.5 star rating (yes, I know Goodreads does not have a foolproof rating/review system, but I think this was still a fun post!). Goodreads’s post was also divided into 2 subgenres, contemporary and historical, and while they also could have dived into more subgenres, you probably also know that I’m not really a historical romance reader, so I really won’t be earning any “points” there. 

 Without further ado, I’m going to share the amount of books that have read on this list & which ones I did read.

Out of the 100 Top Romances, I read 41, with an additional 3 on my TBR. It’s not much of a surprise, but I have read none of the 30 historical romances they did share. Again, Goodreads does not have a perfect system, but I am surprised that none of the Bridgerton books made this list – yes, I know the majority of the series was published in the early 2000s, but I would’ve guessed that the Netflix adaptation and the growing amount of Bridgerton readers since would’ve shot the series up the rankings. I have a feeling even based on the contemporary books included that this list was also based on books that have been published in the past 3 years.

How many of Goodreads’s Top 100 Romances have you read? Are there any books I must check out immediately? Share in the comments! 

MORE 2023 Releases: February 2023 TBR Additions 

New month, new books on my TBR! I haven’t shared a TBR additions post since this fall, mostly because the majority my TBR additions in the final quarter of the year are 2023 anticipated releases. But guess what? This post is mostly 2023 releases I’ve recently added!

Icebreaker by Hannah Grace – This figure skater and ice hockey player romance has been all over my Instagram for the past few months, especially since Icebreaker was originally published as an indie and is now being traditionally published by Atria. I haven’t read a sports romance series in a while (the last one I can recall is Alexa Martin’s Playbook series) and I hope this one gives me Elle Kennedy’s Off Campus vibes. I’m hoping my county library system adds Icebreaker! Icebreaker releases on February 7th. 

Read More »

February 2023 Anticipated Releases 

One of my favorite things to help me get through the winter blues is looking forward to new books coming out. Although I don’t have a ton of books included below,  I’m excited that February 2023 contains new books from some of my favorite authors of last year. 

Just My Type by Falon Ballard | RD: Feb. 7 – I, like many, loved Falon Ballard’s debut last year, Lease on Love, and I heard that readers will enjoy her latest if you’re a Beach Read fan.

I Have Some Questions by Rebecca Makkai | RD: Feb. 21 – I haven’t read a book by Rebecca Makkai before, but I’ve been seeing so much early hype. The book follows a film professor and podcaster who is invited to teach a course at her former boarding school and is set to figure out the murder of her roommate.

Best Served Hot by Amanda Elliot | RD: Feb. 21– I loved Amanda Elliot’s debut, Sadie on a Plate. Best Served Hot is a NYC enemies to lovers romance between 2 food reviews.

Things We Hide From the Light (Knockemout Out #2) by Lucy Score | RD: Feb. 21 – Again like many, I LOVED Things We Never Got Over last year and can’t wait until I read the companion novel.

What books are you looking forward to in February? Any that I shared? Share in the comments!