bookishbethie's reviews
892 reviews

This Will Be Fun by E.B. Asher

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3.5

A clever tale, This Will Be Fun follows three heroes a decade after they've saved their magical realm—but in the process, lost the glue that held them together. The story finds them each in the midst of personal unhappiness: Beatrice has just gotten divorced and is now destitute, Elowen is grappling with loneliness, and Clare is trying his hardest to fill the hole the death of their friend Galwell left. But when the queen summons them to her wedding, each decides that they should go—only to discover upon their arrival that the groom has been kidnapped and the queen needs them to once again be the heroes of the realm.

The story is full of banter and hijinks as the heroes (mostly) put aside their grievances to come together once again, and though nothing in the plot will necessarily surprise you, it's still a fun and entertaining time. I particularly enjoyed Beatrice—who has the "power" of being able to recall memories in vivid detail—and her journey both to find personal happiness and forgiveness, and was thrilled with the way the trio of authors here worked together to create a fantastical and sweet happily ever after for everyone. 

So when you're in the mood for  a cozy little adventure that's pretty low stakes, give This Will Be Fun a go!
One More Chapter by Allie Marie

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4.25

The final book in Allie Marie’s River Valley Teacher’s Lounge series of interconnected standalones, the story follows Penelope, a math teacher who has a ✨secret second career✨ who moves into the rental property her mom owns with her best friend after pipes burst in her home. But unbeknownst to Penelope, she’s going to have a roommate: Anthony, a teacher at a nearby school, the son of her mom’s best friend – and the man who broke her heart.

On top of that, it turns out that Anthony won’t just be her unwanted roomie – they’ll also be sharing a classroom when their respective schools are forced to combine staff and students for the year. 

It’s a classsic romance setup that delivers a ton of tropey fun, including several of my faves: 

❤️‍🩹second-chance romance
👫childhood friends
🐾black cat x golden retriever
🏡forced proximity
🩹hurt x comfort
✨found family

In additon to all of that, there’s emotional depth as Penelope and Anthony navigate their feelings, chemistry, and history, a great depiction of tough career choices, and, as with all books in this series, a realistic portrayal of teaching and fantastic group of supportive and caring adult friends. 

If you’re looking for something to fill that post-spooky season, pre-holly jolly season hole in your TBR, definitely give this second-chance romance (or the whole series!) a go!
Drive Me Wild by Carly Robyn

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4.0

• drive me wild • 
 
It’s no secret that I’m very much an F1 girl in addition to being a massive reader – and Carly Robyn’s F1 romances are a fab blend of swoony storytelling, humor, soice, *and* genuine motorsports knowledge. 

Drive Me Wild, the second book in her series of interconnected F1 romances, tells the story of Josie, a sunny social media manager working for an F1 team, and Theo, one of the team’s drivers who oozes playboy charm and is always looking for a good time, but also exudes big golden retriever vibes (if you’re a ZA girlie, he is basically romcom Seth Cappella). They’ve been friends who flirt for years, and after one particularly big night out, they wake up realizing that everything between them has changed. 

You can expect: 

☀️sunshine x sunshine
👩‍❤️‍💋‍👨 friends to lovers
❤️‍🔥 reformed playboy
💼 workplace romance
🏎️ f1 action

Though there are plenty of tropes at play here, there’s also emotional depth as Josie and Theo both consider their careers, family drama ensues, and emotional vulnerability becomes critical. 

Josie is extremely relatable, and though Theo wasn’t always my preferred brand of book boyfriend, I suspect he will be for many readers – and even if he isn’t your favorite immediately, his journey is a well-rounded one and you’ll end up adoring him. 

I had a great time reading this, and whether you’re already an F1 fan or have never watched a race but enjoy a sports romance, there’s something for everyone in Carly Robyn’s Drive Me series!🏎️✨

4🌟
2🌶️

❤️A massive thank you to Carly Robyn and @valentine_pr_ for the opportunity to read and review an advanced copy!🍦