What’s one series installment you’re excited f What’s one series installment you’re excited for this year? πŸ“š
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After the dramatic ending of The Ballad of Never After, I’m counting down til the release of A Curse for True Love! 🦊 I need to know what happens next because I’m going absolutely nuts right now πŸ˜…
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I’m also so excited for Foxglove, The Brothers Hawthorne, This Cursed Light, and Threads of Power - a few series continuations that I just know are gonna be phenomenal! πŸ™ŒπŸΌ
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Are any of these on your radar? πŸ‘€
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#cozyaesthetic #mybeigelife #bookcommunity #thepursuitofcosiness #cozytime #fortheloveofreading #bookaesthetic #booksandcoffee #cozybookstagram #cozyvibes #cozycore #cozylife #hyggebookstyle #coffeecoffeecoffee #coffeeandbooks #bookflatlay #booksuggestions #bookrecommendations #onceuponabrokenheart #theballadofneverafter #thecursefortruelove #bookseries #fantasyseries #2023books #fantasybooks #yafantasy #fantasyreader
Do you plan to read romance books during Love Mont Do you plan to read romance books during Love Month? 🀎
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Pretty much my entire TBR this month is just cute romances and I can’t wait to dive in πŸ“– 
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Some of the titles I’m most excited about:
πŸŽ“ Begin Again by Emma Lord
πŸ“š Exes and O’s by Amy Lea
🌻 In the Weeds by B.K. Borison
πŸ’• Highly Suspicious and Unfairly Cute by Talia Hibbert
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Have you read any of these or are any of them on your TBR? πŸ“
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#cozyaesthetic #mybeigelife #bookcommunity #thepursuitofcosiness #cozytime #fortheloveofreading #bookaesthetic #booksandcoffee #cozybookstagram #cozyvibes #cozycore #cozylife #hyggebookstyle #coffeecoffeecoffee #coffeeandbooks #wintervibes #winter #bookflatlay #booksuggestions #bookrecommendations #romancebooks #valentinesday #lovemonth #romancereader #cartooncoverromance #februarytbr #romcombooks
What are your favorite high seas adventure books? What are your favorite high seas adventure books? πŸ΄β€β˜ οΈ

If I’m being totally truthful, I haven’t read that many of them BUT I just finished my reread of All the Stars and Teeth and was reminded how much I love it 😍 I need more books like this! 🌊

Give me recommendations for books with pirates, mermaids and sirens, island curses, and other high seas goodness βš“οΈ

Have you read All the Stars and Teeth? πŸ§œπŸΌβ€β™€οΈ

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#lightacademiaaesthetic #lightacademia #cozyaesthetic #bookcommunity #thepursuitofcosiness #cozytime #cozybookstagram #bookaesthetic #booktography #bookphotography #vintagemood #bookseverywhere #hyggebookstyle #quietshadesofbrown #bookmoments #ofcosymoments #booksandcoffee #coffeeandbooks #fortheloveofreading #bookrecommendations #booksuggestions #booksonbooks #booknookstagram #allthestarsandteeth #piratebooks #mermaidbooks #highseasadventure #fantasybooks #duology
How would your favorite book character take their How would your favorite book character take their coffee? β˜•οΈ
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My favorite fictional character of all time is Genya Safin from the Grishaverse 🀍 This badass Tailor has a taste for the finer things and would absolutely drink a deliciously dark roast with notes of cherry, walnut, and rich chocolate 🀀 I think she would enjoy a café au lait -- drip coffee with steamed milk -- that David prepared for her in a drip coffee contraption of his own making 🫢🏼
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Did I go way too in-depth on this just because I love these characters and coffee a little too much? πŸ™ˆ Maybe I did, but it was fun πŸ€·πŸ»β€β™€οΈ
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How do YOU take your coffee? 🀎
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#cozyaesthetic #mybeigelife #bookcommunity #thepursuitofcosiness #cozytime #fortheloveofreading #bookaesthetic #booksandcoffee #cozybookstagram #cozyvibes #cozycore #cozylife #hyggebookstyle #coffeecoffeecoffee #coffeeandbooks #bookflatlay #booksuggestions #bookrecommendations #grishaverse #shadowandbone #thedarkling #genyasafin #leighbardugo #perfectespressopour #coffeepour #favoritefictionalcharacter #favoritecharacter #favoritebookcharacter
What was your last 5-star romance read? ⭐️ It What was your last 5-star romance read? ⭐️

It was absolutely wonderful to end 2022 with Yours Truly by Abby Jimenez 😍 I don’t like to pick favorites when it comes to my top authors, but this adorable fake dating romance may very well be my favorite book by her! πŸ™ŒπŸΌ

I’m a seriously picky romance reader, but Abby’s blend of sweetness and substance never ceases to amaze me and Yours Truly was no exception 🀎 Just like her previous novels, this one made me cry my eyes out as I saw bits and pieces of myself in each of the characters πŸ₯Ή It was just SO GOOD, y’all, and you can find the full review on my blog! 🫢🏼

Are you planning to pick up Yours Truly when it comes out in April? πŸ“– Have you read any of Abby’s other phenomenal romance novels? πŸ₯°

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What was the last book you read in one sitting? πŸ’

Honestly, it’s not very often that I finish a book in one day - either because I find myself too busy or I just can’t concentrate for such a long period of time πŸ˜…

BUT every once in a while, I have a weekend day where I can just fully sink into a story and enjoy it from start to finish without distractions πŸ“– That’s what I did with BEACH READ last Sunday and it was wonderful πŸ₯° I read it when it first came out, but this time, I really got to enjoy it in a new way - and I couldn’t put it down! πŸ™ˆ 

If only I could have more days like that πŸ˜‚ Have you read Beach Read or anything else by Emily Henry? β˜€οΈ

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#cozyaesthetic #mybeigelife #bookcommunity #thepursuitofcosiness #cozytime #fortheloveofreading #bookaesthetic #booksandcoffee #cozybookstagram #cozyvibes #cozycore #cozylife #hyggebookstyle #coffeecoffeecoffee #coffeeandbooks #wintervibes #winter #bookflatlay #booksuggestions #bookrecommendations #beachread #emilyhenry #romancebooks #romancereader #contemporaryromance #cartooncoverromance #perfectespressopour #rereading
Why did you join bookstagram? πŸ“– β €β €β €β €β € Why did you join bookstagram? πŸ“–
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Today is my third bookstaversary, friends! 🀎 I can't begin to express how thankful I am for this wonderful community and how it has impacted my life over the last three years πŸ₯Ή
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As many of you know, I was a full-time fashion blogger for over five years and somewhere along the line, I found that I just didn't love it anymore πŸ€·πŸ»β€β™€οΈ I wanted to find somewhere I could truly be myself and spend more time talking about fantasy novels, crisp autumn mornings, a great cup of coffee, and how to achieve the ultimate cozy lifestyle β˜•οΈ
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I joined bookstagram in 2020, thinking it would just be a fun little hobby to have on the side while I continued my fashionista hustle... and a year later, I rebranded EVERYTHING to The Espresso Edition πŸ™ŒπŸΌ I've made talking about books and coziness my full-time gig and I couldn't be happier about it 😍
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Thank you all for welcoming me to this wild and wonderful corner of the internet πŸ™ˆ Cheers to tons more bookish goodness! πŸ“š
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How long have you been on bookstagram? πŸ“±
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#cozyaesthetic #bookstagram #bookcommunity #bookstagrammer #cozytime #fortheloveofreading #bookaesthetic #booksandcoffee #cozybookstagram #cozyvibes #cozycore #cozylife #hyggebookstyle #coffeecoffeecoffee #coffeeandbooks #bookstaversary #readersofig #booksta #bookblogger #bookishblogger #cozylifestyle #bookshelves #shelfie #readergirl #girlwhoreads #meetthebookstagrammer #facebehindtheaccount #newprofilepic
Would you take the protagonist of your current rea Would you take the protagonist of your current read for a cup of coffee? β˜•οΈ
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There have been quite a few characters I've read about this month who I'd love to sit down and chat with over a hot bev πŸ₯°
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However, from my current reads, I would NOT take anyone from Jade Legacy (because you never know who might end up unaliving), I'd definitely take both Kell and Lila from A Darker Shade of Magic, I'm not entirely sure I'd enjoy coffee with Katniss from The Hunger Games (since she's not the most exciting conversationalist), but I'd absolutely love chatting it up with Alina from Shadow and Bone! πŸ™ŒπŸΌ
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Have you read any of the books I'm currently reading? πŸ“š
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#cozyaesthetic #mybeigelife #bookcommunity #thepursuitofcosiness #cozytime #fortheloveofreading #bookaesthetic #booksandcoffee #cozybookstagram #cozyvibes #cozycore #cozylife #hyggebookstyle #coffeecoffeecoffee #coffeeandbooks #wintervibes #winter #bookflatlay #booksuggestions #bookrecommendations #bookcharacters #bookboyfriend #bookgirlfriend #bookcharacters #fantasybooks #yafantasybooks #adultfantasybooks
What is a spin-off series that you prefer over the What is a spin-off series that you prefer over the originals? πŸ“š

This past year, I either began or finished a few spin-off series that I found myself enjoying even more than their predecessors πŸ™ˆ The Dreamer Trilogy (the first of which is featured here) BLEW ME AWAY even though I just *sorta-kinda* liked The Raven Cycle 😱 But there I was, sobbing my eyes out at the end of Greywaren 😭 So freaking good! πŸ™ŒπŸΌ

Typically I’m all about the OG series (like Shadow and Bone), but every once in a while, there’s a really great spin-off or continuation that I wind up just loving! 🀩 I’m excited to discover even more this year πŸ—“οΈ

Have you read The Dreamer Trilogy yet? πŸ’­

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#lightacademiaaesthetic #lightacademia #cozyaesthetic #bookcommunity #thepursuitofcosiness #cozytime #cozybookstagram #bookaesthetic #booktography #bookphotography #vintagemood #bookseverywhere #hyggebookstyle #quietshadesofbrown #bookmoments #ofcosymoments #booksandcoffee #coffeeandbooks #fortheloveofreading #bookrecommendations #booksuggestions #booksonbooks #booknookstagram #thedreamertrilogy #calldownthehawk #theravencycle #theravenboys #fantasybooks #spinoffseries
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Books, Monthly Wrap-Ups · March 1, 2021

February Reading Wrap-Up

hand holding a mug of black coffee next to a french press and lit candle. beside it two books lay open on top of each other and a page is turned on a third book

The shortest month of the year has come and gone in a flash. Let’s discuss what I read in February, shall we?

This month has been nothing but insanity. From ice storms knocking out power to my cat winding up in the pet hospital to a very quiet lockdown birthday, it feels like I blinked and all twenty-eight days had disappeared. Somehow, amidst all of the craziness, I managed to host a book club and complete my monthly TBR (to be read) list. This felt like a massive accomplishment to me!

Reading one of my forever favorites, Wicked Lovely, with the book club was so much fun. I love introducing special stories to my friends and it seemed like most everyone really enjoyed the intro book. Some of the members even went ahead and finished the whole series! The book that stood out to me this month was definitely A Dress for the Wicked. I can’t stop thinking about it, which is the sign of a good book. I am also thoroughly enjoying my buddy-read of the Grishaverse and it’s hyping me up for the release of the Netflix show in April!

Keep scrolling to find out more about the books I read in February.

book pages flipping in the foreground with a burning candle and two stacked books in the background

The 10 Books I Read in February

If you’re interested in more bookish content, follow my Goodreads account for live reviews, and take a look at my bookstagram β€“ where I share aesthetic coffee and book photos!

Wicked Lovely by Melissa Marr

Wicked Lovely (Wicked Lovely #1)

By Melissa Marr

Rating: β˜…β˜…β˜…β˜…β˜…

Synopsis

Rule #3: Don’t stare at invisible faeries.

Aislinn has always seen faeries. Powerful and dangerous, they walk hidden in mortal world. Aislinn fears their crueltyβ€”especially if they learn of her Sightβ€”and wishes she were as blind to their presence as other teens.

Rule #2: Don’t speak to invisible faeries.

Now faeries are stalking her. One of them, Keenan, who is equal parts terrifying and alluring, is trying to talk to her, asking questions Aislinn is afraid to answer.

Rule #1: Don’t ever attract their attention.

But it’s too late. Keenan is the Summer King who has sought his queen for nine centuries. Without her, summer itself will perish. He is determined that Aislinn will become the Summer Queen at any costβ€”regardless of her plans or desires.

Suddenly none of the rules that have kept Aislinn safe are working anymore, and everything is on the line: her freedom, her best friend Seth, her lifeβ€”everything.

Review

Wicked Lovely is the superior faerie novel and everyone can fight me on it (I kid – but not really?)

It’s a bit challenging to write a review after you’ve read an entire series multiple times over the years. All I want to say is: WHY IS THIS SERIES NEVER TALKED ABOUT? IT’S SO FREAKING GOOD. PLEASE, FOR THE LOVE OF AWESOME FAERIE STORIES, READ THIS!

But I digress. Wicked Lovely doesn’t have the prettiest cover of all time. It’s not filled with enemies-to-lovers tropes or intense smut. But it does have excellent character development and the world-building is there from the get-go. It has the gritty side of fae that we don’t often see. It’s dark and raw and resentful. There’s angst, drama, and some seriously swoon-worthy characters (my forever book boyfriend is from this series).

This first book will suck you into a faerie world you never knew you needed. You’ll want to dive into the rest of the series the moment you finish the first book – and you’ll be so glad you did once you read them all.

Take a chance on something new (or I guess old??) and read Wicked Lovely. You can thank me later.

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Poisoned

By Jennifer Donnelly

Rating: β˜…β˜…β˜…β˜†β˜†

Synopsis

Snow White’s stepmother wanted to get rid of the beautiful stepdaughter who was challenging her title of ‘most beautiful’ – by any means necessary. Was Snow White poisoned? What happens to the poisoned, and the poisoner?

Jennifer Donnelly turns her feminist eye to this most delicious of fairy tales and shows Snow White as she’s never been seen before.

Review

Prior to reading Poisoned, I had noticed a few reviewers stating that it didn’t quite live up to Stepsister. I tried to not let that get into my head as I began my read, because I absolutely loved Stepsister and desperately wanted this to be just as excellent.

Unfortunately, I found that the other reviewers were correct. Had I read this prior to reading Stepsister I may have looked at it differently, as it was a really creative retelling of Snow White and it definitely held my attention from beginning to end. However, there was an intellectual aspect missing. I found Sophie to be really dimwitted, which was unexpected. As someone who was hell-bent on saving herself, she really didn’t think things through and was incredibly gullible to those attempting to hurt her throughout the story. I wanted to reach into the pages and shake her!

What I enjoyed more than anything wasn’t the romance or even the feminist tone set by Donnelly – it was the supporting cast of characters. I will continue to sit here and stew in my desire to have a separate book just about Queen Adelaide and the King of Crows. I was more intrigued by the dark backstory than I even was with Sophie’s tale.

I enjoyed the narration of the audiobook a lot. It was easy and fun to listen to.

[CW: death, frightening sequences, disease, random “suicide” towards the end*]

*This surprised me because it seemed like it came out of nowhere but it wasn’t expounded upon and it was very fantastical. I don’t think this would be triggering due to the way it was written.

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Poisoned - Jennifer Donnelly
A Court of Frost and Starlight by Sarah J Maas

A Court of Frost and Starlight (A Court of Thorns and Roses #3.5)

By Sarah J Maas

Rating: β˜…β˜…β˜†β˜†β˜†

Synopsis

Hope warms the coldest night.

Feyre, Rhys, and their close-knit circle of friends are still busy rebuilding the Night Court and the vastly-changed world beyond. But Winter Solstice is finally near, and with it, a hard-earned reprieve.

Yet even the festive atmosphere can’t keep the shadows of the past from looming. As Feyre navigates her first Winter Solstice as High Lady, she finds that those dearest to her have more wounds than she anticipated–scars that will have far-reaching impact on the future of their Court.

Review

Unlike the previous books, this one had multiple POVs and aside from Feyre’s chapters, all the others were written in third-person, which confused and frustrated me instantly.

This book was really boring? Like, my best description of what happened was: it was Christmas and then Feysand had excruciatingly (and unnecessarily) graphic sex. Oh, and Nesta is still a bitch.

Speaking of Nesta: What is her deal? Excuse me, but Feyre was dealt a horrible hand as well and she didn’t treat everyone with insane disrespect. I mean, truthfully, Elain had all the more reason to be awful and she’s still made of sugar, so there is literally NO reason for Nesta to be as horrible as she is. She’s emotionally and verbally abusive and it’s uncalled for.

I was feeling pretty optimistic after both ACOMAF and ACOWAR, but this book just gave me zero desire to read ACOSF. I mostly enjoyed reading about Feyre painting again and being able to express her emotions through her art. I also liked the way they took care of the Rainbow.

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Siege and Storm (Grishaverse #2)

By Leigh Bardugo

Rating: β˜…β˜…β˜…β˜…β˜†

Synopsis

Darkness never dies.

Hunted across the True Sea, haunted by the lives she took on the Fold, Alina must try to make a life with Mal in an unfamiliar land. She finds starting new is not easy while keeping her identity as the Sun Summoner a secret. She can’t outrun her past or her destiny for long.

The Darkling has emerged from the Shadow Fold with a terrifying new power and a dangerous plan that will test the very boundaries of the natural world. With the help of a notorious privateer, Alina returns to the country she abandoned, determined to fight the forces gathering against Ravka. But as her power grows, Alina slips deeper into the Darkling’s game of forbidden magic, and farther away from Mal. Somehow, she will have to choose between her country, her power, and the love she always thought would guide her–or risk losing everything to the oncoming storm.

Review

Going into this sequel, I had low expectations. Not because I thought it would be terrible, but because I wanted to be extra pleased if it was extraordinary. I was really happy with the fact that it didn’t have “middle book syndrome” in the slightest.

This story picks up immediately where the first left off, which made it easy to get into. There’s very little lag on the world-building in this trilogy and I sincerely appreciate that. I want to be immersed and fully aware of my surroundings when reading a book like this. Bardugo does an excellent job of being detailed without explaining too much so that you’re surprised when you need to be but also not confused about what’s happening or why.

My friend described these characters as nesting dolls and I can understand why. They’re little onions, with lots of layers and each time you think you’ve gotten them figured out, they show a new side to themselves that has you intrigued and wanting more.

I hate Mal. Maybe this is an unpopular opinion, but I don’t really care. I hated him in the first book and I hate him even more now. He’s manipulative, whiny, and childish. He makes Alina feel bad for things outside of her control and doesn’t treat her as any kind of equal – suddenly interested in her when she came into power. Some might think The Darkling is the toxic one, but at least he displays his toxicity on his sleeve. Mal hides it beneath a “soft” exterior. Bleh.

This story didn’t lack anything, in my opinion. I’m just looking forward to the finale book even more now!

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Siege and Storm by Leigh Bardugo
All the Tides of Fate by Adalyn Grac

All the Tides of Fate (All the Stars and Teeth #2)

By Adalyn Grace

Rating: β˜…β˜…β˜…β˜…β˜†

Synopsis

Through blood and sacrifice, Amora Montara has conquered a rebellion and taken her rightful place as queen of Visidia. Now, with the islands in turmoil and the people questioning her authority, Amora cannot allow anyone to see her weaknesses.

No one can know about the curse in her bloodline. No one can know that she’s lost her magic. No one can know the truth about the boy who holds the missing half of her soul.

To save herself and Visidia, Amora embarks on a desperate quest for a mythical artifact that could fix everything―but it comes at a terrible cost. As she tries to balance her loyalty to her people, her crew, and the desires of her heart, Amora will soon discover that the power to rule might destroy her.

Review

When it comes to duologies, I like finality. If you introduce too many new characters or storylines at the beginning of the sequel then I’m going to expect a third book at some point. It’s inevitable.

All that being said, All the Tides of Fate was written PERFECTLY. It had been a while since I read the first book, yet the moment the story began, I was swept up in it and it took little effort to recall the events of the previous book. The characters were just as adventurous and badass as I remembered them. There was romance (but not too much) and a fantastic character arc for Amora.

Without giving any spoilers, I’m going to just say that from the last chapter through the epilogue I was definitely tearing up. I certainly wasn’t expecting to feel those kinds of emotions, but it was beautifully-written and the sacrifice made my heart swell.

This is certainly in the top 3 of my favorite duologies now!

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These Violent Delights (These Violent Delights #2)

By Chloe Gong

Rating: β˜…β˜…β˜…β˜†β˜†

Synopsis

The year is 1926, and Shanghai hums to the tune of debauchery.

A blood feud between two gangs runs the streets red, leaving the city helpless in the grip of chaos. At the heart of it all is eighteen-year-old Juliette Cai, a former flapper who has returned to assume her role as the proud heir of the Scarlet Gangβ€”a network of criminals far above the law. Their only rivals in power are the White Flowers, who have fought the Scarlets for generations. And behind every move is their heir, Roma Montagov, Juliette’s first love…and first betrayal.

But when gangsters on both sides show signs of instability culminating in clawing their own throats out, the people start to whisper. Of a contagion, a madness. Of a monster in the shadows. As the deaths stack up, Juliette and Roma must set their gunsβ€”and grudgesβ€”aside and work together, for if they can’t stop this mayhem, then there will be no city left for either to rule.

Perfect for fans of The Last Magician and Descendant of the Crane, this heart-stopping debut is an imaginative Romeo and Juliet retelling set in 1920s Shanghai, with rival gangs and a monster in the depths of the Huangpu River.

Review

There are two ways of thinking when you’re about to embark on a reading journey for a book that’s incredibly hyped and has severely split reviews. You either go into it with zero expectations and let it disappoint/wow you as you read or you make an assumption that you’ll love/hate it and feel excitement/dissatisfaction with the outcome. When I picked up These Violent Delights, I had very few expectations. The only one was that it would be a 1920’s Shanghai Romeo and Juliet retelling since that’s literally the description of the book.

What happened as I read can only be described as a rollercoaster of emotions and observations. My initial reaction was that the story itself was pretty boring. It was really wordy and included a lot of political content that felt unnecessary to the plot. I had heard that it took a while for some people to get into this book, so I remained mostly optimistic that I would thoroughly enjoy the second half.

If the relationship between Roma and Juliette is described as enemies-to-lovers then I’ve had the wrong definition of that trope for ages, because it felt like ALL enemies and NO lovers. The most love they expressed was a drunken feeling-up sesh and reminiscing on a time when they used to love one another in the past. I don’t even like the enemies-to-lovers trope, but I was hoping for something more than what was provided. In fact, as a whole, I just didn’t care for either main character. Juliette was really disrespectful, self-absorbed, and performative. Roma was like grey mush.

THAT BEING SAID, the secondary characters were where this book shined! I looked forward to Kathleen’s POV more than anyone else. She was quick-witted, loving, loyal, and determined – and I wish the whole book could have been about her… with a few chapters reserved for Marshall and Benedikt! Their relationship was so entertaining and I’m hopeful for further development in the sequel – actually, I’m pretty much assuming there will HAVE to be further development in the sequel due to the ending of the book.

Speaking of the ending of the book: excuse me, but what?was?that? I’ll tell you what it was: it was predictable in every sense of the word. There wasn’t a single moment where I felt surprised or excited by what happened. Mostly because people literally told Juliette what was happening for the entire story? And she ignored it. And practically all the work they’d done to create a solution was undone in one letter.

OH OH, and the insects had me squirming the entire time. My husband can attest to the fact that I literally sat in bed, scratching my scalp as I read because I felt so unsettled. But I think that was the point, so this is actually a positive note!

I have high hopes for the sequel. Maybe it’ll be fast-paced with excellent character arcs and fewer political themes. I really, really want that to be the case. I do plan to read it because I enjoyed this story enough to want to find out what happens next. The traitor in the Scarlets needs to be revealed, Ben and Mars need to admit their feelings, and Tyler needs to get out. I only wish this one had been a little more GRIPPING, overall.

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These Violent Delights (These Violent Delights #1) - Chloe Gong
A Dress for the Wicked by Autumn Krause

A Dress for the Wicked

By Autumn Krause

Rating: β˜…β˜…β˜…β˜…β˜…

Synopsis

Nothing much happens in the sleepy town of Shy in Avon-upon-Kynt. And for eighteen years, Emmaline Watkins has feared that her future held just that: nothing.

But when the head of the most admired fashion house in the country opens her prestigious design competition to girls from outside the stylish capital city, Emmy’s dreams seem closer than they ever have before.

As the first β€œcountry girl” to compete, Emmy knows she’ll encounter extra hurdles on her way to the top. But as she navigates the twisted world of high fashion she starts to wonder: will she be able to tailor herself to fit into this dark, corrupted race? And at what cost?

Review

“Don’t judge people by the way they dress. There can be angels in rags and demons in silk.”

Once upon a time, fashion was my world. I spent years trend-watching, looking forward to any occasion that allowed me to dress up and show off a new outfit, and my dream was to attend a fashion university. When life took a different direction, I found a new dream and spent close to five years as a full-time fashion blogger. It allowed me to creatively express myself through my style and I adored every minute of it. Fashion is super personal and while I no longer blog solely about fashion, I still adore clothing and find such fascination in anything style-related.

Reading this story was like coming home. I haven’t been immersed in the fashion world for so long, but this book gave me the opportunity to indulge in something I love. There were moments where I just had to pause my reading because the imagery of Emmy’s sketches was so enticing and I wanted to sit there and bask in how gorgeous those ensembles would be in real life! If you enjoy vivid descriptions, you will adore this book!

In addition to the phenomenal fashion aspect of the story, I really appreciated the character development. There were times when I suspected that someone had certain intentions – and I was pleasantly surprised when what would seem like a predictable plot direction wasn’t what played out. I really enjoyed learning more about the secondary characters, in addition to Emmy (who was, by the way, a pretty likable protagonist, which is a rarity), and I think that their backstories were really well-written. It made me feel more connected to everyone in the story and not just the main characters.

I absolutely think there should be a sequel. There are a handful of moments that could be expounded upon in a second book and (without giving too much away), I’m dying to see what happens with the fashion house and with these wonderful characters.

[CW: death, domestic abuse, classism, destructive fire]

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The Soul of Power (The Waking Land #3)

By Callie Bates

Rating: β˜…β˜…β˜†β˜†β˜†

Synopsis

Sophy Dunbarron–the illegitimate daughter of a king who never was–has always felt like an impostor. Separated from her birth mother, raised by parents mourning the loss of their true daughter, and unacknowledged by her father, Sophy desires only a place and a family to call her own. But fate has other ideas. Caught up in Elanna Valtai’s revolution, Sophy has become the reigning monarch of a once-divided country–a role she has been groomed her whole life to fill.

But as she quickly discovers, wearing a crown is quite a different thing from keeping a crown. With an influx of magic-bearing refugees pouring across the border, resources already thinned by war are stretched to the breaking point. Half the nobility in her court want her deposed, and the other half question her every decision. And every third person seems to be spontaneously manifesting magical powers.

When Elanna is captured and taken to Paladis, Sophy’s last ally seems to have vanished. Now it is up to her alone to navigate a political maze that becomes more complex and thorny by the day. And worse, Sophy is hiding a huge secret–one that could destroy her tenuous hold on the crown forever.

Review

Well, wasn’t that trilogy all wrapped up in a nice, neat bow?

When I began reading The Waking Land, I was unaware that the sequel and finale books were told from alternative points of view. I had hoped that we would follow Elanna throughout her entire journey as the Caveader, but the author had other plans. I tried to “be okay” with that when The Memory of Fire was narrated by Johann, but I never really liked Sophy all that much, so when this book began, I was already in a bit of a negative mindset.

I found that this story was lacking while simultaneously having way too much detail. It was a long book (the audiobook was over 11 hours and that was on 2.2x speed) and like The Memory of Fire, it just seemed like there was so much information about the politics of the world and I even had a tough time keeping the characters straight.

One of the things I noticed throughout the entire series was that the author really enjoyed the rollercoaster that is: “that character just died so everyone is going to be really sad but it’s okay because the dead character isn’t really dead and they’re going to come back again” trope. I counted at least 3 uses of that in this book alone, but even more throughout the trilogy and I felt like it was majorly overused. I stopped even feeling emotional about someone dying because I knew they weren’t actually going to stay dead – and sometimes… sometimes it’s good to not have a perfectly happy ending?

I have a few other things I didn’t care for about this book, but those are just the primary things. I really, really wanted to love the series as a whole, because I enjoyed the first book so thoroughly the first time I read it (and even the second) and worked so hard to remember it again so I could continue through this story. It just fell a bit flat after the first novel, which is a huge bummer.

Overall series rating: 3 stars.

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The Soul of Power by Callie Bates
Shipped - Angie Hockman

Shipped

By Angie Hockman

Rating: β˜…β˜…β˜…β˜…β˜†

Synopsis

The Unhoneymooners meets The Hating Game in this witty, clever, and swoonworthy novel following a workaholic marketing manager who is forced to go on a cruise with her arch-nemesis when they’re up for the same promotion.

Between taking night classes for her MBA and her demanding day job at a cruise line, marketing manager Henley Evans barely has time for herself, let alone family, friends, or dating. But when she’s shortlisted for the promotion of her dreams, all her sacrifices finally seem worth it.

The only problem? Graeme Crawford-Collins, the remote social media manager and the bane of her existence, is also up for the position. Although they’ve never met in person, their epic email battles are the stuff of office legend.

Their boss tasks each of them with drafting a proposal on how to boost bookings in the GalΓ‘pagosβ€”best proposal wins the promotion. There’s just one catch: they have to go on a company cruise to the GalΓ‘pagos Islands…together. But when the two meet on the ship, Henley is shocked to discover that the real Graeme is nothing like she imagined. As they explore the Islands together, she soon finds the line between loathing and liking thinner than a postcard.

With her career dreams in her sights and a growing attraction to the competition, Henley begins questioning her life choices. Because what’s the point of working all the time if you never actually live?

Perfect for fans of Christina Lauren and Sally Thorne, Shipped is a fresh and engaging rom-com that celebrates the power of second chances and the magic of new beginnings.

Review

Unpopular bookworm opinion time: I don’t care for enemies-to-lovers. I think that it can often be portrayed as really toxic and it glorifies some seriously problematic relationships. HOWEVER, Shipped did an amazing job navigating an enemies-to-“insta”-lovers trope and I totally enjoyed it!

I was expecting a really lighthearted story that had elements of The Unhoneymooners and The Hating Game and that’s pretty much exactly what I got. The protagonist was only a year older than me, so it was nice to feel like I could relate somewhat to where she was in life. I really enjoyed the office dynamic (though I didn’t love the way she frequently dissed Social Media Coordinators – as that’s my job and it actually IS a ton of work…) and despite the fact that I hate summer or tropical excursions, it somehow made me want to go on a cruise!

I would really like a spin-off for Walsh, since she seemed like a really great, independent character that had a lot of depth. I related to her struggle with an abusive ex and wanted to dive a little deeper into how she overcame that and was able to take charge of her life.

The characters, the setting, the awesome story development – it all tied together to create a really great book!

[CW: references to verbal and physical abuse, workplace harassment, sexism, anxiety, mentions of drowning]

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Escaping Eleven (Eleven Trilogy #1)

By Jerri Chisholm

Rating: β˜…β˜…β˜…β˜†β˜†

Synopsis

In Compound Eleven, the hierarchy of the floors is everything.

My name is Eve Hamilton, and on my floor, we fight.

Which at least is better than the bottom floor, where they toil away in misery. Only the top floor has any ease in this harsh world; they rule from their gilded offices.

Because four generations ago, Earth was rendered uninhabitableβ€”the sun too hot, the land too barren. Those who remained were forced underground. While not a perfect life down here, I’ve learned to survive as a fighter.

Except my latest match is different. Instead of someone from the circuit, my opponent is a mysterious boy from the top floor. And the look in his eyes tells me he’s different…maybe even kind.

Right before he kicks my ass.

Still, there’s something about himβ€”something that says he could be my salvation…or my undoing. Because I’m no longer content to just survive in Eleven. Today, I’m ready to fight for more than my next meal: I’m fighting for my freedom. And this boy may just be the edge I’ve been waiting on.

Review

It was incredibly kind of Entangled Publishing to send a copy of Escaping Eleven to me. I was not asked to write a review in exchange for the book, but I wanted to anyway!

It’s been literal years since I’ve read a good dystopian novel, so I was really looking forward to diving into this story. It started off super strong and launched into the action almost immediately, introducing us to all the main characters and giving us a great taste of what was to come.

This has all of the great elements of a dystopian: a corrupt government/leadership system, characters that have been battered and bruised (physically and emotionally), and a determination to make things better for themselves in the future. I felt a strange disconnect from the MC, Eve, mostly because her emotions were very shut off from everyone else, but her inner monologue was a rollercoaster. It was tough to distinguish whether I felt bad for her or if I absolutely hated her. My biggest issue was with how she wanted to take advantage of everyone around her in order to GET OUT of Compound Eleven. Her friends are so supportive and loving and Wren was trying so hard to be unlike the stereotype he was associated with.

There was a LOT of fighting (not just for sport), sexual assault, self-harm, and abuse throughout this book, which was really triggering. I had a tough time getting past certain scenes because you weren’t eased into the situation – you’re just reading and then BAM something horrible is happening. It got really uncomfortable at times.

I was left on the edge of my seat at the end, which was a good feeling. As much as the story itself was challenging to read because of the content, I’m truly curious about what comes next. I really want a love triangle (hate me all you want) and for there to be something really unexpected in the sequel!

[TW: death/murder, mutilation, physical and sexual assault, self-harm, abuse, depression]

Buy the book

Escaping Eleven by Jerri Chisholm

related posts

Is “A Court of Thorns and Roses” Worth the Hype? // January Reading Wrap-Up // What the Book Club is Reading in March

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Which books did you read in February?

In: Books, Monthly Wrap-Ups · Tagged: book recommendations, book reviews, book wrap-up, books, February reads, reading wrap-up, what I read in February 2021

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Comments

  1. Eleanor Jones says

    March 1, 2021 at 9:20 AM

    You read a lot this February- well done! I love that you’ve suggested some new ones for me here, so I’ll have to check them out in the coming months. Thank you for sharing x

    Reply
    • Stephanie Whitman says

      March 2, 2021 at 2:51 PM

      I hope you do get the chance to check out some of the titles you hadn’t heard of before πŸ™‚

      Reply
  2. Cristina Rosano says

    March 1, 2021 at 10:16 AM

    What a great reading month! I really need to catch up on the Grishaverse before the show, I finished Six of Crows last month and loved it so I expect a lot from Shadow and bone.
    ‘These violent delights’ was a slow start but really got me around the middle and can’t wait to know more about the side characters as you said, I think I really liked the setting, but yes agree that it had very wordy descriptions. ‘Shipped’ sounds like a great read! Thanks for sharing x

    Reply
    • Stephanie Whitman says

      March 2, 2021 at 2:52 PM

      I tried to read Six of Crows last summer and didn’t like it much at all. I decided to give Shadow and Bone a try and I freaking love it. I’m halfway through the final book and it’s been such an exciting story! I’m planning to try and go back to read Six of Crows and Crooked Kingdom after this because I’m sure I’ll enjoy the characters more now that I understand the world. The show is going to be AMAZING, I just know it! I related to how you felt about These Violent Delights. I think I just wanted more from it – but also less, somehow? Haha!

      Reply
  3. Kelly Diane says

    March 1, 2021 at 10:16 AM

    Wow you read so many great sounding books this month. I hope your cat is on the mend too.

    Reply
    • Stephanie Whitman says

      March 2, 2021 at 2:53 PM

      Thank you for noticing that! She’s hanging in there. It’s been a really dramatic month for her (and us) and we’re just trying to continue taking care of her.

      Reply
  4. Tiffany McCullough - Metaphysical Mama says

    March 1, 2021 at 10:22 AM

    Great list! I’ve had Wicked Lovely on my to read list for a while now, I think it may be time to finally read it.
    Thanks for sharing what you read and your reviews. There are a few here that will be going on my TBR list.

    Reply
    • Stephanie Whitman says

      March 2, 2021 at 2:55 PM

      It’s too bad that you weren’t able to join the book club/group read I hosted in February for Wicked Lovely – but I do hope you read it! It’s such a great series.

      Reply
  5. Jennifer Prince says

    March 1, 2021 at 10:47 AM

    Ha! I didn’t really read, BUT I do have two books on the docket for March. A novel and a business book. Two for me is a fab start!

    Reply
    • Stephanie Whitman says

      March 2, 2021 at 2:55 PM

      That’s awesome! I hope you enjoy them both very much πŸ™‚

      Reply
  6. Sumedha says

    March 1, 2021 at 12:46 PM

    You’ve read quite a bit! My February was good too, half the books were romance haha. Shows how my month went because I needed them.

    Hope you have a good March!

    Reply
    • Stephanie Whitman says

      March 2, 2021 at 2:56 PM

      I love reading contemporary romance – but for Love Month, I surprised myself by not reading as much of it! I actually have more of that genre on my TBR for March, shockingly enough.

      Reply
  7. Lucy says

    March 1, 2021 at 1:47 PM

    What a wide range of books you read in February! I can’t wait to see you what you read in March! x

    Lucy | http://www.lucymary.co.uk

    Reply
    • Stephanie Whitman says

      March 2, 2021 at 2:58 PM

      Haha! I definitely like mixing my genres as much as possible, but I think I only stick to two, mostly, so at least it doesn’t get too complicated to keep track of πŸ™‚

      Reply
  8. Taylor says

    March 1, 2021 at 3:45 PM

    I read 7 books in February, 3 were re-reads! I haven’t reading A Court of Frost and Starlight and I’m still up in the air if I’ll read the new one about Nesta (and I truthfully keep forgetting what it’s called). But it looks like you had a pretty good reading month!!

    Reply
    • Stephanie Whitman says

      March 2, 2021 at 2:59 PM

      Rereads can be so much fun! Wicked Lovely was obviously a reread for me and I have several more planned for the rest of the year. I’ve been meaning to revisit my favorites (like Caraval)! I think you should just skip ACOFAS becaaaause it was kinda terrible haha. And if you read my thoughts on the whole series of ACOTAR, you’ll know I have virtually no desire to read ACOSF, honestly. I hate Nesta sooo much.

      Reply
  9. Meredith Dent says

    March 1, 2021 at 4:13 PM

    Great post! I’ll have to check some of these out, These Violent Delights sounds awesome!

    Reply
    • Stephanie Whitman says

      March 2, 2021 at 3:00 PM

      Oh wow! I’m glad you thought so haha! I didn’t care for it very much, but I’m sure you noticed that in my review. I hope you enjoy it more than I did πŸ™‚

      Reply
  10. Mariah says

    March 1, 2021 at 4:20 PM

    Shipped is on my list for next month!

    XO
    https://moosmusing.com

    Reply
    • Stephanie Whitman says

      March 2, 2021 at 3:00 PM

      That’s a good choice! It was really cute!

      Reply
  11. Della Driscoll says

    March 1, 2021 at 4:35 PM

    You’ve read so many books this month! I love how you individually broke up the post into mini-reviews – fab post and recommendations x

    Reply
    • Stephanie Whitman says

      March 2, 2021 at 3:01 PM

      This is how I do each of my monthly wrap-ups. It definitely helps me keep track of all the books I read and what I thought about them! πŸ™‚

      Reply
  12. Raji says

    March 1, 2021 at 4:52 PM

    You read so many great books this month! Glad you’re enjoying the Grishaverse series, I’m planning to reread it before the show. Thanks for sharing!

    Reply
    • Stephanie Whitman says

      March 2, 2021 at 3:02 PM

      I’m just glad I decided to give Shadow and Bone a try! I attempted to read Six of Crows last summer and didn’t care for it very much, but now I’m realizing it was because I didn’t understand the world very much. I’m looking forward to trying it again once I finish Ruin and Rising!

      Reply
  13. Lee says

    March 1, 2021 at 5:47 PM

    So impressed with how many books you read! I’m excited to see whats on deck for March!

    Reply
    • Stephanie Whitman says

      March 2, 2021 at 3:03 PM

      Haha! I mean, you know I’m kind of a bookdragon. I read about 10+ each month. I just can’t help it! I gobble them up!

      Reply
  14. Sarah says

    March 1, 2021 at 7:17 PM

    Ten books read in such a short month is great. It may sound terrible, but I really enjoyed your review of ACF&S because I always love reading reviews for books that people don’t enjoy that much. It’s weird but I want to hear about these not-so-great and terrible books almost more than the ones people enjoy. But, that being said, I liked all of your reviews and I am going to add a couple of these to my TBR to check out myself.

    Reply
    • Stephanie Whitman says

      March 2, 2021 at 3:04 PM

      I shocked myself by completing my original TBR for the month. I didn’t think I’d get to all ten, so it was super encouraging. I actually really enjoy reading the more negative reviews as well. Not sure if you’ve checked it out, but I have a brutally honest review of the entire ACOTAR series, actually!

      Reply
  15. Neely Moldovan says

    March 1, 2021 at 7:56 PM

    Def adding shipped to my list! The cover was enough for me haha!

    Reply
    • Stephanie Whitman says

      March 2, 2021 at 3:04 PM

      It’s a cute one! Definitely a good beach/summer read πŸ™‚

      Reply
  16. Lauren says

    March 1, 2021 at 8:40 PM

    This post has just reminded me I still haven’t picked up the two books I received as presents for my birthday in February. I haven’t read anything this year yet, but I am really wanting to read more. I am going to be dedicating certain evenings on certain days to start building up the habit of picking up a book instead of my phone.
    Congratulations on the 10 books you read in February. I haven’t heard of any of these books I don’t think, so thank you for sharing.

    Lauren – http://www.bournemouthgirl.com

    Reply
    • Stephanie Whitman says

      March 2, 2021 at 3:12 PM

      No way! I hope you get a chance to read them soon. Receiving books as gifts is so much fun!

      Reply
  17. Merry Sari says

    March 1, 2021 at 10:58 PM

    You have read such amazing books! I mostly read romance books in February haha hope you have a good read in March, Steph x

    Reply
    • Stephanie Whitman says

      March 2, 2021 at 3:13 PM

      I had to laugh at myself for not reading much romance over Valentine’s Day. I guess I just hadn’t planned it out that way! But I have plenty on my list for March πŸ™‚

      Reply
  18. Lovely says

    March 2, 2021 at 12:44 AM

    Adding some to my list! Thanks for the recommendations!
    xoxo
    Lovely
    http://www.mynameislovely.com

    Reply
    • Stephanie Whitman says

      March 2, 2021 at 3:13 PM

      I hope you enjoy them when you get the chance to read!

      Reply
  19. Tanvi Rastogi says

    March 2, 2021 at 1:40 AM

    I have not read any of these books. I am adding Shipped to my list. Thanks! πŸ™‚

    β₯ tanvii.com

    Reply
    • Stephanie Whitman says

      March 2, 2021 at 3:13 PM

      I hope you like it! That was definitely a cute one πŸ™‚

      Reply
  20. Charity says

    March 2, 2021 at 6:32 AM

    Looks like you definitely read some good books for February! Thanks so much for sharing them all!!

    Reply
    • Stephanie Whitman says

      March 2, 2021 at 3:14 PM

      I was thankful that I had a few good ones on the list, since I had so many lower ratings as well. I’m thinking March is going to be even better πŸ™‚

      Reply
  21. Sarah Lindner says

    March 2, 2021 at 7:28 AM

    Happy belated birthday! Agree that this month has been nuts. Hoping your fur baby is doing ok, xo.

    Reply
    • Stephanie Whitman says

      March 2, 2021 at 3:14 PM

      Thanks so much! It was a tough month, but it’s also one of my favorite months of the year, so I can’t complain too much. If everything hadn’t happened with Luna, it would have been a lot better. I’m hoping she’ll begin to feel better soon.

      Reply
  22. Gemma Jayne says

    March 2, 2021 at 8:37 AM

    I am in awe of how much you have managed to read! I definitely need to get back on it with my reading, I have a lovely pile to get through but I keep putting it aside (even though I really enjoy reading)! Most of the ones you speak about I have never heard of either so that will be some I can check out, so thanks for this!

    Reply
    • Stephanie Whitman says

      March 2, 2021 at 3:15 PM

      Haha! I guess I do surprise a lot of my readers with that, even if I read about 10+ each month. I just can’t help myself – I love books πŸ™‚ Reading is my primary form of self-care and since my job is blogging and social media management, I just THRIVE when I’m away from the screen and with my nose in a book πŸ™‚

      Reply
  23. Rebecca Piersol says

    March 2, 2021 at 10:16 AM

    definitely adding A Dress for The Wicked to my list!!! And as always, I am in awe of how many books you can read in a month!

    xx rebecca // thecrystalpress.com

    Reply
    • Stephanie Whitman says

      March 2, 2021 at 3:16 PM

      YESSSSS!!!! That was definitely my favorite book of the month and I think you’d love it. It’s so good and the fashion descriptions made me swoon!

      Reply
  24. Anna English says

    March 2, 2021 at 10:36 AM

    It amazes me that you can read 10 books in a month! I’m lucky if I get through one haha

    Reply
    • Stephanie Whitman says

      March 2, 2021 at 3:16 PM

      Haha! I just make time for it. It’s my favorite thing to do and really, it always has been. I’m grateful to have the escape when I spend my whole day with my nose glued to screens.

      Reply
  25. Chloe Arnold says

    March 2, 2021 at 11:05 AM

    I used to read ALL the time and now I only read a couple books a year. I think I might have to pick up Shipped though!

    Reply
    • Stephanie Whitman says

      March 2, 2021 at 3:16 PM

      Shipped was definitely a cute one. I hope you enjoy it if you do read it πŸ™‚

      Reply
  26. Jasmine | Poppies and Jasmine says

    March 2, 2021 at 12:28 PM

    A Dress For The Wicked and Shipped sound fascinating – I’m adding both of those to my reading list. Thanks for the recommendations!

    Reply
    • Stephanie Whitman says

      March 2, 2021 at 3:17 PM

      Oh my gosh, A Dress for the Wicked blew me away! I don’t know why it’s not super hyped. It’s a beautifully-written book and I didn’t want to put it down πŸ™‚

      Reply
  27. Anika says

    March 2, 2021 at 1:00 PM

    Looks like a great month! These Violent Delights has been on my list for a while, partially because I’m obsessed with the cover but also because of the reviews. Glad you found some good reads last month!

    Anika | chaptersofmay.com

    Reply
    • Stephanie Whitman says

      March 2, 2021 at 3:17 PM

      It’s definitely got a gorgeous cover. I wish I enjoyed the story a bit more. Now I’m curious to hear what you think if you pick it up!

      Reply
  28. Gemma says

    March 2, 2021 at 1:53 PM

    Wow you got through so many books in Feb! I love the way you’ve laid out your post. I like the sound of A Dress for the wicked, going to add it to my list. I didn’t read much in February but I enjoyed Because of You – Dawn French.

    Reply
    • Stephanie Whitman says

      March 2, 2021 at 3:18 PM

      A Dress for the Wicked was an absolutely phenomenal book. I don’t know why I didn’t read it sooner. It was beautifully written and I loved every fashion description throughout!

      Reply
  29. Carrington | Chaos and Coffee says

    March 2, 2021 at 2:31 PM

    These all seem like such good readings! I picked up a new book called Wunderlust (yes, spelled like that) the other day that I’m excited to start reading. I’ll have to add a few of these to my list next time I go to the bookstore too! Xx.

    Reply
    • Stephanie Whitman says

      March 2, 2021 at 3:18 PM

      I’ve heard about that one before. I hope you enjoy it thoroughly! It’s so nice to escape into a book πŸ™‚

      Reply
  30. Lizzie says

    March 2, 2021 at 2:58 PM

    Oooo A Dress for the Wicked sounds totally up my alley! You read a ton of good books this month! and seriously, I can’t believe February went by so fast!

    Lizzie
    http://www.lizzieinlace.com

    Reply
  31. Katy says

    March 2, 2021 at 3:09 PM

    I’m always on the look out for more books to read, I’m doing a terrible job of reading more books so far this year! I’m still reading Eleanor Oliphant is Completely Fine, but it seems to be taking me ages!

    Reply
  32. Alice Myles says

    March 2, 2021 at 3:48 PM

    I’m so tempted to read the Grishaverse books before the show comes out but I wasn’t really a fan of six of crows so I don’t know if I can bring myself to commit to the whole thing! So good that you managed to get ten books read in February, I only managed six!

    Reply
    • Stephanie Whitman says

      March 2, 2021 at 3:55 PM

      I didn’t care for Six of Crows much at ALL. It’s meant to be read after Shadow and Bone and I can definitely see that now as I’m reading through S&B. They’re filled with adventure and world-building and I know I’ll enjoy SoC far more once I’ve finished them! I think you should try to read the original trilogy if you get the chance. It’s much more exciting!

      Reply
  33. Maria Koss says

    March 2, 2021 at 5:58 PM

    Wow, what an impressive list for one month! It really makes me want to start reading fantasy πŸ™‚
    In February I did, and still balance my attention between pregnancy books, short stories and “Vanity Fair”.

    Reply
    • Stephanie Whitman says

      March 3, 2021 at 9:53 AM

      I do love my fantasy novels, that’s for sure πŸ™‚ It’s awesome that you’re finding time for reading in general. Those are great to pick up!

      Reply
  34. Laura Leigh says

    March 4, 2021 at 10:39 AM

    the amount you read totally blows me away! you are incredible lady and constantly inspiring me to step up my reading and self care/alone time. thank you for that! shipped sounds up my alley! will be adding to my list.

    xo Laura Leigh
    https://louellareese.com

    Reply
  35. Jenny in Neverland says

    March 6, 2021 at 7:12 AM

    You read so many books in February! I’m a little jealous and in awe. I wish I could read faster! I got through 2 C.J Tudor books which were both amazing and a non-fiction which I wasn’t mad about.

    Reply
  36. Darleen says

    March 7, 2021 at 12:47 AM

    You must tell me if you read these book by audibles?? I’m so impressed by the number of books. My husband reads so many books each month but he refuses to read by audibles.

    Reply
  37. Deborah says

    March 8, 2021 at 10:13 AM

    Great list! I actually have Shipped on my To-Read list and now I can’t wait to get my hands on it!

    Reply
  38. Hayley says

    March 9, 2021 at 5:15 AM

    Oooh I keep hearing good things about Shipped!! It looks like you’ve had a great reading month and I hope this month is even better for you. πŸ™‚

    Reply

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#EspressoClubReads Book Choice for March

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What’s one series installment you’re excited f What’s one series installment you’re excited for this year? πŸ“š
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After the dramatic ending of The Ballad of Never After, I’m counting down til the release of A Curse for True Love! 🦊 I need to know what happens next because I’m going absolutely nuts right now πŸ˜…
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I’m also so excited for Foxglove, The Brothers Hawthorne, This Cursed Light, and Threads of Power - a few series continuations that I just know are gonna be phenomenal! πŸ™ŒπŸΌ
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Are any of these on your radar? πŸ‘€
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#cozyaesthetic #mybeigelife #bookcommunity #thepursuitofcosiness #cozytime #fortheloveofreading #bookaesthetic #booksandcoffee #cozybookstagram #cozyvibes #cozycore #cozylife #hyggebookstyle #coffeecoffeecoffee #coffeeandbooks #bookflatlay #booksuggestions #bookrecommendations #onceuponabrokenheart #theballadofneverafter #thecursefortruelove #bookseries #fantasyseries #2023books #fantasybooks #yafantasy #fantasyreader
Do you plan to read romance books during Love Mont Do you plan to read romance books during Love Month? 🀎
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Pretty much my entire TBR this month is just cute romances and I can’t wait to dive in πŸ“– 
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Some of the titles I’m most excited about:
πŸŽ“ Begin Again by Emma Lord
πŸ“š Exes and O’s by Amy Lea
🌻 In the Weeds by B.K. Borison
πŸ’• Highly Suspicious and Unfairly Cute by Talia Hibbert
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Have you read any of these or are any of them on your TBR? πŸ“
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#cozyaesthetic #mybeigelife #bookcommunity #thepursuitofcosiness #cozytime #fortheloveofreading #bookaesthetic #booksandcoffee #cozybookstagram #cozyvibes #cozycore #cozylife #hyggebookstyle #coffeecoffeecoffee #coffeeandbooks #wintervibes #winter #bookflatlay #booksuggestions #bookrecommendations #romancebooks #valentinesday #lovemonth #romancereader #cartooncoverromance #februarytbr #romcombooks
What are your favorite high seas adventure books? What are your favorite high seas adventure books? πŸ΄β€β˜ οΈ

If I’m being totally truthful, I haven’t read that many of them BUT I just finished my reread of All the Stars and Teeth and was reminded how much I love it 😍 I need more books like this! 🌊

Give me recommendations for books with pirates, mermaids and sirens, island curses, and other high seas goodness βš“οΈ

Have you read All the Stars and Teeth? πŸ§œπŸΌβ€β™€οΈ

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#lightacademiaaesthetic #lightacademia #cozyaesthetic #bookcommunity #thepursuitofcosiness #cozytime #cozybookstagram #bookaesthetic #booktography #bookphotography #vintagemood #bookseverywhere #hyggebookstyle #quietshadesofbrown #bookmoments #ofcosymoments #booksandcoffee #coffeeandbooks #fortheloveofreading #bookrecommendations #booksuggestions #booksonbooks #booknookstagram #allthestarsandteeth #piratebooks #mermaidbooks #highseasadventure #fantasybooks #duology
How would your favorite book character take their How would your favorite book character take their coffee? β˜•οΈ
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My favorite fictional character of all time is Genya Safin from the Grishaverse 🀍 This badass Tailor has a taste for the finer things and would absolutely drink a deliciously dark roast with notes of cherry, walnut, and rich chocolate 🀀 I think she would enjoy a café au lait -- drip coffee with steamed milk -- that David prepared for her in a drip coffee contraption of his own making 🫢🏼
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Did I go way too in-depth on this just because I love these characters and coffee a little too much? πŸ™ˆ Maybe I did, but it was fun πŸ€·πŸ»β€β™€οΈ
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How do YOU take your coffee? 🀎
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#cozyaesthetic #mybeigelife #bookcommunity #thepursuitofcosiness #cozytime #fortheloveofreading #bookaesthetic #booksandcoffee #cozybookstagram #cozyvibes #cozycore #cozylife #hyggebookstyle #coffeecoffeecoffee #coffeeandbooks #bookflatlay #booksuggestions #bookrecommendations #grishaverse #shadowandbone #thedarkling #genyasafin #leighbardugo #perfectespressopour #coffeepour #favoritefictionalcharacter #favoritecharacter #favoritebookcharacter
What was your last 5-star romance read? ⭐️ It What was your last 5-star romance read? ⭐️

It was absolutely wonderful to end 2022 with Yours Truly by Abby Jimenez 😍 I don’t like to pick favorites when it comes to my top authors, but this adorable fake dating romance may very well be my favorite book by her! πŸ™ŒπŸΌ

I’m a seriously picky romance reader, but Abby’s blend of sweetness and substance never ceases to amaze me and Yours Truly was no exception 🀎 Just like her previous novels, this one made me cry my eyes out as I saw bits and pieces of myself in each of the characters πŸ₯Ή It was just SO GOOD, y’all, and you can find the full review on my blog! 🫢🏼

Are you planning to pick up Yours Truly when it comes out in April? πŸ“– Have you read any of Abby’s other phenomenal romance novels? πŸ₯°

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#cozyaesthetic #bookreel #bookcommunity #cozyreel #cozytime #bookishreel #bookaesthetic #booksandcoffee #cozybookstagram #cozyvibes #cozycore #cozylife #aestheticreel #coffeecoffeecoffee #bookflatlay #booksuggestions #bookrecommendations #romancebooks #yourstrulybook #abbyjimenez #romancereader #cartooncoverrromance #2023bookrelease #bookreview
What was the last book you read in one sitting? πŸ’

Honestly, it’s not very often that I finish a book in one day - either because I find myself too busy or I just can’t concentrate for such a long period of time πŸ˜…

BUT every once in a while, I have a weekend day where I can just fully sink into a story and enjoy it from start to finish without distractions πŸ“– That’s what I did with BEACH READ last Sunday and it was wonderful πŸ₯° I read it when it first came out, but this time, I really got to enjoy it in a new way - and I couldn’t put it down! πŸ™ˆ 

If only I could have more days like that πŸ˜‚ Have you read Beach Read or anything else by Emily Henry? β˜€οΈ

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#cozyaesthetic #mybeigelife #bookcommunity #thepursuitofcosiness #cozytime #fortheloveofreading #bookaesthetic #booksandcoffee #cozybookstagram #cozyvibes #cozycore #cozylife #hyggebookstyle #coffeecoffeecoffee #coffeeandbooks #wintervibes #winter #bookflatlay #booksuggestions #bookrecommendations #beachread #emilyhenry #romancebooks #romancereader #contemporaryromance #cartooncoverromance #perfectespressopour #rereading
Why did you join bookstagram? πŸ“– β €β €β €β €β € Why did you join bookstagram? πŸ“–
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Today is my third bookstaversary, friends! 🀎 I can't begin to express how thankful I am for this wonderful community and how it has impacted my life over the last three years πŸ₯Ή
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As many of you know, I was a full-time fashion blogger for over five years and somewhere along the line, I found that I just didn't love it anymore πŸ€·πŸ»β€β™€οΈ I wanted to find somewhere I could truly be myself and spend more time talking about fantasy novels, crisp autumn mornings, a great cup of coffee, and how to achieve the ultimate cozy lifestyle β˜•οΈ
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I joined bookstagram in 2020, thinking it would just be a fun little hobby to have on the side while I continued my fashionista hustle... and a year later, I rebranded EVERYTHING to The Espresso Edition πŸ™ŒπŸΌ I've made talking about books and coziness my full-time gig and I couldn't be happier about it 😍
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Thank you all for welcoming me to this wild and wonderful corner of the internet πŸ™ˆ Cheers to tons more bookish goodness! πŸ“š
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How long have you been on bookstagram? πŸ“±
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#cozyaesthetic #bookstagram #bookcommunity #bookstagrammer #cozytime #fortheloveofreading #bookaesthetic #booksandcoffee #cozybookstagram #cozyvibes #cozycore #cozylife #hyggebookstyle #coffeecoffeecoffee #coffeeandbooks #bookstaversary #readersofig #booksta #bookblogger #bookishblogger #cozylifestyle #bookshelves #shelfie #readergirl #girlwhoreads #meetthebookstagrammer #facebehindtheaccount #newprofilepic
Would you take the protagonist of your current rea Would you take the protagonist of your current read for a cup of coffee? β˜•οΈ
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There have been quite a few characters I've read about this month who I'd love to sit down and chat with over a hot bev πŸ₯°
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However, from my current reads, I would NOT take anyone from Jade Legacy (because you never know who might end up unaliving), I'd definitely take both Kell and Lila from A Darker Shade of Magic, I'm not entirely sure I'd enjoy coffee with Katniss from The Hunger Games (since she's not the most exciting conversationalist), but I'd absolutely love chatting it up with Alina from Shadow and Bone! πŸ™ŒπŸΌ
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Have you read any of the books I'm currently reading? πŸ“š
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#cozyaesthetic #mybeigelife #bookcommunity #thepursuitofcosiness #cozytime #fortheloveofreading #bookaesthetic #booksandcoffee #cozybookstagram #cozyvibes #cozycore #cozylife #hyggebookstyle #coffeecoffeecoffee #coffeeandbooks #wintervibes #winter #bookflatlay #booksuggestions #bookrecommendations #bookcharacters #bookboyfriend #bookgirlfriend #bookcharacters #fantasybooks #yafantasybooks #adultfantasybooks
What is a spin-off series that you prefer over the What is a spin-off series that you prefer over the originals? πŸ“š

This past year, I either began or finished a few spin-off series that I found myself enjoying even more than their predecessors πŸ™ˆ The Dreamer Trilogy (the first of which is featured here) BLEW ME AWAY even though I just *sorta-kinda* liked The Raven Cycle 😱 But there I was, sobbing my eyes out at the end of Greywaren 😭 So freaking good! πŸ™ŒπŸΌ

Typically I’m all about the OG series (like Shadow and Bone), but every once in a while, there’s a really great spin-off or continuation that I wind up just loving! 🀩 I’m excited to discover even more this year πŸ—“οΈ

Have you read The Dreamer Trilogy yet? πŸ’­

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What are some of your favorite stand-alone fantasy What are some of your favorite stand-alone fantasy books? βš”οΈ
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Crazy enough, my very favorite book of all time is a stand-alone fantasy 😱 If you don't listen to a single other book recommendation I have this year, that's fine, but *please* read Into the Heartless Wood by Joanna Ruth Meyer 🌲 It is absolute perfection! 🀌🏼
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Some of my other favorite stand-alone fantasy books:
🌿 THE NATURE OF WITCHES
✨ THE INVISIBLE LIFE OF ADDIE LARUE
πŸ— THE STARLESS SEA (on audiobook)
πŸ’€ THE BONE HOUSES
πŸŒ™ WINTERWOOD
πŸ’” HEARTLESS
πŸ¦‰ WILD IS THE WITCH
πŸ•―οΈ GALLANT
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Have you read any of these books? πŸ“– 
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#cozyaesthetic #mybeigelife #bookcommunity #thepursuitofcosiness #cozytime #fortheloveofreading #bookaesthetic #booksandcoffee #cozybookstagram #cozyvibes #cozycore #cozylife #hyggebookstyle #coffeecoffeecoffee #coffeeandbooks #wintervibes #winter #bookflatlay #booksuggestions #bookrecommendations #fantasybooks #standalonebooks #standalonefantasy #sffbooks #yafantasybooks #adultfantasybooks

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