Julia

Got really behind on my book list! So dating this dozen or so incorrectly as 12/31/24 and challenging myself to a sentence-long review. An acceptable romance-suspense found in a lending library, but definitely dated and wouldn't revisit.

Found this in the library of the old-fashioned hot springs resort I was at for a family reunion (Capon Springs, WV! Can't recommend it enough!). Interesting to read a pretty early precursor to the current rash of romantasy (of which I've read plenty). I liked the world-building, found the plot propulsive, and was an overall fan. I don't love "we connected in past life/past versions of ourselves" trope particularly, so it'll be interesting to see how that plays out. I'm not rushing to finish the trilogy, but am at least curious about the sequel eventually.

This was okay. Not my favorite Emily Henry (still People We Meet on Vacation by a wide margin). I sort of appreciate her reimagining of the divorce-remarriage plotline, but didn't find the amount of miscommunication particularly believable and/or sympathetic, and (although thinking back on it, includes her other stuff I've read), there's so much drinking! Now I'm sounding like a hater, but I don't regret reading, was entertained, and her best work means I'll keep reading!

I think this suffers in comparison to the fantastic first? But this feels like a star rating I might change over time. Good things: Locke & Jean continue to be friend goals, no shortage of witty dialogue as always, and now there's a pirate queen! Plus Jean has a lovely romantic connection! Downsides: a wee bit too much sailing talk for me, a thing that I find happens regularly in the second book of a series with too plotty of a plot, and a sudden sadness (no spoilers) near the end that feels too abruptly handled for the emotions involved. BUT I am in for the long haul with Locke & Jean so for sure will read the 3rd!

LOVED this. Loved it! Cute premise, loved the energy between the two mains, and realized that the thing Emily Henry is best at is writing about longing. I could have used a bit more balance between the neuroses of the main characters (at times Poppy was a bit much!), but that's a minor complaint and overall this was a great summer read.

Well, shoot. I didn't love this for a variety of reasons, and now I'm relieved to know there's not a Faraday #3. But that's not fair, because this was her first novel, and some of my dislikes here are completely absent from the later novels. Where to start...really didn't like the "younger virgin" protagonist, while I generally am pretty good as suspending belief for romance I found the idea that anyone would send these two - who were *clearly* fixated on each other - on a mission together preposterous, and...I'm over plots that feature Middle Eastern terrorists! Plus...not spicy enough, and that there is the nail in the coffin. If you read Abrams as Montgomery, start with the later ones!

Really solid. I do think I need to take a wee break from Hazelwood. Her novels are all GREAT, and very spicy, but there is a tiny bit of sameness across books (maybe it's the STEMinist stuff, which I also love, so take this with a grain of salt) that I just need a pause from. Still, this was no exception to her general excellence, and might be my favorite, sexiest couple. Hazelwood really compassionately portrays neurodivergence (and not from a deficit perspective), and I think this is her kinkiest yet. So I'm sure I'll be back before too long.

LOVED THIS. It's been a while since I've given a 5-star review. One quote on the back of my copy includes the word "swashbuckling," and YES. Yes it is! I read the first few hundred pages in fits and starts, not because I wasn't interested, but because I managed to correctly intuit that once I hit the climax, I'd be tearing through and would be sad if I rushed too much. So much to love here - dialogue that is Princess Bride-y (I'm not sure anything has ever met that bar for me before), and something I was just thinking about: tremendous world-building that somehow never slows down the plot. Already ordered the next one.

I wish I loved this more! I liked the first in the series (Reckless) more than this one - there was much of the same energy and I like the central trio of spunky female friends, but the main romance unfurled both too quickly and too slowly? Like, it was definitely a "way too fast" logistical issue from the suspense standpoint, but then oddly slow from the romance/sexy standpoint? Now I'm feeling guilty at my criticism. I will read the third in this series, I think, because Julia's character has been the most flattened and I'd love to see it complicated (plus catching the villain!), but I'm not in a rush about it now.