Waiting on Wednesday (43)

For this Waiting on Wednesday, I picked Book Boyfriend by Emily Wibberley and Austin Siegemund-Broka

Release Date: February 25, 2025

Book Summary:

Jennifer Worth lives to escape into the world of her favorite romantasy series Elytheum Courts, where the romance is sweeping and the men are brave, chivalrous . . . and winged. Newly single and craving connection,she travels to an immersive fan experience celebrating all things Elytheum, only to see the last face she expected—Scott Daniels, her work nemesis, whose disinterest in Jennifer’s favorite series and standoffishness have made their publishing jobs feel like a feuding fae court.

Except the Scott she encounters at the Elytheum Experience, in his secondhand cosplay outfit, is . . . different. Swaggering, flirtatious, confident. Unlucky in romance himself and inspired by Jennifer’s love for the swoonworthy men of Elytheum, Scott is determined to remake himself into the perfect book boyfriend.

My thoughts:

This sounds so cute! And hey, we romance book bloggers pretty much coined the term "Book Boyfriend." I feel like this is really going to cater to us. I’m loving all the geeky romance novels we’re getting lately! The heroines feel so much less cookie-cutter now, and I can actually relate to them. They’re doing things I only wish I had the free time to do—and it’s so fun to live vicariously through them!

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Waiting on Wednesday (42)

For this Waiting on Wednesday, I picked Wild Eyes by Elsie Silver.

Release Date: March 1, 2024

Book Summary:

She's always dreamed of her wedding day. And those dreams never included saying "I do" to a man she hates.

But when Tabitha's nephew's guardianship is contested, she decides she'll do whatever it takes to keep him in Rose Hill. Even if it means marrying the enemy.

Rhys Dupris.

A man who is secretive, broody, and completely infuriating. A man whose work takes him away for weeks on end and brings him back covered in mysterious bruises―ones he won't talk about. In fact, Tabitha and Rhys barely talk at all.

Which would be fine, except when he's not talking, he's staring. And the way he looks at her is borderline indecent.

The tension between them has always been palpable. But living under the same roof is a dangerous temptation.


My thoughts:

Elsie Silver’s Wild Eyes was such a pleasant surprise for me as a contemporary romance—and it was laugh-out-loud funny to boot! While I was stuck cleaning my house this summer, I got to live vicariously through the plot, including trying to take a selfie with a bear (hilarious, right?).

After all the fun I had listening to the previous installment of the Rose Hill series, I’m so excited to see what’s next. Plus, I’m an absolute sucker for tropes like marriage of convenience!

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Waiting on Wednesday (41)

For this Waiting on Wednesday, I picked Sunrise on the Reaping (A Hunger Games Novel) by Suzanne Collins.

Release Date: March 18, 2025

Book Summary: The phenomenal fifth book in the Hunger Games series!

When you've been set up to lose everything you love, what is there left to fight for?

As the day dawns on the fiftieth annual Hunger Games, fear grips the districts of Panem. This year, in honor of the Quarter Quell, twice as many tributes will be taken from their homes.

Back in District 12, Haymitch Abernathy is trying not to think too hard about his chances. All he cares about is making it through the day and being with the girl he loves.

When Haymitch's name is called, he can feel all his dreams break. He's torn from his family and his love, shuttled to the Capitol with the three other District 12 tributes: a young friend who's nearly a sister to him, a compulsive oddsmaker, and the most stuck-up girl in town. As the Games begin, Haymitch understands he's been set up to fail. But there's something in him that wants to fight . . . and have that fight reverberate far beyond the deadly arena.

My Thoughts: 

Well, finally. I might have been more interested in this back in 2011 when Mockingjay still had me reeling from a book hangover. Or maybe around 2015 when the movies wrapped. A friend joked that maybe Ms. Collins needs more money now.

Personally, I've been wanting a hero prequel or sequel like this one instead of the darker story about young President Snow. I enjoyed reading the ebook of The Ballad of Songbirds and Snakes, but I haven't seen the movie adaptation yet. Not sure I will.

In this, it'll be interesting to see Haymitch-possibly young and fresh, not yet drunk and jaded. We'll see how it goes!

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The Ten Most Recent Additions to My Book Collection

The Ten Most Recent Additions to My Book Collection

I hope all my bookish friends had a wonderful holiday season! 

Here are the books (quite an eccentric variety) that I received for Christmas. A huge shout-out to my TBTB Secret Santa for Burn For Me, Fuzzy Hygge, and Wedding Issues.

With giftcards that I received I also pre-ordered via Kindle:

And I physically purchased these via brick-and-mortar:

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Waiting on Wednesday (40)

Waiting on Wednesday is a weekly meme originally created by Jill at Breaking the Spine and now hosted by Tressa at Wishful Endings under the heading “Can’t Wait Wednesday” where bloggers share books they're excited for, that have yet to be released. I’m sticking with the original name “Waiting On Wednesday” because I like continuity.

For this Waiting on Wednesday, I picked Fan Service by Rosie Danan.

Release Date: March 11, 2024

Book Summary:

The truth is stranger than fan fiction in the next sexy paranormal rom-com from the beloved author of The Roommate.

The only place small-town outcast Alex Lawson fits in is the online fan forum she built for The Arcane Files, a long-running werewolf detective show. Her dedication to archiving fictional supernatural lore made her Internet-famous, even if she harbors a secret disdain for the show’s star, Devin Ashwood. (Never meet your heroes—sometimes they turn out to be The Worst.)

Ever since his show went off the air, Devin and his career have spiraled, but waking up naked in the woods outside his LA home with no memory of the night before is a new low. It must have been a coincidence that the once-in-a-century Wolf Blood Moon crested last night. The claws, fangs, and howling are a little more difficult to explain away. Desperate for answers, Devin finds Alex—the closest thing to an expert that exists. If only he could convince her to stop hating his guts long enough to help....

Once he makes her an offer she can’t refuse, these reluctant allies lower their guards trying to wrangle his inner beast. Unfortunately, getting up close and personal quickly comes back to bite them.

My Thoughts:

Oh, I can definitely relate to a character escaping the small-town blues through online fan forums! I think most girls growing up have that one favorite show or movie they just can't stop gushing over.

This sounds like such a fun team-up! And hey, I'm all for equal representation in fan service for us ladies-we're so often overlooked.

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Most Anticipated Books Releasing in the First Half of 2025

My Most Anticipated Books Releasing in the First Half of 2025

1) Say You’ll Remember Me

2) Deep End

3) Fan Service

4) Wild Side

5) First Time Caller

6) The Love Lyric

7) Shadow's Heart

8) The Listeners 

9) Sunrise On The Reaping 

10) Book Boyfriend

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Waiting on Wednesday (39)

For this Waiting on Wednesday, I picked Deep End by Ali Hazelwood.

Release Date: February 4, 2025

Book Summary:

“Scarlett Vandermeer is swimming upstream. A Junior at Stanford and a student-athlete who specializes in platform diving, Scarlett prefers to keep her head down, concentrating on getting into med school and on recovering from the injury that almost ended her career. She has no time for relationships—at least, that’s what she tells herself.

 
Swim captain, world champion, all-around aquatics golden boy, Lukas Blomqvist thrives on discipline. It’s how he wins gold medals and breaks records: complete focus, with every stroke. On the surface, Lukas and Scarlett have nothing in common. Until a well-guarded secret slips out, and everything changes.
 
So they start an arrangement. And as the pressure leading to the Olympics heats up, so does their relationship. It was supposed to be just a temporary, mutually satisfying fling. But when staying away from Lukas becomes impossible, Scarlett realizes that her heart might be treading into dangerous water...”

My Thoughts: 

I was genuinely surprised to learn that Ali Hazelwood, known for her nerdy STEM romances, is releasing a college-era sports romance. While a paranormal romance and a video game-centered romance seemed like natural progressions of her geeky themes, a sports romance feels like a new direction for her. Having enjoyed sports romances like The Wall of Winnipeg, I’m curious to see where Hazelwood takes her writing next. It’s clear she’s not afraid to branch out and won’t be typecast as only writing nerdy characters.

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Waiting on Wednesday (38)

Waiting on Wednesday is a weekly meme originally created by Jill at Breaking the Spine and now hosted by Tressa at Wishful Endings under the heading “Can’t Wait Wednesday” where bloggers share books they're excited for, that have yet to be released. I’m sticking with the original name “Waiting On Wednesday” because I like continuity.

For this Waiting on Wednesday, I picked Say You'll Remember Me by Abby Jimenez

Release Date: April 1, 2025

Book Summary: 

"There might be no such a thing as a perfect guy, but Xavier Rush comes disastrously close. A gorgeous veterinarian giving Greek god vibes—all while cuddling a tiny kitten? Immediately yes. That is until Xavier opens his mouth and proves that even sculpted gods can say the absolute wrong thing. Like, really wrong. Of course, there’s nothing Samantha loves more than proving an a@@hole wrong…

. . . unless, of course, he can admit he made a mistake. But after one incredible and seemingly endless date—possibly the best in living history—Samantha is forced to admit the truth, that her family is in crisis and any kind of relationship would be impossible. Samantha begs Xavier to forget her. To remember their night together as a perfect moment, as crushing as that may be.

Only no amount of distance or time is nearly enough to forget that something between them. And the only thing better than one single perfect memory is to make a life—and even a love—worth remembering."

My Thoughts: 

After rating Abby Jimenez's “Just For The Summer” 5 stars, I'm eager for a follow-up and curious about the direction her new work will take.

I've never claimed to be much of a Taylor Swift fan, although I liked “Midnights” well enough, so the title doesn't influence my judgment either way. Pop music is just pop music to me.

Thinking back, I'm not entirely sure if I've ever read a romance with a veterinarian hero. However, since I was a pet mom long before I became a kiddo mom, this could definitely be swoon-worthy. Here’s to hoping!

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Waiting on Wednesday (37) Two Can Play by Ali Hazelwood

Waiting on Wednesday is a weekly meme originally created by Jill at Breaking the Spine and now hosted by Tressa at Wishful Endings under the heading “Can’t Wait Wednesday” where bloggers share books they're excited for, that have yet to be released. I’m sticking with the original name “Waiting On Wednesday” because I like continuity.

For this Waiting on Wednesday, I picked Two Can Play by Ali Hazelwood.

Release Date: October 1, 2024 by Spotify

Book Summary: "Viola Bowen has the chance of a lifetime: to design a video game based on her all-time favorite book series. The only problem? Her co-lead is Jesse F-ing Andrews, a.k.a. her arch-nemesis. Jesse has made it abundantly clear over the years that he wants nothing to do with her–and Viola has no idea why.

When their bosses insist a wintery retreat is the perfect team-building exercise, Viola can’t think of anything worse. Being freezing cold in a remote mountain lodge knowing Jesse is right next door? No, thank you.

But as the snow piles on, Viola discovers there’s more to Jesse than she knew, and heat builds in more ways than one."

My Thoughts: Ok, so although I am fairly burned out on the enemies-to-lovers trope right now...being that I am an enormous nerd, a romance involving video games, especially video game developers/designers would be an automatic TBR pile add for me. Having Ali Hazelwood write such a novel, I am sure that the novel will contain a relatable heroine, smoking hot nerd hero, and lots of witty and/or snarky banter that will make me laugh out loud, and stay up way too late.

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