•  I read The Charmed List last year and found it enchanting, nostalgic, and heartwarming. It was easily one of my favorite books of last year. It introduced a gorgeous, low scale magic system that was both cozy and charming. 
• When I first heard about Our Cursed Love, I was elated to be getting a companion novel to The Charmed List. I expected the same charm that Abe's magic brought in the first one to be carried on into its companion. And I was not disappointed. 
• Our Cursed Love is set in gorgeous Tokyo as Cam and Remy take one last vacation together before parting ways for college. The setting feels as alive as the characters do, immersing the readers into the magical story.
• I adore the friends to lovers trope. It makes a story become familiar and heartwarming. Cam and Remy have been friends forever. And what makes this tale so special is that readers get both of their perspectives. Thus, the slow burn of their friendship to something more is realized throughout each chapter. 
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  The only thing I didn't love was the memory loss element. If I had read the synopsis of the book before reading, I would have realized that after Cam and Remy take a restricted love potion, it backfires and Cam forgets his best friend. The second half of the book is a whirlwind of Cam’s memories of Remy. It changes the initial tone of the book that was once a friends to lovers now turned almost-strangers to lovers, I suppose. The use of memory loss in any story is not my favorite, but I do think Abe uses it well to show the depth of Cam and Remy’s relationship.
  
• While it is certainly not necessary to read The Charmed List before diving into this one, the main characters from the book do make an appearance in Our Cursed Love. Ellie and Jack's sweet cameos put a smile on my face. Our Cursed Love follows Ellie's younger sister, Remy, and Jack's younger brother, Cam. Chronologically, the events of The Charmed List happen first. However, it would be fine to read the two in any order. 

• This is the third in a companion series that follows each of the Matthews brothers. While they technically can be read in any order, I do suggest reading them chronologically since there may mild spoilers for certain events that come before.
• I absolutely adored reading Newton’s companion series, finishing it out with Change of Plans. If you're looking for a lovely contemporary romance that is both heartwarming and a little steamy, these books are for you. They have all the small-town vibes and a romance that will have you smiling from ear to ear.
• While the small-town vibes certainly brings some added coziness and charm, Change of Plans is also filled with serious and even tearjerker elements. The book follows Bryce and Ryker. Bryce is struggling to find balance ever since her brother and his wife passed, leaving three lovely girls in her care. The elements of grief in this felt raw and emotional. Though readers of the rest of the series have met him before, Ryker reveals sides of his character we have only ever gotten glimpses of in the previous books. As a veteran, Ryker is still trying to accumulate to life after being at war. He suffers from PTSD and night terrors. For a cute contemporary romance, Newton got serious by adding more difficult and hard-hitting topics. While it was a bit darker than her other two Matthews books, I'm glad she didn't shy away from these two characters’ authentic stories.

• I found that I was taking my time with reading this book, because I just didn't want it to end. Every chapter, every page had me feeling all the feels - ready to cry one minute, while laughing out loud the next.
• One of my favorite things of this whole companion series has been the mention of real-life places that readers can actually go and experience. Change of Plans, like the rest of the books, is primarily set in Wellsville, New York, which is very real place. Newton also mentions Rochester, New York’s Nick Tahou Hots, a restaurant that I would love to visit in real life to feel even more connected to these characters. Customers of the restaurant can even order a garbage plate just like Ryker and Bryce did in the book! The books are written so well that readers feel like they are walking down the street of Wellsville. It's wildly immersive! 
• Dylan Newton writes incredibly well. The contemporary romances I've read from her have been so honest and lovely. Newton has quickly become an auto-buy author for me. I'm looking forward to reading more from her.

•  When I first found out about this book, I literally squealed! Books set at Renaissance Faires always seem to be the most magical, whimsical tales. Plus, to escape the world and visit a Ren Faire (whether in person or when reading a book, is always a fantastic time! 
• The book opens upon Madeline who is struggling with the loss of her mother a year before. While it is mentioned in the synopsis, the depiction of Madeline's grief and her father's was a bit triggering for me. I haven't read another book with such a true and real depiction of the grieving experience since The Last Voyage of Poe Blythe by Ally Condie. The exploration of grief in The Renaissance Of Gwen Hathaway was incredibly raw. However, the joy of friendship and the steady blossoming of change was a hopeful constant that gave the book an uplifting message.
• I don't often cry while reading, but Ashley Schumacher's impeccable writing enchanted me to do so. I haven't read her other books, but I am looking forward to reading more from her now. 
• The budding friendship between Madeline and Arthur is lovely to witness. The Ren Faire, of course, as a backdrop makes everything more magical.

• The relationships are truly a star in this! While there is a focus on Madeline's grief, the support that she receives from the different relationships in her life are so heartwarming. I, especially, adore the relationship she has with Fatima, her best friend. Though they primarily communicate through online video calls, it always feels like they are both physically together with how much their banter and friendly chatter light up the page. 
• I haven't been liking the YA contemporary books I have been reading lately. In fact, I was a little nervous to start this one, worried that I wouldn't like it. Before diving into this, I was also thinking that I should take a step back from YA contemporary but this book singlehandedly brought my faith back into the genre. The fantastic writing, well rounded characters, and sweet friendships shined in The Renaissance of Gwen Hathaway in such a way that I haven't seen in other books in a while. Readers will surely fall in love with this book as quickly as I did.

Overall

• From the introduction, I knew I was going to love this. Its easy readability coupled with downright laugh-out-loud humor makes this book release one you definitely want to have on your radar.
• It follows Francie, whose inner voice is filled with funny antidotes and relatable moments. She's quite snarky at times and her sarcasm makes the setting even more funny. Her family runs a Santa school and owns a holiday shop, where Francie also works. 
• The story is incredibly short, totaling under 300 pages. For such a short book, there was a lot of moving elements without any real focus on one main plot. Not only did readers get a glimpse of Francie's school life with bullies but also the battle with her aunt who hopes to change her family's business. This was more of a day-in-the-life kind of tale than anything else. 

• While I went into the book expecting an adorable romance, that storyline doesn’t become prominent until the last half of the book and even then, it seems to take place as a secondary plot point. Primarily, Francie is busy with her family's business as she poses as Santa's intern. Urban centered the story around family, an element that I really enjoyed. It made the book even more heartwarming.
• The synopsis, along with the cover, is what truly drew me into this book. The summary likens Talk Santa to Me to a Hallmark Christmas movie and I would most definitely agree. In fact, I would love to see the book be turned into a holiday movie. 
• The ending is so charming. It will have readers finishing the book with a warm heart.

• I was looking forward to reading this one since the cover art released. By reading the synopsis, I knew readers could expect some magic, a potential romance, and a masquerade ball. I was sold from the synopsis. I mean, who doesn't love a masquerade ball? Despite having the best elements like the ball and the cute romances, the book turned out to be so much more than that. 
• This is definitely a dream team of authors that collaborated on this project. Sandhya Menon, author of When Dimple Met Rishi, Evelyn Skye, author of The Crown’s Game, and Roshani Chokshi, author of The Gilded Wolves, completely rocked it with their masterful writing.
• If you're looking for an adorable read that includes strong autumnal vibes and a great friendship group, then you must pick this one up.
• The friendship group was such a standout. Readers may have no problem finding great friendship groups in popular YA these days. However, with Three Kisses, One Midnight, it feels like the reader joins the friendship group, as if we were friends with True, Onny, and Ash as long as they've been friends. The book places us right in the middle of action, when Onny decides to brew the love potion, and it continues throughout the night of the ball.
• While I think the book is quite short, I think the authors were able to tell such a cute, enchanting story within the time that they had. Of course, I wish the book was longer—if only to hang out with these amazing characters a bit more. 
• Compared to all three couples, I found True and Orion the most instalove couple of the book. True spent a portion of the book, in the beginning, pining over her ex-boyfriend and then almost out of nowhere, True and Orion were falling for each other. If the book was longer, readers may have gotten a bit more development. Though, I admit that the instalove did not decrease my enjoyment of the story. Three Kisses, One Midnight remained as lovely and as cute as it started. 
• While I understand the reasoning behind it, I wish there were chapter breaks. I read an e-ARC so the final copy may be entirely different. The book was broken up into three sections, but devoid of chapters. Without structured chapters, the book truly encourages readers to devour this all-in-one sitting. 
• This whole book was so lovely and heartwarming. Also, the town names (Moon Ridge and Twilight Grove), themselves, have so much whimsy. It's a giant hug of adorableness and I absolutely loved it.

• The atmosphere is absolutely haunting. The writing is superb. Kilcoyne masters gorgeous—but  sometimes terrifying—flowery prose that really grips readers in. While this one wasn't a new favorite, I can't wait to read more from Kilcoyne in the future. Her writing, alone, cemented my decision in devouring anything she will ever write.
• While this book is quite character driven, Wake the Bones truly comes alive with its creepy vibes. For example, the bones that Laurel had in her workshop seemed to have gotten up and walked off. The magical and paranormal elements of the novel remain a mystery for most of the book. The strange happenings with the bones has readers on their toes until the very end. 
• There is definitely a mash up of genres here that truly make the book difficult to categorize it. Wake the Bones is a mix of horror, fantasy, and paranormal with a romance sprinkled in. If you want an unsettling and haunting reading experience, I recommend you avoid reading the synopsis and just diving right in. 
• The small, rural town dynamics that readers get to experience felt true to life and added to the haunting landscape of the book. 

• I didn’t quite expect the magical elements of the plot. Of course, this is a side effect of skimming the synopsis and picking up the book wholly based on vibes. While unexpected, I found I enjoyed the whimsical elements of the world. Magical realism isn't my thing so I was nervous at first that that was what The Charmed List was going to introduce. Instead, the magic reminds me of all the whimsy of the classic Sabrina the Teenage Witch. There's even an adorable dog (that, unfortunately, doesn't talk) named Mochi too!

• The premise of a bucket list of goals to accomplish by a certain date, like the end of summer, is not a new idea. However, while the element can be found elsewhere like in Excuse Me While I Ugly Cry by Joya Goffney or Since You've Been Gone by Morgan Matson, Julie Abe puts her own spin on it by throwing magic and a road trip into the mix. Regardless of seeing the list element in other books, I must note that I adore it. If I hear about a book that has a physical list of goals the protagonist is completing, count me in. It must be the organization lover in me.
• When readers think of those classic YA characters, the protagonists usually love the classics—books like Jane Austen to music like ACDC. It is absolutely refreshing to find a YA protagonist like Ellie in The Charmed List actually like books from this era. The book mentioned Spin the Dawn by Elizabeth Lim (which is a fantastic book) and so many more.
• The Charmed List has a whole lot of heart at its core. It's heartwarming and enchanting, wrapping readers in a comfortable blanket. 

• Ellie and Jack embark on a road trip filled with mini errands and with each stop, they get closer together. The structure of the book is absolutely lovely and endearing. It's a book about friendship and magic.
• There are multiple scenes in the book where Ellie sketches her surroundings. Abe truly captures the perspective of an artist, describing the creative process in detail. It's both incredibly calming and inspirational. Plus, readers are able to receive a deeper understanding of Ellie through her work.
• Road trip books are so much fun because they lead the way to so many opportunities. Authors are able to add more elements with a variety of different settings. My favorite sequence must have been the escape room challenge which sounded like so much fun. However, every time Ellie and Jack came across a magical village, I swooned. If I could live in the world Abe has created, I most definitely would.

• The plot itself seems more of a journey or healing for Bria rather than the romance I was expecting which gives it a unique fresh perspective.
• Hubbard is in fact a travel writer and that definitely shows within her writing. She captures the feeling within her pages. Her descriptions and the characters ring true, almost making it seem that this piece of fiction may be real life, in all its rawness; it’s a magnificent adventure.
• All the characters are keeping secrets and as we get deeper into the plot, we become entwined with curiosity in knowing the truth of what these characters are running from. It’s a healing journey even if they don’t right away disclose the thing that is holding them back—their past. It’s a gorgeous story that deserves many readers.

• I absolutely adore the structure. It is broken down by the standard chapter which usually begins with a journal entry. It has several lists sprinkled throughout which definitely makes it a fun read. However, not only does the pages hold lists, but there are countless illustrations which certainly make the plot come to life.
• When contemporary romance and travel mix, it is difficult to expect anything other than a cliché story but it was great to see a contemporary that is not busy flying around Europe. Rather Europe, we are venturing through South America. I think with the setting change, it gives the feel of something new entirely.
• As you get deeper into the plot, the more the protagonist is revealed to us.  The more I felt connected to her. Bria was extremely relatable, filled with rare spunky moments and a courage that definitely blossoms as the plot goes on.
• Rowen is a complicated character, which gives him great depth. A lot of times, he was hot and cold.  Readers were kept in the dark as to the reasons behind that which was true to life but it was also infuriating. He easily blurred the lines of good and bad, similar to people in real life where the line is never truly defined. It made me want to delve deeper into his past, his character.
• The ending felt a bit rushed. Shouldn’t they have talked things out before going right into the make-up make out?
• The story is a simple one but it will certainly enchant you from page one with its gorgeous descriptions and dialogue that jumps out at every page. It is a lovely story that is thought provoking on traveling the world, as well as how other people see travel.