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Tori 💫

@bookblurbs13

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Just some blurbs on books I’m reading 📚

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Free Falling - Lyla Sage
5/5 Stars ⭐️⭐️⭐️⭐️⭐️

Thank you @prhaudio and @authorlylasage for my #gifted copy of this book in exchange for an honest review!

This book both single handedly cured & restarted my reading slump because nothing I’ve read since has been able to compare. You know it’s a good book when the author’s note alone made me cry.

While I loved Collins in Soul Searching, there is something warm and comforting about her twin sister Clarke. She almost felt like looking in a mirror. Somehow comforting and heartbreaking at the same time. She worked so hard to convince everyone that she was fine and had everything handled, but inside she was feeling overwhelmed and a bit out of control. Lyla Sage wrote Clarke’s depression with such care - so much so, that while it was heartbreaking, her storyline even felt like healing to the reader.

Leith was such a sweet character. His complex family dynamic and his love of his “sister” truly made him a homerun for me. He was down-bad for Clarke and added the flirty and fun energy that she desperately needed in her life while also being a fully complex character of his own. Their chemistry was palpable and I’m obsessed with them.

Similarly to the first book of this duology, the sisterhood between Collins and Clarke along with their supernatural ghost abilities were the standout of this book. Clarke’s relationship with her powers felt so much more complex than the relationship Collins has with it. While Collins embraces it, Clarke tries to actively deny the existence of this part of her. Clarke’s struggle accepting that aspect of herself challenged not only her, but also her relationship with Collins and I think Sage dove into the complexities of this relationship incredibly well. Collins and Clarke’s relationship really shined through in this one and it truthfully made me warm inside.

I never wanted this book to end and when it did, I just had to sit with it in silence for a few moments to really process how much I loved it. Because yes, on the surface it is a romance book with a cute fake-dating trope, but underneath it was so much more. Pick this one up, you won’t regret it! by @bookblurbs13

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14 days ago

Love You More - Emily Giffin
4.5/5 ⭐️⭐️⭐️⭐️💫

Thank you @prhaudio for my #gifted copy of this audiobook in exchange for a honest review!

Wow, now this was an Emily Giffin book! When I first got back into reading a few years ago, Emily Giffin was in heavy rotation and this book reminded me of that exciting time of being so enamored with a story for the first time in years.

Giffin writes nostalgia SO well. This story was painful in so many ways, but also deeply beautiful. The emotions that the main character Billie experienced through this story were conveyed so intensely that I felt like I knew these characters personally.

Billie has her perfect life in New York - perfect job, friends and fiance. But when a tragedy hits, Billie is forced back into the path of her first love, Mick. The story brings us through Billie’s high school life, the start and slow demise of her relationship with Mick, her up and down friendship with her best friend as they travel through the ebbs and flows of growing up and then to current times. I thought Giffin did a phenomenal job weaving the past and present and showing the growing pains of the transition from teen years to adulthood. A lot of the relationships felt messy, but in a very realistic way.

This book hooked me from the start and kept me glued to it the entire time. This is one of her best books!

QOTD: who’s an author that feels like nostalgia to you? by @bookblurbs13

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19 days ago

Bloom - 4.5/5
⭐️⭐️⭐️⭐️💫

Thank you @simon.audio, @robbiecouch, and @librofm for my #gifted copy of this audio!

This was a surprising and wonderful story!

Told from the perspective of a 70+ year old widow, his step-daughter, and a plant, this was certainly a unique story. I loved Morris - his openness and ability to love even though he’s been met with so much resistance and dislike from his husbands family was wonderful. His grief over losing his husband was so raw and heartbreaking. Robbie Couch did a wonderful job of showing how even mundane and “easy” parts of life, like watering a plant, become nearly impossible when a person is grieving.

Sloan and Morris’s relationship was so sweet. Sloan’s growth and ability to stand up to her mom had me clapping on the sidelines for her. Her need for closure over her fathers death brought her back into her stepfathers life and watching them heal together was deeply moving.

The perspective from the plant gave a unique perspective into grief and was funky (in a good way). The whole book had me yelling “please water this poor damn plant!” and checking in on my own plants.

This book was an unexpected gem for me. It was incredibly grief heavy, but also had a light air to it? I don’t know exactly how to describe it, but I really enjoyed this one. I definitely recommend it!

QOTD: have you ever read a book told from a unique perspective? If not, tell me something good that happened this week! by @bookblurbs13

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80

a month ago

Seek the Traitor’s Son - Veronica Roth
5/5 Stars ⭐️⭐️⭐️⭐️⭐️

Thank you @macmillan.audio for my #gifted copy of this audio in exchange for an honest review!

I loved this one! I’ll be honest, it took me a second to put my fantasy/dystopian hat back on. I literally felt like I had to rewire my brain because all I’ve been reading lately is romance, but once I did, I was hooked.

Roth has such an incredible way of building worlds and complex governments and cultures in very digestible ways. This book is set in a dystopian version of Earth where Earth is split into two major conflicting groups - the Cedrae & the Talusar. The Talusar worship the Fever and the Gods they believe sent it. They believe that once you are infected, you either die & stay dead or die & get resurrected with a magical gift. The Cedrae think the fever is a pandemic & treat it as a deadly virus, developing technology to prevent the spread to their regions. These two factions/cultures have been at odds for as long as its inhabitants can remember.

When Elogy, daughter of a powerful member of the Cedrae, is summoned to hear a prophecy, she finds herself face to face with the most powerful Talusar general, Rava Vidar. Both women learn that one will lead their land to victory over the other. What proceeds is an epic adventure to follow this prophecy and learn the history of their nation in order to learn how to be victorious.

Elogy was such a badass character. She had been through so much, but she always bounced back and pushed on. The team of people she gathered were awesome - powerful and a bit ragtag, but dynamic.

There is honestly too much to this plot to adequately dissect in a review, so I will keep it succinct. There is a reason Veronica Roth is such a household name. She crafts such incredible & complex stories that hook you from the first page. She also writes dynamic characters that you want to root for and this book was no exception. I can’t wait for book 2 because that cliff hanger is killing me. I definitely recommend making this a new series to start!

QOTD: give me some dystopian recs! Or tell me your fav author from when you were younger that you still e by @bookblurbs13

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a month ago

So completely obsessed with the Triple D version of Done and Dusted and especially with @brittanykellerart’s prints 😍 I cannot wait to hang these up!

This series holds such a special place in my heart and I both thank & blame @authorlylasage for my cowboy romance addiction!

QOTD: what are you reading this week? by @bookblurbs13

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2 months ago

Untamed - Julia Soren
4.5/5 Stars ⭐️⭐️⭐️⭐️💫

Thank you Julia Soren for my #gifted copy of this book in exchange for an honest review!

Man, I really am a sucker for a cowboy romance. This was such a good book! I was hooked from the start.

Grumpy bronc rider meets PR specialist fighting to fix his image like her job depends on it (because it totally does). Brock has a bit of a chip on his shoulder, but for valid reasons. He has the weight of his family’s farm on his shoulders. He is determined to do his own thing regardless of what the public thinks, but when Sienna bulldozes into his life and her job depends on fixing his reputation, they find themselves butting heads constantly.

Watching Brock and Sienna’s relationship develop slowly and quietly until they just couldn’t deny it was so enjoyable to read! Brock was so down bad for her, but in a brooding cowboy kind of way. Both of them were carrying the entire weight of their families on their shoulders and watching them somewhat share that weight with each other is exactly how a relationship should unfold. Their chemistry was undeniable and addicting!

If there is one thing I love, it’s a family dynamic - good or bad. I loved the family dynamic in this one, specifically between Brock’s siblings. They call each other out when necessary, but also ride hard for each other. The warmness of their family extended to Sienna in such a genuine way. I loved watching her build a relationship with each of them in their own unique way, especially how close she got with his sister Wren. My only wish with this book is that we got more background into Sienna’s family.

I really loved entering this little family and seeing Brock and Sienna’s relationship flourish. I can’t wait for the next book!

QOTD: any family dynamic books that you recommend? If not, tell me your last 5 star read! by @bookblurbs13

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2 months ago

Part 1 of my favorite authors 📚✨

I don’t think I’ve ever shared a full list of my favorite bookish things, so over the next little while I’m changing that! I’ll be sharing some of my favorite books, authors, characters, and more. We’re starting with some of my all-time favorite authors (in l no particular order).

💕 Emily Henry
Beach Read was my first Emily Henry book back in 2022, and I think it changed the trajectory of what I look for in romance books. I related HARD to this book and I’ve been an EmHen cheerleader ever since. Every new release is an automatic read for me.

🐻 Fredrik Backman
I’ve lost count of how many times I’ve gushed about Fredrik Backman’s writing, but every bit of praise is deserved. Beartown quite literally altered my brain chemistry and to this day, I don’t think I’ve ever cried harder over a book. His writing is unlike anyone else’s. It’s equal parts heartbreaking, hopeful, and so deeply human. He is also the nicest person I’ve met.

🌲 Ethan Joella
I picked Ethan Joella’s debut as one of my very first Book of the Month selections, and I became an instant fan. He has the remarkable ability to write ordinary people living ordinary lives in a way that feels captivating. His stories are raw and heartfelt and show how ordinary people can profoundly change other’s lives simply by existing. Ethan is also one of the most genuine people I’ve met through this community.

🏒 Elle Kennedy
The Off-Campus series is getting a lot of hype right now and it’s so well deserved. This series got me back into reading in 2016 and I’ve been a fan ever since. She’s probably my most-read author, and definitely the author I own the most books from. I think I’m up to three or four different editions of the Off-Campus series now. 🫣 (I’m still on the hunt for the original shirtless covers, so if anyone has a lead... let a girl know). Her books are my ultimate comfort reads and never fail to make me happy.

Stay tuned for some more favorites coming soon!

QOTD: who are some of your favorite authors? by @bookblurbs13

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2 months ago

Anxious People - Fredrik Backman
5/5 Stars ⭐️⭐️⭐️⭐️⭐️

“This story is about a lot of things, but mostly about idiots. So it needs saying from the outset that it’s always very easy to declare that other people are idiots, but only if you forget how idiotically difficult being human is.”

This was my very first Fredrik Backman book I read back in 2021 and I have been wanting to re-read it for quite some time.

This book is quintessential Fredrik Backman chaos in the absolute best way. It’s ~technically~ about a bank robbery turned hostage situation, but is it really? Of course not. This book is about humans and the deep and unexpected way every action you make can affect someone else, even a stranger. The eight people held hostage, though vastly different, become reluctant friends and learn more about each other and themselves in one afternoon than anyone would expect.

This book perfectly captures how difficult it is to be human and how every single person you meet is silently fighting their own battles. It also touches on how easy it can be to show someone a little grace and how far that grace can go.

For a majority of this book you won’t really know what the hell is going on (in the best way), but everything starts coming together at the end and you will sit there in awe of Backman’s incredible writing style.

This book hit me just as hard as it did back in 2021. It is deeply moving and incredibly human. Re-reading this book is a good reminder of why Backman is my favorite author and that nothing can make me cry quite like his books do.

I highly recommend this book and everything else he has ever written.

Thank you Fredrik Backman for writing characters and stories that elicit such strong emotions and remind readers that everyone is just trying to survive in this weird world. Your stories are always ones that will stick with me forever.

QOTD: what book has stayed with you for years? by @bookblurbs13

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2 months ago

A Million Junes - Emily Henry
3.5/5 Stars ⭐️⭐️⭐️💫

An EmHen fantasy-esq book?? This has piqued my interest for a while now so I was excited when it finally became available at my library!

Thoughts:
- So I’m not the biggest magic realism fan, but with that said, I did like the concept of Jack, aka “June,” learning the history of her family and the history of their feud with the Angert family through spirits/ghosts
-The banter between June and Saul Angert in the beginning was such classic Emily Henry greatness. However towards the end, the romance felt a bit rushed
-The theme of holding your parents at hero level only to find out after their death that they were more complex and flawed was very reminiscent of Beach Read

While I did enjoy this book because I’m a sucker for anything Emily Henry writes, I will caution you that the first half is significantly better than the second. The second half lost me a bit, especially with the character development and romance, but the themes of grief and family legacy kept this story afloat. I wouldn’t recommend it as your first Emily Henry book, but it is an interesting read if you’re going through her whole backlist. by @bookblurbs13

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3 months ago

Falling Into You - Jill Shalvis
4.5/5 Stars ⭐️⭐️⭐️⭐️💫

Thank you Hambright PR for my #gifted physical and audio copy, and thank you Sourcebooks Casablanca for my #gifted ebook!

This was the third book in the Colburn Brothers series and by far my favorite! Jill Shalvis truly never disappoints at creating worlds you want to cozy up in even as her characters go through the messiness of real life.

Thoughts:
- Hazel and Tucker were top tier. Childhood best friends turned something more, turned strangers, turned second chance romance? They were messy, but oh so endearing
- They both had a lot of trauma to work through, especially in the family department. I loved the quiet way they both understood each other in a way that could only be rooted growing up as best friends. They were each others safe space once upon a time and watching them still hold that space for each other in adulthood, despite all of the shit between them, was amazing
- Hazel’s relationship with her dad was so complicated and while we got hints of it in the past books, I really enjoyed getting their full story. Their shared grief over losing her mother was heartbreaking, but I loved Hazel’s continued efforts to heal
- Hazel and Tucker had such insane chemistry. You could feel it crackling in every conversation they had
- I loved the sibling dynamic in this one. All four Colburn siblings were so funny in this book and just like in the previous books, their unwavering support for each other was one of my favorite parts. I also love how they didn’t let each other shy away from confronting their problems - they really held each other accountable

As someone who’s usually not a fan of friends-to-lovers unless it’s done really well, I can confidently say this one got it right. Maybe the years apart pushed it closer to a second-chance romance, but I think it’s really just a testament to Shalvis’s writing. If you’re looking for a sweet romance with insane chemistry, I definitely recommend this one!

QOTD: who’s an author that just always hits a home run for you? OR give me your best recent book rec by @bookblurbs13

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3 months ago

Change of Plans - Sarah Dessen
3/5 Stars ⭐️⭐️⭐️

Thank you @simon.audio for my #gifted copy of this audiobook in exchange for an honest review!

I grew up devouring Sarah Dessen’s books and her complex characters, so I was beyond hyped to see her back! Fun fact - she was actually the first author I ever met at my local bookstore and she was SO nice.

Thoughts:
- This storyline was somewhat reminiscent of her other book The Rest of the Story, but unfortunately this one didn’t hit the mark for me in the same way
- I loved the plot - Finley finds herself spending unexpected time with her mom who she’s not close with and her mom’s estranged family in the town her mother grew up in. Finley got the unique experience to learn about her family in real time but it didn’t feel like she cared all that much
- Unfortunately there was a bit of a lack of emotion in this book for me. I just didn’t really care about any of the characters. There wasn’t a ton of growth or connection between the family members and I don’t feel like Finley really learned much outside of the fact that maybe she won’t be with her high school boyfriend forever
- I liked Ben, but the romance between Ben and Finley just felt overly forced and a bit unnecessary
- The big “conflict” just didn’t feel as impactful or dramatic as I thought it would be

Unfortunately this one was a bit of a miss for me and I think it lacked the emotional depth that Sarah Dessen usually excels at. With that said, I do really enjoy her writing and am looking forward to more of her books! by @bookblurbs13

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3 months ago

The Troublemaker - Piper Rayne
4.5/5 Stars ⭐️⭐️⭐️⭐️💫

Thank you Hambright PR for my #gifted copy of this book! I tandem read and listened to this book for the full experience!

I have enjoyed this series so much! I honestly wasn’t sure what to expect from Easton Bailey because I was so wrapped up in the Decker/Foster drama of the past books, but I really enjoyed this book.

Easton was so much more than the playboy he came across as in the past books. I absolutely loved his relationship with his family and how he was as a dad. Getting a baby dropped off on your porch would rattle anyone, and while that part was extremely comical, he also stepped up and pulled his shit together for his son. As someone who doesn’t love children as central points for books, I did love watching him progress into dad mode through the book!

I really liked Hadley! She was such a free spirit and I love that she never lost that. I wish we got a little more into her family life - maybe some insight into her relationship with her grandma or maybe more of a big blowout scene between her and her mom.

Easton and Hadley had such a great relationship. While they started as just hook up partners, they grew such a great friendship before jumping into anything further. I really loved the build up of their relationship. I won’t give spoilers, but the twist at the end actually had my jaw on the floor.

Overall, I really enjoyed this one and recommend it as a physical or audio! If you’re looking for a sweet baseball romance, give this series a try!

QOTD: we’re halfway through the year - tell me some of your top reads so far! by @bookblurbs13

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3 months ago