This right here. This is why I read. For the joy and privilege of coming across an exquisite story like this and being swept up in its magic.

Could The Seven Husbands of Evelyn Hugo really be fiction, dreamt up entirely in Taylor Jenkins Reid's mind? Every moment felt so real, so tangible. When I reached the end, it was hard to let go, hard to return to a world where this was nothing more than a figment of the imagination.

Evelyn Hugo, revered Hollywood actress and icon, is finally ready to tell the story of her life. But she wants to make sure that whatever comes out is authentic to who she is. So she contacts Monique Grant, a mostly unknown writer, to be her scribe. Everyone is surprised by the choice, no one more so than Monique herself. But to be given the chance to write Evelyn's memoir and to understand the person behind the legend is a once-in-a-lifetime opportunity, one that Monique can't pass up.

When I first started this, I thought I was in for a fluffy, gossipy romance set in the golden Hollywood era. After all, why would anyone need so many husbands unless one was in it for a good time? But this turned out to be so much more. At its heart, it's a stunning and brutally honest portrayal of love in all its different forms. It shows not just the joy of love, but also its sacrifices and heartbreaks.

I was blown away by how complex of a character Evelyn Hugo is. She is the heart and soul of this story, and her character shines so bright, it's hard to look away. She feels real, coming off the pages wholly formed. She's not perfect. In fact, her flaws and numerous questionable actions make her human, and it's easy to relate to her and cheer for her.

The book is written in alternative viewpoints, a little bit from Monique's perspective as she interviews Evelyn and a lot from Evelyn's perspective as she shares the story of her life. When a book has two different viewpoints, there's always a fear that one is more interesting than the other. But not here. I can honestly say that every moment of this book was equally riveting.

I adored Reid's writing style. It's filled with so much charm that it just oozes off the pages. The story obviously tackles serious issues, but the writing never takes itself too seriously. It's witty and funny, drawing me in and making me feel every emotion. It manages to convey so much nuance without ever slowing down the pacing or seeming long-winded. I'm in awe.

You guys know I'm a romantic through and through. And this story is all about finding and holding on to that great love of your life, no matter what it takes. I mean, how could I not be drawn to that? I'm also a realist and I know that love takes so much sacrifice. So this story spoke to my heart and my mind.

I never really had a chance. This book had me good and hooked, right from the first page. It's the sort of story I know I'll come back to again and again, savoring it anew every time.

Readaroo Rating: 5 stars!

This was a pick for my Book of the Month box. Get your first book for $5 here.

Greek gods + dark romance? I don't even know what that means, but sure, sign me up!

So, I don't know about you guys, but I almost never read blurbs thoroughly before picking up books. I don't want to be spoiled, so I usually peek at the first sentence or two, vaguely recognize some key words, and call it good.

In this case, I saw something about Persephone being forced into an engagement with Zeus, and thought I got the gist. Well, I almost had a heart attack when Zeus was introduced as an old guy with white hair, and I thought I had signed up to read a steamy romance between him and Persephone. At that point, I decided to give the blurb a more thorough purview, and was never more relieved to find out that they weren't the pairing. Phew! It's actually supposed to be Persephone and Hades, who she runs to for help. Ahh.

With this book, I think it's important to set correct expectations right off the bat. This isn't a Greek mythology retelling of any sort. Most of the similarities it has with Greek mythology are around the naming of places and characters, along with their approximate positions of power. That's about it. To think otherwise would lead straight to disappointment.

However, the little that it does draw from mythology, I really enjoyed and wished there was more of. Are the gods in this world just regular people or magical/supernatural beings? Why is there resistance crossing the River Styx? Where is the city of Olympus? The book seems to hint at many possibilities, but retreated before exploring them further.

Another thing I enjoyed is the development of the relationship between Persephone and Hades. They seem like an interesting pairing, with her being the carefree socialite and him being the serious leader of the shadow world. It's your typical grumpy/sunshine trope, and I just can't get enough. And the premise is so interesting, with Hades offering Persephone refuge during her time of need and her slowly thawing his frozen heart. I can totally get on board with that. But there just wasn't enough of it.

Instead, it feels like the majority of this book is taken up with LOTS of sex. I enjoy an appropriately-placed, well-done sex scene as much as the next person, and they can add much sizzle and spark to a romance. But the ones in here seem to come out of nowhere, with hardly any setup. At times, every other scene is a sex scene, and they're so over-the-top that it feels like I'm being whacked in the face by them. After a while, they start to blend together, becoming repetitive and almost mechanical, as if the author was trying to fulfill a sex scene quota before being able to call it good.

I spent a while debating between 3 and 4 stars for this book, and settled on a 3 in the end. While I thought it was a fast and diverting read, there just wasn't enough of the parts I enjoyed the most. I found the beginning and end chapters to be the most fascinating because those are the ones that most advanced the story and the couple's relationship.

Since I already grabbed the next book in the series, I guess I'll continue with it. I'm really hoping to see this version of Olympus and its gods built out a bit more. It certainly is an interesting interpretation.

Readaroo Rating: 3 stars

I don't believe it. I thought for sure I would love Book of Night, one of my most anticipated reads of the year, from the author who wrote one of my favorite YA fantasy series of all time. But I didn't. I think I'm in shock.

Where do I even start? When I think of Holly Black, I think of The Cruel Prince, with its sharp writing, compelling characters, well-plotted story, and seamless worldbuilding. None of that was here.

Instead, the writing was so flat, I didn't feel anything reading this. There was no tension, no suspense, no compulsive need to turn the pages. It's like all the energy has been sucked out of the story, and all that's left is words on a page. I honestly forced myself to continue and see it through to completion. I held on, hoping that it would turn around and grab me. But it never did.

The characters were some of the dullest and most unmemorable I've ever come across. To say Charlie is unlikable would be to imply she has some personality for me to dislike. But she doesn't. Her only attributes seem to be that she has righteous anger and she makes bad decisions, but I don't really understand why. There's no insight into her underlying motivations. We are only told constantly of what she is, but never shown.

There were so many side characters, I had trouble keeping them apart. They're all haphazardly introduced without any distinguishing characteristics that would make them unique or memorable. After a while, they all blur together. It feels like anytime something needed to be explained, a new character would be introduced along with a random digression, just to get the point across.

The worldbuilding was so awkward and confusing, I'm still not sure I understood it, even after having read the whole book. I don't think the magical system is that complicated, yet somehow, the explanations provided just didn't work for me. Most of the time, I felt like I was guessing at what everything means. (Shadows give you magical powers... and feelings? Gloamists trade shadows and have power, but why? What is carapace, Cabal, Hierophant?)

The story unfolds via a dual timeline, but the pacing was extremely slow for both. You have the present one, slow and plodding, intercut with the past timeline, which was somehow even more glacial, if you can believe it. So the overall effect is the mother of all slow burns.

This is supposed to be Holly Black's adult debut, yet it doesn't feel any more adult than her previous YA books, other than a few F-words here and there. If anything, it feels less. I remember the sexual tension in The Cruel Prince, and it didn't even have any sex scenes (being YA and all). This book, with a few fade to black ones, was somehow completely devoid of any sizzle or spark.

But for me, the biggest issue is that the story just doesn't make sense. The different parts of the magical world felt randomly tossed together without really blending into a cohesive whole. And the characters' actions don't really ring true for me either. Charlie, in particular, did so many things for no reason other than that she "makes bad decision," which is literally the explanation given.

Still, for all my complaints, the last 50 pages did come alive and breathe some life into this story. Things finally started to happen and a few separate events did come together with some satisfaction. If there's one thing the story does do right, it's that it contains a few twists that took me by surprise.

Just one last note. The story ends on a cliffhanger that clearly sets up for a sequel. I'm not a fan of books that pretend to be standalones, but actually turn out to be the first in a series. And especially when I didn't enjoy the book, it means I don't even get the satisfaction of having reached a real conclusion. So there's that.

I don't doubt that many readers would enjoy this dark magical tale, but it just wasn't for me. And after all that anticipation, no one's sadder than me.

Readaroo Rating: 2 stars

My heartfelt thanks for the copy that was provided for my honest and unbiased review.

If I die, you can always make another me.

When I saw the premise for this book, I knew it was going on my TBR posthaste. It sounds so interesting and unlike anything else I've come across before.

Mickey has the most unusual job: he is expected to risk life and limb to do dangerous work on the space colony. Dying is really no big deal since they can just pump out a new clone of him imprinted with his memories and personality. When a job goes sideways and the colony thinks Mickey7 is dead, they immediately create Mickey8. But the problem is that Mickey7 is still very much alive. Now the two Mickey's are in real trouble. They can't tell anyone that there are two of him running around, for to be a multiple is considered the ultimate abomination, one from which there is no coming back.

When I started this book, I had high hopes. Not only is the premise fabulous, but the writing at first glance feels fast-paced and conversational, making this an extremely easy book to get into. I was breezing through the pages, on the edge of my seat, waiting for the story to take a turn into something brilliant.

I kept waiting and waiting. And then I reached the end. Welp.

The problem is that the story never really goes much past the premise. In fact, most of the conflict comes down to the two Mickey's being hungry. The rest of the time is spent on flashbacks to Mickey's earlier reincarnations and digression on how other space colonies have done on different worlds. It's not that those aren't interesting, but they're just not what I was expecting.

The writing style also veers a bit towards the flippant side for my taste. It's lots of slang and jargon, thrown around to make the whole thing feel both casual and authentic. But it didn't quite ring true for me. I've seen comparisons of the narrator's style to Andy Weir, but this isn't The Martian. Mark Watney solves actual problems, while Mickey mostly sounds off.

Maybe my expectations were just too high. I thought this would be an insightful and thrilling story, taking me somewhere I've never been before. Instead, the whole story is pretty much the premise. It was a fast and decent read, but I can't help feel it fell short of its lofty potential.

Readaroo Rating: 3 stars

Every time I'm about to embark on a Tessa Bailey book, I'm just filled with glee. She has always spoken my love language, and with this Bellinger Sisters series, I feel like she's really hit the top of her game.

Why did it take me so long to get to this book? I kept putting it off because I'd seen some mixed reviews and was afraid I wouldn't enjoy it. But of course Tessa Bailey wouldn't let me down. I should've known better than to doubt her.

Piper is a wealthy socialite who passes her days with shopping, partying, and attention-hogging on the internet. But after a publicity stunt goes wrong, her stepfather cuts off her funding. She's forced to go to Westport to find her roots and her purpose in life. But what does a girl like her know about fitting in at this small fishing town? Soon though, she starts to understand what makes Westport so special, including a certain gruff, hardworking sea captain.

Can we take a moment to talk about how adorable the Piper and Brendan pairing is? Piper appears a bit frivolous at first with her glamorous exterior, but underneath is an optimistic gal with a heart of gold. And Brendan is clearly besotted with her, though he tries hard to hide it beneath his grouchy, reticent demeanor. How cute is that! Honestly, I just can't get enough of the grumpy/sunshine trope.

While a lot of romances skirt around the fact that the female lead might be high-maintenance, I love how this book puts it front and center. Both Piper and Brendan not only acknowledge it, but it's a big part of their attraction to each other. She wants nice things and he wants to give them to her. While I'm a pretty low-maintenance girl myself, it still makes my heart go pitter-patter to think of a lover who wants to work hard to keep their beloved's affection.

As the story progressed, I loved the focus on Piper taking the time to discover who she really is and finding the meaning that she so desperately craves. The backstory of why she is in Westport and all the supporting characters add so much heart to this whole thing. Change is hard, and it's heartwarming to see both Piper and Brendan change and meet in the middle to make their relationship work.

This is the fifth book by Tessa Bailey I've read, and I've loved them all. You'd think by this point, her stories would start to feel old and stale, but no. Each of her books feels unique, with its interesting characters and fun storylines. They just draw me in and I'm always riveted.

Since this is a Tessa Bailey, of course it comes with a public service announcement regarding the steam factor. Please watch out, especially if it's your first one by her. She definitely isn't shy about including explicit, open-door scenes, even though the cute cover will have you thinking otherwise.

No doubt about it, this was a delightful experience from beginning to end, with enough sizzle to leave a permanent sear on my heart. In fact, of all the Tessa Bailey's I've read so far, this has got to be my favorite. It totally spoke to me, and I loved every character and every moment. And there's just enough teaser in here that I can't wait to read Hannah and Fox's story.

Readaroo Rating: 5 stars!

I'm always excited to learn a little bit more about the universe. And while This Way to the Universe does do that for the parts I understood, I feel like a lot of it went over my head.

The book takes us on a journey through the highlights of all that science has discovered and yet to discover about the universe, from its origin all the way to now and where it might go from here. It's a fairly technical journey, bound in theoretical physics and math, and my understanding of the book definitely reflects that.

For me, where this book works best is that it tries to tie all the information together into a cohesive narrative. It was satisfying to walk through the history of scientific progress and to check in at its pivotal moments. Along the way, Dine pays homage to many scientists, including women and those from non-Western countries whose impact may be lesser known to the world.

However, the book lost me for a big chunk in the middle once it started going into subatomic territory with mesons, pions, gluons, and symmetry, to name a few. There's just not enough depth here. The book tries to tackle these fairly complicated topics without the necessary background or details. So if you don't already know the topics covered, it would be hard for you to glean anything from what's in the pages.

It's not entirely the author's fault. I can see that he didn't want to get mired in the technical details in a 300-page book. Otherwise, it would soon resemble a textbook. But without any technical explanation, it's just impossible for me to make heads or tails out of the whole thing. It almost feels like this should be a companion to a graduate-level course rather than a standalone book for the layman.

Too bad. The topics in here are fascinating and the parts I could understand worthwhile. But I just can't rate it higher than 3 stars when I didn't understand half the book.

Readaroo Rating: 3 stars

Meh. The Paris Apartment feels mostly like melodramatic dithering, but I guess I was somewhat entertained.

Jess needs a place to stay, so she hits up her half brother. When she arrives at his residence, she finds a fancy building with questionable tenants, but no sign of Ben. As she digs deeper and asks around, she starts to realize that all is not as it seems at this apartment building. Dun dun dun!

Having read a few of Lucy Foley's books, I feel like she's really good at building up anticipation. Every moment in this book is so dramatic, with dark shadows and scary sounds at every turn. That's all good, but after a while, it gets to be a bit much, you know? There's no natural ebb and flow in the tone. It's just all high anticipation, all the time.

It doesn't help that every character acts so high-strung and paranoid, even when nothing is happening.

I watched as Nick's friend plucked a sprig of rosemary from one of the bushes, tearing hard to wrench it free. How he crushed it to his nose, inhaled. There was something presumptuous about the gesture. It felt like an act of vandalism.

What the heck. Who attacks a bush just to smell it? And who watches someone do that and calls it "presumptuous"? Reader, if you're able to keep from rolling your eyes, you're a better person than I am.

For a book advertised as a mystery, it sure doesn't feel like one. Jess doesn't so much suss out clues as she bumbles around, pilfering stuff, sticking her foot in her mouth, and just generally acts like an incompetent idiot. The other characters are all unlikable too, though each in their own way. And everyone is smelly, with stale breath and excessive sweat.

After all that exaggerated writing, do the twists deliver? Eh, they seem pretty standard to me for the genre. I wasn't really surprised or shocked. In fact, it feels more ridiculous than anything else.

Still, I was compelled to turn the pages, so I must've been somewhat entertained by all the antics.

Readaraoo Rating: 3 stars

Imagine if all men took women seriously . . .

When you come across that perfect read, at what point do you realize? For me, it was from the very first page of Lessons in Chemistry.

Honestly, who does Bonnie Garmus think she is, coming in here and writing a book that completely speaks to me? And on top of that, it's her debut. Well, just knock me over with a feather too while you're at it, why don't you!

Elizabeth Zott is a chemist in the 1960s. The problem is, she is the only one who views herself that way. Her male colleagues cannot get past the fact that she's a woman, and treat her more as a secretary and doormat, acknowledging her only long enough to steal her work. That is, until Calvin Evans, another brilliant chemist, comes along and really sees all that she is capable of. But life is unexpected, and so a few years later, Elizabeth is somehow the host of a cooking show. But in her heart, she still desires to be truly seen as a chemist.

You guys know how much I love strong female characters, and Elizabeth Zott is all that and more. She's fearless in the face of adversity, she stays true to herself, and she never lets others intimidate her into being less than all she can be. In other words, she is my hero.

It's not just Elizabeth who warms my heart. This story has the most wonderful collection of supporting characters. They add so much color and spirit to the whole thing. I wanted to hug them all. And if you're an animal lover of any sort, just be ready to have your heart burst into a million ooey gooey pieces. In fact, Six-Thirty might just be my favorite literary dog of all time.

The writing is so witty and brilliant. There's a zing to it that makes it feel zippy and wholly original. I couldn't stop laughing and I couldn't put it down. Usually I can't wait to reach the end of a book so I can check it off my long TBR and move onto the next. But I wanted this to go and go and never end. I tried to savor every moment, but I ended up devouring it.

What an absolute delight this was, from the very first moment to the last. It possesses all the hallmarks of the very best stories. It made me laugh, feel, think, and wonder. It filled me with joy and buoyed my spirits. It gave me everything I wanted and everything I didn't even know to ask for.

So many books come and go that often a true gem ends up buried in the deluge. Please don't let this one pass you by. Go read it. You'll be glad you did.

Readaroo Rating: 5 stars!

My heartfelt thanks for the copy that was provided for my honest and unbiased review.