Stats
Total books read: 9
Physical books: 3
Audiobooks: 4
ebooks: 2
Holiday romance: 2
Pitcher Perfect by Tessa Bailey (4.25 stars) – Although I enjoy Tessa Bailey, I didn’t necessarily think this would be one of my favorite romances of the year. I ended up loving, however, our badass pitcher heroine’s strength, and also the hero’s journey to grow up and correct his immature behavior in the past while caring for her. It’s a fun book but also deals with difficult family dynamics, and the romance goes from fake dating to excellent chemistry very quickly. It’s one of my favorite books from her for sure.
Willful Creatures by Aimee Bender (4 stars) – I’ve read several books from Aimee Bender in the past, and found a copy of this short story at a library book sale several years ago. Some of the stories I thought were incredibly well-written, and others I liked less, but if you enjoy works of fabulism, you’ll want to pick her up.
Set the Record Straight by Hannah Bonam-Young (4 stars) – This was a very cute and cozy Sapphic romance set in a small, holiday-centric small town and also in the city where both women live and work. The romance begins as childhood friends turned fake dating, but develops depth and more and more sweetness as the story progresses. It’s a quick read, but very well done, with low conflict and maximum cuteness.
Thick & Other Essays by Tressie McMillan Cottom (4 stars) – Usually I wouldn’t classify 4-star reads as disappointing, but I went in assuming that this essay collection would be 5 stars. It just wasn’t very memorable for me, unfortunately, although others have really loved it.
The Scent of Us: Part 1 by Eliana Lee (4 stars) – 2025 was the year I discovered Eliana Lee and Emilia Emerson’s Cozyverse series, so of course I had to see if the authors had any backlist titles while I wait for their spring and summer installments. This book was definitely heavier emotionally (trigger warnings for sure), but handled difficult topics very well and again showcased Lee’s great writing and skill at developing romance.
Starter Villain by John Scalzi (3.5 stars) – My brother highly recommended this fun and silly scifi romp, and since I love books that explore the concepts and tropes of villainy, I was in. The narration by Wil Wheaton was very fun, and I especially liked the cat characters. I may try Scalzi again in the future.
You Wanna Be On Top? by Sarah Hartshorne (3.5 stars) – I picked up this recent nonfiction read due to watching old episodes of America’s Next Top Model, and I thought that Hartshorne did a great job giving a detailed account of her time on the show and exposing a lot of its issues.
Make My Wish Come True by Rachael Lippincott and Alyson Derrick (3.5 stars) – This was a cute YA contemporary holiday romance featuring a famous actress returning to her hometown to fake date her former best friend, which of course reveals real feelings. I liked it but didn’t love it nearly as much as this writing duo’s previous book She Gets the Girl.
The Wood at Midwinter by Susanna Clarke (2 stars) – This is barely a story; I’m really disappointed. I’ve read two previous 5-star books from this author, and I love short stories, but this was just not anything.
beachesandbooks 