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The Ballad of Falling Dragons by Sarah A. Parker
⭐️ 4.5
🌎 5 | 📖 4.5 | 🖋️ 4.5 | 👩🏻‍🤝‍👨🏼 5 | ❤️ 5 | 🌶️ 2 | 🎧 4

This is book two in the Moonfall series by Parker. In case you didn’t see our recap of book one (When the Moon Hatched), I immensely enjoyed it on reread, and I can confidently say I loved book two even more.
The story picks up exactly where book one left off, with our characters somewhat scattered. We’re thrown back into this world of dragons, elemental magic, and impending disaster as news prophesying an impending moon fall sends everyone into a panic. Raeve and Kaan must continue uncovering her past while preparing for what’s coming and trying to save the people they love. What begins as several separate plotlines slowly starts weaving together in such a satisfying way.
When I say I experienced the full range of emotions while reading this book, I’m not exaggerating. I’d definitely categorize this as heavy fantasy with a side of romance. That being said, Kaan and Raeve’s love story is still very much at the heart of the book. But if you’re someone who mainly tolerates fantasy for the romance, this may not be the book for you. However, for fantasy lovers? This is absolutely your book. The world-building is immaculate, and I still have so many questions I’m dying to theorize about with other readers. Until then, I’ll be anxiously awaiting book three.
Important to note: these characters go through a significant amount of trauma, and the book does not shy away from graphic descriptions. Readers should be prepared for a heavier read at times and pay attention to trigger warnings if that’s something that may affect them.

#thelitwives #newreleasebooks #fantasybooks #balladoffallingdragons

The Shippers by Katherine Center
3.5⭐️
🌎3.5| 📖 3.5| 🖋️ 3.5 | 👩🏻‍🤝‍👨🏼 4| ❤️ 4| 🌶️ closed door

Katherine Center is one of the queens of writing romances that exist purely to spark joy. In her author’s note at the beginning, she perfectly sums up why so many of us read romance-
“I think those of us who love love stories are junkies for that joyful, blissed-out feeling of anticipating the happily ever after that’s a guarantee of the genre.”

This one started strong for me, and I was instantly drawn in. It’s very much a runaway bride/friends-to-lovers story that mostly takes place on a cruise ship.

Jojo literally calls off her wedding at the last second thanks to her best friend, Cooper, showing up and giving her a way out. But she’s not really sure why she couldn’t make it down the aisle when her fiancé should have been the perfect partner. Then, three months later, she’s expected to go on a cruise with all of their friends and family for her sister’s wedding. She decides the only way to fix her self-diagnosed intimacy issues—and maybe her life—is to finally get with her childhood crush/first kiss. And what better way to get him interested than to fake date her best friend Cooper?

The plot did suffer from one of the things that can give me the “ick” in friends-to-lovers romances- the inability to communicate or the miscommunication trope. Especially when the feelings seem so obvious to the reader. But that may just be a me thing.

Overall, this was a fun (and at times chaotic) rom-com, and I’d definitely recommend it as a light, summer beach read.

Thank you @netgalley and @stmartinspress for the arc

#beachread #newbookrelease #katherinecenterbooks

The Summer Share by Jenn McKinley
⭐️ 3
🌎 3 | 📖 3 | 🖋️ 3 | 👩🏻‍🤝‍👨🏼 4 | ❤️ 3 | 2🌶️

Small-town, summer beach vibes meets opposites attract in this rom-com set in the Outer Banks in North Carolina. I was originally drawn to this book as I spent most of my childhood family vacations in OBX and wanted a little bit of that summer nostalgia.

Two strangers, sunny van-life influencer Hannah with her great Dane sidekick and stoic, reserved, insurance salesman Simon, inherit a run-down beach house in OBX after their grandparents die. According to their wills, they must spend two months living in the cottage before deciding how to move forward - to either sell the property and split the money or keep and share it. From a disastrous first night involving an unwelcome bat roommate, to slowly discovering the secrets of their grandfather’s, meeting the neighbors and exploring the community, to growing feelings and lowered inhibitions, Simon and Hannah both live a summer they’ll never forget.

Hannah and Simon are both great characters who are understandably guarded towards one another, not just because of the weird circumstances they find themselves in, but also because of their specific individual histories. They each have very real reasons to keep the home or sell and navigating that tension felt real. The great Dane antics and zany neighbors added enough levity to the book to make this a true rom-com.

This would absolutely make a great beach or holiday weekend read as we head into the sweet summer days ahead!

Big thanks to @netgalley and @berkleyromance for the arc of this book!

⭐️4.75 🌎5| 📖4.75| 🖋️5| 👫 4.5| ❤️5| 🌶️1
Annabelle Monaghan’s books always feel like a warm hug to me. They’re true comfort reads and the perfect summer beach read! Dolly All the Time might be my new favorite and that’s saying a lot because I adore Nora Goes Off Script.

In Dolly All the Time, we follow our FMC, Dolly, a 39-year-old single mom to a 13-year-old boy who returns to her hometown to help her father with his business while also caring for her adult brother, who suffered a TBI as a child and has cognitive impairments as a result. When she ends up helping the eldest son of the wealthiest family in town (like… the town is literally named after them), she somehow finds herself in a fake-dating situation. While Dolly teaches Stewart how to loosen up a bit, he teaches her that it’s okay to let someone take care of her for a change.

This book is absolutely oldest-daughter coded, and I loved how Annabelle writes FMCs that someone like me (an upper-30s mom) can fully relate to. Add in the perfect East Coast summer setting, and if you’re looking for a great summer read, I cannot recommend this one enough.

Thank you @netgalley and @putnambooks for the arc!

We are giving away a special edition of Our Perfect Storm by Carley Fortune plus a literary wives hat to one lucky winner!

To enter:
- join our Summer Book Club by May 31st! - link is in our bio!
(If you’ve already joined you’ve already done step one)
- follow us on insta!
- tag a friend you want to read with this summer!

POV: you asked for a quick recap and got a 30 minute 87% vibes, 12% plot, and at least 3 names definitely wrong 😂

When the moon hatched definitely jumped up to a solid 4.5 ⭐️ with a reread. It’s not for the novice fantasy reader but for those that like a more complex fantasy read this one is worth it!

Annie Knows Everything by Rachel Wood
⭐️ 4.5
🌎 4 | 📖 4 | 🖋️ 4 | 👩🏻‍🤝‍👨🏼 5 | ❤️ 5 | 🌶️ 1

Y’all…..this book! Workplace romance where he falls first for a totally clueless woman who talks too much and is a little bit of a mess? Put it in my veins!

Annie is the latest casualty in her company’s layoffs but since her best friend works in HR, they come up with a plan to creatively re-assign her to another team she’s absolutely in no way qualified for. When she joins the data team and meets her new boss, Connor, they both are in for more than they bargained for.

Annie is a little bit of a mess - she acts impulsively and, despite her good motives, pretty selfishly in most of her relationships but she’s so dang loveable it’s easy to forgive her. AND it’s set in NYC where they have an accidental Grand Bazaar flea market date. Swoon. Done. Cooked.

The banter between Annie and Connor is top tier and while Annie both accidentally and purposefully makes things worse for herself at every turn, it resolves in a way that feels satisfying.

This would be a great light, summer romance for the beach, lake, or any chill vacation!

Book Mail = Best mail 📚Who else has been counting down the days until this release?

We’re so excited to announce our Summer Virtual Book Club! ☀️📚 Join us as we dive into some of the summer’s hottest romance reads, chat all things books, and connect with fellow romance lovers all season long. 💕

First and Forever by Lynn Painter
⭐️ 3
🌎 3| 📖 3 | 🖋️ 3.5 | 👩🏻‍🤝‍👨🏼 4| ❤️ 3

If you want a light, sweet, and quick sports read, this is the one for you!

While one of us is definitely not a sports girlie, we both enjoy a sports romance from time to time and Lynn Painters newest did not disappoint!

It contained all the highlights and strengths from Lynn - a very cute meet cute, great characters with funny and splashy chemistry that leaps off the page, and a hijinks or two.

Duffie and her dad are lifelong Minneapolis Coyote football fans, like, have a dedicated room in their home for all their merch and special edition items. At one game, she has an unfortunate run in with the team’s mascot that goes viral and she’s quickly public enemy #1 for all Coyote fans. Desperate to try and clear the air she agrees to go on a popular local morning show.

Coyote MVP, Connor, is also tasked with doing damage control from the team’s perspective. He plans to go on the show, say a few nice words about the team, and get back to practice. Instead, he finds himself in a verbal sparring match with Duffie and… actually enjoys it. Much to both their surprise, their interaction goes viral again and the whole world wants them together. So, at the encouragement of the team’s PR manager, Connor asks Duffie out on a date.

What starts as a PR stunt and an attempt to get back in the community’s good favor quickly becomes something more. Connor and Duffies banter is top notch and they both have real life real hard things going on outside of their relationship. What unfolds is a sweet and funny love story.

The Last Page by Katie Holt
⭐️ 4
🌎 4 | 📖 4 | 🖋️ 4 | 👩🏻‍🤝‍👨🏼 5 | ❤️ 4 | 🌶️ 2

Are you someone who loves your local bookstore? Were you obsessed with Scholastic book fairs growing up? Do you love a slow-burn rivals-to-friends-to-lovers romance? Or are you simply obsessed with New York City? If you answered yes to any of those, then The Last Page is the book for you.

Ella grew up in her beloved New York City bookstore, working her way from customer to bookseller to manager. The owner has been preparing her to eventually take over the shop, so Ella is shocked when he unexpectedly passes away and leaves the store to his estranged grandson, Henry.

Henry loves his quiet life in Tennessee and plans to return home as soon as he settles everything at his grandfather’s bookstore. From the moment they meet, Ella and Henry clash over how to run the store and how to handle the eccentric staff who come with it. When they discover the bookstore is hiding serious financial troubles, the two are forced to work together to save the beloved Last Page bookstore.

This story is full of nostalgic, bookish charm. It started a little slow for me, but once the story picked up, I was completely drawn in. Ella has major eldest-daughter energy, and Henry is a total undercover cinnamon roll. If you’re looking for a sweet, cozy, bookish romance, definitely add this one to your TBR.

Thank you @netgalley & @alcovepress for the arc!

⭐️Top 5 Horror movies 📚Literary Wives edition

#top5horrormovies #literarywives #bookish

“There is no other reality I’d want to exist in except this one, with you.”

Check out our post for the full review!

Our Perfect Storm by Carley Fortune
⭐️ 5
🌎 5 | 📖 5 | 🖋️ 5 | 👩🏻‍🤝‍👨🏼 5 | ❤️ 5 | 🌶️ 2 | 🎧 5 (duet)

It’s no secret that Carley Fortune is one of our favorite writers. We literally took a whole day off from our “other” jobs to read her newest release. Our perfect Storm was worth the PTO “sacrifice” since we were both able to read it in less than 24 hours!

In this story we meet Francesca (Frankie) and George, who have been best friends since they were eight years old, both carrying their own childhood heartbreaks. Now, at 30, they’ve grown apart but when Frankie’s wedding weekend comes, George still shows up to be Frankie’s best man. But when Frankie’s fiancé leaves her with nothing but a note the day before the wedding, she’s left completely untethered.
Two months later, desperate for a reset, Frankie agrees to George’s “plan”: take the partially paid-for honeymoon together so she can heal, rediscover herself, and find her spark again.

Carley Fortune has this incredible ability to completely transport you into the setting of her books. Every single release somehow becomes my new favorite — the setting, the MMC, and the romance.

Our Perfect Storm is no exception. The setting is perfection. The romance is an exceptional friends-to-lovers slow burn. The yearning is absolutely elite. And the banter? Perfection.

This is top-tier romance. It gave us all the bubbly, giddy feelings we want from a romance book. This is absolutely going to be one of the romances of the summer and likely one of our favorite books of the year.

#theliterarywives #bookreview #5starread #carleyfortune #friendstolovers

I just completed this ACOTAR special edition by @acrylipicsbookishnook and I’m OBSESSED 😍

#acotarspecialeditions #3Dedges #acrylipicsbooks #theliterarywives

Yesteryear by Caro Claire Burke
⭐️ 5
🌎 5 | 📖 5 | 🖋️ 5 | 👩🏻‍🤝‍👨🏼 5 | ❤️ 4 | 🎧4.5

YESTERYEAR is having a moment right now and for good reason. Combine the unlikeable female main characters of Gone Girl with the plot of Pleasantville and a twisty, dark, satirical writing style and you get Yesteryear.

We don’t want to spoil any of it so I’m going to use the official marketing write up for it - “Yesteryear is a satirical debut novel about a “tradwife” influencer who wakes up in 1855, forced to confront the harsh reality of the pioneer life she romanticized online. The book explores themes of tradition, fame, and the performance of womanhood through the eyes of its narcissistic but compelling protagonist, Natalie, as she navigates a world that is both a nightmarish reality and a potential hoax or reality show. It’s a darkly funny, shocking, and intelligent critique of modern online culture, with a film deal already in place.”

It kept us guessing until the very last second and we definitely did not see the twist coming! This is one you’ll likely need to process and talk about - there’s so much for a rich discussion - so it would absolutely make a wonderful book club pick.

If you’ve read it, let us know in the comments or send us a DM! Our heads are still reeling! We can’t wait to see how they translate it to the big screen with Anne Hathaway.

#theliterarywives #bookreview #litwivesreview #yesteryear

Mad Mabel by Sally Hepworth
⭐️ 4
🌎 4 | 📖 4 | 🖋️ 4 | 👩🏻‍🤝‍👨🏼 4 | ❤️ 4.25

I could not put this book down! I would’ve finished it in one sitting if real life (dinner and bedtime routines) hadn’t gotten in the way. The plot pulls you in from the very first page (see next slide), balancing humor with some surprisingly emotional moments.
Eighty-one-year-old Elsie Mabel Kirkpatrick prefers a quiet, solitary life. She’s unapologetically crotchety, with a razor-sharp inner monologue and even sharper comebacks for anyone who gets too close. But when Elsie discovers the body of her elderly next-door neighbor, who is also her self-proclaimed nemesis, Elsie’s carefully guarded past begins to unravel. Long ago, she was known as “Mad Mabel,” the youngest convicted serial killer in Australian history.
Told through a nonlinear timeline, the story gradually reveals both present-day Elsie and her past, asking the reader to decide if Mabel is truly as dangerous as her reputation suggests or has she been misunderstood all along? Sally Hepworth’s writing is witty and darkly funny, yet there’s a real emotional depth; especially when it comes to young Mabel. While I found parts of the twist a bit predictable, I was still completely invested in seeing how everything played out. It read more like a mystery than a thriller for me, but it’s one I’d definitely recommend.

#theliterarywives #litwivesbookreview #bookreview #madmabel

A night of cocktails and dissecting my favorite book series… sign me up. Thanks @birminghambookclub for another fantastic evening and Happy Birthday @ashleebeegle

—SOLD OUT—
Are you as excited for ACOTAR 6 as we are? ✨ Our ACOTAR Book Camp filled up quickly with returning campers, but we still have two king rooms left and we’d love for you to join us!
Come solo or bring a friend—either way, it’s going to be an unforgettable escape into Prythian. 🗡️🌙
For all the details on accommodations and pricing, check out the link in our bio!

#acotar6 #bookcamp #theliterarywives #bookretreats

Are you as excited for ACOTAR 6 as we are? ✨ Our ACOTAR Book Camp filled up quickly with returning campers, but we still have two king rooms left and we’d love for you to join us!

Come solo or bring a friend—either way, it’s going to be an unforgettable escape into Prythian. 🗡️🌙

For all the details on accommodations and pricing, check out the link in our bio!

#theliterarywives #readingretreat #bookcamp #acotar6

It’s MAY! And our TBR list is getting a lot bigger. What are you reading this month? 📚☀️📖

#maybookreleases #theliterarywives #tbrpile

April was an absolute blast—spring book camp, three 5⭐️ reads, and so many other standouts! What was your favorite read this month? 📚✨

How to Kill a Guy in Ten Dates by Shailee Thompson
⭐️ 4
🌎 4 | 📖 3.5 | 🖋️ 4 | 👩🏻‍🤝‍👨🏼 4 | ❤️ 4.5 | 🌶️ 2 | 🎧 4 (duet)
I needed something completely different to shake me out of a book hangover, and this absolutely did the trick - I’ve never read anything else like it! I had never considered this before - one of the central themes of the books is how much slashers and rom-coms actually have in common, just on completely opposite ends of the spectrum. Does it fully commit to that slasher/rom-com tension at times? Yes, but that’s the point. It’s unlike anything I’ve read before, and I had so much fun with it.
Our FMC, Jamie, is working on her doctorate in film, with a thesis focused on 90s/early 2000s slashers and rom-coms. When she agrees to attend a speed dating event with her BFF, Laurie, she doesn’t expect to put that knowledge to use in real time. But when one of the daters is murdered and the group is locked inside, they’re suddenly forced to figure out how to survive the night.
I’m an absolute wuss, so I’ll be honest, I was genuinely scared at times while listening to this. There may or may not have been a moment where I made my husband turn on the bedroom light before I’d get up to go to the bathroom. And yet… I also found it hilarious. Is it completely ridiculous to find love while trying to survive a serial killer? Absolutely. But somehow, it works. You’re just going to have to trust me on this one 😉
It’s part Ally Carter’s Most Wonderful Crime of the Year vibes with the mystery/romance element and part Butcher and Blackbird by Brynne Weaver with the careful balance of gore and humor but this book really stands completely on its own.
If you’re looking for something fun and different: a little who-dunnit, a little romance, a little slasher—you’ve found it.

#theliterarywives #bookstagram #bookreview

The Paris Match by Kate Clayborn
⭐️ 3.5
🌎 4 | 📖 3.5 | 🖋️ 4 | 👩🏻‍🤝‍👨🏼 3.5 | ❤️ 3.5 | 🌶️ 2
Our main FMC, Layla has convinced everyone (including herself) that her divorce was completely amicable but when she travels to Paris, the city where she honeymooned, to celebrate her ex-husband’s sister’s wedding, that “amicability” is put to the test. Being surrounded by the family she once considered her own is harder than she expected. And when she accidentally says something that leads the bride to call off the wedding, she’s determined to fix it; even if it means teaming up with the very grumpy, very withdrawn best man.
In all honesty, I read this right after a 5-star book and was deep in a book hangover, so my feelings might be a bit skewed by timing. What did work for me? The setting. It’s clear the author loves Paris, and at times it truly felt like you were wandering the city alongside the characters.
What didn’t work as well: this book takes on a lot—post-divorce grief, the loss of a parent, trauma, chronic pain, and deeply personal decisions about having children. I don’t mind heavier topics in romance, and they were handled with care, but it felt like it was trying to do too much. Because of that, the romance itself got a little lost for me.
That said, this might just be a “right book, wrong time” situation. If you’re looking for a slow burn, more introspective romance that lets you explore the streets of Paris this summer, this one is still worth picking up.

#theliterarywives #bookreview #romancebookrecs

Added a whole new stack to the TBR on Indie Bookstore Day 📚 What should I read first?

#theliterarywives #indiebookstoreday #tbr

Indie Bookstore Day recap, truly a top-tier holiday for readers everywhere 📚

#theliterarywives #bookstagram #indiebookstoreday

The next bookstore we’re featuring is @bookmarkedpaperie in Trussville and trust us, this little gem packs a lot into a small space. We discovered it this past weekend and immediately fell in love. The staff are incredibly friendly, the merch is amazing, and the vibes are exactly what you want from an indie bookstore.
They’ve got lots of fun things planned for Indie Bookstore Day this Saturday including some bookish crafts, so make sure to stop by and show them some love! 📚✨

#Theliterarywives #indiebookstoreday #shoplocal #bookmarked #womenownedsmallbusiness

@thankyou_bham is one of our favorite local Bookstores. Especially Amy’s because it was opened by her friend Laura! Laura has since moved back home to Georgia (😭) but the things that make Thank You Books so special have remained - a great selection with a super knowledgeable staff ready to make a perfect reccomendation, a beautiful space that’s meant to be explored and enjoyed, and events tailored to authors and readers building community together. And in the perfect location in Crestwood. It can’t be beat!

If you live in the Birmingham Area or happen to be traveling through be sure to check it out!

#indiebookstoreday #shoplocal #thankyoubooks

Independent Bookstore Day is this Saturday, and this week we’re celebrating by spotlighting some of our favorite indie bookstores around the Birmingham area!

Share your favorite indie bookstore in the comments!

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