Book List 2025 · Reviews

Review: Finlay Donovan Digs Her Own Grave

Title: Finlay Donovan Digs Her Own Grave
Author: Elle Cosimano
Series: Finlay Donovan
TW: Domestic Abuse, Cheating
About this Book: Finlay Donovan and her nanny/partner-in-crime, Vero, have not always gotten along with Finlay’s elderly neighbor, Mrs. Haggerty, the community busybody and president of the neighborhood watch. But when a dead body is discovered in her backyard, Mrs. Haggerty needs their help. At first a suspect, Mrs. Haggerty is cleared by the police, but her house remains an active crime scene. She has nowhere to go . . . except Finlay’s house, right across the street.

Finlay and Vero have no interest in getting involved in another murder case—or sacrificing either of their bedrooms. After all, they’ve dealt with enough murders over the last four months to last a lifetime and they both would much rather share their beds with someone else.

When the focus of the investigation widens to include Finlay’s ex-husband, Steven, though, Finlay and Vero are left with little choice but to get closer to Mrs. Haggerty and uncover her secrets . . . before the police start digging up theirs. But who will solve the mystery first?

My Thoughts:

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Book List 2025 · Reviews

Review: Crash Test

Title: Crash Test
Author: Amy James
Series: N/A
About this Book: Twenty-four-year-old Formula 1 driver Travis Keeping is halfway through an incredible racing season, with the championship well within his sights. But when a massive crash in Formula 2 leaves driver Jacob Nichols in critical condition, Travis’s world is flipped upside down. No one knows, but he and Jacob have been dating for almost a year.

Now the only boy he’s ever loved is clinging to life, his F1 team can’t understand why his performance is faltering, and he’s locked in a cold war with Jacob’s parents, who want him as far away from their son as humanly possible. Travis is sure everything will get better when Jacob wakes up, but he soon realizes he’s underestimated Jacob’s parents’ influence on their son.

As the F1 season barrels on, Travis and Jacob find themselves alone and miserable on opposite sides of the globe. But with some new friends by their sides, both drivers will be pushed outside of their comfort zones and onto a journey of self-discovery—one that just might lead them back to each other in the end.

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Book List 2025 · Bookish Things · Reviews

Review: Assistant to the Villain

Title: Assistant to the Villain
Author: Hannah Nicole Maehrer
Series: Assistant to the Villain
About this book:

ASSISTANT WANTED: Notorious, high-ranking villain seeks loyal, levelheaded assistant for unspecified office duties, supporting staff for random mayhem and terror, and other Dark Things In General. Discretion a must. Excellent benefits.

With ailing family to support, Evie Sage’s employment status isn’t just important, it’s vital. So when a mishap with Rennedawn’s most infamous Villain results in a job offer―naturally, she says yes. No job is perfect, of course, but even less so when you develop a teeny crush on your terrifying, temperamental, and undeniably hot boss. Don’t find evil so attractive, Evie.

But just when she’s getting used to severed heads suspended from the ceiling and the odd squish of an errant eyeball beneath her heel, Evie suspects this dungeon has a huge rat…and not just the literal kind. Because something rotten is growing in the kingdom of Rennedawn, and someone wants to take the Villain―and his entire nefarious empire―out.

Now Evie must not only resist drooling over her boss but also figure out exactly who is sabotaging his work…and ensure he makes them pay.

After all, a good job is hard to find.

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Book List 2025 · Reviews

Review: The Good Vampire’s Guide to Blood and Boyfriends

Title: The Good Vampire’s Guide to Blood and Boyfriends
Author: Jamie D’Amato
Series: N/A
TW: Attempted Suicide, anxiety and depression.
About this Book: It’s only natural nineteen-year-old Brennan’s life would be upended by something as ridiculous and unexpected as turning into a vampire. But if there’s one thing Brennan can do, it’s pretend everything’s fine when he’s close to losing his mind. Brennan has just clawed his way back to Sturbridge University after recovering from a suicide attempt, and this is not the new life he was hoping for.

Brennan’s newly bloodthirsty existence gets way more complicated when Cole, the super cute librarian and everyone’s campus crush, stumbles on Brennan drinking from a stolen blood bag. Luckily, adorable Cole is happy to keep Brennan’s secret, and even seems to maybe like him? Navigating a new relationship is hard enough without the added struggles of vampire puberty, an eclectic clan of self-proclaimed “good” vampires, and growing feelings for the one person who makes Brennan feel normal. With swirling rumors of a missing student and a rise in strange “animal attacks” near campus, Brennan must uncover the secrets of the clan and figure out how to balance vampirism and humanity, or risk losing the first real friends he’s ever had.

My Thoughts:

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Book List 2025 · Lists · Reviews

Review: Go Luck Yourself

Title: Nightmare Before Kissmas
Author: Sara Raasch
Series: Royals and Romance
About this Book: Here
Source: My local library.
Would I buy it? Abso-freaking-lutely.

My Thoguhts: Sara Raasch gave Kris his own book. I screamed. I shouted. I kicked my legs in glee.

This is not the same Kris you meet in Nightmare Before Kissmas, this is more mischievous version who plays pranks on people who aren’t his brother Coal. And I love him for it.

He also loves a private study space. Can’t blame him there.

This book sure has a somewhat explosive beginning and I am most definitely not going to complain about that either.

Kris is easy to identify with, unsure of what he wants to do with his life and finding himself on the path of what’s expected of him instead of leaning into his likely dream.

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Book List 2025 · Lists · Reviews

Review: Nightmare Before Kissmas

Title: Nightmare Before Kissmas
Author: Sara Raasch
Series: Royals and Romance
About this Book: Here
Source: My local library.
Would I buy it? Abso-freaking-lutely. Just waiting for the money to do so.

My Thoughts:

These characters were so completely and utterly easy to fall in love with.

Nicholas aka Coal is grumpy, sad, and completely hilarious and easy to love. He is not dedicated to anything except his brother and the seeming destruction of his life including kissing a hot as hell stranger behind a bar. He is the epitome of longing, constantly thinking about this strange, mysterious bar worker. He loves Christmas, in the same way that I love the winter holidays, when it’s filled with memories of family, of giving and warmth and joy, and less about competition in giving the best present, or who can win in the corporate world.

Hex. What can I say about Hex? I adore him? He’s lowkey hilarious and no one would expect it from him which is actually somehow even better. He wears CORSET VESTS. I adore a man that cares about fashion. His angst became my angst, his jokes made me laugh out loud and god, the love he feels for his holiday and family just made me want to swoon.

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