Author

Jill

Lane and Matt will never be “just” anything.

From the moment they met, there was a connection between them that was undeniable.

After a night of drinking (on her birthday), Lane impulsively buys a big yellow school bus, that she plans to turn into a home. She asks her friend Matt for help, as a mechanic & all around awesome guy.

They work on the bus together, and can’t help but fall for one another. They agree to only be friends (with benefits, of course), to not risk what they have for more. However, Matt is Mr. Commitment & Lane will run far away from any… so this obvious provides a challenge.

“I still need time, but if I’m going to love anyone, if I’m going to face my fears, if I’m going to give my heart away, as worn and hardened as it may be… it’s going to be you. It could only be you.” – Lane

Book Review:
Next to You

Hannah Bonam-Young

Series: Yes (Next #2)

Rating: ☆☆☆☆☆ 5/5

Spice: 2/5

Disclosure: Some of the links below are affiliate links. This means that, at zero cost to you, I will earn an affiliate commission if you click through the link and finalize a purchase.

Next to You by Hannah Bonam-Young is a beautiful friends to lovers, opposites attract romance between Lane & Matt.

I don’t even know where to begin, I loved this book so much!

Matt & Lane. Ugh. I love them both so much. How many times can I say “love” in this review? 🙃

Matt is a top tier book boyfriend – he’s incredibly sweet, caring, thoughtful, and so supportive of & patient with Lane.

Lane is so incredibly relatable – as someone with anxiety, I saw a lot of myself in her.

“It’s not that I’m not… better. I mean, better is a relative term. I’m feeling better than I was two months ago.”

I get asked a lot if I’m “better”👆🏼and this is such a great response!

What you’ll find in Next to You:
🚌 Friends to lovers
🚌 Golden retriever & black cat
🚌 Opposites attract
🚌 Anxiety rep
🚌 Tattooed heroine
🚌 He falls first
🚌 LGBTQ+ rep (bisexual heroine)
🚌 Pet rabbit name Simone
🚌 Found family
🚌 Single POV/first person
*Check triggers if you have any

More reviews for books by Hannah Bonam-Young:
Next of Kin (Next #1)
Out on a Limb

Find it on Goodreads HERE.

Buy the Book:
AMAZON

August 24, 2023 2 comments

Next of Kin

by Jill August 24, 2023

written by Jill

After unexpectedly getting a call saying her birth mother has just had a baby, Chloe is offered next of kin guardianship. She doesn’t hesitate to accept, not wanting her sibling to go through the foster care system.

Unfortunately, her finances aren’t enough to pass her evaluation by CPS. She’s offered to participate in TeamUp, a new initiative pairing next of kin guardians to support one another.

Chloe is matched with Warren, who is fighting for custody of his 15 year old brother Luke. Luke is deaf, and the system is seriously failing him by not having anyone that speaks ASL.

Warren & Luke move in with Chloe (and baby Willow), and try to keep their separate lives; however, they need each other more than they thought. They realize their first impressions weren’t as true as they thought, and they have a lot in common.
They try to deny their feelings, but their chemistry is growing by the day.

Book Review:
Next of Kin

Hannah Bonam-Young

Series: Yes (Next #1)

Rating: ☆☆☆☆☆ 5/5

Spice: 1/5

Disclosure: Some of the links below are affiliate links. This means that, at zero cost to you, I will earn an affiliate commission if you click through the link and finalize a purchase.

Wow wow wow. Hannah Bonam-Young is officially added to my auto buy authors list!

This book has such a perfect balance between heart, spice, laughs, and a compelling story that had me not wanting to stop reading.

I loved the romance between Chloe and Warren, but also their individual stories with their struggles to become guardians of their respective siblings.

Luke (Warren’s brother) as well as Emily & Lane (Chloe’s best friends), are perfect side characters to add to their lives.

What you’ll find in Next Of Kin:
⭐️ Forced proximity/roommates
⭐️ Grumpy/sunshine
⭐️ Single guardianship (both)
⭐️ Found family
⭐️ Disability rep (deaf characters)
⭐️ LGBTQ+ rep
⭐️ Slow burn
⭐️ No 3rd act breakup
⭐️ Single POV/first person

More reviews for books by Hannah Bonam-Young:
Next to You (Next #2)
Out on a Limb

Find it on Goodreads HERE.

Buy the Book:
AMAZON

August 24, 2023 1 comment

Amy Lea Book Reviews

Exes and O’s

by Jill August 20, 2023

written by Jill

Tara Chen is our heroine, and she is kind of obsessed with love. She adores reading romance books, and still has hope for her own happily ever after.

After moving in with her sister’s fiancé’s former roommate, Trevor Metcalfe (who is, hello, a FIREFIGHTER), Tara embarks on a journey to reconnect with her exes, looking for a second chance romance.

Trevor is not into relationships, and Tara is all about love. While they may feel wrong for each other, they can’t deny their feelings forever.

Book Review:
Exes and O's

Amy Lea

Series: Yes (book 2, Influencer series)

Rating: ☆☆☆☆☆ 5/5

Spice: 1/5

Disclosure: Some of the links below are affiliate links. This means that, at zero cost to you, I will earn an affiliate commission if you click through the link and finalize a purchase.

“A die-hard, emotional romantic and a guy who only believes in one kind of happy ending? That’s a recipe for disaster if I ever saw one.” Pretty much sums up Exes & O’s by Amy Lea!

I loved Tara so much. She was so relatable to a younger version of me – boy obsessed, looking for the best in people, and considered “crazy” at times – usually due to lack of communication from the opposite sex.

I love that Trevor fell for who she is, and didn’t want or expect her to change in any way. The tension between them was perfection *chefs kiss!*

What you’ll find in Exes and Os:
⭐️ Roommates/Forced proximity
⭐️ Friends to lovers
⭐️ Grumpy/sunshine
⭐️ Nurse & Bookstagrammer fmc
⭐️ Firefighter MMC
⭐️ Reformed playboy
⭐️ Tattooed hero
⭐️ Slow burn
⭐️ Canadian author
⭐️ Single POV/first person

Find it on Goodreads HERE.

Buy the Book:
AMAZON

August 20, 2023 0 comments

Amy Lea Book Reviews

Set on You

by Jill August 18, 2023

written by Jill

Fitness influencer Crystal Chen has found her happy place at the gym – until Squat Rack Thief comes in and starts messing with her. Her new enemy, also known as Scott Ritchie, is just as competitive as she is.

Little do they know, their widowed grandparents are about to be married!

As they call a truce for the sake of their families, and get to know each other better, the connection between them is undeniable.

Book Review:
Set on You

Amy Lea

Series: Yes (Book 1)

Rating: ☆☆☆☆☆ 5/5

Spice: 2/5

Disclosure: Some of the links below are affiliate links. This means that, at zero cost to you, I will earn an affiliate commission if you click through the link and finalize a purchase.

I absolutely loved Crystal, and all her messaging about working out for mental heath. As a plus size woman myself, I loved the talk about body acceptance as opposed to body positivity. Crystal’s instagram posts were all super inspirational, on a personal level.

While this was definitely a romance book, and the connection between Crystal and Scott was INCREDIBLE, it was also very much a story about Crystal’s journey with herself.

“How can he be in love with me if I’m not even sure I’m in love with me anymore?”

Read if you enjoy:
💜 Fitness influencer
💜 Curvy heroine
💜 Firefighter hero
💜 Enemies to Lovers
💜 Self love
💜 Canadian author
💜 Single POV/first person

Find it on Goodreads HERE.

Buy the Book:
AMAZON

August 18, 2023 0 comments

Abby Jimenez Cover Reveal

Cover Reveal: Just for the Summer by Abby Jimenez

by Jill August 15, 2023

written by Jill

Disclosure: Some of the links below are affiliate links. This means that, at zero cost to you, I will earn an affiliate commission if you click through the link and finalize a purchase.

Have you SEEN this STUNNING new cover for Abby Jimenez’s new book?!!?

Abby is a total auto-buy author for me, and I’ve devoured all of her previous books. Each one has gotten better and better for me, though I’ve loved them all.

This will be the 3rd book in the interconnected series (starting with Part of Your World, then Yours Truly). Justin is best friend’s with Benny, who we meet in Yours Truly (Briana’s brother).

Here’s what we know so far!
☀️ Just for the Summer by Abby Jimenez
☀️ Pub date: April 2, 2024
☀️ Publisher: Forever

☀️ Main characters: Justin & Emma
☀️ Reddit meet-cute on AITA thread
☀️ Summer fling (failed, I can only assume!)
☀️ Single guardian male main character (Justin gets guardianship of his 3 siblings)
☀️ Nurse female main character
☀️ An ugly dog named Brad
☀️ Romcom with heart (I’d expect nothing else from Abby!)

I’ll be checking NetGalley daily in hopes to grab this one!

ADD to your Goodreads TBR HERE: Just for the Summer by Abby Jimenez
PREORDER on Amazon HERE: Just for the Summer by Abby Jimenez

August 15, 2023 0 comments

Book Reviews Mazey Eddings

Tilly in Technicolor

by Jill August 15, 2023

written by Jill

Looking for a change and an adventure, Tilly heads to Europe to intern for her sister’s nail polish company. After a meet-disaster on the plane with a hot British stranger, she finds that he is her fellow intern for the summer.

Oliver and Tilly seem like opposites at first, yet they are more alike than they realize. As neurodiverse teens (Tilly with ADHD & Oliver with Autism), they both struggle to find their place in the world, and how to interact with it.

Book Review:
Tilly in Technicolor

Mazey Eddings

Series: No

Rating: ☆☆☆☆☆ 5/5

Spice: 0.5/5 (just kissing)

Disclosure: Some of the links below are affiliate links. This means that, at zero cost to you, I will earn an affiliate commission if you click through the link and finalize a purchase.

My gosh this book is just like a warm (firm) hug! 🤗 it was simply wonderful.

I can barely put into words just how lovely this book was. I loved being in the minds of these two, seeing the world through their eyes. Oliver’s fascination with color theory and putting that spin on how he views the world was a delightful element to the story. Tilly was absolutely hilarious, with her info-dumping personality of blurting out everything on her mind.

While anxiety isn’t considered neurodivergent, there are definitely a lot of similarities that I could relate to. I often find myself overstimulated in many situations, and at many times overthinking things I’ve done or said.

I mostly listened to the audiobook, and the narrators did a phenomenal job of capturing the essence of the characters!

What you’ll find in Tilly in Technicolor:
🌈 YA romcom
🌈 Neurodiverse MCs (ADHD & Autism)
🌈 Forced proximity
🌈 European adventures
🌈 Only one bed
🌈 LGBTQ+ rep
🌈 Self discovery
🌈 Stepping into adulthood
🌈 Slow burn
🌈 Dual POV/first person

Thank you to NetGalley, St. Martin’s Press & RB Media for advanced copies. All opinions are my own.

Find it on Goodreads HERE.

Buy the Book:
AMAZON

August 15, 2023 0 comments

Book Reviews Stephanie Archer

Behind the Net

by Jill August 12, 2023

written by Jill

Jamie Streicher, pro hockey goalie for the Vancouver Storm, needs an assistant for his busy life. His team assigns him Pippa Hartley, and he’s shocked to see the songbird he had a crush on in high school.

After her long-term boyfriend dumps her while on his (music) tour, Pippa heads home devastated, and with a complete lack of confidence in her own musical abilities. She gets a job as an assistant, and is somehow assigned to the super grumpy hockey player she had a HUGE crush on in high school.

While these two try to resist their attraction and feelings for each other, that doesn’t last long, especially when Pippa moves in.

Book Review:
Behind the Net

Stephanie Archer

Series: Yes (#1)

Rating: ☆☆☆☆☆ 4.5/5

Spice: 3/5

Disclosure: Some of the links below are affiliate links. This means that, at zero cost to you, I will earn an affiliate commission if you click through the link and finalize a purchase.

If you’re in your hockey romance era, definitely add this one to your tbr!

This book is a bit of a slow burn, but then it gets SPICY 🥵 both characters are easy to fall in love with.

Jamie is so much softer than his grumpy exterior lets on, and Pippa has an undeniable talent that just needs a little support. I love how they are both there for one another, and bring out the best in each other.

What you’ll find in Behind the Net:
⭐️ Hockey goalie & assistant
⭐️ Grumpy sunshine
⭐️ Forced proximity
⭐️ Roommates
⭐️ Musician fmc
⭐️ High school crush
⭐️ Possessive MMC
⭐️ Slow burn
⭐️ No 3rd act breakup
⭐️ Canadian author & setting
⭐️ Dual POV/first person

Find it on Goodreads HERE.

Buy the Book:
AMAZON | READ on KU

August 12, 2023 0 comments

Aimee Brown Book Reviews

Stuck with You

by Jill August 8, 2023

written by Jill

Jade is newly engaged, to a man she’s only known for 2 months. He proposes (on a whim it seems, to everyone but Jade), without a ring, and immediately moves away for school, going silent on her.

River is just a great guy – an amazing friend and caring of everyone in his life, and a fun person to be around. They meet at the bar where Jade works, and become fast friends.

Everyone is telling Jade she deserves far better than Conner (her fiancé), but River is the one who truly helps her see it. If she can be treated so well as “only a friend,” more can only be better!

Book Review:
Stuck with You

Aimee Brown

Series: Yes (3rd, can be standalone)

Rating: ☆☆☆☆ 4/5

Spice: 0/5 (just a kiss)

Disclosure: Some of the links below are affiliate links. This means that, at zero cost to you, I will earn an affiliate commission if you click through the link and finalize a purchase.

Stuck with You is the 3rd book in an interconnected series. Book 1 (He Loves Me He Loves Me Not) is still my fav, and I LOVED seeing Hollyn & Dax, and their wedding prep in this one!

I really liked River in the previous book (Love Notes), and was looking forward to his story. I loved the dynamic between him and Jade. River was a pretty different kind of hero, and that was refreshing.

What I wasn’t a fan of in this book is how Jade was just oblivious, or for some reason fighting so hard against the fact that her fiancé was not really into her. It made her look dumb honestly.
Even though that’s pretty much the whole premise of the story, I still enjoyed reading it.

What you’ll find in Stuck with You:
⭐️ Friends to lovers
⭐️ Bartender & film maker
⭐️ He falls first
⭐️ Slow burn (to a kiss)
⭐️ Clean romance
⭐️ Dual POV/first person

Thank you to NetGalley and Boldwood Books for an advanced copy. All opinions are my own.

Pub Date: August 9, 2023

Find it on Goodreads HERE.

Buy the Book:
AMAZON

August 8, 2023 0 comments

Book Reviews Holly June Smith

The Worst Guy Ever

by Jill August 5, 2023

written by Jill

There’s a fine line between love and hate – and Hattie & Rob are walking on it.

Hattie & Rob, Rob & Hattie – what’s the opposite of opposites attract? 😝 That’s what these two are.

“If opposites attract, our similarities explain why I find him so repulsive.”

Neither Hattie nor Rob are looking for a serious relationship – they enjoy their fun, and their lives, without one. They’re brought together by mutual friends (Kara & Luke who we meet in book 1). Rob has his flirt on, and Hattie is determined to resist him.

After making a bet they’re both determined to win, their texting banter & teasing begins. Their chemistry is undeniable, so how long will they fight it?

Book Review:
The Worst Guy Ever

Holly June Smith

Series: Yes (2nd in Sunshine Book Club)

Rating: ☆☆☆☆☆ 5/5

Spice: 2/5

Disclosure: Some of the links below are affiliate links. This means that, at zero cost to you, I will earn an affiliate commission if you click through the link and finalize a purchase.

Definitely my fav Holly June Smith so far!

While I couldn’t relate to them, I was super invested in these two characters. I was rooting for them to figure out their sh*t (for lack of a better expression). Both had absent dads and childhood trauma, leading to fears of abandonment or hurting the ones they love.

This book tackles some other tough issues, like gender double standards in dating, and in the workplace.

The Worst Guy Ever is book 2 in the Sunshine Book Club series, but can be read as a standalone.

What you’ll find in the Worst Guy Ever:
⭐️ “I don’t do relationships”
⭐️ Enemies with benefits to lovers
⭐️ Undeniable chemistry
⭐️ Banter
⭐️ Over 30 MCs
⭐️ Found family
⭐️ Dual POV/first person

Thank you to author Holly June Smith for an advanced copy! All opinions are my own.

Pub date: August 10, 2023

Find it on Goodreads HERE.

Buy the Book:
AMAZON

August 5, 2023 0 comments

Book Reviews Dylan Newton

Change of Plans

by Jill August 5, 2023

written by Jill

After an unfortunate accident, Bryce becomes guardian for her three nieces. She moves to care for them, and is trying to figure out her new life as a “mom.”

A super sweet meet-cute in the grocery store brings her together with Ryker, a Marine vet. He’s also adjusting to his new life, post-war and with a leg amputation.

They are both trying to find their way as they’ve been thrown a curveball into their life plans. Can they figure it out together?

Book Review:
Change of Plans

Dylan Newton

Series: Yes (3rd but can be read as a standlone)

Rating: ☆☆☆☆☆ 5/5

Spice: 1/5

Disclosure: Some of the links below are affiliate links. This means that, at zero cost to you, I will earn an affiliate commission if you click through the link and finalize a purchase.

Change of Plans is a story of finding your way when life changes your plan, and finding a person who supports that. While their lifestyles and situations are completely different, they both had a drastic and unexpected alteration to their life course.

Another thing I loved in this book was the normalization of mental health and therapy.

There’s a lot of talking about soup (the fmc is a chef!) so don’t read this too hungry 😝 it really all sounded delicious!

While this is the 3rd book in a series about the Matthews brothers, it can definitely be read as a standalone (I haven’t read the first two and didn’t feel like anything was missing).

What you’ll find in Change of Plans:
⭐️ Single “mom” (guardian)
⭐️ Chef & mechanic
⭐️ Former military hero
⭐️ Disability rep
⭐️ Mental health rep (Grief & PTSD)
⭐️ 3 hilarious kiddos
⭐️ Found family
⭐️ Dual POV/3rd person
*tws: death of parents/sibling (off page), PTSD, war, loss of limb

Thank you so much to NetGalley and Forever (Grand Central Publishing) for an advanced copy. All opinions are my own.

Find it on Goodreads HERE.

Buy the Book:
AMAZON

August 5, 2023 0 comments

Newer Posts

Older Posts

Jill

Book Review: Next to You

Hannah Bonam-Young

Book Review: Next of Kin

Hannah Bonam-Young

Book Review: Exes and O's

Amy Lea

Book Review: Set on You

Amy Lea

Book Review: Tilly in Technicolor

Mazey Eddings

Book Review: Behind the Net

Stephanie Archer

Book Review: Stuck with You

Aimee Brown

Book Review: The Worst Guy Ever

Holly June Smith

Book Review: Change of Plans

Dylan Newton

Book Review:
Next to You

Book Review:
Next of Kin

Book Review:
Exes and O's

Book Review:
Set on You

Book Review:
Tilly in Technicolor

Book Review:
Behind the Net

Book Review:
Stuck with You

Book Review:
The Worst Guy Ever

Book Review:
Change of Plans