My Book Recommendations

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Don't Let The Forest In

Author: CG Drews

Genre: YA psychological horror

Rating: 5/5

This book left me staring at the wall questioning everything after I'd finished. Unlike anything I have ever read before! Between the botanical horror, the unreliable narrator, and the gorgeous poetic prose, this was by far my top read of 2024. CG Drews does an excellent job representing the ACE community in this book. Fair warning, this book does have an open ending.

Premise: High school senior Andrew Perrault spends his time writing dark, twisted fairytales for his friend Thomas Rye, the mysterious boy with ink-stained hands and autumn-colored hair. But things get seriously creepy when Thomas’s eerie drawings start coming to life, putting everyone around them in danger. Now Andrew and Thomas have to fight these nightmarish creatures, and the closer they get to each other, the bigger the threat becomes. It’s spooky, suspenseful, and impossible to put down.

Not In Love

Author: Ali Hazelwood

Genre: Contemporary Romance

Rating: 4.5/5

If you're a fan of Ali Hazelwood, this book is a little different from her others. This is not a rom-com (the author calls it an erotic romance). But for me, I love how realistic the characters are. The FMC and MMC have real flaws (like poverty, food insecurity, parental death, and parental neglect) that make them very relatable. Most of Hazelwood's books are single POV, but this one is dual. I absolutely LOVE getting to see the MMC's persepctive, and I so wish Hazelwood would write more of her books this way, because she is so good at writing her male characters. If you want top-tier yearning, this is your book!

I usually struggle with Hazelwood's third acts. I'm cruising along, devouring her book, then BOOM! Third act happens and I immediately deflate. Honestly, it's usually that her the third act break-ups feel too forced or unrealistic. I did not feel this way with Not In Love. The ending fit the characters and makes sense for their personalities. Hazelwood nailed it with this one.

Premise: A steamy enemies-to-lovers romance set in the world of biotech. Rue Siebert has a life that finally feels stable working at Kline with her friend and mentor. She's got a few good friends, a solid career, and some financial peace of mind. Then Eli Killgore, the frustratingly charming guy leading a company takeover, shows up and throws everything off balance. It’s got secret office hookups, sharp banter, and that slow-burn tension Ali Hazelwood does so well. They try to keep things professional, but the chemistry is undeniable, and what starts as a secret, no-strings attached fling quickly becomes much more.