If you were a fan of Scott Westerfeld’s Uglies series as a teenager, you’ll likely enjoy Beautiful Monsters by Julian Christian as an adult. It explores a similar idea but with a darker, more unsettling twist that feels frighteningly relevant.

A daring mission, a sister turned pirate and a sea full of secrets… Kittiwake Stormhaven is a fast-paced, sea-swept adventure filled with daring rescues, thrilling discoveries and the magic of friendship.

From sea to shore, betrayal follows her wherever she goes. On Christmas Eve, psychic Kendra Adams reveals the secret she’s hidden for decades—she was once Rosina, a mermaid torn between sea and shore. Betrayed in her ocean kingdom and desperate to escape banishment, she persuades a politician to smuggle her into the human world. But freedom on land comes at a cost, as she soon finds herself ensnared in another web, this one spun by the politician’s power-hungry sister.

The brew is hot and bubbling over with romance and terror in this twistedly beautiful anthology that welcomes the darkness of horror and the temptation of love's veiled promises. Six remarkable tales from six incredible authors fill this book of dark shadows and ancient whispers.

A Curvy Christmas is set in the fictional town of Garland, somewhere in the USA (best guess). Garland is famous for its obsession with Christmas, so much so that tourists flock to the town to experience a Garland Christmas. These new additions to the Curvy Christmas series include two more stories of teenage girls on their search for a Christmas romance.

Fresh Tracks balances sweet romance with just enough spice to keep things interesting. It's an entertaining binge-read that I couldn't put down, and I feel comfortable rating it 3.5 stars.

Read an excerpt of Extraterrestrial Noir by award-winning author Rich Leder! A psycho-criminal extraterrestrial on a suburban cul-de-sac. A family on the brink of all-encompassing insolvency. A twelve-year-old uber-genius in the line of fire. Can she save her family, and her planet?

In a city where the rich buy health and the poor inherit sickness, a Sicko who absorbs other people’s diseases gets a rare chance to end the system that’s killing him. But as he infiltrates the elite, he falls for someone from the world he’s trying to destroy.

Despite all his skill in healing and runecraft, God-Speaker Alvir Einarson could not save everyone.

It begins and ends, as things do, with a girl throwing a birthday party for a dragon. Or it would, if things were ever that simple.

All Damien Bryant wants is to spend the rest of his undeath on his peaceful Alaskan homestead.

One power divided among the many. Two visions of the future. A struggle to launch humanity to its greatest heights or tumbling into its darkest days.

Trevor, recently sober, plans a fresh start with Gina during a road trip. Their plans are disrupted by explosive rumors from their past, testing their love and secrets in the music industry.

Set in Central Florida in the late 80s, Worth It is a story of courage, redemption, and the power of becoming your own hero.

Bookshop Day encourages support for local bookshops. I visited various Auckland bookstores to celebrate, and maybe do a little Christmas shopping. Here's how my shopping expedition went.

Antigone Sprague's encounter with Lord Michael Northram sparks a passionate yet complicated romance built on secret poems and misunderstandings, leading to a tumultuous reunion and deception that tests their connection.

Today I’m spotlighting Sheldon Collins’s The Legend of Valentine, a sweeping historical debut that reveals the courage and sacrifice behind the origins of Valentine’s Day.

The stakes have never been higher for Eve Lafoy. After narrowly escaping a chilling abduction, she’s thrust into a darker world of hidden betrayals and dangerous secrets. This time, she refuses to be the victim—she’s ready to take on those who deceived her.

Round 2 of #BBNYA2025 saw me read 9 excerpts of 10,000 words each. I'm listing my top 5 stories that didn't make it to the Finals, and the overall scores that I gave them.

One murder mystery weekend. Two rival sleuths. They’re looking for answers. But will they find love?

Sound Catchers is about Maddy, a twin girl who experiences hearing loss early in her childhood.

First Lines Friday is a weekly book meme originally hosted by Wandering Words. What if instead of judging a book by its cover, its author or its prestige, we judged it by its opening lines?

This book gripped me from the very first page and refused to let go. I love this story. I love it so much that I almost started rereading it as soon as I'd finished it. If you love fantasy that blends rich world-building, forbidden romance, and high stakes, this belongs at the very top of your TBR.

Society may be run by the men of the ton, but six scandalous sisters are determined to take it by storm one gentleman at a time.