Maren’s Reads

A beautiful story about a lifetime love

Revisado: 01-19-25

A beautifully written and beautifully performed. This will be in my top reads of 2025.

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Unputdownable

Revisado: 01-08-25

Isa Arsen has a way with storytelling. Her books will completely suck you into whatever world she has created and only let you go once the story is complete. The narrator does a fantastic job of bringing Margaret, and this incredible tale, to life.

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Not my favorite of hers

Revisado: 08-04-24

I will always read whatever Barbara O’Neal writes. Unfortunately, this one didn’t work as well for me. The insta love prevented me from fully connecting with these characters or the storyline apart from the romance. That said, this has rave reviews so I’d suggest giving it a try if it’s been on your radar.

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A winning debut

Revisado: 04-08-24

👉🏻 Read if: emotional reads, single parent romance, found family, angst, overcoming trauma, messy families, book hangovers

𝑴𝒆𝒔𝒔𝒚. 𝑯𝒆𝒂𝒓𝒕𝒘𝒓𝒆𝒏𝒄𝒉𝒊𝒏𝒈. 𝑫𝒂𝒛𝒛𝒍𝒊𝒏𝒈. 𝑻𝒉𝒐𝒖𝒈𝒉𝒕-𝒑𝒓𝒐𝒗𝒐𝒌𝒊𝒏𝒈. 𝑷𝒐𝒘𝒆𝒓𝒇𝒖𝒍. 𝑨𝒏𝒅 𝒑𝒐𝒊𝒈𝒏𝒂𝒏𝒕.

I abhor having to review books I loved. Where do I even begin?

As soon as I finished this breathtaking debut, I knew immediately it would be in my favorites of 2023. Easily one of the most beautiful books I have ever read, I find myself still thinking about these characters.

At its core, this is a story about family; the family we are born into and the family we seek out. But rich with layer upon layer of subplot, this book encompasses so much more. It deals with trauma in a very realistic and relatable way. It examines the ideas of forgiveness and acceptance, especially as it pertains to family. And it deals with finding love again in the face of life-altering trauma.

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A stunning debut about learning to let go and finding love again

Revisado: 04-08-24

Read if you like: messy love stories, books that tackle grief, later in life love stories, friends to lovers, dual timeline, jane austen

This is not your typical romance, and yet it is one of the most romantic books I have ever read. With not one, but two love stories at play here, we take the journey with Kate as she deals with her profound grief following the loss of the love of her life, only to rediscover what it means to live and love in the face of that grief.

It came as no surprise to read that the author, Emma Grey, suffered a similar loss. Kate’s grief is visceral. And yet, the exploration of that grief is so beautifully complimented by her determination to face life, for herself and her son, head on.

Every character in this story felt authentic. Every relationship wholly unique. With pop culture reference woven in - including a few pitch perfect Jane Austen references - and excellent pacing that kept me engaged from start to finish, this book was an incredible surprise; one I cannot recommend enough.

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An all time favorite!

Revisado: 04-08-24

Read if you like: messy romance, emotional reads, love triangles, medical dramas, he falls first, cinnamon roll MC

This book caught me completely off guard and hit like a freight train. Weeks later, and I cannot stop thinking about these characters and the moral dilemmas presented in this book. I am so happy to say, it is among my 2023 favorites.

I have been all about the messy romance of late, and this is the epitome of a messy romance. An emotionally stunted FMC, the man who loves her despite it, and then of course there is her former love, who she still hasn’t gotten over. When her past and current lives collide is where this book really grabs your attention and I could not put this book down.

I don’t want to give too much away because I think the situations presented are most engaging if you go in completely blind. This would make for an excellent book club pick if you are looking for romance with a lot of grit and heart, that packs a major emotional punch.

On a final note, I listened to this one on audio and I have to say, this might be my favorite Julia Whelan book. Like ever. She not only narrated this book, she performed it! And can I just add, her MMC voices are hella sexy and better than most male narrators themselves.

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The best neurodivergent rep out there

Revisado: 04-08-24

4.5⭐️

Read if you like: neurodiversity rep, stories about starting over, forced proximity, opposites attract, sunshine x grump, Ireland setting

Musician and former Pre-Med student Raine Hart knows what it’s like to live with ADHD. Upending her life to travel abroad, Raine prefers the nomadic life to settling down and ultimately disappointing herself and others. While in Ireland, she meets pub owner Jack Dunne, who suffers from OCD and anxiety. When a shared drink at the pub leads to a new job and living accomodations for Raine, she happily accept. But as their time together draws near, these two will have to figure out if their opposites attract romance can make it long past last call.

AH, this book spoke to me on so many levels. First and foremost, as someone who is neurodivergent myself (Autism), I appreciate this book on a fundamental level. So often, romances novels are about the idealized forms of love and relationships. This story is a romcom yes, but a romcom in the real world, full of angst, struggles, mental health issues and neurodiversity. This is real life love story - well as real as it gets in fiction.

Set in the cutest Irish village, with some of the most wonderful side characters including a floofball named Sebastian “ugly princess,” Last Call at the Local will steal your heart almost from the go. I loved how the author walks the line between insta love and slow burn in a way that allows us to get the best of both worlds. Even the mild open door was done to perfection (not too much, not too little). While this was my first book by Sarah Grunder Ruiz, it certainly will not be my last.

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If you love second chance/marriage in crisis, this book is for you

Revisado: 04-08-24

Read if you like: messy love, second chance, reconnection, forced proximity, exes with benefits

Of the Maysen Jar duet, this is by far my favorite. In fact, even though I did enjoy The Birthday List and the characters in it, I was immediately taken with supporting character Molly, her ex-husband and their backstory. I am so glad I finally got to read it.

I am a sucker for a messy, emotional love story, especially ones with flawed characters. Perry does a masterful job of showing both sides of this story, without putting blame on one character or the other. This is real; this is raw; this is love on the bad days.

A great read, especially on audio - just make sure you read book one in the series first for the full impact.

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A hauntingly beautiful love story

Revisado: 04-08-24

4.5⭐️

Read if you like: emotional stories, instant connection, overcoming grief, journey of discovery, found family, mystery subplot

I am so glad I gave this duet a chance. I had only read two books by Devney Perry prior to this series, both of which were more romantic suspense than emotional love story. While I did enjoy them, and plan to continue with that other series, this series is right in my wheelhouse.

I am a fan of a messy love story, a marriage in crisis, or any emotionally raw, angsty story and Perry definitely delivers here. And while it does start on one heck of a sad note, it is an ultimately beautiful and uplifting story.

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A super cute start to a fun new series

Revisado: 04-08-24

👉🏻 Read if you like: coming of age stories, UK setting, love triangles, strong friendships, underlying mysteries

What was so fun about this book is the merging of several unique genres including romance, friendship fiction, mystery and women’s fiction but all within the umbrella of New Adult. After all, at its core, this is a coming of age story about a young woman navigating her way through the world with newfound independence.

While love triangles are, admittedly, not my favorite trope, I had a clear preference in this one and as a result, that preference gave me a rooting interest. At a certain point I was racing to the end, desperate to know what would become of our MCs. I felt so personally invested in my favorite pairing and would not accept any other resolution. Thankfully things worked out as I had hoped.

With strong themes of friendship, a steamy romance scene or two (okay maybe more 😉) and that feeling of fresh adulthood and all the wonderful experiences that go along with that, Elle Kennedy has the perfect recipe for a fun new romance series. I do not know if this is set to be a series, but boy do I sure hope it is.

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