When she's the Grumpy one and he's the Sunshine. And when she glares at someone specific, he notices and leans over to whisper; “Why do we hate them?”

2022 Mid-Year Book Freak Out Tag

Total books read so far - 78

New books read - 74

Old books reread - 4

Best Book You’ve Read So Far in 2022?

Red, White And Royal Blue

The Inheritance Games

Addicted To You

Daisy Jones And The six

From Lukov With Love

They Both Die At The End

Good Girl's Guide To Murder

New Release You Haven’t Read Yet, But Want To?

Carrie Soto Is Back - Taylor Jenkins Reid

Reminders Of Him - Colleen Hoover

Book Lovers - Emily Henry

Most Anticipated Release For Second Half of 2022?

The Final Gambit - Jennifer Lynn Barnes

It Starts With Us - Colleen Hoover

Biggest Disappointment?

The Unhoneymooners - Christina Lauren

Biggest Surprise?

Daisy Jones And The Six - Taylor Jenkins Reid

Favorite New Author?

Taylor Jenkins Reid

Casey Mcquiston

Holly Jackson

Newest Fictional Crush?

Loren Hale (Addicted Series)

Ivan Lukov (From Lukov With Love

Jasmine Santos (From Lukov With Love)

Ravi Singh (A good girl's guide to murder series)

Newest Favorite Character?

Lily Calloway

Connor Cobalt

Pip Fitz Amobi

Alex and Henry

Everyone on the crush list

Book That Made You Cry? (i cry at a lot of books so I'm just gonna say the first that comes to mind)

They Both Die At The End

Favorite Book To Movie Adaptation You Saw This Year?

Heartstopper

The Summer I Turned Pretty

Book That Made You Happy?

Heartstopper

Red White And royal Blue

Some Kinds Of Perfect

What Books Do You Need To Read By The End of The Year?

Throne Of Glass Series

The Raven Cycle Series

Stand aside other book boyfriends because Ivan Lukov *exists*. Y’all. I have never highlighted so much or cried so much while reading a romance. And because it’s Mariana Zapata, you already know it’s the slowest of the slow burns but the payoff is so worth it. I don’t even know where to start this review because it has so many of my favorite tropes! Enemies to friends to lovers, she’s a grump, he takes care of her when she’s sick, he falls first. GAH! Jasmine Santos is a pairs figure skater without a partner. When her enemy Ivan Lukov offers her a one-year deal to skate with him, she finally has a chance at a gold medal. Too bad she hates Ivan with the fire of a thousand suns (not a direct quote) and they can barely make it through a conversation let alone practice without insulting each other. He calls her Meatball! They routinely tell each other they suck! I wanted them to just kiss already! Ivan and Jasmine are the most stubborn characters I’ve ever read, and it takes a lot for her to trust him. They’ve bickered and insulted each other so much, the line between what’s good natured and what’s real get blurred. Jasmine’s constantly felt like she’s not good enough, especially from her dad who tells her she should get a real job. She has a learning disability, which propels her to work harder than anyone else to get her routines right. There’s an amazing moment where Ivan defends Jasmine to her dad, showing that he knows her better than she thinks he does, even when she was trying to hide herself from him. I saw a lot of myself in Jasmine. Her ambition, how she never gives up, and how she needed someone in her corner to help her believe she’s the best. This is now my favorite MZ book and hero! Aiden and Rhodes are still on the list but Ivan has set a high bar. -enemies to lovers -she’s a grump -sports romance -low steam -WDTK? Chapter 23 [ID: The cover of From Lukov with Love shows a bouquet of roses sitting on the surface of ice on an iPad resting on a blue bookshelf] #romancebooks #marianazapata #bookstagram #romancelandia #fromlukovwithlove — view on Instagram https://ift.tt/3lCrfSr

Mid Year Book Freakout

Inspiration came from @booksandchocolatesmears

1. The Best Book So Far

Well, as a mother would say with her children, I can't pick just one. However I can narrow it to three; Me Before You by Jojo Moyes– I loved that book with all my heart and will absolutely carry it with me forever–, From Lukov With Love by Mariana Zapata and Empire Of Storms by Sarah J. Mass.

2. The Best Sequel So Far

Definitely, by far, the best two sequels were Shadow Of Night By Deborah Harkness and New Moon by Stephanie Meyer (yes, I was a little late to that one).

3. A New Release You Haven't Read Yet But Want To

Parachutes by Kelly Yang, The Name Of The Wind by Patrick Rothfuss, We Are The Fire by Sam Taylor, The Wrath And The Dawn by Reneé Ahdieh, Love, Jacaranda by Alex Flinn–idk if this name is because of Argentinian roots or why but seeing that name just elated me– and Furia by Yamile Saied Méndez, Which actually is a representation of Argentinian women and I'm so excited by it.

4. The Most Anticipated Release Of The Year

I can't pick between Midnight Sun by Stephanie Meyer, of course, or Forest Of Souls by Lori M. Lee, Which I haven't read yet.

5. The Biggest Disappointment So Far

Against the popular opinion three of the most disappointing books I've read so far are; The Summer I Turned Pretty by Jenny Han– I don't have nothing against it, its just so predictable that I couldn't get the hang of it really–, The Raven Boys by Maggie Stiefvater–YES, I KNOW there's witches (I'm pagan), there's supernatural stuff (very into that), cute boys and girls (veeery into that too) but I just could get past the second chapter– and We Were Liars By E. Lockhart –YES, AGAIN, I KNOW but this, this just lost me halfway the first chapter. I think I'm not really into treasure hunting, tragic history in the family kind of thing–.

6. The Biggest Surprise So Far

Some of the biggest surprises are actually surprising by their genre. After reading all After books in one setting, without books in between, I swore to never go back to romance again. Oh how my tables turned when I found From Lukov With Love by Mariana Zapata, and I, a romance-hater, was swoop up from my feet with this heartwarming, beautiful novel. And also with a romance genre novel, The Unhoneymooners by Christina Lauren who made me fall in love with the characters and the book itself.

7. New Favourite Author Of The Year

Well, the author of one of my new favorite novels, From Lukov With Love, Mariana Zapata. Her slow-burn romances that deal with more than mellow stuff, like stress and family problems, and her steamy, dream-like doing the did scenes make me melt.

8. Newest Favorite Fictional Character

Again, I can't pick just one, so here are some; Ivan Lukov–but of course–, Kenji Kishimoto from Shatter me, Juliette Ferrars from Shatter Me, Cardan Greenbriar and my Lady Jude Duarte from The Folk Of The Air Trilogy.

9. Newest Fictional Crush

Oof, well, in the section dark haired, snarky boys we got; IVAN LUKOV, Cardan Greenbriar And Dorian Havillard. Then with the sassy blondes there is; Aaron Warner, Manon Blackbeak and Aelin Galanthyus.

10. A Book That Made You Cry

Without a doubt Me Before You by Jojo Moyes. That book wanted to choke me with my tears I swear. (Although I will admit, I cry with almost everything book related).

11. The Most Beautiful Book So Far

This year's is a hard top three for me; Again, Me Before you, The 100 by Morgan Kass And New Moon by Stephanie Meyer.

12. A Book That Made You Happy

The Book of Life by Deborah Harkness has the best ending, Which, of course, made me cry happy rivers.

13. Some Books You Need To Read Before 2021

In my urgent TBR are; The Girl From Everywhere by Heidi Heiling, all the shadowhunter chronicles, Crazy Rich Asians by Kevin Kwan, Girls of Paper And Fire by Natasha Ngan and In Five Years by Rebecca Serle.

Tag yourself if you want to, be free to reblog and tell me your mid year craze💗

Do you have any romance novel recommendations?

Yes!

Laura Thalassa’s The Four Horsemen series (obviously)

Helen Hoang’s The Kiss Quotient series.  There are two books so far, and they’re really companion novels vs. an actual series but the characters all connect to each other in different ways.  The first book is about a woman on the autism spectrum who is successful at work but very self-conscious about her personal life.  She blames it on her ASD and so she hires a hot male escort to teach her how to be good at sex.  It’s soooo sweet and pretty hot.  Both books deal with the characters’ Vietnamese heritage (the female lead in KQ is white but the male head is mixed race, and both leads in The Bride Test, the next book, are Vietnamese) and both books feature leads on the autism spectrum.  The representation is excellent, as Hoang is both of Vietnamese descent and on the spectrum.  

From Lukov with Love by Mariana Zapata.  Jasmine is a failed figure skater, and is about to give up when she is offered the chance to jump in as the partner for Ivan Lukov, a skating star.  The issue?  She’s known him for most of her life and they hate each other.  Zapata’s books are kind of... over the top, tbh, but I think this one is her best and when they’re cute THEY’RE CUTE.  She’s pretty hit or miss for me in general, but I did also enjoy Kulti, which is another sports romance novel by her in which the lead is a women’s soccer player, and her team is suddenly and mysteriously being coached by the German star she used to idolize but has hated ever since he fucked her brother over during a game.  It’s a bit cringey at points, but is overall a lot of fun.

The Hating Game by Sally Thorne.  Lucy and Joshua work together in a publishing house, and have always hated each other.  Locked in a game of one-upping each other, they’re now both candidates for the same promotion.  The issue?  She’s suddenly becoming aware of her burning attraction to him. 

The Flatshare by Beth O’Leary is a very Soft romance I just read, in which two people become roommates that literally share a bed...  But as they work opposite shifts, they don’t ever interact and only communicate through notes.  Obviously, they fall in love.  So sweet.

Marriage for One by Ella Maise is a fun romance about a girl who can only inherit the building she needs to open her coffee shop if she’s married...  But oh no, her fiance just dumped her!  Thankfully, a very cold and very rich lawyer has proposed a business deal in which he’ll marry her and they’ll basically own the coffee shop together.  WHAT TO DO???  Includes the dude having a fixation on the fact that the girl must wear her wedding ring, even though it’s totally just a marriage of convenience.

Kate Quinn’s Mistress of Rome series is a historical romance series.  The first book is about Leah, a Jewish girl who has become a slave of the Roman empire, and Arias, a gladiator.  They fall in love but are torn apart by circumstance, only to reunite many years later after much has changed--and Leah is now the mistress of the emperor.  The second book is a prequel, while the third and fourth books are like, generational sagas.  I love them to bits.

I am ABOUT to re-read Paullina Simons’s Bronze Horseman, but that’s kind of a classically gigantic historical romance novel about Tatiana, a Russian girl during WWII who falls in love with Alexander, a soldier.  Though he shares her feelings, they also met because he was seeing her sister, and the War and Shit makes things pretty difficult.  I barely remember it, but I’m about to give it another shot because I gave it a high rating like six years ago and want to see if I still would.  It seems to be pretty highly regarded in the romance community and there is a lot of swooning to my memory lol.

TITLE: From Lukov With Love AUTHOR: Mariana Zapata RELEASE DATE: February 1st 2018 READ DATE: November 3rd, 2018 PUBLISHING HOUSE: N/A RATING: ★★★★☆

you know how in YA there’s this thing where people “let out a breath they didn’t know they were holding”? well, that’s me with this book. I didn’t know I needed From Lukov With Love so desperately in my life until I finished reading it. it truly was like letting out a breath I didn’t know I was holding.

just for a little bit of context, I’ve ALWAYS wanted to be a figure skater. it’s obviously too late for me to start now, but it’s been a frustrated dream of mine since I was young and I’m never gonna let it go. rooted in this is the fact that I’ve consistently admired the sport throughout my life, and that I find anything having to do with figure skating not only appealing but irresistible. admittedly, though, I also don’t read much romance. I have no idea if this is something that’s been written and re-written a thousand times with different versions of the same characters, or if it’s an original plot at all.

it did not prevent the book, however, from being absolutely delicious.

From Lukov With Love was incredibly more wholesome than I ever expected it to be. for some reason I was kind of anticipating a hot-and-heavy romance with intense hate-sex vibes and an overall aesthetic of competitiveness, and instead, I got healthy, clean slow-burn, founded entirely on support and validation. I bet you can imagine how surprised I was. enemies to lovers I was expecting. but enemies to FRIENDS to lovers? MARIANA ZAPATA TAKE ME AWAAAAAYYYYYYY

the characters were pretty cute!! I know now why some people might not like the main character, Jasmine, since she was extremely hot-headed and irrevocably stubborn. BUT SHE HAS THE NICEST FAMILY!! and she has such a cute relationship with everyone she holds dear!! she’s a tough cookie to crack but I really think she was amazing!! she has real, human complexities and she was so strong. AND IVAN!!! what can I even say about Ivan!!!!!! find someone who takes care of you the way Ivan takes care of Jasmine!!! I don’t care that this book took literally a lifetime and a half to get to the romance, THE RELATIONSHIP DEVELOPMENT AND THE FRIENDSHIP BETWEEN THESE CHARACTERS IS WORTH IT.

bottom line, do you like The Hating Game? do you like Yuri On Ice? do you like wholesome, healthy relationships? if yes to one or all of the above, this book is perfect for you. my heart flutters every time I think about this book, so y’all better love it.

GOODREADS LINK

S U M M E R  R E A D I N G  L I S T

Summer is here! What are you all up to these days?

Are you lying on the beach, sipping some cool drink with a fancy name and enjoying the sun? Or sitting on a long monotonous flight to your holiday destination? Or perhaps you’re chilling in the park after work?

And is there something missing in all those scenarios?

Why, a good book, of course!

So here’s a list of some of our favourite books; ones that we love coming back to again and again and ones that we might’ve read only once so far but already know we’ll be rereading them in the future :) And since summer is a perfect time to read something new as well, you’ll also find some upcoming releases that we’re excited about here.

Happy reading!

UPCOMING, NEW AND NEWISH RELEASES

The Chase by Elle Kennedy (expected publication date : August 6th) - not only Fitzy was shook by Summer’s appearance in The Score, we were too! Now we cannot wait for their story and with our love of Off Campus series, our expectations for this book to end up being the hottest read of the summer are pretty damn high.

The Governess Game by Tessa Dare (expected publication date : August 28th) - the first book in Girl Meets Duke series, “The Duchess Deal”, was an absolute delight to read and we’re hoping this one will continue that happy hot streak.

Spinning Silver by Naomi Novik (expected publication date : July 10th) - a good retelling by one of our favoruite authors sounds like a must-read and must-read it is.

Hot Asset by Lauren Layne (published : May 22nd) - the first book in Lauren Layne’s newest series, 21 Wall Street, has it all - steamy romance, great cast of characters, some crime and mystery and last but not least, hot brokers in suits.

Sea Witch by Sarah Henning (expected publication date : July 31st) - MERMAIDS. Enough said.

The Kiss Quotient by Helen Hoang (published : June 5th) - we fell in love with this book and we’re sure many of you will too! It’s funny, it’s warm, it’s sexy and Stella and Michael are definitely our faves this summer <3

I Think I Love You by Lauren Layne (expected publication date : July 10th) - the last book in Oxford series and we’re definitely curious about it. We love us some fake dating and friends to lovers trope xD

Pride by Ibi Zoboi (expected publication date : September 18th) - contemporary Pride and Prejudice retelling? WE. ARE. SO. IN.

Jock Row by Sara Ney (published : May 3rd) - in our minds, you can’t go wrong with some steamy sports romance for a summer read and this one is just so freaking cute!

Mirage by Somaiya Daud (expected publication date : August 28th) - YA fantasy with Moroccan-inspired setting and the summary sounds oh-so-intriguing. Is this the next series we will get obsessed with? Seems probable!

To Kill a Kingdom by Alexandra Christo (published : March 6th) - bloodthirsty mermaids? Check. Ruggedly handsome pirates? Check. Enemies to friends to lovers trope? CHECK, CHECK AND CHECK, GO READ THIS BOOK NOW.

The Naked Truth by Vi Keeland (expected publication date : July 23rd) - most of us on this blog have a “hit and miss” experience with Vi Keeland’s books but this one seems like a perfectly balanced hot meal of romance and angst, so we’re here, ready for it xD

FAVES WE LOVE COMING BACK TO

The Score by Elle Kennedy - again, you just can’t go wrong with sports romance for some summer reading and Allie and Dean will surely knock your socks off. WE LOVE THIS STORY!

Addicted series by Krista & Becca Ritchie - it won’t come as a surprise, surely, that this is one of our most beloved series. In fact, we’re planning on rereading it sometime in August! So...anyone else ready to go through ten books full of love, friendship, heartache, pain and utter bliss? Join us and fall in love with Lily, Rose, Daisy, Lo, Connor and Ryke just like we did!

Walk of Shame by Lauren Layne - one of our favs by Lauren Layne, it’s SO CUTE and FUNNY and will make you feel good!

Call Me By Your Name by André Aciman - at first sight, this is a story of summer romance set in Italy - which makes it perfect for summer reading list - but in reality, it’s. So. Much. More. And it might very well break your heart but it’s worth it.

Foolish Kingdoms series by Natalia Jaster - creators of this blog have declared themselves crazy for Natalia Jaster’s writing - and it all started with the first book in this series, “Trick”. Fantasy setting, poetic prose and entertaining layered characters - what more could one wish for?

All for the Game by Nora Sakavic - this series is by no means a “light” summer read but we still love it so much and can’t help rereading it again and again. The Foxes have claimed our hearts and refuse to let go, just as we do.

Devil in Spring by Lisa Kleypas - how can one pass summer without reading at least one steamy historical romance, right? And this one doesn’t disappoint! With a charming and refreshing heroine and a dashing hero who becomes her biggest fanboy in a matter of a few chapters, it’s a real treat :)

When Dimple Met Rishi by Sandhya Menon - young love at the summer program for aspiring web developers with romance and cuteness overload, are you in or are you in???

Ugly Love by Colleen Hoover - friends-slash-neighbours with benefits arrangement meets Feelings. Rules are broken. Complications ensue. Read it *whispers SUBTLY*

Tell Me Three Things by Julia Buxbaum - perhaps a book set in high school doesn’t exactly scream “summer” but this is one of our favourite YA contemporaries. There’s just something about the way this book makes you feel...we just cannot recommend it enough!

From Lukov with Love by Mariana Zapata - sure, this is a sports romance revolving around figure skating which happens to involve lots of ice but rest assured, the chemistry between Jasmine and Ivan will leave you in need of ice for cooling down purposes.

The Cruel Prince by Holly Black - granted, we’ve read it only months ago, but this one has us absolutely obsessed. And you could be too, just dare to venture into the mysterious and deadly world of faeries - just remember to guard your mortal heart.

Everless by Sara Holland - YA fantasy with an usual concept of time as currency - it keeps you on the edge of chair as you read it. If anyone feels like reading some quality fantasy this summer, go for it!

Married by Morning Lisa Kleypas - favourite one from The Hathaways series! Catherine and Leo just own our hearts <3 This book will make you laugh and (maybe) cry and (surely) fan your heated face (because the hotness levels? Phew🔥

The Foxe and the Hound by R.S. Grey - this is such a make-you-feel-good book and the main character, Madeleine, couldn’t be more relatable. She’s in her mid/late-twenties and - plot twist - doesn’t have it all figured out yet. Luckily, not all hope is lost yet xD

Forbidden Hearts series you by Alisha Rai - it saddens us greatly how underappreciated Alisha Rai’s writing is. She writes compelling diverse characters and her smut is the ultimate proof that Consent Is Sexy. Join us in fangirling!

Book Review - From Lukov with Love by Mariana Zapata

From Lukov with Love by Mariana Zapata My rating: 5 of 5 stars 4.5 stars Edited because I really should take the time after finishing a book like this to write a review. Proofreading is key, folks. The Good. The characters above all. Jasmine and Ivan are a memorable couple, and the enemies to lovers who have to come together to win (and yes I am definitely NOT the only person who gets The Cutting Edge happy nostalgia vibes when I read this) trope is in full effect here. The humorous bickering between them is certainly a highlight of the story. Ms. Zapata's real strength in her storytelling: she’s great at character development, in particular writing athletes in her stories. She really knows how to deep dive into an athlete's psyche - the drive, sheer strength of will, the single-mindedness that is needed to succeed at a championship level. The sacrifice, the physical pain, the doubt and confidence that’s often expressed in the same thought, it’s all there for you to immerse yourself in. Jasmine is never as tough on anyone else as she is on herself. Ms. Zapata takes her lead characters and peels them back layer by fascinating layer for the reader, like little onions. And yes, they’ve made me cry on occasion when she’s dicing them up for my reading pleasure. Even while she’s focusing on some really funny and witty banter between Jasmine and Lukov, you get to understand what makes these two tick. By the time the deeper, emotional scenes really start kicking in, you are seriously invested in in both Jasmine and Ivan, and their happiness, and those bits are truly swoonworthy. The (not necessarily) Bad (just painful). On the other hand, the slow burn isn’t for everyone. Ms. Zapata takes special delight in torturing the reader, waiting to the absolutely last possible moment to give any kind of romantic payoff. Let me tell you, she can draw out that tension and yearning for any kind of romantic action a damn loooooooooong time. Now with every successive book she writes, I think it’s become a game of how long can she wait to give that romantic payoff. At this point, I’d be happy if there was even a wee bit more sexual tension earlier in the story, because it’s become way too predictable. With other romance novels, I can almost tell you the exact percentages for other books when couples will kiss, have sex, etc. and with an MZ book, I know nothing really romantic will even start until about 80% or later and that’s its own kind of predictable. It’s hella frustrating, so if that’s not your thing, this is not the book for you. If you're a Zapata fan, you'll know what you're in for and you'll love it, because y'all are masochists, like me. :) Everything in Between. Like all other MZ books, this is told strictly from the heroine’s POV, and I always wish there’s a bit of time spent in the hero’s headspace. Even a chapter would be greatly appreciated. But that’s not Ms. Zapata’s way, and I do appreciate that she’s more about giving the reader what they need, not necessarily what they want. And finally, while Dear Aaron was not my favorite of MZ’s books, getting to spend time with the Santos family again was a helluva lot of fun and really gave a depth to these characters that I didn't appreciate from the first book. 4.5 stars I truly enjoyed so much of Jasmine and Ivan’s story, even if I wanted more romantic moments. If you love sports romances with the enemies to lovers trope, and you don’t mind suffering a long while for a romantic payoff, I’d recommend it. For more reviews, visit View all my reviews