Fantasy, Romance & Sci-Fi
Book Reviews
July 2025
Rating: 4.25 ★
Genre: Contemporary Romance
Review: First-Time Caller is a surprisingly vulnerable depiction of what it’s like to suffer through the realities of modern dating. As someone who has personally been out of the dating game for a long time, I didn’t expect to relate to Lucie’s struggles as much as I did. For me, that’s the incredible skill in B.K. Borison’s writing – taking a common and maybe even an “unremarkable” experience and turning it into something that feels significant and distinct.
I genuinely enjoyed this more than I thought I would. And in particular, I loved that it showed a more grounded perspective of wanting the “magic” in a relationship without demeaning people who long for that.
Unfiltered Thoughts: Sleepless in Seattle meets modern romance burnout.
“When the whole world tells you you’re silly for wanting the things you want, you start to believe them. You start to think you’re not worth it. That if the things you’re waiting for do exist, they’re not for someone like you.”
“For the hopeless romantics. And the reluctant ones too.”
Rating: 3.0 ★
Genre: Fantasy, Horror, Historical Fiction
Review: My Twilight-era past self is so jealous of me reading this. I feel like there was definitely a time when vampire books were overdone and, in many cases, they were sloppily done. This, however, feels like a rare story that did the vampire concept justice.
The atmosphere of this book is otherworldly – V.E. Schwab is a true architect – and the writing is honestly magnificent. I thought the characters were fascinating and fresh. Also, the raging female theme tickles a part of my brain.
I wanted to love this, and in many ways, it had the perfect setup for me to love it. Unfortunately, the sum of its parts didn’t click with me. There were major sections of the book that felt like they were trying to build up to something at the end. But that something at the end just didn’t feel like it justified some of the slog work earlier in the book. For me, it was anticlimactic.
Unfiltered Thoughts: Deliciously murderous thoughts and superior writing, but I wanted more *drama*.
“To the ones who hunger—
for love, for time, or simply to be free.”
“But María has known, all her life, that she is not meant for common paths, for humble houses and modest men. If she must walk a woman’s road then it will take her somewhere new.”
“Death comes, and sometimes it is kind, and often it is cruel, and very rarely it is welcome. But it comes all the same.”
Rating: 4.0 ★
Genre: Contemporary Romance
Review: I was a little hesitant going into this because age-gap romances usually give me the ick, but to be fair, if there is a tasteful way to write an age-gap story, this is probably it. And as per usual, Ali Hazelwood just knows how to deliver the goods.
There is definitely a pattern with me and Ali Hazelwood where I struggle to engage with her stories and characters in a deeply meaningful way. However – and this is a big however – I almost always have a blast whenever I read her books. When it comes to the fun factor and just the pure enjoyment of a romance, she absolutely dominates.
What can I say? I had a great time.
Unfiltered Thoughts: I was fighting for my life, trying not to picture Conor McGregor.
“I am a corporate lawyer, girl. My tolerance for boring is higher than the debt ceiling.”
“All of these things you listed, a dog could do.”
Rating: 2.5 ★
Genre: Science Fiction, Fantasy, Comedy
Review: The concept behind Dungeon Crawler Carl is ridiculous, and I mean that as the highest compliment. Earth is mined by aliens, and all the human survivors are rounded up and forced to fight for their lives in a televised videogame-themed competition. Carl is one of those survivors, along with his ex-girlfriend’s cat, Princess Donut.
It’s silly and funny and a perfect rip-off of our modern-day stereotypes of hoarders and gym junkies. If you need comic relief in your life, this is a necessity.
However, beyond that, I didn’t find it particularly compelling. I didn’t care for the plot or even the characters. I probably won’t be continuing the series, but I’m not mad that I read it. It served its purpose incredibly well.
Unfiltered Thoughts: Apparently, all you need to survive an alien attack is pink Crocs, a leather jacket, boxers and a talking cat.
“Being eaten by a bugbear makes me uncomfortable, Carl. So if your boyfriend ogling your tootises keeps these easy-peasy bugs coming at us instead of more of those lava-spitting llamas, then you better buck up, get over your human male privilege, and take one for your princess.”