I enjoy Sepetys books. She always does a nice job weaving history into her stories and this one is no different. It offers an interesting glimpse into life in New Orleans in 1950.

I have always loved school arcs in fantasy series as I get to see the character develop and interact with others at their age. This is especially true with Aurthor as soon after he joins the school he humbles an angry teacher and becomes the professor for that class, which was really cool.

I don't give away spoilers in my reviews. I am a fan of Ms. Wiseman's writing - specifically, all the research she does to write her books. I did not know much about the coal industry at all. I feel like I have a pretty good grasp of it after reading Coal River. I love historical books because I like to learn while I read. Emma is a young woman who once lived in Coal River. She's vowed to never return for very good reason. After becoming an orphan years later, she finds herself back in Coal River at her Uncle Otis' home. He is the local coal mine owner and a brutal, harsh man. Her Aunt Ida only wants Emma in the home to provide free maid duties. Emma has a past history with her cousin Percy and is not happy to live in their home. Emma has maid duties as well as store clerk duties in the coal mine's general store. She begins to learn about the coal mine and how its employees are treated. Most upsetting to her is how young the breaker boys are and how dangerous their jobs are. I don't give away spoilers so I'll just say this was a spectacular, emotional read that is so well written. I was often sad while reading it, but also found a lot of hope in Emma. (from my Goodreads review)

I really liked reading about other characters and this book unlocked so much lore but I did kinda miss the protagonists but I liked that there were appearances from starflight and snowfall who are both protagonists and they did mention winter too

In To Sell Is Human, Daniel H. Pink challenges the traditional view of sales as something only used by pushy professionals with quotas to meet. He argues that in today’s world, we’re all in sales, which I truly agree with, whether we realize it or not. Whether you’re a teacher persuading students, a parent guiding a child, or an entrepreneur pitching an idea, you’re constantly trying to move others. He introduces a new framework for effective selling, replacing the old “Always Be Closing” mindset with “Attunement, Buoyancy, and Clarity.” These qualities help us connect with others, stay resilient through rejection, and make complex ideas easier to understand. He also redefines the idea of pitching, offering creative alternatives like the one-word pitch or the Pixar pitch to match today’s fast-paced, attention-limited world. Ultimately, the book emphasizes that the best kind of selling isn’t about tricking people—it’s about serving them. If what you’re offering genuinely helps, and you present it with empathy and purpose, then selling becomes a human act, not a manipulative one.

It Had to be Him was a refreshing break from the world. It was a sweet romance with just enough spice, a believable love story, and a likeable cast of characters. The book focuses on Ramin, who we met in book one, as he tries to reinvent himself after a failed proposal. I'm not usually a second-chance-romance kind of reader, but I loved the shared history between our MMCs and how easy it was to settle into their new relationship. I also got a kick out of Ramin teaching Noah how to be a dom. I may not know a lot about wine, but the book was accessible (though there were a few times when weird vocab was used) and enjoyable. Overall, the story was fun and endearing and I can't wait for book three!

Potentially a good addition to the Harry Bosch and Renee Ballard legacy

Not a typical Taylor Jenkins Reid romance but a great read! I wasn’t expecting the historical romance/space aspects and I wasn’t sure I loved it at first, but the more the book went on, the more I opened up to it. I really liked the characters and felt so connected to them while reading. The past/present switch in narration was a bit confusing at first, but when the stories came together in the present, it was great!

Percy Jackson is back! This time, instead of going on quests he’s explaining some of the Greek Gods! With sarcasm and humor of course. This book is hilarious and if you’ve read the Percy Jackson series (all the series’) then read this!

This book was not my thing. There wasn’t a lot going on, it wasn’t very long, and it just wasn’t something I enjoyed.