Hey y'all,

For July, we'll be reading Martyr! by Kaveh Akbar. It was one of my top five reads last year and I just can't stop thinking about it and I want you all to understand that feeling.

Moving forward, I'll send out a poll on Discord to see what people would like to see from this book club. Feel free to also comment suggestions here or in Discord. I've been picking the books the past few months, but I do want to bring the voting back soon.

XoXo,

Rae

We are making sure your bookish aesthetic is unmatched this summer. Your exclusive July vault is packed with over 60+ customizable Canva templates and mockups designed to make your feed shine. From detailed review layouts to giant reading wrap-ups, everything you need is just a click away.

Dive into your exclusive links below to claim your templates:

📦 The July Mega Pack:

• 60 Physical Book, Phone, Tablet, and Nook Mockups/Templates (Size 1:1): https://canva.link/l0vk47yjf6uox0t

📖 Review & Recommendation Templates (Size 4:5 Feed Layouts):

• Book Review Template: https://canva.link/evk8nfaz7vg2v0c

• 3 Book Recs Template: https://canva.link/1s2m3nnvmeamd7k

• My Top Three Five Star Reads Template: https://canva.link/y6zs4cnkzwbmrar

📱 Story Templates:

• Story Book Review Layout: https://canva.link/spthmz2ek9mod8s

• Story July Wrap-Up (4 Images): https://canva.link/w0t9o734xj67onj

• Story July Wrap-Up (6 Images): https://canva.link/bi0993j2vaqx0lx

• Story July Wrap-Up (9 Images): https://canva.link/vid04nnnlolgvxg

• Story July Wrap-Up (12 Images): https://canva.link/gz5cgf7vpg28gxu

Thank you for being part of The First Editions! We can't wait to see how you customize these. Tag us in your creations so we can admire your summer aesthetic! 🙌✨

#Bookstagram #TheFirst Editions #CanvaTemplates #BookMockups #ReadingWrapUp #BookReview

Hey readers and creators!

Summer is in full swing, and it’s time to give your bookish content a fresh, sunny upgrade. We are back with your monthly dose of design goodies here! Whether you want to review your latest beach read or show off your mid-summer stats, we’ve got you covered.

Here is a sneak peek of what you can download this month:

• July Mockup Starter Pack (Size 1:1): Get four essential mockups to showcase your book across every format including One Physical Book, One Tablet, One Phone, and One Nook template.

• 👉 Download the 1:1 Mockup Pack

• Story Book Review Template: Share your instant thoughts on your latest read directly to your stories.

• 👉 Download the Story Book Review Template

• Story July Wrap-Up (4 Images): A clean, simple layout to feature your top four reads of the month.

• 👉 Download the 4-Image Wrap-Up Template

• Story July Wrap-Up (9 Images): For the fast-paced readers who smashed their reading goals this month!

• 👉 Download the 9-Image Wrap-Up Template

✨ Want even more templates? Upgrade your content game! ✨

If you love these freebies but find yourself wanting more variety, sizes, and specific layouts like 5-star read spotlights, top recommendations, and mega wrap-ups, it’s time to level up.

Join The First Editions to unlock our complete July vault, featuring over 60 physical and digital mockups, tailored 4:5 sizes for your feed, and wrap-up templates that hold up to 12 books!

I'm changing up Monday's posts! I'm going to try out moving my book reviews from Instagram to Bindery, and doing them in a weekly roundup style. I'll be giving a few bullet points about each book I read in the last week.

Honestly, I'm a little nervous about this because I do not like change, ha. But we're doing it! Also, come on over to my Discord server and share your own reviews with the friendly folks there!

Books marked with a * were gifted to me, books marked with a ^ I was paid to read.

Dungeon Crawler Carl by Matt Dinniman - This was a reread, and I've hollered enough about DCC that I won't subject you to too much more. I made my spouse listen to this on a road trip we took to try and get them into the series and it worked! Honestly, I'm pleasantly surprised given that they rarely read fiction, let alone sci-fi/fantasy.

The Maidenheads by Benny B. Johnson* - Y'all already saw my rave review of this! Honestly, it's a contender for a top book of the year for me. (And watch this space for my mid-year faves!)

Escala's Wish by David James^ - I was surprised by how much I enjoyed this book. It's a D&D style story with a faerie trying to complete a task that will allow her to end her exile from the fae realm, and it's told with the framing of a bard telling the tale to a tavern full of people. It's not the most complex story and doesn't have the most three dimensional characters, but it was full of heart, action, and silliness.

This week my guest is queer rom-com author Amy Spalding. Her new sapphic romance IN HER SPOTLIGHT is about Tess Gardner, the closeted star of a superhero film franchise who finds out the director of her next play is her super hot ex-girlfriend. We talked about how Amy wrote all of the competing power dynamics of a fling backstage in post-Me Too theater. Plus, writing a villain I wanted to punch through the page, and misogyny’s ripple effects on set and on stage.

Follow Amy on social media @thatames and subscribe to her newsletter at amyspalding.substack.com

Listen on:

• Apple Podcasts

• Spotify

• Castbox

• Libsyn

There's something very satisfying about spending the summer reading horror! Here are the books that I recommend for your Summerween reading list!

1) The Blood Year Daughter by G.G. Silverman - In G.G. Silverman’s debut fairytale-horror collection The Blood Year Daughter, a woman builds husbands out of gravel and slaughterhouse feathers, two sisters eat cinnamon-scented pieces of their mother, and a charming doctor’s murdered brides whisper warnings to his newest wife.

2) Kill Your Darlings by Yuvashri Harish - A fun, fast-paced YA horror about a teen girl facing the horrors of misogyny, racism, an evil witch, and her horde of monsters.

3) We Used to Live Here by Marcus Kliewer - A haunting debut about two homeowners whose lives are turned upside down when the house’s previous residents unexpectedly visit.

4) Tender is the Flesh by Agustina Bazterrica - Working at the local processing plant, Marcos is in the business of slaughtering humans—though no one calls them that anymore.

5) What Feeds Below by Tatiana Schlote-Bonne - The darkness isn’t empty. It’s hungry. At the edge of the City of the Void, a massive chasm extends miles into the earth, its treacherous terrain overrun with vicious monsters and carnivorous plants. For orphaned best friends Petra and Jade, guiding treasure-seeking tourists down into the Void is the only way to earn enough to pull themselves up out of the slums for good.

6) Come Closer by Sara Gran - The new voice in Amanda's head, the one that tells her to steal things and talk to strange men in bars, is strange and frightening, and Amanda struggles to wrest back control of her life. Is she possessed by a demon, or is she simply insane?

Happy Sunday, mis internet amigxs!!!

I CAN'T WAIT TO TALK TO YOU ABOUT THE OVER 20 LATINE BOOKS RELEASING THIS MONTH, BUT FIRST! I HAVE TO GIVE YOU AN EXCLUSIVE SNEAK PEAK OF SOME CHANGES COMING SOON...

BUT FIRST, TO VENEZUELA...

I wanted to send my heart out to the people of Venezuela and all they are experiencing in this moment. I can not imagine the horror and desperation. If you have the means or the ability to share, this document is a wonderful resource for assistance and donations. Please share, as recovery will be long and the people of Venezuela need all the help we can provide right now in this moment. If you have reputable links, please provide them in the comments of this post as well. I'm happy to amplify.

EXCLUSIVE NEWS FOR YOU

HOPEFULLY this will be my last email before our spreadsheet is finally up and running. WHERE will it be accessible to you 24/7? ON TOMESANDTEXTILES.COM. Here's a little peek at the landing page...CUTE RIGHT?!?!? I can't wait for it to be live and I hope it will be this month, so keep your fingers crossed...

JULY BOOK CLUB REMINDER

We're getting ready to GO BACK TO SCHOOL in July!

Our regular book club pick for the month of July is P FKN R: How Bad Bunny Became The Global Voice Of Puerto Rican Resistance by Venessa Diaz and Petra R. Rivera-Rideau (Audiobook)

Our nonfiction sidequest (you get 2 months to read) is Cuba: An American History by Ada Ferrer (Audiobook)

Both books are linked below--I suspect discussions will start on Cuban time after July 4th weekend, so you have plenty of time to get your books.

And without further ado, July's Latine releases...

July 7th

ROMANCE

Every Verison of You by Natalie Messier Adult (Audiobook) For fans of Love of My Afterlife and The Seven Year Slip, a woman who gets to relive her college years and has a second chance for the one that got away.

FANTASY

In The Wake Of the Ruined by Kalie Cassidy (Audiobook) Follow-up to In The Veins of The Drowning; a powerful siren must face the monster threatening her home, risking everything

HISTORICAL FICTION

An Infinite Love Story by Chanel Cleeton (Audiobook) Copy Moon Joy, but it's the story of a team of astronauts lost in space in 1968 and a case of possible time travel.

MIDDLE GRADE GRAPHIC NOVEL

Offside by Cristina Diaz Gonzalez and Mari Costa (Audiobook) Available in both English and Spanish, this is the PERFECT graphic novel to get your middle schooler during World Cup fever!

JULY 14TH

NOIR & AUGUST BIEN LEIDOS BOOK CLUB PICK!

The Intrigue by Silvia Moreno-Garcia (Audiobook) Taking place in 1940's Mexico, this steamy noir follows Ulises, a con man who believes himself to be at the end of his useful life, so he makes the decision for one last con. Unfortunately, his latest mark, Perla, and her niece, Ines, may be more than he bargained for. How long will small town "good manners" cover up the rot of avarice and lust? I can't wait to discuss this one with you and you may want to watch my socials for more coming up soon...

TRANSLATED LITERATURE

One Hundred Guinea Pigs Gustavo Rodriguez and translated by Daniel Hahn (Audiobook) The tagline for this book is that friendship makes life worth living and ending. The story of a death doula who makes lasting friendships with her clients--a lighthearted novel about euthanasia.

FANTASY

Ruinous Ends by I.V. Marie Young Adult (Audiobook) The highly anticipated sequel to Immortal Consequences + first edition comes with sprayed edges!

GRAPHIC NOVEL

To Dance The Moon And Stars Tasia M S & Barbara Perez Marquez (Audiobook) This is a South Asian-inspired fantasy is co-written by a queer Latine author!

LITERARY FICTION

It Will Come Back To You by Sigrid Nunez (Audiobook) First ever short story collection from award winning author!

JULY 21ST

Young Adult Ficiton

Take It To Your Grave by Louangie Bou-Montes (Audiobook) YA paranormal thriller about Joaquin who goes on a ghost hunt in an abandoned house and whose fate becomes intertwined with the ghost of Maximiliano who's been dead 30 years.

I Didn't Do It by Elle Gonzalez Rose (Audiobook) I Killed Zoe Spanos meets The Counselors in this YA mystery

JULY 28TH

YOUNG ADULT NOVEL IN VERSE

Evamar by Margarita Engle: an enthralling and heartrending novel-in-verse about first love, hidden cultures, and ancestral connections that follows a teen’s journey to uncover her late grandmother’s roots in Cuba. Available in both English and Spanish

LITERARY FICTION

Beginning, Middle, and End by Valerie Luiselli (Audiobook) From the author of Lost Children Archive comes a story of a mother and daughter starting anew in Siciliy and a road trip about 4 generations of women.

ROMANCE

Second First Dates by Gabrielle Gamez (Audiobook) A librarian swipes right on a charming high school teacher, only to realize she'd already dated him once.

TRANSLATED FICTON

The Winds of Maracaibo by Maria Elena Moran (Audiobook) An ode to the Venezuelan women who gave their blood, sweat, and tears to a nation dismantled by the egos of men.

SCIENCE FANTASY

The Demon Star by Jesse Aragon (Audiobook) "The otherworldly religious conflict of Dune, the cosmic strangeness of Gideon the Ninth, and heart-pounding action converge in this horror-tinged epic science fantasy debut"

Hopefully our next update will be in spreadsheet form...

xo,

Carmen

If you’re not a paid subscriber getting your arc soon, you still have a chance to win a ECOPY!

Enter the Goodreads giveaway:

https://www.goodreads.com/giveaway/show/444000-what-feeds-below?ref=giv_

Welcome back to After the Walk, where Link and I return from our Sunday morning stroll, and I attempt to organize my thoughts about everything I've been reading.

This week ended up being one of those wonderfully unexpected reading weeks where every genre somehow arrived at the same destination.

I spent time with Egyptian gods, mushroom-ravaged forests, sentient moss, hockey players pretending to date, women haunted by the past, and a serial killer trying very hard not to become one again.

On paper, these stories couldn't be more different.

But underneath every one of them was the same question: What does it actually mean to be human?

👑 Isis of Egypt

I've read plenty of mythology retellings over the past few years, but almost all of them have one thing in common: They're Greek.

That's what made Isis of Egypt feel so refreshing.

Malayna Evans introduces readers to an entirely different pantheon while making the gods feel surprisingly relatable. The divine politics, fractured relationships, jealousy, grief, and ambition all mirror very human emotions.

What I appreciated most (especially after speaking with Malayna during our Instagram Live) is how intentionally Isis is portrayed. She's powerful because she continually chooses empathy. In many mythology retellings, strength is measured by conquest. Here, strength is measured by compassion. That's a much more interesting story to tell.

The historical research is evident throughout the novel, but it never feels like you're reading a history lesson. Evans trusts readers to absorb the mythology naturally through the narrative, making the world feel immersive instead of overwhelming.

Read if you enjoy:

• Mythology beyond Greece

• Historical fiction grounded in real research

• Strong female protagonists

• Political and family drama

🍄 Eden

Every once in a while I read a horror novel that reminds me horror exists to make us care.

Eden absolutely terrified me.

The fungal-infected wildlife is vividly grotesque, and several scenes genuinely made my skin crawl.

But that's not why I'll remember this book; I'll remember the people.

Kylo Kirby understands one of horror's biggest secrets: monsters only matter if readers desperately want the characters to survive them.

I became deeply attached to this cast, which meant every dangerous encounter carried emotional weight.

The prose also deserves special recognition. The novel constantly balances beauty with decay. One paragraph paints breathtaking images of sunlight filtering through abandoned landscapes; the next forces readers to confront horrifying mutations created by the fungal outbreak.

That tension between beauty and horror perfectly mirrors the novel itself.

I also loved the inclusion of scientific papers, transcripts, and other mixed-media elements. Rather than interrupting the story, they quietly expand the world and allow readers to piece together humanity's downfall alongside the characters.

For a debut, this is remarkably confident.

🌿 Moss'd in Space

I need everyone to understand something: I became emotionally attached to moss.

Not metaphorical moss; actual sentient moss.

If that's not enough to convince you to read this book, I'm honestly not sure what else I can say.

Moss'd in Space reminded me why I love cozy science fiction so much.

This novel succeeds because every member of its found family feels distinct, lovable, and wonderfully imperfect.

Moss itself may be the emotional center of the story. After spending more than a century abandoned aboard a forgotten ship, its deepest desire is belonging. Isn't that what found family stories have always been about?

The humor is delightful, the romance is charming, and despite its cozy atmosphere, the novel never forgets to create genuine tension when it matters.

I cannot wait to reunite with this crew.

🏒 Big Stick Energy

Fake dating has become one of romance's most recognizable tropes.

The problem is that many novels stop at the trope itself, but Big Stick Energy doesn't.

Both Eric and Darcy carry different kinds of loss: One mourns someone who is gone forever; the other mourns relationships that still exist but have fundamentally changed.

Those quieter emotional threads elevate the romance because the characters don't simply fall in love.

They become witnesses to each other's pain.

The humor also lands beautifully. Darcy's inability to stand up to her family contrasted with her absolute willingness to mouth off to her boss created some of my favorite moments in the book. Sometimes romance doesn't need to reinvent the genre; sometimes it just needs to execute familiar tropes exceptionally well.

This does exactly that.

🌲 Heather

The marketing calls this a thriller, but I'd argue literary suspense is a much more accurate description.

The disappearance of two sisters may launch the story, but the mystery is simply the thread connecting a much larger exploration of motherhood, sisterhood, trauma, identity, memory, and forgiveness.

This is a novel that unfolds patiently.

It trusts readers. It doesn't rush emotional moments for the sake of faster pacing or bigger twists.

The audiobook deserves special recognition as well.

Three narrators guide readers through multiple timelines with remarkable clarity, and Bailey Carr's portrayal of Annabelle adds heartbreaking vulnerability to an already emotionally rich story.

Some books ask, "Who committed the crime?" Heather asks something far more difficult: "Can we ever truly know another person's life?"

That's the mystery that lingered with me.

🖤 Songbird in the Gallows

This was probably my most mixed read of the week, mainly because I wanted even more from what was already there.

The setting completely captivated me.

Grimlock feels like somewhere between a gothic fairy tale and a dark romance novel. Every page suggested secrets waiting beneath the surface, and I found myself wishing the story leaned even further into that eerie atmosphere.

Blue was easily my favorite part of the novel. Morally gray without losing his humanity, protective without becoming overbearing, he anchored the story whenever he appeared.

Saylor didn't resonate with me quite as strongly, though the supporting cast added warmth and humor that kept the story engaging throughout.

Final Thoughts

When I finished this week's stack, I realized every one of these books was wrestling with the same question: Who chooses compassion when life gives them every reason not to?

• A goddess.

• A survivor.

• A lonely piece of moss.

• A hockey player.

• A police chief.

• Even a former killer.

This week's books reminded me that no matter the genre, the books I remember most are never really about the plot. They're about people. Or, occasionally...Moss.

It’s time to vote on our July book! For some reason, picking three books to vote on was really hard 🫣 After lots of deliberation, these are the options I came up with! I’ve heard great things about these from reviewers I trust, so I’m sure that we’ll love any of them.

The Unicorn Hunters by Katherine Arden

In a desperate gamble to save her throne, a young monarch conceals a secret marriage in the shadows of an enchanted forest—and unknowingly alters the fate of her world. In this rich and epic novel, the author turns the real history of a remarkable woman into an unforgettable tale of mystery, enchantment, and the price of power.

Of Blood and Fire by Ryan Cahill

Born in fire. Tempered in blood.

Epheria is a land divided by war and mistrust. The High Lords of the south squabble and fight, only kept in check by the Dragonguard, traitors of a time long past, who serve the empire of the North.

In the remote villages of southern Epheria, still reeling from the tragic loss of his brother, Calen Bryer prepares for The Proving—a test of courage and skill that not all survive. But when three strangers arrive in the village of Milltown, with a secret they are willing to die for, Calen’s world is ripped from under him and he is thrust headfirst into a war that has been raging for centuries. There is no prophecy. His coming was not foretold. He bleeds like any man, and bleed he will.

Theft of Swords by Michael J. Sullivan

Royce Melborn, a skilled thief, and his mercenary partner, Hadrian Blackwater, make a profitable living carrying out dangerous assignments for conspiring nobles-until they are hired to pilfer a famed sword. What appears to be just a simple job finds them framed for the murder of the king and trapped in a conspiracy that uncovers a plot far greater than the mere overthrow of a tiny kingdom. Can a self-serving thief and an idealistic swordsman survive long enough to unravel the first part of an ancient mystery that has toppled kings and destroyed empires?

The Sunday Prescription

One reading topic, one week of plans, and plenty of books administered weekly for chronic readers.

Symptoms: Tribalism in Bookish Spaces

I have been thinking a lot recently about how we, as people, have a natural tendency towards tribalism. From an evolutionary sense, it is a highly logical reaction - often in our ancient history, finding a group of people and sticking with them meant safety and access to resources. It's a fascinating phenomenon from a neuroscience standpoint as well. Research has shown that feeling like you are part of a group activates circuits in our brains that have to do with rewards and positive associations, and even activates empathy (at least within our tribe). And of course, as with all things, there are positive and negative aspects of tribalism.

Over the last year in the online book space, I have seen a lot of the positive aspects of this - the support that people who feel some sort of connection with the content I put out there has been overwhelming and amazing. But of course, there are downsides as well, and one of the times where I see this the most is anytime I talk about where I get my books.

I love books in all forms - I love a good special edition of a book that I adore. I love buying used, and I like buying new. I consume stories in all forms, including hardbacks, paperbacks, e-books, and audiobooks, and use a library when possible. And inevitably, when I post about a specific kind of purchase, I hear from the opposite tribe. If I post about being a Broken Binding rep, I can count on a comment about special editions ruining books and gatekeeping reading. If I talk about a used purchase, I will get someone telling me I should support the author and buy new. Team Kindle is always lurking, and of course, team library is always there as well.

I personally think that having a plethora of options is good for reading. As more and more studies come out showing how, all around the world, the percentage of people who read for pleasure is declining, and literacy rates are dropping, giving people options is a good thing. If you have disposable income and love buying a big fancy expensive special edition, that's awesome - you're supporting a publishing company, the author, and the artists involved. If you have a great library near you and you never buy books, that's awesome - you're supporting a great thing, and supporting the author with your rentals. Used books support other book buyers and allow stories to perpetuate, and I've encouraged a lot of people to buy a new book because of my review of a used one. E books are accessible for lots of folks, and audiobooks have made reading stories easier and more accessible for a myriad of people (busy parents, people with reading disorders, folks with long commutes and busy lives, etc.). And while I am always a big supporter of shopping local, and using resources like Libro.fm for audiobooks and Bookshop.org for purchasing online and supporting independent booksellers, I understand that for some folks, financial and logistical pressures make Amazon the best route for purchasing. It's easy to judge, but reality is messy, and we all have different and unknown circumstances.

The same can be said for toxic fandoms - as a Lord of the Rings fan, I would never criticize someone for mispronouncing a word (I do it all the time), but it happens everywhere. If someone doesn't like my favorite books, why would I criticize them? It wasn't their thing, and I can't force you to like something. However, we see it all the time in the book world. At all levels, tribalism can turn into gatekeeping, and put people off from reading.

So my hope for the book world, and something I encourage highly, is to make our tribe the tribe of people who love books and stories, and who encourage and support people who read, no matter what that looks like (as long as you're not stealing of course)! Offer people options, but don't criticize their choices in how they interact with or consume books. Talk about the books you love, but don't get mad when they don't like your favorite book - talk to them about the why! Let's encourage more reading, even if that reading doesn't look like your reading.

What do you think about tribalism in the book space, and have you encountered it in any way? Let's chat down below!

The Rx: What I'm Reading and Doing

My new Fable Book Club starts this Wednesday, July 1 with Our Sister's Keeper by Jasmine Holmes. The book club is called Dr. Bob's Literary Apothecary, and our goal is to read diverse authors, diverse genres, and try to find diverse books that aren't popping up on your algorithm! I'd love to have you join, we'll do a book a month, and no changes to our usual book club. I'm really excited to kick this off, and would love to see you there!

In terms of reading, I was on vacation last week and, being at the beach, had loads of great reading time! I finished our Dark Travelers June book, Stoner by John Williams, Songs of the Dead by Brandon Sanderson and Peter Orullian, The Dungeon Crawler Carl Graphic Novel, and The Photonic Effect by Mike Chen. Be on the lookout for my reviews on IG and TikTok, as well as some here, in the coming weeks!

I am currently all over the place with reading! I should be finishing up What Blood Remembers by C William Phillips this weekend, and am loving the Audiobook of Of Monsters and Mainframes by Barbara Truelove. I started our July Doc of the Dark Arts Book Club pick Jade City by Fonda Lee, and am enjoying it so far - if you want to be part of that book club, make sure to join us on Discord! And I also started a deep dive reread of the Silmarillion by JRR Tolkien with the Celebreabird read along. A second read there has been amazing so far!

Given I was off, I didn't;t do a weekly reading update or a YouTube video last week, but I will be back this week. One of the YouTube videos I'm working on is a Q&A Video, so if you have any bookish/book content/personal questions you'd like to ask, let me know!

July is going to be a great month - as I said we are doing Jade City for the main bookclub, Our Sister's Keeper for the Fable book club, and the Dark Travelers book for July is going to be Headlights by CJ Leede.

It is also time for our July reading challenge! Participants are eligible for a $25 bookshop.org gift card. To be eligible, you have to either complete the challenge on StoryGraph, or share what you read on the challenge channel in our Discord server. If you are outside of the US, we can figure out a website/gift card/prize for you if Bookshop is not available to you. The theme for July is "Choose a book by its cover." The goal here it to pick a book just based on whatever is on the cover (so the cover, the description on the back/inside the dust jacket). No looking up reviews, no advanced information, just finding something that looks and sounds cool. I am going to be reading A Palace Near the Wind by Ai Jiang.

Want More In-Depth Access?

If you enjoy getting into the details with me about reading, then consider upgrading to The Dark Travelers tier! My Dark Travelers get an exclusive Discord role and channels, a weekly deep dive reading update video, early access to YouTube videos, and each month they get to pick a book for me to read. This can be a book they want to read with me, or something they want me to try for them. It's super fun and a great tight knit group that I really enjoy talking books with, and I'd love to have you part of it!

Thank you as always for being here, and I hope you all have a great week of reading!

"Are you scared, Keiran?" she taunted. "Terrified, actually." And not for the reasons she believed. Because you're everything that I want and can't have."

GENRE: Romance
RATING: 4/5
FORMAT: eBook
Tropes: Wedding related fun, enemies to lovers, Baker x Music Producer

Review:

What a fun story that shares two people finally coming together after years of being on opposing ends and hating each other!

Cherisse and Keiran have that dynamic of being in the same childhood friends group but not liking each other and that all changes with their current situation, being the maid/man of honour for the bride and groom

One of my favourite part is the character development or more accurately, how we watch Cherissa learn to accept her qualities, especially those that others have put down throughout the story. I also really enjoyed the dynamic between the two of them as they get to know each other properly and learn to be okay with displaying their vulnerabilities! I would have liked to dive a bit deeper into some of the things that were brought up but overall the book was super sweet and cute, with baking and tasty food mentioned! It's also a perfect book to read during summer too

I'm really excited to continue the series and find out more about everyone else 👀

Hi friends!
I hope June treated you well--welcome to this month's Disability Release Round-Up! This month, I was able to track down 23 different books ft. disabled main characters.

books by own voices or otherwise disabled authors

Bad at Love by Shannon O'Connor

Representation: borderline personality disorder

Genre: romance

Burnt into Memory by Sydney Blondell

Representation: chronic migraines

Genre: YA mystery/thriller

Seven Summers Ago by Starla Dekruyf

Representation: endometriosis, anxiety

Genre: romance

The Secret World of Briar Rose by Cindy Pham

Representation: depression

Genre: YA fantasy

Fake Out Make Out by Kate Williams

Representation: eosinophilic fasciitis

Genre: romance

Of the Beautiful and Haunted by Hazie Walker

Representation: schizophrenia

Genre: fantasy romance

You Won't Forget Me by Mazey Eddings

Representation: depression

Genre: romance

American Love Song by Britt Middleton

Representation: anxiety

Genre: romance

The Missed Connection by Tia Williams

Representation: anxiety, panic attacks

Genre: romance

Echoes from Madness by Mak Makenzie

Representation: neurodivergence

Genre: romance

The Dawn Throne by Tara Sim

Representation: autism

Genre: fantasy

Sparks Will Fly by Laurel Holl

Representation: hEDS, cane user

Genre: romance

Hold Me Like a Grudge by Celine Ong

Representation: chronic pain

Genre: romance

books by non-disabled* authors

*or authors of unknown ability

This Blade of Ours by Shalini Abeysekara

Representation: PTSD, scarring, tremors

Genre: fantasy romance

The Open Era by Edward Schmidt

Representation: anxiety

Genre: romance

He's Not for Me by Sadie Hepworth

Representation: neurodivergence

Genre: romance

Not a Strong Enough Word by Allie Samberts

Representation: anxiety, depression

Genre: romance

Here Forever by Amy Mara

Representation: PTSD

Genre: romance

Tangled Roots and Wild Dreams by Angela Velez

Representation: anxiety, depression

Genre: YA romance