Every Book of the Month in 2023

March

ICEBREAKER: This sweet and sassy rom-com is attention-grabbing and tension-fueled, perfect for the turn of the season. With tropes like forced proximity, Icebreaker was a fantastic and easy binge for fans of the Off-Campus series. Throughout Anastasia and Nate's story, they tackle obstacles together and separately as college adults, learning the value of each other along the way. And an added bonus - the author includes a curated playlist for you to listen to while reading!

April

A BROKEN BLADE: For fans of fantasy worlds, enemies-to-lovers, and an epic found family story, this is the book for you. After months of looking for my next favorite fantasy read, author Melissa Blair captivated me with equal parts character depth and development and a fiery enemies romance (everyone's favorite). The second book in the Halfling saga comes out at the beginning of May, but I guarantee you'll finish this within a week.

May

ARIADNE: Fans of Greek mythology and Circe will love this expanded edition of the Princess of Crete’s story. A casualty of men seeking glory, Ariadne finds herself deserted on a desolate island by Theseus, whom she helped to slay the Minotaur. Exiled from her family and discarded by the man she loved, Ariadne struggles to survive on her own until a young god appears and offers solace. As she settles into a new and uncertain future, Ariadne learns about love, loss and finding strength from within.

June

FOURTH WING: If you have been in a reading slump (like me) for however long, Fourth Wing needs to be your next read. Best for fans of Harry Potter and How To Train Your Dragon, this book has the best of both. Forced to enter the deadly training academy for dragon riders, our main character Violet comes from a long line of the best riders. However, her initial plans to become a Scribe are dashed when her mother involuntarily enlists her. Violet enters a world of deceit and intrigue when she becomes public enemy #1 for Xaden Riorson, the mysterious and lethal son of a traitor - whose father was killed by Violet’s mother. Rebecca Yarros captivates the reader with witty banter, unbearable tension, and of course, magnificent dragons.

July

DARK WATER DAUGHTER: Pirates and storm witches. That's what hooked me about my favorite author's newest release for this month. Historically, H.M. Long leans to the world of vikings and Eldritch gods, but she's been cooking up this one for years. In a world ruled by the tides and sea, two enemies-turned-allies must unite to bring down an evil bigger than themselves. A stormsinger searching for her mother and a disgraced naval officer with a touch of magic take on the volatile forces of a deathless pirate lord, a hidden world, and lurking sea creatures.

August

LOVE, THEORETICALLY: Since her debut with fan fiction-turned-NYT bestseller, Ali Hazelwood has flawlessly combined powerful stories about women in STEM and a deliciously grumpy love interest for a very niche audience (it's me). We follow Elsie Hannaway, financially-struggling theoretical physicist who is fighting for a tenured position at MIT - the only catch is, the person interviewing her for it is the brother of the guy she’s been fake dating. Love, Theoretically made me squeal, gasp, tear up and become even more of a diehard Ali Hazelwood fan. I highly recommend this book to top off your hot girl summer.

(Weirdly enough, I read this book before seeing Oppenheimer in theaters and the physics references and jokes made the movie way easier to understand, so points to that).

September

THE NEAR WITCH: As an avid Hozier and V.E. Schwab fan, reading this book was the best of both worlds. Schwab elegant and unmistakable prose brings us to the village of Near, where children have been disappearing from their beds following the sudden appearance of a stranger. Lexi, our teenage protagonist, is trying to uncover the veil of mystery covering the village, unable to discern what is fact or fairytale. At the beginning of fall, this is a great YA read to start bringing out that eerie feeling in time for spooky season. The ingredients: a dose of dark fairytales, a pinch of mystery, and a sprinkle of love story.

October

BETWEEN: Never has there been a more perfect book for the month of October than this cozy fantasy perfect for fans of Practical Magic and Halloweentown (yep, that one). Author L.L. Starling not only gave us a humorous and original main character, but she hit the sweet spot of dark and brooding love interest: instantly, I was sold. The author's love and effort for this story shines in every page, and I can't wait for the series to continue!

November

THE FEELING OF FALLING IN LOVE: It's been awhile since I've read a young adult romance, but when Mason Deaver's newest release was named one of B&N's monthly picks, I was hooked. Unlike most young adult romances, Deaver intentionally made the main character, Neil, an intricately dislikable and complex character. Adverse to any emotional commitment, Neil convinces his roommate to fake date each other to convince friends and family (and Neil's previous FWB) that they're in love. But what neither of them expects is for the ruse to work a little too well...even for them.

Plus -- I got to interview them in person! They are so wonderful and answered all questions thoughtfully and thoroughly.

December

LEDGE: This is a perfect read for any fans of the enemies to lovers trope, as well as an exciting and original fantasy world with a diverse menu of characters. In Ledge, our main character Dawsyn lives on an icy outcrop on the side of an unrelenting winter mountain with a scarcely populated village. The people of Ledge are plagued by Glacians, flying creatures that live across the chasm separating them from the rest of the world. When Dawsyn is one of the unfortunate souls selected to be carried across, she enters a deadly pact with a half Glacian to try and survive in this new world. Stacey McEwan became one of my top authors after finishing the first book, and I ran to my nearest bookstore to pick up the newly released sequel.