i know when you're asleep by jessica blade

published: march 25, 2026
source: arc from author
rating:★★★✩✩

from goodreads:

When pranks turn deadly, Mandy must find a way to win the game assigned to her, where the killer keeps changing the rules.
The ominous note slipped into Mandy Wright's locker reads like a hoax...until she finds her friend's body discarded in a dumpster, the victim of a gruesome firework execution.
But obeying the killer's warning to cut ties with her friends doesn't stop another one of her friends from being tragically murdered in what everyone insists is merely a "disturbing prank gone wrong." And when a new note spells Mandy herself as the next target, there's only one chance of survival: finding a way to outsmart a killer who doesn't play by their own rules.

my review:

i received this book for free from the author in exchange for my honest review. first, i want to say thank you to jessica blade and her team for the opportunity to arc read!

this book was good, but not great. i almost dnf'd it a few times, but i wanted to see it through. i needed to know who the killer was, who was writing the notes, and most importantly, whether my theory was right. unfortunately, by the end, i was left feeling a little disappointed.

mandy, the main character, was honestly pretty obnoxious to me, which kind of sucks considering the entire story is told from her POV. a lot of her thoughts and conversations felt repetitive. it was constantly, "i can't talk to my friends because they'll get hurt," and after a while i was like... okay, we get it. every situation somehow circled back to being about her, and it made parts of the story feel a little mundane.

donna wasn't much more interesting for me either. just like mandy, she got on my nerves at times. i actually thought she was involved in the whole rogue situation because of how quickly she and mandy became close. it almost felt like she wanted to isolate mandy just as much as mandy wanted to isolate herself.

that being said, i did like the overall storyline. the plot was interesting enough to keep me reading, even when i wasn't loving the characters. the mystery aspect had enough intrigue to make me want answers. my biggest issue was the pacing. it felt pretty slow for most of the book, and it didn't really grab my full attention until the final stretch. unfortunately, once the reveal happened, it kind of lost me again.

i will say that it did a good job setting up the next book in the series, but i don't think i'll be continuing on with it myself.

overall, it wasn't a bad read, just not one that fully worked for me. thank you again to jessica blade and her team for allowing me to arc read and review this book.

hidden by j.m. johnson (the devil's disciples book 4)

published: june 1. 2026source: arc from authorrating:★★★★★

from goodreads:
She didn’t break his heart.
She sacrificed it to keep him alive.

Gabriella
I learned a long time ago that survival comes at a cost. Sometimes it’s your freedom. Sometimes it’s your voice. And sometimes… it’s the people you love.
He was never meant to be part of my story. But for one moment, I let myself believe I could have him. Just one moment of weakness—one choice that changed everything.
Now I live in a world where obedience is survival and failure is punished. I’m bound to his enemies, trapped in a life I can’t escape… and I’ve become someone he would never forgive.

Vienna
They always underestimated me. They thought the laughter meant I wasn’t paying attention—that the charm made me soft, that I wouldn’t see what was right in front of me.
They were wrong.
Because I remember everything.
The girl who chose me. The girl who betrayed me. The girl who took everything from me.
She thinks she made her choice. She thinks she’s beyond saving. But I’ve seen the cracks—and I’m done pretending I haven’t.
They took her from me once. This time… I’m taking her back. No matter who I have to destroy to do it.

She stayed to save him.
Now he’s risking everything to save her.

my review:
i was SO excited for this book because vienna is my favoriteeeee character from the entire devils disciples series. he always brought such a light, fun energy to the books, and finally getting to see who he really is and why he is the way he is just made me love him even more, wholeheartedly.

i will say check the trigger warnings for this one. there were a few moments where i was making faces and lowkey grossed out. it was never a hard no for me, but it definitely adds a heavier layer to the story. i also feel like this one leaned more into the smutty/sexual side than the others. it didn’t bother me personally, but i can absolutely see how it could be triggering, so pleaseeee check those warnings before going in.

dante and rachel felt a lot calmer in this book, like they were just over everyone and everything. dante especially seemed exasperated like all the years of chaos are finally catching up to him. but honestly? i feel like it’s a front and he secretly thrives in it. rachel definitely toned it down a bit, but she’s still her crazy self, ready to go to war with the riders straight out the damn front door.

i also loved getting more insight into rachel’s parents. because let’s be real,  we all hated that sad excuse of a mother in the previous books. the rest of the club kind of fell into place like usual, but it was really cool to see how everyone developed into who they are now. the flashbacks and the whole descendants upbringing added so much depth and really tied everything together. and the stuff about laura???

the striker by ana huang

published: october 22, 2024
source: kindle unlimited
rating:★★★✩✩

from goodreads:
She's the only woman he wants...and the only one he can't have.
Asher Donovan is a living legend―the darling of the Premier League, the (arguably) greatest footballer in the world.
But his reckless antics and recent team transfer have caused much controversy, and when his feud with his rival-turned-teammate costs them a championship, they're forced to "bond" during off-season cross-training.
Surviving the summer shouldn't be hard…until Asher meets their new trainer. She's beautiful, talented, and no matter how hard he tries, he can't take his mind off her.
The only problem? She's his rival's sister―and completely off limits.

Scarlett DuBois is a former prima ballerina whose career was cut short by a tragic accident.
Now a teacher at a prestigious dance academy but still haunted by the ghosts of her past, the last thing she wants is to spend the summer cross-training Asher Donovan, of all people.
She swore she would never date a footballer, but when her brother leaves town for an emergency, she finds herself thrown into dangerously close proximity with the gorgeous, charming striker.
Training, she can deal with. But falling in love? That's out of the question―especially when he's the only person with the power to break her heart.

my review:

though this book was cute and well written, it wasn’t my favorite of ana’s. i am biased because i love pretty much anything ana huang writes. in my opinion, this was one of her least steamy books, but their story was still cute.

we all know the infamous asher donovan the one sloane is always on about because he does the most absurd things, the one who races, the one who dates all the hottest women but this asher?? is this even the same man?? felt so different here. this version of asher is soft, caring, sweet, and willing to protect his woman at all costs. he’s still a little hard-headed (because of course he is), but definitely not as chaotic as we’ve seen before.

scarlett, idk she was kind of annoying to me, i’m not gonna lie. yes, we get it you don’t want to date him because of your brother, you don’t want to be in the public eye, you don’t want the scrutiny but then you’re pulled in the second you’re alone together, only to push it away again because of those same reasons. it felt

king of envy by ana huang

published: april 29, 2025
source: kindle unlimited
rating:★★★★★

from goodreads:
He had everything he could’ve wanted…except her.

Dangerous. Powerful. Reclusive.
Vuk Markovic is notorious for shunning human interactions. The scarred billionaire rarely talks, and he has no interest in relationships outside his small but trusted circle.
 
His only exception? Her . The beauty to his beast, the object of his obsession.
 
He saw her first. He wanted her first. But now, she’s engaged to his oldest friend—and the closer the wedding looms, the more he’s torn between loyalty and desire.
 
She should be his…and he might just risk it all to have her.

Beautiful. Successful. Glamorous. 
To the world, supermodel Ayana Kidane leads the perfect life. Her career has skyrocketed, and she’s engaged to one of New York’s most eligible bachelors.
 
What people don't know is that the engagement is only a business arrangement. He gets his inheritance when they marry; she gets the money she needs to leave her abusive agency.
 
Pretending to be in love should be easy—until she finds herself increasingly drawn to her fiancé’s enigmatic best man.
 
Vuk thrills and terrifies her in equal measure. She knows she should stay away, but when her wedding is thrown into chaos, he’s the only person she finds comfort in…
 
Until his past catches up with them and threatens everything they love.

my review:

ana huang never disappoints, but this one might actually be one of my favorites. it has everything romance, drama, suspense… literally all of it. i really, really enjoyed this one, and i think vuk might be the best “king” so far.

going into this book already knowing a little bit about the characters made it even more exciting. ayana kidane is that girl, a badass supermodel who’s made some rocky decisions, and with the help of her bfff/fiancé, she should be able to get out of the rockiness… or not. wedding plans are in full swing for jordan and ayana, but of course there are obstacles and one of the biggest? vuk markovic. the scary, silent, badass giant.

ayana goes through so much in this book, and it really shows where she came from and who she grows into. her character development was so well done. and of course we get cameos… and OF COURSE one of them is roman. all of the characters were written so well and added so many layers to the story.

i was genuinely sad when this book ended because 1. i loved ayana and vuk so much, 2. the suspense in this book was insane, probably the best plot out of all the king of sin books so far, and 3. ana huang just doesn’t miss.

that plot twist during the suspenseful part?? i NEVER would have guessed it. and that nasty pig of a manager and photographer ayana had to deal with, got exactly what they deserved because the way they treated her was disgusting.

and BEAUMONT?? as a person AND a company?? so incredibly deserving of the downfall that unraveled.

the love story itself was so good. a “he falls first” will always be my favorite, and this man didn’t just fall, he was already deep in it before the deep end even existed. i do wish we got more of a jordan/vuk confrontation, but with how close they were, it makes sense why we didn’t.

overall, i was genuinely sad when this ended because it was just such a well-rounded book. the romance, the story, the banter, the secret love… i was hooked the entire time. but honestly, when am i not with ana huang’s books? i can’t wait for king of gluttony. keep them coming, ana. 

favorite quotes:
"because no one has ever protected you since you moved to new york. not without wanting something in return."

"his scars are a sign of character, but your actions are a sign that you lack any common decency." 

"i'm not usually a compromise person, srce, but for you, i'd agree to a thousand compromises if you asked."

"like my mother said, joy didn't require the absence of grief, and happiness wasn't always found in the big moments. more often than not, they existed in small pockets of time like these" 

tease me, doc by devon atwood

published: january 21, 2026
source: arc from author
rating:★★★★✩

from amazon:

She never wanted a bodyguard. He never wanted a heart. Fate hands them both.

Evie Hathaway never expected to need a bodyguard. She is not famous or wealthy, only a quiet beekeeper in rural Washington. But her rare Rh null blood has made her the target of a dark web competition, and when she is attacked during a routine venom delivery, her world collapses. To her horror, the assault is witnessed by Dr Benjamin Frost, and he isn't willing to let her walk back into danger alone. Evie leaves the encounter with a reluctant doctor-turned-bodyguard, and the only thing more alarming than the threats around her is how infuriatingly attractive he is.

Dr Benjamin Frost does not babysit. The ex-military physician lives by precision, control and emotional distance. Yet Evie Hathaway dismantles every barrier he has built. Her stubborn independence, her lavender-sweet warmth and her ability to attract chaos as easily as she attracts bees pull him into a deadly chase he cannot ignore. Protecting her should be simple. Neutralise the threats. Wait for backup.

Instead, Frost finds himself living on her chaotic farm, guarding her day and night while fighting a growing desire that feels far more dangerous than any enemy. Keeping her alive is one thing. Protecting his own heart may be impossible.

my review:

first i want to say thank you to devon atwood and her team for letting me arc read for her again! tease me, doc was such a cute and easy read, and i really enjoyed it. i loved the storyline and all of the character interactions. having the main plot not fully centered around the romance actually made this book even better. i liked that it wasn’t overly lovey-dovey and had a semi-suspenseful aspect to it.

i really liked evie. she’s your typical stubborn, independent fmc, protective of the people she loves and willing to put herself in danger (literally) to save them. but what i appreciated most was that she had a past that shaped her into who she is. her actions made sense because they were rooted in her experiences.

frost tried to come off as this stone-cold, protective killer type, but deep down he was actually soft and mushy. she may have fallen into his arms, but he definitely fell first. i loved that he offered to be her temporary bodyguard and really didn’t trust anyone besides himself to keep evie safe.

tessa and nan absolutely made this book for me. they had me laughing nonstop. especially tessa, she went full force and truly did not care what anyone had to say back to her. her comebacks were quick, sharp, and hilarious, especially during her back-and-forth with frost. nan wasn’t as quick as tessa, but she was still witty and had me laughing the whole time.

overall, i really enjoyed this one. it was a cute, quick read that kept me entertained and constantly wanting to know what happens next. i also loved seeing cameos from characters in the other books and how all their worlds intertwine. i’ve read the first book in the series and now the fourth, you can definitely read these as standalones but if you want the full experience of how everyone’s stories connect, i’d recommend reading all of them. i know i’ll be going back to catch up on the ones i missed.

favorite quotes:
"big fan of whatever is wrong with you, kid."

"i couldn't breathe without you"

"i would asphyxiate if i had to deny my feelings for her any longer."

""in love," he repeated softly, gathering me against him and breathing me in. "hopelessly if you must know.""

the perfect divorce by jeneva rose

published: april 15, 2025

source: purchased
rating:★★★★✩

from goodreads:

It’s been eleven years since high-powered attorney Sarah Morgan defended her husband, Adam, against the charge of murdering his mistress. Sarah has long since moved on, starting a family with her new husband, Bob Miller, and changing careers. Her life is back to being exactly how she always wanted … or is it?

After discovering Bob engaged in a one-night stand, Sarah wastes no time filing for divorce. However, amid their ugly separation, new DNA evidence is uncovered in the case against Adam, forcing the police to reopen the investigation and putting Sarah right back in the spotlight. Everyone wants to know what really happened, most of all former Deputy Hudson, who is hell-bent on finding the truth.

But when the woman Bob slept with is reported missing, he and Sarah start to fight dirty, and a high-stakes game of cat and mouse ensues. Filled with page-turning suspense and Jeneva Rose’s signature twists and turns, this sequel will have readers wondering, Can Bob and Sarah achieve the perfect divorce? Or will it be “’til death do us part”?

my review:
the perfect marriage was crazy, so i HAD to read the perfect divorce and wow, i was not disappointed. i was really interested in this one because the perfect marriage kind of felt unfinished to me, i had so many questions at the end, and this book finally tied everything together. i never liked bob to begin with, and that feeling definitely carried over here and honestly i think he got exactly what he deserved.
after reading the first book, some of the events that took place in this book were a bit predictable, but i was still fully entertained. there were enough twists to keep things exciting.
the side characters really made this story. they all played huge roles in the major reveal. carissa? i never would’ve guessed that would be her fate. stacy… i kind of knew all along, but actually seeing everything that happened to her was still wild. and alejandro?! WOW. what do you mean he’s been here the whole time and we never knew?? bob finding out what he found out was honestly a chef’s kiss, smack-in-the-face moment, because he was absolute scum.
after finishing the perfect marriage and the perfect divorce, i still feel like i need more. i need to know what happened to summer, where alejandro is now, what’s going on with carissa… and summers too?! i need answers.
overall, this was a solid little series and such a fast read. jeneva rose does not miss.

favorite quotes:
“many things in life can fool you into thinking they’re better than they actually are”

“they’re not sorry for what they’ve done. they’re sorry that you know what they’ve done.”

same time next year by tessa bailey

published: december 1, 2023
source: prime reading
rating:★★✩✩✩

from goodreads:
Adored by all, Britta is an ambitious waitress working at Sluggers. The popular bar holds a special place in her heart and is a regular hangout for the Bridgeport Bandits, the local hockey club. With a half brother on the team, Britta has a strict no-dating policy for hockey boys. But she does have a soft spot for one particular player.

A beast on the ice, Sumner Mayfield is on the brink of breaking into the NHL. But time’s running out. With his work visa about to expire, Sumner’s only chance to stay in Bridgeport is to marry an American—and get a green card. Otherwise, it’s back to Canada for the defenseman.

On New Year’s Eve, the team begs Britta to marry Sumner that very night. Sum is embarrassed yet hopeful—he’s desperately in love. But Britta balks at first. Until something about Sumner’s soulful brown eyes and ripped physique makes her reconsider…

my review:
this book was cute, but it wasn’t amazing. the whole story felt pretty predictable from start to finish. some of the “dirty talk” was cringe affff to me like… not even dirty, more of a what is happening right now.

she knew he was completely head over heels for her before the whole marriage thing, agreed to marry him anyway, and still didn’t really want anything. then the second he gets called up, she suddenly cares? and of course, they live happily ever after.

it wasn’t terrible, but it just didn’t wow me.

favorite quotes:
“love doesn’t erase the fear of the unknown, though.”