What’s up random people?! Happy new month
It has been such a long time; life has been happening that is for sure. This is a collection of books I read in the month of September. Read along and check out the ones you want to read or have read too.
01. For Butter Or Worse| Erin La Rosa
Rating: ⭐️ ⭐️⭐️.5 stars
Genre: Contemporary, Food, Romance
All Chef Nina wants is to make a name for herself in the culinary world and inspire young women everywhere, she has been held back for too long and underestimated by the male dominated sphere of professional kitchens and she has hidden enough! Now as co-host of the reality TV series; The Next Cooking Champ! She finally has a real shot at being the top, too bad her co-host happens to be Hollywood’s smarmiest jerk, restaurateur Leo who happens to always get under her skin without meaning to. So nothing prepares him for the fall out after he takes a joke a smidge too far and Nina quits on live TV. To make matters worse, they were both caught in what looks like a compromising situation by the paparazzi and fans of the show go wild as it turns out a ‘secret romance’ between Nina and Leo may be just what their careers need the most- all they have to do is play along without killing each other.
02. A spell of good things| Ayobami Adebayo
Rating: ⭐️⭐️⭐️.5 stars
Genre: African Literature, Contemporary, Fiction
From the celebrated author of Stay With Me(which I still haven’t read), Adebayo unveils a dazzling story of modern Nigeria and two families caught in the riptides of wealth, power, romantic obsession and political corruption. The story focuses on Eniola and Wuraola; their lives become intertwined when a local politician takes an interest in Eniola and sudden violence shatters a family party.
A disclaimer though; the title was very misleading.
03. Idol Minds| K.T Salvo
Rating: ⭐️⭐️⭐️⭐️⭐️ stars
Genre: K-pop, Contemporary, Romance
In this passionate gay k-pop romance debut from Salvo, movie star Jason was a Hollywood golden boy; the youngest ever best actor award winner for his role in The Moon Shines Madly, the former teen idol was ready to make the jump from teen comedies to dramatic leading roles but his famously well-documented-on-set blow up cost him his part and drove him from spotlight. Singer|dancer|leader of k-pop supergroup; XTC, Tae Hyun was a rising star and sensation until a rift within his group drove him away from music. Freshly returned from the army, Tae Hyun is ready to kick start his solo career but his label has something else in mind. When the two stars are brought together for a project neither one wants, their chemistry becomes impossible to ignore.
The book was so amazing and I am looking forward to reading the second part of the book coming out later in the year. I never knew that k-romance between two gorgeous men would be that swoon worthy but it was. Very good one from Salvo(he is on my radar now).
04. Everyone in my family has killed someone| Benjamin Stevenson
Rating: ⭐️⭐️⭐️⭐️ stars
Genre: Humor, Thriller
Ern; Everyone in my family has killed someone; my brother, stepsister, wife, father, mother, sister-in-law, uncle, stepfather, aunt, even me. Some of us, the high achievers, have killed more than once. I’m not trying to be dramatic but it is the truth. Some of us are good. I wish I’d killed whoever decided our family reunion should be a ski resort, but it’s a little more complicated than that. Have I killed someone? Yes, I have. Who was it? Let’s get started.
The title really draws you in!
05. Crush| Ana Hartnett Reichardt
Rating: ⭐️⭐️⭐️⭐️.5 stars
Genre: Queer, Romance, Wine
Josie is the head winemaker at Cadieux Vineyards and all her dreams ride on the upcoming crush. If she can produce a gold medal pinot noir, the owner will give her own wine label. Finally she’s worked years for this opportunity and nothing can stand in her way. Not even Mac, the owner’s annoyingly beautiful niece who doesn’t know a thing about wine, but Josie is forced to hire her as her only harvest intern. They are both forced to spend time together while working during crush.
As a lover of wine, I thoroughly enjoyed reading this book; it wasn’t complicated and was too cute. I also found out that crush is harvesting grapes and the timing makes for the best wines.
06. Queried Sick| Dallas Smith
Rating: ⭐️⭐️⭐️⭐️.5 stars
Genre: Queer, Contemporary, Romance
Ezra never felt like New York was truly his home, which is why he spent the last seven years studying abroad at university and backpacking across Europe, then COVID-19 starts ripping its way through Europe, within weeks Ezra is back in New York on lockdown for the unforeseeable future. And to make matters worse, the person training him at his new job seems to hate him; Oliver used to love his job but starting to train a new hire at the onset of a worldwide health crisis when he is already overworked is enough to make him snap especially since that new hire has no prior publishing knowledge yet somehow Ezra proves to not be as bad as Oliver initially thought. Through a constant stream of bad literature quotes, text exchanges about Oscar Wilder and zoom dates to watch television, Oliver and Ezra find themselves falling for each other but can a relationship work when CDC guidelines require you to keep your distance?
Reading this book transported me back to the lockdown period and even though I didn’t fall in love during that time, the book was able to capture the process, feelings and longing very beautifully.
07. How to find a find a missing girl| Victoria Wlosok
Rating: ⭐️⭐️⭐️⭐️ stars
Genre: Queer, Crime, Thriller
This whip smart thriller follows a sapphic detective agency as they seek the truth behind a growing trail of missing girls. A year ago, beloved cheerleader Stella vanished without a trace. Devastated Iris, her younger sister launched her own investigation, but all she managed to do was scare off the only lead and earn a stern warning. Then a year later, her ex girlfriend, Heather goes missing too just after dropping the polarizing last episode of her true crime podcast all about Stella this time nothing will stop Iris and her amateur sleuthing agency from solving these disappearances.
It was a bit too long for me sha.
08. How to say I do| Tal Bauer
Rating: ⭐️⭐️⭐️⭐️⭐️ stars
Genre: Queer, Contemporary, Romance
This is an opposite- attract, slow burn, bi-awakening, rom-com-meets-heartfelt romance love story full of swoony beach location vibes, laugh-out loud moments and grab-your-chest heartache, add a sprinkle of fake husband, second chance romance, small town vibes, celebrity shenanigans then you have got the markings of Wyatt and Noël’s love story.
Tal is an incredibly talented writer, and after finishing this book, I found myself immersed in a whirlwind of his literary works. I believe I’ve devoured at least seven of his creations, each spanning various genres that cater to my diverse tastes. Remarkably, I have yet to exhaust his extensive bibliography.
09. The List| Yomi Adegoke
Rating: ⭐️⭐️⭐️⭐️.5 stars
Genre: Feminism, Thriller, Contemporary
Ola, a celebrated journalist at Womxxxn magazine is set to marry the love of her life in one month’s time. Young, beautiful and successful- she and her fiancé, Michael are considered the “couple goals” of their social network and seem to have it all that is until one morning when they both wake up to a message that says “have you seen THE LIST?” It began as a crowdsourced collection of names and somehow morphed into an anonymous account posting allegations on social media. Ola would usually be the first to support such a tweet, except this time Michael’s name is on it.
Adegoke engages readers in the world of social media, online influencers and cancel culture.
euphoria 
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