”That’s what it’s like living with grief. Loneliness, even while you’re surrounded by people.”

One of these days Julian Winters is going to have to pick up my therapy tab if he keeps releasing books that make me question how I live my own life.

Find My Way Down to You ticked all my boxes. You have a pinch of fantasy, you have romance, and you have grief portrayed really well with a strong focus on healing.

The funny thing about grief is that no two experiences are ever the same. One could, for example, not relate to books like You’ve Reached Sam that had everyone in a chokehold back in the day, yet absolutely devour this tale of grief. This was the case for me with Find My Way Down To You. I admit I rarely pick up books that focus on grief and loss (you have to be in the right headspace for it), but this novel dealt so well with it and most of that may come down to the fact that while this is a story about grief, its main focus is on moving on and finding new ways to get back to actually living your life instead of being in the passenger seat waiting for someone else to take the wheel to get you back on track.

Don’t get me wrong, there is sadness here, it is a book about loss, after all. Auggie has been living in this kind of eternal limbo where he can’t and doesn’t seem to want to move on, but there are also so many moments of hope and progress that truly make this book stand out.

What I love most is how Auggie showcases some of the worst side effects of grief, the way you can lose yourself because you lost someone that in a lot of ways has affected how you see the world and interact with it. This, of course, drastically changes when he meets Cary, the ferrier of souls and gets introduced to death in an altogether new manner.

As always, Winters shines in portraying characters that are essentially good guys, but also flawed. Cary is your brooding boy that is secretly a marshmallow that always puts others and their feelings first. I love how he constantly tried to lift up Auggie.

Auggie, meanwhile, lives his life in pursuit of making other people happy…even when that ends up hurting him or making him lose his own way. The two of them worked together so well because at the core they care about the mark they leave on the (under)world, leaving it kinder than it was before. Their interactions were sweet and their conversations often felt like a warm hug. My only gripe would be that I wish there would have been a few more moments focusing on their relationship and the trouble that comes with falling for a guy whose literal job is carrying souls into the underworld. But since the focus here really was on grief and living again, I understand that this wasn’t supposed to be a super in-depth romance with all the expected beats.

The best part of this story is of course the gradual progress of healing. From the very difficult beginnings where you meet Auggie and realize just how much he has given up on his own life and future after losing his boyfriend London while everyone including his roommate has moved on to grander things, to the small, gradual steps he takes to participate in life again. It serves as a powerful reminder that no matter what losses we face, there is always something worth living for—we just have to find what that is for us.

Heartbreaking and hopeful in equal measure, Find My Way Down to You is a life-affirming story that puts a new spin on grief turning your world upside down, perfect for fans of You’ve Reached Sam and At the End of the River Styx.

Find My Way Down to You is available from Amazon, Barnes & Noble, Bookshop.org, and other good book retailers, like your local bookstore, as of August 4th 2026.

Will you be picking up Find My Way Down to You? Tell us in the comments below!

Synopsis

You’ve Reached Sam meets Hadestown in this enchanting, intoxicating romance across the mortal world and the underworld.

Eighteen-year-old August is trying to navigate life after the sudden death of his boyfriend left him devastated, aimless, and feeling guilty. Years after the tragic accident, August mistakenly stumbles into a world beyond his own—the Underworld. Unlike his own gray existence, the underworld is a lavish extravagant place, full of mystery and a flurry of charismatic gods, all curious about August’s arrival in their world. Realizing right away the opportunity in front of him, August goes searching for his lost love, guided by Cary, the smoldering, broody ferrier of souls. But the more time August spends down below, the more his intentions begin to blur. Is he visiting this realm to reunite with his soulmate? Or is he desperately, inexplicably, intoxicatingly drawn to Cary? With his own world in pieces and a dangerously seductive realm promising him a new existence at a heavy cost, August must choose: a life with grief or a love that might destroy him.

The post #ReadwithPride: Find My Way Down To You by Julian Winters appeared first on The Nerd Daily.

Well, I am happy to report, I had nothing to worry about. Arcanjo managed to create another world and a cast of characters that feel just as fascinating as his first series.

Let’s get into it.

In Beast Mode: The Animal Awakens, we follow four characters who are gifted with the power to transform into different animals—they just don’t know how they got them. Without their memories, this thrown-together group of street-smart teens is forced into a deadly fight for survival as dark secrets, betrayals, and a dangerous conspiracy threaten them at every turn, all while trying to piece together what they’ve lost.

There are so many plot strings in Beast Mode that manage to come together beautifully without overwhelming the reader.

The mystery surrounding this group of friends and their ability to shift into different animals was the perfect set-up for a magical page-turner of a book. You have friends scrambling for survival, enemies hunting them down, a big mystery surrounding their memory loss and their abilities plus unlikely allies that—might not seem like allies in the beginning.

I also really liked that not everyone was happy about their magical abilities, cool as they may be. While Blue unequivocally loves being able to shift, Ember is desperately seeking for a cure to their dilemma. It made for some delicious tension between the friends as some are trying to find the truth just to make the puzzle pieces fit together while others don’t want to understand so much as revert their magical abilities—and go to different lengths to get what they want.

The stakes couldn’t be higher as the group tries to figure out who they were before their memory loss as they are hunted down by people who definitely do not want to help them.

Stories where you are figuring out what happened together with the characters can sometimes be frustrating if not done right, but Arcanjo absolutely nailed it here when it comes to pacing and unraveling the mystery. While Beast Mode had me in its grips from the first chapter, the story really picks up nano-speed in the second half which makes you feel like one reveal is catalyzed by the next, no moment of rest or boredom to be found. It makes for that perfect “okay, just one more chapter” feeling and makes you feel even more connected to Caine, Blue and Ember as you yourself learn the truth about shifters and how they came to be alongside them.

The shifter aspect brought that extra level of intrigue to the story. I love how Ember, Blue and Caine were already thick as thieves but then slowly opened up to Sal when they were flung together as she unraveled her own shifter animal. Their friendship might have been based on being thrown together by invisible forces but the way they support and care for each other made me smile even when the going got tough. There’s also another animal that may just be my favorite of the whole story, but I won’t spoil that part. Let’s just say Arcanjo sure knows how to keep readers on their toes.

And speaking of, Arcanjo, as always, knows to pull at the heartstrings. Without spoiling too much, as the group of friends recover some of their memories and face betrayal in more than one instance, you can’t help but feel for them. Caine’s story, especially, makes you wonder if some memories are best left buried whereas others like Ember’s truly show how often we underestimate our own power and skills. Despite the bleak moments in Beast Mode, there’s always that thread of friendship and empowerment that reminds you how important it is to surround yourself with people who care about you.

Really, the only small nitpick I have is that there were quite a few moments in Beast Mode that were just dumping info on the reader, especially when it came to the origins of the shifters instead of gradually introducing it. The holders of knowledge, and in most cases, the villains often fall into monologues about their motivations and the history of it all that goes on for pages and younger readers might struggle a tad to stay invested.

Nevertheless, Beast Mode: The Animal Awakens has me in its talons and I am eagerly awaiting the opportunity to reunite with Ember, Blue, Caine and Sal in the sequel!

Beast Mode: The Animal Awakens is the perfect read for anyone looking for a fast-paced, high-stakes adventure with unexpected twists, a quirky cast of unlikely friends and a mystery that keeps you on your toes!

Beast Mode: The Animal Awakens is available from Bookshop.org, Waterstones, and other good book retailers, like your local bookstore, as of July 30th 2026.

Will you be picking up Beast Mode: The Animal Awakens? Tell us in the comments below!

Synopsis

A brand-new, action-packed series from the author of Crookhaven, following a group of street-smart kids who have the extraordinary ability to shapeshift into powerful animals. For fans of X-Men and A. F. Steadman.

A group of young, street-smart kids with a dark secret – the ability to transform into powerful animals – must navigate a dangerous world where their extraordinary abilities are both a blessing and a curse.

As they unravel the mysteries of their past and how they came to be shapeshifters, they’ll face life-threatening challenges, betrayals, and an organisation that seeks to harness their power for evil.

It’s time to unleash your inner animal…

The post Review: Beast Mode: The Animal Awakens by J.J. Arcanjo appeared first on The Nerd Daily.

Luca and Emery prove once again what this powerful author duo does best: creating characters that somehow feel like real people you’ve known forever.

From the very first chapter where we get to see how Luca and Emery meet and get together, I was head over heels in love with Luca (just like everyone else in that scene).

How Christina Lauren can make me root for a couple who gets married after an insanely short amount of time knowing each other is beyond me but man, was I rooting for them. Emery is incredibly confident, smart and sassy. Even though most of what she does on a daily basis she can’t talk about, you can tell as the reader how driven, passionate and altogether goal-oriented she is and that kind of translates to how she sees Luca and immediately decides yes, this one’s mine.

Meanwhile Luca is an absolute sweetheart, someone that oozes charisma and that could probably seduce a lawn mower. The man somehow manages to make everyone want to be around him and I can’t even be mad about it because the way he’s written made me want to crawl into the book and give him a hug. He’s so understanding and supportive of Emery and her career (even when he doesn’t know what she does exactly) and would move heaven and earth for her…even though he gets discarded and forgotten time and again when Emery’s work comes between their plans or their relationship.

I think the first few chapters truly shine here because you immediately get the feeling that this isn’t going to be a flirty summer romance and instead have a lot more meat to it. The more serious, sophisticated tone pairs well with the couple in question and makes you realise that something is afoot way before Luca’s accident.

Now, for the romance. I love me a good amnesia plot and am an absolute sucker for someone trying to make their partner fall in love with them again, but I admit, I thought this could have been handled better here. While the foundation is there, I wanted more tension, more focus on their relationship and finding their way back to each other. There was an emotional connection, yes, but sometimes the sci-fi plot did overpower the romance. And while we do get short glimpses at the reconnection between Emery and Luca and both deliver on the funny quips to lighten the somewhat heavier read, the story’s anxiety and tension was mostly driven by the external factor of Emery trying to hide the technology she invented – or the fact that she kind of illegally used it on her husband (and succeeded!).

The focus of the story was more so on the actual scientific revival and its implications than the romance, which isn’t bad, just not what I was hoping for. In the end this does come down to personal preferences I’d say.

While I’m not the biggest fan of romances that involve a lot of technical or science-y exposition (don’t get me wrong, we love women in STEM, I just don’t have the brain capacity to understand anything no matter how often I ask people to explain it to me like I’m 5, it’s a problem, I’m aware of it) and therefore found myself with my eyes glassing over during the more explanatory stuff especially once it started spanning more than three pages, when it comes to Luca’s revival, I still thought the concept was really unique. It also made me chuckle at the cheeky title and the double meaning. Talk about resurrecting a marriage in crisis, alright.

I also couldn’t help but think time and again that people who adore Ali Hazelwood’s The Love Hypothesis would probably be frothing at the mouth over this and that alone made me persevere even when scientific things went over my head.

Something that I love about this author duo is that they’re not afraid to try out new formats or plots within the romance genre.

Yes, they have cornered the market and are firmly placed at the top of contemporary romances, yet many years later, they still stretch their creative muscles and shoot their shot at something out of the ordinary. And, as it is with all books, that might work for some readers and not for others – but it’s the way they combine this new set-up with their trademark funny banter and heartwarming characters that make you invested whether you dig the plot or not.

So, while this might have not been completely up my alley, it is and always will be a treat to dive into a new Christina Lauren book!

Putting an altogether new spin on the concept of reviving a marriage in crisis, Christina Lauren’s The Romance Revival is a second-chance romance with a heap of we love women in STEM vibes that’s perfect for fans of Ali Hazelwood!

The Romance Revival is available from Amazon, Barnes & Noble, Bookshop.org, and other good book retailers, like your local bookstore, as of July 14th 2026.

Will you be picking up The Romance Revival? Tell us in the comments below!

Synopsis

New York Times bestselling author Christina Lauren returns with an unforgettable romance in which a fateful accident erases a troubled marriage from memory—and a scientific breakthrough gives love one extraordinary do-over.

Three years ago, scientist Emery Finch did something completely out of character: She got married. To Luca—the impossibly charming landscaper she met on one blistering night in Vegas who made her laugh, made her dance, made her feel.

But now, Emery is consumed by her top research, missing dinners, forgetting anniversaries, and promising herself Luca will understand once her cutting-edge discoveries come to light. Until the unthinkable happens: A tragic accident takes Luca from her.

Desperate not to lose him, Emery breaks every rule, using the classified technology she’s developed to bring him back to life. And Luca would probably thank her for it, if only he could remember her. Their first kiss, their Sunny Sundays at the beach, the life they built together…all of it is gone.

It may be a miracle of science, but for Emery it’s her one shot at a second chance. And this time, she won’t waste it—because true love is always worth reviving.

The post Review: The Romance Revival by Christina Lauren appeared first on The Nerd Daily.

My initial one-sentence review after finishing Extracurricular was “This book is proof that the hottest thing a man can do is communicate.”

And you know what? I think that is still the vibe we’re going with for this review.

Extracurricular introduces us to Nick Navarro, psychology professor, dreamboat extraordinaire and recently divorced sweetheart who is way too charming. There was something so grounding about Nick that drew me in immediately. He is a down-to-earth guy, eternally optimistic and someone who deeply cares about his loved ones – and knows how to take a joke. His internal debates were also so funny, the way he would cut himself off if he got (in his opinion) too mopey and decided to focus on what is and not what could have been. Nick also fiercely loves his job…which means falling for your student is an absolute no-no. But as the saying goes, the heart wants what it wants…

Our heroine Ramona Wilder, meanwhile, is a force to be reckoned with.

Deciding to put her mental health first after years in the spotlight and under the thumb of her demanding parents, she leaves her singing career and fame behind and goes to college at 26. A daunting choice to say the least, and one that didn’t come easy.

I loved how fierce and funny she was and that she challenged herself to ace this new life of hers. Time and again she faced big obstacles (whether that be her parents urging her to not “alienate her fans” or a particularly gruelling online portal for students which I hated alongside her and reminded me too much of my own time at uni) with the attitude of “I’m gonna get through this, but I’m going to complain about it first” which was just way too relatable.

Ramona is also dealing with a lot of devils from her past that keep resurfacing. One of them is clearly her parents who mean well (probably, at some point, maybe) but keep hurting their daughter by putting insane expectations upon her and her body – and functioning as a catalyst for her anxiety.

While I don’t want to spoil too much of the trajectory of the story, I do want to mention that there is also a subplot that deals with consent (or the lack thereof) in a previous relationship of Ramona’s that led to a lot of her trust issues and fears of entering a new relationship. In my opinion, it was handled with a careful hand especially once the perpetrator somewhat resurfaced and while nothing happens on-page, there are some references and minor moments of flashback to the past. To say that Ramona doesn’t have it easy is an understatement, yet makes her meeting Nick and falling in love with him all the more rewarding because you just can’t help but root for this woman to get everything she’s ever wanted.

Despite both Nick and Ramona seeming like the exact opposite of what they would want in the beginning, they worked together so beautifully.

The juxtaposition of her coming from this glamorous life of fame with the down-to-earth attitude Nick exudes worked perfectly.

It is of course helped by the fact that you shouldn’t judge a book by its cover and both Ramona and Nick quickly learn that while their past has shaped them it does not have to define their future, especially together – but it makes for some hilarious put-your-foot-in-your-mouth moments in their romance. Both are in an era of rediscovering themselves and who they are outside of fame…or marriage, in Nick’s case and I love how open they were to exploring what made them happy.

Opening up to each other about their wants and needs brings an emotional vulnerability to the table that had me so invested in their romance from the get-go.

I loved the little push-and-pull moments, the “should I go for it or should we just stay friends” debates, the way they both obviously want to be together but are also very aware of what they’re still struggling with. The internal and external conflicts (that is, trying to leave your past versus trying to not get fired because you’re dating your student) paired so well together and made for an unputdownable story. That is immensely helped by the fact that the two of them communicate throughout the whole book. Yes, there are moments where they misinterpret or even say the wrong thing to each other, but they try to see where the other is coming from and learn to trust again, which made their relationship progression feel so natural and inevitable in a way.

And of course, Extracurricular delivers on the spice. The teasing banter and the flirting with that cheeky charm of the “teach me, professor” vibes only heat up once Nick and Ramona give in to their desires. Chances are that if you weren’t fanning yourself because of the unseasonably hot weather outside, you’ll be doing it just because of Nick and Ramona’s undeniable chemistry.

And speaking of chemistry and communication: bless Solomon for breaking the unnecessary cycle of third-act break-ups and instead delivering a conflict that gets resolved by – you guessed it – talking it out with each other!

A refreshing and bold choice that just goes to show you don’t need to make a couple break up to heighten the stakes and keep readers invested for their happily ever after. And man, was I invested. All in all this book reaffirmed my love for the romance genre and made my heart soar.

Escape the unnatural heatwave and instead read about things heating up between an ex-popstar and the psychology professor that would do anything for her! Whether you’re in the market for a romance that makes you kick your feet, a heartening story of rediscovery that will make you pick up one of your long-discarded hobbies or just seeking some delicious will-they-won’t they tension, Rachel Lynn Solomon’s Extracurricular is the must-read romance of the summer!

Extracurricular is available from Amazon, Barnes & Noble, Bookshop.org, and other good book retailers, like your local bookstore, as of July 14th 2026.

Will you be picking up Extracurricular? Tell us in the comments below!

Synopsis

When a former pop star enrolls in college, the last thing she expects is A-plus chemistry with her psychology professor in this sexy and tender romance from #1 New York Times bestselling author Rachel Lynn Solomon.

Ramona Wilder has spent her whole life in the spotlight. After a hit kids’ TV show, she transitioned into music, singing in arenas around the world and becoming an icon for millions of teenage girls. Now at age twenty-six, exhausted by the inhumane lack of privacy, she’s done—with all of it. She wants a chance at normal, whatever that might mean for her. And she’s starting with college.

Professor Nick Navarro is recently divorced but determinedly optimistic, allowing himself a very reasonable ten minutes per day to wallow. When his department calls a meeting about a celebrity enrollment, he plans to treat whoever it is like any other student. Except when Ramona blazes into class and causes an uproar, the typically easygoing professor is rattled, maybe for the first time in his career.

Ramona loves the way she flusters him, taking every opportunity to push Nick’s buttons, though what she really wants is to unbutton them completely. When a crisis brings them closer outside of class, they begin a tentative friendship amid an undeniable attraction. But Ramona can’t be so easily finished with her old life, and they’ll both have to confront their pasts if they want a chance at something real.

The post Review: Extracurricular by Rachel Lynn Solomon appeared first on The Nerd Daily.

Forced into one final journey, Ellinore teams up with her brooding rival, an ambitious barmaid, and a young bard as they face dangerous creatures, shifting loyalties, and unexpected feelings along the way. With time running out, Ellinore will have to confront both the truth about herself and the cost of saving the people she loves.

Much like the traditional hero’s journey, I experienced some ups and downs with Ellinore’s trials. Let’s get into it.

F.T. Lukens creates a magical setting that feels like you could spend an eternity in it. Some may not like it, but I actually love the mix of very modern words and slangs used in fantasy stories because they make them feel more accessible for newer and younger readers—and even as a vetted fantasy reader, I just always love the funny juxtaposition of magical creatures like dragons with the usage of expressions like “clocking someone”. Never gets old for me.

Character creation is, as always, where Lukens absolutely devours.

Ellinore, especially, is someone I immediately took a liking to. From the way she describes the pressure she feels to live up to the image this kingdom and its rulers has built up while absolutely not wanting to ever hurt someone all the way to how she has done everything in life to provide a better and safer future for her family and especially her brother Zig just had me feeling for her. Here is a girl who would sacrifice everything for her family to have a better life and yet can’t tell them the truth because it could cause them to lose everything they hold dear—and not only because Zig has a history of struggling with keeping things to himself.

Zig is a bit of a spitfire. You can tell where he gets his attitude from—always overshadowed by his sister, trying to get attention in the worst possible ways and much of their fragile relationship is due to miscommunication, which was hard to stomach. Yet Zig is also fierce in his loyalty when it comes down to it, which I appreciated.

Also, can I just say how much I love that we have a gender-nonconforming love interest? It felt so nice to see that representation in a fantastical world and while the romance isn’t very present in the novel, it still made my heart so happy! Give me queer characters in any setting, any age, any world, I am here for it! Aven is at times deadpan, at others ridiculously sassy and yet they have this energy about them that made them feel almost unreal? It’s hard to describe but at any given time I thought they could just float up into the sky and rule the entire kingdom, which I guess tracks with their lineage. The interactions between them and Ellinore also varied from outright confusion to downright sass competitions and this push-and-pull really drew me in.

We also have a variety of fantastical beings that enrich the story. Dave, in particular, a dragon Ellinore supposedly “slayed” but in reality ended up being friends with, is a fantastic addition to the story. He brings a sense of calmness to the whole situation with his sarcastic commentary, yet obviously deeply cares for Ellinore and wants to keep her and her brother safe.

And while some characters, both those that joined the journey and those that opposed it, did remain in a one-dimensional “villain” vs. “helper” role throughout the various encounters, I think it worked as a nice background to what are fully fleshed-out main characters that breathe fresh life into the narrative.

And speaking of the narrative: When it comes to the plot of The Last Best Quest Ever, you might guess that it’s a hero’s journey. We have a reluctant or, well, pretend hero who is forced to go on a seemingly impossible quest to save her loved one. Classic, right?

I guess I just expected a bit more. With a set structure as the hero’s journey, it’s really all about putting your own spin on it to make it feel new and exciting to a reader. For instance, So This Is Ever After is my favourite book by Lukens and while it also follows the hero’s journey, it adds so many spins to it that at times you forget you are reading a quest-structured book at all.

Yet The Last Best Quest Ever definitely fell into the pitfall of going through the motions a few times and it wasn’t helped by the fact that some encounters just felt exactly the same without ever heightening the stakes. Don’t get me wrong, the world building was wonderful and we meet a variety of different magical creatures and individuals that add to the tapestry of the fantastical world.

Somehow, though, Ellinore always finds a way to talk herself and her companions out of trouble with little to no resistance from the antagonists, which was frustrating. What’s more, they sometimes even help her get farther along which is great in terms of story progression but feels earned too easily considering her quest is supposed to be impossible to achieve.

I would have loved more grittiness to the journey or obstacles that truly hindered the questers. Even the “final” beats of the story fell somewhat flat because the lead-up just didn’t make me worry at all for the characters.

So in the end, despite the stakes being so high, it never felt like there was actually a moment where Zig’s life was really about to be forfeit.

Despite the structure not hitting quite right for me, I did love the underlying message pervading Ellinore’s journey about how hard it can be to find your place in the world where you are struggling to live up to other’s unrealistic expectations, especially when you have an entirely different outlook on what life is supposed to be about and what should really matter. I loved this juxtaposition of Ellinore absolutely not wanting to be a hero, yet ending up being one just by being herself and trusting her instincts.

So while The Last Best Quest Ever didn’t entirely floor me, it still has all the ingredients to be a perfect read for others (who perhaps have not spent three years dissecting Campbell’s hero’s journey for a dissertation and can quote the stages and plot points to hit by heart)!

If you’re a fan of the epic hero’s journey formula and want to dive into a new adventure with a ragtag group of questers and magical beasts to best…or befriend, then The Last Best Quest Ever might be the perfect read for you!

The Last Best Quest Ever is available from Amazon, Barnes & Noble, Bookshop.org, and other good book retailers, like your local bookstore, as of May 26th 2026.

Will you be picking up The Last Best Quest Ever? Tell us in the comments below!

Synopsis

A fraudulent teen quester must team up with a brooding, royal rival on a perilous adventure to save her brother’s life in this “witty…lively, heartfelt” (School Library Journal, starred review) young adult romantasy full of mythical creatures by the New York Times bestselling author of Spell Bound and So This is Ever After.

Seventeen-year-old Ellinore has the best questing record in the kingdom. Not even Aven—the infuriatingly charming royal who’s become her fiercest rival—can compete. But every one of Ellinore’s triumphs is a lie. The monsters she’s slain? Staged. The treasures she’s claimed? Planted. Tired of the charade, she shocks the realm by retiring during a royal feast.

Her hopes for a quiet life vanish when her reckless twin brother, Zig, bets his life on her ability to retrieve the horn of the mythical Elder Beast—a creature no one believes is real. To save him, Ellinore must return to the spotlight for one final quest. She’s joined by Zig, eager to prove himself; Aven, determined to finally outshine her; and a ragtag crew of unlikely questers with big dreams, questionable skills, and a knack for trouble.

As the stakes rise, Ellinore must decide who she really wants to be: the fraud the kingdom celebrates, the hero it needs, or someone entirely new.

The post #ReadWithPride: The Last Best Quest Ever by F.T. Lukens appeared first on The Nerd Daily.

Boy, do I have some mixed feelings about Cherry Baby. I will say that this book turned out to be one of those where the blurb and the marketing are not really on the same page as the actual story and while I don’t know whether this was a strategic choice to make the story have more of an impact on readers, it did leave me frustrated at times. While I’m a lover of second-chance romances, I think this would have worked a whole lot better if I’d known it was going to be about a soon-to-be-divorced couple reconnecting instead of just me hating a man that I’m supposed to root for getting his “Baby” back. But let’s get into the goods first:

Rowell’s prose is as crisp as ever in Cherry Baby. She creates a wholly believable world with characters that come alive on the page. Cherry felt incredibly real. Her insecurities and struggles around her body and her identity as a fat woman and especially with the image the world now has of her thanks to her husband’s comic were handled with a delicate yet honest touch that made me feel for her and just want to give her a hug. Her thoughts really make you turn introspective multiple times as you think about the way you encounter the world (and its many judgments) and just what that can do to a person’s self-image and self-confidence. I’ve read some reviews that mentioned Cherry being whiny or crying too often but to me, it just felt real. If you’ve ever struggled with your body image, I think reading Cherry’s story can help you feel a lot more seen than other books who have tried to do the same.

Closely related to Cherry’s portrayal, by far one of my favourite parts of Cherry Baby was Cherry’s relationship with her family members. Her sisters just tucked at my heartstrings and without spoiling too much, there is one storyline that is going to probably make you cry (I for sure did). It’s sometimes hard to make secondary characters stand out enough to feel real but not to have them take the spotlight and while Rowell did that wonderfully here, I’d also…not be opposed to getting to hear more from Cherry’s sisters in the future.

Now for the romance:

Cards on the table, I just didn’t really care for Tom.

Admittedly, one of the best parts of the entire story were the flashbacks we got that added depth to Cherry and Tom’s relationship and gave us glimpses into how they got together in the first place and what made them click. This isn’t really a romantic story but the flashbacks at the very least helped you understand why Cherry and Tom ever got married in the first place. However, as wonderful and heartwarming as they were, they were all in the past. Moments of romance and steaminess also appeared in the present but that wasn’t enough for me to really see what made it worth “trying again”.

In order for me to believe (and root for) a couple getting back together, I need to be invested in them individually and need to see that things have actually changed. While I was very invested in Baby’s happiness, I also felt a lot of the times that she was happier on her own. True, in the beginning there is a little bit of a flirtation going on between Cherry and an old college crush which definitely showed that she wants someone who truly sees her and cares for her but even there I wasn’t sold on another guy actually adding a lot to her life. Sure, he didn’t know about Tom’s webcomic or the way he caricatured Cherry but even with that in mind, there wasn’t a strong connection that made me think “oh yes, I’m rooting for you instead of Tom.” And meanwhile, I didn’t really see any change in Tom that made me think them trying again would not end up in the same result a few years down the line. Sure, there was some miscommunication and misinterpreted situations along the years but many of them weren’t really resolved in a way that everyone grew from it.

Take this with a grain of salt though as I am neither married nor know how a separation actually works in practice so…maybe people with more experience will relate to Tom and Cherry on a whole other level and actually think this is a wonderful second-chance story!

Alas, even when I don’t root for the characters’ romance or am not invested emotionally, the pages still fly by because that’s just the magic Rowell brings to the table with her distinct voice. So if you’re a long-time fan of Rowell’s writing or find yourself in a similar situation as Cherry, Cherry Baby might be the perfect read for you!

Cherry Baby is available from Amazon, Barnes & Noble, Bookshop.org, and other good book retailers, like your local bookstore.

Will you be picking up Cherry Baby? Tell us in the comments below!

Synopsis

#1 New York Times bestselling author Rainbow Rowell returns with a breathtakingly honest novel about a woman who lost everything — and isn’t sure she wants it back.

Everybody knows that Cherry’s husband, Tom, is in Hollywood making a movie . . .

Almost nobody knows that he isn’t coming home.

Tom is the creator of Thursday—a semi-autobiographical webcomic that’s become an international phenomenon.

Semi-autobiographical. That means there’s a character in this movie based on Cherry . . . “Baby.”

Wide-hipped, heavy-chested, double-chinned Baby.

Cherry never wanted this. No fat girl wants to see herself caricatured on the page—let alone on the big screen. But there’s no getting away from it. Baby looks so much like Cherry that strangers recognize her at the grocery store.

While her soon-to-be ex-husband is in Los Angeles getting rich and famous and being the internet’s latest boyfriend, Cherry is stuck in Omaha taking care of the dog he always wanted and the house they were going to raise a family in . . . and wondering who she’s supposed to be without him.

Cherry had promised to love Tom through thick and thin.

She’d meant it.

One night, Cherry decides to leave all her problems, including Tom’s overgrown puppy, at home. She ventures out to see her favorite band play her favorite album . . . and someone recognizes her from across the room.

Russ Sutton knew Cherry when she was a young art student with a fondness for pin-up dresses and patent leather heels. Before Tom.

Russ knows Cherry. He likes Cherry.

And best of all . . . he’s never heard of Thursday.

Tender, funny, and utterly human, Cherry Baby is Rainbow Rowell’s richest, most surprising—sexiest—novel yet.

The post Review: Cherry Baby by Rainbow Rowell appeared first on The Nerd Daily.

But when Nikki announces a tell-all memoir about their messy past on the Nik and Andy show, Andy’s carefully rebuilt world starts to crack. One impulsive text later, Nikki is standing in her flower shop, demanding answers and stirring up feelings Andy never fully buried.

Now, old sparks are flying, tempers are flaring, and Andy must decide: protect her peace, or risk everything for a second chance with the one woman she never truly got over?

Have you ever read a second-chance romance and actively rooted for the couple to not get back together? Because I have.

But let’s talk about the good things first.

The premise of the novel is exceptional, putting a spin on beloved tropes and with the gorgeous cover in mind, the juxtaposition of a life lived in Hollywood with the quiet, unassuming serenity of a flower shop just really worked for me. The setting truly feels like a home, not just because of Andy’s best friends in the novel that add a lot of comic relief and genuine support, but also because of how she is treated in this town by others.

Beyond the setting, my favourite part of the novel were definitely all the little glimpses and background tidbits we get from Nikki and Andy and their time in Hollywood. Stories about celebrities can be a bit of a hit or miss, but this aspect worked really well in the story.

It’s fascinating to peek behind the curtain of such an extraordinary world, and Dugan truly shines here. She offers sharp, insightful observations on how growing up young and impressionable— especially in Hollywood—can distort your sense of self, trap you in a manufactured identity, and warp your understanding of life beyond the spotlight. The juxtaposition of those memories with how Andy is now living her life and fearing to be back in the spotlight were handled so well and despite Nikki not getting her own POV in the book, we still learn about her time in Hollywood and the ways that has affected her choices, especially in terms of writing that tell-all memoir.

There is also undoubtedly chemistry between Nikki and Andy. If you ignore some of the underlying issues, the two of them really rocket up the heat whenever there are intimate moments. And even with what we learn about them when they were younger makes you think that there might have been potential for a true romance if the stars had aligned in their favour back when they were on the same TV show.

Now, I’m a huge fan of second-chance romances when they are done right and with Anderson in Bloom, I have to be honest, I just couldn’t connect with the romance. Don’t get me wrong, both Nikki and Andy work so well as individual characters. They’re intriguing, a bit catty, struggling with a lot on their own beyond their feelings for each other and overall just leave you wanting to spend more time with them—but again, individually.

The moment these two are on the same page, every interaction suddenly feels like a battle, and not in the good way that makes you kick your feet and giggle because you can tell it’s all a lead-up to one of the greatest romances of all time. There’s push and pull between them, yes, but it never really amounts to anything beyond more hurt feelings, more toxic behaviour or more altercations that do make you wonder how these two ever were together in the first place without actively plotting to plan each other’s murder. This is in part due to the fact that for Andy Nikki is the villain of the story whereas Nikki never seemed to harbour any antagonistic feelings toward Andy (despite some scenes that definitely make you as a reader question this). The middle part of the novel especially suffered from this lack of communication – and miscommunication on both parts – that just never seemed to end.

The thing that took away from my enjoyment here is that the characters themselves seem quite self-aware, yet it amounts to nothing in the grand scheme of things. At one point in the book, one of them even realises that this back-and-forth and the “relationship” in general is making her regress to some very toxic behaviour she thought she’d left behind her right with the other trappings of Hollywood. So Andy’s self-aware enough to understand that…but does not have the agency to do something about it, which just felt frustrating. Especially in Andy’s case I was also sad to see all the growth she had made after leaving Hollywood and all of that sort of flying out the window once Nikki comes back into her life. There’s a lot to say about show and tell in this book because Andy has such a different understanding of who she is and then the actions that actually make her completely go against those values because she’s led by her hurt feelings. It just amounted to a character that’s indecisive and led by the actions and words of others, which didn’t work for me, especially with how it placed her in relation to Nikki. Alas, I am known as a hater of the miscommunication trope and this was so present throughout the entire story (even with the obligatory third-act-break-up) that it might just be my own preferences that made the romance fall short and not one I could root for.

Nevertheless, I did have a good time reading this book. Dugan’s writing flows as easily as always and has you turning page after page without noticing how quick the time passes. So if you’re a fan of the miscommunication trope paired with a second-chance romance about former Hollywood co-stars falling back in love, then Dugan’s Anderson in Bloom might be the perfect fit for you!

Anderson in Bloom is available from Amazon, Barnes & Noble, Bookshop.org, and other good book retailers, like your local bookstore, as of March 3rd 2026.

Will you be picking up Anderson in Bloom? Tell us in the comments below!

Synopsis

From the author of Love at First Set, a hilariously sexy enemies-to-lovers, second-chance rom-com about a reclusive former child star turned florist whose quiet life is turned upside down when her annoyingly hot ex (and former costar) shows up in town, with plans to write a tell-all memoir.

Former child star Anderson “Andy” Ducharme is hiding—has been for a long time, if she’s honest with herself, which she isn’t.

When she suddenly cut off all ties and left LA six years earlier to work in a flower shop in coastal New England, she wasn’t just running away from toxic relationships, embezzling agents, and all the rest of her Hollywood life; she was running to something… sort of, if you squinted, and if you accepted that what she was running toward was little more than a vacation daydream she had made up with her (in)famous ex, and former costar, Nicole “Nikki” Price.

Then Nikki announces her plan to write a tell-all book about growing up in Hollywood and their tumultuous time on the Nik and Andy show, and Andy’s feelings of hurt and betrayal come rushing back. Emboldened by anger (and maybe one too many drinks), Andy does something very stupid: she texts her ex for the first time in years. No one’s more shocked than Andy when Nikki actually shows up to her small florist shop, looking for answers.

Andy is fully prepared to send Nikki away, but it seems Nikki has some unfinished business as well. Now that she finally knows where Andy’s been hiding, she’s not letting her go so easy. And with each passing encounter, Andy can’t deny the simmering physical attraction that threatens to boil over every time they get close.

But can the two of them really reunite without wrecking Andy’s carefully rebuilt life? Or is she setting herself up for a fresh heartbreak?

The post #ReadWithPride: Anderson in Bloom by Jennifer Dugan appeared first on The Nerd Daily.

I’ve said it in my review of Julian Winters’ adult debut and I’ll say it again: it really feels like he was made for this genre. It felt so good to be back in this world and to get to reunite with characters I have come to love—but from a different perspective.

Last First Kiss serves as a wonderful continuation of the foundation I Think They Love You laid with the Carter “dynasty” and their successful business empire 24 Carter Gold. While you can read it as a standalone, I highly recommend checking out I Think They Love You first. Knowing all the characters beforehand and now seeing them through a different lens—take for example Denz, who is the main character in I Think They Love You, but in Last First Kiss takes on the role of Jordan’s best friend whom he fiercely misses while is off living his best life after getting his own happily ever after— added another layer of depth to the story. But even if you dive into this not knowing anything about the Carters, you’re sure to fall head over heels in love with the characters.

Jordan is an absolute delight to follow. Jordan is many things—a perfectionist, a dreamer, an overthinker but above all, he is a self-deprecating sarcasm machine. His inner monologue kept making me laugh out loud. The way he manages to face every challenge head on no matter how insurmountable it seems but then lowkey considers running for the hills so he doesn’t have to see Jamie had me cackling. I could have spent another 500 pages in his head. Jordan has so much on his plate and puts so many expectations on himself that I constantly just wanted to give him a hug and tell him he’s doing great. So much of what drives Jordan is who he is to others and how he never wants to fail in fear of being abandoned and that hits especially hard once you understand how deeply Jamie is woven into all of it.

Jamie meanwhile, is, to use Jordan’s words, “the human embodiment of a border collie” and you know what? That translated so well to the page. Jamie is fiercely loyal (to a fault sometimes, unfortunately), an absolute goofball and also a ray of sunshine that brightens everyone’s days. He’s also so in tune with the people around him and what they need to a point where he puts their well-being above his own. There’s layers to him and why he behaves the way he does that takes a while to come to light—and that brings its own struggles with it that complicates his and Jordan’s relationship.

Now, let’s be real: sometimes a narrative that keeps a moment in the past hidden from you for a huge chunk of the story can drive you up the walls with how much you have to piece together without having all of the puzzle pieces. Here, that isn’t the case. Winters strikes the perfect balance between keeping the reader intrigued enough to want to find out what really happened between Jordan and Jamie and handing you snippets of their last encounter to make you understand just how much of an impact it had on Jordan—and why he’s loath to show it.

Every moment between Jordan and Jamie was filled with so much delicious tension despite how they traded sarcastic comments. You have these two characters who feel so much for each other and are evidently in love yet don’t quite know how to put themselves out there for very different reasons.

And somehow, despite the things the reader doesn’t know about Jordan or Jamie, it just works perfectly to make you root for their happily ever after.

There are so many instances in Jamie and Jordan’s story that had me smiling as they fell into old habits and familiar banter. I’m a sucker for best friends to lovers because they just add this layer of being known to the romance.

And once their relationship heats up, oh boy, I was done for. The comfort checks? I’m going to be busy combusting emotionally because that was so so appreciated that Jamie and Jordan were so careful around each other while simultaneously wanting to be as close to each other as they could.

Jordan’s journey with labels, particularly landing on demisexuality, is handled with so much care and authenticity. While I’m very aware that no two experiences are the same, I was so enamoured by the way Jordan’s journey unfolded and how much I related to his struggles of not quite being sure how to label himself when he only likes this one person and… doesn’t really know what to do with those feelings or how to act on them because he doesn’t understand them himself. It felt so reminiscent of my own experience, the constant second-guessing, the trying to fit the mould, the way you keep wondering what’s wrong with you because surely no one else feels like this, right? I can tell that this representation is going to matter to so many readers and I’m glad they’ll have this book to pick up and go “oh, so I’m not alone in this”.

I could keep singing this book’s praises, especially for each of the secondary characters that somehow felt like real people and propelled the story forward, but just let me give you one example: Javier.

Oh how I loathed Javier when he first reappeared as the guy who wants Jordan’s job – and the promotion Jordan has been vying for. I hated him with a passion, wanted him to get out of Jordan’s hair and ride off into the sunset with…whoever. But Winters, of course, surprised me here.

Watching Jordan and Javi shift from rivals to reluctant partners to genuine friends was so satisfying and served as a great reminder that sometimes the people who challenge us most are the ones who help us grow.

Really, my only gripe with the novel is the third-act break-up (which I have come to accept as a given in traditionally published romances and yet will still loathe until the end of my days because how dare you rip my babies apart when I just got them) but even that Winters finds a way to make feel natural and overall necessary to solidify Jordan and Jamie’s happily ever after.

All in all, this novel was an absolute delight, and I for one am already itching to get my hands on Winters’ next story—whether it’s in the Carter universe or not, he’s sure to hit another homerun.

If you’re in the market for a fantastic best-friends-to-lovers romance with heartfelt demisexual rep, an amazing cast of characters that liven up the pages and top-tier sarcastic banter that will have you giggling and kicking your feet, then Last First Kiss is the perfect second-chance romance to keep you warm this winter!

Last First Kiss is available from Amazon, Barnes & Noble, Bookshop.org, and other good book retailers, like your local bookstore, as of January 27th 2026.

Will you be picking up Last First Kiss? Tell us in the comments below!

Synopsis

Sparks fly in this second chance m/m rom com when an unlucky-in-love event planner realizes the man-of-honor at the high profile wedding he’s planning is the same man who broke his heart.

They say you never forget your first kiss. But Jordan Carter wishes he could forget the one he shared with Jamie Peters as teens. And the one they almost shared again last year before Jamie made it clear he wasn’t the “right” man for Jordan to be with while he’s figuring himself out.

Now, Jordan’s fully focused on his career at 24 Carter Gold, his family’s event planning company, and ready to move on – until his boss assigns him to plan a new client’s high-profile wedding. The bride’s man-of-honor? None other than Jamie.

As things ramp up the closer they get to the wedding, so does Jordan’s relationship with Jamie, with sarcastic asides turning into steamy hook-ups. But can Jordan afford to pursue Jamie if he’s still unsure of who he is? Or is knowing who he loves enough? Venue shopping, cake-tastings, and dress fittings with the man he can’t forget just might change the man Jordan Carter is meant to become.

Last First Kiss by Julian Winters is a second chance romance about finding yourself–and the love of your life.

The post #ReadWithPride: Last First Kiss by Julian Winters appeared first on The Nerd Daily.

Mortality is such a curious thing, right?

Anyone who’s ever listened to Queen’s Who Wants to Live Forever or read any of the many outstanding vampire novels we have been graced with, has probably asked themselves the question: Would I want to live forever? Do the many benefits of the concept live up to the fact that you’ll outlive all your loved ones? And what if, whoever you are, you spend eternity looking for a place to belong – and are denied it at multiple turns?

Abdi Nazemian handles these introspective questions so well in this story. While books dealing with mortality or belonging can sometimes read a bit stuffy, this is not the case here. Every emotion is felt by Oliver and Bram with an intensity that makes you feel part of a much bigger story.

This familiar ache, this intrinsic wish to belong—no matter the place or time—translates beautifully onto the page. The yearning for a world that gets better, that learns to be better simply because you want it to do better, to become safer, kinder, not just for yourself but the loved ones around you is a constant glimmer of hope that pervades the narrative.

And in the end, Exquisite Things serves as a powerful reminder that home is rarely a place and much more often a person (and if you’re very lucky, even an entire found family).

While I don’t really want to go too much into detail about the characters (this story truly feels like one you have to experience, not interpret based on a synopsis), I can say that at its core, Exquisite Things is a story about two boys who live forever and who always find each other, in every timeline. A romantic concept that is often hindered by Oliver and Bram themselves, who are by no means perfect, make mistakes, are messy and altogether enthralling in how they navigate and come to terms with their fate. Oliver’s depression is as painful as it is realistic because some pain, some fears are always present, no matter the timeline. Meanwhile seeing Bram feel this infinite loneliness until he finally finds who he belongs with will rip your heart out time and again—but make the happy ending all that more cathartic.

Where Nazemian truly shines, in my opinion, is in bringing a setting to life.

To jump between two points of perspective and flesh them out enough to the point where you feel you truly know and understand these characters is already quite a feat, but pair this with the multiple timelines and you either have a recipe for disaster or for a magical story. Nazemian turns the concept into the latter. You follow a journey that spans the late 19th century to present day and somehow, every timeline feels more vibrant and realistic than the last. The underlying themes of queer resistance, community, cheeky references to Oscar Wilde and the ever-changing values and rules of society are so well-placed that you feel as if you’re on a time-traveling journey yourself.

While my personal favourite was the 80s timeline, I am itching to share this book with friends and find out whether they prefer one of the others. Each timeline (and each POV, for that matter) has something so special, whether it be a plot point that you don’t see coming, a moment between the boys that has your heart breaking or being mended, or a tidbit that makes you want to research more about the current timeline and whether things really transpired like that or whether the author took some liberties at points.

It’s a treat that I’m sure readers will gobble up and keep them thinking long after they close the book.

A captivating, out-of-the-ordinary love story about two boys who find eternal life awaits readers in Exquisite Things. With a touch of magical whimsy and a found family that reminds you of what—and who—really matters in life, this book is a must for fans of time-hopping romances and The Invisible Life of Addie LaRue.

Exquisite Things is available from Amazon, Barnes & Noble, Bookshop.org, and other good book retailers, like your local bookstore, as of September 23rd 2025.

Will you be picking up Exquisite Things? Tell us in the comments below!

Synopsis

From Stonewall Award–winning author Abdi Nazemian (Only This Beautiful Moment) comes the epic queer love story of a lifetime. Perfect for fans of The Invisible Life of Addie LaRue and The Picture of Dorian Gray.

Shahriar believes he was born in the wrong time. All he’s ever wanted is to love and be loved, but 1895 London doesn’t offer him the freedom to be his true self, and Oscar Wilde’s trial for gross indecency has only reaffirmed that. But one night—and one writer—will grant Shahriar what he’s always wished for: the opportunity to live in a time and place where he can love freely. Rechristened as Shams and then as Bram, he finds what feels like eternal happiness. But can anything truly be eternal?

Oliver doesn’t feel that 1920s Boston gives him a lot of options to be his full self. He knows he could only ever love another boy, but that would break his beloved mother’s heart. Oliver finds freedom and acceptance in the secret queer community at Harvard that his cousin introduces him to. When he meets a mysterious boy with eyes as warm as a flame, his life is irrevocably changed, forever.

Spanning one hundred and thirty years of love and longing, this tale of immortal beloveds searching for their perfect place and time is a vibrant hymn to the beauty of being alive, a celebration of queer love and community, and a reminder that behind every tragic thing that ever existed, there is something exquisite.

The post #ReadWithPride: Exquisite Things by Abdi Nazemian appeared first on The Nerd Daily.

Alison Cochrun coming through with the late-bloomer-coming-out-wlw-travel-adventure of readers’ dreams!

The Camino acts as a wonderful setting for Sadie’s journey of self-discovery and, of course, the romance. While I’ve never walked the Camino myself (outdoors are not my vibe), I do remember Cochrun’s updates on Instagram when she walked it and even without having explicit knowledge of the track myself, you can tell the author knew what she was writing about. The scenery comes alive around Sadie and Mal and at times it feels like you’re walking right beside them. There are many moments of bonding not just between the two but their entire group about the agony of blisters or just getting to know each other while they trek on. Portugal and Spain feel simultaneously inviting and like something out of a dream that makes you want to pick up your own gear and join Sadie and Mal.

The secondary characters that joined them on the tour and the ones they meet along the way made for some entertaining moments as well. While some fell a bit too much into certain European stereotypes (and this is coming from a European, so take it with a grain of salt) and could have fleshed out a bit more, they added a variety and depth that served as the perfect multicultural background to this romance.

And speaking of the romance: Cochrun knows her tropes and delivers a lovely rendition of the “showing you the queer ropes” one in Every Step She Takes. I think we can all agree that it’s one of the best tropes out there when it comes to journeys of self-discovery and Mal’s helpful guidance definitely did the trick. While I sometimes would have wished for a bit more depth to some of these scenes, they for sure were entertaining and kept the pacing on track.

In order for me to enjoy a romance book though, I need a bit more than the romance—I need characters that grow on their own so they can then grow together – and Every Step She Takes thankfully offers just that. Beyond Sadie’s own slow journey of accepting this new part of herself and feeling more comfortable with identifying as a lesbian, we also have Mal, who is dealing with her own baggage. Feeling unmoored after her estranged father’s recent passing, she doesn’t really know what she wants in the beginning of the story and while this causes some frustration at points, it also felt way too relatable. It made the romance shine all the brighter to see these characters struggle on their own yet help each other in the best of ways.

One thing I think Cochrun always excels at is showcasing gay panic in your adulthood. Sure, we all sometimes feel like we’re stuck in the mindset of a teen while our bodies remind us daily that we are, in fact, not teens, but gay panic? Yeah, that is ageless and it’s as much fun in your thirties as it is in your twenties…or even earlier.

Don’t get me wrong, I love and am all for the many amazing stories we get about kids and teens figuring out their identity,  but especially for people that realized they’re queer later in life, these kinds of stories geared toward their age group can mean so much. They act like a beacon reminding you that it’s never too late to figure out what – and who – you want in life and love. And for that, Cochrun provides you the perfect backlist…and a shiny new story to boot.

All in all, if you’re in search for a late bloomer sapphic romance and enjoyed travel novels like Anita Kelly’s Something Wild and Wonderful, then Every Step She Takes is the queer women travel adventure you don’t want to miss out on!

Every Step She Takes is available from Amazon, Barnes & Noble, Bookshop.org, and other good book retailers, like your local bookstore, as of September 2nd 2025.

Will you be picking up Every Step She Takes? Tell us in the comments below!

Synopsis

A swoon-worthy sapphic romance following two women who are thrown together on a European adventure, from the Lambda Literary Award–winning author of the “sexy, insightful, and utterly charming” (BuzzFeed) Kiss Her Once for Me.

Thirty-five-year-old Seattleite Sadie Wells needs an escape. She’s desperate to escape her monotonous routines, the family business that has consumed her entire life, and the unexpected gay panic that has her questioning everything she thought she knew about herself. So when her injured sister offers Sadie her place on a tour along Portugal’s Camino de Santiago, she decides this is the perfect chance to get away from it all.

After three glasses of wine on the plane and some turbulence convince Sadie she won’t even survive the flight, she confesses all her secrets to her seatmate, Mal. The problem: the plane doesn’t crash, and it turns out Mal is on her Camino tour. Worst of all, Sadie learns that she is on a tour specifically for queer women, and that her two-hundred-mile trek will be a journey of self-discovery, whether she wants it to be or not.

Fascinated by the woman who drunkenly came out to her on the plane, Mal offers to help Sadie relive the queer adolescence she missed out on as they walk the Camino. As Sadie develops her newfound confidence, Mal grapples with a complicated loss and unexpected inheritance. But as their relationship blurs the lines between reality and practice, they both must decide if they will forever part at the end of the tour or chart a new course together.

With “funny, poignant” (Publishers Weekly, starred review) prose, Alison Cochrun explores the power of letting go of your past and realizing that it’s never too late to live as your authentic self.

The post #ReadWithPride: Every Step She Takes by Alison Cochrun appeared first on The Nerd Daily.