This past semester I was not able to read too many books for fun (as I had to focus on readings for my classes), so I am combining my monthly recaps for August, September, October, November, and December all into one post!

August

Been Here All Along by Sandy Hall — 4 stars
Been Here All Along was a light, entertaining, and fun read. It’s just as charming as her previous books and features her signature multiple points of view. Been Here All Along actually reminded me a lot of Taylor Swift’s “You Belong With Me,” which was a connection I loved. Overall, the romance was super cute and sweet. Full review here.

Don’t Get Caught by Kurt Dinan — 4.5 stars
Don’t Get Caught was such a fun read. I think I was a little weary of how the pranks were going to be, but I loved how well-thought out and elaborate they actually were. I’m a huge fan of heists films and books, so I absolutely adored all of the heist rules that Max listed throughout the book and how they connected to the different pranks. I thought that was such a fun and clever addition to the book. The crew of characters were great as well. I recommend this one for those looking for a fast-paced, funny read! Full review here.

Summer of Sloane by Erin L. Schneider — 4.5 stars
Summer of Sloane hooked me from the beginning. Erin L. Schneider’s writing is addictive, and I couldn’t help but fly through it. I absolutely loved the tropical Hawaiian setting, plot, and all the characters. This is the perfect summer read and a must read for any contemporary lover! Full review here.

Game On by Michelle Smith — 4 stars
Game On is book two in the Lewis Creek series, a companion novel to Play On. I haven’t read Play On yet, but that did not hinder my read. Game On definitely had a huge Friday Night Lights vibe going on, which I loved. Small towns sure can have a lot of politics with their high school sports teams, and Lewis Creek is no exception when it comes to baseball. The romance was sweet but definitely a slow build. Most of the book focuses on them repairing their friendship, which was so important. I think fans of Katie McGarry and Miranda Kenneally will enjoy Game On just as much as I did. Full review here.

The Girl From Everywhere by Heidi Heilig — 3.5 stars
I enjoyed The Girl From Everywhere. The specifics of the time traveling aspect were a little confusing, but it was still really interesting. I liked the characters a lot, and loved the diversity of the crew! I loved all the different maps in this book, and the diversity of the characters. The book is slower in pacing, but the rich world building makes up for it. I will absolutely read book 2, The Ship Beyond Time!

Future Shock by Elizabeth Briggs — 3.5 stars
Future Shock is the first in a planned trilogy, and it did not disappoint. It’s a time travel mystery full of twists and turns. Time travel seems to be a hit or miss for me, but Elizabeth Briggs did a great job of describing the future and all of its new technology. Full review here.

September

The Boyfriend Bet by Chris Cannon — 1 star
I was very disappointed by The Boyfriend Bet. I was looking forward to a cute read, but all I got were annoying character and a not all-that-there plot. Overall the book was very meh.

Stalking Jack the Ripper by Kerri Maniscalco — 4.5 stars
Stalking Jack the Ripper is perfect for mystery and historical fiction fans! A wonderful combination of both, I couldn’t help but be pulled into the world. The characters were great, and there were twists that kept me on the edge of my seat. There is a dash of romance, and I absolutely adored it. I cannot wait to pick up the sequel next year! Full review here.

Kiss Cam by Kiera London — 4 stars
I first read Kiss Cam as an unedited version on Swoon Reads last year. It was just so adorable and swoon-worthy, and I found it to be just as cute as I read it a second time. Kiss Cam is a best friends’ romance. It’s the basic best friends-to-lovers trope, and I couldn’t help but fall for Jasiper. It was fun seeing what it might be like for the pair being shipped and what kind of pressures that puts on their friendship. I really did love the concept and thought Kiara London pulled it off well. Full review here.

October

No Holding Back by Kate Evangelista — 3.5 stars
No Holding Back is the sequel and companion novel to No Love Allowed (review here), which was a such cute read. No Holding Back is a fun follow-up and another cute, summer read. I really enjoyed the European backdrop, and it made such a fun addition to the story. Full review here.

November

The Grift of the Magi by Ally Carter — 4.5 stars
The Grift of the Magi is the fourth installment of Ally Carter’s Heist Society series, which is one of my favorite series. Ally Carter announced the release of this novella only a couple weeks before it was published, and it was such a wonderful surprise as I had been waiting for a fourth book for years. Since this is a novella, it is shorter than the other books in the series. However, it was the perfect length for me as I had been too busy to read full-length novels. I loved having the gang back together and the Christmas vibe was perfect.

December

Let It Snow by John Green, Maureen Johnston, & Lauren Myracle — 4 stars
Let Is Snow is comprised of three holiday romances all taking place within the same small town over Christmas Eve, Christmas Day, and the day after Christmas. Each of the stories is quirky in its own way, which made it a fun read. I loved how the characters all overlapped into the other stories. Great for getting into the holiday spirit, Let It Snow is the perfect read for the days leading up to Christmas!

Bad Blood by Jennifer Lynn Barnes — 5 stars
Bad Blood is the fourth and final book of Jennifer Lynn Barnes’ The Naturals series. If you’re a fan of mysteries and thrillers, this is the series for you. Bad Blood takes a turn for the darker side as everything from the previous books comes together for a stunning conclusion. It was a little hard getting into the beginning as I had forgotten much of what happened in third book. However, it didn’t take long for me to get caught up in the story again. I would recommend reading all four books in a row for a comprehensible reading.