Short AF Book Review | Season Of Steel | ARC Received By Netgalley?

Hi friends!  So today I'm going to be doing a review on "Season Of Steel" by Maia Kane. This review is going to be short and sweet (like the title suggests) and spoiler free (however there will be the Goodreads synopsis in this and sometimes it can contain spoilers so please keep that in mind!)

"Bridgerton meets Pacific Rim in this sapphic fantasy romance where a feisty noblewoman must team up with a disgraced mecha fighter to win her own hand and save her faily from fortune hunters.

In an alternate Regency England where marriage to eligible noblewomen is decided by deadly mecha dueling tournaments, half - Chamorro bluestocking Lady Wilhelmina Applewhite will choose her own destiny, thank you very much. But when her father's sudden death leaves Willa as his sole heir, her hand in marriage becomes the upcoming Season's grand prize.

Determined to seize her fate - and protect her little sisters' freedom - Willa shocks the ton by hiring a Bloodsworn fighter to compete for her own hand in the deadly gladiatorial duels of the Season. Except the only one mad enough to even consider fighting for Willa is rakish Thomasin Drake, the first and last woman to have ever fought in a Season... until her final duel ended in defeat and disgrace.

But if Willa isn't careful, she might lose her most valuable possession - her heart - to Thomasin before the Season duels are over. And in a world where marriage is a matter of life and death, falling in love is the last thing she can afford."

I received this book as an ARC from Netgalley, however all opinions are my own.

I'm not going to lie, the reason I wanted to read "Season Of Steel" was because the cover was GORGEOUS. And once I saw it was sapphic, I was all in. Friends, this story was incredible. If you're like me and you can't wait for the sapphic season of Bridgerton this will be the one for you. I loved every moment of reading this. It truly had everything I wanted in a sapphic romance, grumpy x sunshin, slow burn, found family. I laughed, I cried, I genuinely was surprised more times than I could count. This story was such a beautiful representation of feminism, lesbian romance, and opposites attract and I cannot wait to see what Maia writes next. I would 1000% recommend this to everyone and anyone and I will be picking myself a copy up the moment it's out.

I gave this book a 5/5 star rating on Goodreads!

This book comes out on the 16th March 2027!

What did you think of this book? Who were your favourite or least favourite characters? Do you have any books you'd recommend for me to read and do a review on? Please let me know down in the comments below!

Have a wonderful day!

Love, Doe!

Short AF Book Review | Final Cut | ARC Received By Netgalley

Hi friends!  So today I'm going to be doing a review on "Final Cut" by Amy James. This review is going to be short and sweet (like the title suggests) and spoiler free (however there will be the Goodreads synopsis in this and sometimes it can contain spoilers so please keep that in mind!)

"Hollywood's favourite actor. Nobody's favourite Formula 1 driver. One life - changing winter break.

Quin McCarthy is Hollywood's favourite actor. Cole Milton is nobody's favourite formula 1 driver. The two men have less than nothing in common, and when their paths briefly cross at the Singapore Grand Prix, it ends in mutual loathing.

Neither expects to see the other again, but when Quin moves to a remote Canadian ski town to film a thriller series, he learns that his deep - woods rental cottage has a single neighboring property, owned and occupied by none other than cole.

Quinn resolves to ignore him and spen his winter nights reading books by the fireplace. But when he stumbles upon a dead body on set - and glimpses the murderer making a run for it - his laid - back winter plans take an abrupt turn for the worse. As things grow more dangerous, he's forced to turn to Cole for help - and in doing so, realizes Cole might not be the bad guy everyone thinks he is."

I received this book as an ARC from Netgalley, however all opinions are my own.

I'm not going to lie friends, the reason I wanted to read this was genuinely because the cover looked cool, and once I found out it was queer I dove straight in. I knew absolutely nothing about this book going in and honestly I think that was the best way to get into it. This book truly put me through a rollercoaster of emotions. The amount of twists and turns in this book truly shocked me to my core and I think it's going to take me a little while to recover. I loved the grumpy x sunshine vibes, and thought that most of the banter/initial arguments between out main characters were funny to read and really had me rooting for them from the start. What I did not expect though, was how much this book was going to tear my heart out whilst simultaneously making me cackle in the early hours of the morning. I really did love this one. It was emotional, and witty, and truly had me on the edge of my seat throughout. I also fond out this was the second in the series, however they're interconnected standalones so I will be reading the first in the series as soon as I get the chance to! I would 100% recommend this, and definitely will be reading more of Amy James' works.

I gave this book a 5/5 star rating on Goodreads!

This book comes out on the 3rd November 2026!

What did you think of this book? Who were your favourite or least favourite characters? Do you have any books you'd recommend for me to read and do a review on? Please let me know down in the comments below!

Have a wonderful day!

Love, Doe!

Short AF Book Review | Flarestorm | ARC Received By Netgalley

Hi friends!  So today I'm going to be doing a review on "Flarestorm" by Moira Buffini. This review is going to be short and sweet (like the title suggests) and spoiler free (however there will be the Goodreads synopsis in this and sometimes it can contain spoilers so please keep that in mind!)

"The stunning final book in the acclaimed Torch Trilogy, perfect for fans of Sabaa Tahir, Margaret Atwood, and Adreienne Young, set in a future dystopia in which two girls hundreds of miles apart are bound by songlight, the forbidden ability to telepathatically communicate."

I received this book as an ARC from Netgalley, however all opinions are my own.

So the reason I wanted to read this is obviously because I also read the first two books in the series, also as ARCs. Honestly friends, if this wasn't the final book in the series I probably would have DNFd it. Do not get me wrong, there were so many enjoyable moments throughout this book, but because of it being the last one it felt like the author was trying to get everything wrapped up as quickly as possible and it honestly felt disjointed and rushed. I also felt super uncomfortable with how they treated the only trans character throughout this story, especially considering we had such a good experience of meeting him in the second book. Personally, I don't think I'll be reading anything else by Moira due to the experience of reading this series as a whole. I also wouldn't necessarily recommend this series, which is dissapointing consdering how strong the first book was.

I gave this book a 2/5 star rating on Goodreads!

This book comes out on the 22nd October 2026!

What did you think of this book? Who were your favourite or least favourite characters? Do you have any books you'd recommend for me to read and do a review on? Please let me know down in the comments below!

Have a wonderful day!

Love, Doe!

Short AF Book Review | Comfort Read | ARC Received By Netgalley

  

Hi friends!  So today I'm going to be doing a review on "Comfort Read" by Dylan Morrison. This review is going to be short and sweet (like the title suggests) and spoiler free (however there will be the Goodreads synopsis in this and sometimes it can contain spoilers so please keep that in mind!)

"A feel - good M/M cozy romance with fake dating, one slightly demonic orange cat and a slow burn worth swooning over!

Sage Ballard needs to rescue his reputation. Kit Forrest just wants to keep his beloved local bookshop from shutting down. All they have to do is convince the world they're madly in love. Pumpkin spice, old paperbacks, and a romance that's about to get very real..."

I received this book as an ARC from Netgalley, however all opinions are my own.

So the reason I wanted to read this is because I saw it in Netgalley's queer section, thought it sounded like a cute read and I applied for it. Friends, I'm so glad I did. This book is one of the cuter acchilean romances I've read in a long time. This is genuinely going to be the perfect sit down with a hot drink and a warm blanket comfort read for fall. First of all, all of the characters throughout this story were loveable, funny, and had such a heartwarming connection with one another. This was such an easy read for me and I truly would put that down to how good the character writing and develoment was. This story was sweet, funny, and beautifully honest. I laughed with this book, I cried with this book. I genuinely cannot wait to read more of Dylan's books, and I will 100% be grabbing this one when it comes out!

I gave this book a 4/5 star rating on Goodreads!

This book comes out on the 8th October 2026!

What did you think of this book? Who were your favourite or least favourite characters? Do you have any books you'd recommend for me to read and do a review on? Please let me know down in the comments below!

Have a wonderful day!

Love, Doe!

Short AF Book Review | Check & Mate

Hi friends!  So today I'm going to be doing a review on "Check & Mate" by Ali Hazelwood. This review is going to be short and sweet (like the title suggests) and spoiler free (however there will be the Goodreads synopsis in this and sometimes it can contain spoilers so please keep that in mind!)

"Mallory Greenleaf is done with chess. Every move counts nowadays. After the sport led to the destruction of her family four years earlier, Malloyy's focus is on her mom, her sisters, and the dead - end job that keeps the light on. That is, until she begrudgingly agrees to play in one last charity tournament and inadvertently wipes the board with the notorious 'Kingkiller' Nolan Sawyer: current world champion and reigning bad boy of chess.

Nolan's loss to an unknown rook-ie chocks everyone - especially Mallory. What's even more confusing? His desire to cross pawns again. What kind of gambit is Nolan playing? The smart move would be to walk away. Resign. Game over. But Mallory's victory opens the door to sorely needed cash prizes and, despite everything, she can't help feeling drawn to the enigmatic strategist...

As she rockets up the ranks, Mallory struggles to keep her family safely seperated from the game that wrecked it in the first place. And as her love for the sport she so desperately wanted to hate begins to rekindle, Mallory quickly realizes that the games aren't only on the board, the spotlight is hotter than she imagined, and the competition can be fierce(-ly attractive. And intelligent... and infuriating...)"

So the reason I wanted to read this is because I've really been enjoying Ali Hazelwood's writing so I picked this up. Friends, I really loved this book. Honestly, Ali's writing is so smart, and adorable, and genuinely heart wrenching at times. As the oldest daughter I found it really easy to relate to our main character, and the felt responsibility to make sure everyone else is okay in your family before yourself. This story was a beautiful and brutally honest reminder to make sure that if you're taking care of others, you should also be taking care of yourself, and how honesty and communication is key, whilst still being a cute little grumpy x sunshine rivals to lovers. This book had me laughing, it had my crying and this genuinely is a now a new favourite of mine. I cannot wait to read more of Ali's writing.

I gave this book a 5/5 star rating on Goodreads!

What did you think of this book? Who were your favourite or least favourite characters? Do you have any books you'd recommend for me to read and do a review on? Please let me know down in the comments below!

Have a wonderful day!

Love, Doe!

Short AF Book Review | The Restorative Artist | ARC Received By Netgalley

 Hi friends!  So today I'm going to be doing a review on "The Restorative Artist" by Cecil Fenn. This review is going to be short and sweet (like the title suggests) and spoiler free (however there will be the Goodreads synopsis in this and sometimes it can contain spoilers so please keep that in mind!)

"An embalmer haunted by the death of his lover pulls apart his relationship and his funeral home to escape the pain of grief. Queer book club meets gothic horror in this debut novel from a former funeral professional.

Graham has built his life around the dead. He's a talented embalmer, the devoted director of his own funeral home, and the guiding hand behind a small but respected team. After a corpse - carried illness forces him to reckon with his own mortality, Graham struggles to confront the lingering pain of  a recent loss. Grief, he finds, is not so easily diagnosed, dissected, and named. It is not so easily cured.

Betrayed by his body and unable to accept the pain death has caused him, Graham loses faith in his profession and the person he's become in its service. The past - which he imagines as a story of love and self - acceptance - becomes Graham's refuge. But in the present, influenced by increasingly gruesome visions of the deceased, Graham withdraws from his funeral home with devastating consequences for himself, his new girlfriend, and his colleagues. As his life, and even his sanity, starts to fragment, Graham struggles to rediscover the importance of his work and the history that haunts him before he loses everything and everyone close to him.

The Restorative Artist is a dissection of memory and embodiment, set against the morbid decadence - and sterilising secresy - of the US funeral industry. Through Graham's confrontations with the spectre of his deceased lover, the horror of his work, and the uneasy relationship with his own transgender body, it dares to ask how anyone can continue in the face of loss."

I received this book as an ARC on Netgalley, however all opinions are my own.

So the reason I wanted to read this is genuinely because I saw it on Netgalley and the description sounded like it'd be something right up my street. Friends, I was right. This story was so incredibly beautiful, jarring, and heartbreaking. This is described as both a "literary fiction" and a "horror" on Goodreads, but this for sure falls more into the literary fiction catergory, as the horror elements of this story felt more sad than horrifying. Which also means we've finally found a literary fiction I like! This book truly was filled with a heartbreak that I don't think I was ready for. The way that this character dealt with their queerness, them being trans and their grief was both beautiful and devestating at the same time. I genuinely found myself tearing up throughout this book and just wanting to jump into the story and give our main character a hug. I would absolutely recommend this if you want something that's going to tear your heart out and put it back together again, but please note there are some triggering topics throughout so please look up the trigger warnings before you read this book.

I gave this book a 5/5 star rating on Goodreads!

This book comes out on the 17th September 2026!

What did you think of this book? Who were your favourite or least favourite characters? Do you have any books you'd recommend for me to read and do a review on? Please let me know down in the comments below!

Have a wonderful day!

Love, Doe!

Short AF Book Review | The Misfit Witches Of Marigold Island | ARC Received By Netgalley

  Hi friends!  So today I'm going to be doing a review on "The Misfit Witches Of Marigold Island" by V.K. Ruiz. This review is going to be short and sweet (like the title suggests) and spoiler free (however there will be the Netgalley synopsis in this and sometimes it can contain spoilers so please keep that in mind!)

"A spell gone wrong leaves a witch powerless - but opens the door to a new kind of magic.

Paloma has spent a decade as a witch's apprentice, dedicating herself completely to the craft of spell casting. But even with her whole future planned, all it takes is one sneeze to send a spell awry, extinguishing her magic completely. Paloma's distraught: Without her powers, can she even call herself a witch?

At the gentle urging of her mentor, Paloma returns home to verdang, magical Marigold Island. There, she launches By The Broom, a successful courier service, and finds community in a house of other queer misfit witches and their familiars - indcluding a straw hat - wearing raccoon named Nori. Still, the ache of losing her powers - and her sense of self - lingers. Even a flirtation with Liss, the charming cafe owner whose chocolate chip cookies are literally enchanted to feel like a hug, cant quiet her grief. As she zooms around making deliveries, she can't ignore the blight creeping across the island - or the feeling that Marigold's magic is fading too.

Paloma's used to solving problems on her own. Can she learn to accept her limitations and trust her new housemates to help her save the island they all love before it's lost to them forever?"

I received this book as an ARC on Netgalley, however all opinions are my own.

So the reason I wanted to read this is genuinely because the cover was gorgeous and caught my eye on Netgalley, so once I saw it was queer I knew I had to read this. Friends, this book was absolutely adorable. This had everything I could ask for in a queer romance, found family, a beautiful support system and magic. If you want a cozy, lighthearted easy to read queer romance then this is definitely the one. The wrting was flowery, soft and gentle in all the ways I needed to be. I giggled with these characters, I cried with these characters. My heart was filled with so much love and warmth throughout this story. If anything, reading it felt like a warm hug. I genuinely would recommend this to everyone and anyone, especially if you're in the mood for a soft queer witchy romance. I cannot wait to see what V.K. Ruiz writes next.

I gave this book a 4/5 star rating on Goodreads!

This book comes out on the 23rd March 2027!

What did you think of this book? Who were your favourite or least favourite characters? Do you have any books you'd recommend for me to read and do a review on? Please let me know down in the comments below!

Have a wonderful day!

Love, Doe!