sophs_mood_reading's reviews
417 reviews

Tonight, I Burn by Katharine J. Adams

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dark emotional mysterious tense slow-paced
  • Plot- or character-driven? A mix
  • Strong character development? Yes
  • Loveable characters? Yes
  • Diverse cast of characters? Yes
  • Flaws of characters a main focus? It's complicated

3.5

Picture a world where five covens are shackled to a tyrant, and every night a thorn witch must cross the veil between Life and Death by burning at the stake. When Penny’s favorite sister goes missing, she boldly breaks the rules by burning in secret, setting off a wild journey filled with magical mysteries, a secretive lord with too many secrets, a captive prophet who knows too much, and a rebellion simmering in the shadows.

I must admit the opening chapters had me tangled in an intricate web of magic and rules that had me scratching my head and a muttering a few “uh, what?”But once the heart of the story ignited, every page sparkled with witchy charm, unexpected twists and a perfectly written queer love story. The final stretch doesn’t leave you dangling on a cliffhanger, but instead it perfectly sets the stage for the next installment.
Pictures of You by Emma Grey

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challenging emotional inspiring mysterious reflective fast-paced
  • Plot- or character-driven? Character
  • Strong character development? Yes
  • Loveable characters? Yes
  • Diverse cast of characters? It's complicated
  • Flaws of characters a main focus? Yes

5.0

Bookstagram was raving about this one, so obviously, I had to see what the fuss was about. It’s not my usual fantasy comfort read, but the hype was well deserved.

Waking up in a hospital with no memory of your husband or the accident that killed him? Yeah, that’s a plot twist Evie did not see coming. As she pieces together the life she apparently lived, secrets unravel, and let’s just say… not all of them are welcome. Enter Drew, photographer, blast from the past, and the guy who might just help Evie see her life a little clearer this time around.

I went in expecting a heartfelt rediscovery story and got so much more. The dual POV and timeline jumps were brilliant, but the twists? They just kept coming, each one making the story even more addictive. And then there was that twist, the one I never saw coming… I actually gasped. On top of all that, the way this book tackles coercive control is both gripping and gut-wrenching. An emotional rollercoaster but the kind you want to ride again.
The Rebel Witch by Kristen Ciccarelli

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adventurous challenging mysterious tense fast-paced
  • Plot- or character-driven? Character
  • Strong character development? Yes
  • Loveable characters? Yes
  • Diverse cast of characters? No
  • Flaws of characters a main focus? No

4.0

You know you’re in for a good time when a sequel kicks off with an enemies to lovers to enemies situation. Drama? Check. Betrayal? Double check. Feelings that just won’t die no matter how hard they try? Oh, absolutely.

Rune is on the run, hunted by the boy who once loved her, Gideon, and tangled up with a deadly witch who wants to take back power at any cost. Gideon, on the other hand, is determined to wipe out witches for good, even if that means taking down Rune. But when they’re forced to work together (because of course they are), sparks fly, old wounds reopen, and the line between love and duty gets very, very blurry.

This was the kind of sequel that delivers exactly what you want, more romance, more angst, more witchy chaos. Gideon and Rune’s relationship took centre stage, but there was still plenty of action to keep things moving. Did I see every twist coming? Yes. Did that make me feel smug? Also yes. But it didn’t take away from the fun.

The Other March Sisters by Ally Malinenko, Linda Epstein, Liz Parker

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emotional informative reflective fast-paced
  • Plot- or character-driven? Character
  • Strong character development? Yes
  • Loveable characters? Yes
  • Diverse cast of characters? No
  • Flaws of characters a main focus? It's complicated

3.5

We’ve all read Little Women, but did we ever really see Meg, Beth, and Amy? This reimagining finally hands them the mic, no longer filtered through Jo’s version of events. Meg struggles with the reality of marriage and motherhood, Beth contemplates her fate in a house full of childhood ghosts, and Amy, finally, is more than just a spoiled brat with a paintbrush.


The audiobook’s triple narration? Chef’s kiss. Having three distinct voices for the three sisters made all the difference, bringing their individual perspectives to life in a way that felt immersive and intimate. It gave each of them the space to exist fully, outside of Jo’s shadow, and made their struggles, hopes, and heartbreaks hit even harder.

Amy’s arc? A revelation. Turns out she was never just a husband-hunting menace. Her love of art was beautifully explored, as was her growing understanding of the different types of love. Her time in Europe made her worldly in a way that felt authentic, and the way her relationship with Laurie developed made their eventual marriage feel natural rather than a last-minute plot twist. 

Meg’s? A bit of a downer at first, and Marmee got a villain edit she absolutely did not need. It was lovely to see Meg find her own happiness, but did she really have to regret everything to get there? Some of her dialogue also felt too modern, pulling me out of the time period. 

And Beth, sweet, fading Beth, stole my heart with a quietly stunning sapphic love story that was as fleeting as it was beautiful. Her story, filled with nostalgia and quiet longing, captured the feeling of being left behind in a house full of childhood ghosts.

Celebrity Crush by Christy Swift

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funny lighthearted fast-paced
  • Plot- or character-driven? Character
  • Strong character development? Yes
  • Loveable characters? Yes
  • Diverse cast of characters? No
  • Flaws of characters a main focus? Yes

4.5

What’s a romance writer to do when her celebrity crush signs on to play the hero in her book’s movie adaptation? Obviously, fake date him for the sake of PR (and, you know, maybe for other reasons too). Emmy is determined to boost her career, and Jason, Hollywood’s resident bad boy, could use a little reputation rehab. But when the cameras stop rolling, their chemistry doesn’t.

This audiobook was an absolute rom-com dream! Forbidden romance ? Check. Single parents? Check. Banter so good I was cackling? Check. And let’s talk about the pop culture references, including some niche sci-fi goodness, perfection!  The descriptive language was also bang on and fitted the vibe. When Jason’s vampire smile was mentioned, you know which Salvatore brother I pictured. (And if you don’t, we can’t be friends.)

The narration? Flawless. Dual POV audiobooks are always superior, and this one was cast perfectly. The performances made the chemistry sizzle, the humour land, and the emotional moments hit just right. No awkward pickups, no weird pacing, just pure audiobook magic. My only gripe? The overuse of “hashtag” (some things should’ve stayed in 2012).

Thank you to Hachetteaudio for a review copy in exchange for my honest review 
The Ministry of Time by Kaliane Bradley

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challenging dark mysterious tense slow-paced
  • Plot- or character-driven? Character
  • Strong character development? It's complicated
  • Loveable characters? No
  • Diverse cast of characters? Yes
  • Flaws of characters a main focus? Yes

3.0

Time travel? Love across the ages? A Victorian polar explorer trying to survive in the 21st century? Sign me up! Our main character lands a cushy government gig as a bridge helping historical figures adjust to modern life. Her latest assignment? Commander Graham Gore, an 1847 adventurer who’s suddenly got Spotify and feminism to contend with. As they grow closer, the real reason behind the time-travel experiment starts to unravel, along with their carefully built lives.


Now, I love a good time-travel twist, and the concept here had serious potential. But whew, the first 70%? A deep dive into the main character’s every, single, thought. Did I need a philosophical analysis of her every emotion? Nope. But when the action finally kicked in, I was way more invested. The historical characters? Fantastic. The modern-day ones? Less so. Overall, this could’ve packed more punch with less overthinking, but it still had its moments.


A Beauty Queen's Guide to Murder and Mayhem by Kristen Bird

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emotional funny lighthearted mysterious medium-paced
  • Plot- or character-driven? A mix
  • Strong character development? No
  • Loveable characters? Yes
  • Diverse cast of characters? No
  • Flaws of characters a main focus? No

3.75


“Dead bodies were heavy, but angry women got things done.” 

Dead bodies, beauty queens, and a whole lot of sass, what’s not to love? Dakota Green would rather wrestle a rabid raccoon than compete in a beauty pageant, but her late mum’s last wish has her swapping stable muck for sequins. Just when she’s getting the hang of fake smiles and sky-high heels, the pageant owner vanishes, leaving her Aunt DeeDee in the crosshairs. Now, Dakota’s got to uncover a decades-old mystery, dodge backstabbing contestants, and deal with a sheriff who’s as infuriating as he is handsome.

This one had me hooked, a little Miss Congeniality, a little Miss Marple, and a whole lot of drama. The mum’s letters gave it a touching thread, with a final bombshell that left me reeling. And the audiobook? Chef’s kiss. The narration was top-tier, with distinct voices, charming accents, and best of all, no awkward re-recordings to pull me out of the story.

Verdict: Murder, mayhem, and pageantry? Absolute winner!

Thank you to NetGalley and Dreamscape Select for the opportunity to listen to this audiobook in exchange for an honest review.



Swiped by L.M. Chilton

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challenging dark funny mysterious tense fast-paced
  • Plot- or character-driven? A mix
  • Strong character development? Yes
  • Loveable characters? Yes
  • Diverse cast of characters? No
  • Flaws of characters a main focus? No

4.0

As someone currently in the dating app chaos, this book had me rethinking everything. Ghosting? Fine. Bad banter? Expected. But a serial killer targeting my past matches? Yeah, I might just log off now.

Gwen’s dating life is already tragic but when her exes start dropping like flies she has to figure out who’s behind it before she’s next. This one is darkly hilarious, fast paced and packed with those “GIRL, DON’T GO IN THERE” moments that had me yelling at the pages. I clocked the fake outs early but the big reveal still got me right at the end. If you love murder with a side of sass add this to your TBR but maybe log off Tinder first.
The Courting of Bristol Keats by Mary E. Pearson

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adventurous lighthearted medium-paced
  • Plot- or character-driven? A mix
  • Strong character development? Yes
  • Loveable characters? Yes
  • Diverse cast of characters? No
  • Flaws of characters a main focus? It's complicated

4.0

Bristol Keats was just trying to survive, keep her sisters fed, and not fall apart. But then some mysterious “aunt” starts sending letters, and suddenly she’s knee-deep in family secrets, a missing father who was actually kidnapped by fae, and a bargain with a broody fae king who is definitely hiding something. Oh, and said fae king might also want her dad dead. No big deal.

Is this the classic “girl discovers the fae world and falls for the grumpy fae king” setup? Absolutely. But this one comes with extra layers of intrigue, side characters I want to trust but absolutely should not, and the beginnings of a found family that might warm my cold little heart. Also, the fun tidbit that famous artists were actually fae? Adorable.

The only thing I wasn’t ready for was the ending. Not quite a cliffhanger, more of a wait, that’s where we’re stopping? Which means I’ll obviously be devouring book two.
Things Will Calm Down Soon by Zoe Foster Blake

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emotional funny informative inspiring lighthearted reflective sad tense medium-paced
  • Plot- or character-driven? Character
  • Strong character development? Yes
  • Loveable characters? Yes
  • Diverse cast of characters? It's complicated
  • Flaws of characters a main focus? It's complicated

5.0

Kit Cooper is killing it in the hair game. Paris, Milan, pop stars, magazine covers, the works. But when she gets the itch to create something of her own, she dives headfirst into the wild world of beauty entrepreneurship. What follows? A glorious, messy juggle of family, business, single parenting, chaotic WhatsApp chats, and a romantic situation that is very questionable. Surely things will calm down soon right?

This book was as real as it gets. The mum guilt? The absolute circus of running a business when you’re just trying to make something good? Spot on. I laughed (classic Zoë wit obviously), I cringed, and I fully related to Kit’s struggles. Plus getting a peek behind the business curtain was chef’s kiss interesting without ever overshadowing the heart of the story.