Real Book

Yes, it's almost Halloween, and we're all deep into our horror reads and movies, and normally it's my favorite time of the year. But this year I feel like we've had enough horror and I'm quite ready for some holiday films and books--or at least some lighter fare just to get my spirits up. How about you?

Crazy Stupid Bromance is definitely at the top of my holiday TBR this year because the other two made me feel stupid good while reading them and I'd love to feel like that again. Adams is a phenomenal writer who induces warm fuzzies in her writing and I can't wait to read it. I'm also thinking of re-reading both the Angelfall and Lunar Chronicles series because I love them so much, but they may even be a bit heavier than what I want this year.

Do you know of any books similar to Adams's novels that make you feel those warm, fuzzy feelings? What's on your TBR for the fall and winter?

Don't you just love a good seasonal setting to get you in the mood? I have read so many great winter and summer reads that make me feel even more like living in season than anything else going on, like Summer of Salt and The Tourist Attraction. But I can't say I've read a lot of fall-themed books and wanted to reach out to see who has some good recommendations.

My book club is tackling Horrid by Katrina Leno and Reborn Yesterday by Tessa Bailey, and I believe they are supposed to be seasonal books. We've been doing some seasonal ones lately and we just read Bittersweet by Sarina Owen, which was a nice September-y book that I really enjoyed, too. But I've love more books set in this season, especially if they take place in New England and feature something spooky, light romance, supernatural themes or all of the above! Witches are a bonus!

So what are you go-to fall reads? What are you reading right now?

2020 is definitely a year to read some smokin' hot romance filled with humor and light to help us escape from reality, which is why we read anyway, right? I'd like to heartily recommend Sarina Bowen's novel Bittersweet to help you do just that.

It's got two attractive and funny leads--a chef with a fledgling career and a farmer whose surliness shouldn't fool you--who once hooked up and find themselves in a work situation that rekindles their initial attraction. The two enjoy sexy banter, down home coziness and lots of heat so it's a really fun read. The male lead is strong and take charge, but his respect for his partner and his sensitivity round him into a really likeable guy, which is something I often find lacking in romantic novels. I also really liked the HFA (happy for now) ending that didn't neatly make everything perfect the way too many books are wont to do.

A few things in the book were irksome, such as religious components creeping in and some passive aggressive jabs at feminism coupled with two-dimensional characters. But overall its humor, sweetness and balanced relationship made it an excellent book that I'd read again. There is even a friendship formed between the lead character's ex and his partner, which is very refreshing. I look forward to reading the next book in the series.
Have you read this one? What did you think? What are you reading to escape these days?

As October rapidly approaches, many of us are already looking at October Read-A-Thons. There are so many that it's a good time to start planning if you're going to participate! 

There's the FrightFall Read-a-Thon, the Hocus Pocus Read-a-Thon, and Spookathon, which are probably my favorites. There are also plenty of non-Halloween themed ones if you're really not into spooky reads. There's the Page-A-Thon, the Hypeathon, Off Grid Readathon, and several others!

Which October read-a-thons are you looking forward to participating in? Share them in the chat!