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books that made me blush reviews • ramblings • reading moods

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hello book people 📚✨

i made this blog because apparently having fictional characters living rent-free in my head wasn’t enough… i needed somewhere to talk about them too.

welcome to booksmakemeblush, where i’ll be sharing:

💌 books i love

💭 overly detailed thoughts

⭐ ratings

📝 and quotes

my usual reads: romance, fantasy, contemporary

currently reading: Hate and Other Acts of Fiction by Megan Oliver [ARC]

let’s talk books ✨

Goodreads | Storygraph

[rozanovslibrary]

books i read in 2025 - the pumpkin spice cafe by laurie gilmore // cafe con aroma a calabaza

[booksmakemeblush]

Divergent by Veronica Roth — ⭐️⭐️⭐️⭐️.5

Divergent will probably always have a special place in my heart. I first read it in 2013, and rereading it over a decade later brought back so much nostalgia. While I can definitely see some of its flaws now… I still found myself completely invested in Tris's journey.

The pacing is incredibly engaging, and I remembered why this series hooked me as a teenager. The themes of identity, belonging, and choosing who you want to be still resonate, and the action kept me turning the pages even though I already knew what would happen.

Is it a flawless dystopian novel? No. But enjoyment matters, and this reread reminded me why Divergent became such an important book for me.

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Fourth Wing by Rebecca Yarros — ⭐️⭐️⭐️⭐️

Fourth Wing is a fast-paced fantasy with lovable characters. I rated it 4 stars and overall thought it was a good, enjoyable read.

One thing I really appreciated was that the characters are older than 18. As I get further away from that age, it becomes harder for me to stay invested in very young protagonists, so this helped me connect more with the story and characters.

The book reminded me a lot of Divergent, which I loved in middle and high school. The Riders Quadrant felt similar to Dauntless, and some of the character dynamics felt familiar. At times the similarities bordered on feeling like copying, but they also gave the book a nostalgic feeling that I personally enjoyed.

Overall, I thought Fourth Wing was a good book and an easy, engaging read.

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Iron Flame by Rebecca Yarros — ⭐️⭐️⭐️.5

I didn’t enjoy Iron Flame as much as Fourth Wing. It wasn’t a bad book, but it also wasn’t better than the first one for me.

The pacing felt strange throughout the book. At times it felt like so much was happening, but at the same time nothing was really happening.

I also really didn’t like the Cat conflict. That storyline pulled me out of the book more than it added to it. On the other hand, the throne scene was a standout moment that I did enjoy. The smut itself was okay, but the scene worked well in terms of tension and character development.

The ending was unexpected and did leave me curious about what comes next. Overall, Iron Flame was an okay read, but it didn’t quite live up to Fourth Wing for me.

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The Love Hypothesis by Ali Hazelwood — ⭐️⭐️⭐️⭐️

A bit of a silly situation for someone working toward a PhD to be in… but if you can get past that, there is a lot to love.

I’m not an academic, and maybe that’s part of why this worked so well for me. As an outsider who tends to romanticize academia, I loved getting swept up in the atmosphere, the setting, and the idea of that world.

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Nailed at Home Plate by K. Iwancio — ⭐️⭐️⭐️

Nailed at Home Plate was a good book… it just wasn't for me, and I knew that going in.

I originally picked it up to see if it would be a good recommendation for my sister who enjoys sports romances. But by the time I finished it, she'd decided to stick with closed-door romances, and this book is definitely not that.

Even though it wasn't my personal preference, I can absolutely see why readers who enjoy steamy sports romances would have a great time with it.

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The Pumpkin Spice Cafe by Laurie Gilmore — ⭐️⭐️⭐️⭐️.25

Pumpkin Spice Cafe is the kind of cozy book that is perfect for curling up with while watching the leaves fall. It’s charming and exactly the type of comforting escape I wanted.

I thoroughly enjoyed this book and the others in the series. The thing that kept me coming back was the world of Dream Harbor. It is a cozy little place that you want to keep returning to.

That said, once you’ve read this one, you’ll probably have a pretty good idea of the formula for the rest of the series. The books follow a similar structure with different characters, so don’t go in expecting huge surprises or a completely new reading experience each time. Honestly though, that is part of the appeal. Sometimes I don’t want to be surprised… I just want a familiar, feel-good story.

I probably won’t write separate reviews for the other books in the series unless there’s something different or important to say. For me, the joy of these books comes from the overall comfort of Dream Harbor rather than each individual storyline.

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The Cinnamon Bun Bookstore by Laurie Gilmore — ⭐️⭐️⭐️⭐️

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A Witch’s Guide to Magical Innkeeping by Sangu Mandanna — ⭐️⭐️⭐️⭐️.75

Everything about this book was exactly what I wanted. At this point, it’s becoming very obvious that cozy fantasy is one of my favorite genres, and I’m so glad I found this one.

A Witch’s Guide to Magical Innkeeping has all the things I love in a cozy fantasy. Not every story needs world-ending stakes. Sometimes all you need is a place you’d happily escape to and characters you can’t help but root for.

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The Spellshop by Sarah Beth Durst — ⭐️⭐️⭐️⭐️.5

The Spellshop is another reminder that cozy fantasy has completely won me over.

A sentient spider plant, a handsome neighbor, a shop full of magic... this book felt like it was written specifically for me. It has everything I love about the genre.

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The Christmas Tree Farm by Laurie Gilmore — ⭐️⭐️⭐️.75

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Good Spirits by B.K. Borison — ⭐️⭐️⭐️⭐️⭐️

We listened to the audiobook while traveling for Christmas and it was so cozy and entertaining. Even for my husband! The story was sweet, comforting, and full of charm, with characters we loved spending time with. It felt like the perfect holiday listen: cozy, romantic, and easy to get completely wrapped up in. Definitely recommend the book or audiobook if you want something feel-good and comforting during the holiday season!

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The Gingerbread Bakery by Laurie Gilmore — ⭐️⭐️⭐️.75

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First-Time Caller by B.K. Borison — ⭐️⭐️⭐️⭐️.5

BK Borison really has a gift for writing characters that feel so real and easy to love, and First Time Caller was no different. I absolutely adored Lucie and Aiden. Their banter, the late-night radio show vibes, and watching Aiden slowly fall despite insisting he didn’t believe in love anymore was everything.

[booksmakemeblush]

The Fake Mate by Lana Ferguson — ⭐️⭐️⭐️.75

I accidentally made The Fake Mate my introduction to the omegaverse... and honestly it wasn't a bad place to start.

When I bought it, I saw the cover, skimmed the description, and assumed I was getting something like a veterinary version of The Love Hypothesis. I was... not prepared for the wolf shifter doctors 😅 That said, I actually think this book handled the omegaverse elements in a way that worked for newbie. They were important to the story but never felt so overwhelming that I was put off. While I don't see myself actively seeking out more omegaverse romances, this one made for a surprisingly enjoyable introduction.

Once I adjusted my expectations, I had a really good time. If you enjoyed The Love Hypothesis but don't mind a paranormal twist… this one is definitely worth checking out.

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The Strawberry Patch Pancake House — ⭐️⭐️⭐️.75