Whimsical Dragonette [book reviews and fanfic]

Shilo | 30s | AO3: shilo1364| they/them| Queer| Nonbinary| Disabled | Neurodivergent California | Writer | Artist | NetGalley Reviewer | Borahae 💜

[whimsicaldragonette]

Blog Tour and ARC Review: The Reimagining of Thornwood House by Jaleigh Johnson

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Publication Date: June 9, 2026

Welcome to the Reimagining of Thornwood House blog tour with Berkley Publishing Group. (This blog tour post is also posted on my Wordpressbook blog Whimsical Dragonette.)

About the Book:

A witch and her young ward discover a magical, walking house and learn the true meaning of home in this cozy, enchanting novel from New York Times bestselling author Jaleigh Johnson. Evelyn Sharpe is accustomed to dealing with natural disasters as a land witch, but she longs for a life with a little less danger for her and her adopted daughter, Ruby. So when the opportunity to take over as Caretaker of Thornwood House—a sentient home that acts as the magical heart of the village of Iskendra—arises, it seems almost fated. When they arrive in sunny Iskendra, Evie and Ruby find the house is nothing like what they thought. First of all, it has walked away from the address. Thornwood House is grumpy, guarded, and extremely hesitant to allow the two witches through its doors. Armed with gentle hearts and wild magic, Evie and Ruby begin to form tentative bonds with the house and the citizens of the small town. But there’s something deeply damaged about the building seeping into the forests surrounding Iskendra, and Evie will have to use all her power to protect the roots she’s started to grow.

My Review:

5 stars

If you like the House in the Cerulean Sea or Sangu Mandanna's books (like I do) this is for you. I found Evie to be really relatable, Ruby to be very sweet, Gil to be charming and dependable, and the townsfolk to be eclectic and friendly. And of course the Thornwood House is simply magical. I thought I had the plot figured out really early on and that it was going to drag and be disappointing, but then it went and surprised me with a twist I hadn't anticipated. The story is sweet, cozy, and deceptively simple. Yes, it could be rewritten to be a middle-grade book, but it would have to be entirely rewritten with a shift in focus. Evie is the focus of the story and she is in her 20s. And the problems she faces are very much adult problems. I would love to visit Iskendra, the Thornwood House, and the Thornwood. They are simply magical. *Thanks to NetGalley and Berkley for providing an early copy for review.

[whimsicaldragonette]

Blog Tour and ARC Review: A Shop Girl's Guide to Wooing a Lord by Shana Galen

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Publication Date: June 9, 2026

Welcome to the Shop Girl's Guide to Wooing a Lord blog tour with Berkley Publishing Group. (This blog tour post is also posted on my Wordpressbook blog Whimsical Dragonette.)

About the Book:

A down-on-her-luck shop girl and the son of an earl find they have more in common than they’d think—including sexual chemistry they can’t resist—in this fresh Regency romance by Shana Galen. Tamsin Archer might just be having the worst year of her life. And that’s saying something, considering her father is dead, her mother was maimed at work, and her family regularly sleeps under London’s bridges. But when her younger siblings go missing, Tamsin decides it’s time to step up and fight. Desperate times call for desperate measures, and Tamsin’s more than willing to take a few risks to reunite with her siblings. But while disguising herself to sneak into homes and steal from the rich, Tamsin is caught by Garrett Kildaire, an earl’s second son and the biggest threat she’s faced yet. Thinking quickly, Tamsin strikes a Garrett will get her into the exclusive places she needs to continue her search, and she’ll give him what he wants—her.  Garrett knows he must be careful—being seen with a woman of a lower class could be the nail in the coffin for his family’s tenuous social standing. But resisting their chemistry proves impossible, and soon there’s much more between them than their bargain. But there are eyes everywhere, and as more focus lands on Tamsin and Garret, the unlikely pair wonder if their red-hot connection means giving up everything—and everyone—they’ve ever known.

My Review:

3 stars

This was enjoyable. I almost gave up on it after a few chapters, because I found myself getting tangled up in the writing and it just wasn't flowing. However, I was able to push past this and the flow did get better as the story progressed. It was never what I would consider great writing, but it didn't take me out of the story like it did at first. I am a little puzzled by the title -- Tamsin isn't a shop girl and Garret isn't a lord-- but I know the author doesn't always get much say there. The story is very much instalust, and the ending is abrupt and also doesn't resolve Garret's family's money issues. I wanted that resolution since it was such a big part of the book. Also expecting Tamsin to just fit in with Garret's family with no conflict is a bit of a stretch. Overall, problems get solved a little too easily and conveniently. I did enjoy Garret's family and all their warmth and obvious love, and the brothers' heiress hunt competition. Tamsin's family was also great once she was able to put it back together. Tamsin and Garret were both great characters and I really enjoyed their interactions. It made for an enjoyable camping trip read and I will consider picking up future books in the series but it's not one I would reread. *Thanks to NetGalley and Berkley for providing an early copy for review.

[whimsicaldragonette]

ARC Review: The Tapestry of Fate by Shannon Chakraborty (The Adventures of Amina Al-Sirafi book 2)

Goodreads

Publication Date: May 12, 2026

About the Book:

New York Times bestselling author Shannon Chakraborty sets sail into the second adventure of pirate Amina al-Sirafi as her quest to track down magical artifacts brings her to the island lair of a sorceress whose woven enchantments are impossible to flee. Amina al-Sirafi thinks she’s struck gold. Tasked with hunting down arcane artifacts for the council of immortal peris, she can savor the occasional rollicking adventure on the high seas with her cherished criminal companions while still returning home to raise her beloved daughter, Marjana. But when Raksh, the spirit of discord with whom she is reluctantly wed, provokes the council’s wrath, Amina is charged with a seemingly impossible quest: steal a spindle capable of rewriting fate from a mysterious sorceress on an island no one can escape. Forced to leave Marjana—who is increasingly frustrated at being peddled what are clearly lies about her mother’s life and her own past—Amina finds her mission almost immediately thrown into peril. But deadly storms, an erratic poison mistress, and old enemies are the least of her worries. For the peris’ story is unraveling, hinting at a far deadlier game whose rules Amina must swiftly puzzle out. A game that sets her against an adversary more cunning and powerful than she has ever faced. A game that not everyone on her crew wants her to win.

My Review:

5 stars

This was phenomenal! I'd forgotten how much I loved the first book, and reading this brought it all back. I might even say that this one was better (though that could be recency bias - I didn't reread the first before reading this). I loved the adventure, I loved Amina and her crew, I loved the spindle and Lab and her people. Even though Lab was terrible, she had good reasons she made the choices she did. I love the way the story of the spindle was slowly spooled out, interspersed between chapters of Amina's story. The slow reveals and building mystery really worked to keep my interest. The writing is so so good. There are good books, and then there are astonishingly beautiful books, and this is one of those. I dearly hope from that ending that there is another book coming in the series. *Thanks to NetGalley and Harper Voyager for providing an early copy for review.

[whimsicaldragonette]

ARC Review: A Prince Among Pirates by Katie Abdou

Goodreads

Publication Date: June 16, 2026

About the Book:

A charming nobleman accidentally joins a pirate ship and falls for its debonair captain in this swashbuckling queer debut that’s perfect for fans of F.T. Lukens and Our Flag Means Death. Kit Davenport is in trouble—not that this would surprise anyone who knows him. Headstrong, reckless, and utterly unsuited for the stodgy House of Lords, Kit has spent years dodging his father’s stern disapproval and delighting in clandestine rendezvous. But time is running out. With an arranged marriage looming and the confines of white wigs and stiff decorum closing in, Kit is desperate to escape a life that feels completely wrong for him. His solution? A wildly impulsive decision that lands him aboard the Deliverance, a galleon captained by the infuriatingly charismatic Reggie Sharpe. With a devil-may-care attitude and a delicious grin, Captain Sharpe commands the waves with his crew of misfits…who all turn out to be pirates. Before Kit can say “wrong ship,” he’s trading ballroom etiquette for rum-soaked camaraderie, explosive gunfights, and, perhaps most excitingly, heart-stopping kisses under the stars. But life at sea holds just as many secrets as treasures. And when Kit’s past catches up with him, he’ll have to decide who he truly wants to be: a gentleman or a pirate?

My Review:

5 stars

This was so good! I wasn't sure about it at first, because Kit starts out pretty annoying and naive, but he grows throughout the book and I ended up really really enjoying it. I love a good pirate story, and this is an excellent one. The characters were wonderful, and I wanted to be on that ship. I didn't want the story to end. I wasn't sure about Captain Sharpe using the nickname Kitten for Kit throughout, but it grew on me as well. It definitely does not paint Kit's family in a good light, and the revelations at the end were startling. I'm glad he has the family he does on the ship. I haven't watched Our Flag Means Death, so I can't comment on how similar it is to this, but now I want to watch it because I'm craving pirate stories. *Thanks to NetGalley and Atheneum Books for Young Readers for providing an early copy for review.

[whimsicaldragonette]

ARC Review: The Revenge Mishap by Jax Calder

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Publication Date: May 8, 2026

About the Book:

Rule #2 of Revenge Club: Don’t fall for your target’s brother. LEO I'm Leo Brennan. Tech consultant. Negotiator of billion-dollar deals. Master of the corporate death stare. And I’m currently wearing a sparkly pink unicorn onesie with a light-up horn while screaming “I believe in magic!” at a roomful of sugar-crazed six-year-olds. How did I get here? I tried to get revenge on my nemesis with a syrup-related “accident” at a restaurant. Except, I hit his lookalike brother instead. On his birthday. And broke his ankle. Now I'm making amends by playing nursemaid to him and helping him out with his jobs, which includes dog walking and becoming Sparkle McHornface, the sidekick to a children's entertainer called Captain Giggles. The worst part? I'm starting to actually like the guy. And he has no idea the real reason why he’s on crutches. ARCHIE Oh, I definitely know. The handsome stranger who “accidentally” baptized me in maple syrup thinks he's so subtle. But I've figured out his connection to my estranged brother, and I also know something else. Guilt is a powerful motivator. And watching this grumpy tech millionaire wrestle with drooling dogs and declare himself a “pretty, pretty unicorn” to a room full of six-year-olds? That's entertainment I can't pass up. But somewhere between his disastrous balloon animals and surprisingly tender moments, something else is going on. I'm falling for the real Leo behind the corporate armor. Which is dangerous because I’m currently hiding my own secrets. And the last thing I need is someone unraveling them. The Revenge Mishap is what happens when revenge goes sideways, grumpy meets sunshine, and two men discover that sometimes the messiest mistakes lead to the sweetest love.

My Review:

5 stars

This was such a fun book! Seeing serious, buttoned-up Leo in a unicorn onesie performing as Sparkle McHornface at children's parties, all because of guilt from a revenge scheme gone wrong, was great.

The romance was believable and really sucked me in. I laughed, I cried, I grinned… perfect romance book experience.

Jax Calder always does an amazing job with her characters, and this was no exception. They all felt like real people and I loved reading about their interactions. I didn't want this book to end.

*Thanks to the author for providing an early copy for review.

[whimsicaldragonette]

Blog Tour and Arc Review: Thistlemarsh by Moorea Corrigan

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Publication Date: April 21, 2026

About the Book:

Faeries disappeared over one hundred years ago, as suddenly as slipping through a doorway. It was only the very foolish, or the very determined, who held out hope for their return. Welcome to Thistlemarsh—a ramshackle estate where an impoverished orphan and a beguiling Faerie collide in an enchanting novel of love, revenge, and ruin. In the wake of World War I, the world is a decidedly unmagical place for Mouse Dunne. She once dreamed of becoming a Faerie anthropologist, but with one telegram, her world shattered. At the Battle of the Somme, her cousin’s body disappeared into the mud, and her brother was left with debilitating shell shock. It was time, she knew, to put aside childish dreams. When Mouse receives news that her uncle has left her the Faerie-blessed Thistlemarsh Hall, a dilapidated manor in the English countryside, she must leave her brother’s side and return to her childhood home to claim her birthright. But there is a catch in her uncle’s If Mouse does not rehabilitate the crumbling house in one month’s time, she will forfeit her inheritance and any hope of caring for her brother. It quickly becomes clear it’s impossible to repair the manor in the allotted time, until a mysterious Faerie appears with a proposition. He offers to restore Thistlemarsh...for a price. Mouse knows better than to trust a Faerie—especially one so insufferably handsome and arrogant—but she is out of options. There are dark and magical forces at work in the house, and Mouse must confront the ghosts of her past and the secrets of her heart or lose Thistlemarsh, and herself, in the process.

My Review:

5 stars

This was delightful! I thought I knew where it was going, and was hugely enjoying it, when suddenly the plot took a Turn and I wasn't sure what was up and what was down suddenly. Once I got reoriented, I ended up loving it even more!

The characters are wonderful. Mouse is an excellent protagonist, with her pragmatism mixed with a sense of wonder. Thornwood is an excellent fae character, arrogant and haughty and well, untrustworthy. They work well together, especially as they work to remodel Thistlemarsh and prevent it from falling to the ground and taking Mouse's inheritance with it.

I love a good faerie storie, espeically one where the faeries have teeth and magic is wondrous and beautiful but not necessarily kind. This one fit the bill just right.

I do have to disagree with the comp titles though. I would not immediately think of a Court of Thorns and Roses. Invisible life of Addie Larue, hmmm, maybe. If I were choosing comp titles, I'd rather choose An Enchantment of Ravens.

*Thanks to NetGalley and Berkley for providing an early copy for review.

[whimsicaldragonette]

Blog Tour and ARC Review: Stay for a Spell by Amy Coombe

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Publication Date: April 14, 2026

Welcome to the Stay for a Spell blog tour with Berkley Publishing Group. (This blog tour post is also posted on my Wordpressbook blog Whimsical Dragonette.)

About the Book:

A cursed princess must discover what her heart truly longs for in this charmingly cozy romantic fantasy for everyone who’s ever lost – or found – themselves in a bookshop. Princess Tanadelle of the Widdenmar is disillusioned with life as a princess. She longs for real conversation, the chance to build a life of her own making, and uninterrupted reading time. During a routine royal visit to the town of Little Pepperidge, Tandy’s dream comes true when she finds herself cursed to remain in a run-down bookshop until she unlocks her heart’s desire. Certain that someone will figure out how to break the curse eventually, and delighted by the prospect of an entire bookstore of her own, Tandy settles into life among the stacks. She finds it easy to exchange balls and endless state dinners for teetering piles of books and an irritatingly handsome pirate who seems bent on stealing her stock. She even starts to believe she's stumbled into her very own happily ever after. There's just one, minor problem: as Tandy's royal duties go unfulfilled, her frantic parents start sending princes to woo her, each one of them certain their kiss will break the curse. After all, what more could a princess want but a prince?

My Review:

5 stars

This was incredible! I wasn't sure about it before I started, because it's the sort of book that can tend to be not as well written, but I was actually blown away by how good it was.

The writing is wonderful. The characters are all unique and well-rounded and real feeling, and they all have distinct ways of speaking to fit their personalities. Tandy is a cheerful make-the-best-of-it and dive in sort of person who is too nice for her own good, Sasha droops about in a particularly teenager-y way, Bash lounges like the cursed pirate he is… it's wonderful. Each of the princes that comes to kiss Tandy in hopes of breaking her curse has very particular mannerisms, ways of speaking and acting, modes of dress, etc.

Tandy's curse and Bash's curse complement each other well, and drive them to face things they might have otherwise not had the courage to face. I really enjoyed seeing them becoming closer.

Everything about the bookshop was wonderful and inspired. The little details were just perfection. The turnip tea. The exhange of small objects for stolen useless objects. The inn that keeps changing its name as more and more princes show up and just… don't leave.

I loved every second I spent reading this. I grinned, I laughed, I cried. Just the perfect reading experience.

*Thanks to NetGalley, Ace, and Berkley Publishing Group for providing an early copy for review.

[makingqueerhistory]

“As I pondered a pronoun change, I began to think of gender less as a scale and more as a landscape. Some people are born in the mountains, while others are born by the sea. Some people are happy to live in the place they were born, while others must make a journey to reach the climate in which they can flourish and grow. Between the ocean and the mountains is a wild forest. That is where I want to make my home.” ― Maia Kobabe, Gender Queer: A Memoir (Affiliate link)

[whimsicaldragonette]

Trans Rights Readathon 2026

The Trans Rights Readathon runs from March 17-31 in support of Trans Day of Visibility on March 31st.

I have created a TBR list of 10 (mostly) upcoming books that have trans authors and/or characters. (This can include trans, nonbinary, genderqueer, gender nonconforming, and two-spirit.) The titles have links to the goodreads page for each book for summaries and to prevent this post from becoming too long.

I have also created a recommendation list of books I have previously read that have trans authors and/or characters and that I highly recommend. Again, the titles have links to the goodreads page for each book. You can find summaries of each of them at the link.

Trans Rights Readathon 2026 TBR:

I realize this is aspirational. No, I will not get all of these read. But this way I have a selection to choose from (I'm a mood reader), and they're all on my TBR anyway.

Field Guide for the Formerly Villainous by Autumn K England

Ship Happens by Mason Deaver

Many Drops Make a Stream by Adrian Harley

Never After by Alexis Hall

Dead & Breakfast by Rosiee Thor & Kat Hillis

Summer Coven by Rosiee Thor & Kat Hillis

Sun Chasers by Kacen Callender

Tyrant Lizard Queen by Riley Black

This Wretched Beauty (A Dorian Gray Remix) by Elle Grenier

Cemetery Boys by Aiden Thomas

Trans Rights Readathon 2026 Recommendations

These are some of my favorite books and authors, in no particular order. Many of them have made their way onto my "I will keep this forever" shelf. Either the author, or the character(s), or in some case the subject, or both are trans.

When the Earth was Green by Riley Black

And They Were Roomates by Page Powars

The Last Best Quest Ever by FT Lukens

Spellbound by FT Lukens

Gwen & Art are Not in Love by Lex Croucher

The Pairing by Casey McQuiston

Red White & Royal Blue by Casey McQuiston

One Last Stop by Casey McQuiston

A Lady for a Duke by Alexis Hall

A Gentleman's Gentleman by TJ Alexander

A Lady for All Seasons by TJ Alexander

How to Lose a Goblin in 10 Days by Jessie Sylva

Dear Bartleby by Sarah Wallace

Automatic Noodle by Annalee Newitz

A Psalm for the Wild-Built by Becky Chambers

Running Close to the Wind by Alexandra Rowland

Yield Under Great Persuasion by Alexandra Rowland

The Singing Hills Cycle by Nghi Vo

Roll for Love by MK England

I Wish You All the Best by Mason Deaver

These Vengeful Gods by Gabe Cole Novoa

The Diablo's Curse by Gabe Cole Novoa

Most Ardently by Gabe Cole Novoa

Ander & Santi Were Here by Jonny Garza Villa

Triple Sec by TJ Alexander

The Perks of Loving a Wildflower by Erica Ridley

Unmasked by the Marquess by Cat Sebastian

Something Wild & Wonderful by Anita Kelly

Love & Other Disasters by Anita Kelly

Something Spectacular (and the entire series) by Alexis Hall

the Tensorate Series by Neon Yang

The Adventures of Amina Al-Sirafi by Shannon Chakraborty

The Magic Fish by Trung Le Nguyen

Angelica and the Bear Prince by Trung Le Nguyen

What We See: Women and Nonbinary Perspectives Through the Lens by Daniella Zalcman & Sara Ickow

The Gender Book by Cassandra Jules Corrigan

I hope you find this helpful! And please recommend your own favorite books with trans authors/characters! I'm always looking for more.

[whimsicaldragonette]

Update on the last day of Trans Rights Readathon 2026 and Trans Day of Visibility:

I have succeeded in reading:

Field Guide for the Formerly Villainous by Autumn K England

Tyrant Lizard Queen by Riley Black

Cemetery Boys by Aiden Thomas

All were excellent. 5 stars. Highly recommend.

I will attempt to read Many Drops Make a Stream by Adrian Harley today.

Today is Trans Day of Visibility Stuff Your Kindle day. For the few books on the list not currently free on kindle, they are linked free elsewhere like smashwords.

As for Trans Day of Visibility... Hi, I'm Shilo, and I'm trans (nonbinary).

[whimsicaldragonette]

Trans Rights Readathon 2026

The Trans Rights Readathon runs from March 17-31 in support of Trans Day of Visibility on March 31st.

I have created a TBR list of 10 (mostly) upcoming books that have trans authors and/or characters. (This can include trans, nonbinary, genderqueer, gender nonconforming, and two-spirit.) The titles have links to the goodreads page for each book for summaries and to prevent this post from becoming too long.

I have also created a recommendation list of books I have previously read that have trans authors and/or characters and that I highly recommend. Again, the titles have links to the goodreads page for each book. You can find summaries of each of them at the link.

Trans Rights Readathon 2026 TBR:

I realize this is aspirational. No, I will not get all of these read. But this way I have a selection to choose from (I'm a mood reader), and they're all on my TBR anyway.

Field Guide for the Formerly Villainous by Autumn K England

Ship Happens by Mason Deaver

Many Drops Make a Stream by Adrian Harley

Never After by Alexis Hall

Dead & Breakfast by Rosiee Thor & Kat Hillis

Summer Coven by Rosiee Thor & Kat Hillis

Sun Chasers by Kacen Callender

Tyrant Lizard Queen by Riley Black

This Wretched Beauty (A Dorian Gray Remix) by Elle Grenier

Cemetery Boys by Aiden Thomas

Trans Rights Readathon 2026 Recommendations

These are some of my favorite books and authors, in no particular order. Many of them have made their way onto my "I will keep this forever" shelf. Either the author, or the character(s), or in some case the subject, or both are trans.

When the Earth was Green by Riley Black

And They Were Roomates by Page Powars

The Last Best Quest Ever by FT Lukens

Spellbound by FT Lukens

Gwen & Art are Not in Love by Lex Croucher

The Pairing by Casey McQuiston

Red White & Royal Blue by Casey McQuiston

One Last Stop by Casey McQuiston

A Lady for a Duke by Alexis Hall

A Gentleman's Gentleman by TJ Alexander

A Lady for All Seasons by TJ Alexander

How to Lose a Goblin in 10 Days by Jessie Sylva

Dear Bartleby by Sarah Wallace

Automatic Noodle by Annalee Newitz

A Psalm for the Wild-Built by Becky Chambers

Running Close to the Wind by Alexandra Rowland

Yield Under Great Persuasion by Alexandra Rowland

The Singing Hills Cycle by Nghi Vo

Roll for Love by MK England

I Wish You All the Best by Mason Deaver

These Vengeful Gods by Gabe Cole Novoa

The Diablo's Curse by Gabe Cole Novoa

Most Ardently by Gabe Cole Novoa

Ander & Santi Were Here by Jonny Garza Villa

Triple Sec by TJ Alexander

The Perks of Loving a Wildflower by Erica Ridley

Unmasked by the Marquess by Cat Sebastian

Something Wild & Wonderful by Anita Kelly

Love & Other Disasters by Anita Kelly

Something Spectacular (and the entire series) by Alexis Hall

the Tensorate Series by Neon Yang

The Adventures of Amina Al-Sirafi by Shannon Chakraborty

The Magic Fish by Trung Le Nguyen

Angelica and the Bear Prince by Trung Le Nguyen

What We See: Women and Nonbinary Perspectives Through the Lens by Daniella Zalcman & Sara Ickow

The Gender Book by Cassandra Jules Corrigan

I hope you find this helpful! And please recommend your own favorite books with trans authors/characters! I'm always looking for more.

[whimsicaldragonette]

Arc Review: It Started With a Text by Jax Calder

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Publication Date: March 19, 2026

About the Book:

Nick: Okay, so making a viral video mocking my celebrity crush's pretentious apartment tour isn’t exactly a strategy for finding love. And when some random guy slides into my DMs claiming to be Anthony Devine—Grammy-winning pop star, LGBTQ+ icon, and owner of cheekbones that should be illegal—I do what any rational person would do. I assume he's a forty-five-year-old catfish living in his mom's basement. Except we start chatting and somehow it’s the most real conversation I’ve had for ages. One month and approximately five thousand messages later, AntD has become my favorite person to talk to. He sends me Baby Yoda memes, asks about my assignments and actually listens when I rant about my cheating ex. And it's become our standing joke, him insisting he really is Anthony Devine. Hilarious, right? My friends say I need to stop catching feelings for a guy whose real name I don't even know. But meeting him would mean risking everything we've built. Stepping out of our perfect digital bubble. Finally finding out who he actually is. What if he's not who he says he is? What if he is? Not Just Texting is a swoony MM novella about finding real connection in the digital age, featuring a broke college student with too many posters on his wall and the one catfish who might actually be the real deal.

My Review:

5 stars

This was super cute. I was immediately intrigued by the premise, and the characters and their banter and text exchange really drew me in and made me invested. I love a story that includes text messages, and this one used them really well.

Nick and Anthony are great characters, and the way they finally met was adorable and hilarious, which is completely on brand for them.

I love how Jax Calder can make a novella feel like a fully fleshed out story so that you're not left feeling like there should have been more. She uses her wordcount well.

I also recommend reading the bonus epilogue, which can be obtained by signing up for the author's newsletter. It was super cute and fun.

*Thanks to Jax Calder for providing an early copy for review.

[whimsicaldragonette]

ARC Review: Moderating Love by Jax Calder

Goodreads

Publication Date: March 5, 2026

About the Book:

What happens when your biggest critic turns out to be your perfect match? Devin: I've spent two years defending true love against the internet's biggest cynic. I'm a moderator for a forum for queer love stories, and my fellow moderator TruthGuardian has been the thorn in my optimistic side. He debunks every romantic meet-cute with spreadsheets, statistics, and enough cynicism to drain the romance from a Nicholas Sparks marathon. He calculates the exact cost of hoarded grocery items. He fact-checks power outages at Trader Joe's. He thinks love at first sight is just "compatible pheromone profiles." We've turned arguing into an art form, and I know more about this stranger than some of my real-life friends. But when a cute guy approaches me in a coffee shop, I'm about to learn that sometimes the most improbable love stories are the ones we're already living... Moderating Love is an 18,000-word grumpy/sunshine MM romance about falling for your complete opposite, one snarky message at a time.

My Review:

5 stars

This was super cute. Like, fangirl kick your feet and squeal cute. The meet-cute was adorable. Everything was adorable.

I loved the two main characters. Their easy banter and connection was palpable. I completely believed in their love story. And the twist was delicious. Well, it's not much of a twist really, since they give it away in the blurb. I just don't know what else to call it. The hook? Maybe the big reveal, when they each realize just who it is they're on this blind date with.

It's the perfect bite-sized romance. It's short and sweet, but it doesn't feel shallow or empty like novellas sometimes do. It feels like a fully-fledged romance. Just without the third act breakup, which is refreshing.

I can't wait to read the second one. The teaser at the end of this really hooked me.

Also I recommend the bonus epilogue, which I think you can get by signing up to the author's email. It was also really sweet.

*Thanks to the author for providing an early copy for review.

[whimsicaldragonette]

Blog Tour and ARC Review: Get Over It, April Evans by Ashley Herring Blake

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Publication Date: February 3, 2026

Welcome to the Get Over it, April Evans book tour with Berkley Publishing Group. (This blog tour post is also posted on my Wordpressbook blog Whimsical Dragonette.)

About the Book:

A summer job at a lake-town resort brings together two women with an unlikely connection in this new contemporary romance by USA Today bestselling author Ashley Herring Blake. April Evans’ life is in shambles. She’s had to close her tattoo shop in Clover Lake and she’s subletting her house just to make rent. And her love life? Nonexistent ever since Elena, her ex-fiancée, left her for a younger woman three years ago. When she is asked to teach a summer art class at the town’s new resort called Cloverwild, April jumps at the opportunity, especially since the job comes with boarding. She’s sure that this is the silver lining she needs . . . until she meets her Daphne Love, the woman who stole her ex-fiancée. And even worse, it’s clear Daphne has no idea who April is. Daphne Love is cursed in, well, love. She thought she’d found the unconditional love she craved in her girlfriend, Elena, but now she’s single again and utterly brokenhearted. When her friend hooks her up with a summer gig as an art instructor at a swanky resort in New Hampshire, Daphne feels optimistic for once. If only she had a roommate and coworker who didn’t seem to hate her on sight. Their already-tense relationship gets even shakier when April and Daphne find themselves competing for a rare opportunity to showcase their art in a London museum. But slowly, barriers begin to fall, and an inexplicable allure keeps drawing them closer, leaving them to wonder if the perfect picture they’re looking for can only be painted with each other.

My Review:

5 stars

This was outstanding! Ashley Herring Blake writes fantastic queer love stories, and I especially loved this one. Because April and Daphne are both artists and that artistic flair informs the entire story.

The premise is ridiculous and intense: Three years ago April's fiance left her for another woman… who turns out to be Daphne. Then she breaks Daphne's heart. April and Daphne are both still reeling from their respective breakups with Elena, both trying to find themselves. Watching them do so together was delightful.

Charming fuckboi Sasha is such a great character, and I dearly hope that she gets her own book. I would love to see her open up and let someone in past her walls. She really helped April and Daphne get out of their comfort zones and embrace life.

The way Daphne's series of paintings is described is magical. I can see them, despite, y'know, not actually seeing them, and they are stunning. April's tarot series is similarly magical, as is her tattoo shop.

I will definitely be reading more books by Ashley Herring Blake. I read Delilah Green Doesn't Care when it came out and loved it, but then slept on the rest of her books. I'll have to remedy that. Because there's a dearth of really well-written and compelling sapphic books out there and this is one of the best I've read.

*Thanks to NetGalley and Berkley for providing an early copy for review.

[whimsicaldragonette]

ARC Review: Star Shipped by Cat Sebastian

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Publication Date: March 3, 2026

About the Book

Cat Sebastian’s long-awaited foray into contemporary romance! A witty, emotional, and deliciously slow burn enemies-to-lovers romance between two costars on a popular sci-fi television series. Simon and Charlie, actors on a long-running sci-fi show, can’t stand one another. Charlie is impetuous, outgoing, and basically feral, and Simon thinks he should have stayed in reality television where he belongs. They’ve spent the better part of a decade quarreling over the spotlight and pretty much everything else, and everybody in the industry knows it. Now that Simon’s contract is finally done, he can move to New York, start fresh with work he actually likes, and get away from Charlie. Simon’s only problem is that people might assume he’s been pushed off the show due to being impossible to work with. And he is kind of difficult to work with. He doesn’t get along with people—unlike Charlie, who somehow tricked everyone on the show into adoring him despite some outrageously bad on-set behavior during the show’s first season. Simon would rather never have to see Charlie again, but reluctantly agrees to stage a very public friendship during the short time before he moves. When Charlie has to leave town to deal with a family emergency, this means Simon comes along. Their road trip brings Simon to places he would never have willingly chosen to visit—and he finds he’s actually not having a terrible time. The more he gets to know Charlie, the more Simon suspects he’s underestimated his former coworker. Simon also realizes that after seven years, Charlie might know him better than anyone ever has. Even stranger, Charlie seems to be starting to actually like him, despite knowing him so well. Still, Simon is about to move three thousand miles away, so whatever’s starting between him and Charlie can’t really amount to anything... right? Tropes: Enemies to Lovers Opposites Attract Forced Proximity Slow Burn

My Review:

5 stars

Will there ever be a Cat Sebastian book that I don't love with all of my heart? I sincerely doubt it.

I'm really loving the trend of her 20th century (and now contemporary) books, to have quiet everyday sort of love stories between difficult people who fall in love accidentally and inevitably.

Simon is a gremlin and I love him for it. I have discovered a love of gremlin characters lately-- largely thanks to Alexandra Rowland-- the crotchetier and less well-adjusted the better. I can empathize with Simon's anxiety and migraines, as I deal with both myself, and they were written really well and true to life here.

Both Simon and Charlie have their issues, and they complement each other so well once they figure that out.

I love love love the nods to fanfiction and fandom, and the inclusion of a "fandom chat" here and there in the book. As someone who has spent a lot of time reading and writing fanfiction and analyzing media looking for hints of queer characters and relationships, I felt seen. Cat Sebastian's writing *always* makes me feel seen, in so many ways, but especially as a queer person.

I have the audiobook preordered and can't wait to listen to it.

*Thanks to Avon for providing an early copy for review.

[whimsicaldragonette]

ARC Review: Colliding Hearts by Jax Calder

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Publication Date: December 11, 2025

About the Book:

One voice kept me alive in the darkness. One Halloween night changed everything. One secret threatens to destroy it all. When my car plunges into a ravine, a stranger's chocolate-cake voice becomes my lifeline in the endless dark. But after I’m rescued, the mysterious paramedic vanishes without a trace, leaving me with nothing but scars and memories. After year of avoiding mirrors and first dates, I manage to hook up with the hottest Darth Vader in existence while dressed as a surprisingly seductive Yoda. But the morning light reveals my one-night stand is not only my new neighbor but also my long-lost rescuer. Jared and I try the just-friends route, but who can resist a guy who bakes brownies and gives great massages. When our connection extends into a friends-with-benefits arrangement, things become complicated. Especially since I’m still learning to navigate a world where my face no longer opens doors and my wit has become my armor and my greatest weapon. Before the crash, I was the guy who could charm anyone with a smile. After? Let's just say Frankenstein would think I'm having a rough time. I'm falling hard for the man with the chocolate-cake voice, but every time we get close to something real, Jared pulls away. Are my scars holding him back? Or is Jared hiding secrets of his own? Colliding Hearts is a novella set in the Rainbow Redemption universe, but can be read as a standalone book.

My Review:

5 stars

This was an incredibly sweet and emotional book. There was so much character growth, and twists I didn't see coming at all. The big one really shocked me, in fact.

Overall though, it was full of sweet moments together with two sweethearts and an adorable kid. What's not to love?

I found it a little unbelievable that Felix's face was so scarred that he was shunned as much as he was, but I was able to let that go and just enjoy the story.

As always, Jax Calder's characters are well-rounded and endearing. Somehow, she is able to write first person narratives that pull you in immediately and don't all feel the same. Like each first-person voice is different enough that they feel like different people.

And the love story is sweet and makes you want to root for Felix and Jared to be together.

I was also impressed with how she can make a novella seem so packed full of story. It never felt too short or unfinished or missing anything. That takes skill.

Maybe avoid if you've been in a car accident and have trauma from it.

*Thanks to Jax Calder for providing an early copy for review.

[whimsicaldragonette]

ARC Review: Arrow of Fortune (Raiders of the Arcana 3) by Jacquelyn Benson

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Publication Date: November 18, 2025

About the Book:

A well-behaved lady historian ought to avoid haunted Indian forests… not plunge into them seeking an invincible weapon of the gods. Ellie Mallory didn’t exactly volunteer to prevent the most dangerous artifact of the Ramayana from falling into the wrong hands—but if one has been coerced into an adventure, the least one can do is bring along a few friends. Constance Tyrrell has new daggers stuffed in her garters, a thirst to discover everything India has to offer… and absolutely no interest in Dr. Neil Fairfax, Ellie’s scholarly stepbrother. Meanwhile, Neil finds himself wrangling a magical sword along with his increasingly tangled feelings about a certain doe-eyed danger gnome. Then there’s Adam Bates—handy with a machete, perpetually shirtless, and about to face some unsettling ghosts of his past. Together, they must follow the footsteps of an ancient hero from the festivals of Puri to the shadowy depths of a legendary forest, racing a brutal colonial administrator with allies of his own—including the complicated and mysterious Mr. Jacobs. It will take all Ellie’s resources—from a working knowledge of practical chemistry to a highly excitable dog—to beat a new sort of demon to the place where a holy power has lain hidden for two thousand years… alongside the secret history of the woman at the heart of India’s greatest story.

My Review:

5 stars!

This was such a good follow-up to the first two books! I loved how balanced the focus was between Ellie & Adam and Connie & Neil, and how the two relationships progressed. It was almost like getting two romance novels in one. And it was an excellent archeological adventure besides.

I really love these books. The characters are really charming and endearing, with depth to them. The adventure is rollicking and exciting and the archeological information is fascinating. Plus the thread of anti-colonialism throughout makes them satisfying reads.

It's all the guilty pleasure of an Indiana Jones adventure, but without the guilt. Because the characters grapple with the implications of colonialism and all the injustices it perpetrates while having their adventure, rescuing the Arcana from the colonizers who will do nothing good with the magical artifacts.

The good guys are charming, the bad guys are dastardly, and Jacobs remains mysteriously morally gray.

The audiobook was excellent. The characters' voices were consistent with the previous books and each character had a distinct voice. The narration was pleasant to listen to and well-paced, bringing the adventure to life.

I look forward to their next adventure! It sounds like Korea and Egypt are our intrepid pair of duo's net stops and I cannot wait!

*Thanks to Vaughan Woods Publishing, and Jacquelyn Benson for providing an early copy for review.

[whimsicaldragonette]

ARC Review: Feeding the Grump by Jax Calder

Publication Date: September 18, 2025

About the Book:

I’m fairly sure that when I’m on my deathbed, I’ll still be cursing Benji Gange’s name. My neighbor paints his gate purple. His experiments with organic farming drift onto my land. He feeds me casseroles while we argue about everything from water rights to rugby selections. For five years, I’ve told myself he’s the worst thing to happen to farming since foot rot. Then my orphan lamb escapes, and we end up tangled in a hedge together (don’t ask), spying on something that turns my whole world upside down. Suddenly, I realize that all the vegetables I leave on his doorstep and the casseroles he makes me might not be just neighborly gestures. And maybe the way my pulse races during our arguments isn’t about the disputed thistle paddock at all. Is it possible that the biggest thorn in my side is exactly what I’ve been missing all along? Feeding the Grump is a 16,000 word enemies to lovers novella that features a grumpy farmer and his sunshine neighbor. It was first published in May 2025 as part of a charity anthology and no additional material has been added.

My Review:

5 stars

This was adorable in the best way. A Grumpy taciturn farmer slooooooowly realizes that his feelings for the neighbor who plagues him constantly aren't exactly hate. At all. The details really made this story for me. The way perpetually grumpy stereotypical farmer David pays attention to everything Benjie says, even while they're arguing. The way he grows heirloom vegetables just because he knows Benjie likes them. The way he always brings a basket of produce to their arguments. The adorable lamb Pepper. I appreciated the cameo from the characters in Playing Offside (even though I haven't read it yet--it's on my list), and the way David respects and guards their privacy. The thorn bush scene was hilarious and I greatly enjoyed it. I wasn't sold on the necessity of the sex scene, and even if it did need to be there I don't think it needed to be as long as it was. There just weren't enough non-sex-scene pages to balance it out. To be fair, I'm not a fan of sex scenes ever, but I don't like them to feel like they're overpowering the rest of the book. Even so, I thoroughly enjoyed this novella and definitely recommend it, especially if you like grumpy characters who are slow to realize their true feelings. In fact, I would say it's better than a lot of romance novellas I've read. It felt a lot more fully realized and complete than many romance novellas do. And it did a much better job of making me care for the characters and making them feel like real well-rounded people.