Book Review: Me About You by Hannah Hamrick

Me About You sets out to be an emotional second-chance, friends-to-lovers romance wrapped in the world of competitive ice hockey, touching on themes of young love, estrangement, injury, and anxiety. The premise is undeniably compelling: Sutton Davis, once a promising ice hockey player, has had her career cut short by an injury she still associates with her childhood friend, Cooper Carmichael. Now retraining as a sports psychologist, she finds herself back in the same orbit as Cooper - who, despite his rising athletic star, lives under the weight of anxiety and the long shadow of his father’s legacy.

At its best, the book shines in the early chapters. The setup is engaging, the tension between Sutton and Cooper is believable, and the emotional stakes feel real. Cooper’s quiet, steadfast love and Sutton’s struggle to reconcile her past with her present have all the makings of a heartfelt slow-burn.

However, the storytelling begins to lose focus as the novel progresses. Secondary characters are introduced rapidly without enough depth to truly understand their dynamics, leaving the friend circle feeling more chaotic than cohesive. The central romance, while sweet, would have benefitted from stronger chemistry and more nuanced emotional development—especially given the weight of their shared past.

The biggest missed opportunity lies in the fallout that originally tore Sutton and Cooper apart. The backstory is pivotal, yet it’s condensed into a single chapter that doesn’t fully explore the complexity of guilt, grief, or misunderstanding between them. Similarly, Cooper’s anxiety—a major theme—deserved more thoughtful exploration, especially with Sutton’s background as an aspiring psychologist. These elements could have added richness, grounding, and authenticity to their relationship.

Toward the end, the story begins to drag, stretching a simple plotline without adding meaningful depth. What starts off strong loses momentum, making the final act feel less engaging than its promising beginning.

Overall: Me About You has heart, intention, and a solid emotional foundation, but the execution feels rushed in some areas and drawn-out in others. With deeper character work, more chemistry, better handling of the past conflict, and a stronger focus on the mental health themes it introduces, it could have been far more impactful. As it stands, it’s a somewhat enjoyable read that ultimately falls short of its potential.

Book Review: Ready or Not? by Katherine Webb

Ready or Not?—the fourth installment in Katherine Webb’s Park Brothers series—stands easily on its own, delivering a heartfelt, slow-burn romance that’s equal parts tender, steamy, and emotionally grounded.

At the center of the story are two unforgettable characters: Kendra Gray, a rising plus-size supermodel navigating industry fatphobia, public scrutiny, and her own past trauma; and Damon Park, an athletic, quietly intense basketball coach rebuilding his life after a career setback. Their worlds collide in a way that feels both serendipitous and gently humorous, beginning with Damon’s long-standing admiration for Kendra—from afar. What initially reads as obsessive melts into a portrait of a man who is unexpectedly soft, earnest, and utterly enthralled by the woman he once only saw on a billboard.

The chemistry between them unravels slowly and deliciously. Both insist they should remain “just friends” despite undeniable attraction—Kendra freshly out of a painful marriage and Damon convinced she’s out of his league. But late-night texts turn intimate, emotional walls start to crumble, and their connection deepens into something neither can brush aside. Their dynamic explores dominance/submission, desire, and vulnerability with an honesty that feels both bold and empowering.

Webb handles heavier themes with intent and awareness: body shaming, PTSD, and an attempted sexual assault from Kendra’s past are woven thoughtfully into her emotional arc. Throughout, Damon is written as the rare romance hero who listens, supports, and never flinches. He sees Kendra not for her fame or her curves, but for her strength, humor, and “queen energy”—and watching him champion not only her but the high-schoolers he coaches adds another layer of warmth.

On the lighter side, the novel thrives on flirty banter, cozy domestic moments, and a series of steamy scenes that align with Kendra’s confident, dominant sexuality. It’s refreshing, fun, and deeply character-driven.

Overall, Ready or Not? is a standout in contemporary romance—sensual without losing sincerity, emotional without losing playfulness. It offers a beautifully nuanced plus-size heroine, a gentle yet passionate hero, and an opposites-attract love story that feels mature, inclusive, and irresistibly charming. Whether or not you’ve read the previous Park Brothers books, this one is absolutely worth picking up.

Thank you to Love Notes PR and Katherine E Webb for the ARC opportunity! :) 

Book Review: Field of Frights by Christina Hagmann

 Thank you Book Sirens and Christina Hagmann for this ARC! :)

This book is more than a simple monster story; it's a chilling excavation of a town built on a lie. Every 25 years, when the air turns crisp and the Harvest Festival approaches, the truth demands to be paid in blood. The novel sets an immediate, terrifying precedent in the opening chapter, demonstrating that the legend of the Harvested Man—a creature of impossible height and skeletal menace, its face concealed by a burlap sack—is horribly, violently real. This opening sequence locks the reader into a state of perpetual dread, forcing us to ask: Who will be next, and how do you fight something that history insists always wins?

Genre & Themes:
Falling squarely into the YA supernatural horror and thriller categories, this novel doesn't just deliver jump scares—it burrows deep under your skin. At its core, it is a visceral exploration of guilt, grief, and the agonizing weight of intergenerational secrets. The story pulses with the theme of reckoning, where the sins of the past literally rise again to demand a blood price from the present. It explores how a tight-knit community's decision to bury a horrific truth can fester, creating a cycle of terror that claims its victims every twenty-five years. The story questions whether monsters are born, made, or summoned by the silence of entire towns.

Tone & Atmosphere:
Dark, claustrophobic, and relentlessly gripping. From the very first page, a palpable sense of dread and paranoia looms over the narrative. The writing is taut and vivid, crafting a small-town backdrop that feels charmingly normal until night falls and the cornfields whisper unimaginable horrors. The book excels in its atmosphere, creating a feeling of a looming, inhuman presence that follows the characters everywhere—a presence that will give you genuine chills. This is an 'edge-of-your-seat' read that makes you want to flip the pages faster, even as you dread what you might find.

The Story: Mystery in Archers Field
At the center of the storm is Alex Morgan, whose grief over her brother’s disappearance is a raw, gaping wound. What makes her journey compelling is the heavy cloak of guilt she wears, which is masterfully intertwined with the larger mystery. Her investigation forces her to confront not only the supernatural horror lurking in the cornfields but also the messy, complicated dynamics of her core friend group.

The novel brilliantly uses the return of the terror to stress-test every relationship. Old friendships are rekindled out of necessity, only to reveal cracks and buried resentments. Is the note pointing Alex toward the field a genuine plea, a sick joke, or a trap set by someone she trusts? As the pressure mounts, the characters are forced to choose: loyalty to each other, or self-preservation? The book turns the teenage social circle into a claustrophobic pressure cooker, where betrayal might be the most human and dangerous threat of all.

Why You Should Read It (Spoiler-Free Promise):
This book is a spectacular, fast-paced ride. It features vivid, nightmarish imagery and character dynamics that feel authentic and raw. You'll be questioning everyone's motives—and loyalties—as the body count rises and the lines between the living and the dead blur.

What Could Have Been Better!
Specifically, the author could have solidified the historical context of the town’s secrets a bit sooner. While the underlying connections towards the end is fantastic, a few more breadcrumbs woven into the town's atmosphere before the action hits the field might have elevated the sense of fated inevitability. It’s a great read, but a slightly more layered exploration of guilt, betrayal, and the moral ambiguity of the town’s history could have elevated the story from “excellent” to “phenomenal.”

Final Thoughts:
Still, this book is a gripping, gorgeously atmospheric horror tale that sinks its claws in early and never lets go. The imagery is haunting, the tension electric, and the writing so crisp and vivid you feel every heartbeat of fear. If you love horror steeped in folklore, secrets, and creeping dread—this story delivers in spades.
It left me unsettled in the best way… and if a book can do that, it’s absolutely worth reading!!