I went a little overboard with the Kindle monthly deals in August. It’s hard to resist a book that’s only 99p but I do worry I’ll never read them all. Maybe that should be one of my goals for next year – less ARCs, more purchased books.
Anyway, for the first time in a very long time, I already have photos for all of my new books so I’m going to include photos in this post.
The Mistake by Elle Kennedy
Back when I used Twitter (RIP), I would see people talking about this series all the time. Like literally non-stop. I’d always brushed it off as sports romance was not my cup of tea. Well, that’s not true anymore. I actually really enjoy them, even as a lazy person that is basically glued to my laptop.
I know this isn’t book one but they’re technically standalones right? If not, please let me know and I’ll buy book one.
I also know what you’re thinking…yes, I did buy this because I saw the little teaser video about the adaptation and I was intrigued, let’s say. Enjoying books about hockey was not on my bingo card for 2025, but here we are.
Synopsis: He’s a player in more ways than one . . .
College junior John Logan can get any girl he wants. For this hockey star, life is a parade of parties and hook-ups, but behind his killer grins and easygoing charm, he hides growing despair about the dead-end road he’ll be forced to walk after graduation. A sexy encounter with freshman Grace Ivers is just the distraction he needs, but when a thoughtless mistake pushes her away, Logan plans to spend his final year proving to her that he’s worth a second chance.
Now he’s going to need to up his game . . .
After a less than stellar freshman year, Grace is back at Briar University, older, wiser, and so over the arrogant hockey player she nearly handed her V-card to. She’s not a charity case, and she’s not the quiet butterfly she was when they first hooked up. If Logan expects her to roll over and beg like all his other puck bunnies, he can think again. He wants her back? He’ll have to work for it. This time around, she’ll be the one in the driver’s seat . . . and she plans on driving him wild.
The Plot Twist by Eleanor Goymer
I saw that this is a book about books, which is a new series I want to do (spoiler for whenever I finally get around to writing that), and instantly bought it. I’ve not actually read many books about books so if you have any recommendations please feel free to send me a message, I’d really appreciate it.
I love a ‘romcom author clashes with a thriller author’ story. It’s very Beach Read, which I will have to try my best not to compare this book to. I try not to look at reviews before reading a book (purely because I review them, please don’t stop reading my reviews, I appreciate every single view) but I did see it has veryyy mixed reviews on Goodreads. This could be a five star read for me though, it’s happened before.
Synopsis: This love story is a work in progress…
When romcom author Allie Edwards crosses paths with bestselling crime novelist – aka publishing dinosaur – Martin Clark at a party, they discover they both have crippling writer’s block, overdue manuscripts and precisely zero words to show to their respective editors.
With deadlines looming, Allie and Martin decide to switch plots and tell each other’s stories. In the writing process, Allie not only gains a father-figure in Martin, but also meets gorgeous events caterer Will, the answer to the leading man-shaped hole in her life and her lack of spicy material.
Caught between love and her career, what could possibly go wrong?
Your Time Is Up by Sarah J. Naughton
I’m not sure if I’ve ever read a book told in real time, but I’m interested to read this either way. The fact that this is told in real time and is about someone taking an exam, while some other thrillery (not a word) stuff goes on around them is sickening, but in a good way. What’s not great is that it’s a Maths exam and I legitimately had a panic attack during my Maths GCSE so I’m sure this won’t bring up any bad memories.
Synopsis: One has a secret, one of them saw, there’s blood on the papers, who’ll take the fall?
Zaina never meant to get involved. The plan was always to focus on her exams, make her dad proud.
But none of this is what she’d planned for. Chanelle never made it to the exam; Nero’s convinced he saw something last night and Ysla can’t stop crying.
As Zaina starts to scratch the surface of secrets which desperately want to stay hidden she begins to wonder … how far will they go to keep her from the truth?
The Break-Up Pact by Emma Lord
Can you tell I’m in a fantasy slump at the moment based on how many contemporary romances I buy? I didn’t realise I’d been avoiding fantasy so heavily until I looked back through my Amazon purchases for this post.
I quite enjoyed Tweet Cute, which was YA, so I’m really interested in an adult novel by Emma Lord. Also, this is an enemies-to-lovers fake dating romance, so right up my street. Even if I don’t think you can be true enemies in a contemporary setting.
Synopsis: Two best friends who haven’t spoken in ten years pretend to date after break-ups with their respective exes go viral, in this delightfully fun and deeply emotional novel.
June and Levi were best friends as teenagers—until the day they weren’t. Now June is struggling to make rent on her beachside tea shop, Levi is living a New York cliché as a disillusioned hedge fund manager and failed novelist, and they’ve barely spoken in years.
But after they both experience public, humiliating break-ups with their exes that spread like wildfire across TikTok rabbit holes and daytime talk shows alike, they accidentally make some juicy gossip of their own—a photo of them together has the internet convinced they’re a couple. With so many people rooting for them, they decide to put aside their rocky past and make a pact to fuel the fire. Pretending to date will help June’s shop get back on its feet and make Levi’s ex realize that she made a mistake. All they have to do is convince the world they’re in love, one swoon-worthy photo opp at a time.
Two viral break-ups. One fake relationship. Five sparkling, heart-pounding dates. June and Levi can definitely pull this off without their hearts getting involved. Because everyone knows fake dating doesn’t come with real feelings. Right?
Check out Young Creative Press on all socials
You can also check out my StoryGraph here
Like this post? Why not read this one too: The Best Of: Kindle Unlimited & Prime Reading #20
[…] Like this post? Why not read this one too: Book Haul: August 2025 […]