I have been incredibly lucky to receive 47 ARCs in 2025. I will never not be grateful that publishers are willing to send me early copies of books to review – it’s ridiculously cool. Choosing just a few of my favourites has been a little difficult but there are three that seriously stood out.
Tusk Love by Thea Guanzon
This was my most anticipated read of 2025, so you can imagine how excited I was to receive an ARC of it. My love for all things Critical Role probably did affect my rating of this book slightly, but it’s only the second release of theirs that I’ve given a five star rating to. I’m a little more biased towards novels and graphic novels they release but I’ll always rate and review fairly.
This part of my review really sums up why I rated this book five stars “Watching Guinevere and Oskar’s relationship grow, alongside the actual pretty deep plot for a cosy romantasy, is what made me rate this book five stars. When it comes to romance books I have a completely different standard for ratings. If I don’t vibe with the pairing or they don’t make me smile to myself like an idiot, it’s not a five star read. Guinevere and Oskar though? Made me smile to myself like an idiot.” I went into this book knowing a bit about the characters due to watching Critical Role’s campaign two, but they really came alive in this book. Even if this wasn’t related to Critical Role, I’d still absolutely adore this story. This book would 100% have Jester’s stamp of approval.
ARC Review: Tusk Love by Thea Guanzon
Synopsis: As the daughter of an ambitious merchant, Guinevere’s path has been predetermined: marry into a noble house of the Dwendalian Empire, raise her family’s station, and live quietly as a lordling’s obedient wife. But Guinevere longs for a life unbounded by expectations, for freedom and passion and adventure.
Those distant dreams become a sudden reality when her caravan is beset by bandits, leaving her guards slain and Guinevere stranded alone on the dangerous Amber Road. Her only chance of survival is to travel alongside Oskar, the aloof half-orc who saved her during the attack.
Unlike Guinevere, Oskar’s path is not so set in stone. With his mother dead and his apprenticeship abandoned, all that’s left is a long, lonely walk to a land he’s never seen to find family he’s never met. The last thing he needs is a spoiled waif like Guinevere slowing him down—even if the spark between them sizzles with promise.
Despite his cold exterior, Oskar is brave and thoughtful and unlike anyone Guinevere has ever met. And while Guinevere may be sheltered, she brings out a softness in him that he has never dared to feel before. As the flames of their passion grow, they realize that soon they’ll need to choose between their expected destinations or their blossoming romance.
Revolve by Bal Khabra
If you’d told me at the start of 2025 that I become a lover of hockey romances, rating a few of them five stars, I would have laughed in your face. They’re now some of my favourite books to read. I’ve become quite the romance reader as I’ve gotten older and recently I’ve been reading pretty much only contemporary romances. Honestly, I’m having a great time.
I’ve included quotes from my reviews for the other books in this post so I’ll do it for this one too. This book genuinely surprised me with how deep and complex the characters were. “Their character development was also wonderful to witness. Without giving too much away, Dylan changes his old ‘playboy’ ways and Sierra slowly overcomes serious trauma and it comes down to the connection they build on and off the ice. I don’t know, it’s just nice to have a romance book with fleshed out characters whose sole purpose is not to ‘get it on every other chapter’. Which there is a lot of, but a lot of these scenes are pretty beautiful. Especially as Sierra comes to love herself again after her accident. Dylan may genuinely be one of my favourite book boyfriends, which I did not think I’d be saying at the start of Revolve.”
I have the two other books in this series and I 100% plan to check them out soon. My real goal for 2026 is to put a big dent in my to be read on my Kindle.
ARC Review: Revolve by Bal Khabra
Synopsis: The road to redemption is far from smooth as ice in this sweeping romance between a figure skater and hockey player from the USA Today bestselling author of Collide.
Sierra Romanova was an Olympian figure skater before a life-altering accident on the ice left her with panic attacks every time she enters the rink. Now, back for her final year at Dalton University, she’s ready to reclaim the spotlight, with all eyes on her…including those of hockey player Dylan Donovan, whose audacious words goad her back into her skates to prove him wrong.
After getting kicked off his hockey team for his reckless behavior, Dylan is left with slim chances of making it to the NHL draft. But Dylan’s whole world revolves around the ice, and if hockey is forbidden, well at least there’s figure skating. Even better, it means more time at the rink with Sierra. Sure, he’s helping her rebuild her confidence, but pushing her buttons along the way? That’s just a bonus.
As the figure skating world awaits Sierra’s comeback, she finds herself in need for a new pairs partner. The only person she knows who can match her skill on the ice is none other than the cocky hockey player who refuses to cut her any slack. Dylan’s a wildcard, Sierra’s a seasoned pro, but together, they might just be the perfect match on the ice.
The Rose Bargain by Sasha Peyton Smith
This was my first ARC of 2025 and what a way to kick off the year. I said in my review that I’d been struggling with fantasy for a while so I was worried I wouldn’t enjoy this and honestly, still true. I haven’t read many fantasies this year, despite my first of 2025 being a five star read.
Again, my review summed up why I loved this book so well. It’s so fun looking back at them because I genuinely forget what I’ve written. “I wasn’t sure what I was going to rate The Rose Bargain until the last few chapters. When I tell you I was completely shocked and blown away by the story, I’m telling the truth. It broke my heart, stunned me and made me ridiculously happy, all within two chapters. I didn’t think I was too attached to the characters before this, but the latter half of the book changed my mind. I actually almost cried at one point because I was so upset about what was happening. It takes a lot for a book to physically affect me.”
I’m insanely excited for book two to be published next year. If I’m really lucky, I’ll get offered an ARC of it (fingers crossed!).
ARC Review: The Rose Bargain by Sasha Peyton Smith
Synopsis: London, 1848—For four hundred years, England has been under the control of an immortal fae queen who tricked her way onto the throne. To maintain an illusion of benevolence, Queen Mor grants each of her subjects one opportunity to bargain for their deepest desire.
As Ivy Benton prepares to make her debut, she knows that not even a deal with the queen could fix what has gone wrong: Her family’s social standing is in shambles, her sister is a shadow of her former self, and Ivy’s marriage prospects are nonexistent. So when the queen announces a competition for Prince Bram’s hand, Ivy is the first to sign her name in blood. What a bargain can’t fix, a crown certainly could.
Ivy soon finds herself a surprising front-runner—with the help of an unexpected ally: Prince Bram’s brother, the rakish Prince Emmett, who promises to help Ivy win his brother’s heart…for a price. But as the season sweeps Ivy away, with glittering balls veiling the queen’s increasingly vicious trials, Ivy realizes there’s more at stake than just a wedding. Because all faerie bargains come with a cost, and Ivy may have discovered hers too late.
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