Love on the Brain by Ali Hazelwood
This was my first Ali Hazelwood book and it was incredible. I stayed up until 3am (which is extremely rare for me) when I first picked this up and I probably would have finished it in one sitting. I really didn’t like Bee to begin with but she did slowly grow on me. The chatty narration style definitely helped with this and as this is the way I also write, it was perfect for me.
For the smut lovers, you’ll be happy to hear the first steamy scene happens at 69% through (at least it did in the ARC). I don’t know if that was intentional but it’s hilarious either way.
I’ve rated every single Ali Hazelwood book I’ve read so far five stars. I can’t really explain why I love them so much, they’re just wonderful.
Synopsis: Bee Königswasser lives by a simple code: What would Marie Curie do? If NASA offered her the lead on a neuroengineering project – a literal dream come true – Marie would accept without hesitation. Duh. But the mother of modern physics never had to co-lead with Levi Ward.
Sure, Levi is attractive in a tall, dark, and piercing-eyes kind of way. But Levi made his feelings toward Bee very clear in grad school – archenemies work best employed in their own galaxies far, far away.
But when her equipment starts to go missing and the staff ignore her, Bee could swear she sees Levi softening into an ally, backing her plays, seconding her ideas… devouring her with those eyes. The possibilities have all her neurons firing.
But when it comes time to actually make a move and put her heart on the line, there’s only one question that matters: What will Bee Königswasser do?
A Deal With the Elf King by Elise Kova
This isn’t my favourite Elise Kova novel, if I’m being completely honest, it’s probably my least favourite. However, I’m a big fan of series of standalones set in the same universe. This book in particular is loosely based on the story of Hades and Persephone and it includes arranged marriage (kind of) if that’s something you’re interested in.
Synopsis: The elves come for two things: war and wives. In both cases, they come for death.
Three-thousand years ago, humans were hunted by powerful races with wild magic until the treaty was formed. Now, for centuries, the elves have taken a young woman from Luella’s village to be their Human Queen.
To be chosen is seen as a mark of death by the townsfolk. A mark nineteen-year-old Luella is grateful to have escaped as a girl. Instead, she’s dedicated her life to studying herbology and becoming the town’s only healer.
That is, until the Elf King unexpectedly arrives… for her.
Everything Luella had thought she’d known about her life, and herself, was a lie. Taken to a land filled with wild magic, Luella is forced to be the new queen to a cold yet blisteringly handsome Elf King. Once there, she learns about a dying world that only she can save.
The magical land of Midscape pulls on one corner of her heart, her home and people tug on another… but what will truly break her is a passion she never wanted.
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: Book Confessions: Books I Did Not Finish #10