Review: Immortal Game by Allison Saft (2026)

Heat Factor: It’s more of a YA vibe—yearning, coming of age, kissing and connection, but not anything bedroom-related Character Chemistry: It’s an uptight, guilt-ridden perfectionist meets a messy, dramatic chaos fae…so, delicious and adorable. Plot: Shae loses her sister to a fae king after playing a game of chess and spends the next six years training to compete in a fae/human chess tournament…and among her competitors is the fae princess, Ciara, who is either her enemy or someone she could really fall for. Overall: This book was ridiculously good.

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August 2026 We’re Excited About

(Mostly) Human Resources by Grace Viall Entity Case Files, Book #1 Releases August 4 Working in human resources was not what Alexys had in mind when she joined Entity, the private company that categorizes and manages the world’s cryptids. But after her dad was killed on the job as a Warden in the Appalachian Mountains, she was filled with noble ideas of carrying on his legacy…from the safety of a desk. Alexys dreams of climbing the corporate ladder while managing the Appalachian Wardens and sparring with Nic, the frustrating (and annoyingly attractive) Director of Research and Cataloging.

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Tumblereads: Cheat Codes

After a bit of a summer hiatus, we're back to Tumblereads, aka your weekly dose of us talking about romance books. Show Notes Our very first conversations about Bridgerton: our expectations and our reactions to Season 1 The hand flex: When I googled "the hand flex" this was the top result. The internet knows! Holly says that authors use grand gestures as a “cheat code” to help the reader feel ok about a relationship without having the characters go through pages and pages of conversations of reconciliation. Ingrid says a “cheat code” is a way to have the resolution to a problem be symbolized rather than discussed.

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Orgasms from the Base of the Spine

Erin, Ingrid, and I text each other a LOT. About our kids, about what we’re drinking, but mostly, about smut. (I’m sure you’re shocked.) More than a year ago now, someone texted about the common ph…

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Review: The Gladiator’s Passion by Sandra Schwab (2023)

Heat Factor: Sex first, feelings later! Character Chemistry: “He might die!” just really had me by the throat. Plot: Doctor runs away from home to get away from his unrequited crush, totally kills …

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July 2026 Wrap Up

Here's what we got up to on the blog this month! Our Favorite Reads… Holly's Pick: Everything that Falls by Nicole Disney This is a fun, adrenaline-fueled romance with great character work. (Holly's full review.) Ingrid's Pick: Bride of the Fae Duke by Lisette Marshall (Ingrid's full review.) Erin's Pick: Heartstopper vol. 6 by Alice Oseman Honestly, we all knew that Erin was going to go all heart eyes over this final installment of the Heartstopper books. (Erin's full review.) More from the Blog…

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Review: Dearest Beast by Felicia Grossman (2026)

Once Upon the East End, Book #3 Review of Once Upon the East End, Book #1 Heat Factor: Sex in the very first scene, and then many many pages of emotions before sex resume (this time with feeling) Character Chemistry: Arguing as foreplay Plot: When Roger’s daughter literally blows up Rebecca’s house, he opens his home to her as part of the restitution process Overall: I’m going to talk a lot about the stuff that bugged me, but I enjoyed this one. That's how reviews go sometimes, I guess.

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Review: The Prince and the Bodyguard by Nora Phoenix (2026)

The Prince Pact, Book #4 Review of The Prince Pact: Book #1, Book #2, Book #3 Heat Factor: It’s sexy, but not superlative Character Chemistry: “It’s a good thing he’s straight, or I’d really be in trouble.” → sex lessons → “Shoot, these feelings are going to be a real problem no matter what I do…” Plot: Prince Gregory finally convinced the king to let him study abroad incognito for a year, but he has to be attached to his bodyguard all the time. And they’re living in couples-only housing. 

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Review: Bride of the Fae Duke by Lisette Marshall (2025)

Wayfarer Fae, Book 0.5 Heat Factor: It’s strangely steamy considering the entire basis of their relationship is purely transactional Character Chemistry: He can’t fall in love with her or she’ll die, so naturally…they’re meant to be. Plot: She’s a practical servant who is determined to create a better life for her sister and he’s a half-fae duke who has been cursed, resulting in the deaths of a whole crew of prior wives. So obviously they get married for perfectly reasonable reasons and try really hard not to like each other the entire book.

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TSR Book Club: Iron and Velvet by Alexis Hall

We're (mostly) back from summer vacationing with another TSR book club! This month was Erin's choice, and we read Iron and Velvet, from deep in Alexis Hall's backlist. Heat: Low-grade fever with Kate constantly aware of everyone’s sex appeal Character Chemistry: We’re hot for each other, ergo we’re girlfriends Plot: Kate investigates a murder and gets in over her head and causes a ton of trouble Overall: In classic Alexis Hall fashion, the voice is very fun—but the worldbuilding and plot takes a while to gel…

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Review: Everything that Falls by Nicole Disney

Heat Factor: They do get hot and heavy, but they spend a lot more time having feelings and climbing mountains  Character Chemistry: There’s nothing like saving someone’s life to level up your mutual attraction—even if you fundamentally disagree about some key issues Plot: An extreme rock climber and a search and rescue park ranger collide Overall: I really liked this one

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Review: Heartstopper: Volume 6 by Alice Oseman (2026)

Reviews of the rest of Heartstopper: Vol 1, Vol 2, Vol 3, Vol 4, Vol 5 Heat Factor: These boys are sexually active at this point (and pretty horny, actually), but the only thing we see is maybe PG-13 Character Chemistry: Hugs Plot: They’re transitioning to independent adulthood, and there are some growing pains as Nick in particular figures out who he is as he goes off to college Overall: Wholesome AF …and it gave the high school Erin that still lives in my brain all the validation and happy feelings she ever wanted

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Review: The Flame in the Frost by Olivia Boothe (2026)

Heat Factor: It’s medium hot—it’s there, and it’s on page, but it’s not melt-your-socks-off. Character Chemistry: For two characters who grew up together and have been best friends nearly their entire lives, they seem to misread each other nearly the entire book.  Plot: Sylvanna begins her tenure as Captain of the Queen’s Guard with major HR issues, lies between her and her best friend/love interest the Crown Prince, and Santa Claus is in this book? Overall: This one threw me for a bit of a loop.

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Review: Book Club Boyfriend by Jenny Holiday (2026)

Technically a standalone, though Jack is a minor secondary character in Into the Woods Heat Factor: A slow burn without a ton of heat Character Chemistry: A person who watches TV the same way you do is frankly #partnergoals Plot: Jack moves into Blair’s pool house to write his second novel; in the process Jack and Blair become friends Overall: I read it quickly but there wasn’t a ton of emotional heft

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TBR Challenge: Freedom

July’s theme prompt for Super Wendy’s #TBRChallenge 2026 was “Freedom!” Here are the books we chose to tackle our TBRs this month. Holly Read: Forbidden by Beverly Jenkins Old West, Book #1 Why was this book on your TBR? Breathless, the second book in this series, was the first book by Jenkins I ever read, and I’ve been curious about this story—featuring a hero who has built his life around passing as white—ever since. Why did you choose this book for this month’s challenge? Jenkins’ historicals frequently deal with freedom in a quite literal sense.

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