Danita Reads

Trust Fall

by Lynn Painter

coming September 29, 2026

(4.5 / 5)

I really liked this one! The book managed to pull me out of an impending reading slump, so it was exactly what I needed. It was engaging and fun to read, while still tugging at a variety of emotions. I enjoyed the New York City and Nebraska settings, especially with the autumn backdrop. Our main characters were Julia and Damion, and I ended up liking both of them. Sure, Damion could be a bit frustrating at first, but I liked what his character was able to grow into over time. I also liked following Julia’s journey and growth. The romance had great chemistry, and I really liked the characters as a couple. The banter between Damion and Julia was really funny at times, and I couldn’t help but smile. Even when I could anticipate things that would happen, it was still worth the journey to get there. While this book is very much for teens, I think it’ll appeal to a much wider audience. Of note, the book does have swearing, underage drinking, and bullying.

Thank you to Simon and Schuster Children’s Publishing and NetGalley for providing a free review copy of this book! All thoughts and opinions are completely my own.

Unapologetic Love Story

by Elle McNicoll

coming October 13, 2026

(2.5 / 5)

I wanted to like this one, I really did, but it ended up falling flat for me. The writing was good, and its readability was what kept me going until the end. I liked the autism and disability representation with Raina, and I thought her feelings and experiences were described well. I didn’t feel much of a connection with Tom, the MMC, so I wasn’t as into the romance as I thought I would be. It often felt like not a lot was happening plot wise, so I had a hard time feeling engaged with the story. I think my biggest dislike was some of the friends of the main characters – their personalities really put me off. I know that some of them weren’t meant to be liked and had their purpose in the story, but it had already lost me by that point. I definitely think this book will have its audience, it just turned out that it wasn’t me this time.

Thank you to St. Martin’s Press, Saturday Books, and NetGalley for providing a free review copy of this book! All thoughts and opinions are completely my own.

September 1, 2026 by danimae1981 Fiction New Adult Romance 0

Practically Magic

by Jen Calonita

coming August 25, 2026

(3.5 / 5)

Practically Magic brings some big Halloween vibes, with witches, a whole town themed around the holiday, and even some supernatural beings showing up. I thought this story was cute, and it kept my interest pretty well. I read a lot of young adult, but I have to admit that all the angst, irresponsibility, and boy craziness was a bit much at times. That said, this book is very much geared toward teens, so I think it fits the target audience. The main character, Kat, has had a lot of crushes that went horribly wrong, and at times I had a hard time keeping track of all of these boys. Despite this theme throughout the book, I thought the romance aspect was actually a minor part of the story. If anything, the most important relationship that was explored was between sisters and family. I couldn’t help but love Kat’s quirky aunts. The book also had some funny moments that had me laughing out loud. Despite the book being a bit young for me, I still think it was a fun Halloween read!

I had the chance to listen to the audiobook version of this book, and I thought it was done well. The narrator did different voices for different characters and really captured some of the emotions that were happening.

Thank you to HarperCollins Children’s Books, HarperAudio Children’s, Avon a, and NetGalley for providing free review copies of this book! All thoughts and opinions are completely my own.

August 20, 2026 by danimae1981 Audiobook Fantasy Fiction Kindle Young Adult 0

Once, Again, Always

by Amanda Gayle

coming October 6, 2026

(4.5 / 5)

In Once, Again, Always we meet Molly, who has lost her memories from the past 6 years and is horrified to discover that she’s married to her old high school nemesis. It’s not surprising that this one turned out to be a pretty emotional read. It really captured Molly’s grief over her amnesia and how disorienting it could be. I also felt for Aster, who was in such a difficult situation as the spouse. But amidst the sad undertone, I also felt like there was a feeling of hope. I really enjoyed watching Molly and Aster reconnect, and the romance felt natural. I also liked the found family that Molly gained through some unexpected friends. Between the chapters, we get some brief “before” flashbacks to Molly’s time in high school and college. Aster was not likable at all during that time, but it also makes sense given Molly’s opinion of him in the beginning. It’s almost hard to believe that a person could change so much, but not enough that it took away from my enjoyment of the story. This book was mostly about the characters’ journeys, though there’s still some drama worked in. I’m impressed with how drawn in and invested I was with this story. What a great debut novel, I look forward to seeing more from the author!

Thank you to Avon and NetGalley for providing a free review copy of this book! All thoughts and opinions in my review are completely my own.

August 17, 2026 by danimae1981 Fiction Kindle Romance Women's Fiction 0

Reap & Sow

by Charlotte B. Plumb

coming October 6, 2026

(4.5 / 5)

Reap & Sow turned out to be a very enjoyable read for me. I loved how immersive and atmospheric it was. It was easy to get drawn into the settings with their detailed descriptions. The characters were interesting, complex, and described well, which really brought them to life. Eda and Kit were easily my favorite characters, and I especially liked their interactions with each other. The story brings plenty of action and drama that kept me wanting to read more. There are some gruesome scenes that won’t be for everyone, but they fit well with the dark atmosphere. I’m not sure yet if this will be a series… things wrapped up very well by the end, but then something at the last page made me think that maybe this story isn’t quite over yet. I would love to return to this world! The book overall felt well-written, and it’s hard to believe that Reap & Sow is the author’s debut novel!

Many thanks to Berkley XO and NetGalley for providing a free review copy of this book! All thoughts and opinions are completely my own and voluntary.

August 11, 2026 by danimae1981 Fantasy Fiction Kindle New Adult Romance 0

Alchemy of Souls

by Adriana Mather

coming August 4, 2026

(4 / 5)

Alchemy of Souls takes us to a magical university within our modern world. I had a lot of fun reading this one, and I felt like I was flying through the pages. At first I didn’t really like the first person present point of view, but as I read farther I got used to it and didn’t mind it. I did really like that the book had both Eloise and Grayson’s points of view, which I felt helped me understand both characters better. The interactions between these two characters was probably my favorite part of the book with all their witty banter. I liked seeing them go from basically strangers with very different upbringings to working together to summon a magical key. And I especially enjoyed the romance that developed. I do wish that there was more world building in the story. We learn about the different types of magic, but I feel like a lot of explanations didn’t go into as much depth as I would have liked. I still enjoyed the story, and for a standalone it did a good job of not feeling too long. I’m definitely interested in reading more from the author in the future!

Thank you to Macmillan Children’s Publishing Group, Feiwel & Friends, and NetGalley for providing a free review copy of this book! All thoughts and opinions are completely my own.

July 27, 2026 by danimae1981 Fantasy Fiction Kindle Romance Young Adult 0

Witch Hat Atelier Volume 1

by Kamome Shirahama

(4 / 5)

First off, I really love the artwork in this manga! It’s detailed, inviting, and looks great. This volume really captures the wonder of magic, and it does a good job of introducing how the magic system works since the main character, Coco, is learning as well. Coco is a relatable character who makes mistakes but has determination and creative solutions. I really like the sense of mystery in the story as well, which keeps me interested and wanting to read more.

Many thanks to Kodansha Comics and NetGalley for providing a free review copy of this manga! All opinions are completely my own.

July 24, 2026 by danimae1981 eBook Fantasy Fiction Manga Middle Grade 0

The False Vow

The Weaver Bride #2

by Lydia Gregovic

coming September 29, 2026

(4.5 / 5)

The False Vow is the 2nd book in the Weaver Bride series. I loved the first book, so I was really excited to receive an ARC of the next book. And wow, it was just as good as I was hoping it would be! Like the first book, it was very immersive with a strong sense of mystery, especially since Lovett is trying to solve a murder. Most of the characters were returning from the first book, so it was fun to see how relationships changed and grew. I liked how so many of the characters were morally gray, not completely good or bad. There were characters that I didn’t really like in the beginning that were favorites by the end, and it was something I never would have expected. Lovett could be especially frustrating at times, but for the most part I liked her as the FMC. I’ll admit, there were some times, mostly in the beginning, that the story felt a bit long, but for the most part the pacing was good. By the end I couldn’t put the book down! There’s so much more I could say about this book, but I’m afraid I’d end up giving too many spoilers. If you liked The Weaver Bride, I think you’ll really like this one too!

Thank you to Random House Children’s Books, Delacorte Press, and NetGalley for providing a free review copy of this book! All thoughts and opinions are completely my own.

July 13, 2026 by danimae1981 Fantasy Fiction Kindle Romance Young Adult 0

Accidental Assassin, Vol. 1

by Molly Ni Chéileachair

coming September 1, 2026

(4 / 5)

Accidental Assassin, Vol. 1 is a graphic novel that was fun and quick to read. It jumped right into the action and captured my attention from the beginning. I enjoyed the colorful artwork and liked that each character had a distinctive look so I could tell who was who. Bonnie and Ronan have such different personalities but it seems to work well here. I feel like Bonnie is especially relatable, and I’m interested to see how her character develops over time. The novel leaves off on a bit of a cliffhanger but also seems like a logical break point. I look forward to continuing the series to see what happens next!

Thank you to Wattpad WEBTOON Book Group and NetGalley for the free review copy of this graphic novel. All thoughts and opinions are completely my own.

June 30, 2026 by danimae1981 Comics/Graphic Novels eBook Fiction Romance Thriller 0

The Heart Trials

by J. Elle

coming September 1, 2026

(4 / 5)

I’ve been a big fan of dystopian fiction for years, so when I read the description of The Heart Trials, I knew it was a book I wanted to read. I could feel how dire things were in this world after only reading a few sentences. The descriptions throughout the story were great, especially when it came to the emotions Axira, the FMC, was feeling. It was like I could feel it too. I liked Axira as a character and really liked Caelus too. There were a lot of characters to keep track of at times, but the author did a decent job of leaving clues so I could keep them all straight. There’s quite a bit of action along the way, and it really kept me engaged with the story. It could get quite dark, brutal, and sad at times, but it all felt very fitting. I will admit that there were a few things along the way that I wish were explained better since I was a bit confused by them, but some of that could also be me overthinking it. The story ends pretty abruptly, and I still have so many questions – I would definitely like to read the sequel when it comes out.

Thank you to Penguin Young Readers Group, G.P. Putnam’s Sons Books for Young Readers, and NetGalley for providing a free review copy of The Heart Trials! All thoughts and opinions are completely my own.