Danita Reads

Too Cold for Comfort

by Nisha J. Tuli

coming November 10, 2026

(3 / 5)

Honestly, this book fell a bit short for me. It was very readable and I was able to read it quickly, but I think I would have liked a plot with more depth to it. Some of the situations that happened felt too convenient to be believable. The setting in northern Manitoba by the Hudson Bay was interesting and different. Some of my favorite scenes took place outdoors with the natural wonders, and I would have loved to have even more scenes with polar bears. I never completely connected with the main characters, even though I didn’t dislike them either. While this book wasn’t necessarily for me, I think romcom fans who are looking for an easy-to-read remote escape might enjoy this.

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

Love You to Death

by Jenna Levine

coming October 13, 2026

(3.5 / 5)

Love You to Death provides a premise that is a bit different from other books I’ve read, following a reaper and the woman he is supposed to be escorting to the afterlife. Despite the focus on death, the book also had a lot of fun and lighthearted moments, so for the most part I enjoyed it. I especially liked the reflections on humanity and life. I did find some of the scenarios were very hard to believe, even in this paranormal setting, though it was also hard to see how this story had a chance of a happy ending without some very unlikely things happening. I also felt like maybe the story lacked a bit of the depth and memorability I was looking for, but for the most part I still had fun reading it. As for the romance, at first I wasn’t feeling a whole lot of sparks between the couple, but by halfway through I was feeling it a lot more. I ended up liking them a lot as individuals and a couple.

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

September 25, 2026 by danimae1981 Fiction Kindle Romance 0

Sunderworld, Vol. 2: The Unfortunate Responsibilities of Leopold Berry

by Ransom Riggs

coming October 13, 2026

(4 / 5)

The Unfortunate Responsibilities of Leopold Berry is the second (and presumably final) book in the Sunderworld series. You’ll definitely want to read Volume 1 first, as Volume 2 continues the story, taking place a few weeks later. I ended up liking this one even more than the first book. I really like how much Leopold has grown in multiple ways since the beginning of the series. There’s a lot going on in this book that keeps it engaging and interesting. It was easy to keep reading and flying through the pages. Sometimes I was very surprised about a turn of events, even though I had been constantly making my own theories. Things do get a bit gruesome during some of the battle scenes, but it wasn’t more than I personally could handle. Things wrapped up pretty well by the end, though there are things that are left a bit open-ended. There was at least one thing I was hoping to see more of a resolution of, but it also wasn’t something that was the main focus of the story. Orville turned out to be a fun and surprising new character that I loved, and even Leopold’s dad grew on me by the end. This book is obviously written for young adults, though I was able to enjoy it despite being much older than the target audience.

Thank you to Penguin Young Readers Group, Dutton Books for Young Readers, and NetGalley for providing a free review copy of this book! All thoughts and opinions are completely my own.

September 21, 2026 by danimae1981 Fantasy Fiction Kindle Young Adult 0

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.

September 4, 2026 by danimae1981 Fiction Kindle Romance Young Adult 0

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.