Wreck the Halls by Tessa Bailey

Can one moment change your life? Melody and Beat are struggling with that question. They met, briefly, when they were teenagers. Each the child of a famous duo that broke up just before they were born. It was at that moment that a spark was formed but neither ever followed up on it. Now, there is a producer hounding them to star in a reality show, one that will bring their mothers back together. 

I guess I didn't quite realize from the description that the two of them would be in a reality competition. Public-facing romances are not my favorite so I had a little bit of difficulty connecting to this book. Even if I didn't quite connect with the premise, I still enjoyed the writing. 

Three and a half stars

This book comes out October 3, 2023

ARC kindly provided by Avon and Harper Voyager, and NetGalley

Opinions are my own

Unicorn for a Day by Dana Simpson

Once again, there are many delights from Phoebe and Marigold as they continue their adventures. We learn about unicorn omens and why booping is considered bad for unicornkind. The two also describe why their friendship works so well and Marigold is assigned some things by Phoebe might make them insecure but it's why they love each other. Also, we get some Freaky Friday action and a book club with Marigold, Todd, and Blartbert. 

Another delightful story. Simpson combines vocabulary words, learning about the world, and whimsy that keeps me reading.

Five stars

This book comes out October 3, 2024

Phoebe and Her Unicorn #18

Follows Punk Rock Unicorn

Followed by Unicorn Crush

ARC kindly provided by Andrews McMeel Publishing and Edelweiss

Opinions are my own

Miss Flibbertigibbet and the Barbarian by Stephanie Laurens

Nicholas Cynster is looking for a horse, a specific horse, one with the sobriquet Barbarian. It has been spotted at Ainsby Grange so he heads over. His introduction to the Sommervilles is helping the younger set take down their flour balloon bombs. A little odd but it smooths his introduction to Lady Adrianna. And that is good because she is going to be the one he is dealing with in the sale of the horse as her father is... not well and her mother is spending all of her time with him. 

Addie doesn't understand the feelings she's having around this man but, when the horse disappears, she's going to have more time to figure it out as the two will be working together to figure out where the horse has gone. 

I appreciated the fact that the obvious ending (at least if you're a regular Laurens reader) was actually subverted in a way I don't remember her ever doing anymore. 

Three and a half stars

This book came out March 16, 2023

Follows The Time for Love

Followed by Miss Prim and the Duke of Wylde

Borrowed as audiobook from Hoopla

Opinions are my own

The Happiness Plan by Susan Mallery

Daphne, Heather, and Tori are friends but are in different places in their lives, dealing with different difficulties. Daphne wants to have a baby but her husband is reluctant and is throwing in her face her friends hip with a guy from work. But it's not an affair like he said. Heather broke up with her last boyfriend because she could never love him, but then why is she so jealous of his new relationship? To make her emotional state even harder, she's reconnecting with her father who left when she was a child. 

Three and a half stars

This book came out June 20, 2023

Borrowed as ebook from Libby

Opinions are my

Spy x Family, Vol. 9 by Tatsuya Endo

Anya and her "parents are still on board the princess Lorelai. Yor is battling a group of villains while Loid is trying to disarm the bombs on board. Anya is trying to help, all without letting her family know she is psychic. 

We get a story with Bond saving a number of people though Loid doesnt know what is going on.

The last story introduces Mistress Schlag. She lives to give the children a tonitrus. She expels students the fastest of any other teachers. It does give Anya a chance to put Damian in her debt when he forgets a handkerchief.

Another great addition to the series.

Four stars

This book came out April 4, 2022

Follows Vol. 8

Followed by Vol. 10

Borrowed as ebook from Libby

Opinions are my own

Business or Pleasure by Rachel Lynn Solomon

Chandler Cohen is a ghostwriter whose just been snubbed by her latest author. Like, the lifestyle influencer didn't even know her name. She has had a crush on her friend Wyatt for years and that is not going anywhere. So, she throws caution to the wind and has a one-night stand. Too bad he ends up being her next ghostwriting subject.

Finn Walsh was on a hit TV show over a decade ago. Now he's stuck in a loop of cons (conferences) which he doesn't mind doing but he really would like to get back to acting. When Chandler references something about their night not being mind blowing, he's astonished. He honestly thought he was good in bed. (Dude, he tries to open a condom package with his teeth, major no-no). While he could be all fragile about this discovery, he instead decides to ask for help. 

I did enjoy the journey these two had together. 

Four stars

This book comes out July 4, 2023

Borrowed as hard copy from the library

Opinions are my own

Bob's Burgers, Volume 1 by Mike Olsen, Rachel Hastings, Justin Hook, Chad Brewster, Jeff Drake

There are a number of short stories that could have appeared in the show including Tina stories one where Tina is a horse who is called up to join the Equestranauts. Another has her brokering peace in space between the humans and the robots through dance. She also lives in the old west as Trick Shot Tina and in fictiom through "Franken-Butt." The last of Tina's stories has her as the last human in a zombie apocalypse but they arent after ehat you might think.

Louise has her "Unsolved Mysteries and Curious Curiosities" and gets caught up in a conspiracy around school picture day. She also tracks down the person defacing school library books. Adventure (and a shantytown) bloom when she gets a freezer box. She has fun spending the day invisible after mixing chemicals at school. Finally ahe thinks there is something wrong with her beloved Boo Boo when his face is obscired on several magazine covers.

Gene gets fused to his burger suit. He is also in a "Genemadeus" musical as well as "Guys and Frogs" and "Chupacabra-cadabra". He also helps save the nerds in "Robot College."

Three stars

This book came out March 31, 2015

Followed by Bob's Burgers, Volume 2

Borrowed as ebook from Hoopla

Opinions are my own