Cover2CoverBlog: June 2026

Jun 11, 2026

Recent Reads: Throttled by Lauren Asher

Throttled by Lauren Asher

Series: Dirty Air #1
Publisher: Bloom Books
Publication Date: May 7, 202

https://www.goodreads.com/book/show/27405327-pop-manga-coloring-book?from_search=true

https://www.amazon.com/Pop-Manga-Coloring-Book-Beautiful/dp/0399578471?ie=UTF8&SubscriptionId=1MGPYB6YW3HWK55XCGG2&camp=1789&creative=9325&creativeASIN=0399578471&linkCode=as2&redirect=true&ref_=x_gr_w_bb&tag=x_gr_w_bb-20

Format: paperback
Source: Bought/ own

Rating:

Goodreads Synopsis:

Maya
Noah Slade is a Formula 1 legend in the making.
Focused. Unapproachable. Ruthless on and off the track.
A man with walls higher than the Grand Canyon.
And my brother's new teammate.
I want more of the prince who disguises himself as the villain.
My only issue? He's considered off-limits.

Noah
Maya Alatorre is a forbidden temptation.
An ambitious post-grad I should stay far away from.
And chaos wrapped with a bow.
We're a ticking time bomb about one wrong move away from exploding.
I want to trip the wire, detonating together in passion and pain.
Because in the end, all's fair in lust and war.

Throttled is a steamy standalone romance in the Dirty Air world. Recommended for mature audiences.

Review:

So I guess my 'midlife crisis' is F1... I have been loving everything about it. Last Fall when in Vegas for a vacation we were there to watch some of the practice before leaving the city and it was so cool. Since I have been watching all the races and the Netflix show Drive to Survive ... and now there are books!

Throttled is an F1 romance that follows Noah a moody F1 driver and Maya, the sister of his teammate that he should not get involved with but just can't help it.

This book is definitely not going to be for everyone. At times it was a little cringe, and I wouldn't necessarily say the writing was amazing. That said, I had a really good time with it and absolutely flew through the pages.

Noah is a total man-whore, and Maya is often treated like the innocent little sister because of her overbearing brother. The thing is, she's a grown woman capable of making her own decisions, which made some of the protective behavior around her a little frustrating at times. The brother felt a bit overbearing at times, and I think I needed a little more development from him for some of his actions to feel fully justified, but it came together well enough in the end.

What really worked for me was the tension and the he-falls-first dynamic, which is one of my favorite romance tropes. Watching Noah drive himself crazy over Maya while trying to figure himself out was fun and funny. The characters were entertaining, hilarious, and easy to root for. I also appreciated the setup for future romances within the friend group.

Noah is cocky and charming, and it was satisfying to see Maya refuse to immediately fall for his usual tricks. Their chemistry carried the story, and despite its flaws, this was a fun, addictive romance that kept me turning pages. If you enjoy lots of tension, a MMC who falls first, and a group of characters you want to spend more time with, this one is worth picking up.

Jun 8, 2026

Recent Reads: Mate by Ali Hazelwood

Mate by Ali Hazelwood

Series: Bride #2
Publisher: Berkley
Publication Date: October 7, 2025

Format: Audiobook
Source: Bought/Own

Rating:

Goodreads Synopsis:

A Human hybrid and an Alpha Were claw against the bonds of fate in the highly anticipated companion novel to the New York Times bestselling Bride.

Serena Paris is orphaned, pack-less, and one of a kind. Coming forward as the first Human-Were hybrid was supposed to heal a centuries-long rift between species. Instead, it made her a target, prey to the ruthless political machinations between Weres, Vampyres, and Humans. With her enemies closing in on her, she has only one option left—if he’ll have her.

As Alpha of the Northwest pack, Koen Alexander commands obedience. His authority is so absolute, only a fool would threaten his mate. It doesn’t matter if Serena doesn’t reciprocate his feelings, nothing will stop him from keeping her safe.

But power-hungry Vampyres and Weres are not the only threats chasing Serena. Sooner or later, her past is bound to catch up with her—and Koen might be the only thing standing between her and total annihilation…

Review:

I needed to take a break from books on my review pile for a bit to make reading feel like less of a 'to do' and an Ali Hazelwood romance is seemingly always there for me to do this with. I love all of her books, there is just something about the way that she writes banter and builds tension that has me either not putting the book down OR thinking about it excessively until I can pick it up again. Mate was no different.

When I read Bride I was fully enthralled and I have since also re-read it, which I normally don't do. I loved it again the 2nd time. I was honestly dreading reading Mate because I didn't want to be disappointed... thank goodness it was good. It wasn't Bride good, but it scratched the itch in other ways good.

One of my favorite things about this story was the dynamic between Serena and Koen. Their relationship develops in a way that feels both inevitable and frustrating. Serena, is unsure about being a hybrid and what that means for her and believing she may be running out of time, carries a vulnerability that makes it easy to root for her. Meanwhile, Koen's realization that he has a mate at all, and his attempts to keep his distance, creates an emotional push and pull that keeps the tension simmering and building through the book.

My other love.. the banter! Their conversations were funny, or had an awkwardness to the point of cringe, and but the genuine affection for each other was so cute. There were plenty of moments that made me laugh, mixed with just enough secondhand embarrassment to make the characters feel real and relatable. Beneath all of that was a constant undercurrent of longing, with both characters fighting feelings they never expected to have. The result is a romance that feels both earned and rushed.

As the story progresses, the tension only intensifies. Even once Serena and Koen finally begin giving in to their feelings, the emotional and physical chemistry continues to build rather than disappear. Ali does a great job of making every interaction feel charged, leading to a payoff that is equal parts romantic, emotional, and undeniably spicy.

If you're looking for a paranormal romance that delivers plenty of steam without sacrificing character development or connection, this one absolutely delivers. The audiobook narration was also so well done, bringing both characters to life in a way that made it hard to put down/ turn off.

Jun 5, 2026

Recent Reads: Two Can Play by Ali Hazelwood

Two Can Play by Ali Hazelwood
Publisher: Berkley
Publication Date: February 10, 2026

Format: Paperback
Source: Bought/ Own

Rating:

Goodreads Synopsis:

An enemies-to-lovers spicy novella set in the world of video gaming from the New York Times bestselling author of Problematic Summer Romance—now in print and ebook!

Viola Bowen has the chance of a lifetime: to design a video game based on her all-time favorite book series. The only problem? Her co-lead is Jesse F-ing Andrews, aka her archnemesis. Jesse has made it abundantly clear over the years that he wants nothing to do with her—and Viola has no idea why.

When their bosses insist a wintery retreat is the perfect team-building exercise, Viola can’t think of anything worse. Being freezing cold in a remote mountain lodge knowing Jesse is right next door? No, thank you.

But as the snow piles on, Viola discovers there’s more to Jesse than she knew, and heat builds in more ways than one.

Review:

I really enjoy Ali Hazelwood's books and this one delivers exactly the kind of romance that I was looking to read. As someone who can never resist enemies-to-lovers, STEM romances, forced proximity, and communication breakdown tropes, this story felt like such a good fit.

Despite its shorter length, the novella never felt rushed. The banter between Viola and Jesse was fantastic, and their dynamic kept me engaged. I enjoyed watching Viola gradually learn more about Jesse and uncover the reasons behind their complicated relationship. Their time together from reluctant co-leads to partners who genuinely support one another was so good.

One of my favorite aspects of the story was that Viola and Jesse began coming together as teammates before their relationship turned romantic. Their shared passion for the project and commitment to their teams added depth to their relationship.

Viola was a good FMC. She is stubborn, emotionally honest, and unafraid to express how she feels, which made her easy to read and be frustrated alongside. I appreciated that she was willing to confront difficult situations rather than avoid them.

I also loved how the novella added in some glimpses of Viola and Jesse's past interactions. Those moments added context to their connections and helped the story feel much larger than its page count. In many ways, it had the emotional depth and character development of a full-length novel packed into a novella.

Overall, this was such a great read, with perfectly balanced humor, romance, and heart. If you're a fan of Ali Hazelwood's STEM romances, enemies-to-lovers tension, and forced proximity stories with excellent banter, this novella is absolutely worth picking up.

Jun 4, 2026

JIAM 2026 Audiobook Challenge

It’s here! Grab your audiobooks and join us in celebrating Audiobook Month with the JIAM 2026 Audiobook Challenge hosted by Caffeinated Reviewer & That’s What I’m Talking About.

Find the official rules on the sign-up post. Then start listening and enter for a chance to win The Murder of Crows Audible trilogy from Chris Tullbane and a Chirp Gift Card!

Challenges
Complete at least one challenge to enter giveaway. See rules listed below.
Finish/Start a series in a month. (listen to at least 3 audiobooks in a series)
Love your Library (listen to 3 audiobooks from your local library)
Let there be Monsters (listen to 3 audiobooks with monsters/paranormal elements)
Going the Distance (listen to 3 audiobooks over 12 hours each)
Tackle your Audiobook TBR Pile (listen to 3 audiobooks you already own)
Be sure you’ve signed up: 2026 JIAM Audiobook Challenge Sign-up

Rules
Challenge runs from June 1, 2026 through June 30th. The giveaway will close on July 2, 2026. Winners will be announced on July 3, 2026. Start-up post, prize details and giveaway will be posted on June 1, 2026.
To enter, you must complete one challenge. You can complete more than one for extra entries, but no audiobook title can be used twice.
Audiobooks must be a minimum of 4 hours.
Audiobooks count towards your 2026 Audiobook Challenge goals and can be used for other challenges.
Declare your intentions by posting a blog post or sharing on social media. Link back to this sign-up post. Let’s get everyone listening in June! #JIAMAudiobookChallenge
Sign up below and link to your declaration post, blog, social media site, or Goodreads. Wherever you plan to track your progress. (be sure to friend hosts, so we can see your results)

I am going to try for - Tackle your Audiobook TBR Pile (listen to 3 audiobooks you already own), and listen to at least these three

Jun 3, 2026

Early Reader Review: The Night King’s Court by Elisa A. Bonnin

Source: From the publisher in exchange for an honest review. This in no way alters my opinion or review.

The Night King's Court by Elisa Bonnin
Publisher: HarperCollins
Publication Date: April 28, 2026

Format: Finished copy from the Publisher

Rating:

Goodreads Synopsis:

Caraval meets Flowerheart in this rich and immersive cozy fantasy, where dazzling magic, lush descriptions, and a sweet sapphic romance cast an irresistible spell.

Ida’s father went missing without a trace seven years ago, last seen at the court of the enigmatic Night King, which comes to life only after dark with magic and revelry.

So when a position opens up for a new court Luminaire, Ida doesn’t hesitate. She inherited her gift for enchantments from her father—and with this position, she’ll use it to find him again.

Ida is swept into the king’s collection of magical beings, those who bring light and entertainment to the Court’s midnight gatherings—and swept away by the Court, where faerie gardens edge into underwater masquerades, dreaming revels offer blissful escapes, and life is a mesmerizing euphoria.

Yet a sinister thread interrupts Ida’s nights of decadence. Memories go missing, the castle’s magic takes on a malevolence, and Ida can’t seem to leave the boundaries of the court itself.

Enlisting the help of the king’s breathtakingly beautiful daughter Lenore, Ida must unravel the castle’s secrets… before this enchanted world destroys her.

Review:

This cover and synopsis immediately pulled me in, sadly the book fell a bit short of expectations but offered up some really nice world building and a cool magic system along the way.

The strongest aspect of the book was magic - of the characters and the world. Ida our FMC has candle magic to create immersive illusions for the royal court, and those scenes were vivid, atmospheric, and fit so well into this world overall. But while the world feels exotic, it is also super eerie, with a mystical intensity that kept me invested even when other elements didn't fully land for me.

The story follows Ida as she takes over her missing father's position as a Luminaire of the royal court while secretly trying to uncover what happened to him. There's plenty of tension throughout, from court politics and the king's mysterious motives to the shifting dynamics among Ida and her new friends. There was always enough intrigue to keep the plot moving.

That said, I struggled with the characters. In a setting that felt so rich and encompassing, many of the people inhabiting it felt surprisingly flat. I never became deeply attached to the characters, and while the synopsis highlights a sapphic romance, I'm not sure I would have recognized that relationship as romantic without knowing it beforehand. The emotional development just wasn't strong enough for me in that way.

I also found some of the larger worldbuilding ideas and themes a little underdeveloped. There were interesting concepts surrounding the magic and the forces holding the world together, but several of those ideas felt glossed over in order to get to the ending. I wanted more exploration of the implications and history behind what was happening, I guess.

Overall, this was an atmospheric YA fantasy with a unique magic system, a compelling mystery, and a wonderfully eerie court setting. While the characters and some of the thematic development left me wanting more, the immersive world and constant sense of mystery made it an enjoyable read.

Jun 1, 2026

May 2026 Recap

Hello Readers, Bloggers, and Awesome people!

Going to attempt to bring back the Monthly re-cap. It has been a while since I have had the time and energy to do it. Here is my best attempt... and I am trying to do a few challenges so those notes are here too.

~~Books I Read in May~~