Hi everyone! I can’t believe it’s already the end of December! Where has this year gone? I’m glad for cozy winter days filled with reading, hot cocoa, and festive candles! Now that I’m back in the swing of writing here is my Fall Hopefuls Wrap Up. As always, my goal was to read eight books varying different genres. I always try to prioritize these books, but I’m such a mood reader that I don’t often end up reading all of them. I read five books from my fall TBR, and I am currently reading Cackle and Legends & Lattes. (Actually, I finished both of these this week, but technically the last day of fall was December 21st, so I didn’t include them in this post.) I hope you enjoy my Fall Hopefuls Wrap Up!

Synopsis: “Olivia Prior has grown up in Merilance School for girls, and all she has of her past is her mother’s journal—which seems to unravel into madness. Then, a letter invites Olivia to come home—to Gallant. Yet when Olivia arrives, no one is expecting her. But Olivia is not about to leave the first place that feels like home, it doesn’t matter if her cousin Matthew is hostile or if she sees half-formed ghouls haunting the hallways. Olivia knows that Gallant is hiding secrets, and she is determined to uncover them. When she crosses a ruined wall at just the right moment, Olivia finds herself in a place that is Gallant—but not. The manor is crumbling, the ghouls are solid, and a mysterious figure rules over all. Now Olivia sees what has unraveled generations of her family, and where her father may have come from. Olivia has always wanted to belong somewhere, but will she take her place as a Prior, protecting our world against the Master of the House? Or will she take her place beside him?” (goodreads.com)

This was an interesting read! I was curious to know how everything connected. However, I felt like the ending was a bit anticlimactic, but I’m not sure how else it could have ended. I really enjoyed the acknowledgments at the end.

Playlist listened to on Spotify: gallant – v.e. schwab

Synopsis: “When a chance encounter sparks an unlikely bond between rival murderers Sloane and Rowan, they find something elusive―the friendship of two like-minded, pitch-black souls who just happen to enjoy killing other serial killers. From small-town West Virginia to upscale California, and from downtown Boston to rural Texas, the two hunters collide in an annual game of blood and suffering, one that pits them against the most dangerous monsters in the country. But as their friendship develops into something more, the restless ghosts left in their wake are only a few steps behind, ready to claim more than just their newfound love. Can Rowan and Sloane dig themselves out of a game of graves? Or have they finally met their match?” (goodreads.com)

Omg I throughly enjoyed this so much more than I thought I would! Considering the topics in the book it was such a fun read! I loved the twists that popped up, and Rowan and Sloane’s relationship! Can’t wait to read the next book!! (Make sure to check the trigger warnings!)

Playlist listened to on Spotify: Butcher & Blackbird

Synopsis: “It’s hard to find an employer who doesn’t ask too many questions about my past. So I thank my lucky stars that the Garricks miraculously give me a job, cleaning their stunning penthouse with views across the city and preparing fancy meals in their shiny kitchen. I can work here for a while, stay quiet until I get what I want. It’s almost perfect. But I still haven’t met Mrs Garrick, or seen inside the guest bedroom. I’m sure I hear her crying. I notice spots of blood around the neck of her white nightgowns when I’m doing laundry. And one day I can’t help but knock on the door. When it gently swings open, what I see inside changes everything… That’s when I make a promise. After all, I’ve done this before. I can protect Mrs. Garrick while keeping my own secrets locked up safe. Douglas Garrick has done wrong. He is going to pay. It’s simply a question of how far I’m willing to go…” (goodreads.com)

I really enjoyed this!! Loved all the twists and turns and I wasn’t expecting the twist at the end! I think I enjoyed the first Housemaid’s book more, but this was a good psychological thriller!

Playlist listened to on Spotify: The Housemaid’s Secret – Freida McFadden

Synopsis: “A young woman tries to heal her heartbreak by casting a spell to erase her ex from her past, but she wakes up in an alternate reality where she’s lost more than she wished for in this witty, whimsical friends-to-lovers debut. What if one little wish changed everything? When Gemma gets dumped by her long-term boyfriend, she reacts the way any reasonable twenty-eight-year-old would: by getting drunk with her sister, kooky aunt, and best friend, Dax. After one too many margaritas, they decide to perform a love- cleansing spell, which promises to erase Gemma’s ex from her memory. They follow all the instructions, including a platonic kiss from Dax to seal the deal. When Gemma wakes up, she realizes that this silly spell has worked. Not only does it seem that she never dated her ex, but the rest of her life is completely unrecognizable. The worst part: Dax has no idea who she is. To reverse the spell and get back to her old life, Gemma must convince her once-best-friend-now-near-stranger to kiss her. But as she carries out her plans, she finds herself falling for him—hard. Soon, Gemma begins to wonder whether she even wants to go back to the way things once were. What if Dax was The One all along?” (goodreads.com)

This was such a cute story and a fun interesting concept! I loved the friends to lovers take and the spice was *chefs kiss*. Plus, it was so refreshing to read a romance without the third act break up!! (Spoiler alert) However, I wish there would have been more time at the end of the book to explore Dax and Gemma, once she is back to her old life.

I didn’t end up listening to a playlist with this book.

Synopsis: “Gwyn Jones is perfectly happy with her life in Graves Glen. She, her mom, and her cousin have formed a new and powerful coven; she’s running a successful witchcraft shop, Something Wicked; and she’s started mentoring some of the younger witches in town. As Halloween approaches, there’s only one problem—Llewellyn “Wells” Penhallow. Wells has come to Graves Glen to re-establish his family’s connection to the town they founded as well as to make a new life for himself after years of being the dutiful son in Wales. When he opens up a shop of his own, Penhallow’s, just across the street from Something Wicked, he quickly learns he’s gotten more than he bargained for in going up against Gwyn. When their professional competition leads to a very personal—and very hot—kiss, both Wells and Gwyn are determined to stay away from each other, convinced the kiss was just a magical fluke. But when a mysterious new coven of witches come to town and Gwyn’s powers begin fading, she and Wells must work together to figure out just what these new witches want and how to restore Gwyn’s magic before it’s too late.” (goodreads.com)

This is the follow-up story to The Ex Hex following Gwyn Jones, Vivienne’s cousin. Overall, I enjoyed this storyline more than The Ex Hex. I loved the enemies to lovers and witchy vibes! Plus Wells and Gwen’s banter was fun! I didn’t expect the ending with how everything was connected, but just like The Ex Hex, I feel like it was a bit anticlimactic. However, I liked how this ending was resolved more than in the first book.

I didn’t end up listening to a playlist with this book.

What I’m Reading this Winter

As always, I picked eight books for my winter TBR. I decided to pick some holiday/christmasy books, winter feeling books, fantasy books, and a few that have been on my shelves for a while! Maybe this time I’ll read all of them! As I’ve said many times, I’m very much a mood reader, but here’s hoping!

I hope you enjoyed my Fall Hopefuls Wrap Up! What was your favorite book you read this fall? Have you read any of the books on my winter TBR? Check out the Books category on my home page for more book reviews and recommendations. Please give me a follow on Instagram or Facebook to stay updated about when I post! I’ve loved engaging with the Bookstagram community, so it would be great to have you join! As always, thank you for your continued support!

Take care and stay safe,

Renée