Review | With All My Haunted Heart by Isabel Sterling

September 12, 2026 DeAnneLeave a comment

A witch hired to ethically haunt a small-town B&B instead finds herself spellbound by her non-magical client in this cozy and enchanting sapphic romance.

Book cover of 'With All My Haunted Heart' by Isabel Sterling, featuring two women embracing in front of a haunted house under a starry night sky.

Steadily losing clients to the new DIY-magic shop on the other side of town, Pippa Ainsley is getting desperate. Instead of hiring the witch to correct their magical maladies, local mundanes have been taking their chances with the cheaper—and unpredictable—crystals and herb blends. So when Pippa’s best friend hires her to inspect his newly acquired bed-and-breakfast for ghosts, she doesn’t think twice about it.

That is, until she learns that his unfairly attractive co-owner, Elle Thompson, doesn’t want Pippa to rid their business of spirits. She wants Pippa to give them an edge over the competition by haunting their B&B.

It’s the perfect challenge for Pippa’s experimental magic, but just because she could figure it out, doesn’t mean it’s a smart or safe idea. But Elle is persistent, and the financial boost could save her own business if Pippa succeeds. Soon, Pippa finds herself testing the limits of her magic… and her ability to stop the growing attraction she feels toward Elle, a woman with a painful secret of her own.

Amazon | Goodreads

Graphic featuring the word 'Review' in playful turquoise font, accompanied by a cute illustration of a cat and stacks of books.

I was not expecting this book to be as emotionally deep as it ended up being but I absolutely loved it. We follow Pippa, who’s struggling to keep her business afloat while also feeling with trauma caused by her family. She is approached by her best friend asking her to help with his new B & B, but with a twist, he and his business partner want the B & B to be haunted and Pippa is the witch they feel can help them.

Pippa struggles a lot with feeling like people actually want or value her relationship, due to trauma from her family and feelings of being cast aside/abandonment. This is a common thread that definitely affects her throughout the story. Xander and Elle definitely have their own trauma and issues that they are affected by, but it’s really Pippa’s story and her overcoming her insecurities. There is a ton of growth and emotional depth, especially in the last quarter of the book. The relationship between Pippa and Elle is a little slow burn, a little angsty especially from Pippa’s point of view, but when things start ramping up their attraction is undeniable…which of course opens its own can of worms.

I really liked how the different threads of the story resolved at the end, it really felt like Pippa and Elle both processed some of their trauma and grief and were able to be honest with each other (and a bit humble).

Thank you to Berkley for the gifted copy in exchange for an honest review. With All My Haunted Heart just came out, so make sure to pick up a copy!

Happy reading!

*Disclaimer: Amazon links included may be affiliate links that I receive a commission on if purchased through.

Review | We’ll Prescribe You Another Cat by Syou Ishida

September 7, 2026 DeAnneLeave a comment

The Kokoro Clinic for the Soul reopens in this delightful follow-up to the award-winning, bestselling Japanese novel We’ll Prescribe You a Cat.

It’s time to revisit the Kokoro Clinic for the Soul.

Though it’s a mysteriously located clinic with an uncertain address, it can always be found by those who need it. And the clinic has proven time after time that a prescribed cat has the power to heal the emotional wounds of its patients. This charming sequel introduces a new lovable cast of healing cats, from Kotetsu, a four-month-old Bengal who unleashes his boundless energy by demolishing bed linens and curtains, to tenacious and curious Shasha, who doesn’t let her small size stop her from anything, and the most lovable yet lazy cat Ms. Michiko, who is as soft and comforting as mochi.

As characters from one chapter appear as side characters in the next, we follow a young woman who cannot help pushing away the man who loves her, a recently widowed grandfather whose grandson refuses to leave his room, the family of a young woman who struggle to understand each other, and an anxious man who works at a cat shelter seeking to show how the most difficult cats can be the most rewarding. This moving, magical novel of interconnected tales proves the strength in the unfathomable bond between cats and people.

Amazon | Shop the Series | Goodreads

If one cat helps, then why not two or more?

In the second book to the We’ll Prescribe You a Cat series, we return to the Kokoro Clinic For the Soul and the interesting Dr. Nikke and his receptionist/nurse Chitose. Much in line with the first book in the series we follow a number of people who have something weighing on their hearts that they need to resolve and upon visiting the clinic they are prescribed a cat…or two. The stories in this one are not only connected to each other, but we can see some ties to the first book as well. We do learn a but more about the clinic in general, and the history of Nikke and Chitose, which I’m hoping we get even more of in the 3rd book.

Some of the stories are more heartfelt and sentimental, while others are very emotional. As with most healing fiction make sure you have some tissues handy as we follow the lives of these people and their journey intersecting with the Kokoro Clinic for the soul and their discovery of the healing nature of cats.

If you’re interested in this and other healing fiction/translated fiction titles that I recommend, make sure to check out my Amazon Storefront listing specifically for translated fiction – which includes many of my favorites!

Happy reading!

*Disclaimer: Amazon links included may be affiliate links that I receive a commission on if purchased through.

Review | We’ll Prescribe You a Cat by Syou Ishida

August 29, 2026 DeAnneLeave a comment

A cat a day keeps the doctor away….

Discover this utterly charming, vibrant celebration of the healing power of cats in the award-winning, bestselling Japanese novel that has become an international sensation.

Tucked away on the fifth floor of an old building at the end of a narrow alley in Kyoto, the Nakagyō Kokoro Clinic for the Soul can be found only by people who are struggling in their lives and who genuinely need help. The mysterious clinic offers a unique treatment to those who find their way there: it prescribes cats as medication. Patients are often puzzled by this unconventional prescription, but when they “take” their cat for the recommended duration, they witness profound transformations in their lives, guided by the playful, empathetic, and occasionally challenging yet endearing cats.

Throughout these pages, the power of the human-animal bond is revealed as a disheartened businessman finds unexpected joy in physical labor, a middle-aged man struggles to stay relevant at work and home, a young girl navigates the complexities of elementary school cliques, a hardened handbag designer seeks emotional balance, and a geisha learns to move on from the memory of her lost cat. As the clinic’s patients grapple with their inner turmoil and seek resolution, their feline companions lead them toward healing, self-discovery, and newfound hope.

Amazon | Shop the Series | Goodreads

What if being prescribed a cat could help resolve whatever is troubling your heart?

I know a lot of the currently being translated Japanese and Korean fiction are very similar in some ways, often told in connected vignettes or stories, often with themes of turmoil, grief or healing – but I have loved pretty much every one I’ve read, and this was no different.

In this first installment to the We’ll Prescribe You a Cat series, we get introduced to the Kokoro Clinic for the Soul and its quirky doctor and nurse. When people visit, each with their own issues or maladies, they are prescribed a cat for a short period of time. What follows is resolution, healing and more, depending on their specific complaint.

This one takes a bit to unfold, leaving you guessing if there’s something supernatural/mystical going on, or if this is just an interesting mental health clinic that prescribes cats. By the end of the book we certainly have some answers and it definitely left me wondering what will happen in subsequent books. The writing flowed wonderfully, which is even more impressive considering it is a translation. I was probably more emotional about the stories than some would be, given recent events with my own cat, but if you’re a cat lover this is definitely one that will pull at the heartstrings.

The second book in the series is already out and the 3rd is coming out in early September, so look for reviews of both of them soon as well!

Happy reading!

Review | The Ghost of What Remains by Maeve Garner

July 15, 2026 DeAnneLeave a comment

Sometimes the dead fight just as hard as the living to keep the past buried…especially at Jasper Lake…

Rhys McClaine doesn’t believe in ghosts. Or in wasting his time. So, overseeing a supernatural investigation at his family’s lakeside mansion wasn’t something he looked forward to. Until he met the beautiful paranormal psychologist his great-aunt hired and everything changed…

Phoebe Davenport has dedicated her life to giving the dead a voice. But the living? They’re far more mysterious. Especially him. Rhys is infuriating. Brilliant. Confident. Insufferably handsome. Working with him should be impossible. So why does it feel so…right?

Every secret they uncover draws them closer to the truth and to each other. But when love collides with ghosts that won’t rest, will survival cost Rhys and Phoebe their happily ever after?

Amazon | Goodreads

I love reading books that have some aspect of ghosts or haunted houses, so I was excited to get to this one. I will say, I do wish I had read the first two books first so I had more of that foundation to the story, but it was still really enjoyable.

Maeve Garner’s writing is very atmospheric and lyrical, sometimes this can drag down the pace but I felt it was really well done in this case. It also adds to the overall feel of the book and lent well to the paranormal/supernatural elements.

This book was a wonderful combination of romance, ghost story and lots of emotional moments. The romance was really well balanced, great instant attraction without being insta-love and a slow burn that I thoroughly enjoyed.

I’m hoping I’ll have time to go back and read the trilogy as a whole so I can see how all the stories connect and work together.

Happy reading!

*Disclaimer: Amazon links included may be affiliate links that I receive a commission on if purchased through.

Series Review | The Queens of Éire by Christy Healy

June 22, 2026 DeAnneLeave a comment

For fans of Hannah Whitten and Rebecca Ross, Unbound is a gender-bent reimagining of the classic tale of a monstrous beast and the beauty determined to tame it, set against the lush backdrop of Irish mythology and folklore.

Rozlyn Ó Conchúir is used to waiting—waiting for the king, her father, to relent and allow her to leave the solitude of her tower; waiting for the dreaded and mysterious Beast of Connacht to at last be defeated; waiting for the arrival of the man destined to win her heart and break the terrible curse placed on her and her land. So when she meets Jamie—a charming and compelling suitor—she allows herself to hope that her days of solitude and patience are over at long last.

But as she finds her trust betrayed—and newer, more sinister threats arising—Rozlyn learns that some curses are better left unbroken …

Amazon | Goodreads

Fairytale retellings and mythology are definitely two of my buzzwords/phrases, so I was eager to get the chance to review the Queens of Éire series, starting with Unbound – which is very Beauty and the Beast-esque. I really enjoyed the dual POV and different perspectives. It’s very fairytale coded, but I really enjoyed the inclusion of Celtic mythology and the underlying messages. There were some parts of the book where pacing felt a little off, perhaps a little slow, but not to the point where I didn’t want to continue. Overall Healy’s writing was nice to read, definitely good atmosphere here and there. The story is primarily focused on Rozlyn and Jamie, so there isn’t a lot of sidetracking with other characters – but there’s still plenty of twisty turns.

Riona Ó Conchúir has known death her whole life. The mysterious lord of death has tormented her for years, stealing away the souls of all those she has loved since childhood, demanding that she come and serve him in his shadowy realm, but she has always resisted – until now.

When her daughter falls ill with an incurable disease, Riona at last answers the lord of death’s call and ventures into the hidden realm of the sídhe to offer herself as a servant to him in exchange for her daughter’s life. But when he demands that she use the divine magic of her blood to find three legendary objects of power that were once wielded by the gone gods themselves, Riona soon realizes that she will be forced to make an impossible choice:

Her daughter’s life, or the realm of Éire itself.

Amazon | Goodreads

In this sequel (it can be read as a standalone but benefits from having read the first installment first) we follow Riona, who is Rozlyn’s granddaughter. She was definitely more of an unlikeable character while her counterpart – Conor – was easy to adore. The mythology/folklore in this story were really well done and I found myself really getting sucked into all of those elements. Even though Riona is a little harsh, there are certainly reasons for it that are explained and it’s nice to see how she and Conor interact throughout the story. Loved that there was some medical/chronic illness rep in this one especially – it’s always nice to see in any genre. I definitely feel like any of the pacing issues that I may have felt with the first book were more ironed out in this one, definitely more flowing prose that just kept me glued to the book.

Rory Ó Conchúir has always known that she was destined for war. Her deadly gifts, the unwanted inheritance of her ancestor, the Mórrígan, can only be wielded as a weapon of destruction and doom. For years, she would not allow herself to be used as such, instead choosing to live far across the sea, refusing to regret what she has left behind in order to do so…until the fateful day that she learns of the price she has paid for her peace.

Niall Ó Flannagáin, the young king of Connacht, was never meant for war — that has always been his half-sister, Rory’s, role. But now he finds himself threatened with a foreign invasion and the ruination of the realm, without her aid. In desperation, he turns to a powerful enemy as an ally, his only hope to unite the provinces against the foreign armies gathering even now to destroy the land he has sworn to protect.

Locke MacMurchada, the son of the most hated traitor in all of Éire, owes a debt that he knows he can never pay. But when the opportunity to propose a political marriage with the murderous Rory Ó Conchúir arises, he seizes the chance to protect what is left of both his people, as well as the legacy which his father ripped to shreds…so long as she doesn’t kill him first.

When the day of doom at last arrives, the fates of all three royals – the cursed princess, the young king, and the traitor prince – become inextricably woven together, forcing them to face new threats and old enemies, hoping to forge a stronger Éire from the ashes of the old.

Amazon | Goodreads

Oof this one was an emotional roller coaster and such as fantastic third installment! I feel like the first two (even they can all be read as standalones) really set up a good foundation, but this book still had a ton of great world building and set up built in. There was so much morally grey behavior and characters in this one, so if that’s your thing you will probably eat this one up. Also, this is very much a slow burn and it does burn. Really this one was beautifully built up to and a great third book in the series.

Happy reading!

*Disclaimer: Amazon links included may be affiliate links that I receive a commission on if purchased through.

Review | If We Cannot Go at the Speed of Light by Kim Cho-yeop

June 6, 2026 DeAnneLeave a comment

Meet the alien species that put the humanity into human beings
Discover the fate of Slefonia III once warp travel became obsolete
Visit the Mind Library to commune with the dead

Kim Choyeop became an instant literary sensation in Korea with her debut short story collection. Each of these bitesize speculative masterpieces represents a journey into the unknown, guided by a writer blessed with a boundless imagination.

From alternative futures to distant alien planets, in the company of scientists, space explorers and ordinary citizens in extraordinary situations, Kim Choyeop revels in making the impossible seem not only possible but somehow inevitable.

Each story focuses on an specific issue of discrimination against women or other marginalised groups, adding a mind-bending twist to hold a mirror to modern society and its everyday iniquities.

Translated from the Korean by Anton Hur

Amazon | Goodreads

Sci-fi is a genre I’m still very much dipping my toes in and figuring out what works for me – so when I saw a sci-fi anthology that was translated from Korean I definitely wanted to pick it up. The stories in this collection I felt take a look at the human condition, and how the human condition may evolve depending on how technology and the world advances. What if instead of burying and cremating people when their dead, they instead have their minds scanned and catalogued, to be kept in a library where family and friends could visit and essentially have a conversation with them. Would they be conversing with their actual soul/consciousness or just a simulation built from their memories? What would happen to humanity if someone figured out how to manipulate genetic code from conception to ensure they were for lack of a better word – perfect?

Each story is a different lens looking at different components of society and humanity and what some of the individuals in these futures might experience. It’s definitely a collection to sit with and absorb, not something to fly through. There is a depth in the writing that takes time to really take in and it was a wonderful experience. I’d love to see more of Kim Cho-yeop’s writing in the future.

Happy reading!

If We Cannot Go at the Speed of Light review

*Disclaimer: Amazon links included may be affiliate links that I receive a commission on if purchased through.

Review | The Backup Plan by K. Bromberg

May 28, 2026 DeAnneLeave a comment

Sometimes love isn’t part of the plan. Sometimes it’s the backup plan.

Lucas Hale built his entire life around football.
The franchise quarterback.
The GOAT.
The man everyone on his team counts on.

Recovering from a devastating shoulder injury, the veteran quarterback signs with the Lone Star Rebels for one last chance to prove he still belongs in the league.

There’s just one problem—Dr. Emery Porter.

The Rebels’ new injury specialist isn’t impressed by Lucas’s charm—or his determination to push through pain.

She’s seen the scans.
She knows the damage.
And if she clears him to play, it might mean destroying his career for good.

But the more time they spend together, the more dangerous everything becomes.
For Emery’s career.
For Lucas’s future.
And the harder it becomes to remember where professional boundaries end—and where love begins.

Because if Lucas keeps playing, he could lose everything.
And if Emery stops him . . . she might lose the man she’s fallen for.

Sometimes the biggest risk isn’t losing the game.
It’s losing what you never thought you wanted.

Amazon | Goodreads

Emery is starting over in a new city, trying to reclaim her life after her marriage ended. Lucas is also starting over, trying to salvage his career in a new city, with a new team and a shoulder that has probably been injured too many times.

From their first meeting, who they are as people becomes pretty clear. They have a chance meeting, not knowing who the other is, and then find out later that they are going to be part of each other’s daily life in a work capacity. The attraction is for the most part pretty immediate, so the yearning as they come to terms with their feelings as well as war with if they can risk a relationship considering they both work for the Lone Star Rebels is pretty intense.

Watching their developing friendship and then romantic relationship while both working through their own problems is great, and further enhanced by the fact that we get POVs from both of them. Lucas doesn’t know who he is if he can no longer play football and Emery is fighting her own battles to cement herself with the team and keep her dream job. Their desires clash when questions arise regarding Lucas’ shoulder and Emery has to decide what to reveal to the coaches and trainers.

I appreciated that while there was definitely conflict and some difficulties faced by them, they worked their way through them and became stronger. Their chemistry and banter were top notch and had me laughing.

I’d love to check out the upcoming books in the series as well as I felt there were definitely some side characters I could see getting their own stories.

Happy reading!

*Disclaimer: Amazon links included may be affiliate links that I receive a commission on if purchased through.

Review | Shards of Silence by Brian Lee Young

May 27, 2026 DeAnneLeave a comment

In his first YA novel, award-winning author Brian Lee Young (Diné) bridges the generational divide between a Navajo teen at an elite prep school and his great-grandmother’s experience at a federal boarding school for Indigenous students. The book is an eye-opening call for community healing and a profound coming-of-age story.

Even if it hurts to leave behind his friends and family in Navajo, New Mexico—especially his great-grandmother, Mildred—Derrick knows his scholarship to an elite East Coast boarding school is a once-in-a-lifetime opportunity.

Sagefield Academy is totally different from life on the rez: His new classmates vacation in Europe and take study drugs. Derrick wants to stick to caffeine, but handling sports, school, and a twenty-page term paper, all while dodging comments about his hair and heritage, feels straight-up impossible.

Back home, Másání Mildred’s health is fading quickly. On the phone, she begs Derrick to leave Sagefield. When he realizes her fear comes from her time in federal Native boarding schools, he knows he’s finally found the term paper theme he believes carrying her voice into the future.

Derrick will need to shatter a steadfast generational silence to untangle his great-grandmother’s memories—though her story might change him, and his family, forever.

Amazon | Goodreads

I am always happy to see books with representation of other cultures or books that tackle subject that in a lot of ways today’s society is trying to ignore or bury. So much of history is being intentionally buried or erased, so stories like this need to be told – especially in the young adult and middle grade spaces.

We follow Derrick, who has had to relocate because he got the opportunity to attend an East Coast boarding school – a far cry from Navajo, New Mexico. Add onto that the pressure of keeping up in school, worries regarding his family members and the shadows of the past regarding Native boarding schools.

I do feel like this read a little young for the way it was marketed and there were some areas where the story could have gone more in depth to give Derrick and his story more dimension. It felt like it was almost there in some areas.

Happy reading!

*Disclaimer: Amazon links included may be affiliate links that I receive a commission on if purchased through.

Review | Hart & Souls by Lisa Schmid

March 28, 2026 DeAnneLeave a comment

After getting bullied at Figueroa Elementary, Stix Hart wants nothing more than to fly below the radar at middle school. He’s heard all the horror stories, but none involved ghosts.

On Stix’s first day of sixth grade, his anxiety is off the charts. It doesn’t help when he spots a kid who reminds him of his old bully, Xander Mack. Soon after, he encounters two other students who take a keen interest in him. He quickly learns the spooky truth—the trio are lost souls in need of a solid. When the ghosts tell him they’ve been stuck in middle school for decades, it’s up to Stix to figure out how to help these not-so-normal new friends.

Solving this paranormal predicament will take some serious sleuthing and a tremendous act of courage. Can Stix solve this mystery and help these spirits move on before it’s too late?

Amazon | Goodreads

Stix is starting 6th grade/middle school at a new school where he may or may not have classes with people he knows, he’s struggling with anxiety and panic attacks and worried about bullies. Add on to all that the fact that he meets three ghosts of students past, who need his help. Sounds like a doozy of a first day, doesn’t it?

I really enjoyed Stix’s journey through this book, not just in his endeavor to help the three ghosts he encounters, but also learning how to have his own agency and navigate his anxiety and middle school all at once. We see a lot of the struggles that many kids face when going into a new grade or a new school and seeing Stix deal with his anxiety and panic attacks, also learning to come more to grips with things like friends growing apart and the awkwardness of the age.

The three ghosts he meets have their own stories and issues, so it’s great to see Stix bond with them and help them with their unfinished business. The moments where he’s trying to converse with them and other people happen upon him are adorably awkward and require quick thinking on his part. As it’s a middle grade read it is very quick, but wraps up really well with everyone’s story feeling complete.

Happy reading!

*Disclaimer: Amazon links included may be affiliate links that I receive a commission on if purchased through.

Review | Meet Me at Blue Hour by Sarah Suk

March 27, 2026 DeAnneLeave a comment

Eternal Sunshine of the Spotless Mind meets Past Lives in this gripping, emotional story of two childhood friends navigating the fallout of one erasing their memory of the other, from acclaimed author Sarah Suk.

Seventeen-year-old Yena Bae is spending the summer in Busan, South Korea, working at her mom’s memory-erasing clinic. She feels lost and disconnected from people, something she’s felt ever since her best friend, Lucas, moved away four years ago without a word, leaving her in limbo.

Eighteen-year-old Lucas Pak is also in Busan for the summer, visiting his grandpa, who was recently diagnosed with Alzheimer’s disease. But he isn’t just here for a regular visit—he’s determined to get his beloved grandpa into the new study running at the clinic, a trial program seeking to restore lost memories.

When Yena runs into Lucas again, she’s shocked to see him and even more shocked to discover that he doesn’t remember a thing about her. He’s completely erased her from his memories, and she has no idea why.

As the two reconnect, they unravel the mystery and heartache of what happened between them all those years ago—and must now reckon with whether they can forge a new beginning together.

Amazon | Goodreads

In this book we follow Yena, who is the daughter of the famous Dr. Bey who discovered memory removal technology. By using specific sounds associated with memories they are able to remove memories that people wish removed. As you can imagine this is an exciting technology but also controversial. Yena is spending the summer in Korea with her mother to hopefully spend some time with her, but also perhaps find some direction for herself. Dr. Bey is on the edge of a breakthrough, starting a study to see if they can use the same technology to restore memories that have been lost – so as you can guess, finding time to spend with Yena isn’t the easiest.

We also follow Lucas, who was Yena’s childhood best friend until he and his family moved away four years prior without a word. Lucas is in Korea visiting his uncle and grandfather, who is suffering from Alzheimer’s. He’s heard about Dr. Bey’s new study and desperately wants to get his grandfather into it.

What follows is an incredibly deep story that asks important questions regarding whether or not memories should be tampered with, how their removal could very well cause a ripple effect among those close to the individual who had memories removed and more. Combine this with a lot of talks regarding Alzheimer’s as we see the struggle that Lucas’ grandfather has with his diagnosis, and the pain Lucas feels as he witnesses that struggle. As the story unfolds we do find out why Lucas’ family left without a word and why Yena hasn’t heard from him since and get to see them rebuild the relationship they used to have while wrestling with their personal dilemmas.

I was not expecting this story to be as emotional as it was, both in the discussion of memory loss, but Yena’s relationship with her parents and her relationship with Lucas. There are a lot of hard truths about families and relationships that just go straight to the heart.

Happy reading!