Sophie Reads YA: 2025

Stacking the Shelves: November 15th 2025

10:00

ARC Review: Suddenly Mine by Katie Evergreen

10:00

Suddenly Mine
Series: None
Author: Katie Evergreen
Published October 6th 2025 by Choc Lit

Goodreads Synopsis
This Christmas, love is the best surprise of all . . .

Merry Sinclair used to adore Christmas — until heartbreak ruined her holiday spirit. Working in New York's famously festive Carroll’s Department Store over the holidays is not helping matters. Until she meets new employee Christian, whose easy confidence and deep chestnut eyes make her heart skip.

Estranged heir to a global empire, Christian Carroll hasn’t set foot inside his family’s store in years. But when his father tells him the company’s struggling, he reluctantly agrees to return, on one condition — he’ll work undercover as a janitor.

The last thing he needs is a distraction in the form of the charming and quirky store-greeter he can’t seem to stay away from.

As Merry and Christian grow closer, their connection becomes undeniable. But when Christian’s true identity is revealed, Merry must choose — can she trust him with her heart, or will past heartaches keep them from finding their own place under the mistletoe?
Goodreads

Review
I received an Advance Reader Copy from the publisher, via NetGalley. This in no way impacted on my view.

When Merry Sinclair took the job working at the famous Caroll's Department Store, she thought it would be perfect. After all, she loves Christmas - or at least, she did - and nowhere does it better than at Caroll's. But the store is struggling, and staff are leaving in their droves. The only shining light is the new janitor, Christian, who she can't keep away from, and who is reigniting her Christmas spirit. But, he's leaving, and he's keeping secrets too.

This is my first Christmas book of the year, but it won't be my last. Merry and Christian had such a great love story, and though he was hiding the fact he was a Caroll, and heir to the store, he showed Merry his true self. There were some moments of angst which could've been taken out of the plot, but I do somewhat understand why they were added to pass the story along.

Dates Read:
October 18-19, 2025

Rating
3 Stars

4 Stars

ARC Review: Never Fake Date Your Roommate by Elizabeth Davis

10:00

Never Fake Date Your Roommate
Series: None
Author: Elizabeth Davis
Published June 19th 2025 by Headline Eternal

Goodreads Synopsis
Nick doesn't need more drama. Leaving behind LA and his old life as a TV star, he's happy in a small, cosy town working as a librarian. Until chaotic photographer Val arrives on his doorstep, desperate for somewhere to live.

Sharing a house with the human version of a hurricane will be the death of Nick. He's a put-together neat-freak, and Val is a loud, repeat offender of leaving cereal bowls under her bed. Being the most beautiful woman Nick has ever seen just makes things worse!

When Nick is forced to appear on a dating show, and Val is booked to shoot her ex's wedding, they both need a fake relationship. Fast. Who's better than a roommate you can't stand? There's no way Nick and Val will fall in love, they're match made in hell. But the line between love and hate is dangerously thin...
Goodreads

Review
I received an Advance Reader Copy from the publisher, via NetGalley. This in no way impacted on my view.

Former child actor Nick left Hollywood behind and is now happily settled in a small Minnesota town, as a local librarian. He's a homebody, who likes to keep to himself, so when his boss convinces him to allow the chaotic and beautiful newbie, Val, to move in, it's a big shock. But then his mom gets in touch, demanding he steps into the limelight once again and be the lead in a new reality dating show. Having a live-in roommate who can pretend to be his girlfriend is perfect, right?

I really enjoyed this book, and couldn't put it down until I was finished. Seeing the way that Nick and Val - who perfectly embodied the phrase 'chalk and cheese' - fell for each other was both hilarious and emotional. Val was a bit of a whirlwind, messy and chaotic, and due to a mistake, had basically been run out of the city and her photography business is in turmoil. She gets a new contract with an Instagram star, to shoot everything from the engagement photos up until the wedding, and anything else that Autumn can think of in the meantime. The only catch is that Autumn's fiancee is Val's ex-situationship, Cal, and he really has an issue with Val being the photographer, and her being in a 'relationship' with Nick. The Cal story line is the main reason why this book couldn't be 5 stars, because I had serious issues with how he took advantage of both Val and Autumn, and how he cause issues for Val and Nick's relationship.

Dates Read:
August 18, 2025

Rating
4 Stars

November

Stacking the Shelves: November 8th 2025

10:00

3 Stars

ARC Review: Love Overdue by Ali Berg and Michelle Kalus

10:00

Love Overdue
Series: None
Author: Ali Berg and Michelle Kalus
Published July 1st 2025 by Allen & Unwin

Goodreads Synopsis
Lauren Green thinks her first love story is shelved for good—until life decides to write a surprise chapter. A sexy, quirky rom-com for fans of Emily Henry.

The last time Lauren Green saw Jamie Sultana, they were seventeen and he'd just shredded her heart like a bad first draft.

Back then, Lauren was a frizzy-haired bookworm who dreamed of becoming the next Margaret Atwood. Jamie was the impossibly charming boy who thought Margaret Atwood was a type of cheese. Still, they were hopelessly in love. Until, out of nowhere, they weren't.

Twenty years later, Lauren is the vice principal of North Caulfield Primary. She's buried her old heartache and big, bold writing dreams under a stack of responsibilities and big, bold colourful dresses.

So when she calls a meeting with notorious truant April Reidman's absent parents, the last person she expects to walk into her office is Jamie. Now, the scruffy teenager has morphed into an impeccably dressed Kit Harington lookalike - but there's no mistaking those dazzling blue eyes.

As if things couldn't get any worse, he's acting like he has no idea who she is!

Lauren's determined to quickly resolve April's behavioural issues and be done with Jamie for good, but the universe has other plans . . .
Goodreads

Review
I received an Advance Reader Copy from the publisher, via NetGalley. This in no way impacted on my view.

Vice Principal Lauren Green has enough on her plate with dealing with an inadequate principal and the usual stresses of working in education. So the fact that the father of one of her more challenging students just happens to be the man who broke her heart 20 years ago, and who seemingly can’t remember her, is just the icing on the cake. Lauren needs to work her magic to ensure that April stoppers truanting and begins to enjoy school again, while also fighting with her rekindling feelings for Jamie Sultana.

I read this book in one sitting, and couldn’t put it down. I really enjoyed the way that there were flashbacks to Lauren (Wren) and Jamie’s time in high school so we got to see their backstory and why they’ve been apart for the last 20 years. Neither character was perfect, but their flaws were what made them realistic and ‘normal’. The story was really believable, and it was nice reading a story set in Australia, as most of the books I read are based in the UK or USA.

Dates Read:
August 15th, 2025

Rating
3 Stars