Rachel Reads & Reviews

The Dead Queens Club Review

What do a future ambassador, an overly ambitious Francophile, a hospital-volunteering Girl Scout, the new girl from Cleveland, the junior cheer captain, and the vice president of the debate club have in common? It sounds like the ridiculously long lead-up to an astoundingly absurd punchline, right? Except it’s not. Well, unless my life is the…

rachelbeerwoman

February 7, 2026

Reviews

#contemporaryfiction, #hannahcapin, #historical, #inkyardpress, #rachelreads&reviews, #retelling, #thedeadqueensclub, #tudorera, #YA
Not So Pure and Simple Review

Del has had a crush on Kiera Westing since kindergarten. And now, during their junior year, she’s finally available. So when Kiera volunteers for an opportunity at their church, Del’s right behind her. Though he quickly realizes he’s inadvertently signed himself up for a Purity Pledge. His best friend, Qwan, doesn’t believe anyone is worth…

rachelbeerwoman

February 4, 2026

Reviews

#africanamericanfiction, #contemporaryfiction, #contemporaryromance, #harpercollins, #harperteen, #lamargiles, #rachelreads&reviews, #realisticfiction, #religion, #sexualhealth, #toxicmasculinity, #YA
Update

Hi everyone, I just set up a new Contact form on my homepage so if anyone wants to send me a book suggestion, connect or share thoughts of anything I should add to this blog. New book review coming tomorrow, until then happy reading.

rachelbeerwoman

February 3, 2026

Uncategorized
Author Highlight: Helen Dickinson

Now we’re throwing it back to the. . . well, before the 20th century again. Dickinson has a fondness for three vastly different eras: The Georgian (named after King George, yes the King George from Hamilton and 1776, the one the US broke away from); the English Civil War, and Victorian. So let’s get to…

rachelbeerwoman

February 2, 2026

Book Suggestions, Book/Author Highlight

#convenientlywedtoaspy, #georgian, #harlequinromance, #helendickinson, #historicalromance, #resistingherenemylord, #theenglishcivilwar, #tocatcharunawaybride, #victorian
The Awakening of Roku Review

Three years after the mess on Lambak Island, Roku has finally mastered airbending and is on track to become the Avatar the world needs. But when he encounters a mysterious illness on his way to Agna Qel’a, he delays his journey and the next phase of his training to prevent the situation from worsening. As…

rachelbeerwoman

February 1, 2026

Reviews

#abramsbooks, #amuletbooks, #avatarthelastairbender, #fantasy, #rachelreads&reviews, #randyribay, #theavatarchronicles, #theawakeningofroku, #YA
Author Highlight: Lauri Robinson

Harlequin, and the historical romance genre in general may be known for its Regency balls and Western shoot-outs, but Lauri Robinson may be the only introducing exciting new eras that make for interesting twists to classic historical romance tropes. From early America to the sock-hops, Lauri Robinson has something almost for every era. Saving Marina…

rachelbeerwoman

January 31, 2026

Book Suggestions, Book/Author Highlight

#50s, #adancewithherforbiddenofficer, #afamilyforthetitanicsurvivor, #americana, #colonial, #edwardian, #harlequinhistorical, #harlequinromance, #historicalromance, #laurirobinson, #marriageorruinfortheheiress, #rachelreads&reviews, #roaringtwenties, #salemwitchtrials, #savingmarina, #scandalatthespeakeasy, #thecaptain’schristmashomecoming, #thecowboywhocaughthereye, #thegreatdepression, #theheiressandthebabyboom, #titanic, #western, #ww1, #ww2
Book of the Month: History of the World in 50 Dogs

Most dog lovers know Fido and Laika, but how about Martha, Paul McCartney’s Old English Sheepdog? Or Peritas, Alexander the Great’s trusted canine companion? As long as there have been humans, those humans have had beloved companions—their dogs. From the ancient Egyptians mummifying their pups, to the Indian legend of the king who refused to…

rachelbeerwoman

January 30, 2026

Book Suggestions, Book/Author Highlight

#animalbooks, #dogbooks, #doghistory, #historyoftheworldin50dogs, #mackenzilee, #nonfiction, #rachelreads&reviews
YA books

The Assignment by Liza Wiemer SENIOR YEAR. When an assignment given by a favorite teacher instructs a group of students to argue for the Final Solution, a euphemism used to describe the Nazi plan for the genocide of the Jewish people, Logan March and Cade Crawford are horrified. Their teacher cannot seriously expect anyone to…

rachelbeerwoman

January 23, 2026

Book Suggestions

#angelinaboulley, #antisemitism, #asianamerican, #asianamericanhistory, #asianmcs, #delcourtpress, #harpercollins, #harperteen, #indigenousfiction, #indigenousmcs, #joannaho, #littlebrownbooksforyoungreaders, #lizawiemer, #marikoturj, #poppy, #rachelreads&reviews, #theassignment, #theothersideofperfect, #thesilencethatbindsus, #warriorgirlunearthed, #YA
Author Highlight: Jenni Fletcher

Still on the Harlequin train, and progressing past the ancient world to the 1200s or 1600s, admittedly my history in this era is a bit dim. But I’m pretty sure this is the 1600s because King Henry is mentioned here. Yeah, that King Henry with his six wives.

rachelbeerwoman

January 9, 2026

Book/Author Highlight

#amarriagetoprotectherfortune, #harlequinromance, #historicalromance, #jennifletcher, #medievalera, #rachelreads&reviews, #reclaimingherrebelknight, #redeeminghervikingwarrior, #tudorera, #vikings
Author Highlight: Greta Gilbert

In all my historical romances, I haven’t really sat down and read those from the brand that epitomizes the romance genre. Harlequin romance. While it has the expected glut of regency rakes and highlanders in its catalogue, I was surprised to find out that they have a diverse range of historical periods. Moreso than the…

rachelbeerwoman

January 8, 2026

Book/Author Highlight

#ancientegypt, #ancientmesoamerica, #ancientrome, #ancientworld, #conquistadors, #forbiddentothegladiator, #gladiators, #gretagilbert, #harlequinromance, #historicalromance, #rachelreads&reviews, #savedbyherenemywarrior, #thespaniard’sinnocentmaiden