Welcome, book friends!
To listen to my real-time reaction to these books, you can check out the full episodes on The Bookmarks ‘n Blankets Podcast on your favorite podcast platform or listen below.
I’d love to know your thoughts on any of these books if you’ve read them. I invite you to hop over to my Instagram or X (aka Twitter), where you can comment.
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I’m kicking off a new Real-Time Reactions series called BookTuber’s Best Books!
As an avid watcher of BookTube, I follow many incredible creators who share their reading experiences, recommendations, and personal favorites. Now that 2024 has come to a close, I thought it would be fun to look back at BookTubers’ top picks from the past year—reading their favorites for myself and sharing my real-time reactions along the way.
Since not every BookTuber ranks their best books or chooses a definitive #1, I had to make a few judgment calls. For those who simply listed their top reads without a clear favorite, I picked the book that intrigued me most from their selection (and I had access to). My goal is to explore a variety of books across different genres, see if I agree with their glowing reviews, and maybe even discover some new favorites of my own.
In this episode, I chose these BookTubers and read their favorite books from last year:
- Keisha with A Book Like You – YouTube Channel
- Oceana with Oceana Gotta Read Em All – YouTube Channel
- Oceana’s sister, Cass – GoodReads
My Reaction to 3 Clean, Closed-Door Romance Books
My Phony Valentine by Courtney Walsh
GR Rating: 4.26
My GR Rating: 4
Format: Kindle Unlimited
Read more on GoodReads
GR Description: A chance meeting. A hunky hockey player. A fake romance.
Hardly an ordinary day in the life of Poppy Hart.
My days usually consist of agonizing over my failing restaurant, worrying about my mountain of debt and nursing my broken heart.
Everything changes when I bump into a man in the coffee shop and claim him as my new boyfriend. To my absolute horror, he turns out to be hockey’s most renowned bad boy, Dallas Burke. To my absolute delight, he goes along with my story.
When his no-nonsense manager and meddling grandmother jump in the picture, they see a win-win solution for my failing restaurant and Dallas’s less-than-stellar reputation.
A full-fledged fake romance complete with contract negotiations, pretend dates, and phony PDA.
But as I get to know the real Dallas Burke, who is not the man the press says he is, it becomes clear that if this isn’t real. . . someone better tell it to my heart.
My Review:
I absolutely love Courtney Walsh’s books—she’s one of my favorite authors for clean, closed-door romance. Her stories are always sweet, heartfelt, and deeply relatable, and this one was no exception.
This was an utterly charming hockey romance with a fun fake dating trope, likable characters, and a cozy small-town setting. I adored the playful chemistry between the main couple, the witty banter, and especially the sassy, snarky grandmother who stole every scene she was in. The side characters were just as delightful, and I loved getting to know Poppy’s family. It was also a nice touch that her father is deaf, incorporating sign language naturally into the story. Plus, I’m already looking forward to seeing another one of her sisters in another book in this series!
One of the things I appreciated most was the complete absence of strong language or spice—just a wholesome, romantic story that still packed plenty of swoon-worthy moments. I also loved that there was no frustrating third-act breakup or overused miscommunication trope. Instead, this was a mature, heartfelt romance between two adults who actually communicated like adults.
This book made me laugh, swoon, and even tear up toward the end. While it’s a light and fun romcom, it also has surprising emotional depth, as both Dallas and Poppy must confront their pasts and work through personal struggles. The themes of forgiveness and grace, especially learning to extend that grace to yourself, were beautifully woven into the story.
If you enjoy sports romances, sweet and uplifting love stories with real emotional depth, and the fake dating trope done right, then you must pick up this book. Courtney Walsh never disappoints, and I will always recommend her books. This one was SO good—highly recommend!
If you want to listen to all of my thoughts and get my real-time reactions to this book, listen to the episode above.
The One with the Kiss Cam by Cindy Steel
GR Rating: 4.24
My GR Rating: 5
Format: Kindle Unlimited
Read more on GoodReads
GR Description: It was just one date.
My friend told me I needed more fun in my life, so I reluctantly said yes. Fun wasn’t exactly in my wheelhouse. After watching my own mother’s love life implode time and time again it’s only natural that I have a few rules to protect myself.
Actually, it’s just one rule…
Avoid relationships with men so I don’t get attached.
I wasn’t worried. Getting attached has never been a big problem for me. This guy was just a warm body in a chair. I was here for the basketball game. I was absolutely NOT here for my date.
Or the kiss cam.
Or the kiss.
Or the impromptu evening with the one man who seems bent on throwing my tidy world off of its axis.
But when my life takes a nose dive, he’s also the man who seems bent on proving to me that good men do exist, dreams can come true, and sometimes throwing out the rule book is when the magic really starts to happen.
My Review:
I LOVE this book!! This was my first time reading anything by this author, and I can confidently say she’s now one of my favorite clean, closed-door romance writers. This story was so deeply relatable that it has earned a spot as one of my all-time favorite romcoms! (There’s no language and no spice.)
Going in, I expected a light, fluffy romance—but what I got was so much more. This book was emotional, raw, and profoundly moving. I connected with Nora in a way I’ve never connected with another book character before. Her struggles, her pain, and her resilience resonated with me on such a deep level that I found myself tearing up multiple times—and by the end, I was full-on sobbing. It was one of the most heartfelt, authentic character journeys I’ve ever read.
And then there’s Duke—what an incredible book boyfriend! I adored him from the very beginning. He’s witty, charming, kind, and genuinely thoughtful. He doesn’t just treat Nora with kindness—he treats her as an equal, never making her feel less than because of their differences in wealth or circumstances. His playful banter with both his friends and Nora was so much fun, providing plenty of laugh-out-loud moments, but he also had such a swoony, tender side that made their dynamic feel even richer.
One of the things I loved most was how safe and comfortable Nora felt with Duke. She didn’t have to guard herself or fear judgment—she could be open about her struggles without feeling inferior. Their relationship wasn’t just built on flirty moments (though those were fantastic!); it was rooted in friendship, trust, and emotional connection. Given Nora’s difficult, unstable upbringing and deep-seated trust issues, Duke’s steady presence in her life was exactly what she needed.
I also have to highlight the exceptional writing. Romcoms can sometimes feel predictable, cheesy, or filled with forced dialogue, but this book broke the mold. It had unexpected twists and turns that kept me fully engaged, and the dialogue was some of the best I’ve ever read in the genre. The conversations between Nora and Duke felt real—natural, witty, and raw in all the right moments. Nothing felt cringy or forced, which made their chemistry even more believable.
This book completely stole my heart! I can’t recommend it enough. If you love romcoms that go beyond being just sweet and funny—ones with true depth, emotional weight, and unforgettable characters—you need to pick this one up. It’s thoughtful and impactful, and it left a lasting impression on me. I can’t wait to read more from this author!
If you want to listen to all of my thoughts and get my real-time reactions to this book, listen to the episode above.
The Last Love Note by Emma Grey
GR Rating: 4.07
My GR Rating: 3
Format: Audiobook – Narrator: Leeanna Walsman
Read more on GoodReads
GR Description: You may never stop loving the one you lost. But you can still find love again.
Kate is a bit of a mess. Two years after losing her young husband Cameron, she’s grieving, solo parenting, working like mad at her university fundraising job, always dropping the ball—and yet clinging to her sense of humor.
Lurching from one comedic crisis to the next, she also navigates an overbearing mom and a Tinder-obsessed best friend who’s determined to matchmake Kate with her hot new neighbor.
When an in-flight problem leaves Kate and her boss, Hugh, stranded for a weekend on the east coast of Australia, she finally has a chance, away from her son, to really process her grief and see what’s right in front of her. Can she let go of the love of her life and risk her heart a second time?
When it becomes clear that Hugh is hiding a secret, Kate turns to the trail of scribbled notes she once used to hold her life together. The first note captured her heart. Will the last note set it free?
The Last Love Note will make listeners laugh, cry, and renew their faith in the resilience of the human heart—and in love itself.
My Review:
This was my first time reading this author, and I can confidently say she writes beautifully. Her depiction of grief, loss, and death is vivid and deeply emotional. However, I wouldn’t classify this as a romance novel. It leans much more toward contemporary fiction with a touch of romance, which was disappointing for me. I went in expecting to watch a love story unfold, but instead, I found an incredibly heavy, heartbreaking story about a woman who loses her husband at a young age and struggles to raise her son, build her career, and simply hold herself together while navigating her overwhelming grief.
Unfortunately, the plot felt disjointed and somewhat unfocused. Certain scenes didn’t seem to serve a clear purpose, making the story feel scattered—almost like the author was trying to do too much at once. The book started out light-hearted and humorous, but then took a sharp, serious turn, ultimately becoming a long, drawn-out exploration of grief that started to lose my interest. The dual timeline structure, shifting between past and present, didn’t help much either—I found myself far more invested in the past than in the present storyline. And because I struggled to connect with the characters, I had a hard time emotionally engaging with the story as a whole.
I listened to the audiobook, and I will say the narration was excellent. The story takes place in Australia, and the narrator’s Australian accent really helped immerse me in the setting. However, because the book was so emotionally heavy, I often found it difficult to pick it back up. I had to be in the right mindset to continue and, at times, had to push myself to finish.
That said, the last 30% of the book finally felt more like the romance I had been hoping for. It had its tender, swoon-worthy, and genuinely sweet moments, making the slow burn worth it to some degree. However, the ending felt a bit rushed, and I was left with lingering questions.
Sensitive readers should be aware that this book deals with difficult topics, including spousal death, grief, loss, fertility struggles, and miscarriage. Also, there is no language and no spice.
Overall, this was just an okay read for me. While I wouldn’t personally recommend it, I recognize that it’s a well-written and emotionally raw portrayal of loss and healing. If you’re looking for a deeply emotional, authentic story and don’t mind a heavier read, this might be for you. But if you’re expecting a true romance, you may want to adjust your expectations before diving in.
If you want to listen to all of my thoughts and get my real-time reactions to this book, listen to the episode above.