ARC reviews that will put my kindle on your rob list...
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Time to read 7 min
I have to say, there's many perks to owning your own bookstore, but nothing is better than receiving advanced reader copies (ARCs) of your most anticipated reads months before their release! It's a high that can't be explained in so many words and as such, I'm always so grateful to the authors and publishers who send me their babies to review.
You may be wondering why it's so important for bookstores to receive these ARCs besides the obvious enjoyment they bring. Well, for us at Bad Women Books, we have a pretty packed calendar and an even tighter schedule. So knowing what new releases we're going to squeeze in is huge! It also means we aren't scrambling to do the artwork and can even plan on outsourcing to other artists whose own schedules are packed as well.
But is there a benefit to you? (other than our beautiful editions if you are so inclined to preorder). I would argue absolutely! We know that every avid reader has their list of anticipated releases, but there's nothing better to confirm that preorder (whether through us or another store) like a well-written review. Especially when you trust the review--and I hope as you start following my reviews I become that trusted reviewer in your eyes and therefore help you decide if you should preorder that book or maybe hold off until you can borrow it and see if it's worth curating for your library.
So, without further ado, here are some of my reviews of what I believe are (and should) be your most anticipated 2025 book releases!
The Knight and the Moth
for those medieval core vibes and a slow burn that had me kicking my feet
A gothic romantic fantasy following a diviner who sets out on a quest to find her fellow prophetesses who are disappearing one by one, with the help of an irreverent, heretic knight on his own quest to defeat the gods she's sworn to.
2025 started with a bang reading this gem! I definitely had high hopes and that always scares me when I jump into a book--that it won't be able to compete with those **often** unrealistic standards. However, that was not the case here! I even think it blew the ODW duology out of the water and I don't say that lightly. If you want atmospheric, gothic, medieval, and unexpected tale with characters that are endearing and layered, and a slow burn romance then this is the book for you!
Rebel Witch
for a cat and mouse chase and a masterclass of enemies to lovers
The stunning conclusion to the Crimson Moth duology and starting where book one left off, we weren't given time to pause for a breath as each new page unfolded an unexpected twist, danger, or sizzling hot chemistry between our main characters.
Something I loved is that as a reader, you really had to pay attention to every new piece of information given because there were so many layers to it. The foreshadowing was out of this world and by the end of the book, it just felt like what seemed to be a tangle of plot threads was smoothed out into a tidy straight line. It was so satisfying and I think the author did a fantastic job of weaving a tale that was fresh and stands out amongst the romantasy crowd.
A Fate Forged in Fire
for a fantasy romance fueled by feminine rage and dragon-fire
A blacksmith with a hidden identity faces off against the inept royal family ruling over her home. It has dragons! It has spice! It starts with a bang and never slows down!
I went into this completely blind and I'm so glad I did. Once I started, I could not put it down! It had a shotgun start that didn't stop or slow until the very last page. And if that doesn't convince you--our MC was giving major Aemond Targaryen vibes that I ATE UP. And our main girl was so showstopping, I loved her strength and her kindness but most of all that she had flaws and admitted when she was wrong. It was so refreshing to follow an FMC that was so well-rounded.
The Enchanted Greenhouse
for the coziest of cozy fantasy series that evokes the same feeling as the smell of fresh baked bread and cuddles with kittens before a warm fire.
A librarian finds herself on an island with a cursed, enchanted greenhouse and the hermit gardener determined to save it.
I knew after reading the Spellshop that this series of standalones were going to be near and dear to my heart, and book two did not break that streak. These books just warm your soul and somehow manage to defy my imagination yet give me exactly what I’m hoping to find in their magical world. Delicious food, endearing mythical creatures, a magical problem to solve, and a common theme of community makes each story difficult to put down.
Riding the High
for the juicy history between childhood friends to lovers
A newly minted sheriff and single dad, Cole, and a sassy schoolteacher/nanny, Ginger, find themselves hitched after a wild night in Vegas and forced to spend the summer together to keep up appearances.
It's so good to be back at Silver Pines and to say I've been chomping at the bit for these two is an understatement! I definitely went into it with high expectations and the author absolutely delivered. She's really created a lush world of characters and it's always so much fun to see what everyone has been up to.
The Wind Weaver
for a tried and true romantasy adventure
A halfling is yanked from execution by a mysterious commander due to her ties to an ancient prophecy that claims she will help restore maegic to her dying realm.
This book started with a bang and didn't let up! I actually was planning on reading a different book, got distracted by the pretty cover, and decided to read the first few chapters to see the vibe. Fast forward a couple of hours and I had completely binge read it! I couldn't put it down! I loved the elemental maegic, our FMC's relationships with the crew of soldiers and local dressmaker, and the nonstop action. If you want something fast-paced--this is the book for you!
I Got Abducted by Aliens and Now I'm Trapped in a Rom-Com
for a fever dream that will take you on the wildest ride of your life
A scientist is abducted by aliens and dropped on a topsy-turvy planet full of hot warriors, dinosaurs, and never-ending shenanigans.
As someone who has read a lot of alien romances, it was pretty funny having all the tried-and-true tropes turned on their head. It was pure and utter ridiculousness but I had so much fun reading it! You never knew what you were going to meet when you turned the page, the author was really flexing her imagination muscles--and while it was goofy and wild, it was still a well-structured story with great writing, a steady plot, and enough spice to set your hair on fire.
Behooved
for a low-stakes, curse-infested, fairytale fantasy
A cozy fantasy romance following a noblewoman and a prince who are thrust into an arranged marriage and forced to work together to break a curse. Behooved is full of unique characters, tricky magic, and a sweet romance that is sure to make you swoon.
First off that cover, oof! So good! This is definitely a palette-cleanser book in my opinion because it has endearing characters, slowly built romance, low stakes, and just a fun, easy read. No reinvention of the wheel here but I really enjoyed this and would highly recommend.
Blood Beneath the Snow
for the masked enemy commander love interest 👀 we listen and we don't judge
A romantic fantasy following a powerless princess who wants to do right by her kingdom, even as she's being forced into the position of a pawn by her god-gifted family, the godforsaken rebels she sympathizes for, and the enemy she's slowly falling for.
I loved this! Our main gal is so likeable even though she's often at a disadvantage to those around her. She's never a victim, though, she's always finding ways to gain the upper hand and hone her individual strength and power. She's definitely an FMC worth cheering for!
What Wakes the Bells
for a lavish and atmospheric gothic fantasy
A gothic tale about a city facing off against an ancient evil, bent on domination while leaving destruction in its wake. Its only saviors are in the form of Saints in hiding and the bell keepers tasked with keeping the evil from waking.
I think my favorite parts of this book was how fresh the storyline felt and it's exploration of folklore and magic that was entirely its own. I also appreciated the perfect amount of worldbuilding without completely info-dumping on the reader. Overall, a wonderful fantasy read that should be on your tbr!
Wild and Wrangled
for the final installment of the Rebel Blue Ranch series 😭
A bittersweet ending to a beloved series following a second chance, cowboy romance between Cam and Dusty.
The beginning of this book really shined for me as we were eased into this sticky romance full of past and current chemistry. But I felt the second half of the book was rushed and everything seemed to resolve itself much too quickly. That could be because I didn't want to leave this series as I love it so much! But I definitely wished it was more flushed out in the end.
Destructively Mine
for off-the-charts chemistry between two con-artists
Con-artists determined to live on the straight and narrow find themselves forced back into the game to keep their new life from crashing down around them.
After devouring book one (five stars!) I knew I had to put a request in for book two and was so excited when I got approved! I loved being back in this world--it's really a unique concept to explore and the family of characters the authors have created are ones you can't help rooting for even when they do some psuedo-illegal deeds. My only critique is I almost wish each book or set of books explored a different couple instead of following the same couple. Still loved it and will definitely keep reading, but there's such a great cast of characters that deserve more love IMO.
The Author
Shelby is a Polynesian-American living in the Southwest who loves reading, sewing, working on vintage cars, and spending time with her puppies: Zoe la Rue and Lulu Bellerini.
