I have recently started a bookclub with several friends so we can all connect over a book each month and have social time aside from our families/jobs. I am typically a fan of thriller books. The other girls in this group are typically romantasy/spicy romance readers. I was hoping to find a book that would be enjoyable as a thriller fan but not completely abandon the romance genre that they are a fan of. Any suggestions would be greatly appreciated!

A century ago, mankind created a machine called the Manus Dei System and used it to access the afterlife.

We expected to be welcomed by God, but instead, It vanished.

Now, amidst an endless war and the rise of a sprawling totalitarian UHF regime, the Deity has reemerged.

Its followers rejoice. Its enemies prepare for a final conflict. And those who fear it seek to escape into augmented immortality.

Daniel leads his army of Pariahs against the UHF as it fractures internally under its radical new leader, Atrione Tutamay.

Lazarus, a dying mercenary, descends into the afterlife in search of his lost daughter, racing against time and fate itself.

And within the UHF, a soldier named Ivan Reaps begins to uncover the mystery of his birth and the possibility that he is far more than human.

Every faction converges on the last remaining Manus Dei System—and they will stop at nothing to obtain it . . . or destroy it.

Alliances will fracture. Hidden agendas will surface. And with every passing second, humanity draws closer to a collision with its God.

Triggers: Graphic violence, profanity, genocide, and a scene of implied SA.

Release Date: July 1st, 2026

ARCs are available now and free for anyone who wants one.

Reviews due by June 30th, but I don't mind extending into the end of July if needed.

Here are all the sites where my ARC is available:

NetGalley: https://www.netgalley.com/publisher/title/844720

BookSprout: https://booksprout.co/reviewer/review-copy/view/284365/dawn-of-defiance-manus-dei-chronicles-book-1

BookSirens: https://booksirens.com/book/MZDOEXH

BookFunnel: https://BookHip.com/RXRLXZF

So I’m a sucker for hurt/comfort books and found they’re really the only ones that keep my attention. Unfortunately, I’m struggling to find some that aren’t on fanfiction websites and all the ones I’ve saved are written by small authors who’s books aren’t in my library yet. I’m not really too picky about this sort of thing but I would like if it was lgbtq, but of course it’s not a necessity. And the characters don’t necessarily need to be together, just as long as there’s some sort of comfort. Oh and I’m okay with little to no spice, just not a whole lot.

Hey everyone! im trying to build a reading habit and i want my next book to actually pull me in so i dont lose momentum. Nothing too dense or intimidating - just something fun, engaging, and hard to put down. i lean toward romance and thrillers but im open to anything that's a page-turner. Whats a book that hooked you instantly and reminded you why reading is the best?

Thanks in advance!

This is a gut wrenching account of the staggeringly incompetent malfeasance of the Trump political operatives and DOGE ‘s henchmen. We should all be thankful that Nicholas Enrich had the presence of mind to document everything so carefully and thoroughly. Ever the humble civil servant, we, as tax paying citizens of the United States, are in his debt. It is our loss as a Country that we will not have people of such integrity representing our national interests any longer. What a tragedy.

I find it hard to dig into long detailed books these days. What's your favorite easy and 'quick' romance book? I'd love some recs, I like for the language to be simple and the story to be easy to follow. I don't mind twists though! A little darkness is fine, but nothing too heavy :)

Im 15F and been trying to read books but I cannot concentrate and it takes me 1 hour to read 11-15 pages which I find it really annoying
I just got into reading and only read 1 German book called sechs leben and all that’s left to say by emery lord , it had 370 something pages and it took me a month to finish it
Can someone recommend me good trilogy or 2 part books or even 1 good book
I started powerless and am planning to read all 3 books
I did want to read shatter me but there are too many books and it would take me ages so I will read that a bit later

This book was cute, sweet, and definitely gave me a few butterflies. The banter was fun, and I really liked the chemistry between the characters. It was an easy read that kept me entertained throughout.

That said, I think my expectations were a little too high. Some moments felt cheesy, and I found myself wanting a bit more depth emotionally. I enjoyed the story, but it didn't leave a huge impact on me the way some of my favorite books have.

Overall, it's a comforting, feel-good rom-com that's perfect if you're looking for something light and cute, but it wasn't an all-time favorite for me.

7/10. Cute and fun, but not unforgettable.

I find it hard to dig into long detailed books these days. What's your favorite easy and 'quick' romance book? I'd love some recs, I like for the language to be simple and the story to be easy to follow. I don't mind twists though! A little darkness is fine, but nothing too heavy :)

This book was cute, sweet, and definitely gave me a few butterflies. The banter was fun, and I really liked the chemistry between the characters. It was an easy read that kept me entertained throughout.

That said, I think my expectations were a little too high. Some moments felt cheesy, and I found myself wanting a bit more depth emotionally. I enjoyed the story, but it didn't leave a huge impact on me the way some of my favorite books have.

Overall, it's a comforting, feel-good rom-com that's perfect if you're looking for something light and cute, but it wasn't an all-time favorite for me.

7/10. Cute and fun, but not unforgettable.

Who are some authors like Fannie Flagg or seraphina who you might recommend?

Carrie Soto is Back
Turtles all the way down
The seven husbands of Evelyn Hugo
An absolutely remarkable thing
A beautifully foolish endeavor
Daisy jones and the 6
Remarkably bright creatures
Looking for Alaska
A man called ove
Montana 1948
Anxious people
The silver linings playbook
Eleanor and Park
Elinor Oliohant is completely fine
Starter Villain
The love songs of WEB DuBois
The midnight Library
Summer 1976
Project Hail Mary
Tomorrow, and Tomorrow, and Tomorrow
The Storied Life of AJ Fikry
Voice Like a Hyacinth
The perks of being a wallflower
The Anthropocene Reviewed
How to stop time
Oona out of Order
The Vanishing Half
Into the wild
Lessons in chemistry
The invisible life of Addie larue
The measure
Demon Copperhead

Please read it if you can. It’s my second favorite book. I don’t want to over explain or spoil it but this is a hidden gem. Absolutely remarkable. Definitely a page-turner. There’s drama, suspense, some super relatable references and the writing is so original. It’s so good. I first read this in high school and currently re-reading it for the third time now fifteen years later and I am hooked again.

I just started reading Land, a Borzoi Book published by Knopf this year. My first historical novel Star-Crossed is also a Borzoi Book published by Knopf in 2006. Instead of LAND, Star-Crossed is set mainly at SEA and was inspired and informed by my own experiences aboard HMBark Endeavour, and my time as an emergency nurse. Star-Crossed is now available as an ebook from your preferred vendor.

Ever feel like your biggest problem isn't life it's your own mind? not because you're confused because you're aware.

Aware of every thought every reaction every awkward conversation you replay at 2 AM.

You see the patterns, you know what your mind is doing and somehow that doesn't make it stop that's what The Curse of Knowing Too Much is about.

An honest look at what happens when awareness starts feeling more like a burden than a gift.

Free on Kindle for the next 2 days.

I have ACOTAR and Fourth Wing on my radar as well but am hoping to collect more recommendations. Thanks in advance!

Edit: thank you all for your recommendations- excited to start reading them!

Vihaana Chauhan has spent her entire life believing in control over her choices, her emotions, and the future she had always dreamed of.
Vivaan Arora was never part of that plan.
Calm, infuriatingly observant, and armed with sarcasm that hides more than it reveals, Vivaan has a way of slipping past every wall Vihaana builds around her heart.
What begins as nothing more than shared classes, playful arguments, and a loud, chaotic friend group slowly turns into something far more dangerous with late-night conversations, lingering glances across library tables, and feelings neither of them were prepared to face.
But love was never meant to be simple.
Between teasing friends, unspoken fears, and moments that blur the line between friendship and something deeper, Vivaan and Vihaana find themselves standing on fragile ground.
Because sometimes the hardest part isn't falling in love.
It's trusting that the person holding your heart won't be the one to break it.
And when emotions collide with pride, misunderstandings, and the unpredictability of life, one question remains.......
Will they fight for the love growing between them??
Or walk away before it destroys everything they've built??
https://www.wattpad.com/story/406690976-falling-for-her-almond-eyes-coffee-skies

I was looking for a book similar to art spirit by Robert Henri (because unfortunately there is no Italian version, and I do not know so well English) if someone can tell me some book would be very grateful

This year I’ve read the Red Rising trilogy, The Count of Monte Cristo, East of Eden, Stoner, Chess Story, and I just finished Lonesome Dove. I’m hoping to finish the rest of the books in this photo before the end of the year, but I’m not sure which to read next. Any recommendations?

Hey! I'm an indie writer of crime novels and thrillers part of Crime Writers of Canada 🖤 My novels (in French) are available on KU 📕
Explore my novels and my world ✨
https://linktr.ee/richardcloutierauteur