Danielle Paschka

2024 was a great year of reads! I honestly read some of the best books, grew my love for reading even more, met my favorite author & can’t be more excited to start another year of reading! I set the goal last year to 115 & I did just that.. Now my goal is 120! Let’s see if I can do it!

This was hard to narrow down a list to 15 books but these are books that I still think about & just moved me in a way that makes them my faves! I gave them all 5 stars. Here’s a rundown of the 15 & my reviews of them!

1. All The Little Raindrops by Mia Sheridan — This might be one of my favorite books I’ve read this year. It was deep, kept me wondering, triggering, made me fall in love with the characters & rooting for them every step of the way! Reading other reviews a lot of people were saying there needed to be trigger warnings (which I agree), couldn’t finish past 20%, etc… So I was really nervous what I was getting into but I honestly it wasn’t that bad which I don’t know what that says about me but I honestly love how raw this book was & the fact that Im sure this stuff happens in real life so as triggering as it is.. I try to sympathize with the characters if that makes sense. Read this if you like books making you guess, wondering what is going to happen next, second chances & redemption!
2. Variation by Rebecca Yarros — OMG one of the best books I read in 2024. I’m still thinking about this book. I seriously LOVED the MMC in this book- SWOON. There was so many parts where I gasped, was cheering people on, & wanted to slap so people. So many emotions. Rebecca Yarros writes some of the best romance books I’ve ever read & I just eat up every single one of her books.
3. Butcher & Blackbird by Brynne Weaver — I freaking loved this book. I have been wanting to read it for a long time so I’m glad I finally did. I mostly listened to it & it was really probably why I loved it so much! The audio was seriously probably one of the best audios I’ve ever listened to. It probably made me fall in love with the book so much more! It was really wild & twisty. Dark but also funny. It just was a really good combo of all the things. The spice was spicing, the banter was so good & the slow burn was burninggggg. I couldn’t get enough! I can’t wait to read the next one in the series. Make sure you read the trigger warnings.
4. First Lie Wins by Ashley Elston — This was a great one. I couldn’t get enough of what was happening & unfolding. I kept waiting and waiting to try and figure it out until being shocked by the outcome. I thought for sure Mr.Smith was one person the whole time but I was wrong..I loved how smart the FMC was getting to see the flashbacks to what made her the person she was today. This is one I will definitely recommend & one of my top reads of the year!
5. The Summer I First Saw You by Elizabeth O’Roark — If I could give this book 6 stars I would! Love an age gap, forbidden romance. This one delivered with both of those! Some people get creeped out about age gaps but unless its a 40+ age gap I’m not discriminating. Daisy was so fun, sassy & a people pleaser. I felt a lot like her in her schooling aspect because I went through something similar. Harrison was so grumpy, depressed & needing to find himself again. Daisy is trying to bring him back to life after his divorce & I am here for it all. Can Harrison let go of what everyone thinks & just go with his heart?! There is so many OMG moments in this book that I couldn’t stop reading! I read in a day & I was so dang obsessed!
6. Learn Your Lesson by Kandi Steiner — Learn Your Lesson is book 3 of the Kings of Ice series which you all know I LOVE me some hockey romances — It picks right back up from book 2 & if I’m gonna be honest I have been really excited for this one. I love a single dad trope book & of course he is the moodiest single dad there is which… whew! can’t handle it! Will Perry aka Daddy P -nickname given by his hockey teammates is a single father to Ava. He has been a single dad since she was a little over 1 month old. We knew his wife had died from the previous books but not 100% of the details. Will is obviously not up to sharing anything & keeps himself & his feelings in like a locked safe. Enter Chloe to the chat. She is a bubbly, sweet, kindergarten teacher who loves her 3 cats & was raised by her grandmother & mom who basically both hate men. Chloe is Ava’s teacher, Will needs a nanny after many failed attempts with others… Chloe offers & does amazing things for their family. Tension rises between Chloe & Will (something Will hasn’t experienced with someone else in a long time) — they decide to make a deal, no strings attached, etc until they both catch feelings (which are we surprised?) …. You’ll have to read to see if they can make it through Will’s dramatic past & Chloe’s past of hating men & thinking things that are too good to be true couldn’t actually happen… Learn Your Lesson is spicy, deep, heartbreaking, funny, & you still get the wonderful friend dynamic like you get in the other books between the guys of course but also from the girls! The fact that the Chloe is welcomed into this hockey world, no questions asked.. is seriously so wonderful to see. This is my favorite from this series & I can’t wait for the next one next year!
7. Bridesmaid Undercover by Meghan Quinn — Well, well, well. She did it again. Meghan Quinn is literally my absolute favorite. The way she makes me feel while reading her books is just all the feels! I never laugh more than her books— like laugh out loud to the point my husband is like it can’t be that funny but in reality it really is SO funny! Just when I think I couldn’t possibly love characters from her books more.. she does & makes me fall in love with a whole new set of characters! Everly (main female character) we meet in Bridesmaid for Hire (book 1 in their series) as Maggie’s assistant. Maggie is a wedding planner/event planner/bridesmaid for hire so Everly assists her in all of this. Hardy is also introduced in the first book & now is an investor in Maggie’s business. Hardy & Everly meet in BFH briefly & you can tell Everly thinks Hardy is super cute + she is definitely interested if he is single.Hardy’s 2 best friends are getting married & the MOH is Hardy’s ex girlfriend. Hardy is ready to be in love & settle down so he thinks it’s a good idea to see if there is any feelings with the ex & the ex basically wants nothing to do with that. Insert Everly— Hardy & his friends getting married need her help with the wedding with a quick turn around & Hardy wants her help to try and get his ex back.. SO much happens — good, bad, & hysterical. It’s a wild ride & I didn’t want it to end.. I’m not shy about how much I’m obsessed with Meghan & her books because it’s just facts at this point.. but oh my gosh. I obviously loved the spice, the buildup, the LOL moments, etc but I truly think it was the friendship/relationship she developed between Hardy & Everly I loved so much! If you are a an of Meghan’s text exchanges just wait for the emails! So freaking good. Caught myself smiling & LOLing so much. I love the details Meghan puts into her books so much it makes me feel like I am there with them!
8. Untying the Knot by Meghan Quinn — YOU GUYS. You know that I’m a big Meghan Quinn can do no wrong kind of gal but HOLY SMOKES. THIS BOOK. I almost think it might be my favorite to date of hers?! It’s been sitting in my kindle library for years and I’m honestly mad at myself for waiting that long to read it. If you read the Cane Brothers series.. this is a must read. We hear about Ryot (the main male character) in this book in that series so it was nice to read his story. This was such a realistic romance book.. I feel like what happened in this book probably happens a lot with couples today & why divorce rates are so high. I loved the back and forth between the first time Ryot & Myla met to present day. I loved seeing them fall in love.. they honestly were perfect for each other. I loved the friend group & getting to know Ryot’s brother Banner (which I’ve heard of him from other books in the Meghanverse) — Meghan says that his book will be coming…. Eventually! I had tears FLOWING during a certain part in the book & it broke my heart but luckily it got put back together! If I haven’t convinced you to read a Meghan book at this point.. I’m not screaming enough at how good her stuff is! Funny, spicy, sweet, gut wrenching at some parts & just 10/10.
9. Crossroads by Devney Perry — Devney does small-town & cowboy romances so good. I loved the start of this new series by her. I got sucked in from the get go. I loved the back and forth over the years to get the different stories & pov’s. West & Indy made me swoon & I loved what Indy did for West in the end.. my heart!
10. The Dixon Rule by Elle Kennedy — Omggggg ELLE freaking KENNEDY! I honestly didn’t think I could be more in love with another book by Elle after The Graham Effect but here we are.. I honesty can’t even handle how good The Dixon Rule was! We met Shane & Diana in The Graham Effect— They are Ryder’s & Gigi’s best friends & also enemies! Shane & Diana were the worst enemies to lover trope! The book starts off right where we left off in the Graham Effect & summer is starting & Diana + Shane are now going to next door neighbors— things can’t go wrong right?! Shane & Diana both need big favors to help each other out so the banter, the tension, the character development, the relationship development is so FREAKING good. I literally couldn’t handle how good this was. There is also a scene in there that will literally live rent free in my brain forever & ever. WHEW! The entire story was just so good. No third act breakup which BLESS when that happens! I can’t recommend Elle’s hockey series enough! She is just queen! Start with the The Deal & all the off-campus series then move into the Briar U series then The Graham Effect then The Dixon Rule! Just to get all the feels in the stories and people in the books! I can’t wait for The Charlie Method next!
11. Funny Story by Emily Henry —Alright.. I went into this really nervous. I did not enjoy Happy Place as much as I thought I would (don’t come for me). So I was nervous about this one.. I was hoping it would be love like some of the other Emily Henry ones were for me. I LOVED Funny Story. I related to the FMC family life so damn much. We had so much similarities with our relationships with our parents. I’m not sure if that was why I related so much or what it was.. but goodness gracious I felt it in my bones. I loved the banter, the flirting, the heartbreak. It was all so dang good. I loved Miles. He was so carefree, so fun, & all I wanted to do was hug him when he was suffering from his inner childhood battles. Emily redeemed herself for me with this one & I can’t wait for another one by her! Read this book if you like: Fake dating, small town, roommates, forced proximity, & more.
12. The Mindf*ck Series by S.T. Abby — This entire series was exactly what the title says.. a mindf*ck! I can’t even tell you how much I loved it.. the suspense, the storyline, the characters, the wtf moments, the spice, all of it.. was wild. Make sure to read your trigger warnings since there is fo sure some crazy things that happen in there. *Don’t judge a book by its cover in this case.. the covers def are nothing close to how the book is I would say.
13. Bridesmaid for Hire by Meghan Quinn — GOD BLESS MEGHAN QUINN! I honestly don’t care anymore.. she can do no wrong in my eyes. Bridesmaid for Hire was hilarious, sexy, & so fun. We met the FMC Maggie in ‘The Way I Hate You’ as Hattie’s best friend (she’s also in The Reason I Married Him but this book actually takes place timeline wise before that book). They had the most epic LOL text exchanges & they delivered again in this book! Maggie is so career focus with her wedding business that she leaves very little time for herself but that changes when she goes on what she thinks is a simple, relaxing vacation in Bora Bora. Insert her brothers best friend Brody who “they both can’t stand each other” but really.. you know how that usually goes in these situations. They both need each other to advance in their careers but I won’t spoil the rest… 🙂 Maggie & Brody were freaking hilarious together. I loved them. I loved Maggie in the other books but getting to know her so much more here was joy! I also liked the new characters Meghan introduced & I can only hope we get more of them too! I received an audible ARC — Jason Clarke & Erin Mallon were amazing in this. They brought the characters to life & I couldn’t stop listening! Thank you Good Girls PR for the ARC opportunity & thank you Meghan for your magic!
14. Tin Queen by Devney Perry — I honestly have no words. The book hangover I had after reading this one.. are you kidding me.. These 2 lead characters were just top notch. I loved it all so much. The suspense. Not knowing what was going to happen & the twists/turns. I can’t even handle the romance either in this one. Just so good. I never wanted to leave Clifton Forge.. I was honestly SO sad when it was done. This entire series left an impact on me. & I will forever be screaming for everyone to read this series.. but honestly read anything by Devney!
15. The Reason I Married Him by Meghan Quinn —Meghan freaking Quinn. I am obsessed with so many of her books but this one might be on top. I loved The Way I Hate Him last year so much so I was SO excited for this one. It exceeded my expectations. I loved the MMC Wyatt.. he was funny, cute, swoony, & the freaking sweetest. I loved how he was with Aubree. She is a tough cookie & hard to break & Wyatt never gives up! FMC Aubree is so strong, closed off & not warm. She’s been through so much & I love watching her come back to life it seems in this book after the hell she’s been through! Meghan’s books always make me laugh out loud, swoon & fall in love with her characters so hard. The entire family is seriously so good. I love the dynamic. I love all the details Meghan always gives- nothing is usually rushed which I love. A must read. Tropes: Marriage of Connivence, One Bed, Small Town Romance & Golden Retriever MMC.

Cheers to all the books we are going to read this year & I hope you add these to your list! Let me know if you read them and as always follow me on IG or GoodReads to be up to date with what I am reading!

Xo, Dani