Lia Anshar's Honest Pages

  Title: The Tea Shop at the Edge of the Wood Format: Audiobook Genre: Fantasy, Adult Fiction Published: September 21, 2026 Rating: ⭐⭐⭐⭐ (4/5) Thank you to Tourmaline & Quartz Publishing and NetGalley for this gifted ALC in exchange for an honest review. In this story, we have Galantina, who lives in her cute cottage at the edge of the woods, gathering herbs, making all kinds of lovely tea blends, basically living a peaceful life. Until one day, a mysterious girl shows up out of nowhere, and suddenly her cottage starts acting "weird", magically weird. And as if that’s not enough, the Duchess needs her to make the perfect tea blend for an important festival. Can she pull it off?  This story feels like a Ghibli movie: warm, gentle, so cozy, with magic surrounding it. There’s a hint of trouble here and there, but so subtle, and that’s exactly why it’s so nice. If you're looking for high-stakes adventure, this is not it. The magic is soft and sweet, not super complicated,...

  Title: Not on the Same Page by Allie Sambert Genre: Contemporary Romance Published: August 18, 2026 by Page & Vine Rating: ⭐️⭐️⭐️⭐️ (4/5)  Thank you to Page & Vine and NetGalley for this gifted ARC in exchange for an honest review. Trina and Casey couldn’t be more different, but somehow, they were exactly what each other needed. They started with a no-strings arrangement, convinced they could keep their feelings out of it. Of course, things don’t quite go according to plan. After spending a year trying to avoid each other, they’re forced to work together again, and all those feelings they tried to bury quickly come back.  I really enjoyed watching their relationship develop. They both tried so hard to resist turning their connection into something real, but little by little, they became the person each other needs. Seeing them finally let each other in was honestly one of my favorite parts of the book. Another favorite part is the setting. I love how the story i...

  Title: The Unfluencer by Mia Heintzelman Format: Audiobook Narrator: A.M. Elizabeth Kay, Sean Crisden Genre: Contemporary Romance Published: September 8, 2026 Rating: ⭐⭐⭐⭐ (4/5)  Thank you to Dreamscape Media and NetGalley for this gifted ALC in exchange for an honest review. The Unfluencer by Mia Heintzelman is such a lovely story, and the audiobook experience made it even better! The story follows Whitney Graves, who’s built the most respected gallery in town and isn’t about to let anything, especially not a relationship, get in the way of her dreams. She’s chasing this incredible, one of a kind art collection to really cement her legacy, and that’s exactly how she crosses paths with Warner Easton: the tall, mysterious, billionaire widower who holds all the cards. He’s still putting his life back together after losing his wife, and letting go of her art feels like a big, brave step toward starting over. So when Whitney’s gallery brochure lands in his hands, it truly f...

  Title: Holding Ground by Piper Rayne  Genre: Contemporary Romance Published: September 10, 2026 Rating: ⭐⭐⭐⭐ (4/5) Thank you to Hambright PR for this gifted ARC and ALC in exchange for an honest review. Emelia comes to Echo Lake hoping to get the town council’s approval for her expansion project. Elliott, a single dad and summer camp owner, isn’t thrilled. He loves the town just the way it is. But when Emelia ends up renting a bunkie on his property, they’re forced to see each other every day. As they get to know each other, they slowly realize they may have been wrong about one another.  This story flows so well and has all those cozy vibes I’m always craving in a small-town romance. The romance feels natural, and the chemistry is totally there, but what stands out most is how it handles heavier themes. It adds such a nice layer to the story that makes it feel more meaningful.  Baylor, Elliott’s daughter, is absolutely adorable. Her bond with Emelia is such a swee...

  Title: Confessions by Kanae Minato Genre: Psychological Thriller Published: August 19, 2014 Rating: ⭐⭐⭐⭐⭐ (5/5) Synopsis: Her pupils killed her daughter. Now, she will have her revenge. After calling off her engagement in wake of a tragic revelation, Yuko Moriguchi had nothing to live for except her only child, four-year-old Manami. Now, following an accident on the grounds of the middle school where she teaches, Yuko has given up and tendered her resignation. But first she has one last lecture to deliver. She tells a story that upends everything her students ever thought they knew about two of their peers, and sets in motion a maniacal plot for revenge. Narrated in alternating voices, with twists you'll never see coming, Confessions explores the limits of punishment, despair, and tragic love, culminating in a harrowing confrontation between teacher and student that will place the occupants of an entire school in danger. You'll never look at a classroom the same way aga...

Title: Code Violation by Ruth Stilling Genre: Contemporary Romance Format: eBook & Audiobook Expected: September 17, 2026 Rating: ⭐⭐⭐⭐ (4/5) Thank you to Hambright PR for this gifted ARC and ALC in exchange for an honest review. Code Violation is such a fun and sweet hockey romance that you can totally enjoy as a standalone even though it’s book two in the series. We follow Silas, captain of the Seattle Rogues. He’s loyal, tough, and has been hiding his feelings for his brother’s girlfriend, Vesper. He promised his late mother he’d always look out for his brother Kane, but Kane is far from a good guy. He’s toxic, abusive, and doesn't deserve Vesper at all. Vesper is the kind of girl who’s always had to fend for herself. She works at a bar, lives paycheck to paycheck, and is finally finding the courage to walk away from a bad relationship. Silas can’t help but show up for her, slowly building a connection that starts with hanging out, pizza, and movies, pretending t...

  Genre:  Middle Grade Fiction Publishing date:  September 8, 2026 Goodreads  |  Amazon  |  Barnes & Noble  |  IndieBound Rep:  Syrian-American, Muslim, Anxiety Synopsis: From the National Book Award–winning author of Kareem Between comes a powerful novel in verse about two sisters trapped in a blizzard in a heart-wrenching story of sisterhood and survival. Two sisters. One storm. A fight for their lives. Rama is all fire—fierce, quick to anger, and trying to hold her family together while battling the monster of intrusive thoughts. Leena is all ice—quiet, numbed to the vibrancy of the world, as she silently blames herself for their mother’s death. When their father must travel for work, a sudden blizzard traps the sisters alone at their rural home. As the storm tears through their house, they’re left without power, without food, without shelter—and with no one to rely on but each other. Told in powerful, poetic verse, Sisters Alone ...

  Title: I Hate Nothing About You by Ella Sparkle  Genre: Romance, Adult Fiction Expected: September 8, 2026 Rating: ⭐⭐⭐⭐⭐ (5/5) Thank you to Hawthorn & Aster for this gifted ARC in exchange for an honest review. In I Hate Nothing About You, we meet Cassie, a real estate agent who’s starting therapy because she's carrying a heavy fear: everyone who loves her will eventually leave. That hurt got way worse when her ex Finn left for Australia and never came back. To protect herself, she sticks to one strict rule: only two dates, no commitment, and definitely no “love” word. But then comes Mike: handsome, charming, and such a sweet “boy next door” type. He’s not her usual type, but she can’t help liking him anyway. Cassie finds it so hard to open up because love has always meant pain for her. In this story, we get to see her work through all that trauma and insecurity through her therapy talks, and it feels really real. Mike is such a great guy. Kind, respectful, and totally ...