Lia Anshar's Honest Pages

  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...

  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 ...

  Genre: Psychological Thriller, Adult Fiction Published: August 18, 2026 Rating: ⭐⭐⭐ (3/5)  Thank you to Victory Editing NetGalley Co-op and NetGalley for this gifted ARC in exchange for an honest review. This story is about Ivy, early 20s, who is dating Kai, a sweet guy whose big dream is making prosthetic arms for veterans. Ivy is super rich, and her father doesn't like their relationship; he already has someone else picked out for her. Kai’s family runs Lindholm Doors, and though the business is struggling, his father is there for him. Meanwhile, Ivy’s father's shadow haunts them. The book switches between Ivy and Kai’s POV. We watch them chase their goals, fight for their love, and actually get married. But then, things get real, and he suddenly changes. They hit a totally unexpected challenge that flips both their lives upside down, and suddenly their relationship isn’t just about disapproving parents anymore; it’s tangled up with mental health and messy circumstances ne...

  Genre: Romance, Adult Fiction Published: July 28, 2026 Rating: ⭐⭐⭐⭐ (4/5) Thank you to Hambright PR for this gifted ARC in exchange for an honest review. When Molly gets rejected by her boyfriend to move in together, she decides to move in with her friends instead... and Garett, the mechanic she’s basically hated since the day they first met. When one of Garrett's roommates moves out, he never expected Molly would be the one taking the spare room. But who knows what living together will bring?  This is a slow-burn romance. You'll see how their relationship builds naturally, with no exaggerated drama. It’s all about talking to each other, figuring out how to fit into each other’s lives, and stepping out of your comfort zone just because you want to make it work. It’s the little consistent efforts that get me every time. Their dynamic is so healthy; it’s actually refreshing. So many cute moments and silly little banter between them that just made me smile while reading. No tox...

  Genre: Contemporary Romance Format: Audiobook Expected: August 29, 2026 Rating: ⭐⭐⭐⭐⭐ (5/5)  Thank you to Victory Editing NetGalley Co-op and NetGalley for this gifted ALC in exchange for an honest review. In Wallflower in Bloom, we follow Violet Parker, a plant lover who runs her own shop called Bloom and prefers staying out of the spotlight. She has a huge crush on British actor Jack Grant and never imagined he’d end up at her door. When Jack gets caught up in a media scandal, he needs somewhere to lie low while his agent handles the damage control. He's supposed to live at his friend's house, but when his friend's girlfriend is allergic to Jack's cat, he has to find another place, which is Violet's house. Then, they come to a mutually beneficial arrangement: they’ll pretend to date to help repair Jack’s public image, and in return, he’ll help Violet build her confidence, especially when it comes to public speaking. As the summer goes on, they grow closer and sl...

  Genre: Romance, Adult Fiction Format: eBook & Audiobook Expected: August 27, 2026 Rating: ⭐⭐⭐⭐ (4/5) Wild About You is about a veterinarian, Cassie Thompson, who comes to Maryland for a fresh start. But then she bumps into an escaped tiger and a grumpy lumberjack/landlord, Noah Reed. Noah’s swamped with work, tricky tenants, and heavy baggage, while Cassie’s sworn off heartbreak, until one wine-fueled night turns their bickering into something far more personal. Now, with Noah's mother's sanctuary and Cassie's career on the line, these reluctant neighbors must set aside their differences and undeniable spark to save what matters most. Here’s the thing that really got me: this book didn’t just give me a cute romance; it gave me great characters. I loved how much we get to see of each character's pasts, their struggles, and all the stuff they’re still healing from. Nothing felt forced, which made me connect with them more easily. It’s got all the good stuff too: the...

  Genre: Romance, Adult Fiction Expected Publication: September 1, 2026 Rating: ⭐⭐⭐⭐ (4/5)  Thank you to Storm Publishing and NetGalley for providing me with a free advance copy in exchange for an honest review. A Fall to Remember is focused on Miranda Brown, who just wanted a nice, quiet vacation away from running her family’s beloved market, but then her terrible travel photos go viral, and suddenly she’s internet-famous. A travel company quickly signs her up to showcase her hometown’s Fall Harvest Festival, and that’s where she meets Jim, a charming and handsome photographer, who is sent to work right alongside her. Along the way, Miranda starts falling for him. But when she finds out his job depends on how well this campaign does, she can’t help wondering: does he really like her, or is she just part of his marketing plan? I loved how cozy this book felt. Ellie Alexander writes the setting so beautifully that I could practically feel the nuance vividly. Half Moon Bay felt ...

  Genre: General Fiction, Japanese Literature Rating: ⭐⭐⭐⭐⭐(5/5) Expected Publication: August 27, 2026 The story starts when Amane Morikawa inherits her grandfather’s old bookshop in Onomichi. When she arrives, she finds a dusty space with empty shelves and a bunch of cats who’ve already moved in and made themselves at home. Freshly out of work and returning to a place she’d stepped away from for years, Amane slowly finds comfort in these furry new friends. As she gets to know the people around town, she starts to reconnect with her love for books, her hometown, and even parts of herself. She sets her heart on reopening the shop, but it’s not going to be easy; maybe these cats knew how. I’ve always loved how Japanese stories often feel so peaceful and healing, and this one hits just right. The plot is straightforward and moves at a nice, steady pace. This isn’t a book you’ll race through, but one you’ll want to take your time with and enjoy over a few sittings. Even with a simple s...

  Genre: Romance, Adult Fiction Rating: ⭐⭐⭐ (3/5) Published: July 28, 2026 by Kensington Publishing The story focuses on Ella Rendale and Justice Beathach, who come from powerful rival families, the kind loaded with old grudges, high stakes, and all the tense drama you’d find in mafia-style circles. Ella’s father left her his company, only for her stepmother to take it away. But this is no ordinary Cinderella story; Ella is sharp, tech-gifted, furious, and fueled by pure vengeance. And Justice, he has every reason to hold a grudge, seeing as Ella nearly killed his brother. I went into this book expecting an action-driven Cinderella retelling, and Ella absolutely brings that bold, take-charge energy I was hoping for. That said, the story leans heavily into the intense attraction between the two leads; so much so that it often takes center stage. It’s instant and fiery, which at times felt like it left less room for everything else. This is the third book in the Grimm Bargains series...

  Genre: Romance, Adult Fiction Rating: ⭐⭐⭐⭐⭐ (5/5)  Published: July 28, 2026 by Cranthorpe Millner Publishers Trigger Warnings: Self-harm, domestic abuse, attempted suicide, body dysmorphia, depression, anxiety, and anxiety attacks Tilly’s marriage has ended, and it triggers her low sense of self-worth. With nowhere else to go, she finds herself staying with the one person she never expected to turn to: her childhood nemesis. Connor Wilson, her best friend’s older brother, has always had a way of getting under Tilly’s skin. But as she struggles with anxiety, body image, and the heavy feeling of never being enough, he slowly becomes the one person who truly understands her. What began as teasing and sharp words grows into quiet, late-night conversations, and maybe more. This book did more than tell a story. It broke my heart and healed it too. Long after I finished reading, I found myself reflecting on my own experiences and how I navigate life’s harder moments. Rhi Steele wri...

  Genre: Adult Romance Rating: ⭐⭐⭐⭐ (4/5) We follow Chelsea Parker, a 26-year-old who grew up around football (thanks to her coach father and two linebacker brothers), but her true passion has always been math. She excels at analyzing statistics to predict outcomes, and her greatest ambition is to become the first female head of analytics for an NFL team. For now, she is working to earn an entry-level position with her father’s new team, the struggling Mastodons. Enter Luca Maguire, a pass rusher whose career is on the line. When Coach Parker assigns Chelsea to work with him as his "personal coach" for training camp, Luca has to stay while hiding a secret about their unfinished encounter seven years earlier, and the fact that he has never stopped thinking about her. As a Math Olympiad alumnus, I was immediately drawn to Chelsea’s character. It is wonderful to see a protagonist who is unapologetically smart and passionate about math. Chelsea captures that quirk, genuine love f...

  Genre: Mystery, Thriller Published: March 30, 2026 by Ellery Kane Publishing Rating: ⭐⭐⭐⭐ (4/5) In 1997, Sweetbriar High’s seniors buried a time capsule at graduation. That same night, their homecoming queen, Blair Lennox, vanished without a single trace. Fast forward to now, and Juniper Pickett is driving all the way from San Francisco straight back to that tiny town. She left her career as a psychologist and a whole mess of trouble behind her. The time capsule is getting dug up tomorrow, and if that happens, her worst secret is out for everyone to see, and she can't let that happen. I was hooked the second I read the premise: a time capsule reveal turns into unearthing a cold case; it sounded promising! I spent the whole book leaning forward like “what is she hiding? Did she actually do it??” I love the small town vibe here. Thrillers hit different when everyone knows everyone’s business, and also everyone’s hiding something. Kane captures the essence of a close-knit community ...

  Genre:  Mystery, Psychological Thriller Published:  July 21, 2026 Rating:  ⭐⭐⭐⭐⭐ (5/5) "He never left my side. Not in jail. Not during my first chemo or surgery. Not during long nights when the pain felt endless."  At 4 AM, Nicole gets the news that her daughter Lacey was found barely alive in the woods, covered in blood, next to her friend’s husband who’d been stabbed 44 times. And ever since that night, Lacey hasn’t said a single word. Not to cops, not to her husband, not even to her own mother.  Now Lacey’s locked up, her three children are stuck with an unreliable father, but Nicole knows her daughter. She’s no killer. That silence isn’t guilt; it’s pure fear. Whatever went down in those woods scared her more than prison ever could. So Nicole starts digging and quickly learns some secrets that destroy everything. If you’re only here for a straight-up "whodunit", this might surprise you. The mystery bits are totally addictive, creepy, and page-turning,...

  Series: Colburn Brothers (#3) Genre: Contemporary Romance Published: July 14, 2026 by Sourcebooks Casablanca Rating: ⭐⭐⭐⭐ (4/5) Twelve years ago, Hazel Pierce packed up and left Star Falls. Now she’s back because her dad’s health has gotten worse, and suddenly she’s face-to-face with everything she ran away from: Tucker Colburn. Now, she runs Pierce Custom Woodwork and ends up working on a job for Tucker’s family, so avoiding him is not really an option. Tucker’s a firefighter now, and while he’s secretly so happy Hazel’s home, he’s doing his best to keep his feelings locked down tight. He’s pretty sure he wouldn’t survive getting his heart broken by her twice. The whole town can see how perfect they still are together, except these two. They’re convinced this can only end badly.  Jill Shalvis’s writing is just so easy and fun to read. The story moves at a nice steady pace, with just enough little moments to keep things interesting. The banter is great, there’s so much heart...

  Genre: Adult Fiction, Romance Published: July 21, 2026 by Page & Vine Rating: ⭐⭐⭐⭐ (4/5) Where We First Fell follows Ellie Cassidy, who ran away from her hometown, Faircloud, after getting her heart totally broken. Years later, she finally works up the nerve to come back, only to be hit with all the old stares, whispers, and painful memories she tried so hard to leave behind. Just when she starts questioning everything again, one thing stays the same: her childhood best friend, her biggest protector, and the guy who’s loved her quietly for years, Logan Walker. When she needs a break from it all, he offers her a road trip to breathe, and maybe a shot at the kind of love she never thought she’d get. This plot sounds pretty familiar if you read a lot of romances: small town girl/boy leaves, comes home, and realizes their person has been right there the whole time. But what makes it special is the way M. Hartley writes it, which makes it feel really sweet. This has a great slow-b...

  Rating: ⭐⭐⭐⭐ (4/5) "Feeling his words like something tightening around me, I take a deep breath. 'I haven’t killed her yet.'" What would you do if you couldn’t stop thinking about killing someone? That’s exactly what Jemma Stelling is dealing with in The Opposite of Murder. She’s so scared she might actually kill her stepmother, Marianne, that she does something totally unexpected: she walks into a police station and confesses, "before" she ever does anything. She plans that if her dark thoughts are officially on record, she’ll never go through with it because she’d get caught right away. But things get wild fast: while she’s still talking to the cops, Marianne is found dead, stabbed exactly the way Jemma described. Now Jemma has a perfect alibi, but she knows way too much about the crime. Is she an innocent woman trying to do the right thing, or a mastermind who planned every detail? It’s such a clever idea that immediately pulls you in, though this isn’t...

  Rating: ⭐⭐⭐⭐ (4/5) "In the end, if Lucky lost Dina, wasn’t it his own fault for not having the courage to ask her himself and face rejection?" The story is centered on Dina who is a Toronto lawyer and she’s dead set on not ruining her sister's wedding day by keeping her divorce a secret, and even hoping her awful ex stays quiet too. But things get messy fast when she meets the groom’s best man: Luqman “Lucky” Latif, her old crush who vanished without a word.  Lucky’s got his own side of the story. He gave up his dreams to help his family, built a great business from scratch, and thought he was over Dina. After all, she “rejected” him and married his best friend, Arshad! Seeing her again brings all those old feelings rushing back, and he’s not sure if he can handle it.  As all the fun, crazy wedding events go on, they start reconnecting and realize everything between them was a lie. Arshad manipulated them both just to get close to Dina and her family’s law firm. Now the...

  Rating: ⭐⭐⭐⭐ (4/5) "Before she could speak—not that she could—the man took her into his arms and lowered his mouth to hers." Lady Sophie is naturally shy and prefers to stay out of the spotlight, but her quiet night takes an unexpected turn when she gets lost in the corridors, only to be swept into the arms of a stranger and kissed out of nowhere. That stranger is Lord Tamworth, a viscount who has sworn he will not marry until he turns thirty.  He must first finalise important personal plans before he can even consider settling down with a wife, so when he accidentally kisses an innocent young woman, he hurries to make amends only to stumble into another awkward mistake. Unable to get the lady with the soft lips and sharp mind out of his thoughts, he goes to great lengths to see her again.  Sophie is later surprised to learn Lord Tamworth will be joining the Belinda School for Curious Ladies as a guest teacher. Though she intends to avoid him, he keeps seeking her out f...