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Bella Heartwood Book Reviews
💌 Bookish thoughts, cozy vibes, and honest feelings — all in one place. I mostly review romance and romantasy books, from sweet to steamy (and all the messy feelings in between!), but I also like to explore other genres. I hope my reviews help you discover your next favorite read! 📚✨
A New Chapter at Midnight
⭐ 5/5 stars
Author: E. W. Andersen
Release date: July 13, 2026
Genres: Romance | Sci-Fi & Fantasy | Women’s Fiction
Spoiler-free review
A New Chapter at Midnight is the third and final book in the Midnights On the Square series, and what a perfect way to wrap up Aurelia’s story :)
The book’s main female character is Aurelia, who owns a small bookstore in London, previously owned by her aunt and other female relatives. Her bookstore is no ordinary one. At midnight, certain characters from classic novels come to life (sort of). Aurelia has kept this secret for years, even after Oliver, her now fiancée, moved in with her.
I loved the addition of Aurelia’s niece, Julia, who takes a big role in the story after visiting her aunt and spending time at the bookstore during the summer. She is young, fun, and spontaneous. All the interactions between aunt and niece are beautifully written and felt relatable and enjoyable to me. The main twist involving Julia and the bookstore’s secret fits the story perfectly and makes it just different enough from the other two books while still highly connected to them.
I also think author E. W. Andersen did a wonderful job sharing enough details from the previous books as a refresher or to introduce them to new readers without oversharing or feeling repetitive to those who have read the prior books.
The difficulties in Aurelia and Oliver’s relationship were navigated wonderfully. I also appreciated the life lessons shared with Julia, which can be valuable to anyone.
A New Chapter at Midnight by E. W. Andersen is the perfect book for those who enjoy magical realism intertwined with romance, contemporary and cozy settings, and even more so for those who appreciate classic books.
Thank you to NetGalley and author E. W. Andersen for the opportunity to read this wonderful story. I received an advance copy, and all opinions are my own.
Author: E. W. Andersen
Release date: July 13, 2026
Genres: Romance | Sci-Fi & Fantasy | Women’s Fiction
Spoiler-free review
A New Chapter at Midnight is the third and final book in the Midnights On the Square series, and what a perfect way to wrap up Aurelia’s story :)
The book’s main female character is Aurelia, who owns a small bookstore in London, previously owned by her aunt and other female relatives. Her bookstore is no ordinary one. At midnight, certain characters from classic novels come to life (sort of). Aurelia has kept this secret for years, even after Oliver, her now fiancée, moved in with her.
I loved the addition of Aurelia’s niece, Julia, who takes a big role in the story after visiting her aunt and spending time at the bookstore during the summer. She is young, fun, and spontaneous. All the interactions between aunt and niece are beautifully written and felt relatable and enjoyable to me. The main twist involving Julia and the bookstore’s secret fits the story perfectly and makes it just different enough from the other two books while still highly connected to them.
I also think author E. W. Andersen did a wonderful job sharing enough details from the previous books as a refresher or to introduce them to new readers without oversharing or feeling repetitive to those who have read the prior books.
The difficulties in Aurelia and Oliver’s relationship were navigated wonderfully. I also appreciated the life lessons shared with Julia, which can be valuable to anyone.
A New Chapter at Midnight by E. W. Andersen is the perfect book for those who enjoy magical realism intertwined with romance, contemporary and cozy settings, and even more so for those who appreciate classic books.
Thank you to NetGalley and author E. W. Andersen for the opportunity to read this wonderful story. I received an advance copy, and all opinions are my own.
Most Ardently Yours
⭐ 5/5 stars
Author: Freya Sampson
Release date: July 7, 2026
Spoiler-free review
Most Ardently Yours is the first book I’ve read by Freya Sampson, and I think she might become one of my go-to authors. I loved the story, the characters, the setting, and the writing style—everything about it!
The story is about Zoe Knight, a romance writer who feels let down by her own love life. After reading a magical book in a bookstore she stumbles into, she accidentally brings Mr. Darcy from Pride & Prejudice into her world in London. With Darcy now living in her apartment and trying to adjust to modern life, Zoe has to decide if her dream man is really as perfect in real life as he is in fiction. She also teams up with Nick, the grumpy but charming bookshop owner, and has to figure out what kind of happy ending she really wants.
I really enjoyed the magical parts of the story, which fit well with Zoe’s personal journey as she learns about self-love and accepting love from others. I also liked how the book included modern ideas about women who read romance, the stereotype that romance novels aren’t real literature, and the idea of the “book boyfriend” and what that means for romance readers.
I really liked Zoe as a character, and even though the secondary characters had smaller roles, they were important to the story. I also loved how Darcy was written and how he helped Zoe grow.
I was pleasantly surprised that, while the romance was a big part of the book, it wasn’t the only focus. There was so much more happening alongside the love story, and I really enjoyed that.
Most Ardently Yours by Freya Sampson is a great pick for anyone who likes magical realism and contemporary romance with a bit of fantasy, especially if you’re a Jane Austen fan.
I received a free advance review copy and am sharing this review voluntarily. Thank you to Landmark, the author, and NetGalley for the book and the chance to read it early.
Author: Freya Sampson
Release date: July 7, 2026
Spoiler-free review
Most Ardently Yours is the first book I’ve read by Freya Sampson, and I think she might become one of my go-to authors. I loved the story, the characters, the setting, and the writing style—everything about it!
The story is about Zoe Knight, a romance writer who feels let down by her own love life. After reading a magical book in a bookstore she stumbles into, she accidentally brings Mr. Darcy from Pride & Prejudice into her world in London. With Darcy now living in her apartment and trying to adjust to modern life, Zoe has to decide if her dream man is really as perfect in real life as he is in fiction. She also teams up with Nick, the grumpy but charming bookshop owner, and has to figure out what kind of happy ending she really wants.
I really enjoyed the magical parts of the story, which fit well with Zoe’s personal journey as she learns about self-love and accepting love from others. I also liked how the book included modern ideas about women who read romance, the stereotype that romance novels aren’t real literature, and the idea of the “book boyfriend” and what that means for romance readers.
I really liked Zoe as a character, and even though the secondary characters had smaller roles, they were important to the story. I also loved how Darcy was written and how he helped Zoe grow.
I was pleasantly surprised that, while the romance was a big part of the book, it wasn’t the only focus. There was so much more happening alongside the love story, and I really enjoyed that.
Most Ardently Yours by Freya Sampson is a great pick for anyone who likes magical realism and contemporary romance with a bit of fantasy, especially if you’re a Jane Austen fan.
I received a free advance review copy and am sharing this review voluntarily. Thank you to Landmark, the author, and NetGalley for the book and the chance to read it early.
The Seven Year Slip
⭐ 5/5 stars
Author: Ashley Poston
Genres: Romance | Magical Realism | Contemporary | Fantasy | Time Travel
Spoiler-free review
Reading The Seven Year Slip was deeply emotional for me; I was moved to tears several times throughout the story.
"The Seven Year Slip" follows Clementine, a book publicist grieving the loss of her beloved aunt. When she moves into her aunt's magical Manhattan apartment, she discovers it can slip back seven years. There, she meets Iwan, a charming chef with dreams of his own. While the story has elements of magical realism, it leans more toward romance, with the time-slip serving as a backdrop for Clementine and Iwan's connection. As their lives intersect across time, they’re forced to confront the bittersweet magic of timing, love, and letting go.
The novel blends love, happiness, growth, and sadness, capturing the emotions Clementine, my favorite character, experiences on her journey. The apartment’s seven-year slip creates a layered story about timing, personal growth, and love. As Clementine meets Iwan and their lives become intertwined across time, I was struck by how the story explores falling in love not just once, but over and over as people change and grow.
One quote that really resonated with me was: “That was love, wasn’t it? It wasn’t just a quick drop—it was falling, over and over again, for your person. It was falling as they became new people.”
Author: Ashley Poston
Genres: Romance | Magical Realism | Contemporary | Fantasy | Time Travel
Spoiler-free review
Reading The Seven Year Slip was deeply emotional for me; I was moved to tears several times throughout the story.
"The Seven Year Slip" follows Clementine, a book publicist grieving the loss of her beloved aunt. When she moves into her aunt's magical Manhattan apartment, she discovers it can slip back seven years. There, she meets Iwan, a charming chef with dreams of his own. While the story has elements of magical realism, it leans more toward romance, with the time-slip serving as a backdrop for Clementine and Iwan's connection. As their lives intersect across time, they’re forced to confront the bittersweet magic of timing, love, and letting go.
The novel blends love, happiness, growth, and sadness, capturing the emotions Clementine, my favorite character, experiences on her journey. The apartment’s seven-year slip creates a layered story about timing, personal growth, and love. As Clementine meets Iwan and their lives become intertwined across time, I was struck by how the story explores falling in love not just once, but over and over as people change and grow.
One quote that really resonated with me was: “That was love, wasn’t it? It wasn’t just a quick drop—it was falling, over and over again, for your person. It was falling as they became new people.”
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