For such a big book, the plot moves very quickly and the reader is engaged from the start. I liked that the twist came in the middle of the book rather tan making the reader wait until the end. My only criticism is that this book seemed to be led by the enemies to lovers trope rather than the plot driving the story.

I am not sure I can praise this one enough. I spent an entire day this weekend completely wrapped up in this book. I honestly wanted more. I thought some parts were weird but that is kind of the point.
This poor girl just lost her dad, and her mom has been gone for years, and she has a chance to get some money for her and her sisters to just survive and bam, she enters a pact with a fairy. Ugh I hate when that happens.
She ends up attending their academy and falls in love and lots of bad scary things happen and she learns about her parents. It was just lovely. Is there going to be a second book? Because I want that already.
More of this please.
The narration was perfection as always.

I approached The Courting of Bristol Keats with high hopes, drawn in by the intriguing premise and the promise of a compelling story. However, despite my initial enthusiasm, I found myself struggling to stay engaged with the book.
Ultimately, I didn't finish the book, which is unusual for me. I kept hoping that it would pick up, but unfortunately, it never did. While I can see that others might enjoy the book's style or themes, it simply wasn't for me. I wish I could have connected more with the story and characters, but in the end, The Courting of Bristol Keats was a disappointing read.

Thank you to NetGalley for the advanced audio copy of The Courting of Bristol Keats.

The Courting of Bristol Keats is an extremely complex story. The overall main storyline felt overshadowed by so many minor "side stories" or conversations that did not feel relevant to the plot. Overall, it was a decent book and the ending sets up a second book (I think). The narrator did a FANTASTIC job portraying the various characters.

When I'm listening to an audio book with multiple POVs, I prefer the narrator to announce the POV character's name for each chapter. This book did not do it and at times it was confusing when a new chapter would start.

This people is how you write a book set in Elfhame. I love that Pearson went beyond the one dimensional version of fae to include a variety of fae creatures in her book. I would have loved this book for that fact alone. The world building is so richly detailed. I also simply loved the plot as a whole. There were so many twists and turns that you never knew which direction the story would go. That’s especially well done when coupled with characters that you spend the book side eyeing. At this point, I don’t trust anyone. I feel they all have ulterior motives and I am here for it. I also really enjoyed the dynamic between Bristol and Tyghan. Their relationship development had some of the best banter, which I’m a sucker for. However, that ending. Pearson has some explaining to do after that. Literally the book just ended, and I went back to make sure I didn’t miss anything. Nope that’s literally how it ends. Ultimately, the ending accomplished what it set out to do — hook readers for book 2. I read this via audiobook, and while I really enjoyed Brittany Pressley’s narration, I wish I had combo eyeball/audiobook read it. There were so many characters that I had difficulties at times keeping the characters straight. That said, it was still enjoyable and entirely possible to enjoy the audiobook only.

I loved that we got so many POVs, I loved how we knew things before the characters. I loved the short chapters and the writing style. I loved the characters, the Fae world, the different creatures. I loved the overall plot, it kept me invested and curious and kept me reading until very late. I just loved this book so much I can’t wait to eventually hold it. I also still have so many questions, need more and I am really looking forward to the next book.

The narration was superb. I loved the narrator and all the voices for the different POVs.

After reading this book, I preordered the book for my shelves. I loved the voice for the audiobook. She did an amazing job and sounded exactly how I would see Bristol. Bristol is funny and witty and has no clue that fae existed. She also has no idea why her parents were always on the run when she was younger and learns that she really had no idea WHO her parents were. or are? All Bristol knows is she is supposed to be able to close a door. Simple right? Not a lot to ask of a simple mortal. I enjoyed hearing Bristol discover the fae and go through training to be able to close this portal. She also learns that her father is possibly not really dead and may have been taken to this world. She hopes to find her father and help the fae king Tyghan save his people. She and Tyghan have something going on between them that the Fae nobles are not happy with. Especially since they happen to know who her parents are really and they are very fearful of Bristol. But she is their only hope to save the kingdom.

I couldn't put the book down and I am very excited for the next book. Thank you Flatiron Books for providing this book for review consideration via NetGalley. All opinions are my own.

Firstly, we'd like to thank NetGalley and the publisher for generously providing this advanced listener copy in exchange for our honest thoughts.

Bristol Keats and her family have lived a life on the run. She’s not sure what they have been running from, but it’s the only life she and her sisters have ever known.

After tragically losing both her parents, Bristol begins to receive letters from a mysterious aunt who says she can help her and her sisters.

But, Bristol soon discovers that everything she thought she knew about her family were lies and that her father may still be alive.

Bristol sets out to find her father and help save a world she didn’t even know existed.

An enthusiastic YES! I loved this book so much! I can’t wait to get my hands on it and I’ll be impatiently waiting for the second one as well.

I’m so glad I got an ARC approval for the audiobook. The combination of Pearson’s exceptional writing and the narrator's incredible delivery made this an all-time favorite. The writing is amazing, and the narrator absolutely nailed it—exactly how I imagine Mary E Pearson wanted it to be heard.
The world in this book is hands down one of the most atmospheric fantasy settings I’ve ever come across.

With so many fae and romantasy books released lately, it’s been tough finding one that truly stands out, but this book absolutely does. Pearson balances the plot and romance perfectly. The tension between the characters is spot on, and there are just enough spicy scenes without it taking away from the story. The romance is beautifully developed, never felt rushed, and the relationship between the characters feels natural and well-earned. Best of all, the romance complements the plot rather than overshadowing it.

The book ends on a cliffhanger, but not the kind that leaves you hanging by a thread. There’s still so much left to explore in this world, and I’m thrilled that this is going to be a duology—my favorite format! I can’t wait to dive back into this world and see how all the lingering questions are answered.

An amazing combination of fantasy, mystery, romance, and adventure with a previously unknown world filled with magical creatures, a determined and headstrong FMC trying to save her family, and a powerful MMC with secrets to hide. What an amazing world!

Bristol Keats and her sisters have been trying to stay afloat since their parents died, but when Bristol finds out her father may still be alive and is offered the chance find him and earn money for her family she takes it even if it means going to a magical world filled with creatures she didn’t know existed. While there she learns her parents were keeping secrets from her and her sisters and those secrets begin to unravel.

This book is exceptionally well written with such a unique concept. I loved the concept of this hidden world right under our noses. I think Bristol accepted the fact that there were magical creatures living amongst her family a little quickly, but it was done in such a way that Bristol had always felt her family was different so to her it made sense. I really liked the relationship between Bristol and Tyghan, I feel like there was a good amount of early tension and chemistry but it didn’t take them too long to get together. As the FMC I found Bristol to be very likable, I understood her personal motivation throughout the story.

There is still so much left to wrap up in this story, many of the mysteries are still unsolved and the ending seemed abrupt, I wouldn’t say it was a traditional cliffhanger where something big happens at the last minute and leaves the reader in total suspense, it seemed more like a chapter ending, but I do like where things are headed.

I saw that this is going to be a duology and I’m really excited by that. I love that we get to return to this world but also that I will be seeing the answers to all the questions this book raised in the next without reading a seven book series. I’m really excited to continue on and can’t wait for the next book!

I listened to the audiobook ARC of this and I thought the narrator did an amazing job. The voices were unique and she really pulled you into the world. I would definitely look for more books with her as the narrator.

Thank you to Net Galley and MacMillan Audio for the audiobook ARC.

i was so invested in the book and then it ended so suddenly. i had to check my paperback copy to make sure the audiobook wasn't missing chapers. omg. that was so mean. hahah now i have to wait who knows how long to find out what happens. 😭😭😭 i can't wait to get my hands on book 2 even though this one doesn't release for a couple months. ♡

the book was pretty good tho, very chonky. everytime they mentioned elfhame i could only think of the cruel prince series. 😅 i like bristol very much as a main character.

thanks to netgalley for the ARC audiobook.
#netgalley #arc #arcread #thecourtingofbristolkeats

Adventurous and fast paced. A glimpse into a magical word with characters that are likeable albeit a bit shallow in development. The pace of the story line keeps things moving along, there's not much to digest otherwise though. There isn't a ton of complex world building and the characters backgrounds are left to be a bit of a mystery that you only uncover as the story unfolds. A entertaining, fantasy enemies to lovers romance read with twists and plot line shifts. I feel like this title is a quick weekend read that can be addictive and hard to put down. The audiobook has fantastic narration that was pleasant to listen too. Those who enjoy Sarah J Maas will find this title to be within the realm. Thank you Netgalley and Macmillan Audio for access to the audiobook edition of this ARC.

Thanks to NetGalley and Macmillan Audio for the ALC. and I would give this closer to 3.5 stars

This story started out strong and with good pacing, but then just kind of slowed down and started to fall flat.

There was A LOT of miscommunication/lack of communication trope, that made sense in the beginning, but then after our FMC and MMC told each other they loved each other, it didn’t make sense to keep things hidden.

This was definitely a build up for the series, but after the initial moment of Bristol being whisked away to Faerie and learning things there, it was just a lot of nothing. Then it just ended.

I did love the narrator. She did a wonderful job, and I liked the small chapters of seeing things from other character’s and creature’s POVs. I’d probably read or listen to the next book, but I can’t say it would be a high priority.

My absolute, number one reason to read this book is the creatures. In this world, almost all of the creatures are humanoids to at least some degree. There is the human/mortal world and beyond the veil the leads to various fae kingdoms. Our main girl Bristol gets the shock of her life when she discovers the Fae, and other monsters that creep in the night, are real, her parents are big ol’ liars, and her whole life has been a facade. About here is when we meet the very mysterious Tyghan. (Insert mischievous eyebrow raises because we know where this is headed.) Tyghan and Bristol are oil and water, neither giving any leeway to the other which makes some fantastic banter.

I had a really good time in this story. It’s no secret, I’m here for the creatures. I want to know so much more about absolutely everything. The ending, not satisfying in the least – Pearson did it on PURPOSE! WTF left my mouth several times in those last handful of pages. I have so many questions. The audiobook was easy to listen to. I easily got lost within the story and recommend it.

Thank you to NetGalley, Mary E. Pearson, and Macmillan audio for this audiobook ARC.

Holy crap this book was just captivating and thoroughly enchanting, and I loved every minute of it! It definitely didn’t disappoint and I lost myself in this one.

2.5 Stars ✨

Adult Fantasy

“Unforgivable is a tricky word, only you can decide what that means- not kings or councils. Forgiveness is a thing of the heart and every heart is wounded and mended in its own way.”

Audio Version 🎧 Via Netgalley
Narration 5/5

Thank you to Netgalley and the publisher for this advanced audio copy of The Courting of Bristol Keats, in exchange for an honest review.

I was super excited to snag an audio arc of Courting Bristol Keats as it was one of my most anticipated reads. Pearson has been an auto read author for me over the years. I have enjoyed her writing, her strong characters and storytelling. In the past, she has written YA books - well surprise… she has crossed over (maybe just for this series?) to hit an older more adult audience. This book is most definitely not a YA.

I really enjoyed the story, it was engaging and about a mortal girl crossing over to the Fae lands to make a deal to save her family and find her father she thought was dead. It reminded me a little bit of The Cruel Prince . The characters were likable and I enjoyed the romance and how it developed. It was your typical enemies to lovers - forbidden romance trope.

What I didn’t like was all the spicy bits and language. I feel like this book would have been just as good and better without it. It definitely would been a solid 4 star read for me if not for certain things. I see more and more authors going this route and it’s frustrating to me. There were also some holes in the plot and a few things I felt could have been explained a little better but that part didn’t bother me too much. And the ending…. I can honestly say, in all the books I have ever read none have ended the way this one ended 😳 like whyyyy??? It’s definitely got me scratching my head in wonder. Overall, I enjoyed the story just wish I could recommend it 🫤

Content ⚠️
-language
-sexual content
-small lgbt rep

I absolutely loved this book! Mary e Pearson is my favorite author. And I have been waiting to read this book for so long! And I was not disappointed! The world building is so good! And the romance was the perfect amount. I was not a huge fan of the spice but everything else was beyond perfect. And the narrator for this book did a great job!

4.5 STARS
Thank you so much to Flatiron and MacMillan Audio for the ARC of the book and the audiobook!!

I loved loved loved this!! Mary E. Pearson is a MASTER at world building as well as creating memorable characters. The Fae creatures in this story are all unique and have their own quirks, magics, and fun one liners. The romance is a beautifully crafted enemies to lovers. I love how the characters must work through betrayal and revenge, while also navigating a political landscape which added a lot to the story.

I enjoyed the magical school aspect, with the hidden magics needing to be uncovered. I felt that even though it was an important aspect of the plot, it was not constantly drilled into you and was not repetitive.

There are a lot of Fae stories coming out lately, with each author trying to make their story unique and stand out while being alongside all the other stories. Few have pulled it off in my opinion, but Pearson has!! She has taken the Fae world and made it her own. I cared deeply about all of the characters, despite not trusting many of them which is always a fun ride: wanting to care about all the characters, but also not fully trusting all of them...waiting to see whose true colors are going to shine through.

The ending was VERY abrupt (hence the half star) but I am SO excited for book #2 and excited to see where the story takes our beloved Bri!!!

3.75 ⭐️
Some spice towards the end but don’t go into for the spice.

Tropes:
• Adult Fantasy
• Reluctant Allies
• Enemies to Lovers
• Morelly grey MMC
• Slowburn
• Forbidden Romance

I LOVE mary pearson and her books. The remnant chronicles is still my favorite series to this day. Herr writing in this book was just like her other books.

IF SHE WRITES IT, IMMA READ IT.

This followed our fmc bristol who made a deal with king tk help him and he would try to search for her father. Her father that she thought was dead and only recently discovered maybe wasn’t dead.

I loved this book and i thought the plot was so well done. i truly love mary’s writing and how solid everything is. The pacing and worldbuilding were so good.

My one con about this book is that I HATED the spice. It felt so disjointed from the book. It disrupted the flow for me every single time. I would honestly preferred if it they didn’t exist and this book were YA.

In The Courting of Bristol Keats, we meet the titular Bristol, as she works to repair her and her sisters' lives in the small town of Bowskeep after their mother disappeared and their father suddenly died after being hit by a car. Bristol has been receiving letters from someone claiming to be her aunt, although neither of her parents had siblings, and curiosity and poverty get the better of her once the most recent letter promises a rare painting in return for her presence. As you might imagine, the meeting with Bristol's aunt is not as simple as it seemed and she finds herself making a bargain with the Fae to try and help save their world and maybe even find her father.

I had a good time throughout this book, although the beats of the story will feel pretty familiar to anyone who has been in the fantasy/romance genre for even a little while. I did find myself rather overwhelmed by the sheer number of characters throughout the book. I listened to this as an audiobook and wished I'd had a cast of characters to be able to keep everyone straight.

We have a host of recruits, who are all folks from the mortal realm who have been recruited into Danu, the area of Elfame where Bristol finds herself. These include Avery, Julia, Hollis, Sashka, and Rose. We have Tyghun, the current king of Danu and eventual love interest of Bristol, and his band of knights including his sister Melisand, her girlfriend and merperson Costa, Cully, Glynniss, Quin and others I know I haven't forgotten. We have the Tyghun's advisors including Eris and Madame Chastain. Tyghun's brother, Cale, has been taken by Cormik, our big bad of the story and leader of an undead army. Additionally, we have the council of Danu including Sorba, a lord who keeps wanting to kill of Bristol, Lady Berrington, Lord Alistair, and Sloan. Not to mention some others that pop up here and there like Fritz, a mysterious ferret shape shifter, King Roderick of one of the other Fae lands, Georgina, his daughter who also happens to be the mayor of Bowskeep, and Lord Fentley, who is Julia's brief love interest.

The sprawling cast of characters made it tough to understand where the story was going and felt like there were several loose ends that got abandoned throughout - like what's going on with the Council these days? Where are the other kings that weren't Roderick?

The audiobook narrator does a fantastic job though with a giant cast of characters being able to give a unique voice to each one and I really appreciated her stewardship throughout the book.

I'll likely check out the next one in this series - unlike some of the other folks, I was actually pleased with how it ended and thought it was a nice change of pace from some of the other books out there that leave you with massive cliffhangers.

Thank you very much to NetGalley and Macmillan Audio for the advanced copy of the book.