Chamber Press Issue #2

CHAMBER PRESS

spring 2023

VESPER INTERVIEW & SHOW REVIEW PG 22

interview with arcane ghosts

LOVELESS

TAYLOR SWIFT THE ERAS TOUR PG 10

PIERCE THE VEIL

waterparks photos + review

CHAMBER PRESS STAFF

ASHLEY REYES

editor-in-chief / photographer

currently listening: savages by catch your breath

BRANDI TROMBLI photographer

currently listening: new england palm trees by wind walkers

OLIVIA ROBINSON photographer

currently listening: fire and brimstone by ghetts

BREANA MARSHALL photographer

currently listening: let me let you go by one ok rock

INTERESTED IN CONTRIBUTING WRITING OR PHOTOGRAPHY?

email: ashley@chamberpress.org

PARKWAY DRIVE RETURNS TO US FOR FIRST TIME IN FOUR YEARS

Hailing from Australia, Parkway Drive embarked on their first US tour since before the pandemic took over At the end of January, they started their tour with Currents and Memphis May Fire in Los Angeles and made their way across the states, landing in Nashville, TN on February 14th, playing a sold out Marathon Music Works with 1700 tickets sold

I went into the show with no previous experience listening to Currents or Parkway Drive Wanting to experience it for the first time in person, I chose to go in without listening to them beforehand. For both bands, the experience was amazing and worth the wait.

Currents started off the night and before they took the stage, the crowd was already screaming with excitement and I knew I was in for a good set They set a great mood for the night before Memphis May Fire took the stage afterwards

Memphis May Fire

Memphis May Fire

Their performance was amazing, as to be expected from watching them perform several times over the years Their setlist was mostly comprised of songs from their most recent album, Remade In Misery, but the closed out the night with a crowd favorite - The Sinnerfrom their twelve-year-old album The Hollow Vocalist Matty Mullins told the crowd to jump when he said to and on his mark, the entire room was bouncing, showing that the fans still love the old music as much as the new

After cancelling US tours for the past few years due to covid, Parkway Drive finally return to the states in honor of their most recent album, Darker Still Before they even started, it was clear that fans missed them as they cheered their name Once they started, the crowd screamed even louder, and the crowd surfing began with bodies flying over the barricade nonstop throughout their set It was a wild, heavy, and amazing hour and a half full of songs that spanned back sixteen years, and fans knew every word as they screamed along

THE PLOT IN YOU FILLS ROOM IN EASTSIDE BOWL

Australian openers Banks Arcade started the night off right with a fun set that got the crowd moving Their music had a mix of several genres combined which created a cool sound that works well for them, and the fans in the crowd agreed. Despite being the first band and from another country, there were eager fans singing along in the crowd

Thornhill, also from Australia, took the stage next Excitement over their performance started before the tour when fans took to telling others how fun their set would be and the rumors weren’t wrong. There were nonstop pits and the set ended in a massive circle pit, showcasing how fans truly enjoyed their set

All the way from the UK, Holding Absence came on directly before The Plot In You, and it was not their first time in Nashville. The band previously toured with Silverstein and The Amity Affliction last year, with a crowd of about the same number of people

REVIEW AND PHOTOGRAPHY BY ASHLEY REYES

Banks Arcade

Thornhill

Thornhill

Vocalist Lucas Woodland is known for his wild energy on stage that captures audiences’ attention and he didn’t disappoint this time No matter how long their set was, he kept kicking until the end (literally) The front row was full of people screaming along and fully engaged in their incredible performance Their crowd had only grown since the last time they were here

After not seeing The Plot In You perform for eleven years, I was eager to finally see them again Between then and now, the band had released four albums, and they played a mix of songs from all of those Though I didn’t get to see the music I listened to back then, it was incredible to watch them perform again and their newer music is insanely good Their set included fifteen songs and a crazy fun light show that, while difficult to shoot through as a photographer, was exciting to watch from the crowd. Landon’s passion for the music is shown in his performance and they’re a band that needs to be witnessed live.

KEMIKALFIRE PLAYS FIRST NASHVILLE SHOW TOGETHER

REVIEW AND PHOTOGRAPHY BY ASHLEY REYES

Kemikalfire was only formed in 2022 and together have only played a few shows, but seeing them live, you would think that they have been at it for years The drummer of Lit, Taylor Carroll, and the drummer of Halestorm, Arejay Hale, joined forces to create Kemikalfire, where Carroll plays guitar and sings, and Arejay sings while drumming They played their first Nashville show at The Basement East on May 3rd, with locals Winona Fighter starting the show with a bang and energizing the crowd.

Doors opened at seven and fans were lining up outside to get spots up front, eager to see the duo, most for the first time The energy was there from the band and fans from the second they took the stage Arejay is a beast on the drums It’s rare to see a drummer that also sings, but for Kemikalfire, it works. Their voices fit well together in the screaming and singing, creating incredible songs Both have incredible stage presence after years of being in their own bands In a special surprise, Ajay Popoff, the vocalist of Lit, joined the band during their third song

Winona Fighter

Kemikalfirel

Kemikalfire

Since the band has only released one song, Dead and Gone, fans didn’t have words to sing along to, but the love they felt for the band and the excitement they felt to be there could be felt throughout the room With solid production and chemistry, Kemikalfire has a wealth of potential to grow from here, with big things coming their way Their songs sounded incredible live, prompting excitement from us and fans for more releases, hopefully soon They will blow up, so make sure to catch them when they eventually tour in your area

Kemikalfire

Kemikalfire

Kemikalfire

S C E N E Q U E E N B R I N G S B I M B O C O R E T O N A S H V L L E F O R T H E F I R S T T I M E

RIVALS In Her Own Words

Following Scene Queen since 2020, I was thrilled when she announced she’d be on tour with Set It Off, and it would head to Nashville, TN on May 14th Since the start of her gaining traction on TikTok, I had waited three years to see her live and have the chance to photograph her. It was entirely worth the wait

RIVALS and In Her Own Words opened the night with a sold-out crowd at Eastside Bowl They both put out killer performances that clearly captivated the audience The room was filled to the back, and the mezzanine up top was filled with the overflow of people. You could hear people excitedly singing along with the openers

In Her Own Words

RIVALS

REVIEW AND PHOTOGRAPHY BY ASHLEY REYES

When Scene Queen’s band started to take the stage, screams followed She opened up with her song Pink Whitney and played a plethora of songs named after her favorite color, pink. She performed her recent song 18+, which has been a big hit on TikTok, and Cody Carson of Set It Off joined her to perform their collaboration song, Barbie & Ken Before her third song, she told the crowd about her famous twerkle pits, asking them to join in during her song and demonstrating the proper form One of the most inspiring moments of the show was when she used her time on stage to speak against the state’s proposed drag ban, her bandmates even changed into dresses before they performed a cover of Katy Perry’s I Kissed A Girl With her stage presence and confidence, she comes off as a natural-born performer, and hopefully, more tours are on the horizon She’s not afraid to call out the hardships women face in the music industry and her music is unique, refreshing, and hard to replicate correctly

Scene Queen

Scene Queen

Scene Queen

Scene Queen

T A Y L O R S W I F T L I G H T S U P N I S S A N S T A D I U M O N S O L D O U T T O U R

REVIEW AND PHOTOGRAPHY BY ASHLEY REYES

The chaos around Taylor Swift’s The Eras Tour started in November with millions seeking tickets within minutes of them being on pre-sale Her stadium tour broke many records, the first being the highest single-day ticket sales in history When she brought her tour to Nissan Stadium in Nashville on May 5th, she broke the record for the highest single-day attendance.

The Eras Tour started in March and will continue to August, bringing various artists as openers for different dates, with Gracie Abrams and Phoebe Bridgers starting off the night in Nashville They both did a fantastic job at making sure the night started off right, engaging with their fans in the crowd as they sang along Gracie made sure to wave and blow kisses at fans while full of smiles, and Phoebe went off stage to greet the crowd, stopping in front of a jumping and screaming fan.

Fans at the concert knew the song that played before Taylor planned to take the stage, as they immediately screamed and leaped into the air when they heard Lady Gaga through the speakers After the song, a countdown started, which lead to dancers walking down the catwalk with giant fans attached behind them. Eventually, a vibrant, smiling Taylor Swift appeared in the middle of the fans

Gracie Abrams

Gracie Abrams

Phoebe Bridgers

She immediately jumped into her Lover era, donning a sparkling one-piece suit After her first full song, Cruel Summer, she transitioned into The Man with two dancers placing a dazzling blazer on her, quickly transforming her outfit in her first of many outfit changes

I knew that a Taylor Swift show would come with an amazing night and high-quality production, but it went beyond any expectations I had set To start, it was evident that her setlist and costumes were meticulously planned with the other in mind, given her ability to change on the spot during one of her albums to keep the vibe for the album but change to match the song Her massive stage had a moving platform towards the middle which was able to display graphics, including a car shown during Blank Space that dancers hit with a glowing golf club. The most impressive part of the thoughtful planning was the synchronized bracelets that lit up the stadium on tens of thousands of people’s wrists. The gigantic screen behind her not only showed her performance to people in the back but also displayed visuals that helped the aesthetic of her songs, which were incredibly fun to watch and added to the already mesmerizing performance. During album changes, when she was changing behind the scenes, the screen played videos that hinted at the next album which kept the fans guessing which album was being performed next.

Taylor Swift

Taylor Swift

Taylor Swift

Her three-hour performance had several memorable moments While performing marjorie, a song written for her grandma, the room teared up with Taylor, and the stadium was lit by phone flashlights Fans showed their support after by screaming so loud that Taylor couldn’t talk for several minutes afterward Instead, she smiled at the audience and showed appreciation through her joyous facial expressions while soaking in the crowd’s love She talked about writing songs as a young teenager while in school and being supported in her career by her mother before performing a beautiful piano rendition of Teardrops On My Guitar At one point, fire was puffed into the air through a machine seemingly by the lighting, shocking fans with the fun, unexpected surprise She brought Phoebe Bridgers on stage to perform Nothing New and they looked at each other with such love and admiration At another point in her performance, her dancers rode bicycles on the stage while she stood above them on her raised platform, showing more proof of her crew’s talent and dedication Shortly before her surprise performance songs, she stunned and excited the audience with the news of Taylor’s Version of Speak Now which will be released on July 7th

Taylor Swift

Taylor Swift

Taylor Swift

Through all forty-five songs on her setlist, Taylor Swift’s talent and passion shined in every move she made and every word she sang There was never a dull moment during her performance and despite singing and dancing for three hours straight, her energy kept up the entire night until the show ended with unexpected fireworks Seeing her live is truly an experience that everyone needs to see once in their life

Taylor Swift

Taylor Swift

Taylor Swift

Taylor Swift

GETTOKNOW:

ArcaneGhosts

Toronto-based high energy alternative band

Interview By: Ashley Reyes

Q: Some of your songs from your EP were released years ago, what has the writing and recording process been like for this EP throughout the years?

A: For Distant Youth, the writing and recording process remained consistent despite the gaps between recording songs. Most of it was written through more of a quiet setting with all of us in a room (taking the proper precautions due to COVID), as opposed to jamming as a full band due to losing our preferred option because we rented studios by the hour. This change allowed us to hear every single part properly whether a guitar riff or a vocal hook, and consequently we created our strongest music because of it.

Q: What are some bands that have influenced your music?

A: The band that has the biggest influence on our music is easily Dance Gavin Dance, but some other bands that influence our music in some way are Green Day, blink-182 and Tiny Moving Parts, Mayday Parade, All Time Low, Cartel and many more. In another general sense, we more so like to look at it as taking influence from genres rather than specific artists. A lot of Distant Youth was influenced by some indie/alt rock aesthetics, math rock guitar riffs and the general essence of pop music by writing the catchiest riffs and vocal hooks we could at the time.

Q: Are there any tours currently in the works?

A: Sadly not… we’re mainly just playing shows around our home of Toronto for the time being. However, that could change depending on who’s reading this and takes an interest in us. Maybe a booking agent will like us? Someone who works for a label? We’ll just have to wait and see.

Photo By: Jordy Clarke

Q: What was your favorite song from the EP to work on?

A: For me (Steven) it was definitely our song Rollercoaster. I strongly believed in the potential of it when Jason first showed us the initial riff (which opens the song), and it was immediately mind-blowing. I thought to myself, “Holy shit… this is a hit. I can’t believe Jason wrote something this catchy.”. It basically set something off in me where my writing just really flowed with it, and I was able to write some really cool bass lines around that initial idea

Q: How has your music changed from your debut EP to your current EP?

A: To put it simply, everything is just better There’s stronger and more memorable riffs, catchier and more melodic vocal hooks, more nuanced and deeper lyrics…. Our production has also improved drastically as well as our general understanding of what makes a good song. It all takes time but it seems like Arcane Ghosts is truly hitting its stride

Q: What has been the most difficult part of bringing this EP to life?

A: This EP was written during a worldwide pandemic Looking back, it was so complicated to write in the same room due to all the restrictions that were in place by the law. In order to write solid riffs, we tried many times to have zoom calls with each other to experiment with different riffs, but there were factors involved that we couldn't control such as background noise and frequent latency in the video. Prior to Distant Youth, Jason would write about 75% of the song and have it completed and bring it to the band, but this time around everyone was a part of the process of writing each song from start to finish.

Q: Which music video has been your favorite to create?

A: It would have to be the newest one “Paralyzed”, which is the song that’s being released for the first time (the other four songs were released as singles beforehand). We shot the video earlier this year, and there were so many different locations ranging from Burlington beaches to Hamilton industrials and a house we rented for the whole day in Oakville. We wanted to create a music video where the visuals do all the talking, and our video director/cameraman Roberto Spadafora did a wonderful job of doing that

N A S H V I L L E L O C A L S , V E S P E R , P E R F O R M F I R S T S H O W A S F U L L B A N D

Vesper

REVIEW AND PHOTOGRAPHY BY ASHLEY REYES

After seeing Vesper live on stage for the first time, you’d doubt it was their first time performing together. Despite some early technical difficulties, their performance went well, drawing in a room full of people that you wouldn’t expect for a band’s first show together Their talent and passions showed on stage and it was visibly that they put everything into their performance Vocalist Janie White’s singing live matched the beautiful voice you hear in her recorded music and she brings a rush of energy to her performance

The packed crowd moved along to the music, showcasing their enjoyment despite some of their songs being unreleased They included a cover of Taylor Swift’s You Belong With Me that did the original justice, and performed their released songs, Dirt and Pulling Teeth, which was incredible to witness live for the first time We can only hope that there are more shows and new music in the near future

Vesper

Vesper

Vesper Vesper

Vesper

Vesper

GETTOKNOW:

Vesper

Nashville-based alternative band

Interview By: Ashley Reyes

How was it playing your first full band show together?

Janie: It was so much fun. I’ll remember it forever. I didn’t expect the amount of support we had and it was such a special night Obviously it wasn’t perfect and I’m excited to polish things up more, but for a first show, I’m very happy. There were a few things that I was terrified of happening, like my in-ears disconnecting or messing a song up so bad that we had to stop, etc, but luckily none of my “worst case scenarios” happened. We will always be improving and I can’t wait to see how Vesper shows evolve

Hunter: It was so sick. I love hitting stuff.

Tristen: It was a fun show. I broke a string though. Matheus: It was sickkkk

How did each of you discover you had musical abilities?

Janie: I think I just always sang, not sure about an exact moment.

Hunter: I discovered my musical ability through playing rock band way too much.

Tristen: Music has always been important in my life so I begged for a guitar when I was a kid and got my first acoustic for Christmas and taught myself how to play!

Matheus: I grew up learning how to play and write from my dad

If you could release a song with anyone, past or present, who would it be?

Janie: Yungblood

Hunter: I would love to release a song with Tosin Abasi

Tristen: I would love to release a song with Donald Glover

Matheus: Porter Robinson

Who or what influences the music you write for Vesper?

Janie: Definitely whatever I’m going through at the time.

What lyric of yours means the most to you?

Janie: Anything from “DIRT”, I can’t pick!

Hunter: “My brain tells me nobody likes me First to the party, first to leave”

Tristen: Nightmare *screams externally*

Matheus: First to the party, first to leave

Can we expect new music to be released soon?

Janie: Hopefully! Don’t have any dates yet but trying to release stuff ASAP but also not trying to rush it

Hunter: Uuuuummmmmmm

Tristen: Who’s to say

Matheus: Shit yeah Bobby

What are your top three favorite bands to listen to right now?

Janie: Sleeping With Sirens, Yungblud, & Softcult

Hunter: Pepperwood, V3RN, and Vesper make the best music right now

Tristen: Benches, Carpool Tunnel, Flipturn

Matheus: Nightly, Knuckle Puck, U2

What is the biggest barrier you’ve faced so far for forming the band and releasing music?

Janie: Getting over my own insecurities about pursuing music.

Hunter: Scheduling Finding one time for 4 adults with day jobs to get together sucks

Tristen: Finding a moment that works for all us to meet up! It’s hard working full time jobs and being able to meet often

Matheus: Finding time to meet between everyone’s busy schedules

If you could perform at any festival in the world, which would it be?

Janie: I would love to play a rock festival in Europe! I’m not super knowledgeable about festivals, but they seem like a blast!

Hunter: Vans Warped Tour (RIP)

Tristen: Definitely Lollapalooza! I enjoy Chicago a lot

Matheus: Reading/Leeds, Glastonbury, Slam Dunk, or any big UK fest

REVIEW AND PHOTOGRAPHY BY ASHLEY REYES

W A T E R P A R K S ' T H E P R O P E R T Y T O U R S E L L S O U T B R O O K L Y N B O W L

Elliot Lee Two weeks after releasing their new album Intellectual Property, Waterparks stopped in Nashville, TN on The Property Tour with Hunny. Our date was opened by Elliot Lee, who joined the tour on May 12th, and it was their second-tolast day of the tour, despite the tour continuing for a few more weeks

It was clear from the moment they took the stage that Elliot Lee was the perfect choice to start the night. Not only was their music a fun mix of pop, rock, and electronic elements, but they also put on a show that fans enjoyed Fans showed their enjoyment by dancing, screaming between songs, and holding up their phone flashlights unprompted during a beautiful, emotional song

Hunny took the stage next, and their music was unexpected and unique, in a good way. Their stage presence was fun to watch, and their music had pop/rock vibes with a hint of sound that resembled music from the 80s, and it all worked well for them

Hunny

Hunny

Waterparks Waterparks

My expectations for Waterparks’ set were high once I saw the stage set up, which was reminiscent of the one I saw for Bring Me The Horizon months ago The drummer was on a high-up platform, the front of the stage had platforms, and the back had a platform with stairs which the guitarist used Behind the band was a wall with electronic, framed screens that played cohesive images in the background The bands’ visuals on their albums have always been colorbased and stunning, due to vocalist Awsten Knight’s synesthesia Their visuals on the stage brought it all to life and created a visually stunning set

Whether it’s through social media platforms like Twitter and TikTok, or in person at his shows, Awsten Knight has cemented himself as a fun person with an amazing personality, and it shows through the performance in different ways He first came on stage wearing a winter coat despite it being hot and humid outside, and he took every chance to have fun and memorable interactions with fans, something he does at every show He took fan requests for acoustic songs, created a pit that took up the entire floor and had the crowd cheer him on for drinking water, showcasing why their concert should be witnessed live I have been to Brooklyn Bowl for many shows, but they’ve put on the best one I’ve seen so far, with the most incredible production value Like the hundreds of fans in the crowd, it’s a night that’ll be burned into my brain forever

Waterparks

P I E R C E T H E V E I L P E R F O R M S F O R T H O U S A N D S A T N A S H V I L L E A U D I T O R I U M

A few months ago, Pierce The Veil and The Used announced their co-headlining tour The Creative Control Tour The tour brought Don Broco as their direct support and split the dates for the opener between Deathbyromy and girlfriends

Deathbyromy’s first tour started a week prior when they joined Pierce The Veil and The Used on the road. If they had never mentioned that during their set, I would’ve had no idea Their performance is powerful, inspiring, and incredible, for several reasons It is made clear that singer Romy Flores is a compassionate human being, bravely speaking out for trans rights in a state historically unkind to the LGBTQ+ community. She called for security during the middle of the set when she saw something happening in the crowd and managed to not even miss a beat, and took the time after the song to pronounce, “don’t touch people who don’t want to be touched ” The chemistry she has with the rest of the band is intense and it is clear by fan reaction both in the auditorium and online that Deathbyromy is captivating everyone, only growing with each date they perform.

REVIEW AND PHOTOGRAPHY BY ASHLEY REYES

Deathbyromy

Don Broco

Don Broco

By the time Don Broco started their set, the room was packed to the back with thousands of people So full that vocalist Rob Damiani had to stop the set to check on fans and encourage people to take a step back. Despite the crowded room, he managed to inspire the crowd to jump and sing along with him He gives a fun, danceoriented performance, and the music has almost an 80s vibe to it, including his outfit on stage

A half-hour later, Pierce The Veil hit the stage with an explosive entrance After the curtain dropped, confetti was thrown from canons into the crowd, and massive cheers erupted. Their hour-long set was full of many fun surprises and unexpected moments Having seen them six years ago, I was excited to see how they’ve changed and how they’ve stayed the same Like before, they still have an insane amount of energy on stage, performing constant jumps into the air. Since then, they’ve increased their production and added newer songs that were well-received by the audience Every night, they bring a fan on stage to sing a portion of Hold On Till May to, and when they brought Ashlynn on stage in Nashville, she was gifted with Vic’s guitar after the song finished During their performance of Circles, they stunned the crowd by having fog canons that shot circles into the crowd, which were enhanced by the fact that they reflected the stage lights in their coloring During Circles, the band also managed to get thousands of people to follow along clapping and waving their hands in the air, which was a beautiful sight Hopefully, we see more of all of these bands in the next year and beyond

Pierce The Veil

Pierce The Veil

Pierce The Veil

L O V E L E S S S E L L S O U T T H E B A S E M E N T E A S T O N T H E I R W O R L D T O U R

Taylor Acorn

REVIEW AND PHOTOGRAPHY BY ASHLEY REYES

Loveless is embarking on a world tour in 2023 and the first part in the United States takes place in the early summer with Taylor Acorn, and they stopped at The Basement East in Nashville, TN on June 1st, selling out the five-hundred-person capacity venue.

Taylor Acorn performed a half-hour set to warm up the crowd, and they went wild for her set She writes incredibly relatable songs, such as Coma, which she said refers to a bad relationship her mom had, which led the audience to voice support for her, and Certified Depressant, which she mentioned is about her severe anxiety and depression Her realism warmed the hearts of all around her She performed a beautiful acoustic rendition of Mayday Parade’s Jamie All Over and proclaimed that she wouldn’t be here without the song During her acoustic performance, the audience lit up their flashlights and waved them in support.

Taylor Acorn

Taylor Acorn

People were so excited to see Loveless perform that they started lining up hours before the doors were set to open. No one was let down that night. Vocalist Julian Comeau came out on stage with a burst of energy, jumping and exciting fans in the crowd Not only did he keep up his energy the entire night, despite impressively wearing a jacket in the heat, but he paid attention to the crowd He managed to not leave anyone out, even paying attention to fans that were on the side of the stage, and he spoke to a fan in the crowd who held up a sign saying it was their first concert He also responded to fans shouting out they love him several times, and kept everyone engaged

Each time they started a song, fans cheered and started to sing along. With two million followers, the band is famous through the app TikTok, and this tour has proved that fans stick around for more than the covers and shows how the app can help bands grow their reach Hopefully the success of their world tour brings more tours afterward

Loveless

Loveless

Loveless

Book Review

by Ashley Reyes

BEAUTIFULLY CRUEL

j.t. geissinger

J.T. Geissinger has been one of my favorite romance authors since I first read her novel Perfect Strangers. She has managed to perfect the skill of writing romance with a twist, and she delves into several sub-genres of romance

Beautifully Cruel followed a waitress named Truvy and a mysterious, welldressed man named Liam who eats at her restaurant just to see her, all while ignoring her flirting. One night, he saves her from an attack, which starts off their whirlwind romance

Liam Black scares everyone except Truvy, which is part of why he is drawn to her. We get a duel point-of-view at times to learn this information and see things through both eyes. She usually writes stories where the main characters fall into bed and relationships almost instantly, an d this one was a little slower than normal, but I loved the story between them.

In typical fashion, the story ended with a twist that leads to a happy ending, and sets the tone for a second novel, Cruel Paradise. If you like well written sex scenes and dark characters, you'll love this book.

Book Review

by Ashley Reyes

THE DEAL

The Deal by Elle Kennedy was my introduction to not only her as an author, but the popular romance sub-genre of hockey romance, which has taken TikTok by storm. The Deal introduces us to the hockey team at Briar U, all of which appear further in the series and in the spin-offs.

Garrett Graham is struggling in school, which threatens his chances of playing hockey, and searches for tutoring help in fellow classmate Hannah Wells. Hannah adamantly refuses until he offers her something she can't resists: the attention of the boy she really wants.

After suffering past trauma, Hannah struggles to put herself out there and date. While helping to get her out of her shell, Hannah and Garrett end up falling together...repeatedly. Garrett is Hannah's perfect match, but now he has to convince her that he can be a changed man for her.

I didn't think I'd so into hockey romance, but I loved it so much that I spent the month of April reading the entire series. Elle Kennedy manages to make you fall for all of her characters, and writes their steamy romances well, without focusing on toxic characters and instead focusing on characters that learn and grow.

Movie Review

by Ashley Reyes

BEAUTIFUL DISASTER

based on the novel

When I first got into the genre of romance books with a little bit of spice to them, Beautiful Disaster was the first one for me Enemies to lovers with sexual tension? Yes please! Unfortunately, the movie didn't deliver as much as the book did. Though, the characters were way less toxic in the film than the book.

Beautiful Disaster follows Abby Abernathy as she tries to reinvent herself and attend college. She meets Travis Maddox, who is immediately smitten by her, but of course the player doesn't know what he truly wants from her. She looses a bet and ends up spending thirty days staying with him, and the movie made it go by too fast

The movie, much like the After series adapted by the same company, falls short. The book has a lot going on, meanwhile the movie is short and quick and ignores major plot points that readers loved, and even changes a lot of important parts.

On its own, Beautiful Disaster is a fun watch If you enjoyed the book, be sure to stay away from the movie. The movie attempted to make it more comedic than romantic and took away a lot of the chemistry between the characters by doing so

Book Review by Ashley Reyes

THE BOYS NEXT DOOR

miranda silver

After reading Priceless by Miranda Silver, I knew I needed more from the author I'm very selective about my romance books and the way the scenes are written, and she did amazing. I truly felt the chemistry between the characters and this was the first why choose novel that I enjoyed, which has now spiraled my growing obsession

Diana is an eighteen-year-old virgin who has a crush on her neighbors, twin brothers who are home from college for the summer

Brendan, the "good one", and Ian, the "bad" one, the boys she grew up with then grew apart from. One day, Brendan kisses her then invites her over She has alone time with his brother and kisses him as well, then they agree to share her

The author does amazing at showcasing the differences in the twins and the chemistry she has with each of them. The book is well written and quite enjoyable, especially if you're looking for a quick book with a lot of romance.