Hey there!

My name is Rissa and I'm a romance book lover at heart. I’ve been an active reader for just about my entire life and can be frequently be found lost in a book with a cup of coffee or glass of red wine. I am also a writer, mainly specializing in poetry, short stories, and essays. There may or may not be a bigger project in the works, though wink wink. When I’m writing my cats are usually at my feet and Taylor Swift is always on in the background.

As for my taste in books, I am a darker romance lover myself, but the craze in sports and small-town romances have piqued my attention and it’s safe to say I’m, now, equally obsessed. I also adore horror and fantasy when I’m feeling something different. If I had to narrow it down, my favorite authors right now are: Andi Jaxon, Pam Godwin, Emily Rath, Ashley Jade, and Willow Winters.

View the newest blogposts here:

Blog
Gems off the Shore—Pigleta Tea
Gems off the Shore—Pigleta Tea
A Review: “Hidden Scars” by Andi Jaxon
A Review: “Hidden Scars” by Andi Jaxon

I am officially in my MM romance era and it all started with “Hidden Scars.”

A Review: Harley Laroux’s “Her Soul To Take”
A Review: Harley Laroux’s “Her Soul To Take”

Here we get into my ratings and overall thoughts on “Her Soul To Take” by Harley Laroux. Strap in, this one’s crazy (and I loved it).

Emily Henry’s “Happy Place” & The Essence of Friendship
Emily Henry’s “Happy Place” & The Essence of Friendship

“Happy Place” is a beautifully told story about love, second chances, and friendship; I ate it up.

View the newest essays here:

Essays
Social Media and Sexualization: A Comprehensive Analysis on Sexism in Instagram Comments Section
Social Media and Sexualization: A Comprehensive Analysis on Sexism in Instagram Comments Section

This essay analyzes how the Instagram comments sections has been used as a space for incels to connect and spread their misogynistic beliefs and sexist ideology, resulting in sexual harassment including, but not limited to, using the rhetorical device, “fatherless.”

Timelessly Mourning: Literary Analysis of “That was Then, This is Now,” and Education
Timelessly Mourning: Literary Analysis of “That was Then, This is Now,” and Education

Below is my essay analyzing S.E. Hinton’s “That was Then, This is Now,” and how use of the novel in a classroom setting is, not only beneficial to the intended audience of the novel, but can be used to enlighten students students on the concept of loss, and acceptance through the literary elements of characters and plot devices.

Gertrude’s Influence on Hamlet’s Revenge
Gertrude’s Influence on Hamlet’s Revenge

In this essay I will analyze how Hamlet’s revenge-plot is the basis of the whole story and Gertrude is at the centerfold.

Let’s Connect on Instagram

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View fullsize bye november! this month i read only three book which was okay BUT im also almost done w school, am my best friend MOH, and fostered a lil orange kitty! pretty busy but successful month! mwah
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View fullsize my go to thriller recs! these books are SO GOOD. if you need a twisty turny tale you would love these puppies. so perfect for this time of year too! drop a thriller rec! mwah
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In addition to a classic 5 point rating scale, I decided to create my own. In all my reviews and articles you’ll see “Rissa’s Ranking”; here’s what that means.

Rissa’s Rating System

“Entry Foyer” books are exclusively 5 Star reads that I’d want on display at all times. They are the books I’m the most proud of and those who define my taste.

“Living Room” books range from 4-5 Star reads that I want to surround myself with. They’re good, but not good enough to put in the limited entry foyer space.

“Library” books can be any star ranking. These books can be good or just “okay” but, either way, I want them in my collection of novels in my library space.

“Bedroom” books can be any star ranking, as well, but need to have that spicy, romance element. Some books in the Bedroom section are 5 Star reads with fantastic plot mixed with mouthwatering romance, while some are 1 Star, unhinged, flops, but the romance was there, for better or for worse. Sometimes these are kept for the irony of them all.

“Storage” books are just as the name presents itself. Get these books out of sight, out of mind because they were just that bad.

Let’s Connect on Instagram

spicy novellas to meet your reading goal! reading goals aren’t the end all be all but it’s fun! and these books are so FUN but plz check tws<3 books mentioned trick shot @kaylawriteslife summoned and unhallowed @authorshaeruby the dare harley laroux scream for us @realmollydoyle no way out @santana.knox MWAH
gonna leave this one here 😋 mwah
@ellemitchellbooks idk what you put in this book but WOW. check tws!! - dark romance - why choose / poly - A LOt OF 🩸 - rockstar the plot of this book is also crazy good and the steam is WHEEWWWWW & thank u to my girl @buriedwithinpages she always has the best recs mwah
bye november! this month i read only three book which was okay BUT im also almost done w school, am my best friend MOH, and fostered a lil orange kitty! pretty busy but successful month! mwah
bye november! this month i read only three book which was okay BUT im also almost done w school, am my best friend MOH, and fostered a lil orange kitty! pretty busy but successful month! mwah
the stack of books at my parents goes hard looking back at these books always brings me so much nostalgia i can’t AHH mwah
sunday night 📖 don’t worry i watered my plant and she’s back and glowing! mwah
my go to thriller recs! these books are SO GOOD. if you need a twisty turny tale you would love these puppies. so perfect for this time of year too! drop a thriller rec! mwah
my go to thriller recs! these books are SO GOOD. if you need a twisty turny tale you would love these puppies. so perfect for this time of year too! drop a thriller rec! mwah
books i’ll truly be getting over my whole life😭✨ these books are ALL 5/5⭐️ and i BEG OF U to read some of them mwah
not sponsored by @etsy but she truly is THAT GIRL Mwah
long time no see hi! this is where i have been all month 😭😭 BUT i am so close to graduating w my masters l can&rsquo;t even believe it. this month i have read one book and it was MID so im def in a reading slump. HOWEVER, i started the picking wr
long time no see hi! this is where i have been all month 😭😭 BUT i am so close to graduating w my masters l can’t even believe it. this month i have read one book and it was MID so im def in a reading slump. HOWEVER, i started the picking wrong number and it might be just the thing i need rn😈 it’s great so far what’s ur cr loves 📖 mwah
october wrap up! SO MUCH halloween and miami content and i am not sorry! october was split between having the time of my life w my friends and being horrendously sick 😭😭 my goals for november are to keep pushing through school and really focus on
october wrap up! SO MUCH halloween and miami content and i am not sorry! october was split between having the time of my life w my friends and being horrendously sick 😭😭 my goals for november are to keep pushing through school and really focus on maintaining my health because it really needs to be a priority ✨ ALSO i became a letterboxd GORL so if you wanna see the tea on my movie ratings and reviews follow me rissasratings ! what was your fave read of october! mwah
everyone we know understands why it&rsquo;s meant to be Cause we&rsquo;re crazzzzyyyyy 🎶🫀😈 mwah! happy day after halloween!
everyone we know understands why it’s meant to be Cause we’re crazzzzyyyyy 🎶🫀😈 mwah! happy day after halloween!
happy halloween! 🖤🎃 my loves! it&rsquo;s my fave holiday😈 i wish i could have made more spooky season content this month but it was honestly so busy and im just so focused on graduating in december! BUT. I read alot and I think Bloodshed has to b
happy halloween! 🖤🎃 my loves! it’s my fave holiday😈 i wish i could have made more spooky season content this month but it was honestly so busy and im just so focused on graduating in december! BUT. I read alot and I think Bloodshed has to be my fave read this month. it gave all of the good vibes and i can’t wait to read the next in this series! also it being 80 degrees on HALLOWEEN in jersey is criminal. whatre u being for halloween? mwah
a book i can&rsquo;t stop thinking about 🖤 ♾️/5⭐️⭐️⭐️⭐️⭐️⭐️⭐️ I knew the minute I finished this book on audio that I wanted to rewind and start all over. Julia Fox&rsquo;s memoir is so beautifully done. Her resilience and attitude is inspirational
a book i can’t stop thinking about 🖤 ♾️/5⭐️⭐️⭐️⭐️⭐️⭐️⭐️ I knew the minute I finished this book on audio that I wanted to rewind and start all over. Julia Fox’s memoir is so beautifully done. Her resilience and attitude is inspirational and, my god, has this woman been through a lot. I have so much respect for her snd her ability to survive and become an inspiration for girls everywhere. She IS the MOMENT. Listening to it on audio brought such a deep level of understanding when it comes to her and those who have faced similar hardships and trauma. Hearing her voice entirely sealed this as one of my favorite celebrity memoirs. please go read Down the Drain you won’t regret it MWAH
oh hi! 😭😭😭i&rsquo;m still just so in awe of what i saw last night. taylor is such a powerhouse and truly the most beautiful artist. the way she made me feel like she was talking to ME in a crowd of 60 thousand people is such a gift✨ i felt like a
oh hi! 😭😭😭i’m still just so in awe of what i saw last night. taylor is such a powerhouse and truly the most beautiful artist. the way she made me feel like she was talking to ME in a crowd of 60 thousand people is such a gift✨ i felt like a kid again and that is magical MWAH #tserastour #erastourmiami #erastourmiamin2 #taylorswift #erastour
spicy novellas to meet your reading goal! reading goals aren&rsquo;t the end all be all but it&rsquo;s fun! and these books are so FUN but plz check tws&lt;3 books mentioned trick shot @kaylawriteslife summoned and unhallowed @authorshaeruby th
gonna leave this one here 😋 mwah
@ellemitchellbooks idk what you put in this book but WOW. check tws!! - dark romance - why choose / poly - A LOt OF 🩸 - rockstar the plot of this book is also crazy good and the steam is WHEEWWWWW &amp; thank u to my girl @buriedwithinpages sh
bye november! this month i read only three book which was okay BUT im also almost done w school, am my best friend MOH, and fostered a lil orange kitty! pretty busy but successful month! mwah
the stack of books at my parents goes hard looking back at these books always brings me so much nostalgia i can&rsquo;t AHH mwah
sunday night 📖 don&rsquo;t worry i watered my plant and she&rsquo;s back and glowing! mwah
my go to thriller recs! these books are SO GOOD. if you need a twisty turny tale you would love these puppies. so perfect for this time of year too! drop a thriller rec! mwah
books i&rsquo;ll truly be getting over my whole life😭✨ these books are ALL 5/5⭐️ and i BEG OF U to read some of them mwah
not sponsored by @etsy but she truly is THAT GIRL Mwah
long time no see hi! this is where i have been all month 😭😭 BUT i am so close to graduating w my masters l can&rsquo;t even believe it. this month i have read one book and it was MID so im def in a reading slump. HOWEVER, i started the picking wr october wrap up! SO MUCH halloween and miami content and i am not sorry! october was split between having the time of my life w my friends and being horrendously sick 😭😭 my goals for november are to keep pushing through school and really focus on everyone we know understands why it&rsquo;s meant to be Cause we&rsquo;re crazzzzyyyyy 🎶🫀😈 mwah! happy day after halloween! happy halloween! 🖤🎃 my loves! it&rsquo;s my fave holiday😈 i wish i could have made more spooky season content this month but it was honestly so busy and im just so focused on graduating in december! BUT. I read alot and I think Bloodshed has to b a book i can&rsquo;t stop thinking about 🖤 ♾️/5⭐️⭐️⭐️⭐️⭐️⭐️⭐️ I knew the minute I finished this book on audio that I wanted to rewind and start all over. Julia Fox&rsquo;s memoir is so beautifully done. Her resilience and attitude is inspirational oh hi! 😭😭😭i&rsquo;m still just so in awe of what i saw last night. taylor is such a powerhouse and truly the most beautiful artist. the way she made me feel like she was talking to ME in a crowd of 60 thousand people is such a gift✨ i felt like a

View the newest creative work here:

Creative Works
Hands

A poem.

Broken Promises
Midsummer
Midsummer

A poem.

In addition to a classic 5 point rating scale, I decided to create my own. In all my reviews and articles you’ll see “Rissa’s Ranking”; here’s what that means.

Rissa’s Rating System

“Entry Foyer” books are exclusively 5 Star reads that I’d want on display at all times. They are the books I’m the most proud of and those who define my taste.

“Living Room” books range from 4-5 Star reads that I want to surround myself with. They’re good, but not good enough to put in the limited entry foyer space.

“Library” books can be any star ranking. These books can be good or just “okay” but, either way, I want them in my collection of novels in my library space.

“Bedroom” books can be any star ranking, as well, but need to have that spicy, romance element. Some books in the Bedroom section are 5 Star reads with fantastic plot mixed with mouthwatering romance, while some are 1 Star, unhinged, flops, but the romance was there, for better or for worse. Sometimes these are kept for the irony of them all.

“Storage” books are just as the name presents itself. Get these books out of sight, out of mind because they were just that bad.

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Questions and requests are always welcome. Let me know if you have any tips, tricks, or suggestions on how I can make this a better place for all literary fanatics.