Sophia is an award-winning author of magical and slightly spooky rom-coms!
She earned her Bachelor's in creative writing with a minor degree in medical anthropology from the University of Central Florida and a Master of Fine Arts in writing popular fiction from Seton Hill University. As a graduate student, she apprenticed under New York Times and USA Today best-selling authors, such as Maria V. Snyder, Priscilla Oliveras, Lee McClain, and more.
She furthered her education with developmental editing courses at the Editorial Freelancers Association and previously worked as an editor at the Parliament House Press. She's also a member of SCBWI, EFA, and APSS.
Her young adult fantasy, "Tiny Hearts", appeared in the anthology "Dragons of a Different Tail." Her story won Honorable Mention for Best Character and the anthology as a whole won 1st Place for Anthologies/Short-Stories/Collections, Top 25 Fiction books of 2022 with a ranking of #14, 3rd Place for Best Fiction Book, and 3rd Place for Best Fantasy Book.
She won multiple awards for her short paranormal romance, "Ghouly Girl," features a quirky ghoul who moves in with two male human roommates and the comical, girly, monstery mishaps that ensue. "Ghouly Girl" will appear in the anthology "Tales of Monstrosity: Monsters, Myths, and Miscreants."
Sophia's horror short fiction, "Bone Kindling," was published in the anthology "A Very Ghostly Christmas" by Ghost Orchid Press and Love Letters to Poe.
As a former editor at the Parliament House Press, her clients went on to become an Amazon #1 New Release in Teen & YA Magical Realism, featured as one of the 'Most Anticipated YA Books of Fall 2021' by YA.Buzz, appear in Fae Crate's September 2021 book of the month subscription box, and receive glowing reviews by Tor.com and Kirkus Reviews.
thank you to netgalley and Azala Romance (imprint of Azala Press) for this opportunity!
❀° ┄───╮ review ╰───┄ °❀
✨✨✨ - 3.4 rounded to 3
𝓸𝓿𝓮𝓻𝓪𝓵𝓵: 💣 violence: 5/10 (powers that can be used violently) 🌶️ spice: 3/10 (checking someone out, 'hot', 'cute', kisses, etc.) 🤬 language: 8/10 (*ss, d*mn, f**k, p*ss, h*ll, b*tch, freak) ➕ other content: 2/10 (discrimination, diabetes, misogynists) 👩🏼 age rating: 14+
𝓽𝓻𝓸𝓹𝓮𝓼: ↠ dating show ↠ 'enemies' to lovers ↠ he falls first ↠ denial/slow burn ↠ magical powers ↠ lets her go, goes after her
*spoilers ahead!*
𝓬𝓱𝓪𝓻𝓪𝓬𝓽𝓮𝓻𝓼:
charlie green: "or should I say Char, Charlotte, Charlie Green?" power: mind control 🧠🎮 ↠ like umm I would not feel comfortable around her! is she controlling me, is she not? ↠ she could NOT make up her mind (haha) about will! one minute she's like 'eww who would like him' and, I kid you not, the next page she goes 'oh, he's so hot 🥰'... 😒 ↠ she's a swimmer!! made me so excited, though it's def not even prominent in the book, just a mention of swim meets 🏊🏼♀️ but also yesss bc that's so cool, there's not that many books that have swimmers in them ↠ she's barely known will and she's always assessing hers and his actions like they hold the answers to the mysteries of the universe ↠ when her power was revealed, she acted like she cared but she really didn't but then while her friends are talking to her about her ex, she plays on their sympathy and acts like she lost everything and really cared but bsfr, there was no emotion in the beginning ↠ also this was not a book about a dating show fr, it was more about her having diabetes (which was actually really interesting!)
will: power: ...spiderman?? he can shoot elastic-y webs from his hands. sounds kinda familiar, huh? 🕸️🤨 ↠ I kinda liked him, like he said stuff like he didn't like the idea of the dating show being so misogynous (yess, girl power!! 💪🏼🤭) ↠ awww he legit liked charlie for who she was, which is really rare to find in a mannn 🎀 ↠ he always felt the need to 'save the day' though... that's what bothered me most, like all the people around you also have powers they can use! ↠ bland boy right here, though, like his personality went mia during the show
bridgette: power: fire 🔥 ↠ whoo, she's a character for sure!! ↠ the person she was at the beginning was fs very different than the end ↠ once she became friends w/ charlie and ginny, she was not like a better person, but I def liked her personality and how she acted a lot better 😊 ↠ I would love to learn more about her background story! she was a really interesting person at the end of the book and I would love a sequel with her 😜
ginny: power: growing plants (including poisonous) 🌱 ↠ now THIS is the girl who should have the flames bc she has an ATTITUDE. like whoaa back the t-rex up girlie ↠ but also I liked her bc she was so sweet (the rest of the time) ↠ idk why she thought PAINT could cause PAIN?? (ch. 13) like umm no last I checked it doesn't 🤔 ↠ not really much is revealed about her personally, like nothing really about her family except her grandpa and her aunt
𝓸𝓽𝓱𝓮𝓻 𝓽𝓱𝓸𝓾𝓰𝓱𝓽𝓼: ↠ dude dixon (yes, that's his name) was HILL-AIR-E-US, like omgosh the jazz hands?! bahaha 🤣 like what a freaking idol 🤌🏼🤌🏼 ↠ okay, I did not understand the glitches thing, like nothing was explained. are they born with their powers? if they are, how did they find out? if you marry a non as a glitch, is your kid a glitch? why are glitches disapproved of? why are they all thought of as villains? is it bc of one glitch or a group of them? what is their history? when did they originate? how did they come to be? I HAVE SO MANY QUESTIONS!!!! ↠ the puns in this book? I don't think some were intended but they were NOT funny 🫥 ↠ what is bolus?? charlie's bolus levels were always wacked and I had no idea what it was the entire time
𝓮𝓭𝓲𝓽𝓸𝓻𝓲𝓪𝓵 𝓷𝓸𝓽𝓮𝓼: ↠ 'were' should have been 'we're' in ch. 12 ↠ some repetition? not as bad as lauren roberts (obvi) but also that's expected since there's only so many synonyms (#synonyms.com!) ↠ when writing bridgette's name, instead of a comma there was an 'm' which is actually so real bc it's right next to the comma on a computer's keyboard ↠ added quotation mark when it isn't needed since no one is speaking ↠ 'condensation' was not the intended word in ch. 35 (not sure what it was supposed to be) ↠ nothing else really, just some missing commas, etc.
𝓬𝓸𝓷𝓬𝓵𝓾𝓼𝓲𝓸𝓷:
this was a really odd book. there were a lot of parts that I enjoyed, but so much was missing. I needed some background info about glitches and their powers, how it works, and stuff like that. I also wish it were dual pov so we could learn a little more about will since he was honestly pretty bland the entire time. also there was basically no plot until the end 😭
if you like dating show books with slow burn/denial and minimal spice, this is for you!
thanks for reading my review! 🫶🏼💜
❀° ┄───╮ pre-read ╰───┄ °❀
my initial pre-read was mysteriously gone, but here it is again: 3rd arc, very excited to read! it looked funny so it better be 😄
can’t stop thinking about this book! The gorgeous pink cover should instantly catch you eye, but it’s the story that completely stole my heart.🫠🩷
This is the kind of light, cozy YA read that feels like a warm hug. no spice, just pure young charm. With a refreshing take on superpowers, authentic T1D representation 🥹, and a male main character who might just be the cutest MMC I’ve ever read, it’s impossible not to root for every page.
The ending? It genuinely made my heart grow three sizes aaaa
And don’t be fooled by the cozy vibe cause there’s plenty of action too threaded in, which kept me hooked until the very last word.
If this book isn’t already on your immediate TBR, you’re seriously missing out. This is one of those rare reads that’s as fun as it is meaningful, and I can’t recommend it enough.💖
LOVED THIS BOOK!! I went into this book thinking it was just going to be a fantasy romcom, but it was so much more than that it was like the bachelor TV show, but mixed in with marvel superheroes and superhero references, which I didn’t think I originally was gonna like that pairing, but it worked out very well. But instead of superheroes, they’re called glitches. The people who don’t have powers are called nons. There’s a big thing about how they hate the glitches and so the glitches they try to open the nons eyes to them not being bad. They try to make this trashy reality TV show like the bachelor to entertain them and also bring to light that they aren’t as bad as they seem. just overall a cute story I really liked it.
Okay, so Villainisly Perfect by Sophia Desensi had me intrigued from the very beginning. A little fantasy-ish, mixed with a dating show? Yes please!
I really enjoyed Charlie-her personal development was spot on. She went from this kind of whiny, ego-driven girl to someone who wanted to save the world just by being herself. I loved watching that growth.
And can we talk about the confessionals between chapters?! I could so see them actually happening, like Charlie was really sitting in a little room talking to a camera. It made the whole thing feel extra immersive.
The “glitches” were such a fun touch too. Some were super intense like mind reading or laser eyes, while others were just hilariously cute (talking to bunnies?! I was obsessed). It kept things unpredictable and imaginative.
And the TWIST near the end? I did not see a few of those reveals coming. They completely threw me, in the best way.
Overall, I really enjoyed this book and would definitely recommend it to anyone who wants a unique, entertaining, and surprisingly heartfelt read!
Think early-2000s rom-com meets The Bachelor… but every contestant has magic powers. 💖 Sailor Moon–coded FMC 🎀 Spiderman-coded MMC (yes, there’s an upside-down kiss!) 💖 T1 diabetes rep 🎀 Closed-door romance
Watching influencer-turned-reality-star Charlie grow through all the chaos was such a delight—this YA romantasy is lighthearted, witty, and full of sparkle.
I definitely recommend it if you want a lighthearted read!
I am absolutely obsessed with this -- Sailor Moon meets The Bachelor, cozy superhero vibes, Type 1 Diabetes rep, character growth, YA romance vibes, WHAT MORE COULD YOU NEED?
Truly so refreshing to jump into this world, exist in this unique storyline, and fall for these COOL AF characters!!!
“In the vigilante world of secret identities, I could be anyone. This show is my chance to reinvent myself. Capture an image of my choosing. The problem is, I don’t know who I want to be.”
Villainessly Blonde was such a cute, fun, and fast read. We follow Charlie, the main female character, as she navigates being on a reality dating show (the bachelor vibes) after her claim to fame has been revoked and she’s lost the love of the public eye. Charlie lives in a world filled with Glitches and Nons, with the former having superpowers they are now forced to hide. Think The Incredibles, but a cyberpunk girly pop edition .
This book was a faced paced, cutesy, young adult novel (some language, no spice) that had a wonderful premise to the story. The author did a great job with the characters. Although Charlie was flawed, she was still very easy to relate to. I felt like her flaws (being self-centered and contradicting herself) made her more human and you could tell she had feelings of regret and growth during the story. I liked her inner monologues, at times making me laugh out loud. This book reads as ya, so that was something I had to keep in mind as the characters are young minded, fickle and funny. Some of the chapters are from POVs of the other characters, so we got to see a glimpse of what our MMC Will (insert heart eyes here he was adorable), was thinking at times. I was sad to see less of Will at the end of the story. The ending seemed a bit too rushed for my liking, with the conclusion of the story leaving a lot left to be desired. The resolution felt abrupt leaving the overall ending feeling underdeveloped. I would have loved to see more of the romantic portion of the story in the year later wrap-up. Some of the story was hard to follow with the time jumps from chapter to chapter and even within some of the chapters, but despite the flow, I feel I could easily stick with the main plot and the plot twist was interesting.
I really enjoyed the relationships between the girls in the house. I liked how even though they had their competitive moments, they were sad to see each other leave and still made friendships along the way. I also enjoyed seeing the T1D representation in Charlie. I haven’t read a lot of books about with this disorder mentioned and was happy to see another one added to this category and the awareness raised within.
Overall I would definitely recommend picking up Villainessly Blonde if you are in the mood for something light hearted and funny! This story had some hints of nostalgia from The PowerPuff Girls, found friendships, a cheeky famous Spider-Man kiss, best friend banter, and a cyberpunk filled city with unique vigilantes fighting for freedom to be themselves. Hints of themes included from The Bachelor, Charlies Angels, and a Caesar Flickerman (The Hunger Games) coded reality host!
Thank you to the author for the wonderful arc copy of this book. All opinions are my own.
Firstly, I'd like to thank Sophia DeSensi, the publisher and netgalley for letting me read and review an advanced digital copy of this book.
In my opinion Notoriously Yours is a fantasy romcom mash up of the bachelor cross with a whole world of marvel-esque style super heroes, only in this story they're not heroes but called glitches and some are even vigilantes who use their powers in the community without it being wanted or legal. Because people without powers, who are referred to as "non's" (seemingly because of their lack of power) don't like the people with powers and they are heavily discriminatory to towards them. Because of this a group of glitches decide to host a bachelor style reality show with one of the main goals being to show the nons they're not so scary (obviously also for the MMC to find love possibly) and because the nons love to be entertained the glitches think this is the perfect way to open the nons eyes and minds to the glitches not being so bad after all - through watching them on a "trashy" reality TV show LOL.
Honestly the premise and setup for this book was a lot of things which all tied together through the authors writing style and relationship building in the story, which I think was the stand out factor in this book 🤩! I really enjoyed the dynamic of the MMC and FMC together, even though there were times I wanted to figuratively "slap some sense" into our FMC but she's not perfect and knows that and realises her mistakes and tries to be better, which was refreshing! I also ESPECIALLY loved all the interactions between all of the girls in the house (whether friend or foe LOL 😆 drama!! which I loved because I do love a good bachelor watching session 🤣 so if you do too you'd probably enjoy this book)
Overall this was a fun, easy read which I thoroughly enjoyed ⭐️⭐️⭐️⭐️
Thank you to NetGalley and Azala Romance for providing this book, with my honest review below.
Notoriously, Yours takes place in a future that still has influencers, but includes way more tech than today. The other thing it contains? People who have powers known as glitches. Normally people with powers are seen as superheroes but in the fictional world of Nautville, glitches are second class citizens. That’s why it’s so devastating for Charlie when her boyfriend not only breaks up with her on a live feed but reveals she’s a glitch - one with the power to read minds and drop thoughts in them. Influencer career effectively destroyed leaving Charlie reeling.
A few days later (everything in this book is on an accelerated timeline, it seems), Charlie bags a date with a new guy, Will, only to show up and discover she’s one of many women vying to date him on a reality show for glitches. Though this isn’t her scene, the threat of being arrested by the shadowy Agency (a robot police force seemingly out to get glitches) has her in the reality house and not exactly miss congeniality.
The action in this book is great, as is Charlie’s development as a character. I just really wish we had more time to understand Nautville and some backstory on glitches coming into public view, just general world building. If I were to put that aside I did have a sweet story with some good twists and ideas that I think would be a hit with a younger adult audience. Maybe a series can build this world up as many of the characters are ones I want to get to know better!
Charlie Green is a popular influencer, but when her boyfriend exposes that she has mind-control, her world is turned upside down. Now exposed for being a glitch, someone with powers, Charlie has lost her following, her boyfriend, and her career. Charlie then meets Will and lands a date with him, but there is a catch. She must compete on a dating show to win his love. The contestants are all like her — Glitches. Maybe they can work together to change the public’s opinion of Glitches.
The book was such an interesting concept that I just had to read it. Not only did it feature characters with powers but also had a dating show and an evil entity. I really enjoyed Charlie’s character growth and her self-acceptance journey. I didn't find the romance aspect to be that intriguing, but I did enjoy the action and the superpower moments. I wish that the backstory about Glitches and why they were seen as lesser than would have been nice, but I still had a fun time reading this. I wouldn’t be opposed to another book set in this universe. Overall, I think it is a decent, fast-paced read that is appealing for a young audience.
Thank you to NetGalley & Azala Romance for the ARC in exchange for an honest review.
Superhero/supervillain (depending on your perspective) meets the Bacehlor/The Selection. That description should give you a pretty good idea of what to expect in this book. It’s not going to be high literature. It’s going to be a quick read for satisfaction, so don’t expect it to be a masterpiece, you know?
In spite of that, it had some interesting elements that I thought set it apart a little. I liked the diabetes element and how she had to manage that, and I appreciated some of the fun ways that their powers changed the dynamics.
I got a little annoyed at all the mean girls and girls tearing each other down stuff. I also felt a lot of the elements weren’t thought out very well. It was kind of a strange book in trying to explain the powers of the glitches and how society worked in that way (meaning that a lot wasn’t explained), but it had some enjoyable elements.
Overall, it’s a fun breezy read that doesn’t wow but can make for a few entertaining hours.
Immersed in a world where people have superpowers and tech reigns supreme you witness FMC, Charlie Green, basically having the WORST day ever. Honestly so relatable. Through a weird turn of events, Charlie ends up on a dating show and struggles to find her footing.
This book very much reminded me of the Bachelor and the Incredibles in the most endearing way. I truly felt as though I was experiencing some of the scenes first hand which made for an exciting reading experience. I enjoyed the pace of this story line and meeting the different characters throughout the book. I would definitely read any sequels to this book in the future!
I was gifted this book as an ARC and I am incredibly grateful for the opportunity to read and review this book before its launch date.
✨ Book Review: Notoriously, Yours by Sophia DeSensi ✨
We open with a breakup bombshell and a wild reveal: Charlie, our FMC and influencer, is actually a Glitch — someone with mysterious powers that freak people out. Cue the sponsors ghosting her and her boyfriend dumping her.
Then, while drowning her sorrows in a milkshake (as one should 🍦), she meets Will. He seems sweet… until she realizes he’s the bachelor on a secret dating show where all 25 contestants are Glitches too 😳. From poisonous plant powers to emotion orbs to invisibility — the powers are SO fun and creative.
Now Charlie’s torn: should she stay and compete for Will (who might actually be a good guy) or go back to a world ready to ostracize her? It’s a mix of dating drama, funny competitions, and a found friendship.
Thank you to NetGalley for the ARC in exchange for an honest review. After Charlie Green is exposed as a glitch (someone with a super power, specifically mind control) everything in her world falls apart and she's introduced to a new world of glitch vigilantes under the guise of a bachelor style reality tv show. This was a story focused on Charlie coming into herself and accepting her powers which I enjoyed. The subplot of the romance was ok and the mystery/villain plot was quickly figured out. I wish there was more of the world building of Nautville and how glitches went from helping to hiding due to change in public opinion. All in all it was a cute story.
I feel like this book should have been edited far more than it was - especially since in my copy, chapter four is printed twice.
I expected the dating show to take more precedence, given that the blurb itself focuses on it, yet most of the show occurred in the background with a few lines to explain what was happening. The second trial? A paragraph, two maximum.
I genuinely feel that the dating show aspect could be replaced with any other concept and little would change in regard to the plotline. Nothing stood out like it should’ve. It disappointed me after reading something like Hitched. 😞
Thank you to NetGalley and Azala Romance for this ARC!
This book was a whirlwind! Think The Bachelor/dating reality show meets Sailor Moon/Superhero vibe. I’m a sucker for an enemies to lovers and this was just that. With a combo of some of my favourite shows, I had high hopes for this unique read and it mostly delivered. I would have appreciated more backstory on the “glitches” (characters with powers) and maybe some POV chapters to better illustrate the MC’s inner thoughts. Overall I really enjoyed the story and pushed me out of my regular reading zone.
This book is a fun fast-paced YA fantasy that blends reality TV drama with magical twists. The story follows a mind-controlling influencer competing on a supernatural dating show, mixing humor, romance, and social commentary. It's refreshing, entertaining read for fans of fantasy with a modern edge.
Thanks to NetGalley for the arc. I loved the superhero meets the bachelor take on this story. It’s at a time in the world where powers are no longer needed and people have to hide that they have powers to be able to survive. There are a few, who decide to “save the world” while in masks and costumes. And that’s where our MMC comes in, he’s one of these masked men, and he is the bachelor. Our FMC has hidden her powers her whole life until her ex accidentally spills the beans. Our FMC also has type 1 diabetes, and it is mentioned throughout the story, which I love, you never see enough inclusion.
Cute, cute, cute! This book is the ultimate summer vibe—sitting by the pool, drink in hand, soaking up the drama. I felt like I needed my own Elle Woods-in-a-pink-sequin-bikini moment. What more could you ask for?
Charlie Green has it all. As an influencer and philanthropist, her life is picture-perfect—until her boyfriend publicly dumps her and outs her as a Glitch. Yep, Charlie has mind powers that subconsciously influence people without their consent. Suddenly, she’s front-page news—and not in a good way.
While drowning her sorrows in a chocolate float (wait—wasn’t this supposed to be raspberry?), Charlie meets Will, a too-cute stranger who asks her out. Maybe her luck is turning around… until she learns he’s actually Nitro Force, the city’s most famous vigilante. And that “date”? It’s part of a reality show where Charlie will be competing against 24 other superpowered women for his affection. Hard pass.
But with the Agency and the public turning against her, hiding in plain sight might be her only shot at safety—as long as she doesn’t actually fall for Will. She won’t. Right?
This book was a blast! It’s packed with romance, action, and a kickass superpowered girl gang. Charlie wants to be seen, loved, maybe even a little envied—but she’s also fiercely kind and doing her best to make things right. And Will? He just wants to make Nautville better, even if it means putting his secret identity—and maybe even his heart—on the line… and on live TV.
The pacing was perfect, the plot flowed effortlessly, and it was pure fun from start to finish. Highly recommend this playful, superpowered romp!
Thanks so much to NetGalley and Sophia DeSensi for this gifted e-arc. Loved!