Abby
I'm officially obsessed with The Sinister Summer series.
It continues to be fun and endearing with a mystery that kept me guessing and confused until the end.
I love all three Sinister-Winterbottom and hope we see more of Wil in the next book, but Alexander is my favorite. The portrayal of his anxiety reflects my experiences so well, and it's lovely to see it dealt with so matter of factly. The same goes for Theo and her ‘bees'! The siblings are so supportive of each other, and I love it.
As soon as I finished Vampiric Vacation, I wanted the next book! Luckily, it was available on NetGalley; otherwise, I would have been stewing for months.
Thank you to Netgalley and the publisher for providing this ARC in exchange for an honest review.
Mr. Malcolm's List was truly a middle-of-the-road read. Parts were very amusing, but not the characters weren't developed enough to truly engage with the story.
I didn't realize going into it that it was a novella, so it was a quick read! It was very tell-not-show, so the characters felt very flat. Motivations and actions switched without really building a groundwork why they would do that. After Julia's efforts at the masquerade party, she switches to rooting for Selina and Mr. Malcom after about 5 minutes of consideration. Her motives were always not great, but it still didn't make sense for her to change her mind so quickly.
If you're going to read Mr. Malcolm's List read it for the plethora of romance tropes and ridiculous situations it manages to squeeze into a relatively short time!
Thank you to Netgalley and the publisher for providing this ARC in exchange for an honest review.
The Wisteria Society of Lady Scoundrels is a rollicking, absurd book that I absolutely adore. I'm sure to come back to it whenever I need a laugh!
The juxtaposition of proper manners and house-flying pirate shenanigans makes for plenty of amusing situations. Cecelia was a delightful protagonist! I'm a bit disappointed she is the MC of the next book, just because I loved her so much.
The romance of the book was adorable. Usually, I'm skeptical of “instant love” – the book's main action takes place over about a week – but I was here for it for Cecelia and Ned.
I've already recommended The Wisteria Society to half a dozen people, and it's sure to be a staple in my recommendations from now on!
Audiobook Review: Elizabeth Knowelden was a perfect narrator for The Wisteria Society! Her performance was pitch-perfect for the dry humor of the book, and I'm glad I listened to it rather than reading – it added to the experience!
Thank you to Netgalley and the publisher for providing this ARC in exchange for an honest review.
I loved Wretched Waterpark!
At first, I wasn't entirely sure of it as it had some stereotypical adults-writing-kids things (not knowing/recognizing a phone on the wall, Wil being addicted to her cellphone), but I got over it pretty quickly!
The vibes were beautiful, and I'm now in love with the idea of a gothic waterpark. I could easily envision Theo and Alexander floating down the lazy river in their coffin raft and lounging in the cabasoleum.
The mystery of the waterpark kept me guessing for a good amount of time. I'm excited to see where the series goes as the supernatural touches develop and we discover more about what's happening to the Sinister-Winterbottom family.
Be warned, I'm now marathoning Scooby Doo and have the urge to reread A Series of Unfortunate Events. The comp titles were spot on! I'm sure this will be a hit with readers who like mystery and a little spookiness.
I'm off to read Vampiric Vacation!
Thank you to Netgalley and the publisher for providing this ARC in exchange for an honest review.
A Dreadful Splendor is an entertaining gothic mystery that'll hook you from the very beginning!
The mystery at the novel's center – did Audre jump from the cliff or was she murdered – took great twists and turns, some predictable and some not! As the story progresses, the reader and the MC Genevieve start questioning whether ghosts just might be real. A tremendous gothic mystery!
I felt the love plotline was very well developed, and I was rooting for them from the get-go.
At times the narration became repetitive. The most common occurrences were when Genevieve recounted her deals with Mr. Pemberton and Mr. Lockhart and the consequences. As a reader, this constant reiteration of facts you already know gets annoying fairly quickly.
There were also some frustrating plotlines. (Genevieve's continued suspicion of Mr. T even though it wouldn't be logical for him to secretly enlist her help in finding the murderer if he was the murderer. That stuck along waaay too long and made me doubt Genevieve's mystery-solving capabilities.) However, they weren't big enough to detract from my overall enjoyment of the story.
I'd definitely recommend A Dreadful Splendor! I'll be checking out B.R Myers future work for sure!
Audiobook Review: The voice actor, Olivia Vinall, did a splendid job! I think I liked the book as much as I did because of her performance. The parts that felt tedious or repetitive weren't as much of an annoyance since I was listening to a good performance. I'll definitely be searching out more of her work!
Thank you to Netgalley and the publisher for providing this ARC in exchange for an honest review.
2.5
It was fine, but I don't think it was award worthy. Or particularly memorable.
The abundant use of the R word bothered me. It was apparently one of the only insults the bully, Chet, knew and every scene he's in he says it about half a dozen times, but not it's never really addressed why that is not ok to say.
Whenever I picked up The Rabbit Hutch, I was immersed in it and couldn't put it down. The characters were so engaging, and I took so many notes of quotes that hit me.
She felt like a demanding and ill-fated houseplant, one that needs light in every season but will die in direct sun, one whose soil requires daily water but will drown if it receives too much, one that takes a fertilizer only sold at a store that's open three hours a day, one that thrives in neither dry nor humid climates, one that is prone to every pest and disease. What kind of attention would make Joan feel at home? Who would ever work that hard to administer it? She will never own live houseplants.
The Rabbit Hutch
The Rabbit Hutch
The Rabbit Hutch
Thank you to Netgalley and the publisher for providing this ARC in exchange for an honest review.
I had to keep reminding myself to keep an open mind about The Darkening. The characters weren't compelling, and the worldbuilding left much to be desired. It felt very been there, done that with a few unique touches thrown in.
I understood the gist of the magic system, but I'm not sure if that's from reading books with similar systems or from worldbuilding in The Darkening. It doesn't fully explain how and why the ikons work.
Vesper, our main character, left me thinking, “meh.” I didn't connect with her and was not too fond of the romance plotline. It felt forced to me, and I was actively rooting against them.
Overall, a middle-of-the-road read. If you're looking for a quick teen fantasy read, you'll probably enjoy The Darkening.
Thank you to Netgalley and the publisher for providing this ARC in exchange for an honest review.
I could not stop listening to The Bodyguard by Catherine Center. Seriously, I just sat, worked on a puzzle, and listened to the whole thing.
The Bodyguard is a fun, cute read that keeps the reader engaged throughout.
I'm a sucker for a fake relationship, and the execution in The Bodyguard is wonderful! It lasts for a good portion of the book with the requisite awkward situations and “oh no, I'm catching feelings!” moments from both sides.
I loved the chemistry between Hannah and Jack, but I think I loved Jack's family even more. I instantly loved his mom; every scene with her was my favorite.
Throughout the novel, there are hints of dark secrets (aka trauma) in Jack's past. I didn't love this plot line, but it was necessary for the overall plot and character motivations.
I liked the twist to the bodyguard roles, but I could have used more bodyguard shenanigans. There are hints about Hannah's skills, but we don't see them in action too much.
The Bodyguard will be a great addition to our library collection!
Audiobook Review: I greatly enjoyed the audiobook! I think I would have equally enjoyed the story if I had read it, but it was a fun listen!
Thank you to Netgalley and the publisher for providing this ARC in exchange for an honest review.
TW: Depression, Discussion of Suicide, Suicide Attempt, Death, Toxic Friendships
This book deals with a lot of difficult topics that can be triggering
The Sea is Salt and So Am I was an emotional read that hooked me from the beginning.
My thoughts aren't very cohesive about the book. Other than being hard to read at times, I did love the book.
Immediately after finishing the book, I sat for a bit in my feelings about the end and then went to look at reviews. Whenever I have mixed feelings about a book, I'm more likely to want to see what other people think – in this case, the vague ending left me wanting more.
The reviews helped me cement my positive feelings about the book.
So, my review focuses on some of the common items I saw in negative reviews of The Sea is Salt.
The Sea is Salt is a book for fans of character-driven stories with a slow pace. It explores depression, how people around a depressed person deal with it, and messy teenagers being dramatic. The relationships shift throughout the book, but it doesn't aim to tie everything off in a clean arc because it's just about life. And life rarely happens in a neat narrative arc.
Many reviews complain about toxic, unlikeable characters, to which it's easy to say, “but that's the point of the book!” Did I absolutely hate Harlow at times? Yes – she said, did, and thought horrible things. But I also related to her and empathized with her. Same with Tommy and Ellis. Character-driven books try to make us think about ourselves and the people we know. How every person has a million little things making them the flawed human they are.
A few reviews also remarked that The Sea is Salt sets a lousy example for teen readers – the toxic friendship between Ellis and Harlow, how they perceive Tommy, and some of Tommy's actions. I disagree – I don't think kids are that dumb.
The main focus of negative reviews regards the depiction of depression. Some said it was necessary for the story, especially Tommy's suicide attempt.
In my reading, Tommy's depression and the suicide attempt are central pillars of the book. I don't think it'd be the same at all if it were a near-death experience or the death of someone close to him, as some suggested. Tommy's sections were always the hardest for me to listen to because they often said things I've thought and felt repeatedly. Many of them aren't true, but that doesn't stop them.
I had mixed feelings about the inclusion of the going off his meds plotline because the reasoning behind it of “I don't feel anything” had me saying, “work with your doctor to find a better fit!”
Tommy's attempt is the catalyst for the story – the reactions and emotions that follow shape the relationship between the three main characters and their own internal changes. Is everything that results good? No. Is everything magically solved afterward? No.
I know it is so important to have good representation regarding mental health. But I also dislike the overly peppy “there's so much to live for” storylines because they make me feel worse that I haven't magically cured myself. I like Tommy's story because I saw my own experiences with depression and suicidal thoughts reflected, and I constantly thought, “yes, someone else is feeling this too.”
Someone else commented that the novel didn't develop the side characters enough, and I agree to a point. For a small town of approximately 300 people, you got bits of everyone being in each other's business, but it would have been nice to be fleshed out more. Almost everyone felt like the same nosy neighbor. On the other hand, I think it lends to the fact that the main characters, Harlow and Ellis especially, are very self-centered, and the lack of fleshed-out townspeople reflects that their focus isn't on the miscellaneous people in town. It's themselves and each other.
Rantings on the end of the book:I think the last 10% of the book was my least favorite – actually, I'll say it, the last chapter was terrible. Everything else made logical sense (as far as people can make sense), but Ellis' actions in the last chapter felt like it was out of left field. Of course, we knew Ellis didn't like Harlow and Tommy together, but this felt like a declaration that if it had to happen, it should have happened earlier in the story so they could then deal with and work through whatever emotions/fallout there is. (My interpretation: Ellis, on the heels of the end of his fling with Jules and feeling left behind and missing Harlow, decides that obvs it must be romantic love. If he'd wait like 5 minutes and get over some of his brother issues, he'd realize that he was being a dick and that he doesn't have to claim Harlow romantically to get her back.)At first, it seemed out of character, but on reflection, it very much is in character. Ellis demonstrated that he puts himself first, and this is a way of manipulating Harlow away from Tommy more than an actual expression of what he wants.
The Sea is Salt and So Am I is not for everyone, but no book is for everyone. I think sometimes we forget that.
Audiobook Review:
All three narrators did a great job. At first, I wasn't sure if I liked the one for Harlow – it was a bit too peppy for me. After just a few chapters, however, I was convinced it was the perfect fit. Her performance truly captured the character.
I was a good portion in before I realized there were two different male narrators – I thought the guy was just good at changing his inflection. Which, I guess, was a good choice for identical twins?
Anyway, I'm glad I listened to the book!
Circling Back to You is a fun, light read that was comedic with emotional depth.
Matt and Cadence had great chemistry, and the development of their relationship felt authentic and wonderful.
One synopsis I read gave the impression there was a fake relationship, which is definitely not true. Which is fine! It was just a letdown since I was looking forward to it.
I enjoyed that the third act break up was not based solely on miscommunication/lack of communication. Instead, throughout the book, the fault lines in their burgeoning relationship are clear.
The one thing I didn't like was the promotion competition between Matt and Hunter. It felt out of place and much more cheesy than the rest of the book.
I definitely recommend Circling Back to You if you're a fan of RomComs!
Thank you to Netgalley and the publisher for providing this ARC in exchange for an honest review.
It was work to finish The Storyteller
The only part I enjoyed was Aunt Anna's diary entries. That was an exciting story!
Jess' story, on the other hand, was not.
The Storyteller is trying to be a coming of age, be true to yourself novel. Unfortunately, the main character is so bland and uninteresting that it loses meaning. Jess, who learns to be true to herself, has no real personality or interest. The only thing we know about her, truly, is that she wants to be a writer. I have no clue what she wants to write, though. Honestly, it felt a bit like reading Y/N fanfiction – the reader was given a blank page to more easily envision themselves as the MC.
The rest of the modern timeline was similarly vague and didn't hold my interest. I did think the diary entries were well written and engaging, though!
Unless you have a massive obsession with Anastasia, I would skip The Storyteller.
Audiobook Review: I think my issues with the narrator were due to personal preferences than poor performance.
There was too much emotion/inflection on every. single. sentence. It became almost exhausting listening to it.
Several character voices were very annoying, especially the best friend, Katie.
If you're going to read The Storyteller, I recommend skipping the audiobook.
Thank you to Netgalley and the publisher for providing this ARC in exchange for an honest review.
Ok, here's my dilemma with this book: I love love love fake dating stories, but I Do Not Like Friends to Lovers. (yes, the capitalization on that is important)
I requested The Cheat Sheet because if I see fake dating mentioned anywhere I have to read it. As such, that's my main concern in this review.
So, how was the fake dating? Mediocre to Terrible
My opinion, as mentioned, is tainted by my dislike of friends to lovers. It took a while to get to the fake dating, and we already know at this point the main characters have been in love with each other for nearly a decade (I can't remember the ages of the characters, so that's a rough estimate. They could be thirty, they could be twenty (they act more like teenagers so it's hard to judge)).
The Cheat Sheet featured many of the aspects of Friends to Lovers that make me dislike the trope. The central premise of the book is that Nathan and his friends come up with a list of things to try to get Bree to see him in a romantic light. Aka – getting out of the friendzone. A plus of this situation – he's fairly sure she might have feelings for him already. A negative – it gives me the ick. I can't express well what puts me off, but the fact they don't just sit down and have a conversation now that they're grown adults and both single is annoying. Also, it feels underhanded. Relationships change, and friends do become lovers. But it feels like a violation of trust when Nathan uses the pretense of the fake relationship to kiss, hold hands, and touch Bree when she isn't aware of his feelings and purpose. It made all my favorite parts of fake relationships feel slimy because there was a personal agenda behind it.
Another drawback: the writing. It read like mid-tier fanfiction (and no, I can't expound on that. That's just what it is) It's the kind of writing where if you're reading a fanfic of a ship you love and it's an intriguing premise, you don't care about writing as long as you can understand what's happening. When it's a published book with characters you don't already know or care about, I expect more.
Thank you to Netgalley and the publisher for providing this ARC in exchange for an honest review.
I've read one other Elle Kennedy book – The Deal, because I'm a sucker for fake dating – and I doubt I'll read another after Good Girl Complex.
I liked The Deal well enough, but now I think I mostly liked it because it featured tropes I enjoy. Good Girl Complex has tropes I absolutely, positively, do not want to read.
These include:
-Rich/Poor relationship with chips on both characters' shoulders
-Bad Boy/Good Girl
-Not Like Other (Rich) Girls
-Worst of all: they got together because of a bet
I didn't connect to either Mackenzie or Cooper and honestly disliked them both. Mac is a twenty-year-old who doesn't want to be in college because she wants to focus on her million-dollar business, but her wealthy and influential parents want her to get a degree. (Geez, I wonder why I didn't connect to her).
Cooper got screwed over by Mac's ex, and Coop and his friends decide the best revenge is to get his girlfriend (Mac) to dump him for Cooper. One of the friends says it's a horrible thing to do to their credit. But still.
It got to the point in the story where I just didn't want to keep going. You know the bet will blow up in Cooper's face, and they'll break up for a time, then get back together. There wasn't tension? (And then they don't even work through things on screen? It's just “Yup, let's get back together and walk into the sunset without fully discussing the issues that made us break up in the first place.”)
I would have preferred if it dropped the bet plot way earlier in the story and then explored some of the other plot points more: Evan and Cooper's relationship with their mom. More of Mackenzie fixing up the hotel. More of them navigating their relationship instead of the annoying drama that's been done by a plethora of early 2000s teen movies.
So, unlikeable characters (that I think I'm supposed to be rooting for?) and an annoying plot – I'd definitely recommend skipping Good Girl Complex.
Audiobook Review: The narrators were fine. The performances were a little too dramatic for my tastes, however (Like, I was getting embarrassed for the characters and how over the top their thoughts were).
I came for the fake dating, and I kinda got what I came for?
The story falls into some cliches – both good and bad. For example, most female characters are introduced with their bra size. Miscommunication/Lack of communication was a significant plot point, but it had a good twist!
It was hard to tell when it switched between Violet's and Lincoln's perspectives until it explicitly stated who it was. There was no change in how their inner dialogue was written or narrated.
On to the fake dating – it did not last nearly long enough to satisfy my taste.
Overall, it was an entertaining read that, while predictable, was fun and enjoyable. I plan to continue the series!
Audiobook Review: It took a while to get used to the voice actor – she spoke slowly with long pauses that made me think my sleep timer had gone off. The voices were also very breathy. While I got used to the narration, I'd recommend reading versus listening to Not The Witch You Wed.
Thank you to Netgalley and the publisher for providing this ARC in exchange for an honest review.
True Loaf is a fun short story that leaves you wanting way more out of it.
It's described as a “micro-story” in its Goodreads description, which is accurate. Inspired by Balkan folklore, True Loaf includes turns of phrase, atmosphere, and that little bit of mystery that I love about fairy tales and folklore.
My only complaint is that it doesn't feel complete. I'd love to hear more little vignettes of the same characters, more in the world, or even better, a fully fleshed novel with the story as its core.
I was confused but what the audience was for the story. The cover gives off middle grade novel vibes, but it's about adults. It wasn't a major thing, but it wasn't quite what I expected based on the cover.
Audiobook Review: The narrator has a unique voice, which I wasn't sure about initially but ultimately decided it was a good fit for the story.
Thank you to Netgalley and the publisher for providing this ARC in exchange for an honest review.
Obviously, I requested this because of its ridiculous title, even though it did give me false expectations of what the story would entail (Re: pregnancy and baby would be the majority of the story)
Despite the absence of cute babies, I enjoyed Josh and Gemma. I went expecting an entertaining story featuring the awkwardness of asking your brother's best friend to be a sperm donor, and that's what I got.
There were a few bits I could have done without, but my favorite part of this book is Gemma's character growth. She's imperfect, and a main component of the story is her realizing some of her flaws and growing as a person.
But back to the bits I didn't like! A few scenes were over the top but worked and were humorous. However, the big climax to the story with its Public Grand Gestures didn't really vibe with the rest of the story. Or maybe it just made me too uncomfortable.
Other spoilery things I didn't like:-Josh was the source of the trite quotes that I hated. At least he wrote them as a teenager, but still. So cheesy.-Ian was obviously a Wickham. Like, at no point did I think he was a viable romantic interest; he was clearly sleazy.
Audiobook Review: The narrator did a good job but had a bit of vocal fry (mainly dragging out the last sound of words). It was distracting at first, but I gradually stopped noticing it. The female character voices were great, but all the male characters had the same voice.
Thank you to Netgalley and the publisher for providing this ARC in exchange for an honest review.
Weather Girl is my favorite of Solomon's books that I've read so far, and that's definitely because I related to Ari so much and saw so much of my struggles with depression reflected on the page. One of my notes from reading is “Reflections on therapy – ACCURATE.” It's been a few months since I read the book, so I don't remember precisely what said reflections were, but I felt very seen by them!
It's a romance novel, so of course, we have a Third Act Breakup. What I loved about their breakup (as much as I can “love” it) was that Ari's motives made sense for her character. It didn't rely on massive miscommunication. Her actions were a bit self-destructive, but it was an essential step for Ari to reflect and accept her depression.
If you've read and enjoyed any of Rachel Lynn Solomon's other work, you're sure to love Weather Girl!
Thank you to Netgalley and the publisher for providing this ARC in exchange for an honest review.
I'm not well-versed in vampire stories, so I can't say much about how Certain Dark Things uses or subverts lore. But for a novice, it was very entertaining!
The characters were memorable! The villains were genuinely villainous; the heroes were worth rooting for. Domingo was a golden retriever, and I loved him. He went along wholeheartedly, and I was rooting for him (and the dog) to survive.
It's been a few months now since I finished the novel, but the ending is still in my mind – in a good way! It was satisfying and fit the story.
Despite owning several of Moreno-Garcia's works for years, Certain Dark Things was the first I actually read. Needless to say, I'm a fan now, and her new books are an instant read!
Audiobook Review: The narrator brought this book to life! There are a lot of POVs, and I'd say that's the one thing that may have been improved. Sometimes it was hard to know who was speaking. After about halfway through the book, I was more familiar with the characters/voices and could recognize them better.
Thank you to Netgalley and the publisher for providing this ARC in exchange for an honest review.
A Certain Appeal is fun and unique retelling of Pride & Prejudice!
One of my favorite things about this retelling is that the characters feel familiar, but I didn't know what would happen. Sometimes retellings stick too close to the inspiration and are a bit too predictable. A Certain Appeal didn't fall into that category!
I didn't know I needed a burlesque!Pride&Prejudice until I had it, and I'm delighted it exists. I definitely recommend it and will be rereading it!
Thank you to Netgalley and the publisher for providing this ARC in exchange for an honest review.
Dreams Lie Beneath was a disappointment.
The story started off promising to me: the nightmares of the town coming to life on the New Moon of every month, Clem and her father being kicked out of their home by young magicians, and Clem's vow for revenge.
A promising premise is about all it had – the magic system explored further. It was made more confusing by Phalen's telling Clem later on that he didn't have the gift originally and had to work hard at school – but at other times it's alluded to that magic is an inherent gift.
Clem's revenge plan was lackluster as well. I was fully supportive of it, but then the extent of it is to write an expose – and from what we hear of it, it just features old rumors she heard – which will make for a boring expose.
The last act of the book was fine – the ‘twist' wasn't a surprise due to heavy foreshadowing. It leaves you questioning how the heck the economic system is going to work but, ~hand wavy neat tie up~
The writing was the definition of ‘purple prose'. The dialogue was going for ‘old timey fancy language' (I think), but it just came off as pretentious.
If you're looking for an escape read with a magic system and plot you shouldn't investigate too closely, Dreams Lie Beneath is the book for you.
Audiobook Review: It was fine, at best. Which mostly is due to the source material. The Narrator wasn't great at doing voices for the characters. Sometimes it'd switch back to the regular voice halfway through a sentence.
Thank you to Netgalley and the publisher for providing this ARC in exchange for an honest review.