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morganperks's review
- Plot- or character-driven? Plot
- Strong character development? No
- Loveable characters? It's complicated
- Diverse cast of characters? No
- Flaws of characters a main focus? Yes
3.0
Content Warnings
Moderate: Bullying
linesiunderline's review
emotional
hopeful
mysterious
relaxing
medium-paced
- Plot- or character-driven? A mix
- Strong character development? It's complicated
- Loveable characters? Yes
- Diverse cast of characters? It's complicated
- Flaws of characters a main focus? Yes
4.0
Absolutely Truly is a wholesome, cozy kind of read, one that you could imagine curling up with on a snowy afternoon with a steamy cup of cocoa or tea and a plate of cookies in arms reach.
It also gets extra satisfaction points because it’s a successful series opener, so you put it down knowing that there is hopefully more pleasure ahead when you get to the next Truly Lovejoy adventures.
Best bits
- Stellar small town setting - in fact, Pumpkin Falls is so well realized that it feels like another character in the story. The charm of the place leaps off the page. The traditions, the quirky downtown shops, the memorable community members - these elements definitely gave me Stars Hollow feelings.
- Truly’s quiet passion for bird watching was an unusual and endearing character trait. It’s nice to see something different in a character and I think it’s important to open up young readers’ minds to new, unexpected interests.
- The family bookstore - I could picture it and I wanted to go there and hang out in a cozy chair eating mini pumpkin whoopie pies.
- I enjoyed how Truly found her people. The friendship crew in this book was cute and vibrant.
- Truly’s dad’s injury and recovery was presented sensitively. I’m interested to see how that develops in subsequent books.
Howevers:
- Not sure billing this one as a mystery was smart marketing. The mystery aspect was really secondary, and frankly, low stakes. It was hard to feel much tension related to the mystery beyond curiosity about it. Kids can get very invested in things, this was believable, but solving the mystery was not the central focus of this book.
- It’s tough to have such a large cast and not make some characters feel a little two dimensional. Lauren and Danny were almost forgotten about in some ways, and I wonder if a couple of the friends could have been more fleshed out.
I will happily anticipate more time spent in Pumpkin Falls! This charmer was just the balm I needed and offered a gentle escape.
It also gets extra satisfaction points because it’s a successful series opener, so you put it down knowing that there is hopefully more pleasure ahead when you get to the next Truly Lovejoy adventures.
Best bits
- Stellar small town setting - in fact, Pumpkin Falls is so well realized that it feels like another character in the story. The charm of the place leaps off the page. The traditions, the quirky downtown shops, the memorable community members - these elements definitely gave me Stars Hollow feelings.
- Truly’s quiet passion for bird watching was an unusual and endearing character trait. It’s nice to see something different in a character and I think it’s important to open up young readers’ minds to new, unexpected interests.
- The family bookstore - I could picture it and I wanted to go there and hang out in a cozy chair eating mini pumpkin whoopie pies.
- I enjoyed how Truly found her people. The friendship crew in this book was cute and vibrant.
- Truly’s dad’s injury and recovery was presented sensitively. I’m interested to see how that develops in subsequent books.
Howevers:
- Not sure billing this one as a mystery was smart marketing. The mystery aspect was really secondary, and frankly, low stakes. It was hard to feel much tension related to the mystery beyond curiosity about it. Kids can get very invested in things, this was believable, but solving the mystery was not the central focus of this book.
- It’s tough to have such a large cast and not make some characters feel a little two dimensional. Lauren and Danny were almost forgotten about in some ways, and I wonder if a couple of the friends could have been more fleshed out.
I will happily anticipate more time spent in Pumpkin Falls! This charmer was just the balm I needed and offered a gentle escape.
Content Warnings
Moderate: Bullying
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