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3.53 AVERAGE
3.53 AVERAGE
heatherkosnick's review against another edition
4.0
That was fun! I look forward to more in this series and seeing what happens to the characters.
grandmasusan's review against another edition
funny
lighthearted
mysterious
medium-paced
- Plot- or character-driven? A mix
- Strong character development? Yes
- Loveable characters? Yes
- Diverse cast of characters? Yes
- Flaws of characters a main focus? N/A
4.0
Great narrator. Fun story. Looking forward to the next in the series.
rellebellereads's review against another edition
2.0
Tried twice ... could not get past the mean girls and these are grown women we are talking about
leebee_reads's review against another edition
Too many characters, fairly engaging opening but then it got slow and lost me.
howifeelaboutbooks's review against another edition
4.0
Love the idea of a murder series set in and around a bookstore. This was just the right amount of cozy and curious.
sueemmy's review against another edition
3.0
Her family bookstore's financial status just hit desperate and Emma Starrs plans to generate more cash flow by hosting events there. When her mean girl nemesis from high school loses her party planner the day before her murder mystery dinner party is scheduled, Emma steps up to help. The party was perfect...the characters, the clues were all a big hit. Unfortunately the host was discovered dead by Emma and her aunt. This leads to an harassment campaign organized by the newly widowed mean girl accusing Emma of murder. In order to save her reputation and the bookstore from closing, Emma has to find the real murderer. This series with interesting ideas debut shows real potential with some interesting characters. Thanks to netgalley and the publisher for the opportunity to read this book in exchange for an honest review.
cozymysterylvr's review against another edition
3.0
Emma Starrs returns home to help her sister Lucy save the family’s bookstore. To that end, she agrees to plan a mystery-themed dinner party for Tabitha Baxter, a former high school classmate. At the end of the event, Tabitha's husband is found dead. For some reason Emma and her aunt Nora are suspects in the murder. (I personally didn't find them viable suspects.) Her aunt's friend and colleague Calliope Nightfall hires Emma to create a Poe-themed launch event for her latest book to help them against the suspicions swirling around them.
I enjoyed the main characters of Emma, Lucy, Nora, Ryan, and Jake. I liked how Emma is reconnecting to Jake and they are resolving her issues with him from her past. I liked the budding romance between Lucy and Ryan. I can't wait to see how they keep the Starlit Bookstore afloat in the future.
The thing that kept me from really enjoying this book and giving it a better rating was the annoying character of Tabitha. Most books have a character that is slightly annoying to be the foil for the main character, but her mean girl persona from high school almost 20 years ago is a bit much. Especially with her keeping her pack of girlfriends copying her just like they were still back in high school. I will read the next book in the series to see if Tabitha tones down or is less of a character in the book.
Ms. Kuhn's ending in unveiling the killer was great. I certainly did not see it coming and I love when that happens in a book. There were certainly a lot of people to choose from as a killer.
Thank you NetGalley and Crooked Lane Books for the ARC in exchange for an honest review.
I enjoyed the main characters of Emma, Lucy, Nora, Ryan, and Jake. I liked how Emma is reconnecting to Jake and they are resolving her issues with him from her past. I liked the budding romance between Lucy and Ryan. I can't wait to see how they keep the Starlit Bookstore afloat in the future.
The thing that kept me from really enjoying this book and giving it a better rating was the annoying character of Tabitha. Most books have a character that is slightly annoying to be the foil for the main character, but her mean girl persona from high school almost 20 years ago is a bit much. Especially with her keeping her pack of girlfriends copying her just like they were still back in high school. I will read the next book in the series to see if Tabitha tones down or is less of a character in the book.
Ms. Kuhn's ending in unveiling the killer was great. I certainly did not see it coming and I love when that happens in a book. There were certainly a lot of people to choose from as a killer.
Thank you NetGalley and Crooked Lane Books for the ARC in exchange for an honest review.
beanbag883's review against another edition
Bad writing, boring plot, boring annoying characters
doodle_duck5's review against another edition
3.0
This was such a cute and cozy murder mystery about a small college town. I loved all the quirky characters with such big personalities. All of the literary quotes and hints thrown in there was such a nice touch too. It didn't quite keep me guessing til the very end but I enjoyed it nonetheless. It was a bit wordy and too detailed to me with some parts having to be reread or other paragraphs being skimmed or completely skipped trying to get to the point. Still entertaining enough that I'll be reading the rest of the series.