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4.01 AVERAGE
4.01 AVERAGE
I am a huge Lyla Sage fan, but this book was a major letdown.
I’m not sure what this book was missing exactly, but it lacked something that is inherent to Sage’s past works. I didn’t buy into the main relationship, and this did not have the gothic/spooky vibes it’s marketed to have. And perhaps that’s the issue- it’s being mismarketed!
I will continue to read Sage’s next book, but even diehard fans (like myself) may struggle with this one.
Thanks for an advanced copy in exchange for an honest review!
I’m not sure what this book was missing exactly, but it lacked something that is inherent to Sage’s past works. I didn’t buy into the main relationship, and this did not have the gothic/spooky vibes it’s marketed to have. And perhaps that’s the issue- it’s being mismarketed!
I will continue to read Sage’s next book, but even diehard fans (like myself) may struggle with this one.
Thanks for an advanced copy in exchange for an honest review!
dark
mysterious
reflective
medium-paced
Plot or Character Driven:
Character
Strong character development:
Complicated
Loveable characters:
Complicated
Diverse cast of characters:
No
Flaws of characters a main focus:
Yes
adventurous
funny
lighthearted
tense
medium-paced
Plot or Character Driven:
Character
Strong character development:
Yes
Loveable characters:
Yes
Diverse cast of characters:
No
Flaws of characters a main focus:
Yes
I'm a big time fan of the Rebel Blue Ranch books so when I got to read Soul Searching early, I was so excited. This book exceeded my expectations. It was the perfect mixture of romance, ghosts, and all of my favorite tropes. I liked that Collins and her sister could both see and talk to ghosts and I've never read a book where one of the main characters is a furniture refurbisher. I liked the connections between the main characters, like how her photographs are what inspired Brady to move to Sweetwater Peak in the first place. The plot was a great mixture of serious romance and funniness.
adventurous
reflective
medium-paced
Strong character development:
Yes
Loveable characters:
Yes
Diverse cast of characters:
No
Flaws of characters a main focus:
Yes
medium-paced
Plot or Character Driven:
Character
Strong character development:
Complicated
Loveable characters:
Complicated
Diverse cast of characters:
No
Flaws of characters a main focus:
Yes
Lyla Sage gave us a fun, ghosty, rom-com, and I'm not mad at it! Soul Searching follows Collins, a down on her luck photographer who has lost her ability to communicate with the dead, and Brady, a slightly shy and awkward upholsterer. The descriptions of those two characters alone had me SO excited to dive into this one, and I loved how Collins and Brady's relationship started with chaos (pepper spray is no joke) and develops into a relationship with humor, curiosity, and understanding. While Brady felt a little too one-dimensional at the start, he came around in the end, and I only wished for a little more time in his POV. I just love a dude who is down BAD for his crush, and Brady is that dude. Collins drove me a little insane, and I wish we would have seen more of her and her sister interacting.
However, as someone who grew up in a middle-of-nowhere town, I'd have to say my favorite part about this book was Sweetwater Peak. I could picture the town immediately, and it's clear through Sage's writing that she has an appreciation for an overlooked small town that holds so many stories. I loved getting to go along with Collins and Brady as they toured Collins's most favorite (and haunted) spots. The ghosty elements made it all the more fun, and I excited to come back to Sweetwater Peak for Clarke's story!
However, as someone who grew up in a middle-of-nowhere town, I'd have to say my favorite part about this book was Sweetwater Peak. I could picture the town immediately, and it's clear through Sage's writing that she has an appreciation for an overlooked small town that holds so many stories. I loved getting to go along with Collins and Brady as they toured Collins's most favorite (and haunted) spots. The ghosty elements made it all the more fun, and I excited to come back to Sweetwater Peak for Clarke's story!
slow-paced
Plot or Character Driven:
A mix
Strong character development:
No
Loveable characters:
Complicated
Diverse cast of characters:
No
Flaws of characters a main focus:
Yes
Unfortunately, I was highly disappointed in this title. I have previously enjoyed some of Lyla Sage's other writings & was really looking forward to reading this one; however, it just wasn't the story for me.
The premise was really cute and promising- I loved the introduction to our main characters, the story featured a creepy/haunted small town with some really interesting paranormal entities, but it quickly fell off. The concept had so much potential, but felt unfinished/underdeveloped. The storyline somehow had too many plots to it, and none at all. It felt disjointed throughout the story. I'd say there were two main conflicts for the leading ladythe loss of her ability to commune with ghosts and the threat to her family's properties . The second one was barely mentioned in the beginning of the book (and it was supposed to be a motivating reason for the character to be in Sweetwater), completely abandoned in the middle, and almost randomly brought back up in the end & resolved magically fast and with virtually no pushback. The majority of characters felt underdeveloped and kind of thrown in.
Overall, I expected more from this story. Maybe could still be a fun fall read for the right audience.
Thank you to NetGalley and Random House (via Dial Press Trad Paperback) for an eARC of this title in exchange for a fair and honest review.
The premise was really cute and promising- I loved the introduction to our main characters, the story featured a creepy/haunted small town with some really interesting paranormal entities, but it quickly fell off. The concept had so much potential, but felt unfinished/underdeveloped. The storyline somehow had too many plots to it, and none at all. It felt disjointed throughout the story. I'd say there were two main conflicts for the leading lady
Overall, I expected more from this story. Maybe could still be a fun fall read for the right audience.
Thank you to NetGalley and Random House (via Dial Press Trad Paperback) for an eARC of this title in exchange for a fair and honest review.
LOVED this, loved the cameos, loved the paranormal activity, loved the romance, loved the small town. 🩷😭 and of course miss Lyla Sage leaves us with another cliff hanger. So excited for this series.
Thank you to the publisher and Edelweiss for the ARC.
Thank you to the publisher and Edelweiss for the ARC.
dark
funny
hopeful
mysterious
tense
medium-paced
Plot or Character Driven:
A mix
Strong character development:
Yes
Loveable characters:
Yes
Diverse cast of characters:
No
Flaws of characters a main focus:
Yes
I struggled with the first 25% of the book. But after that got really into it. It was a Lil bit twisty as well.
Recommend for lovers of Gilmore girls
Recommend for lovers of Gilmore girls
Coming off the high of Wild and Wrangled and the end of the Rebel Blue series, Soul Searching was unfortunately a swing and a miss for me. Fun in concept, but boring in execution. It felt like we got half of a paranormal story, and half of a "saving the family business" drama between the FMC and her sister, and neither were very fulfilling. The small town vibes couldn't carry the absolute dearth of anything tangible to hold onto between Collins and Brady.
This one wasn't for me, but I'm still crossing my fingers that the next Lyla Sage title will.
Thank you to the publisher for the ARC.
This one wasn't for me, but I'm still crossing my fingers that the next Lyla Sage title will.
Thank you to the publisher for the ARC.
emotional
medium-paced
Plot or Character Driven:
Character
Strong character development:
Complicated
Loveable characters:
Complicated
Diverse cast of characters:
No
Flaws of characters a main focus:
Yes