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meigothic's review against another edition
3.0
Very meta in some of its references, and had some funny moments! I wasn't quite as invested in the romance as I wanted to be, but appreciated the writing style and tone. The way the narrator told the audience things and broke the fourth wall reminded me of the one found in [b:Mortal Follies|62984592|Mortal Follies|Alexis Hall|https://i.gr-assets.com/images/S/compressed.photo.goodreads.com/books/1671214280l/62984592._SY75_.jpg|98814418] by Alexis Hall, and of course, this does give SOME [b:Legends & Lattes|61242426|Legends & Lattes (Legends & Lattes, #1)|Travis Baldree|https://i.gr-assets.com/images/S/compressed.photo.goodreads.com/books/1654581271l/61242426._SY75_.jpg|94968745] vibes. If you're looking for a L&L dupe, this won't feel like one overall, but the cast was still fun to follow!
jalialynn's review against another edition
i didn’t like the writing or the way they were treating the goblins when they did nothing to them, like hello if you woke me from my nap i’d bite you too! also i saw a couple reviews about how this book is very harmful is rooted in antisemitism
hjmcqueerie's review
lighthearted
fast-paced
- Plot- or character-driven? Plot
- Strong character development? No
- Loveable characters? No
- Diverse cast of characters? No
- Flaws of characters a main focus? No
1.0
Absolute flop. The book was pitched as a lighthearted sapphic love affair in a fantastical bookshop, so I was imagining Starless-Sea-meets-Legends-and-Lattes. It was not. There is zero character development and so when the bookworms start snogging, two characters’ tragic back stories are revealed, and the (apparently) main romance kicks off, it is all totally obvious, totally unbelievable and totally dull. the only reason I got into it and stuck with it was the occasional goofy interjections from the author that broke the fourth wall. I enjoyed that very much. That got the book a star. It definitely wasn’t for me though.
digililly's review against another edition
funny
hopeful
lighthearted
relaxing
fast-paced
- Plot- or character-driven? Plot
- Strong character development? No
- Loveable characters? Yes
- Diverse cast of characters? No
- Flaws of characters a main focus? No
3.0
ravenfable's review against another edition
1.0
DNF at 56%- this was just an experience, and is very much not for me.
The main character is not quite likeable, the writing style is goofy, which can be charming, but it just feels abrupt and shallow here.
The main character is not quite likeable, the writing style is goofy, which can be charming, but it just feels abrupt and shallow here.
unknownbooks23's review
adventurous
emotional
funny
mysterious
fast-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? Yes
5.0
mamoru's review against another edition
4.0
I picked this book up while in the middle of deep grieving. Reading this made me feel just a little bit human again. The author picked me up in her cupped palms and carried me to a corner of the world like none I've ever visited: the pumpkin town of Leafhaven, tucked away against the edge of a forest with beautiful maple trees.
Imagine if Duloc, Stars Hollow, Halloween Town and Whoville had a baby. That's Leafhaven.
Follow along with Maribella Waters as she opens a bookshop (the Cozy Quill), guarded by her murder-hobo Asteria Helsdottir. We are joined by a most impressive cat called Gidget - well it's a goblin girl but I see her as a cat, a literal bookworm who eats dust and finds love in the most unexpected of ways, a villain that looks like a Disney villain because she is, as well as a bunch of townspeople who are as nosy as they are helpful. Caveat: there is one very annoying kid that is not helpful at all and I'm sad no one kicked him even once.
That's it, that's the plot, and it gave me everything I needed.
Pick up this book if you love fantasy, if you're looking for a meta-in-your-face-I-love-cozy-books sort of story where the narrator is very aware that we're inside a book. Pick it up if you're feeling lonely or sad and looking for a warm cup of tea of a book, a hug of a book, a book where the author cares about her readers so much so that she made us a character.
I have never read anything like this before. I loved the quizzes -except the last where you, madam author, tricked me and you are not forgiven!- and the absurdity of the plot. I loved all the author references, all the books inside the book (I laughed so hard at the werewolf billionaire one!), the never-ending stream of fantasy easter eggs, and the very accurate description of all and every epic fantasy book ever written. I am lost on the "stopper" part of the Robert Airickson R. R. R. Branderstopper name. Is the stopper a reference on how their books are doorstoppers? Or is there a famous author whose name ends in stopper?
The plot is lazier than Gidget, which is fine with me. The jokes are too many, which is also fine with me. The final twist is as obvious as Lady Malicent being a villain. Fine with me.
However, the romance subplot was forced and completely unnecessary. What a disappointment! Authors, please, romance is not necessary for every.single.goddam.book. Especially if you're going to throw it at the very end to make sure you crossed everything off your list. Sisterhood and friendship are just as valuable, if not more.
This is not the book for you if you need a plot or your plot needs to make sense, if you don't like meta stuff, if you need something to happen and actions to have consequences. There are plenty of typos here and it took me a very long time to get over the fact that the author seems to not know any pronouns. Instead, every time Maribella does something, we are told Maribella is doing this. Maribella is now doing something else. Maribella has stopped doing that thing and now Maribella is resting. This word appears 676 times in a book that is under 200 pages. I almost stopped reading because it was too irritating for my thin patience. Time passes very strangely. I recall one instance when Maribella spent the entire morning doing x thing, and then a page later we're being told she spent the entire morning doing z thing. So there are plenty of issues that would have been fixed by more thorough editing.
The MC is oftentimes annoying and selfish. Asteria is the classical "barbarian" who is big and dumb and sounds just like Borat. This made me raise my eyebrows a few times, but I'd rather not overthink it since this book is best read without nitpicking.
Some characters that stood out, other than Gidget, are Catalina, her lamas and my good boi Esteban the sloth (yes, there's a sloth and he's a heartbreaker!). I would love a companion novel where we follow Gidget. She is a celebrity, a Ted speaker, a queen and a goddess. When I say she's a cat, I mean it. Every single cat out there believes they are the best possible cat. And so does Gidget. She knows how awesome she is, and I suggest you read her parts with sunglasses on so you don't get blinded by her majestic light. I need Gidget to coach me so I gain some self-esteem. Oh, Gidget, may your rage be fruitful and your hibernating days cozy!
I will come back to this again.
Last piece of advice, pick this up in Autumn or Winter. But if you can't wait until then, use some rain/snow ambience in the background. Enjoy!
Imagine if Duloc, Stars Hollow, Halloween Town and Whoville had a baby. That's Leafhaven.
Follow along with Maribella Waters as she opens a bookshop (the Cozy Quill), guarded by her murder-hobo Asteria Helsdottir. We are joined by a most impressive cat called Gidget - well it's a goblin girl but I see her as a cat, a literal bookworm who eats dust and finds love in the most unexpected of ways, a villain that looks like a Disney villain because she is, as well as a bunch of townspeople who are as nosy as they are helpful. Caveat: there is one very annoying kid that is not helpful at all and I'm sad no one kicked him even once.
That's it, that's the plot, and it gave me everything I needed.
Pick up this book if you love fantasy, if you're looking for a meta-in-your-face-I-love-cozy-books sort of story where the narrator is very aware that we're inside a book. Pick it up if you're feeling lonely or sad and looking for a warm cup of tea of a book, a hug of a book, a book where the author cares about her readers so much so that she made us a character.
I have never read anything like this before. I loved the quizzes -except the last where you, madam author, tricked me and you are not forgiven!- and the absurdity of the plot. I loved all the author references, all the books inside the book (I laughed so hard at the werewolf billionaire one!), the never-ending stream of fantasy easter eggs, and the very accurate description of all and every epic fantasy book ever written. I am lost on the "stopper" part of the Robert Airickson R. R. R. Branderstopper name. Is the stopper a reference on how their books are doorstoppers? Or is there a famous author whose name ends in stopper?
The plot is lazier than Gidget, which is fine with me. The jokes are too many, which is also fine with me. The final twist is as obvious as Lady Malicent being a villain. Fine with me.
However, the romance subplot was forced and completely unnecessary. What a disappointment! Authors, please, romance is not necessary for every.single.goddam.book. Especially if you're going to throw it at the very end to make sure you crossed everything off your list. Sisterhood and friendship are just as valuable, if not more.
This is not the book for you if you need a plot or your plot needs to make sense, if you don't like meta stuff, if you need something to happen and actions to have consequences. There are plenty of typos here and it took me a very long time to get over the fact that the author seems to not know any pronouns. Instead, every time Maribella does something, we are told Maribella is doing this. Maribella is now doing something else. Maribella has stopped doing that thing and now Maribella is resting. This word appears 676 times in a book that is under 200 pages. I almost stopped reading because it was too irritating for my thin patience. Time passes very strangely. I recall one instance when Maribella spent the entire morning doing x thing, and then a page later we're being told she spent the entire morning doing z thing. So there are plenty of issues that would have been fixed by more thorough editing.
The MC is oftentimes annoying and selfish. Asteria is the classical "barbarian" who is big and dumb and sounds just like Borat. This made me raise my eyebrows a few times, but I'd rather not overthink it since this book is best read without nitpicking.
Some characters that stood out, other than Gidget, are Catalina, her lamas and my good boi Esteban the sloth (yes, there's a sloth and he's a heartbreaker!). I would love a companion novel where we follow Gidget. She is a celebrity, a Ted speaker, a queen and a goddess. When I say she's a cat, I mean it. Every single cat out there believes they are the best possible cat. And so does Gidget. She knows how awesome she is, and I suggest you read her parts with sunglasses on so you don't get blinded by her majestic light. I need Gidget to coach me so I gain some self-esteem. Oh, Gidget, may your rage be fruitful and your hibernating days cozy!
I will come back to this again.
Last piece of advice, pick this up in Autumn or Winter. But if you can't wait until then, use some rain/snow ambience in the background. Enjoy!
tatyanavogt's review against another edition
4.0
4.5 this was so nearly a five star for me, it was funny, silly, and cute. Loved the general idea, loved the breaking of the fourth wall, loved all of the silly elements. it was such a good time. But I did get a little bored and was ready for it to wrap up before it was ready. I also, even though I liked the pairing, don't really think there was any chemistry between the characters. BUT it was fun and I really enjoyed it regardless.