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caitlins_bookshelf's Reviews (432)
challenging
dark
emotional
reflective
sad
tense
slow-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:
No
set in the tiny artic village of vardรธ in norway where in 1617 a sudden storm kills fourty fishermen leaving just women, a couple of old men and boys behind. we mainly focus on maren and her perspective of how the women rally round and learn to live without men. a year later a scottish witch hunter, absalom cornet, arrives in the village with his new wife ursa. she sees women living independently for the first time in her life, and grows close with maren. her husband, sees evil, and his duty to wipe it out.
I'd heard such brilliant things about this one, and they were all absolutely true !! this was a truly wonderful book in so many ways. firstly, the setting !! it was stark and beautiful and described so thoroughly I could picture it so clearly in my mind. you could tell an awful lot of research had gone into this one to make it feel historically accurate, but it also just made for such a rich, realistic setting. the perfect winter read. this was also the first historical fiction I've read based around this part of the world and I definitely want to read more !!
the book is inspired by the real life events of the storm, and the following witch trials. I did witches at school, but nothing about the norwegian trials and so it was really fascinating to see very similar events to those I've learnt about being played out in a different setting. this was by no means a light hearted book. it was harrowing to read about the beliefs of the church and men (๐) causing the fear of witches to spread throughout the village. a slow, atmospheric start, that slowly built to an ending that had my heart pounding.
of course, it was the women that were at the heart of this story. I really loved the focus on their identity and strength, as this is what we got to know long before anyone was accused of being a 'witch'. and I think bringing the focus back to these women, remembering that the people affected by the hate and ignorance that caused witch trials were real people, is such an important thing. it made it a pretty emotional one. add that to the wonderful writing and setting (and the fact that this is a queer story too !) and you've got yourself such a dazzling story. petition to make it into a film please ?
I'd heard such brilliant things about this one, and they were all absolutely true !! this was a truly wonderful book in so many ways. firstly, the setting !! it was stark and beautiful and described so thoroughly I could picture it so clearly in my mind. you could tell an awful lot of research had gone into this one to make it feel historically accurate, but it also just made for such a rich, realistic setting. the perfect winter read. this was also the first historical fiction I've read based around this part of the world and I definitely want to read more !!
the book is inspired by the real life events of the storm, and the following witch trials. I did witches at school, but nothing about the norwegian trials and so it was really fascinating to see very similar events to those I've learnt about being played out in a different setting. this was by no means a light hearted book. it was harrowing to read about the beliefs of the church and men (๐) causing the fear of witches to spread throughout the village. a slow, atmospheric start, that slowly built to an ending that had my heart pounding.
of course, it was the women that were at the heart of this story. I really loved the focus on their identity and strength, as this is what we got to know long before anyone was accused of being a 'witch'. and I think bringing the focus back to these women, remembering that the people affected by the hate and ignorance that caused witch trials were real people, is such an important thing. it made it a pretty emotional one. add that to the wonderful writing and setting (and the fact that this is a queer story too !) and you've got yourself such a dazzling story. petition to make it into a film please ?
adventurous
mysterious
fast-paced
Plot or Character Driven:
Plot
Strong character development:
Yes
Loveable characters:
No
Diverse cast of characters:
Yes
Flaws of characters a main focus:
Yes
emotional
hopeful
lighthearted
medium-paced
Plot or Character Driven:
Character
Strong character development:
Yes
Loveable characters:
Yes
Diverse cast of characters:
Yes
Flaws of characters a main focus:
Yes
this one follows two exes, charlotte and brighton, as they end up spending christmas together after their own plans fall through. their best friends who they go home with for the holiday are (unknown to them) sisters! it's been five years since brighton left charlotte at the altar, so things are a little awkward, especially when the latter chooses to pretend the pair are strangers !! messy messy but in the best way ๐
I've seen quite mixed reviews on this one, so wasn't sure what to expect but it's safe to say that I simply adore all of ashley herring blake's books ๐childhood best friends to lovers to ex's and then back to lovers ? I've never read a second chance romance book before but it's safe to say that it is very much my cup of tea !!! something about two people coming back together, ESPECIALLY when they were childhood best friends scratches a very specific itch I didn't know I had.
I've seen a lot of people take issue with brighton, charlotte, or sometimes both of them, but I really enjoyed them both as characters. they were certainly flawed but they were written in a way that I could understand where those flaws had come from, what events in their past had made them the way they were. I loved them as a couple, and I thought they had the perfect balance of realistic talks, yearning, mushy vibes and sexy scenes.
I adored the setting of the small town in colorado - it created the most perfect winter backdrop to their romance ! we also had charlotte, brighton and all their friends being signed up to the annual singles event which was essentially a whole load of fun and/or festive match making events. not only did this create some pretty entertaining scenarios, but it gave us the chance to get to know all their delightful and very queer friends.
basically if you can't tell I really loved this one !big recommend if you're looking for an adult sapphic christmas book to add to your list for next year ๐ฅฐ
I've seen quite mixed reviews on this one, so wasn't sure what to expect but it's safe to say that I simply adore all of ashley herring blake's books ๐childhood best friends to lovers to ex's and then back to lovers ? I've never read a second chance romance book before but it's safe to say that it is very much my cup of tea !!! something about two people coming back together, ESPECIALLY when they were childhood best friends scratches a very specific itch I didn't know I had.
I've seen a lot of people take issue with brighton, charlotte, or sometimes both of them, but I really enjoyed them both as characters. they were certainly flawed but they were written in a way that I could understand where those flaws had come from, what events in their past had made them the way they were. I loved them as a couple, and I thought they had the perfect balance of realistic talks, yearning, mushy vibes and sexy scenes.
I adored the setting of the small town in colorado - it created the most perfect winter backdrop to their romance ! we also had charlotte, brighton and all their friends being signed up to the annual singles event which was essentially a whole load of fun and/or festive match making events. not only did this create some pretty entertaining scenarios, but it gave us the chance to get to know all their delightful and very queer friends.
basically if you can't tell I really loved this one !big recommend if you're looking for an adult sapphic christmas book to add to your list for next year ๐ฅฐ
emotional
funny
lighthearted
medium-paced
Plot or Character Driven:
Character
Strong character development:
Yes
Loveable characters:
Yes
Diverse cast of characters:
Yes
Flaws of characters a main focus:
Yes
I wasn't sure how much I was gonna love this (though I was definitely mainly just going off the cover - I'm so jealous of the american one !!) but it was such a sweet, festive read !! it follows arden, a hollywood teen actor with a very messy reputation, and her ex best friend caroline who still lives in their hometown of barnwich and dreams of being a journalist. they've not spoken in years but when a director won't give arden her dream role because of her party girl persona, she and her publicist come up with a plan to prove that this isn't the real arden. she'll go back to her small town for christmas and her "long term girlfriend" caroline, who in exchange will get to write an article for cosmo on their twelve dates together.
arden and caroline made a really lovely couple and I enjoyed getting to see them get reacquainted with eachother. it was a good slow burn with lots of longing and pining, made all the more apparent by the dual point of view. and barnwich was so cute! it made the absolute perfect setting for all the christmas themed dates ๐
the cast of side characters was great too ! I loved arden's grandma and their relationship, and I loved caroline's family and friends. it was only a short book but I feel like we got to know everyone real well and you got a good sense of all the family / friend dynamics. caroline's family was also jewish, and so we had a side plot of her trying to feel at home with that in town that is very christmas obsessed, which I think worked well and added another layer of depth. and there was also lots and lots of queer rep too as you would imagine !
the only thing I didn't love was that I'm not sure how realistic the hollywood / fame side of the story was ? I guess that's not reallly the point with a book like this, but the lack of plausibility did throw me a couple times and take me out of the story a little. and I also think maybe it would've worked better if arden and caroline had been a couple years older, maybe college age instead of end of high school. but, on the whole, these are very minor gripes !! and if you're looking for a festive sapphic book to add to your list for next year, I definitely recommend this one! ๐ฅฐ
arden and caroline made a really lovely couple and I enjoyed getting to see them get reacquainted with eachother. it was a good slow burn with lots of longing and pining, made all the more apparent by the dual point of view. and barnwich was so cute! it made the absolute perfect setting for all the christmas themed dates ๐
the cast of side characters was great too ! I loved arden's grandma and their relationship, and I loved caroline's family and friends. it was only a short book but I feel like we got to know everyone real well and you got a good sense of all the family / friend dynamics. caroline's family was also jewish, and so we had a side plot of her trying to feel at home with that in town that is very christmas obsessed, which I think worked well and added another layer of depth. and there was also lots and lots of queer rep too as you would imagine !
the only thing I didn't love was that I'm not sure how realistic the hollywood / fame side of the story was ? I guess that's not reallly the point with a book like this, but the lack of plausibility did throw me a couple times and take me out of the story a little. and I also think maybe it would've worked better if arden and caroline had been a couple years older, maybe college age instead of end of high school. but, on the whole, these are very minor gripes !! and if you're looking for a festive sapphic book to add to your list for next year, I definitely recommend this one! ๐ฅฐ
adventurous
dark
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:
Yes
the second book in the dark tower series !! in this one, after the five short stories that made up the gunslinger and introduced us to roland and his quest, we see the last gunslinger encounter three doors on a beach. each one leads to a different person (and time period) in new york, who roland then draws through to assist him on his quest to the dark tower.
this was wacky to say the least but in the best way !! definitely a very surreal feel to it and it took me a tiny bit to actually get into it. but boy oh boy, what a treat when I did ! I found the gunslinger kind of mid (though I know this isn't uncommon) and this really felt like the proper start to the story. the writing felt more like the stephen king I know and love, and it was nice having a more coherent story.
the start was a tad slow, but the end more than made up for it !! obviously no spoilers, but seeing all the pieces fall into place was kinda mind blowing, and definitely had me fully falling in love with this series. it was action packed and funny at times too, but the horror elements were very much felt as well. such a weird blend of genres but somehow it just works!
roland himself is such an interesting character, and I also loved his observations of our world. and it's cool to get to know *his* world more through those differences than actual exploration, as so far we've not seen too much of it ! I feel like we were given lots of tiny snippets and hints in this one as to what his world is like and it's history - but nothing that coherent - and I can't wait to get the full picture !
this was wacky to say the least but in the best way !! definitely a very surreal feel to it and it took me a tiny bit to actually get into it. but boy oh boy, what a treat when I did ! I found the gunslinger kind of mid (though I know this isn't uncommon) and this really felt like the proper start to the story. the writing felt more like the stephen king I know and love, and it was nice having a more coherent story.
the start was a tad slow, but the end more than made up for it !! obviously no spoilers, but seeing all the pieces fall into place was kinda mind blowing, and definitely had me fully falling in love with this series. it was action packed and funny at times too, but the horror elements were very much felt as well. such a weird blend of genres but somehow it just works!
roland himself is such an interesting character, and I also loved his observations of our world. and it's cool to get to know *his* world more through those differences than actual exploration, as so far we've not seen too much of it ! I feel like we were given lots of tiny snippets and hints in this one as to what his world is like and it's history - but nothing that coherent - and I can't wait to get the full picture !
emotional
funny
lighthearted
slow-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:
No
this one follows quinn oxford, owner of hay-on-wye's only queer bookshop, which has been threatened with closure! quinn is determined to save his shop, but when noah sage, a now famous romance novelist who grew up in the town, arrives back in hay-on-wye and ends up stranded by the snow, quinn finds himself a little distracted.
first and foremost, this was such a sweet, festive read ! actually the first proper christmas themed book I've read I think ? but I enjoyed it a lot !! and the setting of hay-on-wye was absolutely perfect ๐ it's not somewhere I've been, (though I'd love to!) but it made for the perfect backdrop to this story and I also really enjoyed learning a bit about the town's history! has got me craving a snowy christmas in a rural village ๐ฅฒ
the characters were lovely and I feel like I got to know quinn and noah pretty well over the course of the book. their romance was sweet, though kinda whiplash inducing at times. the little cast of side characters were pretty great too, and you definitely got a good sense of the community the town shared which was lovely.
and how could I not enjoy a book about books and authors and bookshops?! I feel like the romance almost felt like a sideplot to the threat of quinn's shop closing down, but not in a bad way. I think this part of the story gave space to have some important conversations about queer community and having a space for that.
so, if you're looking for a festive queer romance, I definitely recommend checking this one out !
first and foremost, this was such a sweet, festive read ! actually the first proper christmas themed book I've read I think ? but I enjoyed it a lot !! and the setting of hay-on-wye was absolutely perfect ๐ it's not somewhere I've been, (though I'd love to!) but it made for the perfect backdrop to this story and I also really enjoyed learning a bit about the town's history! has got me craving a snowy christmas in a rural village ๐ฅฒ
the characters were lovely and I feel like I got to know quinn and noah pretty well over the course of the book. their romance was sweet, though kinda whiplash inducing at times. the little cast of side characters were pretty great too, and you definitely got a good sense of the community the town shared which was lovely.
and how could I not enjoy a book about books and authors and bookshops?! I feel like the romance almost felt like a sideplot to the threat of quinn's shop closing down, but not in a bad way. I think this part of the story gave space to have some important conversations about queer community and having a space for that.
so, if you're looking for a festive queer romance, I definitely recommend checking this one out !
emotional
funny
hopeful
reflective
medium-paced
Plot or Character Driven:
Character
Strong character development:
Yes
Loveable characters:
Yes
Diverse cast of characters:
Yes
Flaws of characters a main focus:
Yes
essentially, a failed bank robber bursts into an apartment viewing and takes everyone hostage. the story follows the polices investigation of the situation, but also all of the strangers trapped in the apartment as they slowly open up to each other.
this is the third backman book I've read and something I've learnt is that I need to give myself time to get to know his characters. at the start of this one I found them all either annoying or abrasive and too argumentative. but then as the book goes on the layers are peeled back. you learn their history and motivations and they suddenly feel like very real, if imperfect, people. that's not to say I ended up loving any of them, but I could at least understand them.
I find backman's writing kind of conflicting. it's very quirky and feels like it sometimes tries too hard to be profound and moving, which can be really lovely when it works but quite annoying when it doesn't. I think it takes me a second with each book to get used to it again, which is the main reason I've rated this one four stars and not any higher!
but there were things I truly loved. the plot was maybeee unrealistic but at it's heart very sweet, and I enjoyed the dual timeline that allowed us to slowly figure out how all the pieces fit together. I did not see where the story was going at all and there were a couple moments of true ohhhh wow I did not expect that, which is always fun. I enjoyed learning about the characters and watching these strangers get to know each other too. definitely a good reminder that though a lot of people are idiots / do stupid things, they can also be kind and good, and that little bits of thoughtfulness can be so impactful.
this was weird and a bit silly but in the best way. a nice light-hearted book that also did a good job at pulling at my heartstrings ! I still don't love him as much as a lot of people seem to but I think this was my favourite backman book so far ๐
this is the third backman book I've read and something I've learnt is that I need to give myself time to get to know his characters. at the start of this one I found them all either annoying or abrasive and too argumentative. but then as the book goes on the layers are peeled back. you learn their history and motivations and they suddenly feel like very real, if imperfect, people. that's not to say I ended up loving any of them, but I could at least understand them.
I find backman's writing kind of conflicting. it's very quirky and feels like it sometimes tries too hard to be profound and moving, which can be really lovely when it works but quite annoying when it doesn't. I think it takes me a second with each book to get used to it again, which is the main reason I've rated this one four stars and not any higher!
but there were things I truly loved. the plot was maybeee unrealistic but at it's heart very sweet, and I enjoyed the dual timeline that allowed us to slowly figure out how all the pieces fit together. I did not see where the story was going at all and there were a couple moments of true ohhhh wow I did not expect that, which is always fun. I enjoyed learning about the characters and watching these strangers get to know each other too. definitely a good reminder that though a lot of people are idiots / do stupid things, they can also be kind and good, and that little bits of thoughtfulness can be so impactful.
this was weird and a bit silly but in the best way. a nice light-hearted book that also did a good job at pulling at my heartstrings ! I still don't love him as much as a lot of people seem to but I think this was my favourite backman book so far ๐
emotional
mysterious
reflective
fast-paced
Plot or Character Driven:
A mix
Strong character development:
No
Loveable characters:
Yes
Diverse cast of characters:
No
Flaws of characters a main focus:
No
this one's set in north carolina and follows june farrow, who comes from a family where all the women are cursed! after her grandma's death, a series of clues lead june to investigate the curse, her mother's disappearance, and her family's tangled history with the town.
I liked a lot of things about this one. the initial concept felt really interesting, and the mystery elements of it made it a quick read. there were a lot of cool reveals that I didn't see coming! I liked june for the most part though she could've been fleshed out a little more. I felt like I didn't really know her as a person, aside from her family history and the fact that she was cursed. it made it hard to be truly invested, though luckily the quick pace mostly made up for this. and then I felt kind of meh about all the other characters which was a shame! especially eamon ๐
but I did love the setting! I could picture the flower farm and the mountains and those summer evenings so clearly, so that was rather lovely.
if it hadn't been for the ending I might've rated this a little higher but unfortunately the big reveal where everything is explained felt kind of messy. my initial reaction was that it was pretty cool. but the more I thought about it - and also discussing it at bookclub where everyone felt the same - the more I felt that it didn't quite work. there were plot holes and things that weren't fully explained and I sort of felt like the author didn't have a clear enough idea/explanation of her concept for it to truly come together at the end. such a shame! because it had so much promise the whole way through, and the actual reading experience was fun.
I think in general I would still recommend because it was a fun read and there were things I really liked, but maybe just try not to deep the ending as much as I did!
dark
mysterious
reflective
slow-paced
Plot or Character Driven:
Character
Strong character development:
Yes
Loveable characters:
Yes
Diverse cast of characters:
No
Flaws of characters a main focus:
No
what a magical little book !! the blurb gives nothing away, and I didn't know any spoilers so I went in with pretty much no idea what the story was about, and I think that was definitely for the best !! so all I'll say is that it follows a main called piranesi who lives in a colossal, maybe infinite, labyrinthine house filled with statues.
while the unknown of what this book was about definitely added to the reading experience it was, first and foremost, just a really beautiful, intriguing story. deliciously descriptive and atmospheric (how I'd love to go and visit the House !!) I felt so immersed in this weird world right from the start, and the vibes were so perfectly balanced with the mystery of slowly figuring out what was going on. I won't spoil it ofc, but the whole concept was so fascinating to me!
it dealt with a lot of interesting themes - isolation and identity and the pursuit of knowledge - but in a very abstract kind of way due to how the story is told. piranesi made for such a delightful narrator, kind and thoughtful and oddly innocent in a way that made my heart ache for him, and I loved learning about his world through his eyes !
I feel like I've got a lot of thoughts that I can't write down because it would spoil it so much but just know this one is absolutely worth all the hype it gets! filled to the brim with layers and layers of fascinating concepts and ideas, and one I'll definitely be thinking about for a while to come !
while the unknown of what this book was about definitely added to the reading experience it was, first and foremost, just a really beautiful, intriguing story. deliciously descriptive and atmospheric (how I'd love to go and visit the House !!) I felt so immersed in this weird world right from the start, and the vibes were so perfectly balanced with the mystery of slowly figuring out what was going on. I won't spoil it ofc, but the whole concept was so fascinating to me!
it dealt with a lot of interesting themes - isolation and identity and the pursuit of knowledge - but in a very abstract kind of way due to how the story is told. piranesi made for such a delightful narrator, kind and thoughtful and oddly innocent in a way that made my heart ache for him, and I loved learning about his world through his eyes !
I feel like I've got a lot of thoughts that I can't write down because it would spoil it so much but just know this one is absolutely worth all the hype it gets! filled to the brim with layers and layers of fascinating concepts and ideas, and one I'll definitely be thinking about for a while to come !
adventurous
funny
mysterious
fast-paced
Plot or Character Driven:
Plot
Strong character development:
Yes
Loveable characters:
Yes
Diverse cast of characters:
Yes
Flaws of characters a main focus:
Yes
I loved it so much !! I wasn't sure how it would compare to the thursday murder club, especially because I adore that series so much, but pleasantly it was just as brilliant !
it follows amy and steve, father-in-law and daughter-in-law duo. amy is in private security, currently protecting world famous author rosie d'antonio, and steve is a widowed, retired police officer living a quiet life in the new forest. but when a string of murders occurs, and amy seems to be getting framed as the most obvious suspect, she and rosie end up on the run, with steve reluctantly getting swept along.
I'll keep this review spoiler free and just talk about the vibes because the mystery plot with all its twists and turns was such a highlight, and made for such a page turner ! definitely a much faster pace than the thursday murder club, with a bigger focus on the quite elaborate mystery. I maybe didn't love the characters quite as much (though it was only book one so I supposeee I should give them a proper chance before comparing!) but they were still so so fun to read about. amy and steve made such a lovely duo, rosie was great, and so were all the other side characters. I love how much heart richard osman puts into each and everyone, and something about his very british characterisation makes even the baddies kinda loveable. I'm not sure how to explain it but I love it !
it had his typical sense of humour throughout, which balances so so well with the murderous plot and is just what was needed to keep this a light, fun book. and there were also a couple of references that suggested it's set in the same world as the thursday murder club ! it would be so so fun if little cross overs keep happening ๐
basically just a big big recommend. if you liked the thursday murder club I can't see how you couldn't love this just as much ! and if you didn't like that series, then maybe this faster paced book would be more up your street. I'm so excited to continue reading anything and everything that richard osman writes ๐ฅน
it follows amy and steve, father-in-law and daughter-in-law duo. amy is in private security, currently protecting world famous author rosie d'antonio, and steve is a widowed, retired police officer living a quiet life in the new forest. but when a string of murders occurs, and amy seems to be getting framed as the most obvious suspect, she and rosie end up on the run, with steve reluctantly getting swept along.
I'll keep this review spoiler free and just talk about the vibes because the mystery plot with all its twists and turns was such a highlight, and made for such a page turner ! definitely a much faster pace than the thursday murder club, with a bigger focus on the quite elaborate mystery. I maybe didn't love the characters quite as much (though it was only book one so I supposeee I should give them a proper chance before comparing!) but they were still so so fun to read about. amy and steve made such a lovely duo, rosie was great, and so were all the other side characters. I love how much heart richard osman puts into each and everyone, and something about his very british characterisation makes even the baddies kinda loveable. I'm not sure how to explain it but I love it !
it had his typical sense of humour throughout, which balances so so well with the murderous plot and is just what was needed to keep this a light, fun book. and there were also a couple of references that suggested it's set in the same world as the thursday murder club ! it would be so so fun if little cross overs keep happening ๐
basically just a big big recommend. if you liked the thursday murder club I can't see how you couldn't love this just as much ! and if you didn't like that series, then maybe this faster paced book would be more up your street. I'm so excited to continue reading anything and everything that richard osman writes ๐ฅน