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chaptersofchase's Reviews (1.12k)
funny
mysterious
fast-paced
Diverse cast of characters:
N/A
Flaws of characters a main focus:
Yes
And we’re back with Eleanor Dash and a fresh new murder!
Thank you, Macmillan Audio, for the gifted copy of No One Was Supposed to Die at the Wedding {partner}
Genre: Mystery
Format: 🎧📖
Pub Date: 5.13.2025
Pages: 352
Star Rating: ☆☆☆
Eleanor is back — and somehow, she always finds herself solving crimes in flip-flops. If you love chaotic heroines like Finlay Donovan, you’ll probably find Eleanor just as loveable (and just as in over her head).
No One Was Supposed to Die at the Wedding is the latest in the Vacation Mysteries series, this time set on a stormy Catalina Island, complete with a hurricane, high drama, and of course — a dead body.
The setup is fun, and the setting is pure escapism, but the mystery itself? It got a little too tangled. Between the red herrings, side characters, and a maze of theories, I was scrambling to keep track. When the big twist hit, I realized I’d lost the thread in chapter who-knows-what. Fingers crossed, the next book scales it back just a bit.
Audiobook Review: ☆☆☆☆☆
Narrated by Elizabeth Evans (yes, that Elizabeth Evans), this version shines. If you struggled with the footnotes in book one, good news — in audio, they flow like Eleanor’s own chaotic inner monologue. No jolts, no distractions. Just vibes. 10/10 recommend listening over reading for this one.
Read if you enjoy:
🔐 Locked Room Mystery
🫠 Dysfunctional Family
🤪 Quirky Characters
📖 Red Herrings
I recommend reading The Vacation Mystery series if you enjoy all the drama in The White Lotus.
______
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medium-paced
Strong character development:
Yes
Flaws of characters a main focus:
Yes
Warning: don’t read while hungry
Thank you, Simon & Schuster, for the gifted copy of Aftertaste{partner}
Genre: Fantasy
Format: 🎧📖
Pub Date: 5.20.2025
Pages: 400
Star Rating: ☆☆☆☆
“Sometimes the people you love hurt you. Sometimes they mean to. And sometimes they don’t mean to, but cannot help it. It is you who must decide to keep loving them anyway.”
I’ve always believed that food has a way of connecting us to our past—to memories, emotions, and even people we’ve lost. Whether it’s a humble dish or an elaborate family recipe, food carries stories.
That’s what initially drew me to Aftertaste— a story centered on grief, love, memory, and the power of food. I was especially moved by how the author wove in the Ukrainian immigrant experience with such care and tenderness. It was clear this part of the story was written from the heart.
The beginning pulled me in, but I’ll admit — there were moments where the plot felt a little tangled, and I struggled to stay connected to the main character. The inclusion of supernatural elements, especially the presence of lost loved ones, started gently and meaningfully… but took an unexpectedly eerie turn. It was a bit of a tonal shift that didn’t quite work for me.
Still, the final pages? They got me. I closed the book with tears in my eyes and a quiet admiration for the main character’s journey. It’s not a perfect read but a deeply personal one.
Read if you enjoy:
👩🏽🍳 Culinary World
👻 Supernatural Stories
🗽 New York City
🇺🇦 Stories about Ukrainian Immigrants
Aftertaste is the debut novel from Daria Lavelle, and I can’t wait to read what she writes next!
______
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Not all loops are worth repeating
Thank you, Atria Books, for the gifted copy of Time Loops and Meet Cutes {partner}
Genre: Romance
Format: 🎧📖
Pub Date: 5.6.2025
Pages: 339
Star Rating: ☆☆☆
Oh, how I wanted to love this one! I’m such a sucker for magical realism and time travel — give me a time loop and a meet cute and I’m all in… or at least I thought I was.
Time Loops & Meet Cutes had all the right ingredients, but it just didn’t come together for me. The story quickly became so repetitive that I felt I could skip 50 pages and still know exactly what was happening. (Spoiler: I did skip ahead. Spoiler #2: I didn’t miss much.)
And here’s the thing — I don’t shy away from a bit of spice in my stories. But the romance here? It was extra spicy in a way that felt out of place. The tone, the characters, the vibes… it just didn’t mesh.
The one shining part? The friendship between Avery and Noelle. Their bond felt genuine, warm, and earned. Amidst all the chaos, that thread of connection grounded the story — and gave it the heart it desperately needed.
Read if you enjoy:
✨ Magical Realism
🕰️ Time Travel
✌🏼 Dual POV
🔂 Groundhog Day Vibes
🔥 Open Door Romance
______
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dark
slow-paced
This haunt missed the mark 🏚️
Thank you, PRH Audio and Del Rey Books, for the gifted copy of Staircase in the Woods {partner}
Genre: Horror
Format: 🎧📖
Pub Date: 4.29.2025
Pages: 388
Star Rating: ☆☆☆
"That was the funny thing about a fear of the day, you weren't really afraid of it but rather what lurked within it."
So… horror and I have a complicated relationship. It's not my go-to genre, but occasionally, a perfectly creepy, atmospheric read sneaks up on me and wins me over.
Unfortunately, The Staircase in the Woods wasn't one of those.
The book started strong — childhood friends reconnecting and reckoning with past trauma? I was hooked. I even appreciated the sharp political commentary woven into the story. It was timely, thoughtful, and gave the characters a real edge.
But then… we got to the horror meat of it all (and I mean meat quite literally 😬). What followed was pages and pages of the main characters trapped in a grotesque labyrinth, stumbling through horror after horror. It was repetitive, overwhelming, and honestly made me a little concerned about the author's imagination. Like… what's going on in that mind of yours?
By the time the ending hit, everything wrapped up so fast that it felt like a rush job. I was confused and underwhelmed, and I kind of wished I had just left the staircase alone.
CW: literally anything you can think of, it's all there.
Audiobook Review: ☆☆☆☆
The audiobook is narrated by Jay Myers (The Strange Case of Jane O), Amber Benson (Fang Fiction), and Xe Sands (The Book of Accidents, The Dollhouse Academy). They all did a great job narrating this creepy book, but some of their narrations were so similar that it was hard to tell characters apart.
Read if you enjoy:
👯♂️ Childhood Friends
📖 Genre Bending
🫣 Atmospheric
🩸 Lots of Gore
While Staircase in the Woods wasn't for me, I recommend reading Wendig's previous book, Book of Accidents.
______
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emotional
fast-paced
Plot or Character Driven:
A mix
Strong character development:
Yes
Loveable characters:
Yes
Flaws of characters a main focus:
Yes
So here’s the thing: I almost skipped this book… and I’m so glad I didn’t.Thank you, PRH Audio, for the gifted copy of Great Big Beautiful Life 💛 {partner}
Genre: Fiction
Format: 🎧📖
Pub Date: 4.22.2025
Pages: 432
Star Rating: ☆☆☆☆☆
Genre: Fiction
Format: 🎧📖
Pub Date: 4.22.2025
Pages: 432
Star Rating: ☆☆☆☆☆
"The rest of the time, I think, what if the polar ice caps keep melting, what if medical care keeps getting more expensive and social security runs out, and housing prices keep rising while minimum wage doesn't, and what if they resent me for bringing them into to all of this? What if they just hate me?"
Real talk: I haven’t loved every Emily Henry book. (Beach Read and Happy Place are my top two.) I almost skipped Great Big Beautiful Life — wasn’t in the mood for romance, and the mixed reviews had me doubting.
But then I thought, nope — I need to see for myself.
And honestly? This might be THE Emily Henry book for me.
She took a bold step, blending romance with historical and women’s fiction — and completely nailed it. The emotions, the reflections on life and aging, the honesty about living through hard seasons… it all landed so beautifully. I’m proud of her for stepping outside her usual space and thriving in it.
Even better? We didn’t just get one love story — we got two. And we got to walk alongside a woman revisiting the defining, painful, and beautiful moments of her life. I didn’t know I needed a genre mashup like this — but now I want more.
Audiobook Review: ☆☆☆☆☆
Narrated by Julia Whelan. No notes. She’s the GOAT.
Read if you enjoy:
✨ Genre Mashups
🌀 Dual Timelines
💛 Character Development
🌶️ Moderate Spice
📚 Books About Books
With full sincerity — I hope Emily Henry keeps branching out. This girl can WRITE.
_____
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dark
emotional
medium-paced
Plot or Character Driven:
A mix
Strong character development:
Yes
Loveable characters:
Complicated
Diverse cast of characters:
N/A
Flaws of characters a main focus:
Yes
Not every trip down the road of life is easy, and The Road to Tender Hearts was no exception—a rollercoaster of dark comedy, self-reflection, and a lot of unexpected moments.
Thank you, Ballantine Books & PRH Audio, for the gifted copy of The Road to Tender Hearts {partner}
Genre: Fiction
Format: 🎧📖
Pub Date: 4.29.2025
Pages: 384
Star Rating: ☆☆☆.5
I had high hopes going into The Road to Tender Hearts. I was expecting a lighthearted, uplifting story about a quirky group of characters on a road trip across the country. But I got a dark comedy (granted, it does say that in the description) with more emotionally heavy moments than I anticipated. There were times when it veered into the borderline depressing side of things.
That said, I still enjoyed watching the characters evolve throughout their journey. They grew and learned from each other, but for some reason, it never felt like enough to win me over. Maybe it's just me, but I struggled with how many seemed to lack understanding of others' struggles or showed selfish tendencies. It's a hard feeling to put into words, but it didn't quite click for me.
The absolute highlight of the book, though? Pancakes. That cat was everything. Sure, his little hobby of predicting deaths was dark, but he was hands down the most lovable character in the story. ___
Audiobook Review: ☆☆☆☆☆
The audiobook is narrated by Mark Bramhall, who also narrated Annie Hartnett's previous book, Unlikely Animals. Bramhall does an incredible job bringing the characters of his books to life. It feels like listening to an old friend tell a life story!
Read if you enjoy:
Quirky, Fun Characters
Road Trips
Second Chances
Character Development
If you haven't already, I highly recommend reading Unlikely Animals by Annie Hartnett. I read it two years ago, and it's still a favorite of mine!
______
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Content Warnings
Graphic: Suicide
Moderate: Alcoholism, Cancer, Child abuse
emotional
funny
hopeful
lighthearted
reflective
fast-paced
Plot or Character Driven:
A mix
Strong character development:
Yes
Loveable characters:
Yes
Flaws of characters a main focus:
Yes
Wild and Wrangled stole my heart and rode off into the sunset. Thank you, Dial Press & PRH Audio, for the gifted copy of this book {partner}
Genre: Romance
Format: 🎧📖
Pub Date: 4.15.2025
Pages: 368
Star Rating: ☆☆☆☆.5
“I’ll love you until you’re dust.”
I can’t believe I’ve reached the end of the Rebel Blue Ranch series — what a ride! I originally picked it up on a whim (those stunning, one-of-a-kind covers totally pulled me in), but once I started, there was no turning back. Found family? Check. Sizzling chemistry? Check. A sprawling ranch full of heart and heat? BIG check.
Wild and Wrangled was the perfect finale. Watching Camille Atwood and Dusty Tucker navigate their second chance at love — after falling for each other in high school — had me swooning hard. There’s just something magical about a romance that carries a little history and a lot of heart.
And if you’re someone who usually skips the acknowledgments or author’s notes — don’t. Trust me. The final pages hold a sweet surprise that ties this whole series together in a perfect way!
Audiobook Review: ☆☆☆☆☆
Narrated by the incredibly talented (and new-to-me!) Connor Crais and Savannah Peachwood, this audio experience was top-notch. These two brought Dusty and Cam to life in a way that made me want to hit rewind again and again—total 5-star performance.
Read if you enjoy:
❤️🩹 Second Chance Romance
✌🏼 Dual POV
🤗 Found Family
🏘️ Small Town
🤭 Fun Banter
🥵 Moderate Spice
If it’s not obvious, I highly recommend reading the entire Rebel Blue Ranch series! And, yes, the books MUST be read in order.
______
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emotional
funny
hopeful
lighthearted
mysterious
reflective
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
If I could pack one book in my beach bag for the whole summer, it would definitely be Beach House Rules. 🏖️💙 Thank you, Gallery Books & Uplit Reads, for the gifted copy of Beach House Rules by the lovely Kristy Woodson Harvey {partner}
Genre: Fiction
Format: 🎧📖
Pub Date: 5.27.2025
Pages: 368
Star Rating: ☆☆☆☆☆
It never fails — Kristy Woodson Harvey always delivers that book. The one that melts away the winter blues and reminds me that brighter, warmer days are coming. Every spring, I find myself curled up with one of her stories, and this year, Beach House Rules was the one that made me feel all the things.
I’ve adored everything she’s written, but this one hit differently. There’s just something magical about how she weaves together unforgettable characters, an inviting coastal setting, and a heartfelt storyline full of mystery, forgiveness, found family, and deep-rooted friendship. I didn’t want it to end… but I also couldn’t stop turning the pages.
Charlotte and Iris were so compelling, but Alice completely stole my heart. She’s lived through so much and still creates a safe, loving space for others — the kind of person who radiates warmth. Honestly? Growing up in a mommune sounds like a dream come true.
Read if you enjoy:
🫶🏼 Found Family
🥰 Community
🌊 Small Coastal Towns
🔍 Mystery
❣️ Romance (tiny bit)
🤩 True Southern Charm
Beach House Rules was the perfect reminder that healing happens in the community and that sometimes, the best families are the ones we choose. 💛
______
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