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ghostiegail's reviews
57 reviews
Brewed in Magic by Jenna Wolfhart
Brewed in Magic carries the same sweet, cozy energy of Forged by Magic, but in a winter yuletide setting. I bookmarked so many sections that I definitely need to reread this in December — and if you can, I’d recommend waiting til the cooler months (unlike me) to get the full experience. Here are my thoughts:
♡ The Love Interest My favorite hyper-specific trope is “man with a violent past turning to a simpler life” and this book delivered. Ragnar was flirty and charismatic, sarcastic and sweet. He goes out of his way to help others without expecting thanks, but he’s also petty enough to go out of his way just to annoy someone. He had so many great one-liners and quotes that I highlighted, like ““You’re the one gaping at me, darling,” or “You liked that? Hard to tell.”
♡ Cute Ass Dragons The dragons continue to be cute every book. I don’t have to explain it, you get it. Just wanted to take a moment to acknowledge the giant bat puppies.
♡ Scope + Stakes My big complaint last book was that the scope was too large and the stakes too serious for it to be a cozy fantasy (according to my understanding of what cozy fantasy is). This book, the scope was much smaller (a single town on the island) and the stakes were much lower. So low. Maybe too low? Lilia’s worst case scenario is that she has to go stay with her brother for a few months while she saves up. Obviously that would be horrible for a wandering, free spirit like Lilia, but she’s not going to die like Daella could have in the last book. I like that this book felt more zoomed in and didn’t try to tackle these big consequences — but I also think that lower stakes make it harder to build tension, which is why folks are saying they didn’t feel chemistry/didn’t get invested enough. It’s a tough balance to strike.
♡ Get Your Pitchforks In both books, the plot tends to move forward through miscommunication and jumping to conclusions. For such a utopian village, there sure are a lot of angry mobs making decisions. I got it in the first book, but seeing this same plot device in the second book was too repetitive for me. Another element that carried over from the first book was the enemies/rivals to lovers — I know the trope is super popular right now, so maybe this wouldn’t bother everybody, but I’d prefer more variety. I’ve peaked at the next book, and it’s another rival/enemy situation.
adventurous
funny
lighthearted
fast-paced
- Plot- or character-driven? A mix
- Strong character development? No
- Loveable characters? Yes
- Diverse cast of characters? Yes
- Flaws of characters a main focus? No
4.0
Truth be told, I’m happy things turned out as they did. Because it means I’m here with you now, sharing a campfire and talking about ale and life and dragons. How could anything be better than that?
Brewed in Magic carries the same sweet, cozy energy of Forged by Magic, but in a winter yuletide setting. I bookmarked so many sections that I definitely need to reread this in December — and if you can, I’d recommend waiting til the cooler months (unlike me) to get the full experience. Here are my thoughts:
♡ The Love Interest My favorite hyper-specific trope is “man with a violent past turning to a simpler life” and this book delivered. Ragnar was flirty and charismatic, sarcastic and sweet. He goes out of his way to help others without expecting thanks, but he’s also petty enough to go out of his way just to annoy someone. He had so many great one-liners and quotes that I highlighted, like ““You’re the one gaping at me, darling,” or “You liked that? Hard to tell.”
♡ Cute Ass Dragons The dragons continue to be cute every book. I don’t have to explain it, you get it. Just wanted to take a moment to acknowledge the giant bat puppies.
♡ Scope + Stakes My big complaint last book was that the scope was too large and the stakes too serious for it to be a cozy fantasy (according to my understanding of what cozy fantasy is). This book, the scope was much smaller (a single town on the island) and the stakes were much lower. So low. Maybe too low? Lilia’s worst case scenario is that she has to go stay with her brother for a few months while she saves up. Obviously that would be horrible for a wandering, free spirit like Lilia, but she’s not going to die like Daella could have in the last book. I like that this book felt more zoomed in and didn’t try to tackle these big consequences — but I also think that lower stakes make it harder to build tension, which is why folks are saying they didn’t feel chemistry/didn’t get invested enough. It’s a tough balance to strike.
♡ Get Your Pitchforks In both books, the plot tends to move forward through miscommunication and jumping to conclusions. For such a utopian village, there sure are a lot of angry mobs making decisions. I got it in the first book, but seeing this same plot device in the second book was too repetitive for me. Another element that carried over from the first book was the enemies/rivals to lovers — I know the trope is super popular right now, so maybe this wouldn’t bother everybody, but I’d prefer more variety. I’ve peaked at the next book, and it’s another rival/enemy situation.
Forged by Magic by Jenna Wolfhart
Forged by Magic delivers on everything you’d expect from a cozy fantasy: a trope-filled romance, a high fantasy setting and a low-stakes plot. I loved getting sucked into this world, but I also had a few too many criticisms for it to land as a solid four star read.
♡ The Setting Fantasy media often leans into the brutality of their pseudo-medieval settings, so it was refreshing to read a story set somewhere that values peace and prosperity over all. There’s still violence and theft, but the way its treated by the characters made for a unique dynamic. I saw someone tag this as a “small town romance,” and I couldn’t agree more — Hearthaven was giving me major Stars Hollow vibes with all the little merchants and townsfolk meddling and gossiping. Jenna Wolfhart includes so many fun world building details about Hearthaven that it starts to feel like its own character in the best way.
♡ The Trials I’m usually not a big fan of the trials/competition trope because I’ve seen it done so much, but Jenna Wolfhart offers a unique take on it. I loved watching the townsfolk find ways to sabotage without outright breaking the rules of their community. I loved that you see the effects of past competitions in the story, both positive and negative. My one criticism is that I wish the challenges were a bit more varied — if I recall, three of the challenges asked contestants tomake something out of or using a certain element. The sculpture out of fire, the cupcakes out of earth, etc. I was expecting a big twist every time they announced the next trial, but instead it felt a little repetitive.
♡ Genre I love a story that blends genres, but this book more so flip-flopped between genres. It fits a lot of conventions of both high fantasy and cozy fantasy. The story is mostly focused on a small competition in a remote village: a small scope that matches cozy fantasy. But there are moving pieces in the larger world, one that crosses oceans and divides kingdoms: a larger scope that matches high fantasy. Even though the book feels low stakes, there’s actually a lot at risk in this story — Daella’s safety, the future of the island, political alliances and more. So is this a low-stakes cozy mystery, or is it a high-stakes, life and death adventure? It’s both. Whether or not this is a good or bad thing comes down to your personal preferences. For me, it felt like the author wasn’t sure what kind of book they wanted to write, which takes me into my next point:
♡ The Ending At the end of this book, the characters still have a lot to accomplish and it seems like the book is about to become a duology. You think that Daella and Rivelin are about to sail across the sea to retrieve an ancient book, bond to a dragon and maybe even defeat an evil king while they’re at it — but you soon find out that all that plot nonsense has been wrapped up off screen and we’re good now~! Instead of stretching that potential plot into a sequel, the author rushes the ending and ties it up in the neatest bow you’ve ever seen. In my opinion, this book should have either 1) been made into a duology to fully explore the story or 2) had a smaller scale to begin with.
⁺˚⋆｡°✩ Overall Thoughts✩°｡⋆˚⁺
For me, a four star is a book that I’m going to revisit over time. I don’t see myself revisiting Forged by Magic, but I do see myself revisiting its world through the rest of the series. I’m being picky and putting it at 3.75 stars — the book itself wasn’t a four for me, but I love the world so much that I want to continue exploring the series. At the time of writing this review, I’m actually halfway through the sequel and enjoying it a lot more than the first.
If you’re looking for a fantasy as cozy as a dragon snuggled by a hearth, look no further than Forged by Magic. While I have criticisms with some elements of this book, it’s also a super relaxing read that I would recommend to those getting into cozy fantasy.
adventurous
hopeful
lighthearted
fast-paced
- Plot- or character-driven? Plot
- Strong character development? No
- Loveable characters? Yes
- Diverse cast of characters? It's complicated
- Flaws of characters a main focus? No
3.75
With you, I would dance until the world ends.
Forged by Magic delivers on everything you’d expect from a cozy fantasy: a trope-filled romance, a high fantasy setting and a low-stakes plot. I loved getting sucked into this world, but I also had a few too many criticisms for it to land as a solid four star read.
♡ The Setting Fantasy media often leans into the brutality of their pseudo-medieval settings, so it was refreshing to read a story set somewhere that values peace and prosperity over all. There’s still violence and theft, but the way its treated by the characters made for a unique dynamic. I saw someone tag this as a “small town romance,” and I couldn’t agree more — Hearthaven was giving me major Stars Hollow vibes with all the little merchants and townsfolk meddling and gossiping. Jenna Wolfhart includes so many fun world building details about Hearthaven that it starts to feel like its own character in the best way.
♡ The Trials I’m usually not a big fan of the trials/competition trope because I’ve seen it done so much, but Jenna Wolfhart offers a unique take on it. I loved watching the townsfolk find ways to sabotage without outright breaking the rules of their community. I loved that you see the effects of past competitions in the story, both positive and negative. My one criticism is that I wish the challenges were a bit more varied — if I recall, three of the challenges asked contestants to
♡ Genre I love a story that blends genres, but this book more so flip-flopped between genres. It fits a lot of conventions of both high fantasy and cozy fantasy. The story is mostly focused on a small competition in a remote village: a small scope that matches cozy fantasy. But there are moving pieces in the larger world, one that crosses oceans and divides kingdoms: a larger scope that matches high fantasy. Even though the book feels low stakes, there’s actually a lot at risk in this story — Daella’s safety, the future of the island, political alliances and more. So is this a low-stakes cozy mystery, or is it a high-stakes, life and death adventure? It’s both. Whether or not this is a good or bad thing comes down to your personal preferences. For me, it felt like the author wasn’t sure what kind of book they wanted to write, which takes me into my next point:
♡ The Ending At the end of this book, the characters still have a lot to accomplish and it seems like the book is about to become a duology. Y
⁺˚⋆｡°✩ Overall Thoughts✩°｡⋆˚⁺
For me, a four star is a book that I’m going to revisit over time. I don’t see myself revisiting Forged by Magic, but I do see myself revisiting its world through the rest of the series. I’m being picky and putting it at 3.75 stars — the book itself wasn’t a four for me, but I love the world so much that I want to continue exploring the series. At the time of writing this review, I’m actually halfway through the sequel and enjoying it a lot more than the first.
If you’re looking for a fantasy as cozy as a dragon snuggled by a hearth, look no further than Forged by Magic. While I have criticisms with some elements of this book, it’s also a super relaxing read that I would recommend to those getting into cozy fantasy.
The September House by Carissa Orlando
Margaret finds her dream home and refuses to give it up even after a series of increasingly dangerous hauntings drive her and her husband to the brink. When her husband leaves town and their daughter insists on finding him, Margaret is more concerned about her daughter discovering the truth than the blood pouring down the wall — that, after all, happens every September.
✩ Concept With a pitch like “woman moves into haunted house and is too stubborn to leave,” *The September House* was guaranteed to draw me in. Carissa Orlando absolutely delivered on this concept and leaned into every gory detail. It felt referential to classic horror media while also taking a fresh approach.
✩ Pacing What I love most about horror is its capacity to explore social commentary and push a hypothetical to its extreme — this book spent a lot of time making sure you understood what the commentary/message was here. That is central to the book, that is the book, but for me the plot seemed to lag under the weight of that message. Genuinely, I’d say the first 70% of the book is pretty slow and more exposition than plot progression. It’s not until that last act that things get really interesting. The payoff is great, in my opinion, but it took me a while to read this book.
✩ Character I loved Margaret as a character. Without getting into too many personal details, I definitely saw a lot of Margaret in people I know in my own life. I connected with her character immediately, which kept me engaged while she struggled with the terrors of her house. I kept imagining her as a Winona Ryder type, with that same frantic and determined energy she embodies as Joyce Byers.
✩ Cinematic I often read books and think about how they might be adapted into other media — blockbuster movies, video games, HBO miniseries, etc. This book really felt so cinematic. The way the author moved me through action scenes, through rooms of the house, through time itself, felt like something out of a screenplay. I think she balanced description and action in a way that was both bloody and beautiful. I saw some reviews refer to this book as a dark comedy, and I honestly did not get the humor at all. Not in a bad way, I just didn’t pick up on it. I think if it were adapted or I listened to it on audio-book, I would have picked up on the dark humor more.
✩ Psychological I love a haunted house story a la The Conjuring or The Haunting of Hill House. Those are pretty paranormal in nature, but I love it when a storyteller brings in a psychological thriller element. Margaret is an unreliable narrator — and the first unreliable narrator I’ve loved this much. I found out after reading that the author has a background in Psychology, and you can see threads of that in the book.
In Conclusion
If you love character driven slow-burns where you don’t feel the tension creeping up your neck until it’s got you in a choke hold — I’d say push through those slow parts and enjoy the payoff.
dark
mysterious
tense
slow-paced
- Plot- or character-driven? Character
- Strong character development? Yes
- Loveable characters? No
- Diverse cast of characters? No
- Flaws of characters a main focus? Yes
4.0
“There was something disconcerting about opening your eyes first thing in the morning and seeing a thick trail of red oozing down your nice wallpaper, pointing straight at your head. It really set a mood for the remainder of the day.”
Margaret finds her dream home and refuses to give it up even after a series of increasingly dangerous hauntings drive her and her husband to the brink. When her husband leaves town and their daughter insists on finding him, Margaret is more concerned about her daughter discovering the truth than the blood pouring down the wall — that, after all, happens every September.
✩ Concept With a pitch like “woman moves into haunted house and is too stubborn to leave,” *The September House* was guaranteed to draw me in. Carissa Orlando absolutely delivered on this concept and leaned into every gory detail. It felt referential to classic horror media while also taking a fresh approach.
✩ Pacing What I love most about horror is its capacity to explore social commentary and push a hypothetical to its extreme — this book spent a lot of time making sure you understood what the commentary/message was here. That is central to the book, that is the book, but for me the plot seemed to lag under the weight of that message. Genuinely, I’d say the first 70% of the book is pretty slow and more exposition than plot progression. It’s not until that last act that things get really interesting. The payoff is great, in my opinion, but it took me a while to read this book.
✩ Character I loved Margaret as a character. Without getting into too many personal details, I definitely saw a lot of Margaret in people I know in my own life. I connected with her character immediately, which kept me engaged while she struggled with the terrors of her house. I kept imagining her as a Winona Ryder type, with that same frantic and determined energy she embodies as Joyce Byers.
✩ Cinematic I often read books and think about how they might be adapted into other media — blockbuster movies, video games, HBO miniseries, etc. This book really felt so cinematic. The way the author moved me through action scenes, through rooms of the house, through time itself, felt like something out of a screenplay. I think she balanced description and action in a way that was both bloody and beautiful. I saw some reviews refer to this book as a dark comedy, and I honestly did not get the humor at all. Not in a bad way, I just didn’t pick up on it. I think if it were adapted or I listened to it on audio-book, I would have picked up on the dark humor more.
✩ Psychological I love a haunted house story a la The Conjuring or The Haunting of Hill House. Those are pretty paranormal in nature, but I love it when a storyteller brings in a psychological thriller element. Margaret is an unreliable narrator — and the first unreliable narrator I’ve loved this much. I found out after reading that the author has a background in Psychology, and you can see threads of that in the book.
In Conclusion
If you love character driven slow-burns where you don’t feel the tension creeping up your neck until it’s got you in a choke hold — I’d say push through those slow parts and enjoy the payoff.
The Deal by Elle Kennedy
Garret, that is like the least messed up part of this whole book.
I wanted to try my first hockey romance this year, and for some reason I chose The Deal by Elle Kennedy. I can’t remember what or who initially drew me into this book, but I ended up loving the way the author incorporated so many fun tropes — bad boy with a soft spot, forced to share a bed, fake dating, etc. The bickering between characters and the melodrama of the plot made this the perfectly quick read to get me out of my latest reading slump and I devoured it in a day or two.
That being said, this book was also kind of terrible. In fact, I’d like to give a bombastic side-eye to the following:
✦ The part where Garret or Gavin or Graham calls her playlist “wicked eclectic” and it’s literally Etta James, Adele, Queen, Ella Fitzgerald, Aretha, and the Beatles. I love those musicians, but I wouldn’t call that an eclectic range.
✦ The part where Garret flashes a boyish grin and Hannah thinks to herself,
✦ The part where Hannah hangs out with her friends and one of them asks why she’s been so absent and if it’s because she was abducted by aliens. The friend then continues,
Hannah laughs, like this is a normal and appropriate thing to say, and not extremely triggering for a victim of assault to hear.
✦ Any of the parts where a character was slut shamed, including the main characters’ own friends.
I love the story that Elle Kennedy is trying to tell— the journey of a sexual assault victim finally finding a safe space for herself to explore pleasure and sexuality and self acceptance. But the author makes so many strange and problematic choices that what should be a beautiful story of healing and liberation instead became a vehicle for slut-shaming. Background women are described as mindless sluts that don’t even know why they’re so interested in the gorgeous hockey men. The men are slut-shamed as well, but I think their behaviors are seen as more “guys being dudes being horny” whereas the women are seen as vapid airheads.
Reading The Deal felt like watching one of those addictive TV dramas — it’s low-key a hate watch, but something makes you keep clicking “Next Episode.” Definitely a fun and fast-paced read, but I don’t think I can read the rest of the series and just ignore all the weird stuff.
emotional
funny
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
2.0
It’s messed up how much I’m enjoying this. Just hanging out with a girl without worrying about how I’m going to get rid of her or that she’s going to start making demands on me.
Garret, that is like the least messed up part of this whole book.
I wanted to try my first hockey romance this year, and for some reason I chose The Deal by Elle Kennedy. I can’t remember what or who initially drew me into this book, but I ended up loving the way the author incorporated so many fun tropes — bad boy with a soft spot, forced to share a bed, fake dating, etc. The bickering between characters and the melodrama of the plot made this the perfectly quick read to get me out of my latest reading slump and I devoured it in a day or two.
That being said, this book was also kind of terrible. In fact, I’d like to give a bombastic side-eye to the following:
✦ The part where Garret or Gavin or Graham calls her playlist “wicked eclectic” and it’s literally Etta James, Adele, Queen, Ella Fitzgerald, Aretha, and the Beatles. I love those musicians, but I wouldn’t call that an eclectic range.
✦ The part where Garret flashes a boyish grin and Hannah thinks to herself,
He really has mastered that little boy look. Except he’s not a little boy. He’s a man with a big, strong body and a chin that lifts in determination.
✦ The part where Hannah hangs out with her friends and one of them asks why she’s been so absent and if it’s because she was abducted by aliens. The friend then continues,
I hope the answer to that is yes and that they anal-probed you for ten hours straight, because you deserve it for ignoring me for more than a week
Hannah laughs, like this is a normal and appropriate thing to say, and not extremely triggering for a victim of assault to hear.
✦ Any of the parts where a character was slut shamed, including the main characters’ own friends.
Maybe because I know what a slut Logan can be. I can’t even count the number of times I’ve seen a chick do a walk of shame out of his bedroom.
I love the story that Elle Kennedy is trying to tell— the journey of a sexual assault victim finally finding a safe space for herself to explore pleasure and sexuality and self acceptance. But the author makes so many strange and problematic choices that what should be a beautiful story of healing and liberation instead became a vehicle for slut-shaming. Background women are described as mindless sluts that don’t even know why they’re so interested in the gorgeous hockey men. The men are slut-shamed as well, but I think their behaviors are seen as more “guys being dudes being horny” whereas the women are seen as vapid airheads.
Reading The Deal felt like watching one of those addictive TV dramas — it’s low-key a hate watch, but something makes you keep clicking “Next Episode.” Definitely a fun and fast-paced read, but I don’t think I can read the rest of the series and just ignore all the weird stuff.
What Are The Odds? by Madi Leigh
Don’t get me wrong, sometimes the jealousy makes sense and adds a fun dynamic to the plot. I just wish we saw Levi’s possessiveness challenged more.
❤︎ I’m not usually a stickler for spelling in self-published works because I understand it can be expensive to hire editors and betas, but there were enough spelling issues and inconsistencies to be distracting here. Some of it was just AUS vs USA spelling, but then the American guy’s POV would use Australian slang and spelling and it didn’t really make sense. It didn’t ruin the book by any means, but it also needed another round of edits/beta in my opinion.
❤︎ WHERE is the groveling? Levi made a huge mistake, majorly betrayed Grace’s trust, outright manipulated her, continued to conceal the truth… and in the end, all he has to do isapologize and get put in time out over winter break. Plus the weird last-minute hide and seek competition that I totally thought was going to end in a wild plot-twist threesome with Ryker.
Overall, What Are the Odds didn’t stick out from the crowd for me, but it did keep me thoroughly entertained for all 420 pages.
funny
lighthearted
medium-paced
- Plot- or character-driven? Character
- Strong character development? No
- Loveable characters? It's complicated
- Diverse cast of characters? No
- Flaws of characters a main focus? It's complicated
2.75
Grace Hughes, an Australian swimmer, transfers to an American college and finds herself in the middle of a bet between rival sports captains. While I had fun reading What Are the Odds, I felt it really stuck to genre conventions and tropes: the playboy jock prone to one-night-stands, the FMC who is unphased by his popularity and drives him crazy, the background entourage of puck bunnies that let us know the FMC is not like other girls.
I don’t want this review to come across as overly critical because it really was a fun read and I wouldn’t discourage anyone from reading it. That being said, I have a lot to say and a lot of it is negative.
Cheers~!
❤︎ What happened to their group project? What was anybody’s major?
❤︎ I didn’t really get the bet. In the beginning, these two teams hate each other so much that they can’t even share a gym and apparently the only way to settle this is by… seeing who can bone the exchange student first?? Thenthe competition element of the bet is abandoned when they sort of just anticlimactically decide to call a truce? The team rivalry fades into the background along with the bet, players from both teams throwing parties together and coexisting. Why did we even need a bet? Why did they decide that was the best course of action? Why did they pick poor Grace?
❤︎ I enjoyed the background cast of characters (though it was maybe too many people to keep track of). I like that Grace has genuine friendships with Levi’s teammates… and sometimes I liked those teammates more than Levi. Specifically, the part when Trippglares at Levi and basically warns him off from hurting Grace. He doesn’t even know about the bet, he can just sense that fuckboy Levi is up to some bullshit.
❤︎ There were a lot of sports to keep track of, which may sound like a silly criticism for a sports romance — but if I have to read about the rules to MULTIPLE sports and read scenes of games/meets in MULTIPLE sports, that’s maybe a bit much for my sports illiterate brain.
❤︎ The more I explore the hockey romance genre, the more I realize that I’m not into the alpha male shtick. For me, Levi often comes across as jealous, immature and insecure at the slightest threat to his claim over Grace — despite the fact that he is apparently so hot and manly and good at sports that every woman within spitting distance is trying to get into his pants.
I don’t want this review to come across as overly critical because it really was a fun read and I wouldn’t discourage anyone from reading it. That being said, I have a lot to say and a lot of it is negative.
Cheers~!
❤︎ What happened to their group project? What was anybody’s major?
❤︎ I didn’t really get the bet. In the beginning, these two teams hate each other so much that they can’t even share a gym and apparently the only way to settle this is by… seeing who can bone the exchange student first?? Then
❤︎ I enjoyed the background cast of characters (though it was maybe too many people to keep track of). I like that Grace has genuine friendships with Levi’s teammates… and sometimes I liked those teammates more than Levi. Specifically, the part when Tripp
❤︎ There were a lot of sports to keep track of, which may sound like a silly criticism for a sports romance — but if I have to read about the rules to MULTIPLE sports and read scenes of games/meets in MULTIPLE sports, that’s maybe a bit much for my sports illiterate brain.
❤︎ The more I explore the hockey romance genre, the more I realize that I’m not into the alpha male shtick. For me, Levi often comes across as jealous, immature and insecure at the slightest threat to his claim over Grace — despite the fact that he is apparently so hot and manly and good at sports that every woman within spitting distance is trying to get into his pants.
I tried to gauge whether she was being flirtatious or not. Usually with girls it was easy to tell. Maybe that was because, more often than not, it was. As egotistical as it sounded, I’d always been able to get any girl I wanted. Put it down to being six-foot-three and good at sport. Dumb, I know. But a reality, nonetheless.
Don’t get me wrong, sometimes the jealousy makes sense and adds a fun dynamic to the plot. I just wish we saw Levi’s possessiveness challenged more.
“And I want every guy in this college and country and world to know that you’re mine and they’re not allowed to look at you. Or touch you. Or think about you. Or fucking take you into their room to talk.”
❤︎ I’m not usually a stickler for spelling in self-published works because I understand it can be expensive to hire editors and betas, but there were enough spelling issues and inconsistencies to be distracting here. Some of it was just AUS vs USA spelling, but then the American guy’s POV would use Australian slang and spelling and it didn’t really make sense. It didn’t ruin the book by any means, but it also needed another round of edits/beta in my opinion.
❤︎ WHERE is the groveling? Levi made a huge mistake, majorly betrayed Grace’s trust, outright manipulated her, continued to conceal the truth… and in the end, all he has to do is
Overall, What Are the Odds didn’t stick out from the crowd for me, but it did keep me thoroughly entertained for all 420 pages.
Home Is Where the Bodies Are by Jeneva Rose
I don’t know why either, girlypop.
I honestly did not enjoy this book but by the time I realized it wasn’t for me, I was too far in to quit and decided to just power through. I’m new to mystery/thrillers in general and I don’t usually enjoy “unlikeable characters” so please take my review with a grain of salt — you may love this book, as the majority of the reviewers seemed to love it. But for me, this was a miss.
Home Is Where the Bodies Are is about three miserable siblings discovering their parents were also miserable and half-heartedly investigating a string of disappearances.
THE GOOD
★ I always appreciate a book set in the rural midwest, and I can see this setting really working for people that enjoy the trope of “small town struck by the horrors of a murder in their own backyard realize their tight-knit community isn’t as trustworthy as they once imagined.”
★ How could you not be drawn to a book with that cover?
THE BAD
★ The writing often drifted into this cheesy “chicken noodle soup for the soul” style that felt like it was trying too hard to create a quotable moment, but without the atmosphere and tension required to make it hit home.
★ This leaned more mystery/thriller than horror for me, and while it was definitely mysterious, it didn’t feel very thrilling/suspenseful for me. The characters seemed to only have a vague interest in solving the mystery, so as a reader I didn’t care either. They seek out information on and off, but also blatantly ignore/conceal evidence that might be helpful. Spoiler Alert: this book could have ended at 20% if Beth had just opened the lockbox and read the letter that explained, quite literally, every detail of the mystery.
★ This lack of tension could be made up for with a strong cast of characters, but the characters felt paper-thin — rich asshole brother, hard-working but miserable sister, drug-addict creative sister. I didn’t feel like we got much characterization beyond that. Nicole, the middle child, goes through the most character development, but I wish the author provided a more nuanced take on her journey with addiction. In the end,she overcomes adversity by realizing how precious life is — while I’m glad she gets her happy ending, I wish it was less straightforward. Addiction is a disease and healing is not linear, so this ending was overly simplistic for me.
★ This is more of a personal preference, but I wish this book was written from the mother’s perspective. The glimpses we get into her mind were the best part of the book for me, and it’s fascinating to watch someone’s vision of their perfect life be upended. What went through her mind the night of the VHS tape? How did her perception of her own family change as the story developed?
★ Re: the EndingI’m glad that everyone got their happily ever after, but I don’t love that the big moral of the story is that their parents weren’t bad people, they were just trying to protect the ones they love (according to Beth, at least). To me, the moral of the story is that if your child commits a horrible crime, you should get them the psychiatric help they need instead of hiding the body and rewarding them with a computer— but hey, that’s just me.
For me, this book was a 2-2.5 star read because I didn’t connect with the characters, I didn’t feel any tension/suspense, and I thought the mystery itself wasn’t that engaging — but I think if you’re looking for a bingeable popcorn thriller, you might enjoy this.
emotional
mysterious
fast-paced
- Plot- or character-driven? A mix
- Strong character development? Yes
- Loveable characters? No
- Diverse cast of characters? No
- Flaws of characters a main focus? Yes
2.5
“No,” I lie again. I don’t know why I don’t just come out and tell them.
I don’t know why either, girlypop.
I honestly did not enjoy this book but by the time I realized it wasn’t for me, I was too far in to quit and decided to just power through. I’m new to mystery/thrillers in general and I don’t usually enjoy “unlikeable characters” so please take my review with a grain of salt — you may love this book, as the majority of the reviewers seemed to love it. But for me, this was a miss.
Home Is Where the Bodies Are is about three miserable siblings discovering their parents were also miserable and half-heartedly investigating a string of disappearances.
THE GOOD
★ I always appreciate a book set in the rural midwest, and I can see this setting really working for people that enjoy the trope of “small town struck by the horrors of a murder in their own backyard realize their tight-knit community isn’t as trustworthy as they once imagined.”
★ How could you not be drawn to a book with that cover?
THE BAD
★ The writing often drifted into this cheesy “chicken noodle soup for the soul” style that felt like it was trying too hard to create a quotable moment, but without the atmosphere and tension required to make it hit home.
”The moments that change us forever always feel recent, because we carry them with us whether we want to or not.”
★ This leaned more mystery/thriller than horror for me, and while it was definitely mysterious, it didn’t feel very thrilling/suspenseful for me. The characters seemed to only have a vague interest in solving the mystery, so as a reader I didn’t care either. They seek out information on and off, but also blatantly ignore/conceal evidence that might be helpful. Spoiler Alert:
★ This lack of tension could be made up for with a strong cast of characters, but the characters felt paper-thin — rich asshole brother, hard-working but miserable sister, drug-addict creative sister. I didn’t feel like we got much characterization beyond that. Nicole, the middle child, goes through the most character development, but I wish the author provided a more nuanced take on her journey with addiction. In the end,
★ This is more of a personal preference, but I wish this book was written from the mother’s perspective. The glimpses we get into her mind were the best part of the book for me, and it’s fascinating to watch someone’s vision of their perfect life be upended. What went through her mind the night of the VHS tape? How did her perception of her own family change as the story developed?
★ Re: the Ending
For me, this book was a 2-2.5 star read because I didn’t connect with the characters, I didn’t feel any tension/suspense, and I thought the mystery itself wasn’t that engaging — but I think if you’re looking for a bingeable popcorn thriller, you might enjoy this.
Earls Trip by Jenny Holiday
CW: dementia/memory loss, domestic violence (off screen)
THE GOOD
♡ The author has a way of making the brushing of hands or exposure of an ankle feel intimate and steamy, which makes for a delightful build!
♡ My favorite aspect of the book was watching Olive and Clementine’s relationship build — I never had a sister, but I gained a sister-in-law in my 20’s, so it’s sweet seeing women my age build that sisterly relationship~!
♡ This was a super fast read for me (less than 24 hours), I think because I was invested in the concept and in the mood for this type of book. I saw other reviewers saying it took them a while to get through it, and I can definitely see how if I read this at a different time, parts of it might feel slow or meandering.
♡ I loved Archie’s relationship with his mother and his journey coming to terms with/managing her memory loss. It’s never named explicitly, but I could relate a lot of it to my own experiences with family members experiencing early onset dementia. The author brought to light the mental and emotional load of caretakers and how hard it can be to balance your own need to recharge vs your commitment to your loved ones.
♡ Another thing that isn’t explicitly named but feels very present is Archie’s struggle with reading — I definitely interpreted it as dyslexia, but I would be curious to hear from folks with dyslexia/other learning disabilities what they thought of this depiction.
♡ For me, Clementine’s vegetarianism was handled well — she was strong in her convictions but never pushed her beliefs onto others, instead inviting people to learn when they showed curiosity. As a former vegan, it was interesting to read about animal welfare through a regency lens.
THE BAD
♡ The plot and pacing were confusing for me — we start with a ton of action, then simmer down to a feel-good vacation with little real conflict. Most of this book felt like them just hanging out, which allows for some great character development but not a whole lot of plot. It’s not a bad thing to be character driven, but I think that might be why it felt slow for a lot of readers.
♡ The marketing for this book was misleading. I picked it up initially because I saw a tagline calling it "Ted Lasso meets Bridgerton for a 19th century spin on The Hangover." I expected tomfoolery, I expected scandal, I expected drama. Instead, for most of the book we’re sitting around embroidering handkerchiefs, eating mushroom pie and entering turtle races. I still enjoyed it, but other than that initial BOOM of action in the beginning, the book is very low-key and nothing like The Hangover.
IN CONCLUSION
♡ I had a good time, but I’m left confused over the marketing and wish there was more of plot to move the characters along. I don’t see myself rereading this title or picking up the subsequent books in the series, but I also wouldn’t discourage anyone read this book. I think you’d enjoy Earl’s Trip if you like character-driven stories, light spice, and a wide cast of characters.
emotional
lighthearted
slow-paced
- Plot- or character-driven? Character
- Strong character development? Yes
- Loveable characters? It's complicated
- Diverse cast of characters? No
- Flaws of characters a main focus? No
3.25
”Tis merely a flesh wound.”
CW: dementia/memory loss, domestic violence (off screen)
THE GOOD
♡ The author has a way of making the brushing of hands or exposure of an ankle feel intimate and steamy, which makes for a delightful build!
♡ My favorite aspect of the book was watching Olive and Clementine’s relationship build — I never had a sister, but I gained a sister-in-law in my 20’s, so it’s sweet seeing women my age build that sisterly relationship~!
♡ This was a super fast read for me (less than 24 hours), I think because I was invested in the concept and in the mood for this type of book. I saw other reviewers saying it took them a while to get through it, and I can definitely see how if I read this at a different time, parts of it might feel slow or meandering.
♡ I loved Archie’s relationship with his mother and his journey coming to terms with/managing her memory loss. It’s never named explicitly, but I could relate a lot of it to my own experiences with family members experiencing early onset dementia. The author brought to light the mental and emotional load of caretakers and how hard it can be to balance your own need to recharge vs your commitment to your loved ones.
♡ Another thing that isn’t explicitly named but feels very present is Archie’s struggle with reading — I definitely interpreted it as dyslexia, but I would be curious to hear from folks with dyslexia/other learning disabilities what they thought of this depiction.
♡ For me, Clementine’s vegetarianism was handled well — she was strong in her convictions but never pushed her beliefs onto others, instead inviting people to learn when they showed curiosity. As a former vegan, it was interesting to read about animal welfare through a regency lens.
THE BAD
♡ The plot and pacing were confusing for me — we start with a ton of action, then simmer down to a feel-good vacation with little real conflict. Most of this book felt like them just hanging out, which allows for some great character development but not a whole lot of plot. It’s not a bad thing to be character driven, but I think that might be why it felt slow for a lot of readers.
♡ The marketing for this book was misleading. I picked it up initially because I saw a tagline calling it "Ted Lasso meets Bridgerton for a 19th century spin on The Hangover." I expected tomfoolery, I expected scandal, I expected drama. Instead, for most of the book we’re sitting around embroidering handkerchiefs, eating mushroom pie and entering turtle races. I still enjoyed it, but other than that initial BOOM of action in the beginning, the book is very low-key and nothing like The Hangover.
IN CONCLUSION
♡ I had a good time, but I’m left confused over the marketing and wish there was more of plot to move the characters along. I don’t see myself rereading this title or picking up the subsequent books in the series, but I also wouldn’t discourage anyone read this book. I think you’d enjoy Earl’s Trip if you like character-driven stories, light spice, and a wide cast of characters.
What Is Love? by Jen Comfort
♡ I appreciate when a book has a silly concept and truly leans into it. You have to be at least a little nerdy to pick up a Jeopardy-inspired romance novel, and Jen Comfort caters to those readers with wild trivia facts and even wilder study sessions.
♡ Both points of view were truly distinct — Teddy’s POV felt like penning a romance novel with ink and quill, and Maxine’s POV felt like scribbling a stand-up special on a stained diner napkin five minutes before you’re called on stage.
♡ I can see how the main characters’ personalities could become grating for readers. Maxine crashes through life on instinct and adrenaline, and Teddy built the foundations of his self esteem on generational elitism — but I think if you can surrender yourself to the absurdity of an enemies-to-lovers jeopardy-inspired spice-fest, you can learn to love these characters, too.
♡ As a lover of both trivia tournaments and romantic comedies, I don’t see how this book could’ve been anything other than a slam-dunk. I’m giving it five stars simply because I had fun the entire time, and you probably will too.
funny
lighthearted
fast-paced
- Plot- or character-driven? A mix
- Strong character development? Yes
- Loveable characters? It's complicated
- Diverse cast of characters? Yes
- Flaws of characters a main focus? Yes
4.5
QUESTION: Sharing its title with the 1993 hit by Haddaway, this book begins each chapter with a trivia question.
ANSWER: What is *What Is Love*?
ANSWER: What is *What Is Love*?
”He thinks he’s playing 4D chess, but joke’s on him because I only play checkers.”
♡ Both points of view were truly distinct — Teddy’s POV felt like penning a romance novel with ink and quill, and Maxine’s POV felt like scribbling a stand-up special on a stained diner napkin five minutes before you’re called on stage.
♡ I can see how the main characters’ personalities could become grating for readers. Maxine crashes through life on instinct and adrenaline, and Teddy built the foundations of his self esteem on generational elitism — but I think if you can surrender yourself to the absurdity of an enemies-to-lovers jeopardy-inspired spice-fest, you can learn to love these characters, too.
♡ As a lover of both trivia tournaments and romantic comedies, I don’t see how this book could’ve been anything other than a slam-dunk. I’m giving it five stars simply because I had fun the entire time, and you probably will too.
Ne'er Duke Well by Alexandra Vasti
emotional
hopeful
reflective
medium-paced
- Plot- or character-driven? A mix
- Strong character development? Yes
- Loveable characters? Yes
- Diverse cast of characters? It's complicated
- Flaws of characters a main focus? Yes
4.5
Thank you to NetGalley for this arc in exchange for an honest review!
This book is feminist smut about feminists writing smut, and I loved it.
This book is feminist smut about feminists writing smut, and I loved it.
But then again, this was exactly what she wanted Belvoir’s to be: an attainable resource for women who would not otherwise have access to knowledge that could change their lives for the better.
Peter Kent, a Louisiana abolitionist that can’t help but create scandals everywhere he goes, inherits the Dukedom of Stanhope and discovers two precocious half-siblings. Determined to become their legal guardian, Peter turns to society’s most meddlesome debutante who has a dangerous secret — Selina Ravenscroft curates and distributes a circulating erotic library exclusively for the women of the ton, marked by iconic green cloth bound covers. Arranging the perfect match may be just what Peter needs to convince the chancellor he deserves custody, but Peter’s impulsivity and Selina’s illicit secret just may put everything they’ve built in jeopardy.
I know this isn’t funny. But only you would turn up your nose at embroidery and resolve to overturn society in its stead.
I definitely thought this book was going to be 80% arranging a match, and while that was important to the plot, it was much more about childhood relationships, grappling for control in a society actively working against you, and the beauty of loving someone wholeheartedly for who they are. There were passages that legitimately gave me chills, which has not happened to me in years.
Despite how emotionally grounded this story was, there was no shortage of spice. Honestly, more than I was expecting! There were a few passages where I thought, okay let’s get back to the plot, but the author usually brought it back around through character development, and the spice didn’t make the book drag on at all. Every plot point and character arc took its time to play out, so the spicy interludes were tons of fun.
My only gripe is that there is one loose end that I was sure we would get resolution on, and didn’t really come full circle — but I’m suspecting that if the story is the hit it deserves to be, we may get a sequel or spin-off exploring that character.
If you are 1) a lover of historical romance heavy on the history AND the spice 2) a meddlesome auntie in training with a solution to every problem or 3) a lover of complex sibling relationships, then Ne’er Duke Well will knock your stockings off.
The Lady He Lost by Faye Delacour
The ton is shocked when a lieutenant presumed dead in a shipwreck returns to London alive and well. No one is more surprised than Jane Bishop, his lifelong friend and the cousin of his former fiancee. Jane, who spent the last two years mourning his loss (and running a ladies gambling club).
If you want a regency romance that will have you kicking your feet and giggling, please look no further. This book takes mutual pining to a new level with just the right amount of steam to fog up your glasses. For how sexy it is, The Lady He Lost doesn’t shy away from heartfelt messages, either. This is a story about the risks we take for love and the power of having someone believe you. With a strong cast of characters, plenty of drama and toe-curling spice, you’ll find yourself flying through the pages.
That being said, I feel a bit torn about the pacing in this book. The reader often finds themselves moving from moment to moment with no time to spare, and even the characters remark how quickly things seem to progress. Because the author included several intertwining plots but only gave herself 336 pages to wrap everything up, The Lady He Lost honestly felt rushed. I absolutely enjoyed how complex this story was, but when each piece is woven together as tightly as a corset, it can be hard to breathe.
On the other hand, the fast paced nature was engaging and made me feel caught up in the whirlwind of Jane and Eli’s romance. I think if you normally find historical fiction to be slow or boring, this book would be a perfect introduction into what makes the genre so powerful. In the end, I believe The Lady He Lost would have benefited from another 50 to 100 pages, which would not only give the story room to breathe but also suit the genre.
Overall, I enjoyed this book immensely. The pacing is keeping me from giving it a higher rating, but I’m definitely looking forward to the next books in the series (which will hopefully be about Eli’s younger sister)!
lighthearted
medium-paced
- Plot- or character-driven? A mix
- Strong character development? It's complicated
- Loveable characters? It's complicated
- Diverse cast of characters? No
- Flaws of characters a main focus? Yes
3.75
Why must he make her miserable when he wished to make her happy?
The ton is shocked when a lieutenant presumed dead in a shipwreck returns to London alive and well. No one is more surprised than Jane Bishop, his lifelong friend and the cousin of his former fiancee. Jane, who spent the last two years mourning his loss (and running a ladies gambling club).
If you want a regency romance that will have you kicking your feet and giggling, please look no further. This book takes mutual pining to a new level with just the right amount of steam to fog up your glasses. For how sexy it is, The Lady He Lost doesn’t shy away from heartfelt messages, either. This is a story about the risks we take for love and the power of having someone believe you. With a strong cast of characters, plenty of drama and toe-curling spice, you’ll find yourself flying through the pages.
That being said, I feel a bit torn about the pacing in this book. The reader often finds themselves moving from moment to moment with no time to spare, and even the characters remark how quickly things seem to progress. Because the author included several intertwining plots but only gave herself 336 pages to wrap everything up, The Lady He Lost honestly felt rushed. I absolutely enjoyed how complex this story was, but when each piece is woven together as tightly as a corset, it can be hard to breathe.
On the other hand, the fast paced nature was engaging and made me feel caught up in the whirlwind of Jane and Eli’s romance. I think if you normally find historical fiction to be slow or boring, this book would be a perfect introduction into what makes the genre so powerful. In the end, I believe The Lady He Lost would have benefited from another 50 to 100 pages, which would not only give the story room to breathe but also suit the genre.
Overall, I enjoyed this book immensely. The pacing is keeping me from giving it a higher rating, but I’m definitely looking forward to the next books in the series (which will hopefully be about Eli’s younger sister)!