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jacquelynsbookshelf's Reviews (334)
adventurous
funny
mysterious
medium-paced
Plot or Character Driven:
A mix
Loveable characters:
Yes
Flaws of characters a main focus:
Yes
đ SF Tour Gone Wrong đ
Release Date September 23, 2025
Thank you to Net Galley and Minotaur Books for my free copy of this book.
This book is everything I want in a book. It has a fun mystery, it talks about the history of San Francisco, and it talks about true crime cases that happened there as well. I spent a lot of time visiting San Francisco growing up as I had family that lived in South San Francisco so it is fun to read about places I know about but also learn more about the city.
An aspect I love about this is that the main character is a woman in her 50s who has created this career for herself after a divorce and is doing well. I like the romance as well as it seems fun!
The case is a good one. I thought the twists and turns were well done. The suspects were plentiful but not overdone. Overall this was a fun next book in the series and I canât wait to see what else Michelle Chouinard has in store for this.
Release Date September 23, 2025
Thank you to Net Galley and Minotaur Books for my free copy of this book.
This book is everything I want in a book. It has a fun mystery, it talks about the history of San Francisco, and it talks about true crime cases that happened there as well. I spent a lot of time visiting San Francisco growing up as I had family that lived in South San Francisco so it is fun to read about places I know about but also learn more about the city.
An aspect I love about this is that the main character is a woman in her 50s who has created this career for herself after a divorce and is doing well. I like the romance as well as it seems fun!
The case is a good one. I thought the twists and turns were well done. The suspects were plentiful but not overdone. Overall this was a fun next book in the series and I canât wait to see what else Michelle Chouinard has in store for this.
dark
emotional
mysterious
tense
medium-paced
Plot or Character Driven:
Plot
Strong character development:
N/A
Loveable characters:
Yes
Diverse cast of characters:
Yes
Flaws of characters a main focus:
Yes
Thank you to NetGalley and Berkley Publishing Group for my free copy of this book.
Alba DĂaz and her family flee Zacatecas to an isolated mine to get away from a plague spreading in the city. While there, Alba tries to learn about her connection, but something is wrong. Her sleepwalking and strange hallucinations makes her think something is lurking there, something with ill intentions. ElĂas has arrived in the new world hoping to get away from the family legacy. But having to work on his families mine means he is contact with his cousin and his fiance. He should be ignoring them and doing what he must but he canât help but notice Alba. Which means he notices when she starts acting weird, and he believes he knows what is happening. Can he help her before itâs too late?
Ok Isabel Cañas has done it again! A gothic horror book that brings Mexican history and culture together with horror and intrigue, and a sprinkle of romance. Reading this gave me chills and kept me entranced the entire time. Reading about what Alba was going through and, to me, being a commentary on bodily autonomy was just amazingly done. This just might be Dr. Isabel Cañas best book yet. Though it is a tie for me on this and The Hacienda. This book will be great for spooky season and I canât wait to see what else she brings us.
Alba DĂaz and her family flee Zacatecas to an isolated mine to get away from a plague spreading in the city. While there, Alba tries to learn about her connection, but something is wrong. Her sleepwalking and strange hallucinations makes her think something is lurking there, something with ill intentions. ElĂas has arrived in the new world hoping to get away from the family legacy. But having to work on his families mine means he is contact with his cousin and his fiance. He should be ignoring them and doing what he must but he canât help but notice Alba. Which means he notices when she starts acting weird, and he believes he knows what is happening. Can he help her before itâs too late?
Ok Isabel Cañas has done it again! A gothic horror book that brings Mexican history and culture together with horror and intrigue, and a sprinkle of romance. Reading this gave me chills and kept me entranced the entire time. Reading about what Alba was going through and, to me, being a commentary on bodily autonomy was just amazingly done. This just might be Dr. Isabel Cañas best book yet. Though it is a tie for me on this and The Hacienda. This book will be great for spooky season and I canât wait to see what else she brings us.
dark
emotional
mysterious
tense
medium-paced
Plot or Character Driven:
Plot
Diverse cast of characters:
Yes
Flaws of characters a main focus:
Yes
Release Date September 9, 2025
Thank you to NetGalley and Simon and Schuster for my free copy of this book.
Present Day: Suzanne was never expecting to get her dadâs car and some junk when he dies. But she has, and now she is on a journey to remember what happened that summer of 1989 and come to terms with what it all means. 1989: 11 year old Suzanne is getting to spend the summer on tour with her dad and his band Gil and the Kills. What does it mean to work to be famous, and what will it cost?
This book was such an interesting look at rock and roll, fame, and family. Told through present day, 1989, and some other years of Suzanne at different ages, was fascinating. I thought the book was well written and while I donât know much about life on tour it felt like that is what happens. The author did a good job of creating a tense but fun and interesting dynamic between the band members, especially as it is told from the view of a child. What Suzanne does as an adult is an interesting dynamic. I wasnât sure if I would like it but I did! Suzanne is a complex character who as an adult is finally starting to feel like herself again. And I think that is beautiful. I also loved that the way the chapters were done was either A Side or B Side which was a fun choice. Since this is an ARC I am just assuming that at the start of each part (there are 5) there is a photo and the photos on mine didnât have anything so I am wondering if on the final print they will have something there. I think that was a fun choice because Suzanne is a photographer and got her love for it by doing Polaroids. I think I wanted a bit more of Suzanne's life and how her relationship was with her mom after age 16 Overall I think this book was gritty, intense, fascinating, and a fun read! Definitely put this book on your TBR for September.
Thank you to NetGalley and Simon and Schuster for my free copy of this book.
Present Day: Suzanne was never expecting to get her dadâs car and some junk when he dies. But she has, and now she is on a journey to remember what happened that summer of 1989 and come to terms with what it all means. 1989: 11 year old Suzanne is getting to spend the summer on tour with her dad and his band Gil and the Kills. What does it mean to work to be famous, and what will it cost?
This book was such an interesting look at rock and roll, fame, and family. Told through present day, 1989, and some other years of Suzanne at different ages, was fascinating. I thought the book was well written and while I donât know much about life on tour it felt like that is what happens. The author did a good job of creating a tense but fun and interesting dynamic between the band members, especially as it is told from the view of a child. What Suzanne does as an adult is an interesting dynamic. I wasnât sure if I would like it but I did! Suzanne is a complex character who as an adult is finally starting to feel like herself again. And I think that is beautiful. I also loved that the way the chapters were done was either A Side or B Side which was a fun choice. Since this is an ARC I am just assuming that at the start of each part (there are 5) there is a photo and the photos on mine didnât have anything so I am wondering if on the final print they will have something there. I think that was a fun choice because Suzanne is a photographer and got her love for it by doing Polaroids. I think I wanted a bit more of Suzanne's life and how her relationship was with her mom after age 16 Overall I think this book was gritty, intense, fascinating, and a fun read! Definitely put this book on your TBR for September.
emotional
hopeful
inspiring
lighthearted
medium-paced
Release Date August 12, 2025
Thank you to NetGalley and Putname Books for my free copy of this book.
Cielo Valdez will do just about anything for her cousin. Including spending an entire weekend with her ex so Lark has the best wedding possible. When Aidan OâToole left two years ago to pursue his music career, Cielo cut him and his family out of her life and she will do her best to keep him at arms length. Aidan has been struggling on his next album. But being back in Galway and near Cielo again, he finds that spark again. Can he convince her that they can work it out? That they can be long distance? Will Cielo be able to forgive Aidan?
This was such a cute romance. If you havenât read the first book, Morbidly Yours, do that first. Then go read this one. Ivy Fairbanks wrote an amazing second chance romance that is so well done and beautiful. I really loved the Aidan and Cielo as characters. They are both flawed abut they work together so well. The spice was perfect! This book was just so fun and a such a cute romance!
Thank you to NetGalley and Putname Books for my free copy of this book.
Cielo Valdez will do just about anything for her cousin. Including spending an entire weekend with her ex so Lark has the best wedding possible. When Aidan OâToole left two years ago to pursue his music career, Cielo cut him and his family out of her life and she will do her best to keep him at arms length. Aidan has been struggling on his next album. But being back in Galway and near Cielo again, he finds that spark again. Can he convince her that they can work it out? That they can be long distance? Will Cielo be able to forgive Aidan?
This was such a cute romance. If you havenât read the first book, Morbidly Yours, do that first. Then go read this one. Ivy Fairbanks wrote an amazing second chance romance that is so well done and beautiful. I really loved the Aidan and Cielo as characters. They are both flawed abut they work together so well. The spice was perfect! This book was just so fun and a such a cute romance!
dark
emotional
mysterious
medium-paced
Plot or Character Driven:
Plot
Loveable characters:
Yes
Diverse cast of characters:
Yes
Flaws of characters a main focus:
Yes
ARC Review
Release Date July 15, 2025
Release Date July 15, 2025
Thank you to NetGalley and Del Rey for my free copy of this book.
Content Warnings: incest, animal abuse, blood, death, and sexual content and assault
Minervaâs love of horror stories started with her great grandmother Nana Alba telling her stories about witches. This leads to her writing her thesis on Beatrice Tremblay, a female horror author who is not well known. While doing research on Beatriceâs famous novel The Vanishing, Minerva finds that it is actually based on a true story. At a time when Beatrice attended the same college, and her roommate went missing, never to be seen or heard from again. While reading a manuscript of Beatriceâs, Minerva believes that what happened on campus all those years ago might still be happening. And that it seems familiar to a story Nana Alba used to tell, about a witch encounter in 1900s Mexico. How do all of these stories connect? What will Minerva discover in her academic pursuit?
The way Silvia Moreno-Garcia is able to take three stories and weave them together is amazing. Though this is not your typical tale about witches. It is dark, emotional, and a bit creepy which I absolutely loved! Told from Minervaâs, Beatriceâs, and Albaâs POV, we get to see how these three women go through different lives but that they connect as well. I thought the story was interesting and the author did a good job of making me feel creeped out and unsettled. I did figure out what was happening pretty quickly, but that did not make this any less enjoyable and entertaining. If you enjoyed her book Mexican Gothic you will enjoy this one. But please read the content warning at the top to make sure it is something you will want to read. Overall I loved this book and canât wait for it to come out so everyone can enjoy it.
emotional
hopeful
inspiring
mysterious
fast-paced
Plot or Character Driven:
A mix
Strong character development:
Complicated
Loveable characters:
Complicated
Diverse cast of characters:
Yes
Flaws of characters a main focus:
Yes
ARC Review
Thank you to Flatiron Books for my free copy of this book.
Jia Song has just made junior partner, making it one step closer to senior partner. And now her boss is giving her the perfect opportunity to make that happen sooner. She will work with the Park family, a Korean family who made their fortune in the beauty industry. But now their father is divorcing their mother to be with his pregnant mistress and claiming they only have 25 million dollars. Though they are supposed to be worth close to a billion. So the kids hire the law firm to find out where the money is. Jia is chosen because she to is Korean, but she will make the best of it. Follow her across the world as she tries to find the money, learn more about this family and the members, and maybe learn more about herself and her family.
I loved this book so much! I loved Jia and found her to be an intriguing character. I am not an immigrant so I canât give real commentary on that part of the story but from what I understand I feel like the author did a good job of portraying that part of the story. The other characters were definitely interesting and sometimes I liked them and sometimes I didnât. Oh there is also anâauthorâ who has some chapters to make commentary which I thought was so fun. And you do get to find out who that is in the end. This was a fun ride and I think everyone needs to read this!
What happened to Nina? That is what her family is asking. She went with her boyfriend for a weekend and never came home. He comes home and says she broke up with him and he left her at his familyâs cabin. Her family doesnât believe him. The police donât really believe him. His parents arenât too sure either. But unless there is evidence they might not know what actually happened. Follow both of these families as they face police, media, and their hometown about what has happened.
This book made me angry. And not because of the subject matter but because these people were infuriating. Itâs told from the povâs of Ninaâs parents, Simonâs parents, and the police detective. This case is very reminiscent of Gabby Petito, and that case also made me mad. I think this book is just so close to home when it comes to these cases. Also to me this isnât a mystery because not even half way through you know what happens. So itâs more of a commentary on what happens in everyoneâs lives when something like this happened. I enjoyed the book though for me it was a bit of lag sometimes since I knew what happened. But there is a twist which was interesting. Overall, it was good but I wouldnât say this is a mystery or a mystery I was expecting.
This book made me angry. And not because of the subject matter but because these people were infuriating. Itâs told from the povâs of Ninaâs parents, Simonâs parents, and the police detective. This case is very reminiscent of Gabby Petito, and that case also made me mad. I think this book is just so close to home when it comes to these cases. Also to me this isnât a mystery because not even half way through you know what happens. So itâs more of a commentary on what happens in everyoneâs lives when something like this happened. I enjoyed the book though for me it was a bit of lag sometimes since I knew what happened. But there is a twist which was interesting. Overall, it was good but I wouldnât say this is a mystery or a mystery I was expecting.
Oliver Marks is getting out of prison after serving ten years. And the detective who worked his case wants to know what really happened back then. Since he is retiring, he asks Oliver to tell him what happened with no repercussions. So Oliver does. Ten years ago he was a student at an elite arts college studying Shakespeare. Him and his group of friends always play the same roles, until it changes. Slowly but surely it seems everything is changing. And one night changes everything for Oliver.
This was such an interesting book. The format was done a like a play with acts and scenes. It worked really well for me. I donât know a lot about Shakespearean plays so some of that was a bit hard for me but I still enjoyed seeing that aspect. The idea of the school was weird but made sense for an arts college. I thought the characters were fun and interesting. The author did a good job of making them distinct but also stereotypical. I enjoyed the mystery of what actually happened. Overall this was a book that was a bit different and fun.
This was such an interesting book. The format was done a like a play with acts and scenes. It worked really well for me. I donât know a lot about Shakespearean plays so some of that was a bit hard for me but I still enjoyed seeing that aspect. The idea of the school was weird but made sense for an arts college. I thought the characters were fun and interesting. The author did a good job of making them distinct but also stereotypical. I enjoyed the mystery of what actually happened. Overall this was a book that was a bit different and fun.
Vera Vixen is excited to get away from Shady Hollow for a quick trip. She agreed to chaperone a field trip to Summers End; an archaeological site built by ancient woodland creatures. Her good friend Lenore Lee comes along as well. However, when they enter the tomb with the students they donât only find ancient artifacts but a modern dead body, that of the professor in charge. Now Vera and her friends are going to try and figure out what happened in the tomb.
I am enjoying this book series so much. The characters are fun and different. I like that we are getting to explore more areas outside of Shady Hollow and meet new people. The mystery was a good one and I liked that we got a bit more of the history of the woodland creatures. Overall, a fun audiobook to listen to.
I am enjoying this book series so much. The characters are fun and different. I like that we are getting to explore more areas outside of Shady Hollow and meet new people. The mystery was a good one and I liked that we got a bit more of the history of the woodland creatures. Overall, a fun audiobook to listen to.
Scarlett Vandermeer is a diver at Stanford University whose only goal is to get into med school and return from her injury. She has no time for anything else. Lukas Blomqvist is the swim captain who is dating one of her teammates. She never really thought about him until one drunken secret gets slipped. Now they agree to see each other but not as a relationship. Itâs a secret, sort of. But with the Olympics coming up, a new science project they work on, and maybe feeling that are happening, Scarlett has a lot to think about and work through. Will their unique relationship work?
I really enjoyed this romance. I liked that it touches on BDSM but in a respectful way, though I did think there would be a bit more of it personally. I didnât know much about swimming so that was fun to learn a little about. And of course the science. I am not a science person but I still enjoyed that storyline. I thought this book was fun, spicy, thoughtful, and well done. One of my favorite of hers now.
I really enjoyed this romance. I liked that it touches on BDSM but in a respectful way, though I did think there would be a bit more of it personally. I didnât know much about swimming so that was fun to learn a little about. And of course the science. I am not a science person but I still enjoyed that storyline. I thought this book was fun, spicy, thoughtful, and well done. One of my favorite of hers now.