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justagirlwithabook's reviews
432 reviews
The Case of the Murderous Dr. Cream: The Hunt for a Victorian Era Serial Killer by Dean Jobb
dark
informative
slow-paced
3.0
The Lighthouse Witches by C.J. Cooke
dark
informative
mysterious
tense
fast-paced
- Plot- or character-driven? Plot
- Strong character development? No
- Loveable characters? It's complicated
- Diverse cast of characters? No
- Flaws of characters a main focus? No
4.0
Liv is a single mom living in 1998 and raising three daughters on her own. As a painter by trade and never having much to live by, she moves her little family around from place to place, sometimes living out of a car if necessary. When Liz is offered an unexpected commission from a mysterious man to paint a mural on the walls of a lighthouse on an island just off of the Scottish coast, she takes the opportunity and moves her family once again. But the island and its lighthouse is shrouded in secrets and a sordid past. Rumors of witches, wildlings, curses, and disappearances abound.
One night, one daughter goes missing and Liv is left trying to piece the mystery together. Flash forward 23 years later, and only one daughter is left, now searching for her two sisters and their mother, Liv, who all mysteriously disappeared after that night, not a trace to be found. But unexpectedly, a little girl is suddenly discovered on a road, bruised and dirty and claiming to be the girl who had gone missing, only she's not aged a day.
What is the mystery of the lighthouse and its island, and will the lost eventually be found?
What I Loved:
- I loved the Scottish setting, folklore, and beliefs that permeated this story (runes and wildlings and so forth), as well as the tie-in to witches that were burned on the island in the 17th century.
- The story started off a little bit slow-paced and atmospheric to set up the scene but became very fast-paced as details continued to be revealed!
- The story is written with alternating viewpoints for every chapter. There is a lot of jumping back and forth in time (from the moments when Liv and her family arrived at the island through when everyone disappeared and fast-forwarded to 2021 as events in the future unfold) -- and this is a characteristic that I really love in books.
- The story also incorporated excerpts from a grimoire that added another element to how the narrative unfolds, and I really loved that aspect, too!
- There was a cool explanation revealed in the last 25% or so that was interesting and clever (though I was sad that there wasn't more time spent exploring the concept).
What I Didn’t Love:
- The 'big reveal' happens and explains the disappearances and reappearances of children/individuals around the island, and once it was revealed I found it to be a really fascinating plot point that I wish could've been explored more, but then the story likely would've turned into something entirely different that what it was set out to be. I just found it fascinating and wish there had been some more story to go along with it.
- The book didn't start out quite as fast as I was hoping -- it took a tad longer to suck me in than what I would have wanted (lots of time spent on characters and atmospheric setting upfront, which is entirely understandable!), but it was still more than interesting enough to keep me hooked.
Overall:
I really enjoyed this book overall. I found the premise to be really interesting and loved the Scottish landscape and folklore that were seamlessly incorporated. While the book started off a tad slowly, it really picked up and was able to completely hook me (I HAD to know what was ultimately going on!). I'm excited to see this one in people's hands come October and think many readers will find it to be a solid read!
Thank you to Netgalley and Berkley for an e-ARC of this book!
One night, one daughter goes missing and Liv is left trying to piece the mystery together. Flash forward 23 years later, and only one daughter is left, now searching for her two sisters and their mother, Liv, who all mysteriously disappeared after that night, not a trace to be found. But unexpectedly, a little girl is suddenly discovered on a road, bruised and dirty and claiming to be the girl who had gone missing, only she's not aged a day.
What is the mystery of the lighthouse and its island, and will the lost eventually be found?
What I Loved:
- I loved the Scottish setting, folklore, and beliefs that permeated this story (runes and wildlings and so forth), as well as the tie-in to witches that were burned on the island in the 17th century.
- The story started off a little bit slow-paced and atmospheric to set up the scene but became very fast-paced as details continued to be revealed!
- The story is written with alternating viewpoints for every chapter. There is a lot of jumping back and forth in time (from the moments when Liv and her family arrived at the island through when everyone disappeared and fast-forwarded to 2021 as events in the future unfold) -- and this is a characteristic that I really love in books.
- The story also incorporated excerpts from a grimoire that added another element to how the narrative unfolds, and I really loved that aspect, too!
- There was a cool explanation revealed in the last 25% or so that was interesting and clever (though I was sad that there wasn't more time spent exploring the concept).
What I Didn’t Love:
- The 'big reveal' happens and explains the disappearances and reappearances of children/individuals around the island, and once it was revealed I found it to be a really fascinating plot point that I wish could've been explored more, but then the story likely would've turned into something entirely different that what it was set out to be. I just found it fascinating and wish there had been some more story to go along with it.
- The book didn't start out quite as fast as I was hoping -- it took a tad longer to suck me in than what I would have wanted (lots of time spent on characters and atmospheric setting upfront, which is entirely understandable!), but it was still more than interesting enough to keep me hooked.
Overall:
I really enjoyed this book overall. I found the premise to be really interesting and loved the Scottish landscape and folklore that were seamlessly incorporated. While the book started off a tad slowly, it really picked up and was able to completely hook me (I HAD to know what was ultimately going on!). I'm excited to see this one in people's hands come October and think many readers will find it to be a solid read!
Thank you to Netgalley and Berkley for an e-ARC of this book!
In the Garden of Spite by Camilla Bruce
dark
mysterious
sad
tense
medium-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
4.0
Gussy by Jimmy Cajoleas
adventurous
funny
lighthearted
mysterious
reflective
fast-paced
- Plot- or character-driven? A mix
- Strong character development? It's complicated
- Loveable characters? Yes
- Diverse cast of characters? No
- Flaws of characters a main focus? It's complicated
4.5
Gussy and her Grandpa Widow are Protectors for their village in the desert. They have their rites that must be practiced and performed correctly, down to the exact detail, in order to keep the Great Doom outside of the village and keep the community safe. If they err even the tiniest bit, the Great Doom could slip inside and infect people and homes.
When an unexpected rider comes bringing a summons for Grandpa Widow, it's up to Gussy, with the help of her sidekick dog Cricket, to perform the rites each day on her own and to follow all the rules. The most important rule: never open the gates after sundown. But on the night of a very big storm, a little girl wanders up to the gates barely hanging on by a thread and asking to be let in. Gussy breaks the greatest rule to help her out, and that's when things start going strange.
Who is this girl, and did Gussy let the Great Doom in that dark and stormy night? Is Gussy really worthy of the the task in front of her and to be called Protector, and can she ultimately muster the courage to save the town from its greatest ancestral enemy?
What I Loved:
- Very fast-paced story (I read this in under 24 hours!) and there's action from the very start.
- Each of the characters grab at your heart strings a little bit for various reasons (especially Cricket, Gussy's dog!).
- Gussy has a "what in tarnation" kind of style of speaking and it regularly brought a smile to my face! (Phrases like, "I'd be a liar if I told you ...," "and that's just a fact," and "to be honest with you.")
- This story is immensely quotable. There are a million little heartwarming nuggets that are applicable to every day life that kids can learn from (along with a few that just make you smile or tug at your heart).
What I Didn’t Love:
- I wish there had been a tad bit more depth to side characters to get to know them better and to feel a little more connected.
- I just wanted a little bit of something more - more depth to characters, more background on the rites, just a little more something.
Overall:
I really loved this story overall. It was really adorable and the main character, Gussy, had a very strong voice and personality that I really loved. I also really loved how quotable this story was - so many heartwarming and thoughtful moments that I made sure to highlight throughout. I do wish that there might've been a bit more substance to the side characters, that we could've gotten to know a few of them in depth a bit more to connect with them better. When reading this book as an adult, it's important to keep in mind that it's meant for middle grade readers, and I think for middle grade readers, this will be a supremely enjoyable book! (I think if an adult could enjoy it as much as I did, that's a good sign of a solid middle grade read!) I have every intention on adding this one to my junior high library's collection for the lower readers we have that would enjoy a light but enjoyable fantasy read.
A few favorite lines:
"Even the folks you can't stand still matter to the world, you know? They can still play their part."
"'There isn't a person alive who's not at war with their own thoughts." He shook his head. 'It's the fighting that counts, little Gussy. It's the fight you can't ever quit.'"
"Is that a strange thing to believe, that you were created with love, that whatever made you delights in you too?"
"When you dream so hard it bleeds over into someone else's sleep, well ... that's serious business."
"I went straight back to the Rectory and had myself a good cry. Sometimes you just can't help it. All the fear and worry come pouring out of your eyeballs and you just lay on the floor and moan a while. There's nothing wrong with crying, and that's just a fact. Plus, I had a warm dog to cuddle with and make me feel better."
Thank you to Netgalley and Quill Tree Books/HarperCollins Children's Books for an e-ARC of this book!
When an unexpected rider comes bringing a summons for Grandpa Widow, it's up to Gussy, with the help of her sidekick dog Cricket, to perform the rites each day on her own and to follow all the rules. The most important rule: never open the gates after sundown. But on the night of a very big storm, a little girl wanders up to the gates barely hanging on by a thread and asking to be let in. Gussy breaks the greatest rule to help her out, and that's when things start going strange.
Who is this girl, and did Gussy let the Great Doom in that dark and stormy night? Is Gussy really worthy of the the task in front of her and to be called Protector, and can she ultimately muster the courage to save the town from its greatest ancestral enemy?
What I Loved:
- Very fast-paced story (I read this in under 24 hours!) and there's action from the very start.
- Each of the characters grab at your heart strings a little bit for various reasons (especially Cricket, Gussy's dog!).
- Gussy has a "what in tarnation" kind of style of speaking and it regularly brought a smile to my face! (Phrases like, "I'd be a liar if I told you ...," "and that's just a fact," and "to be honest with you.")
- This story is immensely quotable. There are a million little heartwarming nuggets that are applicable to every day life that kids can learn from (along with a few that just make you smile or tug at your heart).
What I Didn’t Love:
- I wish there had been a tad bit more depth to side characters to get to know them better and to feel a little more connected.
- I just wanted a little bit of something more - more depth to characters, more background on the rites, just a little more something.
Overall:
I really loved this story overall. It was really adorable and the main character, Gussy, had a very strong voice and personality that I really loved. I also really loved how quotable this story was - so many heartwarming and thoughtful moments that I made sure to highlight throughout. I do wish that there might've been a bit more substance to the side characters, that we could've gotten to know a few of them in depth a bit more to connect with them better. When reading this book as an adult, it's important to keep in mind that it's meant for middle grade readers, and I think for middle grade readers, this will be a supremely enjoyable book! (I think if an adult could enjoy it as much as I did, that's a good sign of a solid middle grade read!) I have every intention on adding this one to my junior high library's collection for the lower readers we have that would enjoy a light but enjoyable fantasy read.
A few favorite lines:
"Even the folks you can't stand still matter to the world, you know? They can still play their part."
"'There isn't a person alive who's not at war with their own thoughts." He shook his head. 'It's the fighting that counts, little Gussy. It's the fight you can't ever quit.'"
"Is that a strange thing to believe, that you were created with love, that whatever made you delights in you too?"
"When you dream so hard it bleeds over into someone else's sleep, well ... that's serious business."
"I went straight back to the Rectory and had myself a good cry. Sometimes you just can't help it. All the fear and worry come pouring out of your eyeballs and you just lay on the floor and moan a while. There's nothing wrong with crying, and that's just a fact. Plus, I had a warm dog to cuddle with and make me feel better."
Thank you to Netgalley and Quill Tree Books/HarperCollins Children's Books for an e-ARC of this book!
The Deep by Nick Cutter
dark
mysterious
tense
fast-paced
- Plot- or character-driven? A mix
- Strong character development? It's complicated
- Loveable characters? No
- Diverse cast of characters? No
- Flaws of characters a main focus? No
5.0
What a trip.
I’ll not include a summary in this review as you can read the blurb for yourself. But to put it simply, I might never look at the deep sea or gooish, viscous-like substances the same way ever again. But did I expect anything less?
I read The Troop a few years ago and it left me forever seeing vines and worms in a different light. It was squeamish, grotesque, and horrifying, and The Deep delivers in the same ways.
Nick Cutter is a master in writing this specific style of horror — a bit psychological, a lot grotesque, and leaving you with a fair amount of a desire to have a good brain scrub when it’s almost over. His voice is ever present in the way he shows, rather than tells, vividly horrific and grotesque scenes — the smells, the tastes, the sounds. There are moments when you want to look away and put the book down entirely — you couldn’t possibly stand to read any more. But then you just can’t stop; it’s compulsive. You have to know what happens, even if it all turns out entirely horrible in the end.
Nick Cutter will forever be a go-to author when I have the desire to be truly horrified and disgusted. No one else writes horror quite like he does.
I’ll not include a summary in this review as you can read the blurb for yourself. But to put it simply, I might never look at the deep sea or gooish, viscous-like substances the same way ever again. But did I expect anything less?
I read The Troop a few years ago and it left me forever seeing vines and worms in a different light. It was squeamish, grotesque, and horrifying, and The Deep delivers in the same ways.
Nick Cutter is a master in writing this specific style of horror — a bit psychological, a lot grotesque, and leaving you with a fair amount of a desire to have a good brain scrub when it’s almost over. His voice is ever present in the way he shows, rather than tells, vividly horrific and grotesque scenes — the smells, the tastes, the sounds. There are moments when you want to look away and put the book down entirely — you couldn’t possibly stand to read any more. But then you just can’t stop; it’s compulsive. You have to know what happens, even if it all turns out entirely horrible in the end.
Nick Cutter will forever be a go-to author when I have the desire to be truly horrified and disgusted. No one else writes horror quite like he does.
Well Matched by Jen DeLuca
lighthearted
fast-paced
- Plot- or character-driven? A mix
- Strong character development? It's complicated
- Loveable characters? Yes
- Diverse cast of characters? No
- Flaws of characters a main focus? It's complicated
4.5
We're back in Willow Creek, small town home to April Parker and her daughter, Cait. After the events of "Well Met," April has fully physically recovered from a terrible accident, but there's still a lot of healing inside that she doesn't even realize needs to be done. As a single mother whose husband walked out their family nearly two decades ago, April has gotten used to doing things herself and making decisions that are best for her and Cait, and the newest decision is a big one: fix up her house, put it on the market, and move.
When an unexpected family get-together looms on the horizon for the town's hottest kilt-wearing bachelor and Ren Faire volunteer, Mitch, April agrees to help her friend out: play the part of his girlfriend just for the weekend so his family will finally get off has back about settling down and maybe take him a little bit more seriously, for once. In exchange? Mitch will help out with fixing up April's house so she can sell it and move on.
As April spends more time with Mitch she discovers that maybe there's more to this man than meets the eye. Caught between Mitch, Willow Creek, and big life changes (Cait graduating and going to college, friends and family getting married and settling down, potentially moving to a new place), April has some big decisions and big feelings to contend with.
What I Loved:
- Fast-paced story (I read this in under 24 hours!)
- Lighthearted with fun characters that were easy to love and enjoy, with plenty of returning characters but of course a few new ones! It's fun to read about each of their stories with each book in the series.
- The Renaissance Fair aspects are completely my favorite (though of course I wish there had been a bit more attention paid to the fair in this third book).
- The second book of the series (Well Played) fell a little short for me (it didn't quite have as much charm or depth as the first book, Well Met), but I was happy to see that this third book bounced back a bit and did a better job in having the reader connect with the characters. There seemed to be a bit more attention paid to both Mitch and April's stories and it felt like there was more depth this time around.
What I Didn’t Love:
- I was most disappointed (and by disappointed, I mean truly gutted) to discover that Mitch is a CrossFit dude. I think adding workout details in regards to Mitch's character is totally fine and great, but I desperately wish that CrossFit hadn't been the chosen golden child to fit that purpose, especially because I feel like having that CrossFit association colors Mitch's character in a less-than-lovable light (he never comes across as a self-absorbed gym rat, but throwing out the C name like that makes the reader rethink how down to earth Mitch really is).
- It took a much longer time than the first or second book to revisit the Renaissance Fair (it wasn't really reintroduced officially until around 50-60% in). The Renaissance Fair aspect is what makes this rom-com series unique and fun, and with every next book in the series, it becomes less and less an anchor in the storyline. I hope this doesn't become a trend and that the fourth book contains even less.
- This series follows a very clear formula in regards to the plot (but I'm STILL here picking these books up because I do really love and enjoy them!) and one of those aspects is that the characters declare love to one another fairly quickly. But, for the sake of the propose of a fun rom-com that has to be wrapped up in under 350 pages, we just suspend our disbelief and lean into it.
- This one didn’t quite have the same amount of charm as the first one of the series (I don't know that any of them ever will - there's always something extra magical about the first book in a series) but I was also happy to see that it had a bit more depth to it in comparison to the second of the series.
Overall:
I read this one in under 24 hours because it was truly that fun! I realize that no subsequent books in this series will ever be as pleasantly delightful as the first book, Well Met - there was something extra special about that one (perhaps discovering a fun, unique twist to the classic rom-com with the introduction of a Renaissance Fair!). That being said, this third book was an improvement over the second one (Well Played), and I felt like readers were able to return to some characters that meant a lot, that had gotten a lot of page-time in the first two books, and whose stories we were invested in. As always, the Renaissance Fair aspects of these stories are my favorite parts and the most fun; they make this series truly unique and will always leave me ready to pick up the next book. I do wish that the Renaissance Fair had gotten a bit more page-time (and perhaps something new and fun could've been introduced there), but as it stands, it was still enjoyable! The ending gave hints as to who will be the focus of the fourth book (as each of the books in the series tends to do), and I'm curious to see where that story will go (and how the Fair will hopefully be well-incorporated).
Thank you to Netgalley and Berkley for an e-ARC of this book!
When an unexpected family get-together looms on the horizon for the town's hottest kilt-wearing bachelor and Ren Faire volunteer, Mitch, April agrees to help her friend out: play the part of his girlfriend just for the weekend so his family will finally get off has back about settling down and maybe take him a little bit more seriously, for once. In exchange? Mitch will help out with fixing up April's house so she can sell it and move on.
As April spends more time with Mitch she discovers that maybe there's more to this man than meets the eye. Caught between Mitch, Willow Creek, and big life changes (Cait graduating and going to college, friends and family getting married and settling down, potentially moving to a new place), April has some big decisions and big feelings to contend with.
What I Loved:
- Fast-paced story (I read this in under 24 hours!)
- Lighthearted with fun characters that were easy to love and enjoy, with plenty of returning characters but of course a few new ones! It's fun to read about each of their stories with each book in the series.
- The Renaissance Fair aspects are completely my favorite (though of course I wish there had been a bit more attention paid to the fair in this third book).
- The second book of the series (Well Played) fell a little short for me (it didn't quite have as much charm or depth as the first book, Well Met), but I was happy to see that this third book bounced back a bit and did a better job in having the reader connect with the characters. There seemed to be a bit more attention paid to both Mitch and April's stories and it felt like there was more depth this time around.
What I Didn’t Love:
- I was most disappointed (and by disappointed, I mean truly gutted) to discover that Mitch is a CrossFit dude. I think adding workout details in regards to Mitch's character is totally fine and great, but I desperately wish that CrossFit hadn't been the chosen golden child to fit that purpose, especially because I feel like having that CrossFit association colors Mitch's character in a less-than-lovable light (he never comes across as a self-absorbed gym rat, but throwing out the C name like that makes the reader rethink how down to earth Mitch really is).
- It took a much longer time than the first or second book to revisit the Renaissance Fair (it wasn't really reintroduced officially until around 50-60% in). The Renaissance Fair aspect is what makes this rom-com series unique and fun, and with every next book in the series, it becomes less and less an anchor in the storyline. I hope this doesn't become a trend and that the fourth book contains even less.
- This series follows a very clear formula in regards to the plot (but I'm STILL here picking these books up because I do really love and enjoy them!) and one of those aspects is that the characters declare love to one another fairly quickly. But, for the sake of the propose of a fun rom-com that has to be wrapped up in under 350 pages, we just suspend our disbelief and lean into it.
- This one didn’t quite have the same amount of charm as the first one of the series (I don't know that any of them ever will - there's always something extra magical about the first book in a series) but I was also happy to see that it had a bit more depth to it in comparison to the second of the series.
Overall:
I read this one in under 24 hours because it was truly that fun! I realize that no subsequent books in this series will ever be as pleasantly delightful as the first book, Well Met - there was something extra special about that one (perhaps discovering a fun, unique twist to the classic rom-com with the introduction of a Renaissance Fair!). That being said, this third book was an improvement over the second one (Well Played), and I felt like readers were able to return to some characters that meant a lot, that had gotten a lot of page-time in the first two books, and whose stories we were invested in. As always, the Renaissance Fair aspects of these stories are my favorite parts and the most fun; they make this series truly unique and will always leave me ready to pick up the next book. I do wish that the Renaissance Fair had gotten a bit more page-time (and perhaps something new and fun could've been introduced there), but as it stands, it was still enjoyable! The ending gave hints as to who will be the focus of the fourth book (as each of the books in the series tends to do), and I'm curious to see where that story will go (and how the Fair will hopefully be well-incorporated).
Thank you to Netgalley and Berkley for an e-ARC of this book!
Well Played by Jen DeLuca
lighthearted
fast-paced
- Plot- or character-driven? A mix
- Strong character development? It's complicated
- Loveable characters? Yes
- Diverse cast of characters? It's complicated
- Flaws of characters a main focus? It's complicated
4.0
What I Loved:
- Fairly fast-paced but took a bit to really get into the fun parts of the Renaissance Fair (nearly almost halfway), so it was slow going at first.
- Lighthearted with fun characters that were fairly easy to love and enjoy, with plenty of returning characters.
- The Renaissance Fair aspects are completely my favorite!
What I Didn’t Love:
- Some parts that were a bit unrealistic as with the first of this series. (Again, declaring love very quickly! But again, for the sake of the propose of a fun rom-com, we just suspend our disbelief and lean into it.)
- This one didn’t quite have the same amount of charm as the first one of the series and it took a bit to get going (the first almost half of the book was much slower and had little to do with Renaissance Fair things).
Overall:
While this one wasn’t quite as fun and charming as it’s predecessor, it was still a cute summer read. It was enjoyable revisiting the town and its cast of characters in the throes of Renaissance Fair season and I wish we had gotten a little bit more of that.
- Fairly fast-paced but took a bit to really get into the fun parts of the Renaissance Fair (nearly almost halfway), so it was slow going at first.
- Lighthearted with fun characters that were fairly easy to love and enjoy, with plenty of returning characters.
- The Renaissance Fair aspects are completely my favorite!
What I Didn’t Love:
- Some parts that were a bit unrealistic as with the first of this series. (Again, declaring love very quickly! But again, for the sake of the propose of a fun rom-com, we just suspend our disbelief and lean into it.)
- This one didn’t quite have the same amount of charm as the first one of the series and it took a bit to get going (the first almost half of the book was much slower and had little to do with Renaissance Fair things).
Overall:
While this one wasn’t quite as fun and charming as it’s predecessor, it was still a cute summer read. It was enjoyable revisiting the town and its cast of characters in the throes of Renaissance Fair season and I wish we had gotten a little bit more of that.
Well Met by Jen DeLuca
funny
lighthearted
fast-paced
- Plot- or character-driven? Plot
- Strong character development? It's complicated
- Loveable characters? Yes
- Diverse cast of characters? No
- Flaws of characters a main focus? It's complicated
5.0
What I Loved:
- Fast-paced (a bit more plot-driven than character-driven and a quick read).
- Lighthearted with fun characters that were fairly easy to love and enjoy.
- Renaissance Fair fun! (I’ve never been to a Renaissance Fair but this book absolutely convinced me that it’d be a day well-spent!)
- Had a good sprinkling of humor that made me chuckle and smile throughout.
- It gave off the best kind of summer vibes!
What I Didn’t Love:
- Some parts that were a bit unrealistic. (Who declares to be legitimately in love after a handful of meetings? But for the sake of the propose of a fun rom-com, we just suspend our disbelief and lean into the nonsensical.)
Overall:
I don’t usually find romantic comedies to really suck me in much but this one was really heart-warming and the Renaissance Fair aspect was really the real winner here. It engaged my interest in history (AND English - lots of bookish moments in this story as well!) that I was really drawn in and not only curious about the characters and their relationships but the whole Renaissance Fair experience! It was a perfect summer read but with a very unique element that made this rom-com stand out a bit from the “usual faire.”
- Fast-paced (a bit more plot-driven than character-driven and a quick read).
- Lighthearted with fun characters that were fairly easy to love and enjoy.
- Renaissance Fair fun! (I’ve never been to a Renaissance Fair but this book absolutely convinced me that it’d be a day well-spent!)
- Had a good sprinkling of humor that made me chuckle and smile throughout.
- It gave off the best kind of summer vibes!
What I Didn’t Love:
- Some parts that were a bit unrealistic. (Who declares to be legitimately in love after a handful of meetings? But for the sake of the propose of a fun rom-com, we just suspend our disbelief and lean into the nonsensical.)
Overall:
I don’t usually find romantic comedies to really suck me in much but this one was really heart-warming and the Renaissance Fair aspect was really the real winner here. It engaged my interest in history (AND English - lots of bookish moments in this story as well!) that I was really drawn in and not only curious about the characters and their relationships but the whole Renaissance Fair experience! It was a perfect summer read but with a very unique element that made this rom-com stand out a bit from the “usual faire.”
The Wife Between Us by Greer Hendricks, Sarah Pekkanen
mysterious
tense
fast-paced
- Plot- or character-driven? A mix
- Strong character development? No
- Loveable characters? No
- Diverse cast of characters? No
- Flaws of characters a main focus? Yes
4.0
The Haunted by Bentley Little
dark
mysterious
tense
fast-paced
- Plot- or character-driven? Plot
- Strong character development? No
- Loveable characters? It's complicated
- Diverse cast of characters? No
- Flaws of characters a main focus? No
4.0