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kelsiandherbookshelf's reviews
280 reviews
The Woman on the Pier by B P Walter
3.0
I rarely write bad reviews because I can only imagine how hard everyone has worked on this literary project but the most constructive thing I can share is that there was just too much going on in the storyline and it did not seem realistic at all. The title and cover weren’t the best match and the title’s meaning wasn’t made clear until over halfway through the book; I was second guessing what I was reading and didn’t how how it would all come together and by the end, I still had questions.
Fall Into You by Caroline Frank
5.0
Fall Into You is a romantic brother’s best friend trope perfect for the fall season. Liza is fresh out of a breakup, her brother Vinny is adjusting to fatherhood and these two close Italian siblings are navigating their new lives without their father who recently passed away. Through a whirlwind of events, these two siblings learn how to process their grief and for Liza, she learns that love is all about timing and second chances.
I loved that this book was a quick feel good read with real life themes and lessons that will stick with the reader. The inclusion of Italian food, language, and cultural references added to the plot and character development and the pandemic references were well timed.
I received a free copy of this book via Booksprout and am voluntarily leaving a review.
I loved that this book was a quick feel good read with real life themes and lessons that will stick with the reader. The inclusion of Italian food, language, and cultural references added to the plot and character development and the pandemic references were well timed.
I received a free copy of this book via Booksprout and am voluntarily leaving a review.
Born a Crime: Stories From a South African Childhood by Trevor Noah
4.0
Born a Crime is now locked away as one of my favorite memoirs of all time. I laughed, I cried, I was in disbelief, but most of all, I learned. I learned not only about an unruly child who had one hell of a devout praying mother but also about his complex personal life and identity in a post apartheid South Africa. Trevor’s ability to talk through serious subjects with humor made it a light enough read that I couldn’t stop turning the pages. However, the anecdotes from his childhood touched super heavy subjects from domestic abuse to racism. His claim to fame was such an unlikely journey but the book reads like he’s been living in his own tv show all along!
One of the Girls by Lucy Clarke
5.0
One of the Girls is like no other book I have read. The underlying thriller and mystery that pulsed through the book kept me turning the pages. In addition to trying to solve the murder, my focus shifted to truly getting to know the characters. Each chapter was told by one of character’s POV and with each chapter we learned move of their individual back stories and how they fit into the narrative. I particularly enjoyed the italicized thoughts from each character that were never spoken but nevertheless gifted to the reader with extra insight and connection. The friendships, betrayals, secrets, and ultimate truths that were explored by each character bonded not only these fictional characters together but also the reader to the book.
The Secret by Debbie Howells
5.0
“Only ten percent of people are good”. This quote makes its way throughout this book multiple times and the statistic proved to be true for the characters.
The Secret is a thrilling crime novel that tells the story of the Buckley family who is haunted by both death and abuse. The village in which they live in is unique and seemingly holds the darkest secrets, belonging not just to the Buckleys, but to the rest of the community as well, until the truth is forced to come to light.
This well paced novel is layered with multiple story lines and secondary characters who complete the plot. Although there are themes of mental illness, suicide, and domestic violence, these heavy topics are used in an intentional way that demonstrate the realities of humanity and leaves the reader questioning who belongs to that 10 percent.
The Secret is a thrilling crime novel that tells the story of the Buckley family who is haunted by both death and abuse. The village in which they live in is unique and seemingly holds the darkest secrets, belonging not just to the Buckleys, but to the rest of the community as well, until the truth is forced to come to light.
This well paced novel is layered with multiple story lines and secondary characters who complete the plot. Although there are themes of mental illness, suicide, and domestic violence, these heavy topics are used in an intentional way that demonstrate the realities of humanity and leaves the reader questioning who belongs to that 10 percent.
Seton Girls by Charlene Thomas
5.0
Have you ever finished a book and desperately wanted to meet the characters???
By the end of this book, I was left feeling emotional and empowered! I was in awe of the Seton Girls and am crossing my fingers for a sequel just to have the chance to continue to follow their journey.
This YA novel takes place in a high school where the students drive luxury cars and their Ivy League futures are secured with family donations. Seton Academic High reigns as an elite educational institution and also has an undefeated football team on their way to the State Championship.
On the outside, both the town and the school are quite literally perfect… but when things look too perfect, there are bound to be very dark secrets.
Throughout the book, I knew the author was creating a buildup and the anticipation kept me invested! Once the secret was revealed, the anticipation didn’t end because I had to know how everything would or would not fall in place.
There are very heavy topics illustrated in this story, but what I appreciated the most were the grey areas… the area where the perspective of consent shifts based on the people you think know and what you think the victim should look or act like. The grey needs to be brought to light more and this book does an excellent job shedding that light and beginning a much needed conversation.
By the end of this book, I was left feeling emotional and empowered! I was in awe of the Seton Girls and am crossing my fingers for a sequel just to have the chance to continue to follow their journey.
This YA novel takes place in a high school where the students drive luxury cars and their Ivy League futures are secured with family donations. Seton Academic High reigns as an elite educational institution and also has an undefeated football team on their way to the State Championship.
On the outside, both the town and the school are quite literally perfect… but when things look too perfect, there are bound to be very dark secrets.
Throughout the book, I knew the author was creating a buildup and the anticipation kept me invested! Once the secret was revealed, the anticipation didn’t end because I had to know how everything would or would not fall in place.
There are very heavy topics illustrated in this story, but what I appreciated the most were the grey areas… the area where the perspective of consent shifts based on the people you think know and what you think the victim should look or act like. The grey needs to be brought to light more and this book does an excellent job shedding that light and beginning a much needed conversation.
Royal Holiday by Jasmine Guillory
5.0
I am a fan of the Wedding Date series and this third installation, Royal Holiday, does not disappoint! Here, the romance story line centers on Maddie’s mother, Vivian Forrest, an American tagging along on her daughter’s work trip to England, and Malcom Husdon, referred to several times as “Mr. Hot Chocolate”, a dapper British gentleman who works for the Queen.
These characters not only get swept away in the holidays and find themselves under the mistletoe but they also grapple with the realities of long distance, making peace with their pasts, and the logistics of fitting a new relationship in their already established adult lives.
If you are ready to start celebrating the holiday season, this romance novel set in England during Christmastime is the perfect book to add to your bookshelves!
These characters not only get swept away in the holidays and find themselves under the mistletoe but they also grapple with the realities of long distance, making peace with their pasts, and the logistics of fitting a new relationship in their already established adult lives.
If you are ready to start celebrating the holiday season, this romance novel set in England during Christmastime is the perfect book to add to your bookshelves!