madelinemaesmith's reviews
625 reviews

We Solve Murders by Richard Osman

4.0

4⭐️/5 - It’s hard not to compare this to our beloved Thursday Murder Club gang, but this book definitely holds its own. If you’re a fan of cozy mysteries—those charming stories with quirky characters and crimes that are more about the puzzle than the gore—this is a great pick. It captures the same warmth and wit that fans of Thursday Murder Club will recognize, blending humor with a true sense of mystery.

The narrative structure is reminiscent of Thursday Murder Club—a layered mystery with multiple perspectives and a delightful ensemble cast—but this one adds a little more excitement to the mix, making it feel fresh while still fitting snugly into the cozy mystery genre. For those who enjoy spending time with a lovable cast and unraveling clever puzzles, this is an excellent addition to your reading list.

Perfect for fans of Thursday Murder Club (obviously), The Maid, and Finlay Donovan is Killing It!

Merriment and Mayhem by Alexandria Bellefleur

3.0

3⭐️/5

This one had its cute moments, but the tone was all over the place. The premise? Absolutely ridiculous—and I loved every second of it. A sexy firefighter and a damsel in distress? Sure, why not? It delivered all the cheesy Hallmark movie vibes… until that last chapter, which took a spicy turn (

The Third Gilmore Girl by Kelly Bishop

funny hopeful inspiring reflective fast-paced

5.0

The Fifth Season by N.K. Jemisin

adventurous dark mysterious tense medium-paced

• Plot- or character-driven? Plot
• Strong character development? Yes
• Loveable characters? Yes
• Diverse cast of characters? Yes
• Flaws of characters a main focus? No

4.5

Martyr! by Kaveh Akbar

challenging dark emotional funny hopeful inspiring reflective sad fast-paced

• Plot- or character-driven? Character
• Strong character development? Yes
• Loveable characters? It's complicated
• Diverse cast of characters? Yes
• Flaws of characters a main focus? Yes

5.0

A Very Merry Bromance by Lyssa Kay Adams

emotional funny lighthearted relaxing fast-paced

• Plot- or character-driven? Plot
• Strong character development? Yes
• Loveable characters? Yes
• Diverse cast of characters? Yes
• Flaws of characters a main focus? No

5.0

A Merry Little Meet Cute by Sierra Simone, Julie Murphy

funny lighthearted fast-paced

• Plot- or character-driven? A mix
• Strong character development? Yes
• Loveable characters? Yes
• Diverse cast of characters? Yes
• Flaws of characters a main focus? No

3.75

Piranesi by Susanna Clarke

4.0

What did it just read?? About halfway through I imagined this would be a five star read, but the ending let me down a bit, can’t decide if it’s 3.5 or 4. However, all of the reviews are right, you have to go in blind - also is this a fantasy? Or a psychological thriller? I feel like the marketing for this book was bizarre.

The Ex Hex by Erin Sterling

4.0

3.5⭐️/5 (rounded up to 4 on goodreads) Ridiculous and great with excellent aesthetics!

Blue Sisters by Coco Mellors

dark emotional reflective sad medium-paced

• Plot- or character-driven? Character
• Strong character development? Yes
• Loveable characters? Yes
• Diverse cast of characters? Yes
• Flaws of characters a main focus? Yes

5.0