mkjacobswrites's reviews
564 reviews

Snowed In by Catherine Walsh

4.5

Such a cute fake-turned-real relationship between old friends at Christmas! Christian was so understanding and appreciative of the real Megan which was really great to see shown on the page. I felt like Megan's conflict with Sophie was wrapped up too neatly, but most of the other character interactions felt realistic. The settings/setups were standard yet didn't feel cliché; I really enjoyed this read!

Austen Inspired by Alana Highbury

3.75

A quick read about a writer who loves Jane Austen finding her own love! This was a VERY self-aware Austen-inspired heroine who made the same observations repeatedly about how she was living out her own Austen romance. Even other characters got in on it. She also writes a book in the book based on her life based on Austen stories, which imo requires some desire to want to see Austen's stories covered in different contexts. I guessed the ending quickly but still liked how the relationship ended up overall; some of the miscommunication along the way felt tiresome. Viviana, the protagonist, was quick to judge and also often delayed the plot with her continual need for rest and breaks from everyone - I really disliked how much she ignored texts from her sister in particular. I also would've liked more description: let me see the game table where they're having board game night or know what the writing conference session is about rather than having the same scene of a run where she wonders why Jack is acting weird. I also wanted a final confrontation between Viviana and Gregory - was he really using her only to talk to her dad? But none of that took away from the easy readable nature of this novel or the ultimately sweet romance. This is a fun read that I'd recommend to people who are fine with the inspiration being named throughout the book! 

The Q by Beth Brower

4.75

A 5 star read with a few mechanical errors that took me out of the story. Quincy is not Emma, yet she is a Brower heroine, so there is a sense of wistfulness to the longing/striving towards her goal that is delightfully suited to the 19-year-old girl making her own way in the world. My absolute favorite moment was when Quincy

gave Arch his ancestor's "lost" poetry collection

because it was so in line with both characters but also felt super indulgent as a reader. Even the side characters felt realistic with full lives, enough that the main character can observe and recognize as separate from her own. Highly recommend this one!

No Cure for Being Human (And Other Truths I Need to Hear) by Kate Bowler

5.0

Once I started reading, I had to finish this in one sitting. Bowler's tone was refreshingly real and accessible while still being thoughtful and deeply poignant. There was humor and grief but, above all, authenticity: that sometimes you bow your head gratefully for the life you've been given and other times you look up in confusion, wondering how to go on. "It takes great courage to live."

The Bookish Life of Nina Hill by Abbi Waxman

4.0

This was a light romance about a girl who works in a bookstore and a guy who makes bookshelves who both do trivia quiz bowls in LA. The daily to-do list feature was cool as we got a glimpse into Nina's ordinary life, though I felt like her character wasn't always consistent. I would've liked way more scenes with the family beyond stereotypes, though I thought the children characters were done well.

The Story Collector by Evie Woods

4.0

This was an intriguing look into two women's lives at the same spot in Ireland separated by 100 years - both searching for identity, purpose, and love - though I sometimes felt like the pacing dragged and I felt like Anna's sections didn't always read as a diary from 100 years ago. Still, I enjoyed the read overall!

A Brazen Curiosity by Lynn Messina

4.0

This was a quick, enjoyable historical mystery. I was surprised with the reveal of the murderer! I would've liked more depth in the younger adult characters besides the main character, Beatrice, and her love interest, the Duke, but what was there worked well enough. 

Predictably Irrational: The Hidden Forces That Shape Our Decisions by Dan Ariely

4.0

This book shared tons of really interesting concepts and experiments; most insightful for me was about restaurant ordering based on identity perception. Some information felt more cut and dry; other parts seemed very speculative. 

The Crime Brulee Bake Off by Rebecca Connolly

5.0

This book was so fun! A book about a contestant on an English baking show finding love on a dreamy English estate would be good enough - then add in an intriguing mystery to the slow burn romance, and there's a fun page turner that had a twist I didn't expect. The romance was sweet, the mystery was surprising, and the setting was great. I would've loved more time with the other bakers, but what we did get was really good.

The Spellshop by Sarah Beth Durst

4.75

This was a delightful cozy fantasy with exciting magic and creatures. I wanted way more world-building because everything we got was great! (The vibe felt similar to Shallan studying in the library in Words of Radiance, complete with jam lol.) The ending felt a little rushed and slightly convenient, but that also added to the charm in a way. I liked all the characters - as characters, because some, like Fenerer, I'd never want to meet in real life. I would definitely recommend this to fantasy fans or as a good gateway into fantasy. I thought the Groot cactus, Meep, was a little too silly and would've preferred if we just stuck with Caz, but that's probably just a personal preference. I would definitely read more books in this world!