redhead_reader's reviews
800 reviews

Steeped in Secrets by Lauren Elliott

lighthearted mysterious medium-paced

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

3.0

Bookshops & Bonedust by Travis Baldree

adventurous funny lighthearted medium-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

5.0

He does it again 😍🥹😭

I adored this book just as much as Legends and Lattes! 

This one felt a bit more action packed than Legends and Lattes but I didn’t mind. 

It was such a lovely story. It features the girl gang all booksta girlies would want to be a part of. 

It’s such a fun read, I found myself literally laughing out loud at points and that rarely happens with books. I might chuckle a little internally, you know those little snorts of air, but this produced actual audible laughter. 

Also, I listened to the audiobook and Travis Baldree’s narration is wonderful. I feel like it really adds the special touch to an already fabulous book. 

I can’t recommend these books enough. This is the prequel to Legends and Lattes so if you haven’t read that one already that’s no problem. 

If you’re looking for a low stakes, cozy fantasy novel with a diverse cast of characters that features mouth watering baked goods, strong female characters, and a plethora of books, this is for you! 

Thank you to NetGalley and Macmillan Audio for the advanced copy of this audiobook! 

Deadly to the Core by Joyce Tremel

lighthearted mysterious medium-paced

4.0

I loved this book! It is set during spring time but definitely works as a fall read with the apple orchard/cidery vibes. 
It was the perfect cozy mystery. There was a part in the book that fell a bit flat for me which is why it wasn’t a 5 star read for me. The ending was a bit of a surprise, which I wasn’t expecting and I love when that happens.

I recommend it for anyone looking for a spring or autumn read because it definitely meets the vibe and to anyone looking for a great, light and cozy mystery. 

Thank you to NetGalley and Crooked Lane books for the copy of this eARC.

Hammers and Homicide by Paula Charles

funny lighthearted mysterious 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? No

3.5

A fun, cozy mystery. I enjoyed reading it as a change of pace to my usual thrillers. It was pretty predictable as far as whodunit, but I still thoroughly enjoyed the book. I loved the wholesome, small town vibe of the book. It reminded me a little of my own hometown and Dawna’s sassy personality reminded me a bit of my own mother at times. It’s a quick read and I recommend it to anyone looking for a fast paced, light and cozy mystery.
I’m looking forward to picking up my next cozy mystery! 

The Hacienda by Isabel Cañas
Did not finish book. Stopped at 49%.

Daisy Darker by Alice Feeney

dark mysterious tense medium-paced

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

4.5

My favorite Alice Feeney so far!
I loved this darker take on the classic And then there were None locked room mystery. The perfect thriller for Halloween and spooky season. 
So many twists and turns, in classic Feeney fashion. It kept me guessing up until the very end. 
I recommend it to anyone looking for a Halloween read or anyone who loves a good locked room mystery.

Mexican Gothic by Silvia Moreno-Garcia
Did not finish book. Stopped at 0%.

This book wasn’t for me. It is a gothic, lite horror novel that will probably be a great spooky read for someone else, just not for me. 
The first half of the book was okay but it wasn’t anything special to me. If the book continued on that trajectory I would have given it a solid 3 star review. It moved slow and I kinda figured I knew where it was going but then when the actual plot twist hit I pretty much out the book down and was kinda mad that I wasted my time reading this book. 

*Spoiler below*
 Incidentally, that’s also how I felt after watching The Happening. I figured the mold was going to be the reason for Catalina and Noemi’s issues but it went above and beyond toxic mold, to unbelievable ridiculous levels. 
I didn’t particularly like any of the characters, except for Francis…until I didn’t like him either(of course I didn’t finish the book so maybe he has a redemption arc idk). As other reviewers point out, you expect Mexico from the title but it focuses on a gross English family obsessed with a superior race. And as others have pointed out it’s supposed to take place in the 1950s, but aside from some random pop culture references sprinkled in, there’s not really anything that feels 1950s. It could have been modern day. You also don’t really see Catalina, the entire reason Noemi even goes to High Place, and she’s like a minor character. 

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Content Warnings

Graphic: Cannibalism, Incest, Racism, and Sexual assault

The Horse and His Boy by C.S. Lewis

adventurous medium-paced

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

3.5

The House Across the Lake by Riley Sager

dark mysterious tense medium-paced

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

2.5

What did I just read? 

This book started out pretty decent, but that last quarter of the book was too much. It went from what could have been a 3.5-4 star read for me to a 2.5 star read. 

The main plot twist did not do it for me at all, which is a shame because I’ve come to really enjoy Riley Sager’s books. 

However, now that I’ve read all of his published books, I can say that my poor review of this book in no way reflects the actual quality of this book. This could very well be a 5 star read for someone else, it just didn’t work for me and is my least favorite of his books. 

Still, it was a great fit for a spooky October read, even if I didn’t end up liking how the book ended. 

Survive the Night by Riley Sager

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? Yes

4.75

I’m going to be in the minority here, but this is my favorite Riley Sager. 
I loved this book! I was hooked from the beginning and finished the book in less than 24 hours. 
Highly recommend for Riley Sager fans, movie buffs, and anyone looking for a late 80’s/early 90’s nostalgia thriller.