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shelfcarewithjess's Reviews (51)

When the Moon Hatched

Sarah A. Parker

4.5

adventurous dark emotional hopeful mysterious reflective tense medium-paced

Plot or Character Driven: A mix

Strong character development: Yes

Loveable characters: Yes

Diverse cast of characters: Complicated

Flaws of characters a main focus: Yes

When the Moon Hatched was hands down my favourite read of 2025 so far. It’s rare that a book on Kindle Unlimited leaves such a strong impression that I immediately want to own a physical copy — but this one did exactly that.

The start of the book felt a little slow and almost like it was originally heading in a different direction. It took some patience, but once it found its footing, it absolutely soared. The writing became breathtakingly good, weaving together an intense, imaginative story with rich characters and emotional depth.

This was the first time I’ve ever been so invested that I decided to pre-order the sequel — something I’ve never done before. That says a lot about how deeply this book hooked me by the end.

🌟 Favourite Quotes:

🌙 "Chase death, Moonbeam. And I pray your bloodlust brings you the same sense of peace I feel just knowing you exist."
🌙 "I’m not your secret. I’m your truth."
🌙 "I also like the idea of being able to fall from the sky and squash somebody if they piss me off."

Content Warnings

Three Swedish Mountain Men

Lily Gold

3.5

adventurous emotional funny hopeful lighthearted reflective relaxing fast-paced

Plot or Character Driven: Character

Strong character development: No

Loveable characters: Yes

Diverse cast of characters: No

Flaws of characters a main focus: No

Three Swedish Mountainmen is exactly the kind of book you pick up when you want something easy, fun, and spicy without too many surprises.

It’s an easy read, perfect for when you’re in the mood for something lighthearted and quick. I really enjoyed the crossover universe with Lily Gold’s other books - it added a little extra charm if you're already familiar with her world.

The plot definitely takes some liberties with realism for the sake of the spice... but honestly, that’s kind of the point. You’re not reading this for complex worldbuilding or intricate storytelling; you’re reading it for the fantasy, the humour, and the relationships. The mix of grumpy and golden retriever-type characters worked really well, giving a nice dynamic between the leads.

It’s not groundbreaking - and it's predictably sweet and spicy - but you know exactly what you’re getting, and that's part of the comfort. Sometimes, that's exactly the kind of book you need.

🌟 Favourite Quotes:

💕 "Even though I keep buying more bookshelves, I can never keep up with my book-buying habit. It’s probably a diagnosable addiction at this point."
💕 "You never jeopardise your safety just to make someone else happy."
💕 "We’re not whole without you."

Content Warnings

The Haunting of Hill House

Shirley Jackson

3.5

dark emotional mysterious reflective tense slow-paced

Plot or Character Driven: Character

Strong character development: Complicated

Loveable characters: Complicated

Diverse cast of characters: No

Flaws of characters a main focus: Complicated

The Haunting of Hill House is a strange, unsettling classic — more psychological unease than straightforward ghost story. I kept confusing it with House on Haunted Hill, so I was initially expecting a lot more overt "ghostiness" than I actually got.

Once I adjusted my expectations, I found myself drawn into Shirley Jackson’s eerie, almost claustrophobic writing style. It's a slow burn, heavy on atmosphere, character isolation, and creeping dread rather than dramatic scares. Even though I felt like I was always waiting for some huge moment that never really came, the quiet tension definitely stayed with me after I finished.

Reading this made me much more inclined to explore more horror and ghost stories — the kind that unsettle rather than outright terrify.

Favourite Quotes:

👻 "Am I walking toward something I should be running away from?"
👻 "The house. It watches every move you make."
👻 "Don't do it, Eleanor told the little girl; insist on your cup of stars; once they have trapped you into being like everyone else you will never see your cup of stars again."

Final Thoughts:

Not your typical ghost story, but an atmospheric, unsettling journey into fear, loneliness, and the human mind.

Content Warnings

I'm Glad My Mom Died

Jennette McCurdy

5.0

dark emotional inspiring reflective sad medium-paced

I’m Glad My Mom Died is an incredibly powerful and brutally honest memoir. Listening to Jennette McCurdy share her experiences - particularly around her abuse, struggles with eating disorders, grief, and mental health - was both heartbreaking and inspiring.

Despite the heavy subject matter, Jennette’s dry, sharp humour shines throughout, giving the book a rare emotional balance that feels deeply human. She approaches her trauma with a kind of raw honesty that is rarely seen, refusing to romanticize her pain or sugarcoat her truth.

Her reflections on complicated grief, boundaries, and self-discovery are moving and so important. It's the kind of book that will stay with me for a long time — a reminder that healing is messy, real, and incredibly brave.

Favourite Quotes:

🖤 "Why do we romanticize the dead? Why can’t we be honest about them?"
🖤 "Mom didn’t get better. But I will."
🖤 "Fuck being a good sport, I'd rather be playing charades with Tom Hanks."

Final Thoughts:
Raw, heartbreaking, and darkly funny - I’m Glad My Mom Died is a must-read memoir that handles incredibly difficult topics with honesty, courage, and sharp wit.

Content Warnings

Little Women

Louisa May Alcott

5.0

emotional hopeful inspiring reflective relaxing slow-paced

Plot or Character Driven: A mix

Strong character development: Yes

Loveable characters: Yes

Diverse cast of characters: No

Flaws of characters a main focus: Complicated

Little Women by Louisa May Alcott is truly one of my all-time favourite books — a timeless classic that feels like a warm, familiar hug every time I return to it. It's the definition of a proper comfort read, and the only book that never fails to make me cry.

Even though it was first published in 1868 and has a noticeable religious undertone, its core themes — family, love, ambition, and loss — remain just as powerful and relatable today. Alcott captures the complexity of growing up with such tenderness and wisdom, and the emotional honesty of the March sisters' journeys still resonates.

The story follows Meg, Jo, Beth, and Amy as they navigate the challenges of poverty, societal expectations, personal dreams, and heartache. What stands out is how ahead of its time it feels, especially in its portrayal of women’s ambitions and frustrations. Quotes like "Women, they have minds, and they have souls, as well as just hearts" still feel incredibly empowering over 150 years later.

Jo March, in particular, remains one of literature’s most inspiring heroines — stubborn, passionate, and determined to forge her own path in a world that offers women few choices. But every character feels vivid and human, with their own struggles, strengths, and mistakes. The bonds between the sisters, their triumphs and heartbreaks, made me both smile and ache.

Favourite Quotes:
🌸 "I've got the key to my castle in the air, but whether I can unlock the door remains to be seen."
🌸 "Women, they have minds, and they have souls, as well as just hearts. And they’ve got ambition, and they’ve got talent, as well as just beauty."
🌸 "I want to do something splendid...something heroic or wonderful that won't be forgotten after I'm dead."

Final Thoughts:

Little Women is more than just a coming-of-age story — it's a portrait of love, sacrifice, resilience, and hope. No matter how many years pass, its emotional depth, its honesty, and its heart continue to move me. A beautiful, enduring masterpiece.

Content Warnings

The Song of Achilles

Madeline Miller

2.0

emotional reflective sad tense slow-paced

Plot or Character Driven: Character

Strong character development: No

Loveable characters: No

Diverse cast of characters: Complicated

Flaws of characters a main focus: Yes

While The Song of Achilles by Madeline Miller offers undeniably beautiful writing and a lush historical setting — two things I normally love — this one didn’t land for me.

The characters were a major stumbling block: I found Patroclus frustratingly passive, and Achilles unbearably self-involved. Their actions made it hard for me to feel invested in their journey, even though the emotional weight of their story is clear.

The pacing felt slow, and getting through the book felt like a slog at times, despite the gorgeous prose and evocative imagery. I appreciated the themes and the craftsmanship, but ultimately, I didn't connect with it the way I'd hoped.

Favourite Quotes:

🌿 "They say my mother smiled. That is how they knew she was quite stupid. Brides did not smile."
🌿 "No man is worth more than another, wherever he is from."

Final Thoughts:
A beautiful book in many ways, but not the right fit for me personally.

Content Warnings

Iron Flame

Rebecca Yarros

5.0

adventurous challenging dark emotional inspiring mysterious fast-paced

Plot or Character Driven: A mix

Strong character development: Yes

Loveable characters: Complicated

Diverse cast of characters: Yes

Flaws of characters a main focus: Complicated

Fourth Wing

Rebecca Yarros

5.0

adventurous dark emotional 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: Complicated

Unhinged

Vera Valentine

2.5

challenging dark funny mysterious relaxing fast-paced

Plot or Character Driven: N/A

Strong character development: No

Loveable characters: Complicated

Diverse cast of characters: N/A

Flaws of characters a main focus: No

📚 Synopsis (Spoiler-Free):

Unhinged is an erotic, absurdist novella that centres around an impossibly surreal love story between a woman and her... front door. Yes, really. This bizarre romantic fever dream is a blend of magical realism, parody, and complete narrative chaos. It raises far more questions than it answers, but that’s part of the ride, one filled with innuendo, deadpan humour, and some of the strangest dialogue you’ll ever read.

🧠 My Thoughts:

I genuinely have no words for this book. It’s without a doubt the most bizarre thing I’ve ever read, and I loved every ridiculous second. Whether it was meant to be this funny or not is still up for debate, but it had me laughing out loud from start to finish. I read it as part of a group chat, and we spent most of the time in stunned disbelief at what was happening on the page. It’s unhinged, outrageous, and unforgettable.

🗣️ Favourite Quotes:

“I’m taking your cameo in my recurring nightmare as consent, but if I’m wrong… I dunno, like, jiggle in your frame or something.”
“A pang of sorrow coursed through me at the idea Tana was avoiding me, at least as much as someone could ‘avoid’ their own front door.”
“Something about being called a good door made my human legs feel weak and shaky.”
“Wrapping my round brass protrusion in a soft cloth and a firm grip, she started polishing my knob with slow, smooth strokes that stirred something deep in my wood.”
“So, Hera also said that you’ll turn back into a door every full moon, so we’ll need to repeat this when you transform so I can bring you back with my magic pussy.”

Content Warnings

Faking with Benefits

Lily Gold

3.75

emotional funny hopeful lighthearted reflective relaxing fast-paced

Plot or Character Driven: Character

Strong character development: Complicated

Loveable characters: Yes

Diverse cast of characters: Complicated

Flaws of characters a main focus: Yes

Synopsis (No Spoilers):

Faking With Benefits is a lighthearted reverse harem romance (why choose) centred around a woman who ropes in her three best guy friends to help her fake-date her way out of a dry dating life - all for her relationship podcast. What starts as a practical scheme quickly becomes complicated as feelings, attraction, and vulnerabilities begin to rise. Set in a shared universe with subtle nods to Lily Gold’s other books, it’s a spicy, sweet, and often funny take on friends-to-lovers and “fake dating gone too far.”

Full Review:

This was exactly what I wanted from a reverse harem romcom: fun, steamy, and easy to get through. Lily Gold’s shared universe adds a little extra charm, and I enjoyed spotting familiar names and side mentions from her other books.

While the plot had a few holes and moments that required some forgiveness, nothing was bad enough to derail the story. The spice levels weren’t entirely consistent - but when it showed up, it definitely delivered.

The group dynamic worked really well overall, though I did find it odd that one character (Zack) had repeated references to being Northern, while Josh - who supposedly grew up with him - had no such accent mention. Just a small detail, but noticeable, and as a Northerner - irritating!

Ultimately, this was a fun, slightly chaotic, and emotionally honest read that balances its humour with some unexpectedly heartfelt moments. It’s the kind of book you reach for when you want something sexy but soft - and it doesn’t take itself too seriously.

🌟 Favourite Quotes:

💬 "Can we go get some real food now? Revenge is exhausting."
💬 "I don’t know if I’m more turned on or scared."
💬 "There’s just something about me which makes men think it’s okay to use me. I don’t know why."
💬 "This is discrimination. Not everyone’s got legs like a goddamn garden gnome."
💬 "I ain’t looking,” he promises. “Just let me know if you’re shagging him or murderin’ him, L."

Content Warnings

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