shelleys_book_nook's reviews
448 reviews

The Love Elixir of Augusta Stern by Lynda Cohen Loigman

emotional funny hopeful mysterious sad 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? It's complicated

5.0

“Age cannot wither her, nor custom stale her infinite variety.” – Antony and Cleopatra, by William Shakespeare

I love this author so much, her book The Two-Family House and The Matchmaker’s Gift were both winners for me and The Love Elixir of Augusta Stern was just as enjoyable, if not more so. This story has two timelines 1920s Brooklyn and 1980s Florida so both timelines are historical fiction.

There are a lot of characters in this book and many appear in both timelines. I loved reading about Augustus’ younger years, how she became who she is as a person and how she became a pharmacist which was very rare for women in the 1920s. This book has themes of feminism without it punching you in the face and without Augusta losing her wit and charm. Although I enjoyed the earlier timeline, which is normal for me, I love the style of riding in both timelines. The story captivated me and the characters charmed their way into my heart. The plot sucked me in and never let me go.

I love the way the author was able to weave both timelines as well as multiple genres seamlessly. The book has a bit of mystery and magical realism, it’s historical fiction with a touch of romance but Augusta and her charms are the star of this book. It was so refreshing to have an older woman as a lead especially one as smart as Augusta. If she were a real person I’d love to have a coffee with her and become friends. All. The. Stars. 

Dear Eliza by Andrea J. Stein

dark emotional sad medium-paced

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

4.0

After the death of her father, Eliza receives a letter from her long-deceased mother via her aunt. The envelope says “To be given to Eliza on the death of her father” In the letter Eliza learns some very shocking news, so not only does she have to deal with her father’s passing she also has to deal with the emotional revelations of her mother’s letter.

Eliza’s Mother wasn’t in the book a lot but I hated her with a passion. What she did to her daughter, right after losing the only parent she had left, made me so angry. Children aren’t stupid and you should always be honest with them, especially where this secret is concerned. I also had a hard time liking Eliza’s brother, Rory and his wife. Why weren’t they concerned for Eliza? And why didn’t they have her back? They didn’t consider her feelings. Don’t Eliza’s feelings count for anything? It seemed to me they didn’t care about what she was going through in the slightest. Eliza really lost out in the family lottery. Fortunately she she has great friends in Mo and Josh not to mention a wonderful aunt and support system in Claude.

Written so realistically I loved following Eliza on her journey of discovery and falling in love. If you find my review light on the details it’s because I’m being purposely vague, I don’t want to give any spoilers away. One thing I didn’t like about the book was that Eliza kept calling her parents by their first name, even in her head and in her internal thoughts. It boggled my mind why the author would do that. 

The Promise of Tomorrow: Discover a BRAND NEW beautiful, emotional book club pick from bestseller Samantha Tonge for 2024 by Samantha Tonge

emotional funny hopeful informative inspiring reflective sad 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? It's complicated

4.0

Samantha Tonge is one of my favourite authors and she never disappoints, I always grab her newest release as soon as I can. The Promise of Tomorrow is full of the wit and warmth that Tonge is known for in her writing. She writes about the human condition in such a realistic way. And although it is typical Tonge through and through this story is wholly original without missing her usual charm and style.

I loved the two main characters so much. Elena and Rory are co-workers and friends. Elena decides to give Rory her spare room while his home is undergoing renovations and a true friendship blossoms. We get chapters from each character's point of view. I learned their secrets, hopes, dreams and fears. I loved how complex these characters were and their backstories explain a lot. Their journey together was an interesting one and I love that they helped each other really come alive. Their trip to Paris was such fun and an interesting turn takes place in the story while they're there.

There was so much of myself in this book because I have a lot in common with Elena. Her grandmother lives in Canada in the province of Ontario and that's where I live. She's rereading the book Sense and Sensibility by Jane Austen and that's my very favourite book in the whole world and the only one I have reread a thousand times.

A lot of the book is emotional and even sad at times but ultimately it was heartwarming and it gave me all the feels and left me feeling very hopeful in the end.

What Does It Feel Like by Sophie Kinsella

challenging emotional hopeful informative inspiring reflective sad fast-paced

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

4.0

This is a hard review to write because the book and the story are so raw, real and personal. I used to devour Kinsella’s books when I was younger. I haven’t read any of her newer works since 2019’s I Owe You One. I wasn’t aware that Kinsella was ill until this book came out. She deserves a medal for her strength and bravery and the fact that she kept her sense of humour. I love that about the book as well, both Sophie and Eve never lose their positive outlook on life…so if you’re expecting a pity party or a woe-is-me story you won’t find it here. Eve (and Sophie) have a wonderful support network including a loving husband.

I love the structure of the book as well, each chapter is a little antidote on going through a health crisis, it includes: telling family, all of those plastic chairs in waiting rooms and how brutal physical therapy can be. I’m so thankful Kinsella shared her story it really helped me see it from the ill person’s perspective. I really admire her resilience, I applaud you, Sophie Kinsella. This book is very poignant relatable and believable. It was a hard read but a really great one too. 

The Ravenswood Witch by Jenni Keer

adventurous challenging dark emotional hopeful mysterious reflective sad tense medium-paced

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

4.0

This was such a great book and the twist that was 1/3 of the way through it was surprising and amazingly unusual. Normally when that occurs, the reveal early in the book, the story tends to drag the rest of the way but that didn’t happen here. This story takes place in the late 19th century (1885) at a gothic house in rural England. My gosh, the setting was so perfect for the spooky writing and the perception of time and place was outstanding. I felt that I was in the house and the woods at times.

I liked how these two lost souls were there for each other I found each other during the darkest days and kept each other safe from further repercussions. I love gothic mysteries and although this was more on the paranormal side with a bit of romance thrown in, I really dug it. This is a thoroughly riveting gothic story and in it, we get three points of view, they were clearly defined and one point of view took the name of someone else and I didn’t find it confusing at all…that takes talent. I have this author’s 2023 release No. 23 Burlington Square and At the Stroke of Midnight on my TBR pile and I can’t wait to get to them. 

Model Home by Rivers Solomon

challenging dark emotional mysterious sad tense slow-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? It's complicated

3.5

I really liked this book, it was very intelligently written and I so appreciate the LGBTQ representation as I am an ally. The writing was lovely but not wordy and it was a very unique take on the Haunted House trope. This one is not for the faint of heart as there are a lot of triggers here but I’m not going to go into them so I don’t go into spoilers territory. There are so many social issues in this story abuse, racism and classism to name but a few. The bond of the siblings, especially towards the end, really made this book about family and ultimately that’s what the book is about. Mental illness and suicide issues were written realistically and respectfully, I liked how the author did that.

I loved the ending, it was haunting but not in the way you might think. I admit that the book isn’t for everyone but I loved the writing style, characters and ending very much. What or who is the real monster in this house? It’s literary fiction at its finest, I will be thinking about this one for a long time. 

I'll Be Waiting by Kelley Armstrong

adventurous challenging dark emotional mysterious sad tense medium-paced

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

3.0

This book started off really well and I was enjoying it very much. Nic lost her husband Anton eight months ago so she decides to go to a bed and breakfast that she and Anton frequently visited. They visited there often because the house used to belong to Anton's family. Nic visits there with a professor/medium to try to contact Anton. It was wonderful getting to know Nic and finding out about her secret from twenty years ago. She has cystic fibrosis and I really got an education about the disease.

I was so hoping for a spooky read to recommend to fellow Halloween/Paranormal book lovers like myself for fall. And it was that for about three-quarters of the book. Where it lost me was the last twenty-five percent when went completely off the rails with disembowelled bodies and outrageous demonic possessions...and not in the good (The Exorcist) kind of way. So, for the exciting beginning and middle, four stars for sure but that ending is a two-star read at best so I'm going to go with the average of three.

Every Moment Since by Marybeth Mayhew Whalen

challenging dark emotional mysterious sad tense medium-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

4.0

This book was incredibly sad, 11-year-old Davey has been missing for over 20 years when his favourite jacket is found not too far from his home. His older brother, Thaddeus has written a best-selling book about the experience and stops his book tour to go home and be with his family as the investigation continues.

This is my first book by Marybeth Mayhew Whalen and it was a banger. It isn’t an exciting book, there are no car chases or manhunts and no real police procedures of any sort. It’s a character study of what such a tragedy can do to a family and a small town. There are two timelines, the night of Davey’s disappearance and the present. We watch the family go through this tragedy a second time and as with most tragedies, there are conspiracies abound and consequences.

This is a very slow burn of a book in the best way possible. We are with the family and all their endeavours, their highs and their lows. The Malcor family and most of the other characters are all very likable and the setting is very creepy…kids playing in cornfields and the woods was such a vibe. I loved the small town’s southern location as it was as much a character as anyone.

The ending wasn’t a big tada! I liked that, I don’t think the author was going for a big twist in the usual sense and I found that to be very original because in real life it usually isn’t that way the ending is always anti-climatic and sad. This is my first book by the author but it certainly won’t be my last. 

The Beforelife of Eliza Valentine by Laura Pearson

challenging dark emotional funny hopeful informative inspiring lighthearted mysterious reflective relaxing sad tense fast-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

This is my fourth book by Laura Pearson and I have loved every one of them. The Day Shelley Woodhouse Woke Up, I Wanted You To Know and Missing Pieces have all been four or five star reads for me and The Beforelife of Eliza Valentine is no different. This one though was utterly unique…A group of children called The Almosts watch over their mother as she decides between two men and the children she may or may not have.

Full disclosure, I do not like love triangles because one way or another someone always gets hurt. I also did not like the way Becca flip-flopped between these two young men, it drove me mad. She kept claiming she had to keep doing what was best for her son Sam but dragging him back and forth between homes and having these men in and out of his life was not a good idea. But then I considered her age and realized it was probably true to life I was the same age as Emma 17 when I had my firstborn and while I didn’t flip-flop between men I also didn’t always make the best decisions. Also like Emma, I had a very understanding parent who was also very supportive…her dad and my mom.

The almost siblings act like real siblings, there is envy and fighting and I loved the idea behind this book…family isn’t always about blood. We don’t use the term step sibling or half sibling in my immediate family. Written with love without being too saccharine this story really touched my heart. The Almosts showed very real sibling rivalry but they grew to love each other the more time went on even sacrificing for each other before they were even born. This was such a wonderful take on siblings and a perspective that was so unique I was blown away.

I can always count on Laura Pearson to mess with my emotions through her characters. Once again they were all over the place, I laughed, I cried, I cheered them on…It was a roller coaster ride of emotions. This book asked the question “What would you sacrifice for the ones that let you love the most?” Beautifully written with a concept so different than anything I’ve ever read before The Beforelife of Eliza Valentine deserves all the stars. 

Tell Me Everything by Elizabeth Strout

adventurous challenging dark emotional funny hopeful informative inspiring lighthearted mysterious reflective relaxing sad tense 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

I don’t know what it is about Elizabeth Strout’s writing that always captures me. Maybe it’s because it is about ordinary life written in such an extraordinary way. There’s so much sadness in this book sexual child assault, murder, suicide, aging, cancer and death. But for some reason that’s not what I focused on. I’m a pessimist at heart but the way Elizabeth Strout writes had me noticing the love, laughter, friendships and joy more than anything else.

There’s a bit of a mystery in this one as well, when the dead body of a resident shows up in a car crashed in the Quarry. But the focus isn’t really on solving the murder as much as why it happened in the first place and that was very refreshing. This book is very character driven so there really wasn’t a plot per se.

Don’t try to find meaning in this series (this is book five) it’s just about unrecorded simple lives. It’s about the little things that matter and not the big picture. As Benjamin Franklin said, “Nothing is certain except death and taxes.” What I reflected on while reading this was, don’t take life too seriously and enjoy the little things while you can. As my English friend Morning always says bloody brilliant. All. The. Stars.