thesandyreader's reviews
171 reviews

Spark of Deceit by Annika Snow

adventurous emotional hopeful mysterious fast-paced

• Strong character development? Yes
• Loveable characters? Yes

5.0

I recieved this as an ARC and…
My poor heart. What a rollercoaster it has been on in this book. I was not okay, am not okay. 

The character growth, the heartwarming moments, the twists and terrifying moments. The chaos and betrayal. 

Ara and Graydon… they have my heart. I have been cheering for them nonstop since book 1 and that slow burn was sweet torture. I love their banter, their dance around each other, and the way he makes Ara grow. 

This book, this series… just read it. I can’t give the review I want because I’m afraid of spoiling anything, but just read it. 

Spark of Pursuit by Annika Snow

5.0

The Poppy War by R.F. Kuang

5.0

Well damn. Excuse me while I go out and try and get my hands on the rest of this series. 

I did this as a buddy read and let me tell you, what a book to read together. There was SO MUCH to yap about at each of the breaks. Theories abound. 

First, Kuang is an incredible author who I feel excels at world building. Her fantasy worlds feel so grounded in reality and it doesn’t take much suspension of reality to buy into her world. Her worlds feel so real and like with a small twist in the fabric, that could be our world, and it’s all done without feeling like there’s huge sections of world building going on. 

The plot of this is madness. There is so much going on, so many different threads floating around that end up woven together and wow it works well. I was so invested, and I am still left wondering about who is evil and who is good in this… it’s all shades of gray and while I am rooting for Rin and excited for the next book, part of me is upset with her and disagrees with her choices. For me, that’s a great book. Shades of gray and levels to a character - no flat good and evil here. 

I definitely understand why people have been raving about this. Excited to read the rest of the series. 

Body Check by Elle Kennedy

3.5

I love a hockey romance and this is no exception. I enjoyed the two of them opening up and realizing what they wanted was actually each other, despite all the issues going on around them. 

Brody is a dream of a man and his relentless pursuit of Hayden is so spicy and fun to read. He will do anything to get what (who) he wants.

With that said, this kinda felt formulaic and predictable. I enjoyed reading it, but it didn’t feel like anything special. 

Misfit by Elle Kennedy

funny mysterious medium-paced

4.0

This book gave me gossip girl/ clique vibes, but the male version. I enjoyed it!

I loved the variety of POVs and the different cast of characters. Each had a unique voice and it became easier to understand each of them as their pasts and secrets were slowly revealed. 

The romance and plot felt very high school and familiar in a good way. The asshole bully, the never caring friend, the stiff and secretive friend, the new kid who is resistant to the status quo and shakes it up… a comforting and enjoyable read. 

The mystery aspect was something I wasn’t really expecting - trying to find the person behind the accident, what happened that night… an interesting additional plot and if the book didn’t leave me wanting the sequel already, that cliffhanger definitely did 👀

The Traitor of Sherwood Forest by Amy S. Kaufman

dark slow-paced

• Strong character development? No
• Loveable characters? No

2.5

This book just wasn’t what I was hoping it would be. 

I loved the premise of it - a peasant girl who works for Robin Hood, whispering secrets of the household she works in. Robin’s tricks implicate her in a murder and she needs to decide if she is a pawn in the game or an equal player. 

Unfortunately, I don’t think the book really lives up to it. There isn’t much action in the book, it feels like a long drawn out story that meanders from place to place but doesn’t really pick up till 60% of the way through. I didn’t find myself wanting to read it. 

Jane is a selfish main character who seems forever unhappy with what she has gotten in life and I found it difficult to care about her.

The story is at its core about the hunt for Robin Hood by three different people, and that Robin Hood is not the hero he is perceived as. In that sense, it did a great job getting that across, but the story lost the sense of adventure that typically comes from Robin Hood stories. Instead this was a brutal and almost gory version where it’s just a timeline of people murdering each other. Jane has no chance to grow and there is no pivotal moment where she is really implicated and needs to make a tough decision or can really have an impact and think for herself. She’s supposed to be the main character but is really just subject to the whims of everyone else until essentially the last page. 

This might be for you if you prefer books that are dark twists on fairy tales and want to explore human nature. 

Hotter in the Hamptons: A Novel by Tinx

emotional hopeful fast-paced

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

4.5

I really enjoyed getting lost in this book. It feels so real - an influencer who is faced with the reality that she doesn’t enjoy her life anymore. The passion that she first had, the life she thought she was living, went astray and she never even noticed. 

This book really drew me in. It felt like I was there, experiencing all the ups and downs with Lola. It was a ride because she generally felt unlikable. Bland, self absorbed, just like the article that takes her down says. The book from her perspective feels fast - the summer melting away. And yet I found myself cheering her on as she explored her sexuality and grew into a new person with renewed hopes and dreams. I loved the slap of reality she got, and I wanted to just squeeze Ryan for being the absolute best friend. And at the end… the hope I felt for her. For fresh starts and new beginnings and joy. 

Happy Place by Emily Henry

emotional funny hopeful reflective fast-paced

• Plot- or character-driven? Character
• Loveable characters? Yes

5.0

Oh boy. Not me just sitting on the couch teary eyed at the end of this book. And I really don’t cry from books! Emily Henry just has a way of really getting all up in my feels with her romances 🥹 this is my second one by her and gosh I can’t wait for the next one. 

But this book. It’s all about home. Your happy place. It’s about your happy place being friends who turn into family, and the life partner who just wants happiness for you. 

And yes, it made me cry. 

Maybe it’s because, similar to Harriet, my happy place has always been a vacation home surrounded by people I love. And as I grew older, it expanded. To moments surrounded by friends and family, and now it’s being with my partner. Wherever we are. 

This book feels so relatable. It feels like home, like feelings we have all been through. And the writing just sweeps you away into the moment until these are my best friends and my fiancé and my heart is breaking along with all of theirs. 

This book is about a happy place. A happy place that is anywhere with the ones we love. 

I can’t recommend this enough. 

Murder at Blackwood Inn by Penny Warner

adventurous mysterious medium-paced

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

3.5

If you’re looking for a cute and cozy spooky mystery, this is it. 

I loved the Nancy Drew references from the main character and how she worked to embody the character to try and save her aunts. 

The Aunts and other people in the house are eccentric and it’s so endearing watching them do their best to create a spooky fun house and prevent murder. 

And the cats… adorable. Mischievous. 

The whole feel of the book is of a classic spooky house mystery with a dash of romance. Highly recommend adding this to your fall to be read pile! 

Secret or Shutout by Leah Brunner

funny hopeful lighthearted medium-paced

4.0

Oh man, I just love a good hockey romance! This was my first book by Leah and I’m pretty sure I need to go back and read the rest of this series now!

This had everything I want in a feel good romance. A pining and hot man who will do anything for love, a sassy woman who is getting her confidence back, found family, and some good hockey. He waited a year and a half to have her after one kiss 🥺 I mean come on, how cute is that?? And gifting her an oven… yes please. Sign me up.