Mini Thoughts
Hello, all!
I've heard a lot of hype surrounding this book lately, so I wanted to check it out. It was cute. It felt like your standard rom-com: Girl reunites with her high school "rival," they're forced together under ridiculous circumstances, they're both beautiful and single and, of course, fighting their feelings for one another until they just give in to their impulses. Predictability aside, I still liked it. Noelle and Theo were fun, and I liked their banter, but the highlight was Noelle's relationship with Theo's grandfather. It was adorable watching them bond and form this sweet connection. I thought Joyce handled grief and the struggles that come along with it carefully and believably. I wish we got to see a little more from Noelle and Theo's past, as I think it would've helped to make their relationship come full circle. Other than that, I thought this was a fluffy, entertaining time and would be a good read for the summertime.
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| Pub Date: 4-23-24 YA - Historical Mystery |
Kill Her Twice- Stacey Lee: In 1932, Lulu Wong made a name for herself by leaving Chinatown and becoming a Hollywood star. Most girls who look like her don't get lead roles, so Lulu is the pride of her neighborhood. So everyone is shocked when Lulu's body is found in a local stable far from her Beverly Hills home by her friends, sisters May and Gemma. The girls know that the police won't look too hard into the murder, so they decide to take matters into their own hands. As they investigate, the sisters discover a plot to frame Chinatown as a den of iniquity that should be demolished in favor of constructing a new train station. May and Gemma soon find themselves in a race against time to not only find justice for their friend but save their neighborhood, all while being targeted by a killer.
I've only read a few books by Lee, but they've all been winners. I love her style when it comes to YA historical fiction. She crafts compelling plotlines that include real issues of the time with characters you can't help but root for. I liked both our main characters. May was more logical and reserved, while Gemma was a spitfire, but they balanced each other perfectly. I liked how we got both of their POVs, but I did enjoy Gemma's slightly more because I loved her gumption. I thought the mystery was well-paced and kept me intrigued. I had no clue how it would play out, and I liked how Lee wrapped it all up. It did drag a bit in the middle, but overall, I thought it was entertaining.
I've only read a few books by Lee, but they've all been winners. I love her style when it comes to YA historical fiction. She crafts compelling plotlines that include real issues of the time with characters you can't help but root for. I liked both our main characters. May was more logical and reserved, while Gemma was a spitfire, but they balanced each other perfectly. I liked how we got both of their POVs, but I did enjoy Gemma's slightly more because I loved her gumption. I thought the mystery was well-paced and kept me intrigued. I had no clue how it would play out, and I liked how Lee wrapped it all up. It did drag a bit in the middle, but overall, I thought it was entertaining.
Rating: 3/5
*Big thanks to the publisher for the copy!
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| Pub Date: 7-11-23 Adult - Contemporary |
You, with a View- Jessica Joyce: To say Noelle Shepard is in a rut would be an understatement. She's lost her job, she's living at home with her parents, and worst of all, her grandmother--her favorite person in the world--has recently passed away. When Noelle finds an old photograph of her grandma looking quite cozy with a man who's not her grandfather, Noelle takes to social media to help her locate the mystery man. Her video goes viral, and soon Noelle is face-to-face with her grandma's lost love, Paul. Noelle realizes that her grandma lived a whole life she never knew about, so when Paul offers to take her on the honeymoon road trip he and her grandma planned, she jumps at the chance to learn more. The only problem? Paul's grandson is also joining the trip, and he happens to be Noelle's high school rival, Theo, who has only gotten more attractive (and frustrating) over the years.
I've heard a lot of hype surrounding this book lately, so I wanted to check it out. It was cute. It felt like your standard rom-com: Girl reunites with her high school "rival," they're forced together under ridiculous circumstances, they're both beautiful and single and, of course, fighting their feelings for one another until they just give in to their impulses. Predictability aside, I still liked it. Noelle and Theo were fun, and I liked their banter, but the highlight was Noelle's relationship with Theo's grandfather. It was adorable watching them bond and form this sweet connection. I thought Joyce handled grief and the struggles that come along with it carefully and believably. I wish we got to see a little more from Noelle and Theo's past, as I think it would've helped to make their relationship come full circle. Other than that, I thought this was a fluffy, entertaining time and would be a good read for the summertime.
Rating: 3/5
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| Pub Date: 10-3-23 Adult - Fantasy |
Starling House- Alix E. Harrow: Opal has lived in the dead-end town of Eden, Kentucky, her whole life. Her only dream has been to get her younger brother out, so he can live a better life than scrimping for change for their next gas station meal. The only thing their small town is known for is the legend of E. Starling and her mysterious Starling House. E. Starling was the author of a creepy children's story in the early nineteenth century and promptly vanished, but before she did, a house appeared. Everyone in town knows to steer clear of Starling House and its reclusive heir, Arthur Starling. Opal knows better than to court trouble, but when an unexpected offer to work at Starling House arises, she can't turn down the money. Soon, Opal finds herself growing attached to the strange house, but something sinister lurks beneath the grounds, and Opal and Arthur must work together to fight it before it takes over all of Eden.
I don't typically enjoy slower-paced stories, so I don't know why I always pick up Gothics, seeing as how that is the bread and butter of that genre. Despite it feeling like wading through molasses, I liked this. It was dark and gritty and had an almost fairytale-like quality. Harrow's writing was unsettling at times but still managed to feel whimsical. I liked how Opal wasn't a perfect character and how she would do whatever it took to provide for her little brother. It was fun watching her and Arthur be stubborn grumps together. I also really liked the sentient house but wanted even more of it. I thought the plot was interesting, and liked seeing how all these monsters and an old children's story tied into the dark secrets of this town. I've read other books by Harrow that I've enjoyed more, but I thought this was still pretty good.
I don't typically enjoy slower-paced stories, so I don't know why I always pick up Gothics, seeing as how that is the bread and butter of that genre. Despite it feeling like wading through molasses, I liked this. It was dark and gritty and had an almost fairytale-like quality. Harrow's writing was unsettling at times but still managed to feel whimsical. I liked how Opal wasn't a perfect character and how she would do whatever it took to provide for her little brother. It was fun watching her and Arthur be stubborn grumps together. I also really liked the sentient house but wanted even more of it. I thought the plot was interesting, and liked seeing how all these monsters and an old children's story tied into the dark secrets of this town. I've read other books by Harrow that I've enjoyed more, but I thought this was still pretty good.
Rating: 3/5
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