Mini Thoughts
Hello, all!
I've been seeing this book everywhere lately, so I wanted to give it a go, and I was utterly charmed. The romance between Beth and Gwen was so tender and sweet. They made such great friends that it felt natural when it developed into something more. I thought their differing personalities worked well together and helped balance each other. Watching the pair try to set their parents up was fun, but occasionally, that storyline overpowered the narrative. The plot lost some steam for me in the second half, but Alban wrapped everything up satisfyingly. I also enjoyed the epilogue and look forward to continuing the story. I'd recommend checking this out if you're in the mood for a fun, Sapphic, friends-to-lovers historical romance that would be perfect for the summertime.
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| Pub Date: 1-9-24 YA - Historical Romance |
Don't Want You Like a Best Friend- Emma R. Alban: It's 1857, and Beth has anxiously entered the marriage mart, hoping to secure an advantageous match that will help keep her and her mother afloat. It should be easy to do, but for Beth, the idea of preening and flirting with the men of the ton makes her skin crawl. Then she meets Gwen, who, after four seasons, is still no closer to finding a husband and couldn't be more thrilled about it. Gwen is everything Beth isn't: confident, loud, and unafraid of causing a little mischief. As the two become closer, they realize Beth's mother and Gwen's father have a history and decide to try and mend the twenty-year heartbreak between them by setting them up. But when Beth receives a marriage proposal, throwing a wrench into their plans, the girls must confront their growing feelings for one another or risk losing the other forever.
I've been seeing this book everywhere lately, so I wanted to give it a go, and I was utterly charmed. The romance between Beth and Gwen was so tender and sweet. They made such great friends that it felt natural when it developed into something more. I thought their differing personalities worked well together and helped balance each other. Watching the pair try to set their parents up was fun, but occasionally, that storyline overpowered the narrative. The plot lost some steam for me in the second half, but Alban wrapped everything up satisfyingly. I also enjoyed the epilogue and look forward to continuing the story. I'd recommend checking this out if you're in the mood for a fun, Sapphic, friends-to-lovers historical romance that would be perfect for the summertime.
Rating: 3/5
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| Pub Date: 6-11-24 Adult - Sci-Fi |
The Stardust Grail- Yume Kitasei: Once, Maya Hoshimoto spent her days traversing the galaxy as an art thief, returning stolen alien artifacts to their rightful civilizations. Now, she finds herself content with a quiet life as a graduate student on Earth. Maya swore she wouldn't go back to her old way of life after her last job ended in disaster, but when an old friend contacted her about a new job, Maya couldn't refuse. There have been whispers regarding an object called the stardust grail that can save alien species from extinction. Many believe it to be a myth, but Maya knows it's real because she's seen visions of it, and knows where to find it. But Maya and her team aren't the only ones hunting for the grail, and the farther they travel into space, the more Maya can't shake the feeling they're heading straight into danger.
I'm not the biggest sci-fi fan, so take this review with a grain of salt. I liked it, but I don't get the hype. It was good, and I enjoyed Kitasei's writing. I also enjoyed the heist element and the relationship between Maya and Auncle. I liked the whole found family vibe the crew had going on. I also appreciated how much more there was to the story than just a heist. It took me a while to get my bearings, but that could be because I don't typically read from this genre that much. Overall, I thought it was okay, but not my cup of tea.
I'm not the biggest sci-fi fan, so take this review with a grain of salt. I liked it, but I don't get the hype. It was good, and I enjoyed Kitasei's writing. I also enjoyed the heist element and the relationship between Maya and Auncle. I liked the whole found family vibe the crew had going on. I also appreciated how much more there was to the story than just a heist. It took me a while to get my bearings, but that could be because I don't typically read from this genre that much. Overall, I thought it was okay, but not my cup of tea.
Rating: 3/5
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| Pub Date: 10-15-24 Adult - Contemporary |
The Wedding Witch- Erin Sterling: Bowen Penhallow has always been the introverted one out of his brothers. He'd rather spend time researching archaic magic at his mountain home in Wales than interacting with people. But when his best friend, Colin--who isn't technically dead but not technically alive either--asks him to attend his ex-girlfriend's wedding, Bowen reluctantly agrees. Bowen was expecting a few days of forced socializing, but instead, he's met with Tamsyn Bligh. Tamsyn is a procurer of magical items, and she and Bowen are colleagues of a sort, but she has a different agenda for the Yuletide festivities. She's hoping to secure a magical item that will set her up for life. But when the item Tamsyn was hoping to steal transports them back in time to the 1950s, the pair must uncover the secrets of Tywyll House and face the growing feelings between them if they hope to return to the future.
I've enjoyed the other two books in this series, so I had high hopes for this last installment. It was a fun time, but nothing extraordinary. I liked the banter between our two main characters, but the romance happened so fast. I wanted more of a build-up, both to help add some tension and for me to form more of a connection with them. The book was much shorter than expected, so everything moved quickly, leaving almost no breathing room. I thought the time travel aspect was entertaining but had no point. There was no real explanation for why they were sent back in time or for what purpose. I'd recommend it if you're looking for a quick, holiday-adjacent read, but I don't think it was the strongest in the series.
I've enjoyed the other two books in this series, so I had high hopes for this last installment. It was a fun time, but nothing extraordinary. I liked the banter between our two main characters, but the romance happened so fast. I wanted more of a build-up, both to help add some tension and for me to form more of a connection with them. The book was much shorter than expected, so everything moved quickly, leaving almost no breathing room. I thought the time travel aspect was entertaining but had no point. There was no real explanation for why they were sent back in time or for what purpose. I'd recommend it if you're looking for a quick, holiday-adjacent read, but I don't think it was the strongest in the series.
Rating: 3/5
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