Mini Thoughts
Hello, all!
The Battle of the Bookshops- Poppy Alexander: Capelthorne’s Books has been a staple in the little seaside town of Portneath for almost a hundred years. Some of Jules Capelthorne's best memories are curling up in a corner of the shop and reading while her great-aunt Florence tended the customers. With Florence getting up there in years, Jules decides to ditch her publishing job in London to come help out. But Julie quickly discovers the bookshop is worse off than she thought. To make matters worse, a shiny new bookstore is opening up right across the lane by none other than Roman Montbeau, son of a wealthy local family. Jules and Roman's families have been rivals for years, but Jules refuses to back down. She'll do whatever it takes to bring Capelthorne’s Books back from bankruptcy, but while she and Roman butt heads, neither can deny their growing attraction, and soon this battle of the bookshops turns into a battle of hearts.
I was eager to get to this book before the end of the summer because the cover is perfect for this time of year. There were a few things I enjoyed. The main one was the setting. I loved how idyllic this little village came across. I wanted to wander around the streets and poke around the shops. I also liked the Shakespeare nod to star-crossed lovers from feuding families. My issue was with the writing. It was rambling and had me bored to tears. The character interactions felt juvenile and cheesy. I didn't sense much of a connection between Jules and Roman, so I wasn't invested in the romance. There's also a plotline about an ancestor that felt like it came out of nowhere. If you like more of a cozier, women's fiction type of read, maybe you'd enjoy this, but it wasn't for me.
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| Pub Date: 5-27-25 Adult - Contemporary |
It's a Love Story- Annabel Monaghan: Jane Jackson started off her career in Hollywood as the nerdy sidekick on a teen sitcom, and now she's trying to carve out her place as a creative executive at a movie studio. Jane feels like she's found the perfect script for her first project, but now she needs to get the go-ahead, which is proving more difficult than she imagined. Desperate to get the project off the ground, Jane lies and says she can get Jack Quinlan, a major pop star and the person who broke her heart when she was a teen, to record a song for the soundtrack. When Jane discovers that Jack is playing a music festival on Long Island and her one-time crush, Dan Finnegan, has an in, she sucks up her pride and asks for help. Now, Jane finds herself sharing close quarters with Dan and his family for a week, and the more time they spend together, the more Jane begins to see Dan in a new light.
I've only read a few books by this author, but she's become a staple of my summer TBRs. There's just something about the vibes of her books that are perfect for this time of year. I liked this latest release, but I wasn't blown away. I was excited for the setting to be on Long Island since that's where I'm from, but other than a throwaway mention of Montauk, it felt like it could've been set anywhere. Our two main characters were fine, but I didn't feel a connection towards either. Jane had relatable moments, but she was so in her head that I just wanted her to get some therapy. Dan was thoughtful and sweet, but didn't stand out. I did like how the romance focused on the quieter moments of falling in love. I liked watching all their little gestures add up to something more. It was a quick read, but I'm not sure if it'll be the most memorable.
I've only read a few books by this author, but she's become a staple of my summer TBRs. There's just something about the vibes of her books that are perfect for this time of year. I liked this latest release, but I wasn't blown away. I was excited for the setting to be on Long Island since that's where I'm from, but other than a throwaway mention of Montauk, it felt like it could've been set anywhere. Our two main characters were fine, but I didn't feel a connection towards either. Jane had relatable moments, but she was so in her head that I just wanted her to get some therapy. Dan was thoughtful and sweet, but didn't stand out. I did like how the romance focused on the quieter moments of falling in love. I liked watching all their little gestures add up to something more. It was a quick read, but I'm not sure if it'll be the most memorable.
Rating: 3/5
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| Pub Date: 8-19-25 Adult - Contemporary |
The Battle of the Bookshops- Poppy Alexander: Capelthorne’s Books has been a staple in the little seaside town of Portneath for almost a hundred years. Some of Jules Capelthorne's best memories are curling up in a corner of the shop and reading while her great-aunt Florence tended the customers. With Florence getting up there in years, Jules decides to ditch her publishing job in London to come help out. But Julie quickly discovers the bookshop is worse off than she thought. To make matters worse, a shiny new bookstore is opening up right across the lane by none other than Roman Montbeau, son of a wealthy local family. Jules and Roman's families have been rivals for years, but Jules refuses to back down. She'll do whatever it takes to bring Capelthorne’s Books back from bankruptcy, but while she and Roman butt heads, neither can deny their growing attraction, and soon this battle of the bookshops turns into a battle of hearts.
I was eager to get to this book before the end of the summer because the cover is perfect for this time of year. There were a few things I enjoyed. The main one was the setting. I loved how idyllic this little village came across. I wanted to wander around the streets and poke around the shops. I also liked the Shakespeare nod to star-crossed lovers from feuding families. My issue was with the writing. It was rambling and had me bored to tears. The character interactions felt juvenile and cheesy. I didn't sense much of a connection between Jules and Roman, so I wasn't invested in the romance. There's also a plotline about an ancestor that felt like it came out of nowhere. If you like more of a cozier, women's fiction type of read, maybe you'd enjoy this, but it wasn't for me.
Rating: 2/5
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| Pub Date: 6-10-25 Adult - Fantasy |
Bury Our Bones in the Midnight Soil- V.E. Schwab: María's beauty is matched only by her desire for freedom. She wants to see the world and all its offerings and rebels against the thought of having her purpose and life tied to the whims of men. So, when she meets a mysterious widow who offers her a chance to fulfill her dreams, she doesn't hesitate. Charlotte lives a quaint life at her family's countryside estate but gets sent to London for the season after being caught in a compromising situation with another woman. Charlotte doesn't feel comfortable in society but finds herself swept up in its embrace when she meets an intriguing widow. Alice was hoping college would be a chance to reinvent herself. She packed up her things and traveled to a new country in the hopes of leaving the past behind, but a one-night stand changed everything. These three women may come from different walks of life, but they find themselves bound together in a dangerous game of love and revenge.
This was one of my most anticipated reads for 2025, and it delivered. I didn't know much about the plot other than it was described as being about toxic lesbian vampires, and that's all you need to know before diving in. Schwab's writing had me hooked from the first page. Usually, when dealing with multiple POVs within a book, I tend to favor one more than the others, but that wasn't the case here. I thought all three of the main characters were so compelling, and they each had such distinct personalities. Schwab wove the different timelines together so seamlessly. It never felt dragged out or as if anything was missing. My only minor complaint was that I thought the conflict resolved too quickly. The tension built so high throughout the whole story and then sort of fizzled out. Still, I thought it was a solid read.
This was one of my most anticipated reads for 2025, and it delivered. I didn't know much about the plot other than it was described as being about toxic lesbian vampires, and that's all you need to know before diving in. Schwab's writing had me hooked from the first page. Usually, when dealing with multiple POVs within a book, I tend to favor one more than the others, but that wasn't the case here. I thought all three of the main characters were so compelling, and they each had such distinct personalities. Schwab wove the different timelines together so seamlessly. It never felt dragged out or as if anything was missing. My only minor complaint was that I thought the conflict resolved too quickly. The tension built so high throughout the whole story and then sort of fizzled out. Still, I thought it was a solid read.
Rating: 4/5
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