Mini Thoughts
Hello, all!
If Looks Could Kill- Julie Berry: It's the autumn of 1888, and the police have caught the trail of Jack the Ripper, forcing the madman to flee England for New York City. Jack is hoping to find many new victims amongst the slums and back alleys of the City, but he wasn't counting on a primal force following him across the pond. Tabitha and Pearl spend their days canvassing the streets of the Bowery, preaching the good word as volunteers for the Salvation Army. Tabitha isn't as devoted to the cause as Pearl is, but when they come across a young girl in desperate need of help, she can't turn away. As they join forces with a plucky investigative journalist and a charming Irish barkeep, Tabitha notices a change in Pearl. Gone is the serious farmgirl, and in her place is a being with snakes for hair and a thirst for vengeance. Can Tabitha save her friend and stop the Ripper before it's too late?
The moment I read Jack the Ripper versus Medusa, I was sold. It was such a unique premise that I had never seen before, and I thought Berry executed it perfectly. The blend of historical elements with the fantastical worked so well. I was hooked from the first page, wondering how the story would play out. I enjoyed all of our characters, especially Tabitha. She was loyal and snarky, and I enjoyed watching her friendship with Pearl develop into a sisterhood. As you can expect from a story featuring Medusa, it's chock-full of righteousness and feminine rage, and I loved how Berry portrayed all those facets. My only gripe was that the pacing was slow at the beginning, and it took me a little while to get into it. Other than that, I thought this was solid, and I would recommend it if you're looking for a mix of historical/fantasy/romance.
Rating: 4/5
Fake Skating- Lynn Painter: Dani and Alec became inseparable as kids when Dani would spend every summer at her grandfather's in Minnesota. The pair looked forward to that one month a year where they could be together, until everything fell apart. Now, Dani and her mother have moved in with her grandfather, and she is looking forward to reconnecting with Alec, but he's nothing like the chubby, nerdy boy she once knew. Alec is now a cocky hockey god, and most surprisingly, seems to hate Dani. When the pair gets caught in a compromising position, Dani and Alec have no choice but to pretend to date, and their complicated relationship becomes even more complicated. As the weeks pass, the pair can't help but start to develop real feelings for one another. However, with so much tension left unsaid, will they be able to make it work, or is it game over before it even begins?
Leave it to Lynn Painter to get me invested in a YA contemporary romance. I'm so far removed from the target audience, but she has a way of sucking me in and keeping me engaged. Her writing is always so witty, humorous, and sweet. Dani and Alec had such a fun teasing banter that I couldn't get enough of. They were so adorable together, and all their flirting had me kicking my little feet. As an anxious girl myself, I could relate to how Dani thought and acted. It was precious watching Alec be there for her in those moments, even when he wasn't fully her biggest fan. The misunderstanding between them went on a little too long for my liking and was a tad predictable, but it didn't hinder my overall enjoyment of the story. If you're in the mood for a cutesy fake dating romcom, then I recommend checking it out.
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| Pub Date: 9-16-25 YA - Fantasy |
If Looks Could Kill- Julie Berry: It's the autumn of 1888, and the police have caught the trail of Jack the Ripper, forcing the madman to flee England for New York City. Jack is hoping to find many new victims amongst the slums and back alleys of the City, but he wasn't counting on a primal force following him across the pond. Tabitha and Pearl spend their days canvassing the streets of the Bowery, preaching the good word as volunteers for the Salvation Army. Tabitha isn't as devoted to the cause as Pearl is, but when they come across a young girl in desperate need of help, she can't turn away. As they join forces with a plucky investigative journalist and a charming Irish barkeep, Tabitha notices a change in Pearl. Gone is the serious farmgirl, and in her place is a being with snakes for hair and a thirst for vengeance. Can Tabitha save her friend and stop the Ripper before it's too late?
The moment I read Jack the Ripper versus Medusa, I was sold. It was such a unique premise that I had never seen before, and I thought Berry executed it perfectly. The blend of historical elements with the fantastical worked so well. I was hooked from the first page, wondering how the story would play out. I enjoyed all of our characters, especially Tabitha. She was loyal and snarky, and I enjoyed watching her friendship with Pearl develop into a sisterhood. As you can expect from a story featuring Medusa, it's chock-full of righteousness and feminine rage, and I loved how Berry portrayed all those facets. My only gripe was that the pacing was slow at the beginning, and it took me a little while to get into it. Other than that, I thought this was solid, and I would recommend it if you're looking for a mix of historical/fantasy/romance.
Rating: 4/5
*Big thanks to the publisher for the copy!
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| Pub Date: 9-30-25 YA - Contemporary |
Fake Skating- Lynn Painter: Dani and Alec became inseparable as kids when Dani would spend every summer at her grandfather's in Minnesota. The pair looked forward to that one month a year where they could be together, until everything fell apart. Now, Dani and her mother have moved in with her grandfather, and she is looking forward to reconnecting with Alec, but he's nothing like the chubby, nerdy boy she once knew. Alec is now a cocky hockey god, and most surprisingly, seems to hate Dani. When the pair gets caught in a compromising position, Dani and Alec have no choice but to pretend to date, and their complicated relationship becomes even more complicated. As the weeks pass, the pair can't help but start to develop real feelings for one another. However, with so much tension left unsaid, will they be able to make it work, or is it game over before it even begins?
Leave it to Lynn Painter to get me invested in a YA contemporary romance. I'm so far removed from the target audience, but she has a way of sucking me in and keeping me engaged. Her writing is always so witty, humorous, and sweet. Dani and Alec had such a fun teasing banter that I couldn't get enough of. They were so adorable together, and all their flirting had me kicking my little feet. As an anxious girl myself, I could relate to how Dani thought and acted. It was precious watching Alec be there for her in those moments, even when he wasn't fully her biggest fan. The misunderstanding between them went on a little too long for my liking and was a tad predictable, but it didn't hinder my overall enjoyment of the story. If you're in the mood for a cutesy fake dating romcom, then I recommend checking it out.
Rating: 4/5
*Big thanks to the publisher for the copy!
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| Pub Date: 7-11-23 Adult - Contemporary |
Out on a Limb- Hannah Bonam-Young: Win was born with a limb difference and has spent all her life proving she's just as capable as anyone else. Despite the cruel words of her ex, her disability doesn't hinder Win, and she prides herself on being independent. But when she gets pregnant after a one-night stand, Win's world gets thrown for a loop. To her surprise, the father, the charmingly handsome Bo, is all in. Win and Bo are strangers who now join themselves, and while Bo is thrilled by the prospect, Win can't help but wonder if she'd be better off on her own. The pair decide to move in together and get to know one another as friends only, but it doesn't take long before the lines start to blur.
Oh, mylanta, this book! I read it in one sitting because I couldn't put it down. I've only read one other book by HBY that I thought was okay, so my expectations weren't that high, and I'm thrilled by how much I loved it. I thought Win and Bo were lovely. I related to both, so it was easy for me to root for them. Their relationship was so sweet. I loved how they worked through their insecurities together. It made their relationship feel so solid. They also had such fun banter that had me giggling the whole time. The circumstances around their relationship could've been a sore spot, and I loved seeing Bo meet the challenges head-on. I loved how gone he was for Win and the baby. It was too cute. I'm not usually a fan of the accidental pregnancy trope, but this was too good, and I can't recommend it enough.
Oh, mylanta, this book! I read it in one sitting because I couldn't put it down. I've only read one other book by HBY that I thought was okay, so my expectations weren't that high, and I'm thrilled by how much I loved it. I thought Win and Bo were lovely. I related to both, so it was easy for me to root for them. Their relationship was so sweet. I loved how they worked through their insecurities together. It made their relationship feel so solid. They also had such fun banter that had me giggling the whole time. The circumstances around their relationship could've been a sore spot, and I loved seeing Bo meet the challenges head-on. I loved how gone he was for Win and the baby. It was too cute. I'm not usually a fan of the accidental pregnancy trope, but this was too good, and I can't recommend it enough.
Rating: 5/5
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