Tag: Review

COZY MYSTERY REVIEW – Here Comes the Body by Maria DiRico

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Mia has just moved back to Queens to work for her mobster father’s new catering hall. After a woman is found dead in a giant cardboard birthday cake the police turn their focus to Mia’s dad (and his “associates.”)

What a fun book! I loved the cast of characters. Mia’s Family (yes, with a capital “F”) is hilarious and delightful. Her nonna (and nonna’s Army of Italian and Greek grandmothers) is an absolute joy.

This book is set in the spring, which made my decision to pick it up perfect timing! Although it’s set in New York, this didn’t lose the main feeling of a typical cozy mystery.

Here Comes the Body is the first in a series, and I look forward to what comes next for Mia and her Family!

Thank you Kensington Books for sending me an ARC!

REVIEW – The Two Lives of Lydia Bird by Josie Silver

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This book was a rollercoaster of emotions for me, but not in the way you’d think. It started off heartbreaking and lovely. There were a few moments, even in the midst of Lydia’s grief, where she had a sense of humor and made me chuckle. The good? Lydia’s grief felt realistic. It didn’t feel forced or too over the top (or that she “got over it” too quickly). It was easy to put myself in her place and imagine that i’d think and do some of the same things.

The parallel timeline is gut-wrenching – at first. I felt so bad for Lydia, and how she felt torn between two worlds. But some things just aren’t right…and it almost felt like it could have been too easy for Lydia to choose one world over the other. I did feel that this was a bit long – there were moments that seemed repetitive.

This would have been a four-star read for me if not for that ending! It felt cliche and just…that Lydia deserved…well, maybe not “better” but something a little less obvious.

REVIEW – Mystic River by Dennis Lehane

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I do not give away five-star ratings lightly. This book EARNED it. Every step of the way. Mystic River is a heartbreaking, suspenseful story about three childhood friends (as close as three 11-year-old boys can be for about a year) who are torn apart by a terrifying event that changes their lives forever.

We quickly flash forward 25 years. The boys are now men – with their own lives and families. They each have their own demons to face throughout the book. A horrific, deeply personal murder occurs and brings Sean, Jimmy and Dave back together.

Man oh man this book is VISCERAL. A gloomy, desolate tone is set early on and it never lets up. It feels like you’re viewing the events through a smudged lens. The grief in this book is palpable – each man has something he’s lost (some losses are more raw and cut deeper than others, of course).

There’s a lot to be said about blame and the need for closure here. One character in particular – I found myself not liking him throughout the majority of the book, and then I felt so terrible for him and so deeply sad for how his life turned out. This book will make you feel things. Uncomfortable things. Sad, hopeless things.

Maybe I’m just 20 years late to the party, but if you haven’t read Mystic River yet I urge you to give it a try. (And I plan on watching the movie soon!)

COZY MYSTERY REVIEW – Pulp Friction by Julie Anne Lindsey

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{Available April 28, 2020} Pulp Friction is the second book in the new Cider Shop Mystery series (which I am loving, by the way). Winnie’s newly opened cider shop is doing well, and the book opens with a wedding in the orchard’s barn. The wedding atmosphere is super cozy and dreamy and makes me miss summer…until the groom ends up dead and foul play is suspected.

This book solidifies my desire to live in Blossom Valley with Winnie, Granny, Dot and Colton (yes, of course, Colton. So handsome!) This series hits all of the points that make a cozy series great – an adorable small town, a sweet little shop (I want apple cider and delicious pastries all of the time now), a wonderful cast of characters and murder mysteries that are just chilling enough to feel serious without ruining the overall lighthearted vibe of the book.

I had my theories about who the murdered could be in this book and I was spot on in some aspects and WAY OFF in others – which just made the entire experience more fun! This book ends on somewhat of a cliffhanger and sets the series up for a larger story – which I’m guessing will be explored more in-depth in the next book.

Thank you Kensington Books for providing me with the NetGalley ARC!

REVIEW – Anne of the Island by L.M. Montgomery

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“We mustn’t let next week rob us of this week’s joy.”

Ah, how lovely it is to be back in Avonlea. Anne is preparing for college and although the majority of the story takes place at Redmond, the magic and coziness isn’t lost.

I felt that the strongest part of this book was the exploration of Anne’s friendships, both new and old. Phil is hilarious, Prissy is a delight, and although dear Diana isn’t in much of the book, that friendship endures.

“I’m afraid to speak or move for fear all this wonderful beauty will vanish just like a broken silence.”

I’m sad to think that we won’t be returning to Patty’s Place in the future, but our brief time there was so lovely.

Also, is there anyone who DOESN’T absolutely love Gilbert Blythe?

I loved that this story covered approximately four years of Anne’s life, and I’m excited to see where the next books lead.

REVIEW – What It Seems by Emily Bleeker

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What It Seems is a nerve-wracking little book – this had my heart beating fast during a few points in the plot. Mother is terrifying. Tara sometimes makes decisions that make you want to yell at her (but you also understand why she does what she does and thinks what she thinks).

Tara is 20 and has basically been held captive by “Mother” for the past 12 years (under the guise of being a foster child). When she finds an opportunity to intern with her favorite YouTube family, she figures out a way to escape Mother’s grasp and attempt to start a new life.

She quickly learns that things aren’t always as they seem – the “perfect” family well…isn’t. (But I also didn’t think their issues were really THAT bad). The overall plot of this book is good. It meanders a bit and doesn’t quite deliver what I was expecting, but it’s a good, quick thriller read. I’m definitely interested in reading more of Bleeker’s books!

Content warning: sexual assault, abuse (especially severe abuse of a child).

Thank you Books Forward PR for sending me a copy of this book!

REVIEW – In Five Years by Rebecca Serle

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In Five Years is getting a LOT of hype right now, and I can see why. Dannie is a very organized, very detail-oriented lawyer in NYC. When she nails the most important interview of her career (and gets engaged the same day!) she ends up falling asleep and wakes with a jolt – five years into the future. She’s in an unfamiliar bed with a man she’s never met. There’s an engagement ring on her finger, and it’s not the one she just said “yes!” to. Back in the present, Dannie’s “vision” hangs over her head as she navigates her way through her new job and engagement.

Four and a half years later, Dannie meets the mystery man from her dream. Life unravels from there, and what follows is a heartbreaking love story (but not one that you’d expect).

This book gets heavy – FAST. I knew something sad was probably coming, but had no idea what. The main foundation of this story is a strong female friendship, and the romantic components take a backseat (as they should in this instance).

This is a tearjerker for many (although it didn’t make me cry – not many books make me cry…) and I can see it showing up on some “Best of…” lists at the end of the year.

REVIEW – Have You Seen Me? by Kate White

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This has such a great premise – Ally shows up at work one morning, only to be told she hasn’t been employed there for five years. She spends the entire book piecing together the bits of her lost memory. There’s a cold case from her childhood that plays a role here, and overall I was interested to see where the story ended up.

However…it didn’t really end up anywhere. Do we figure out where she was? Yes. Do we find out what triggered her memory loss? Also, yes. (I don’t see these as spoilers, as it’s pretty much explained in the synopsis.) However, the tone of the book shifts in the last 100 or so pages and I found myself going “seriously?” during a few parts.

I think there’s an audience for this book – those who are new to the thriller genre or those who want to read a thriller without too much complexity or gore.

Thank you Harper/Harper Perennial for sending me a copy of this book!

REVIEW – Eight Perfect Murders by Peter Swanson

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Eight Perfect Murders starts off with a plot that aligns perfectly with the current era – it seems that a murderer is following a blog post that Mal wrote some years ago, detailing the “eight perfect murders” from classic thriller and mystery books.

The book is written somewhat as a memoir – we experience everything through Mal’s perspective. From his present-day investigation of the murders, to past memories featuring his deceased wife.

I was intrigued by the overall storyline – I was curious to see who the murderer was, and I definitely had my suspicions. However, although the reveal was surprising, I still found it a bit lackluster.

Regardless of my issues with this book, this was still a decent read. It’s slower than your typical thriller and has a bit of a noir feel to it, if that’s your cup of tea.

I won an ARC of this book through a Goodreads giveaway.

REVIEW – Truths I Never Told You by Kelly Rimmer

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{Available April 14, 2020} Presented in dual timelines (the early to mid-1950s and a few weeks in 1996) The Truths I Never Told You is somewhat presented as a mystery, with maybe a thriller edge, but is really a story about family secrets, the seemingly mysterious death of our main character’s mother, and the surrounding events. This book is sad, but it’s also filled with love and hope.

The family’s strength really shines through in this one – both the present-day situation with the four siblings and the sacrifices made in the past.

I think this story will resonate most with mothers – women who have experienced the ups and downs of pregnancy, childbirth and the early months and years of parenting. As someone without children, I could still understand the anxiety, fear and depression that both Grace and Beth faced, but only on the surface level.

Content warning: mentions of abortion and suicide.

Thank you Graydon House for sending me an ARC of this book!