Tag: What I Read

The Woman in Black by Susan Hill: This was just so depressing. It wasn’t particularly creepy, just sad (the last few pages were pretty terrifying but not really in a “horror” way). It’s a short book, so if you’re really interested then give it a go. If you’re on the fence, i’d recommend skipping this one.

Go Hex Yourself (Hex #1) by Jessica Clare: This was a fun read for October but it felt a little disjointed at times. I enjoyed it enough to want to read the next book in the series.

Sign Here by Claudia Lux: The main thing you need to know about Sign Here is I read it in one day – the chapters are short and the story is intriguing enough to keep you moving through at a fast pace. I did end up with a few questions once I finished, but this is a wild ride from start to finish and it’s a DEBUT which is pretty impressive. I’ve seen this recommended for fans of Grady Hendrix and that feels like the best way to describe the vibes of this book.

Lovelight Farms (Lovelight #1) by BK Borison: I absolutely LOVED this book! Luka is a top-tier book boyfriend, the Christmas tree farm setting is perfect and I cannot wait to read Beckett’s story! In all honesty, I’m ready to follow BK Borison off of a cliff (or, to be a bit less dramatic, immediately read everything she writes from here on out).

A Week to be Wicked (Spindle Cove #2) by Tessa Dare: Even though I DNFed book one, for some reason I thought that I would enjoy this one (it seems to be the Spindle Cove fan favorite). It started off really strong – I loved both of our main characters and there were some hilarious moments that made the reading experience fun. However, I started to lose interest about 70% of the way through, and I just kind of dragged myself across the finish line. I’m starting to think that Tessa Dare might be a real hit-or-miss author for me vs. a sure win.

A Murder is Announced (Miss Marple #4) by Agatha Christie: This was probably the best in the series so far. The mystery was interesting, the characters were fun and Miss Marple finally felt like a real amateur detective instead of just an insufferable know-it-all. This does take place around Halloween, but it really could have been set at any time of the year — there are no Halloween mentions or vibes.

The Kiss Quotient by Helen Hoang: This was…fine? It’s been on my list for awhile and I may have enjoyed it more if I had read it earlier in my contemporary romance journey. Michael was a bit too pushy at times (given Stella’s issues) and Stella felt almost childlike at times, which is not great for a romance novel.

Legends & Lattes by Travis Baldree: This is the coziest, loveliest little fantasy novel. You don’t have to be a fan of fantasy to enjoy this (fantasy is not my particular jam either). The plot is relatively light (orc leaves her violent past behind to open a cafe) but there’s enough substance there to keep the reader interested. If you’re looking for a low-drama, feel-good book, this is it.

Open Hearts (Bennett Sisters #2) by Eve Dangerfield: I really have a love/hate relationship with this book. I really enjoyed Dean, aka the dumbest, sweetest male lead in a romance novel. However, Ashley wasn’t my favorite and the overall plot felt a bit loose and unpolished at times. (Also this has easily one of the worst romcom book covers I’ve ever seen.)

Against a Wall (Stonecut County #2) by Cate C. Wells: I read this almost against my better judgment — Cash Wall is NOT my type (for a multitude of reasons) but I still find him incredibly charming and sweet. This isn’t anything groundbreaking, but it’s a fairly well-written contemporary romance (and it’s on Kindle Unlimited, which is always a plus!)

Space Oddities (Space #3) by Sara L. Hudson: Okay this series started off really strong for me but I have yet to enjoy any of the books as much as book one. I did like this story more than book two, but not enough to convince me to finish the series…plus book four includes a trope I’m not a fan of.

The Count of Monte Cristo by Alexandre Dumas: I’m only halfway through but that’s approximately 600 pages, and I honestly don’t know if I’m going to end up finishing this or not. It started off really strong and then started to lose me by taking massive detours into incredibly elaborate backstories about minor characters.

Funny You Should Ask by Elissa Sussman: This has SO MUCH promise. Inspired by a 2011 interview with Chris Evans, I really thought the vibe of this would be more fun and less depressing. Throw in some alcoholism, two divorces, two deaths (off page) and zero chemistry…skip this and read the real article instead.

Evvie Drake Starts Over by Linda Holmes: I really enjoyed this book! The setting was cozy, the story was interesting and the characters were incredibly lovable (and the baseball angle was a huge plus!) This is basically the book version of a cable-knit sweater.

I Hate You More by Lucy Gilmore: Despite a relatively low rating on Goodreads, I had a fairly enjoyable experience with this book. It’s a little bit too “skimming the surface” to be considered REALLY good, but the characters are cute and there are some funny bits sprinkled throughout. My main criticism is that this is billed as “enemies-to-lovers” and that’s not really true. Our main characters get off to a slightly bumpy start, but if you’re looking for vibes similar to The Hating Game, this won’t do the trick.

Devil in Winter (Wallflowers #3) by Lisa Kleypas: I’m honestly on the fence about this series. I somewhat enjoyed the first book, DNFed the second. I can see why everyone loves Sebastian but this dragged in some spots for me (it’s just a tiny bit too long). Not sure if I’ll pick up book four, or move on to a different Kleypas series.

The Moving Finger (Miss Marple #3) by Agatha Christie: After struggling through the first two books (see: novels. Technically the first book in the series is a collection of short stories) in the Miss Marple series, this was a pleasant surprise. To be clear, I enjoyed this more for the overall vibes vs. the actual plot, but it gave me hope that i’ll be happy continuing on in the series.

Part of Your World by Abby Jimenez: This was a pleasant surprise, and Daniel is easily one of the best male leads I’ve read in a romance so far. Highly recommend this for the cozy, small-town vibes and lovable cast of side characters.

Book Lovers by Emily Henry: This is receiving a lot of hype for a reason. I loved some parts and disliked others (if I have to read about a grown woman calling her sister “Sissy” dozens of times again, I’m throwing the book), but overall I really enjoyed my reading experience. My one major complaint is that there is a severe lack of Charlie, honestly. This isn’t as romance-y as you might expect and that’s a darn shame.

Xeni (Loose Ends #2) by Rebekah Weatherspoon: I love that Rebekah Weatherspoon writes mature, low-angst romance. Xeni is a great female lead and Mason is a sweetheart (a giant Scotsman with a heart of gold? Fantastic).