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The angst and cuteness and consequences (!!) and adorableness of fake dating?! In a very pure, sweet YA setting?! Yesss.
I especially loved Gia’s character arc and how Hayden wasn’t perfect. 🤍 (And Bec is a legend!)
Special thanks to my sister for recommending this one. 😉
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This was a delightful, one-sitting, hold-your-breath kind of read. I highly enjoyed the sisters’ dynamic and different POVs. Also, I have strong shipping opinions. 😉 I was a little disappointed by how open-ended it was, so I’m hoping there will be a payoff in later books. It didn’t go as dark as it could have, and I highly appreciated that.
The creator of such beloved storybook characters for children as Winnie-the-Pooh, Piglet, and Eeyore, A. A. Milne was also the author of numerous dramas, essays, and novels for adults — among them, this droll and finely crafted whodunit.
In it, Milne takes readers to the Red House, a comfortable residence in the placid English countryside that is the bachelor home of Mr. Mark Ablett. While visiting this cozy retreat, amateur detective Anthony Gillingham and his chum, Bill Beverley, investigate their genial host’s disappearance and its connection with a mysterious shooting. Was the victim, whose body was found after a heated exchange with the host, shot in an act of self-defense? If so, why did the host flee, and if not, what drove him to murder?
Between games of billiards and bowls, the taking of tea, and other genteel pursuits, Gillingham and Beverley explore the possibilities in a light-hearted series of capers involving secret passageways, underwater evidence, and other atmospheric devices.
Sparkling with witty dialogue, deft plotting, and an intriguing cast of characters, this rare gem will charm mystery lovers, Anglophiles, and general readers alike. (from Goodreads)
I wasn’t sure what to expect when my husband recommended this book to me, but what I found lived up to the author name on the cover. Clever, thoughtful, and delightfully hilarious (would the author of Winnie-the-Pooh do any less?) with two compelling amateur detectives. I found it to be less of a whodunnit and more of a howwasitdun, which was still quite interesting. If I hadn’t guessed one of the twists, it would have been a five-star read, though that’s on me for being such a detective story fan. 😉 Oh, and the dedication was adorable.
Recommended to fans of Sherlock Holmes (there are plenty of satisfying references) and anything by Agatha Christie.
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From the adorable, original cover inward, this novella charmed me with its heart and real and respectful characters. There were APOLOGIESSSS for the past and the reasons they’d become enemies. There was an adorable Christmas tree decorating scene! And sleeping on the couch together. ❤ And meaningful Christmas gifts. And the “epilogue”. *cries in the sweetness*
Oh, and Amelia was a floor sitter, so I felt seen, lol.
CW: kissing.
Lately I’ve been reading and posting a lot of mini-reviews, so I thought it would be fun to start a new series highlighting these short but sweet reviews. 😉
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What a wonderful whodunnit! I enjoyed the varied cast of characters, the suspicion moving from one to another, and the twists upon twists. I seriously thought I’d figured things out and then another twist would hit me. O.o. Hercule Poirot was his fabulous self, and the policemen in this were rather clever too.
The best part of this book was the format, set across several days during the Christmas season, so I’d read a bit each day and it spread out the holiday vibes. 😉
CW: murder, lots of blood.
Sparks are igniting.
Flames are spreading.
And the Capitol wants revenge.
Against all odds, Katniss Everdeen has won the Hunger Games. She and fellow District 12 tribute Peeta Mellark are miraculously still alive. Katniss should be relieved, happy even. After all, she has returned to her family and her longtime friend, Gale. Yet nothing is the way Katniss wishes it to be. Gale holds her at an icy distance. Peeta has turned his back on her completely. And there are whispers of a rebellion against the Capitol—a rebellion that Katniss and Peeta may have helped create.
Much to her shock, Katniss has fueled an unrest that she’s afraid she cannot stop. And what scares her even more is that she’s not entirely convinced she should try. As time draws near for Katniss and Peeta to visit the districts on the Capitol’s cruel Victory Tour, the stakes are higher than ever. If they can’t prove, without a shadow of a doubt, that they are lost in their love for each other, the consequences will be horrifying.
In Catching Fire, the second novel of the Hunger Games trilogy, Suzanne Collins continues the story of Katniss Everdeen, testing her more than ever before . . . and surprising readers at every turn. (from Goodreads)
Of course my favorite movie is also (for now) my favorite book. I’m so glad to have read this! Truly a modern classic, and something I’ll be thinking about for a long time. Just a quick summary of what I liked since I’m sure most things have been said in other reviews.
More time in District 12 than I was expecting…
Foreshadowing of Peeta’s fate…
Katniss getting moments to be vulnerable (and her mother of all people comforting her?!)…
Less of The Games more of the characters…
Reminders that Katniss is truly a kid…
Everlark sweetness…
I hope to read book three soon. 😉
No matter what anyone tells you, I’m real.
That’s what the note says that Max finds under his keyboard.
He knows that his best friend, Josie, wrote it. He’d know her handwriting anywhere. But why she wrote it–and what it means–remains a mystery.
Ever since they met in kindergarten, Max and Josie have been inseparable. Until the summer after fifth grade, when Josie disappears, leaving only a note, and whispering something about “whatnot rules.”
But why would Max ever think that Josie wasn’t real? And what are whatnots?
As Max sets to uncover what happened to Josie–and what she is or isn’t–little does he know that she’s fighting to find him again, too. But there are forces trying to keep Max and Josie from ever seeing each other again. Because Josie wasn’t supposed to be real. (from Goodreads)
The more I think about this book, the more I love it and the harder it gets to review. ❤
After finding The Lost Letters to be a disappointment, I was hesitant to pick up another new Haddix book but thanks to a bit of bravery and a Barnes and Noble sale, I found myself in possession of this one, and it blew me away.
Warning–it’s one of those where you have to stop every few chapters and catch your breath. It’s that suspenseful, meaningful, and clever, and I’m very glad I took the time to soak up the story. I can’t say much about what I liked without giving everything away, but let’s just say all is not as it seems and the huge reveals are wonderful. 😉
I also appreciated the steady balance between the sci-fi and social commentary.
I’ll be thinking about this one for a while more…
“You are not a hero, Andromeda.
The year is 2076. Earth is ruled by a one-world government. In order to maintain unity, all citizens must deny their national, racial, and religious identities—or suffer the consequences.
Seventeen-year-old Philadelphia Smyrna lives two lives. To the government, she’s Andromeda, the adopted daughter of an influential family. To the “unassimilated,” she’s Blue Fire, the figurehead of a revolution. Under her leadership, the movement is gaining steam—until the government retaliates by ordering the mass relocation of the unassimilated to Chinese work camps. Philadelphia realizes she must call for war before all her friends are lost. Her opportunity comes when she’s invited to the government’s biggest gala of the year, giving the revolution the chance to take down the United from the top. But to succeed, Philadelphia must do the one thing she promised she’d never do: kill.” (from Goodreads)
I feel like I held my breath this entire book (except for THAT ONE MOMENT when my dreams literally came true).
Is this where the series and I part? Whoa, are we going there??? Did that just happen? Ewww, medical details? Oh my gosh, Stanyard! That’s the girl I know. What, what, what? Breathe, Kate.
I loved this one, needless to say, especially the emotional throwback scene and the new, clever settings that were so much more than just a backdrop. Also, I’m a fan of a good dystopian training scene.
It was also neat to see how rocky Philly’s healing and coming-of-age journey truly is, and once I caught where we were going with things, I really liked what the author did.
The cliffhanger though. 👀👀
I look forward to the series continuing. 😉
Best quote that’s not a spoiler: “We always come prepared to vandalize,” Dowe returned.
CW: Medical details including sci-fi modifications, killing sims, and implied swearing.
Can they find hope in the midst of darkness?
Kate, to keep her and others safe, is in protective custody and she doesn’t even know where. With no contact from those she cares about, questions threaten to overwhelm her. How is she supposed to trust God and have hope for the future when everything is uncertain?
Patrick is reeling from the loss his friend and the fact Kate might never return. One phone call sends Thomas and him scrambling to track down a vengeful former boss, bent on putting hundreds of lives in jeopardy. He’s in a race not only against the clock, but against the recent memories that have made him feel like a failure. (from Goodreads)
I was nervous going into this book, not gonna lie. How was the author going to follow up the last one and move the story forward? Because a lot happened in book 6. O.o. And would I find the answers satisfying enough?
I should never have doubted. ❤
My expectations were blown out of the water with a creative, heart-pounding case, strong Biblical themes that spoke directly to something I’m going through right now (like, wowwwww?!), and the touch of the entire team, even if they weren’t present in the story. I also enjoyed the new characters, Ava, Emma, and Tyler. I hope we see more of at least Tyler since I loved him immediately. 😉
I can’t share much without spoilers, but the ending is super satisfying, even if not everything is put to right. I really loved this book, and I’ll be thinking about the themes for a long time.
Best quotes: “I need hope. I need to know I have something in the future.”
God was never lost or confused. He always had a plan, a much bigger plan than any person could see.
CW: war flashbacks, bombs, grief.
Delilah always keeps her messy, gooey insides hidden behind a wall of shrugs and yeah, whatevers. She goes with the flow—which is how she ends up singing in her friends’ punk band as a favor, even though she’d prefer to hide at the merch table.
Reggie is a D&D Dungeon Master and self-declared Blerd. He spends his free time leading quests and writing essays critiquing the game under a pseudonym, keeping it all under wraps from his disapproving family.
These two, who have practically nothing in common, meet for the first time on New Year’s Eve. And then again on Valentine’s Day. And then again on St. Patrick’s Day. It’s almost like the universe is pushing them together for a reason.
Delilah wishes she were more like Reggie—open about what she likes and who she is, even if it’s not cool. Except . . . it’s all a front. Reggie is just role-playing someone confident. The kind of guy who could be with a girl like Delilah.
As their holiday meetings continue, the two begin to fall for each other. But what happens once they realize they’ve each fallen for a version of the other that doesn’t really exist? (from Goodreads)
This book, y’all. It had me stressing, cheering, and gobbling up every word. 👏👏 I finished reading it with a happy sigh, and I’m not ready to send it back to the library. 🥹 This is my second Elise Bryant book, and I know I can count on her for a meaningful coming of age story and HEA. 😍
Delilah was probably one of the most real-feeling fictional characters I’ve ever met. I can’t say much without spoilers, but her character arc was my absolute favorite.
Reggie was adorable and delightful, and it was fun to have two POVs this time. I loved how much he thought through how to pursue Delilah without making it weird. 😂🥹
And the holidays! 😍👏 It was so fun to see how they celebrated each one (including Juneteenth), and I was happy when it branched out to increasingly obscure ones for story reasons. 😉🤫
While it’s not this book’s purpose to educate me, the way it challenged and taught me by simply showing what it’s like to exist as Black person made me grateful to learn. Definitely a lot to think about.
I’m so happy I read this adorable book!
CW: racism, microagressions, R language, allusions to more than kissing.
Once Upon An Ordinary 