I'm not sure how I stumbled across The Girl Who Died. I think author Ragnar Jonasson blurbed another scary book that I'd read and loved. I thought, if I loved that book, I'd probably love books by this author, too. What's The Girl Who Died about? The Girl Who Died, despite its off-putting title, was a really enjoyable read. It's brimming with tension and atmosphere, suspense and mystery. Main character Una spontaneously accepts a...
Calling all Janeites! I’m here to tell you that not only is The Other Bennet Sister worth your time, but that it’s one of the best Jane Austen-inspired novels I've ever read. And I’ve read a lot of them. What's The Other Bennet Sister about? The Other Bennet Sister is about Mary Bennet, who's Elizabeth Bennet's "least eligible" sister in Jane Austen's Pride and Prejudice. The Mary Bennet that author Janice Hadlow...
I was fully prepared to hate Daisy Jones & The Six. But, I ended up loving it instead.
Why I decided to read Daisy Jones & The Six I refused to read Daisy Jones and the Six during the first year it was published. Why? For starters, I don't like band biopics. They bore me with their petty dramas and creative differences and substance abuse problems. Drugs and drinking hold no allure for me. Reading...
I can't believe I'm saying this, but Mexican Gothic is the latest bestseller to fall into the DNF pit. Let me start off this book review by saying that I'm not only disappointed by how much I didn't enjoy this Gothic suspense -- but I'm very surprised by it. Author Silvia Moreno-Garcia's Mexican Gothic made HUGE waves last year among bookstagrammers and book bloggers, for its book cover alone! Which is, admittedly, gorgeous. ...
Do yourself a favor and step into the enchanting novel that is The Gown. What's The Gown about? The Gown is a behind-the-scenes story that shines a spotlight on the regular ol' folks responsible for creating the grandeur of then-Princess Elizabeth II's wedding dress, as well as many of the ensembles donned by the regency and aristocrats of that time. Author Jennifer Robson's gorgeous writing draws you immediately into The Gown. It...
I went into reading A Gentleman in Moscow with mixed feelings. Why I decided to read A Gentleman in Moscow A Gentleman in Moscow had been on my reading radar for years. While I generally love stories set in Russia, I've never been particularly inclined to go for this one. I think it largely has to do with the fact that the person who recommended I read A Man Called Ove -- one of my favorite books EVER -- also recommended...
The Lost Apothecary is one of my favorite books of 2021. BOOM! I’ve said it. What's The Lost Apothecary about? There's a lot of story packed into The Lost Apothecary. This novel explores two timelines. There's 1700s Nella, who runs an apothecary shop that sells poisons for women to use against the awful men in their lives, and 12-year-old Eliza, who helps in Nella's shop. And, then there's present-day Caroline, who's visiting...
Tracy Chevalier’s novels are absolutely beautiful, and her latest book, A Single Thread, is no exception. This might be my new favorite title by this author. What's A Single Thread about? The shadow of WWI looms over everything in A Single Thread -- every person, every conversation, every interaction. Main character Violet's life is forever changed when both her fiancé and her brother are killed in WWI. At 38 years old and...
I really wanted to fall deliciously deep into Rhapsody. But, this book was a DNF for me. I feel extra bad about saying this, too, since author Mitchell James Kaplan sent a personalized note on lovely, thick, cream-colored stationary along with the ARC. But, I'm all about the honest reviews, so....here goes. What's Rhapsody about? Set in Jazz Age NYC, Rhapsody is the story of composer George Gershwin's love affair with Kay...
Well, Tartlets, we're rounding out a year of reading by heading back to Ballybucklebo with another book in the Irish Country Novels series: An Irish Country Family. And, I'm happy to report that I enjoyed this book much more than the last one in the series. Author Patrick Taylor mercifully toned down the in-depth discussion of Irish politics, And, while Barry and Sue's infertility issues continue to plague them, that plotline, too, has...
