A Well-Read Tart

A Food and Book Lover’s Blog

THE HEIR AFFAIR Book Review

Some of you may remember me gushing about The Royal We in one of my earliest posts on the blog. So, you can imagine how excited I was to find out that Heather Cocks and Jessica Morgan were writing its sequel, The Heir Affair! This minute I found out it was publishing, I began chasing down ARCs like kids after an ice cream truck. None made their way to me, so I was forced to wait until the ebook was available at my local library. I have to say...

THE HAUNTING OF BRYNN WILDER Book Review

If it’s one thing I love about Wendy Webb novels, it’s that they’re incredibly creepy. And her latest book, The Haunting of Brynn Wilder, certainly delivers all the spine-tingling, floor-creaking moments you’d expect with a title like that. That being said… this book is also incredibly heartbreaking, which is something that I did not expect. What originally drew to me to Webb’s novels is this author’s ability to weave a damn...

THE FLATSHARE Book Review

I completely adored The Flatshare by Beth O’Leary. I’ve said it before and I’ll say it again: the hardest book reviews to write are for the books you love the most. There’s just so much you want to say! And it seems impossible to find the right words to express how much the story means to you. That’s how I feel about The Flatshare. And, I'm completely surprised by this.   What's The Flatshare about? I went into The Flatshare...

THE MERRIEST MAGNOLIA Book Review

Even though The Merriest Magnolia sounds like a Christmas book, and the beautiful cover makes it look like a Christmas book… it’s not what I would call a true Christmas book. And, I really liked that about it.   What's The Merriest Magnolia about? Author Michelle Major’s newest installment of The Magnolia Sisters series kicks off just before Thanksgiving. The Merriest Magnolia ushers us into the Yuletide season by letting...

THINGS YOU SAVE IN A FIRE Book Review

I'm just going to jump right into it: Things You Save in a Fire by Katherine Center is one of the best books I've read all year.   What's Things You Save in a Fire about? Things You Save in a Fire follows main character Cassie to a new fire station when she moves to take care of her ailing, estranged mother. There's a lot of firehouse banter, jokes, camaraderie, and training, which was all thoroughly entertaining, especially...

AMERICAN ROYALS Book Review

If I'd known that drinking tea in American Royals is considered unpatriotic, I might have avoided reading this book. Out of protest for my favorite beverage, of course. Naw, jk! American Royals is awesome. I'm so glad I didn't know about the tea thing beforehand.   What's American Royals about? America Royals is a completely charming novel that re-imagines the United States of America as a monarchy, complete with a royal family...

SUMMER RENTAL Book Review

Um, who's about ready for a beach vacation? THIS GIRL. While we may not be taking actual vacations anytime soon, I'm here to tell you that you can take a vicarious one with Summer Rental by Mary Kay Andrews.   What's Summer Rental about? In Summer Rental, three friends rent a summer beach house in the Outer Banks, NC. When their "fourth" for the house bails on them last minute, they invite a random woman (ummm, okay....) to take...

Quick Look Books: Modern Love Stories (February 2020)

Love is in the air, Tartlets! Happy Valentine's Day! I originally wasn't planning to post anything today, but after scrolling through Instagram last week, I saw lots of "Literary Love Stories" and "Love Story Lists" being posted by book bloggers. I loved the idea and decided to jump on the bandwagon. This month's Quick Look Books list features modern love stories. We all know the great, classic love stories, like Wuthering Heights *swoon* and...

ONE DAY IN DECEMBER Book Review

I received a copy of One Day in December from my library one day in March. This novel made serious waves throughout the book blogosphere when it published in late 2018, aided largely in part by being the December 2018 pick for Reese’s Book Club. Given my love for Jane Green, Sophie Kinsella, and Jenny Colgan, I eagerly anticipated a new chick lit book set in England. I read all of One Day in December, but, honestly, I’m not sure what all...

THE CITY BAKER’S GUIDE TO COUNTRY LIVING Book Review

Words can’t express how much I loved The City Baker’s Guide to Country Living. I actually put off writing this book review because I honestly didn’t know how to capture how delightful the story is.   What's The City Baker's Guide to Country Living about? The City Baker’s Guide to Country Living is all about leaving your comfort zone – or, what you think is your comfort zone ­– and embracing changes and...