A Magical Girl Retires by Park Seolyeon

A Magical Girl Retires by Park Seolyeon ⭐⭐⭐⭐ There were some serious themes mixed into this fantasy novella, along with illustrations which were fun. I appreciated the postscript regarding the experiences of women in Korea.

Second Tide’s the Charm by Chandra Blumberg

Second Tide’s the Charm by Chandra Blumberg ⭐⭐ Science nerds, ocean settings, second chance romance. I loved the premise but the execution was not there for me. Unfortunately, the formatting errors and lack of editing for the ARC I received didn't help but I found the writing stilted and just not a very interesting plotline. It felt repetitive and lacking in dramatic tension. Maybe this would have been a better fit as YA novel but it just felt like alternating long-winded inner monologues of two emotionally immature people with a beautiful backdrop and setting. I really wanted to and tried to like this but it did not hold my interest. Thank you to NetGalley and publisher for this ARC.

The God of the Woods by Liz Moore

The God of the Woods by Liz Moore ⭐⭐⭐⭐ I enjoyed this and liked the ending, but overall the tone of the book was really quite dark and sad. The frequent shifting of character perspective and timeline was often jolting and hard to follow, I think it would have been smoother with less shifts and it also dragged at times as a result.

Swan Song by Elin Hilderbrand

Swan Song by Elin Hilderbrand ⭐⭐⭐⭐⭐ This was fun with lots of little easter eggs and bringing in characters from past books. I still have a few books from her backlist so I didn’t feel super final. I enjoyed all the pickleball references. It was a nice summer treat.

A Trick of the Light by Louise Penny

A Trick of the Light by Louise Penny⭐⭐⭐⭐⭐ I really enjoyed this with all its nuances, art references, and character development.

The Bodyguard by Katherine Center

The Bodyguard by Katherine Center ⭐⭐⭐⭐💫 This was enjoyable and uplifting, but I found Rom-Commers funnier. Fun to catch the character tie-in even though I read the two books in the wrong order. Looking forward to MMD author talk.

Real Self-Care: A Transformative Program for Redefining Wellness by Pooja Lakshmin

Real Self-Care: A Transformative Program for Redefining Wellness by Pooja Lakshmin ⭐⭐⭐ I enjoyed a podcast with the author, but I don’t know that the book added much for me. The problems women face are largely structural, don't waste all your time on faux self-care, don't turn wellness into more productivity/achievements, set boundaries and take pauses. This book was heavy on the mini-anecdotes of clients, but it started to feel repetitive quickly and I skimmed a lot.