An Excellent Thing in a Woman (A Sparks and Bainbridge Mystery, #7) by Allison Montclair

An Excellent Thing in a Woman (A Sparks and Bainbridge Mystery, #7) by Allison Montclair - I was really excited to read the next installment of Sparks and Bainbridge and actually wanted the book to be longer so I could spend more time with them! The book starts off quickly with some major developments but then felt a little slow in the middle. This felt like a bit of a transition book with less complexity than some of the other books, but I loved it all the same. Thank you to NetGalley and the publisher for the ARC.

Call Her Freedom by Tara Dorabji

Call Her Freedom by Tara Dorabji - This was a beautifully written book but also hard to read much of the time given the tragedy experienced by the family and the community. I found myself sometimes not wanting to grapple with the heartache in this book but also growing attached to the characters and returning to see how their lives unfolded. Thank you to NetGalley and the publisher for the ARC.

Limelight by Emily Organ

Limelight by Emily Organ - This was a fun read and I look forward to reading more of the series. I don't typically enjoy books that take place prior to the 20th century but I enjoyed the way that this book was written (specific to the time period but with a bit of a modern perspective). I enjoyed getting to know the characters and the way the mystery unfolded to keep me engaged until the end. Thank you to NetGalley and the publisher for the ARC.

Cherished Belonging: The Healing Power of Love in Divided Times

Cherished Belonging: The Healing Power of Love in Divided Times by Father Gregory Boyle At first I worried this book might be a little more religious than what I was comfortable with. But the book quickly settled into Fr. Boyle's signature homie anecdotes showing warmhearted love and affection for all humans. This book touched on some recent political events and characters, but really stuck to the theme that everyone must belong to us and we must belong to them. Just like with his other books, there were parts that brought me to tears and parts that made me laugh. It felt like a balm to read during this election season. “People change when they are cherished.” Thank you to NetGalley and the publisher for the ARC.

Death Comes at Christmas by multiple authors

Death Comes at Christmas (short story collection, multiple authors, publication date 10/28/24) This was a fun mix of holiday themed murder mysteries. I was not familiar with most of the authors so it was also a great opportunity to sample their work. Some leaned a bit more toward the cozy mystery side while several had dark twists. The stories also provided quite a few laughs along the way. I do not like horror or anything that leans too much into thriller/suspense or really dark, and these stories walked right up to that line but didn't cross it for me. (I even used this as bedtime reading)! I enjoyed this collection and finished it in a few days. Thank you to NetGalley and the publisher for the ARC.

Holiday Hideaway by Mary Kay Andrews

Holiday Hideaway by Mary Kay Andrews ⭐⭐⭐⭐ This was a sweet short story - a typical book plot but significantly condensed. Initially I found the female main character a bit annoying and highly implausible, but once the story progressed and the two main characters started interacting it was much more enjoyable. No shocking twists or surprises here, but a cozy and cute story with a tidy ending!

Meditations for Mortals Oliver Burkeman

Meditations for Mortals Oliver Burkeman (NetGalley ARC pub date 10/8) ⭐⭐⭐⭐⭐ I read this on and off, aiming at first for one chapter a day as suggested but then missing chunks and reading chunks. I am considering purchasing a hard copy as there are sections I’d like to underline or annotate. Despite it being based on some previously published newsletters (to which I subscribe), it was well put together and felt fresh and relevant. Thank you to NetGalley and the publisher for the advance review copy.

The Life Impossible by Matt Haig

The Life Impossible by Matt Haig ⭐⭐⭐⭐ This started off fine, then got weirder and weirder. I considered bailing but stuck through a sagging middle and enjoyed the last third which felt more signature Haig. Four stars rounded up since it felt so uneven.

How to Read a Book by Monica Wood

How to Read a Book by Monica Wood ⭐⭐⭐⭐⭐ This took me a little to settle into but I really enjoyed it and found it a good comfort read. I found myself revisiting the characters in my mind and may consider picking up some of the books that are referenced in the novel. I'll also look into the author's other works.

The Wedding People by Alison Espach

The Wedding People by Alison Espach ⭐⭐⭐⭐ I thought this would be light and funny, but a summary did say it had a dark premise and is grim in parts. At 14% in, I wasn't sure I wanted to keep reading. I gave it one more try and finished it. I think the author lays it on too thick at the start but then smooths it out. I felt frustrated by the caricature-like nature of some of the characters and it felt longer in places than needed, but overall appreciated how it came together. I enjoyed what it was saying about being human and how many of us share the same fears and doubts.

The Black Bird Oracle (All Souls #5) by Deborah Harkness

The Black Bird Oracle (All Souls #5) by Deborah Harkness ⭐⭐⭐⭐💫 This had a great combo of magical cozy autumn vibes while taking place over the summer. I felt like it dragged in a few spots and could have been shorter than 464 pages, but overall I really enjoyed the new characters and setting that were introduced.

The Word is Murder by Anthony Horowitz

The Word is Murder by Anthony Horowitz ⭐⭐⭐⭐ This started a bit slow and the characters sometimes annoyed me, but it was propulsive and I sped up my reading once I hit about the halfway mark. I will continue reading the series.

Time’s Convert (All Souls #4) by Deborah Harkness

Time’s Convert (All Souls #4) by Deborah Harkness ⭐⭐⭐⭐ I had low expectations based on reviews, and it did seem 100-150 pages longer than it needed to be, but it was still fairly enjoyable and I like the backstory on Marcus more than the part featuring Phoebe's transformation. Excited for the next book.

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.