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.

The Rom-Commers by Katherine Center

The Rom-Commers by Katherine Center ⭐⭐⭐⭐⭐ Sometimes, a book that makes you feel good is just the thing. For me, this was reminiscent of Beach Read and Nora Goes Off Script. The story was a little silly but I enjoyed it anyway. This was my first book by her so I'll definitely check out her backlist.

Summers at the Saint by Mary Kay Andrews

Summers at the Saint by Mary Kay Andrews ⭐⭐⭐⭐ This went in directions I did not expect. It engaged me pretty early on (although I think it could have been tighter/shorter). The ending was all a little too tidy, but it was overall a pretty fun read. The cover made it seem like a lighter, beachier read than it was.

Jackpot Summer by Elyssa Friedland

Jackpot Summer by Elyssa Friedland ⭐⭐⭐ I struggled with finding the characters frustrating, and I think the story is spread too thin shifting perspective between the four siblings and a bit the dad as well. I appreciated that the characters showed growth, but not as much as I’d have liked and their evolutions felt really thin. There were some parts where I chuckled so it was pleasant enough, but I had enough of this family when the book was done.

100 Afternoon Sweets by Sarah Kieffer

100 Afternoon Sweets by Sarah Kieffer ⭐⭐⭐⭐⭐ How silly of me reviewing this ARC when now I want a print copy to bake with! Gorgeous photos and clear descriptions. I particularly have my eye on Cranberry Caramel Upside-Down Cake, Toasted Sesame Blondies, Lemon Cake Squares, Pecan Espresso Bars, Chocolate Peanut Butter Pie, Passion Fruit S'mores Pie, Peanut Butter Chocolate Bars, Coffee Blondies, Cherry Pie Bars, Caramel Rhubarb Shortbread Bars. The section on buttercreams will definitely up my cake game. Thank you to NetGalley and the publisher for this ARC.

How to Age Disgracefully by Clare Pooley

How to Age Disgracefully by Clare Pooley ⭐⭐⭐⭐💫 This was a fun romp with loveable characters, themes of found family and defying expectations, and a lot of humor. I enjoyed the portrayal of people at different stages of life coming together and being kind of ridiculous. Thank you to NetGalley and the publisher for this ARC.

The Lion Women of Tehran by Marjan Kamali

The Lion Women of Tehran by Marjan Kamali (NetGalley ARC 7/2) ⭐⭐⭐⭐⭐This initially reminded me a bit of My Brilliant Friend. This is a story fundamentally about women’s friendship and a great way to learn about Iran’s history through a beautiful story. There were also luscious descriptions of food along the way and my heart aches for the experiences of the women of Iran but also of women everywhere during this time period of backsliding when it comes to women’s rights. Thank you to NetGalley and the publisher for this ARC.

The Unwedding by Ally Condie

The Unwedding by Ally Condie ⭐⭐⭐💫 3.5 stars. I had mixed feelings. It was a page-turner, great setting, intriguing premise. It was a borderline thriller but not so scary that I put it aside (I generally avoid thrillers but like mysteries). It did feel like it started to drag around halfway through and for me that's when the suspense starts to get tedious. I did not care for the main character. I think there were too many side characters so they were underdeveloped. I stayed up late to finish it and was excited to get to the end, but then felt a bit underwhelmed by the time I got there. Also - why didn't she ever tell us Ravi's backstory?

 

The Cliffs by J. Courtney Sullivan

The Cliffs by J. Courtney Sullivan (NetGalley ARC 7/2) ⭐⭐⭐ This book was compelling and especially the last third I was eager to read quickly. However, it really dragged in sections where it became more recitation of facts than storytelling, and the jumps in storyline were sometimes jarring. It's also very hard to stay with the unlikeable main character. It felt like there was a compelling story within this book, but it needed sharper editing and a bit more focus and it still could have tied together in a satisfying way. It felt like it only had one foot in historical fiction and while I'm glad I finished, it took some effort. Thank you to NetGalley and the publisher for the ARC.

Same Bright Stars by Ethan Joella

Same Bright Stars by Ethan Joella (NetGalley ARC 7/2) ⭐⭐⭐⭐⭐ I really enjoyed this novel. At first I just liked the writing and found it a bit meandering, but then the story continued to unfold and deepen. It drew me in so much that I read more than half of it in one day to finish. Warm themes of found family and small town community. Thank you to NetGalley and the publisher for this ARC.

 

System Collapse by Martha Wells

System Collapse by Martha Wells ⭐⭐⭐⭐⭐ I didn't want this to end as there are no more books out in the series currently (I read that more are coming?) This continued the storyline from Network Effect which I also loved.

Murder at the Breakers by Alyssa Maxwell

 

Murder at the Breakers by Alyssa Maxwell ⭐⭐⭐⭐ Late 19th century historical fiction/mystery. It was pretty fun and I liked it enough to consider continuing the series, although I guessed the murderer pretty early.

The Underground Library by Jennifer Ryan

The Underground Library by Jennifer Ryan ⭐⭐⭐⭐ elements of the Emmy Lake Chronicles as it’s set in London during the blitz. Found family and how books bring people together. It had three perspectives which I think made it longer than necessary and it wrapped very tidily.

Emily Wilde’s Encyclopedia of Faeries by Heather Fawcett

Emily Wilde’s Encyclopedia of Faeries by Heather Fawcett ⭐⭐⭐⭐ This took me a few tries until I finally got into it 😁 It definitely had magic and found family vibes. I’ll be interested in picking up the 2nd book but won’t rush to it like I might for other series.