“I hear the car before I see it, but even then, I don’t move, and later, I’d look back at that moment and wonder if I somehow knew what was going to happen. If everything in my life had been leading me to that one spot, to that one house. To him.” – 3/5 stars!

Attention! This book contains: best friends, blackmail, magnolias, diamond earrings, decor, panic rooms, dog-walkers, boats, expensive lamps, committees, books and pity parties.

Meet Jane. Newly arrived to Birmingham, Alabama, Jane is a broke dog-walker in Thornfield Estates––a gated community full of McMansions, shiny SUVs, and bored housewives. The kind of place where no one will notice if Jane lifts the discarded tchotchkes and jewelry off the side tables of her well-heeled clients. Where no one will think to ask if Jane is her real name.

But her luck changes when she meets Eddie Rochester. Recently widowed, Eddie is Thornfield Estates’ most mysterious resident. His wife, Bea, drowned in a boating accident with her best friend, their bodies lost to the deep. Jane can’t help but see an opportunity in Eddie––not only is he rich, brooding, and handsome, he could also offer her the kind of protection she’s always yearned for.

Yet as Jane and Eddie fall for each other, Jane is increasingly haunted by the legend of Bea, an ambitious beauty with a rags-to-riches origin story, who launched a wildly successful southern lifestyle brand. How can she, plain Jane, ever measure up? And can she win Eddie’s heart before her past––or his––catches up to her?

With delicious suspense, incisive wit, and a fresh, feminist sensibility, The Wife Upstairs flips the script on a timeless tale of forbidden romance, ill-advised attraction, and a wife who just won’t stay buried. In this vivid reimagining of one of literature’s most twisted love triangles, which Mrs. Rochester will get her happy ending?

Originally I was going to give this 3 stars, but I thought about it for a few days and I decided it doesn’t deserve them, so I’m lowering my rating. I’m very disappointed with this book. It was one of the books I was most excited to read this year and it turned out to be a flop.

There were so many things I didn’t like about this book, but the worst was definitely the main character, Jane. Oh my God. I can’t even express how much I hated her – and trust me, it takes a lot for me to feel this strongly about a character. She was manipulative, selfish, envious, petty and to top it all off, a thief. And not the kind of thief who steals because they need it. No. She did it because she could, basically. She hated rich people so she stole from them because she was jealous of their lifestyle and that was her way of getting back (like that makes any sense). But the worst part is that at some point she was trying to please them and she admitted she wanted to be one of them – but she still hated them? Girl… you need Dr. Phil. I truly didn’t like her, but I was willing to forget about her if the rest of the book was good. Spoiler alert: it wasn’t.

The story was not interesting and was full of flaws, and the mystery was weak. The plot was a bit predictable (at least part of it) and to be honest, nothing interesting ever happened.

I think the writing overall was okay, but there are times when the author changes to the POV of one of the characters, and in the same chapters she would go back and forth in time and it got a bit confusing to keep up.

And that ending. The ending was just the nail in the coffin for me. I obviously can’t say too much about the ending, but I felt like the conclusion to this story was lacking and unsatisfactory in a lot of ways.

In conclusion: I really don’t understand the hype. I think part of the popularity this book got is because of the new cover, because it truly is beautiful. But to be completely honest, there are too many good thrillers/mysteries out there waiting for you to pick them up… don’t even bother with this one.

xoxo,

“Men are what they are because of what they do. Not what they say.” – 5/5 stars!

Attention! This book contains: morning inspections, rope, Saabs, radiators, stray cats, tools, lost wallets, white shirts, trailers, snow, parking tickets, train trips, grief, baby cribs, wheelchairs, kid drawings, mailboxes and nosy neighbours.

A grumpy yet loveable man finds his solitary world turned on its head when a boisterous young family moves in next door.

Meet Ove. He’s a curmudgeon, the kind of man who points at people he dislikes as if they were burglars caught outside his bedroom window. He has staunch principles, strict routines, and a short fuse. People call him the bitter neighbor from hell, but must Ove be bitter just because he doesn’t walk around with a smile plastered to his face all the time?

Behind the cranky exterior there is a story and a sadness. So when one November morning a chatty young couple with two chatty young daughters move in next door and accidentally flatten Ove’s mailbox, it is the lead-in to a comical and heartwarming tale of unkempt cats, unexpected friendship, and the ancient art of backing up a U-Haul. All of which will change one cranky old man and a local residents’ association to their very foundations.

Everyone under the sun was recommending this book to me, so I finally bought it and I read it. And let me tell you, what an emotional rollercoaster it was! I was crying, then laughing… then crying again. I understand 100% why this book is so popular, and it deserves all credit.

A Man Called Ove is about a grumpy old man named Ove. He is a very strict, short tempered, serious man that has nothing friendly about him. He doesn’t get along with any of his neighbours and he has no plans of changing that. But what no one knows is that underneath his hard shell is a man who suffered a lot in life and still carries a lot of sadness and grief within. Until one day, when a new family moves in next door to him and Ove’s life changes forever.

I read Anxious People, and I thought this would be just as crazy/funny, but I was surprised by the amount of sad chapters this had. To be fair, there are a lot of funny scenes here, but this book talks about some serious, sad topics that I wasn’t expecting.

Ove is the kind of character that you think you would dislike, but I really liked him from the beginning. Maybe it’s because I myself have a Ove in my life, but I completely understood his pain and I cared a lot about him and his story – and I was rooting for him the entire time! So naturally, I cried a lot. Not only when I finished the book but also during most of it.

This is my third Fredrik Backman book, and I completely understand why his books are so popular. His writing style is very unique, and he has a talent to mess with your emotions. I also just watched the trailer the other day for the movie, and it looked interesting so maybe I’ll see the movie soon as well. I’m just hoping they did justice to the story!

It’s an amazing, emotional book that I will never forget. Highly recommend it!

xoxo,

“They will be judged, by the police and by everybody else. Serves them right, leaving their baby alone. She would think that, too, if it had happened to someone else. She knows how judgmental mothers are, how good it feels to sit in judgment of someone else.” – 5/5 stars!

Attention! This book contains: pink babygrows, video cameras, ransoms, dinners, debt, plans, tire marks, neighbours, police inspectors and missing babies.

It all started at a dinner party. . .

A domestic suspense debut about a young couple and their apparently friendly neighbors–a twisty, rollercoaster ride of lies, betrayal, and the secrets between husbands and wives. . .

Anne and Marco Conti seem to have it all–a loving relationship, a wonderful home, and their beautiful baby, Cora. But one night when they are at a dinner party next door, a terrible crime is committed. Suspicion immediately focuses on the parents. But the truth is a much more complicated story.

Inside the curtained house, an unsettling account of what actually happened unfolds. Detective Rasbach knows that the panicked couple is hiding something. Both Anne and Marco soon discover that the other is keeping secrets, secrets they’ve kept for years.

What follows is the nerve-racking unraveling of a family–a chilling tale of deception, duplicity, and unfaithfulness that will keep you breathless until the final shocking twist.

What an incredible book! I was hooked from the beginning and when I wasn’t reading it, I was thinking about it.

The plot was very interesting and unpredictable. The story is about a couple who has a six-month daughter, and when they come home from their neighbours’ house – because they just had dinner there – they notice their daughter is not in the crib. So now the baby is gone and you don’t know who did it. The police is called to the parents’ house and the inspector is determined to uncover the truth of what happened to the baby.

The story is told in third/first person, but not in a defined way. What I mean by this is that we don’t get chapters with different POVs. There is a third person narrator but we sometimes get to see what’s inside of every single person’s head. We get to see the perspectives of the parents, the grandparents, the neighbours and the police inspector.

We also get to know some things the characters don’t, but in the sense that some characters are hiding stuff and you know what they’re hiding, but the other characters don’t. But with that said, it’s important to say that you won’t know all their secrets in the beginning, so the surprise element is there and it’s constant!

What I liked so much about this book is that it’s the kind of mystery where you find out new information as the story goes… and you can’t trust anyone. The author did an amazing job creating a full mysterious experience for the reader, because there are so many twists and the story keeps changing so you never know what is going on and you can’t predict anything. 

It’s a really cool and very well made book, and I think anyone who likes thrillers/mysteries would really like it! I can’t wait to read more from this author.

xoxo,

“She knew better now. The world was bigger now. She was bigger now, and that made all the difference.” – 5/5 stars!

Attention! This book contains: unicorns, cauliflower, garter snakes, doorways, toxic friendships, centaurs, hooves, horns, kelpies, thumbs, husbands, baked apples and destiny.

“Welcome to the Hooflands. We’re happy to have you, even if you being here means something’s coming.”

Regan loves, and is loved, though her school-friend situation has become complicated, of late.

When she suddenly finds herself thrust through a doorway that asks her to “Be Sure” before swallowing her whole, Regan must learn to live in a world filled with centaurs, kelpies, and other magical equines―a world that expects its human visitors to step up and be heroes.

But after embracing her time with the herd, Regan discovers that not all forms of heroism are equal, and not all quests are as they seem…

Another incredible addition to the Wayward Children series from Seanan McGuire! 

I originally was going to give this 4.5/5 stars, but I really think this book deserves more. And the reason for this is because it is truly an amazing book! It’s full of magic, it has a solid story and characters with depth, and the atmosphere is amazing. 

This book is about a girl named Regan. She goes through a doorway and enters the Hooflands. This is a land full of magical creatures such as centaurs, kelpies and unicorns – the perfect place for her because she loves horses. Of course there’s more to the story, though!

I think my favorite thing about this book was the plot originality. It was so interesting and magical, I couldn’t put the book down! I just love this concept of kids going through doors to their perfect world and leaving their lives behind.

If my memory is correct, I don’t think Regan appeared in the series before (but I could be wrong, though). I say this because it is common in this series to find characters from other books, so I can’t be 100% sure but I think she’s new to the series. Nonetheless, I really liked her as a main character and I particularly liked to see how she grew and developed better relationships. I wouldn’t be mad to read another book about this girl. Maybe she’ll cross with the characters from the first books? That would be really cool!

I’m also glad the author talked about subjects such as intersex, gender and bullying. I learned some new things while reading this book, and that to me is always a positive aspect to me.

It’s funny because I feel like this series has so many highs and lows, and to me this was definitely a high! It’s my second favorite story in the entire series, the first one being Jack and Jill’s story. A plea to the author: please keep writing and I promise I’ll keep reading!

xoxo,

“One has to dare if one wants to get anywhere,’ said Mrs. Bantry.” – 3.25/5 stars!

Attention! This book contains: movie stars, drugs, paintings, fancy parties, poison, secrets, cocktails, photographs, “the Development” and cracked mirrors.

One minute, silly Heather Badcock had been gabbing on to her movie idol, the glamorous Marina Gregg. The next, Heather suffered a massive seizure. It turned out to be a deadly poison. But for whom was it really intended?

Marina’s frozen expression suggested she had witnessed something horrific. But, while others searched for material evidence, Jane Marple conducted a very different investigation – into human nature.

Librarian’s note: this is one of 13 books in the Miss Marple series, which includes twelve novels and one collection of short stories – “The Thirteen Problems.” There are a total of 20 short stories about Miss M, seven of which can be found in other collections. Entries for each of the novels and short stories can be found on Goodreads.

It was an okay murder mystery. This book was recommended to me by a friend because she loves this book and she really wanted me to read it, but I didn’t love it as much as she did.

This mystery itself was good but I didn’t love the plot. This was my first Miss Marple book and I really liked her role in solving the mystery, but I was expecting more from the story. Don’t get me wrong, I was surprised when I knew what happened in the end, but I didn’t care for most of the characters present at the party, and I felt like the final explanation was too simple and short. So needless to say, I was underwhelmed.

It’s not a very realistic book in the sense that there are too many coincidences, but I feel like this is part of her writing style. I don’t read a lot of Agatha Christie’s books, but I understand why people like them so much. She’s really good at creating stories with shocking elements and unpredictable secrets. She makes it very difficult to figure out the truth of what really happened.

I will say it was entertaining, though! I was intrigued to see where the story was going and I read the book relatively fast. But if I had to pick a favorite book from Agatha Christie, I would still prefer And Then There Were None.

In conclusion: good mystery, but not the best story. I know there is a movie about this book and I’m curious to watch it, I need to check it out!

xoxo,

“The mind can make you believe whatever it wants you to believe.” – 4.5/5 stars!

Attention! This book contains: old memories, blue scarves, assassins, institutes, scarlet and sapphire gems, doors and innovative scientific research.

Emika Chen barely made it out of the Warcross Championships alive. Now that she knows the truth behind Hideo’s new NeuroLink algorithm, she can no longer trust the one person she’s always looked up to, who she once thought was on her side.

Determined to put a stop to Hideo’s grim plans, Emika and the Phoenix Riders band together, only to find a new threat lurking on the neon-lit streets of Tokyo. Someone’s put a bounty on Emika’s head, and her sole chance for survival lies with Zero and the Blackcoats, his ruthless crew. But Emika soon learns that Zero isn’t all that he seems–and his protection comes at a price.

Caught in a web of betrayal, with the future of free will at risk, just how far will Emika go to take down the man she loves?

What a fantastic duology! This book was a bit different from what I thought it would be, just because the story takes an unpredicted path. When the first book Warcross finishes, something happens that sets the tone for this book so I thought I had an idea of what was going to happen… but, oh boy, I was so wrong. I really had no idea what was coming!

I think the author did a great job wrapping up the series with this book. I couldn’t be more happy with how the story ended. I really appreciate the author for giving proper closure to all the possible aspects of the book, because the finale was really satisfying! 

I would say this book is a bit different from Warcross. It definitely has a sadder tone to it – mostly because of Hideo’s brother – but it has also a very strong action vibe to it.

If I had to pick a favorite book from the duology I would still pick the first one because it feels more magical, but both books have their uniqueness and merit, and they balance each other perfectly.

I can’t say too much because I don’t want to spoil anything, but I promise you it’s worth the try. This series is amazing, I highly recommend it to anyone, but especially to readers who are into technology and programming.

So… when is this becoming a movie?

xoxo,

“I stopped taking
photos of sunsets
a long time ago.

I can never
capture its colors.

The same goes
for you.” – 3/5 stars!

Attention! This book contains: heartbreak, anxiety, depression, grief, unrequited love, beauty and happiness.

The debut collection of poetry from Lili Reinhart, the actress and outspoken advocate for mental health awareness and body positivity.

Swimming Lessons explores the euphoric beginnings of young love, battling anxiety and depression in the face of fame, and the inevitable heartbreak that stems from passion. Relatable yet deeply intimate, provocative yet comforting, bite-sized yet profound, Lili’s poems reflect her trademark honesty and unique perspective. Accompanied by striking and evocative illustrations, Swimming Lessons reveals the depths of female experience, and is the work of a storyteller who is coming into her own. 

Swimming Lessons is Lili Reinhart’s first published collection of poems. For those who don’t know, Lili is the actress who played Betty Cooper in Riverdale. I personally don’t have high expectations when it comes to celebrity books, but I’m happy with how this book turned out.

I think what really stood out the most for me was the effort she put into the book. I don’t know if it applies to all the physical editions of the book, but my copy was beautiful. The material was really nice and the finishing touches showed me she wanted to create something durable and high quality. To me, that speaks volumes. So kudos to her for investing in the quality of the book.

Now, is the collection itself good? Well, it definitely shows this is her first book. I didn’t love the poetry, but it wasn’t terrible as well. There were some great poems here and there, but overall I wasn’t super impressed with the collection. The most relatable poem to me was one of the last ones where she talks about the feeling you get when someone passes away and you know the world keeps spinning like nothing ever happened. When I read it, I knew exactly what she was talking about because I have had that same feeling before.

There are also simple illustrations and doodles throughout the collection to reinforce her words, and I liked it a lot. I don’t know if the illustrations are hers, but I couldn’t find any information on who had done them.

For a first book, it was a good effort and I think she did a good job.

xoxo,