authentic reviews and insightful interviews for inquisitive readers
A roundup of several smaller reviews I wrote in Winter 2025-2026. Beware of spoilers! Title: 100 Days of Sunlight Author: Abbie Emmons Series: Tessa and Weston #1 This author has a “writing how-to” YouTube channel that I’ve watched a few times, and when I learned she’s published a book with an interesting premise and it was available at my library, I wanted to check it out and see if Emmons can walk the walk or just talk the talk. DNF 19%. …
Title: You Can Scream Author: Rebecca Zanetti Series: Laurel Snow #5 Much thanks to Rebecca Zanetti, Kensington, and NetGalley for allowing me to read a free ARC in exchange for an honest review. I read the first couple books in this series and greatly enjoyed them, but One Cursed Rose was so awful it completely turned me off Zanetti for a couple years. I wish I’d continued this series where I left off instead of skipping to Book 5, because while …
Title: Great Big Beautiful Life Author: Emily Henry Series: n/a I could have been okay with the unbalanced narrative. But I hated the climax and resolution. I went into this book so arrogant, thinking I knew exactly how it would unfold. Alice and Hayden would “audition” for the first half, their attraction sparking as they slowly got to know one another as friendly rivals; the midway point would be a twist where instead of choosing one or the other, Margaret …
Title: The King’s Ransom Author: Janet Evanovich Series: Recovery Agent/Gabriela Rose #2 Much thanks to Janet Evanovich, Atria Books, and NetGalley for allowing me to read a free ARC in exchange for an honest review. Ironically, I’m surprised it’s only been four years since Gabriela’s first book came out—it feels like longer. I don’t know what happened behind the scenes, but man; it changed release date several times, co-authors came and went. But here it finally is! And it’s okay. Released at …
Title: The Lost Author: Sarah Beth Durst Series: not anymore PSA: If you’re furious about the ending and came looking for answers, check the copyright of the copy you just read. If it says 2014 and only 2014, find a copy of the updated 2025 version, stat! Read the last two or three chapters, then come back if you need to. 😉 —————– Initial Post: Wow. I haven’t felt fucked up by a book like this in a while. I …
A roundup of several smaller reviews I wrote in Fall 2025. Beware of spoilers! Title: Dead Wrong Author: Kate Allenton Series: Cree Blue Psychic Eye Mystery #1 Not great. Very simplistic and superficial storytelling. Too short to include much detail or character development. The MC, Cree*, is more foolishly headstrong than spunky, and waaayyy overpowered: clairvoyant, psychometric, knows when people are lying, and she can see and communicate with ghosts? She must also be rich, because she’s entirely unbothered by the …
Title: Mixing Magics Author: Clare Edge Series: Accidental Demons #2 Much thanks to Clare Edge, HarperCollins, and NetGalley for allowing me to read a free ARC in exchange for an honest review. Unfortunately, I was greatly disappointed by book 2. It felt like a hot mess of a first draft. It also felt like the author had no idea what to do with any of her own lore. Book 1 was fantastic, and the two things it did extra well …
Title: 7 Figure Fiction: How to Use Universal Fantasy to Sell Your Books to Anyone Author: T. Taylor Series: Universal Fantasy #1 First, I blinked the sales-pitch dazzle out of my eyes. Second, I sneered at and moved past the fact that this entire book is a humble brag. Third, I processed. And processed. And processed. And finally made sense of this mess of a book. Universal Fantasy is real. Taylor just does the worst job of explaining what it …
Title: Agnes Aubert’s Mystical Cat Shelter Author: Heather Fawcett Series: n/a Much thanks to Heather Fawcett, Del Ray, and NetGalley for allowing me to read a free ARC in exchange for an honest review. I like cats, but I don’t love them, which might have detracted from my enjoyment of this novel a bit. Cats are not only featured but secondary characters, so know that going in—if you don’t like cats, this isn’t a novel for you. I’m disappointed, but it …
A roundup of several smaller reviews I wrote in late summer to fall 2025. Beware of spoilers! Title: What Comes After Author: Katie Bayerl Series: n/a Thank you to Katie Bayerl, Penguin, and NetGalley for allowing me to read a free ARC in exchange for an honest review. Sorry it’s overdue. DNF 31%. The afterlife is the same as life, filled with veiled autocracy, big brother, social media, toxicity and strife, and other familiar bullshit. And so many awful puns. …