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%. …
Article and Interview by Elise Cooper Beth Is Dead by Katie Bernet takes the Little Women story by Louisa May Alcott and turns it on its head. Readers who loved this timely classic will be intrigued how Bernet takes Beth’s death and turns it into a murder mystery, puts the characters in the modern day, and has many twists with many people of interest. Although it is listed as a YA book, adult readers will also find it enjoyable, gripping, …
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. …
A roundup of several more small reviews I wrote in Spring 2025. Beware of spoilers! Title: A Most Extraordinary Pursuit Author: Juliana Gray Series: Emmaline Truelove #1 I liked Emma well enough, but there was a lot going on. 1. She inexplicably sees and converses with dead people; I think the intent is for her to wrestle with her conscience Jiminy Cricket-style, but it comes across more like she’s having full-on hallucinations. Frequently. 2. People are inexplicably moving through time, …
Title: The Whispering Night Author: Susan Dennard Series: Luminaries #3 MUCH thanks to Susan Dennard, Macmillan Audio, and NetGalley for allowing me to listen to a free eaudio ARC in exchange for an honest review. Love love love love LOVE this trilogy! I relistened to the first two before venturing into this one and it was no hardship. I like them more every time. I adore down-to-earth bespeckled Winnie and her strong arc, I love Darian and Andrew and Mom …
Title: A Fragile Enchantment Author: Allison Saft Series: n/a Thank you to Allison Saft, Macmillan Audio, and NetGalley for allowing me to listen to a free eaudio ARC in exchange for an honest review. This was so meh. Retitle to: Everyone Wants What They Can’t (Or Think They Can’t) Have. That was the main theme. Neeve (that’s how the narrator pronounced it) wanted a better life for pretty much everyone, then wanted Kit. Kit wanted freedom, then Neeve. Sinclair wanted …
A quick little roundup of several smaller reviews I wrote in Summer 2023. Beware of spoilers! Title: A Fatal Illusion Author: Anna Lee Huber Series: Lady Darby Mystery #11 Thank you to Anna Lee Huber, Berkley, and NetGalley for allowing me to read a free ARC in exchange for an honest review. Also thank you to Yazmine Hassan for inviting me to participate in the blog tour; I’m sorry I didn’t get my crap together in time to participate properly. …
A quick little roundup of several smaller reviews I wrote in late 2022. Beware of spoilers! Title: A Sinister Revenge Author: Deanna Raybourn Series: Veronica Speedwell #8 Great thanks to Deanna Raybourn, Berkley, and Edelweiss for allowing me to read a free ARC in exchange for an honest review. Overall this was a good addition to the series. Not exceptional, but good. I love that Veronica and Tiberious have developed a deep fraternal bond, and I loved the interesting dinosaur …
Title: Emily’s List Authors: Sean Platt and David W. Wright Series: n/a Weak protagonist, slow pace, confusing at times I would like to thank Sean Platt and David W. Wright, Sterling & Stone, and NetGalley for allowing me to read a free copy in exchange for an honest review. Per Jen Turrell of Sterling & Stone, this ebook is free across all retail platforms, at least at the time I’m writing this review, so if you’re interested, grab a copy! …
Title: Spells Trouble Author: P. C. and Kristin Cast Series: Sisters of Salem #1 Didn’t make much of an impression I would like to thank P. C. and Kristin Cast, St. Martin’s Press/Wednesday Books, and NetGalley for allowing me to read an ARC in exchange for an honest review. This book was . . . fine. Honestly I’m struggling to remember the story; it didn’t make much of an impression. It wasn’t horrible, but I didn’t at all find it …