I cannot speak highly enough about this book. It is truly one of the best I have ever read. I absolutely adored Zusak's [b: The Book Thief|19063|The Book Thief|Markus Zusak|https://d.gr-assets.com/books/1390053681s/19063.jpg|878368] and was interested in his other book, and boy was I blown away.

I've tried explaining this book to other people before, and I find that I can't. What seems to be a simple story (a below-average taxi driver is sent mysterious cards with addresses/words on them) is transformed into a beautiful and powerful story about making the most of life. Zusak masterfully paints a picture of Ed Kennedy, a brutally honest narrator who makes an amazing transition from apathetic to empathetic, as well as a wonderful cast of characters (my favorite is his ancient, coffee drinking, smelly dog named the Doorman). While the ending is somewhat confusing (but not if you think about it), this book ultimately leaves the reader gasping with the beauty of it all. I think what sums it up is Ed's own conclusion:

"I'm not the messenger at all. I'm the message."

Another book I’ve read as I look for a new detective series and this one, like many of the others I’ve read, falls short of what I’m looking for. That being said, this is an interesting start to a series. The middle third of this book giving Maisie’s backstory was unexpected at first, but I ended up liking it. Overall, a pretty predictable mystery, featuring an interesting detective, but I’m not sure I’ll come back to this.

What a fun, enjoyable, and sweet romance! I’m a sucker for a love story, especially one during Christmas, and especially one set in London, and this book had all of that and more! I loved the characters, especially that this was a more mature love story. The age of the characters helped the romance between them feel more real and had some adorable moments.

I spent most of this book thinking, “what’s the big deal?” The unnamed narrator was a bit whiny and weak, and ultimately confusing given her decisions. The suspense at the end made me give this 3 stars, but I really don’t understand the hype behind this book.