bookclubbitches's Reviews (2.32k)

I hated this??? 

I kept waiting for it to get better then it was over... 

My book club chose this for January and we all speculated what might happen and our theories were more exciting than the actual ending. 

This book has a messy plot, annoying characters, too many POVs, and the ending was just weird and silly. I really disliked this book. 

I really liked this, but it's now going to be a new fave. I thought Zoe was a very interesting character, she had a real Bridget Jones-poor me vibe that I totally understood. 

I enjoyed the wine facts and the vineyard insights. I thought it was really cool. I didn't like Rachel and thought she was so annoying. I feel like these two probably would have had a moment of reconciliation a lot sooner. The pettiness of Rachel was a little too juvenile for me. 

I thought Charlaine (spelling?? Unsure, I listened to the audiobook!) was SO HOT. she was my fave and I was wishing she was the main character. She was complex, sexy, talented and better than Zoe lol 

I also got a little uncomfortable with the Boss/Employee dynamic. Her dad's behavior also kinda bugged me the entire time, along with the fact he called her Zoe Nicoletta EVERY time he talked to her 😂 

Overall a solid read and I am excited to read more from Laura Piper Lee! 

Oh I absolutely LOVED this book. I cannot believe so many of my favorite tropes were smashed into one dreamy love story. I am so in love with these characters and I CANNOT wait to gush over this beautiful book with the author next month. 

Loved every minute. 

Basic. Bland. I just don't care for these types of stories. I tried. No thanks. 

While the premise is very interesting, the execution isn't what I'd consider to be a good thriller. 

This book is rich with Māori culture and history and plays a central plot point of the story. Colonialism also is a huge factor. 

The POV switches and the culprit were discovered very early on. While the POV would switch at times, with having a female narrator for everyone and then a male narrator for him it was good at first but then it's like the audio narrators were given the wrong cues because the female voice also read some of the killer's POV. 

I don't think I'll continue on with the series....

ALICE WHYYYYYY

This book was so not for me. While I did not love her last book, I have overall enjoyed her work in the past and I was looking forward to something new. However, this book is dreadful. Having the main POV of a sad man who lost his wife and thinks everything is unfair is just suuuuuch a drag to read. 

I had a friend who read it spoil the ending for me, and I do think if I had stuck with it the twist would have been good. However, slogging through the book is just not something I have on my 2025 bingo card. SOOOOORRYYYYYYYYYYYYYY. 

While I enjoy learning about the Duggars and where they are in life after breaking out of their oppressive religion, this still has a bit too many bible verses for my liking. I'm sure it'll be a hit for so many people, but for me it's a no thank you. 

Fascinating history but a bit dry at times. I felt like it could have been edited down a little bit between the waiting about the application, but WOOHOO GIRL POWER!!! 

This was such a unique spin on a classic trope. I thought the 10 years later plot of heroes who have to go on with regular life after completing a HUGE quest, losing their leader in the fight, and coping with the loss along with other messy emotions they had. Being called 'The Four' who completed the quest and saved the kingdom, but without their leader, and just three left...it was hard for them all to cope with the trauma and to move on.

Clare- I think I enjoyed his perspective the most, he was charming and charismatic and hilarious. He clearly was deeply in love with Beatrice and just miserable without her. Getting to go on another quest was the perfect moment for him to get in her good graces. He was so funny and I liked him a lot. I liked that he was on a trading card and there was medieval magazines with his face on it.

Elowen- Very typical youngest of the group personality. She had a really cool magical gift of sensing other people's emotions around her, which frankly sounds exhausting, and I do not blame her one bit for wanting to live in seclusion. Her queer storyline was very much welcomed, especially since her love interest is a former assassin who had crossed paths with The Four previously. 

Beatrice- Such a bummer. She had the most unique gift of being able to access people's memories and I thought that was such a cool and helpful tool to bring to the table. I enjoyed her love of baths, and her obvious pining for Sir Clare. 

Overall this was a fun book but SO EMOTIONAL and not a new favorite. There were fun modern spins on things like tv shows, magazines and coffee shops that I found quite charming.