bookishaddictions's Reviews (310)

While I’ve never seen Groundhog’s Day, I’m familiar with the repetitive time-loop trope that it’s famous for. The authors made me really feel for Mae as she navigates the surprisingly unpredictable repeating Christmas vacation. I felt like Mae’s reaction to the loop was believable (the phases: doubt, hope, frustration, acceptance). My biggest complaint was that we didn’t get to know the supporting characters very well- including the story’s romantic interest; I would have easily read another twenty or so pages if it meant I got to know the characters better. I’m not huge on Christmas stories, but I liked that the authors managed to not overdo the holiday tropes. Overall, I think this would be a solid read for someone who wants to (quickly) get into the holiday spirit 🎄

I snagged this cute story while it was on a $.99 sale, and I don’t regret it. I don’t like many Christmas novels because of how cheesy they can be, but I actually didn’t hate this one. I thought the trope of trying to save a bookshop wasn’t the most original, however, Colgan made it her own. I  enjoyed seeing Carmen grow as a person, and I loved the shop owner. I do wish we got to learn more about the personalities of the children, and I would have liked to really see more of Carmen and Sophia’s relationship. I felt like the importance of family was supposed to be one of the big takeaways, but we don’t really get to see much about the bond between sisters. I also wish they would have given Sophia’s husband a few more lines when he returned, but no luck there. I hate Skylar from beginning to end though; I don’t even feel like her character was very necessary. I will confirm that this story made me want to visit Scotland at Christmas time ❄️

I snagged this gem via @netgalley a while back, and I finally got to finish it yesterday. This story involved some of my favorite tropes (enemies to lovers, fake dating, etc.) while promoting the Christmas spirit. I loved Mason and Lyla’s personalities, although I wish their romance was fleshed out a bit more. The overall concept of bringing an outsider to Yule was intriguing, and I loved the magical realism of this story. Callaghan’s novel is fairly inclusive for an Irish Christmas story too, so that was a nice change from the holiday reads I’ve encountered so far. I would say this quick read is perfect for helping you get into the holiday spirit while working towards meeting your yearly reading goal 🎄

I snagged this via Prime Reading, and I can acknowledge that it was a cute short story. It follows as Nola and Caleb each write to their mysterious Christmas-hating pen pals. This follows the cheesy “one who got away” tropes, as well as that of a Scrooge finding their Christmas spirit. With a meddlesome grandma, a sneaky postman, and two Christmas-lovers in denial, this one will leave you laughing. I leave you with two parting words: ball massage 😂

These short stories tell of the adventures of Maud, an elderly woman from Sweden. However, Maud isn’t as nice as we typically expect little old ladies to be. We get to follow Maud as she “solves” problems at home, and we get to follow her on her trips abroad. The stories are funny, quick, and remind you why the elderly should not be underestimated.

These short stories tell of the adventures of Maud, an elderly woman from Sweden. However, Maud isn’t as nice as we typically expect little old ladies to be. We get to follow Maud as she “solves” problems at home, and we get to follow her on her trips abroad. The stories are funny, quick, and remind you why the elderly should not be underestimated.

 I found myself enjoying this story, although I think I still prefer Pink and Country. Addison and Tuck’s story is charming, sexy, and fun. Of course this story wouldn’t be classical Snow without some potentially problematic plot twists and drama. You do not need to have read any of Snow’s other Carter Hills Band books to read this story- so feel free to check it out if the story interests you (see the blurb below). I have so much to say about this story, but I’m trying not to give anything away. The only complaint I can possibly share is that I was going nuts reading the “ya” throughout the story; to be fair though, that’s probably because I’m a Californian 😂😭 I will remind you all that story is graphically sexual and is not meant for young teens or children.

I snagged this beauty via @libby.app after finding this in the poetry category. I’m not huge on poetry, but I really enjoyed following along as Iliana explored Prague. Romero explores the identity struggles faced by Jewish Latinx people, especially as individuals like Iliana are still trying to heal from the multi-generational trauma. I loved the way Romero emphasized the beauty of music and of Iliana’s love for Hebrew traditions, as these were critical parts of who she is. The love shared between Iliana and other characters also added to the magic of the story, though I’ll acknowledge the ghosts helped with that one too. I would definitely recommend this story to others, and I’m hoping to snag a copy for my class library! 🎻

Blood Water Paint tells the story of Artemisia Gentileschi, a historical Italian painter, through poetry and prose. I love historical fiction, but I normally don’t care for poetry; McCullough may have just changed my perspective though. Artemisia’s story is heartbreaking, and yet it speaks to the harsh truth that many women have faced. It considers the misogynistic beliefs of our past, but it offers advice and insight that are arguably still relevant today.  We also get to experience some of history’s favorite subjects in a way rarely painted before. Artemisia’s courage and passion are inspiring, and McCullough’s poetry is a compelling compliment to the story. I would recommend snagging yourself a copy if possible; I found mine on @libby.app 🖌️

I waited months for this gem to become available via @libby.app and it was absolutely worth the wait. I found the characters (Fallon and Ben) to be believable, and they were beautifully complex. We have Fallon the Transient and Ben the Writer who meet once each year on November 9th. Their love is both instant and gradual, and they left me wanting more. I don’t like insta-love tropes, but Hoover gave me a whole new perspective on them. I wish I could say so much more, but I feel like I’m going to give away the best parts. I will say though that I didn’t expect the twist, and I enjoyed the surprise appearance from one of Hoover’e other novels (I won’t spoil who). If you haven’t read this one yet, you should 😉