katietotallybooked's Reviews (785)

This was a bit of an odd read for me. I didn’t feel super engaged at first—it just wasn’t hitting the mark in terms of entertainment or enjoyment. But once I picked up the audiobook and started tandem reading, I got into it a little more. There were a few pieces of social commentary that stood out and I made note of them to bring up during our book club discussion. Overall, though, I just didn’t vibe with this one. It wasn’t a bad book—it just wasn’t the right fit for my personal reading taste. 

 This isn’t the Emily Henry book everyone’s talking about right now, so I know I’m a little late to the party—but better late than never, especially when it turns out to be a book you love. I was completely captivated by Harriet and Wyn, and their close-knit friend group. The lakehouse setting, the shared history, and the big life transitions each character was going through—I was here for all of it. I felt deeply connected to Harriet and really identified with her “good girl syndrome.” I was rooting for her and Wyn from the very beginning. There were entire paragraphs I saved in my notes app, and so many standout quotes I’ll be coming back to. 

I think reading this has convinced me that I have arrived in my romance era. I think I've given every romance book I've read this year a high rating. It's been great. 

Here are some of my favourite quotes:

 “I want my life to be like-like making pottery. I want to enjoy it while it's happening, not just for where it might get me eventually.” 

 “You're like gravity. Everything keeps spinning, but my mind's always got one hand on you.” 

 “Like even when something beautiful breaks, the making of it still matters.” 

I usually love Lisa Jewell thrillers, but this one didn’t quite wow me. That said, it was still a fun change of pace to be reading a book by an author I enjoy so much. My favorite parts were the interview snippets—they added a unique touch, even though this one didn’t feature the dual narration style on audio that I’ve come to love in some of her newer novels. 

By the last quarter, I started to see how the story was unraveling, but that didn’t stop me from flying through the pages as fast as I could. It was definitely suspenseful and intricately plotted, and I always enjoy a UK setting—it adds an extra layer of atmosphere. 

Overall, I did enjoy this read, even if it won’t be making its way to my favorites shelf. 

I feel emotionally wrecked by this book—in the best (and worst) way possible. I’ve never cried so hard while reading. This story tore me apart, and I loved every second of it. 

The characters felt so real and raw. I was hooked from the very first page and couldn’t look away. It’s the kind of book that stays with you long after you finish, lingering in your chest like a bruise you don’t want to heal. 

This was my first Rebecca Yarros book, and while I have no interest in her Fourth Wing fantasy series, I absolutely want to explore more of her romance novels. If they’re anything like The Last Letter, I’m ready to have my heart ripped out and stomped on all over again. 

Still a delightful read!  I was surprised by how many details I had forgotten over the years — but after all, it’s been about 25 years since I last read the series. I just adore Anne; she’s such a lovable character. I can’t help but picture the characters as they were portrayed in the Megan Follows' adaptation, which I watched countless times when I was younger. Over the years, I’ve also enjoyed many of the other adaptations. 

One thing that surprised me this time around was realizing the first book spans five years — I hadn’t remembered that! I laughed, I cried, and I had such a wonderful time revisiting Avonlea. 

This book, and Anne Shirley herself, will always hold a special place in my heart. 

This book, and Anne Shirley, will always have a special place in my heart. 

This book was excellent! The writing was beautiful—clear, well-paced, and deeply thought-provoking. I especially love multi-POV novels, and this one was masterfully done, weaving in dual timelines and a parallel narrative that added depth and richness to the story.

The novel was emotionally intense and heavy at times, but it pulled me in completely—in the best way possible. I was lucky to have time to read this one in longer stretches, and I’d forgotten how restful and immersive it can feel to sink into a story for 1–2 hours instead of my usual 15–30 minute reading windows. It made a huge difference in how deeply I connected with the characters.

Each character captivated me, but Kareela stood out the most. I found her story so compelling, especially as a young woman navigating such complexity. The mother-daughter relationship between Kareela and Evelyn was incredibly moving—some scenes nearly brought me to tears.

I highly recommend this novel and I can’t wait to read the author’s debut Hold My Girl soon! 

I have followed Mel Robbins on social media for a while now, and I have listened to her podcast a handful of times. Overall, I really connect with her "say it like it is" attitude and upfrontness. And I was really excited to read this book - I even pre-ordered it! However, I wasn't overly wowed by it. There wasn't a lot of earth-shattering advice, and I found it quite matter of fact. Like nothing blew my mind. I think it's because I have read A LOT of personal development and I have been doing a lot of innerwork on my thoughts and actions in recent years. So I just found myself agreeing with a lot of what Mel was saying. Now, I did enjoy it, and I did tab and highlight several sentences so I do have takeaways. I just am not going to shout about this book from the rooftop, unless it is to someone who is brand new to the concept that we can't actually control other people. Rather, we can only control our thoughts, which create our feelings and then drive our actions. 

I was very engaged by this family drama, which centers around grief—a theme I often connect with due to my own personal experiences. I felt a strong connection to the characters, especially Dawn, who stood out as a powerful and empowering protagonist. 

The writing had a very cinematic quality, which makes sense given that the author is also a screenwriter. That said, I did find the pacing a bit slow, and I didn’t love the frequent perspective shifts in this multi-POV novel. 

I’m glad I chose to tandem read this with the audiobook—the narration was excellent and helped hold my attention more than reading the physical copy alone. I’m also curious to one day watch the film this book is based on, to see if I prefer that version of the story. 

Overall, this was an empowering and emotional story about a trans woman, a family’s grief, and their life on a farm in small-town Nova Scotia. 

What a fascinating listen! I was a huge fan of One Tree Hill and I had NO IDEA this was going on behind the scenes - absolutely none at all. It was a fantastic audiobook production too. I think if I had been reading books more quickly this month, I would have enjoyed this much more. Most of my fellow Book Club members who are also reading it this month read it in 2-3 days and LOVED it. I can't wait to discuss it on Thursday at Book Club! 

It’s rare for me to pick up a short story collection—especially one written entirely by the same author—but this was such a fun surprise! Each story was around 20 pages, which made it perfect for bite-sized reading sessions. The writing was captivating, and while some stories stood out more than others, I found myself drawn into each one. Overall, the book was lighthearted, funny, and a total breath of fresh air in my reading life.

From Novelist:
Characterization: Well-developed characters
Mood: Funny
Style: Incisive; Character-driven