3/29/25 DNF after 100 pages. The book is fine. I just struggle to like historical fiction. I also thought it was about WW2 and it's actually about WW1 which is even less interesting for me. lol. 

3/26/25: 3.5. I enjoyed this book in that it was easy to read and binge. I could probably read this in a day if I had a day to just read. Towards the end it felt a bit melodramatic and like a soap opera. Also then end felt so abrupt it wasn't totally satisfying. I do think a lot of people will like this book.

3/25/25: 3.5 stars. I am really enjoying this series. A good balance between cozy elements and mystery elements. There are some unique mysteries in the series too.

3/24/25: I really enjoyed this. No critiques. Well done.

 SYNOPSIS:
After getting laid off, Stephanie Plum takes a job as a bounty hunter working for her cousin, Vinnie. Her $10,000 FTA (failure to appear) is Joe Morelli, a police officer accused of shooting and killing an unarmed man. Stephanie and Joe have a history dating back as early as grade school but bringing him in isn't easy. Stephanie finds herself in the cross-hairs of a sadist boxer who enjoys abusing women and gets in a little over her head her first day on the job.

WHAT I LIKED:
I liked that the crime solver (Stephanie) was something other than a police officer or forensic pathologist. I've read so many mystery series where this is the standard. It's rare to find someone outside these roles be the protagonist in a mystery series.

I liked that the characters were dynamic and interesting. Of particular interest to me were Stephanie, Ranger, and Grandma Mazur. I will also admit to liking the standard mystery novel format. I like the rhythm of the genre and figuring out whodunnit (which I did pretty easily with this novel).

WHAT I DIDN'T LIKE:
Why, why, why does the mystery genre always have to include a story line about a sadistic man who abuses and assaults women in almost every novel? In One for the Money, Benito Ramirez is that man. The man who dos unspeakable things to women. The archetype of the criminal misogynist. Why is this constantly the trope? There are so many interesting things a writer can do with a mystery, so many different crimes to choose from. I had hoped that Evanovich would rise to this challenge and she failed miserably.

That being said, I did still enjoy the book enough to be curious about the next book in the series.

RECOMMEND FOR:
Readers who like a standard mystery novel.

NOT RECOMMENDED FOR:
Women sensitive to stories about sexual violence. 

 3/17/25: 4.5 stars. This was awesome. Marks really nails how it feels to be a kiddo adjusting to major life changes like moving and switching schools. The friend group is adorable. They all learn important lessons and the ending is satisfying. If you like Front Desk by Kelly Yang, you would like this! 

3/16/25: 3.5 I loved the bunny content in this book. This book had a good balance between the cozy elements and mystery elements. The mystery was engaging. There was also a realistic amount of character development to contribute to the larger arch of the series. 

3/15/25: I think this could be useful for people so long as they keep in mind 1). A large portion of the advice in this is outdated and irrelevant (stuff from the 90s that just doesn't exist anymore a la blockbuster) and 2). you can find just as good tips on upcycling and saving money online without spending money on a book that will likely just end up clutter in your house. 

3/11/25: This was pretty middle of the road for me. This is a cozy series set in Maine which I liked. It is more mystery heavy than cozy heavy. Decent pace and characters but nothing really stood out for me to makes more than just a time pass. 

3/9/25: Ohhhhhhh, how I fell in love with these kids. The twists at the end were so shocking. The ambience is dark and gothic. If you like Heartstoppers but make it horror, you might like this. If you like Roses and Rot by Kat Howard, you might like this. The romance is so, so sweet. A favorite of the year.