paperbackportals's Reviews (698)

The Break-Up Pact by Emma Lord

I love Emma Lord’s YA books, and so it was easy to dive into her adult debut novel. 

You should read it if you love:
▪️Fake dating
▪️Second chance romance
▪️Beach reads
▪️Strong friendships 

Personally, despite Emma Lord’s  lighthearted style dealing with difficult topics (grief, break-ups, hurt), I didn’t love it as much as I hoped. The story hinges on the fake dating trope, which I know a lot of people love, — and if you are a person who loves it, this book is for you — but I found it a bit tedious at times. I think I’ve just discovered that it isn’t my favourite. 

Overall, The Break-Up Pact is a cute, sunny getaway of a novel, but one that wasn’t for me. 

Review: Bad Tourists by Caro Carver

This perfect beachside thriller will have you breaking out in a cold sweat. Chock full of secrets, high stakes, and atmospheric descriptions, this book is perfect for a summer scare. 

The story opens on a beautiful beachside escape with eerie imagery and flashes back in time to a gruesome murder overlooked at the beginning of the Covid outbreak. How is a Maldives vacation celebrating a divorce tied together with this serial murder? 

You’ll have to read to find out! 

Thank you to Simon & Schuster for this advanced copy. It was white knuckle adventure that I couldn’t put down. 

All opinions are my own.

Review: How to Age Disgracefully by Clare Pooley

What do you get when septuagenarians with curious pasts form a group at the local dilapidated community center? Hijinks, mayhem, and unlikely relationships. 

The quirky cast of characters in How to Age Disgracefully will warm your heart with their well-intentioned antics and the way they draw others in and care for them. I am a huge fan of found family and that’s why I turn to Clare Pooley’s books again and again. How to Age Disgracefully does again what The Authenticity Project and Iona Iverson‘s Rules for Commuting did, which is bring people together and show the importance of making connections. 

I highly recommend this book. It’s definitely one of my new favourites. 

Thank you to Penguin Random House and NetGalley for the advanced copy. All opinions are my own. 

Review: Dashed by Amanda Quain

A sweet, coming-of-age retelling of Sense & Sensibility on a cruise ship. 

Do you ever wonder about Margaret’s experience in Sense & Sensibility? Look no further. This YA contemporary romance and coming-of-age story follows Margaret Dashwood 5 years after the tragic passing of their father and the fateful events of Marianne’s whirlwind romance. 

I thoroughly enjoyed following Margaret as she learned how to find her own unique voice and identity in this sweet story. Highly recommend for a summer read. 

Thank you to Wednesday Books, St Martin’s Press, and NetGalley for this advanced copy. All opinions are my own. 

This was a twisty, turny thriller that kept me guessing. The multiple perspectives left me questioning who I could trust. Additionally, the story brings awareness to MMIW. 

Review: The Rom-Commers by Katherine Center

This rom-com dives into what makes a rom-com great while creating a pretty adorable one. I thoroughly enjoyed this read and often did not want to put it down. While the initial few chapters took me a minute to get into, I fell in love with Emma and then the banter between her and Charlie.

I highly recommend The Rom-Commers to readers of Emily Henry and Courtney Walsh, and readers who love:

▪️Quirky characters

▪️Amusing banter

▪️Reading about writers

▪️Deep emotions

▪️Coming of age / character growth stories

This delightful, closed door romance is a perfect summer read. 

Review: The Secret Keeper by Genevieve Graham

The Secret Keeper by Genevieve Graham reveals the home front effort in Canada through a beautiful tale of family and friendship during World War Two. 

One of my favourite things about Genevieve Graham’s books is her ability to unveil interesting facts about Canada in her historical fictions. As a Canadian historical fiction lover, this makes the stories seem so much more real. 

The Secret Keeper mostly takes place in Oshawa and Toronto, Ontario, and follows the experiences of twin sisters, nicknamed Dot and Dash. Dot is shy and brilliant while Dash is outgoing and seeks adventure. Both sisters join the war effort and find themselves involved in completely different paths, one full of hands-on work and the other in a world of codes and secrets. The sisters and other characters are great and you’ll be rooting for them throughout the story. If you’re from Eastern Ontario, you’ll recognize many of the settings. 

I highly recommend this intriguing story to lovers of historical fiction - especially readers of Kate Quinn and Natalie Jenner. Go read it! 

I skimmed a lot of it. I found the content difficult. I realize I knew it wouldn’t be a lighthearted read, but the sex and self-abuse was more than I could continue to read.