4.2 Stars

A little girl, Fern, lives with her family on a farm. When her father plans to kill the weakest runt, she rescues and adopts him. This runt, Wilbur, grows up to be a shy and sweet pig, making friends with other animals on the farm. When Wilbur’s fate hangs on a thread, his best friend, Charlotte, the spider, decides to save him no matter the cost. 

The story comes in omnipresent POV. 

I’ve heard a lot about this book but haven’t read it (or watched the movie). Recently, I found a secondhand copy at a book fair and bought it. Well, no point in waiting now, right? 

Though the book undoubtedly belongs to Charlotte, I have to talk about Fern, the little girl who ensures Wilbur gets a second chance at life. She is an adorable darling with sweetness and sensitivity. Her love for Wilbur shines almost throughout. Though she ‘sells’ Wilbur to her uncle, she makes it a point to visit him and spend as much time as possible with her lovely pet. 

Even in the beginning, she is such a cute and innocent pet parent, feeding Wilbur milk from the bottle, letting him sleep in her doll’s pram when he is tired, clapping and cheering at his antics in the barn, etc. 

Wilbur’s network widens after he moves to Fern’s uncle’s barn. He makes new friends with the geese, gander, cows, sheep, and of course, Charlotte. Still, he loves Fern and misses her when she doesn’t visit him due to bad weather. After all, she is the only parent he has known! 

Now, Charlotte is the queen and the hero of the book. Why not? She is the best! However, I could say she is like Fern but smarter despite her tiny size. Both Charlotte and Fern adopt Wilbur in their own ways. The little piggy sure triggered their protective instincts! 

Avery is another fun addition. I couldn’t stop thinking about how today’s parents would react to his antics. The lad had a lovely carefree farm life; that much I’d say. Here, I also have to mention Dr. Dorian, who has a wonderful perspective. 

The dialogues are super fun, especially the repetitions. Kids will love it! The ending is a bit sad but still heartwarming. The illustrations are great too! 

To summarize, Charlotte’s Web is a beautiful story about a little piggy who becomes a darling pet to a young girl and then to a spider with a brave heart and a clever brain. 

 3.7 Stars

One Liner: Needs suspended belief but fun

 

The mysterious and legendary author, J. R. Alastor, invites selected authors to a writing workshop at his retreat on a private island. He hired Mila del Angel as the coordinator and his face during the week. Mila has her own plans to make the event more ‘fun’ with extra twists to Alastor’s puzzles and mysteries. However, things start to go out of hand as the guests die one by one. Mila wonders if Alastor had another plan he hid from her and what it would mean for her future. Will anyone get out alive from the retreat at the end of the week? 

The story comes in the first-person POVs of Rodrigo, Mila, Cassandra, Olivia, Violet, Fletcher, and a few others. 

So, this is like a locked-room mystery on an island. Yeah, a lot of Christie’s vibes but I won’t compare it with And Then There Were None (I do love that book). 

The execution is ambitious for a debut work but manages to pull it off to an extent. Of course, the book is best enjoyed with suspended belief. Don’t ask too many questions or think too much about the hows and whys. 

The setting is atmospheric. The mansion and the island have dark vibes and enhance the narration. I couldn’t zoom in on the blueprint at the beginning but I understood the layout and could picturize the rooms. 

Though we get the story from many first-person POVs, not all of them have the same number of chapters. Many come from Mila’s POV while the rest are scattered across the other writers. While this is helpful, the voices blend at times. 

Not all characters are well developed but that’s okay. I got a rough idea of who they are. That’s enough for the plot. Given that the pacing is already slow, detailed backstories wouldn’t have helped. 

Since many details at withheld until later, we have to make a few guesses and connections. Half of my guesses ended up correct. The author surprised me with a few twists. These make sense, so no complaints. 

The reveal is a bit weak compared to the hype until then. It could have been a bit more dramatic. The conclusion is good though. It may not appeal to some readers (especially if they want hardcore thriller stuff). I like it. 

To summarize, You Are Fatally Invited is an enjoyable debut. Though it has a few issues and is slow-paced, I cannot deny that I was entertained by the book. 

Thank you, NetGalley and Random House UK, Transworld Publishers (Bantam), for eARC. This review is voluntary and contains my honest opinion about the book. 

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 3.7 Stars

Reese escapes to the washroom to send her friend an SOS voice message, a request to get her away from her boring date. Chase Parker offers free advice, which Reese doesn’t want. However, Chase brings over his date to join her table, pretending to be a childhood friend. Reese's boring date got better, and they parted ways. 

Then, Reese finds out after a month that Chase is her new boss. The spark is still strong, and workplace romance may or may not be a good idea! 

The story comes from Reese (more) and Chase’s POVs. 

Last year, I saw many Goodreads friends read the author’s romantic suspense thriller. The general consensus was that it had a bit too much romance since the author excelled in the genre. I decided to read her book from that genre. Luckily, this one was available as a rerelease. 

I can see why she has so many fans. The banter is funny and hot. Despite the slowish pacing, the book doesn’t feel boring at any point. Yeah, it has a few weak points too. 

We get the FMC’s POV more while the MMC’s is mostly limited to the past track. I like how this works in the plot. It keeps things in their track while also showing us the character backstories. We can see that the MMC is the same yet different from the past to the present. This shift is subtle but noticeable after we read half the book. That said, I’d have liked a Chase chapter from between times to create a proper bridge between the past and present. 

The MMC is pretty much in from the beginning and makes no excuses for it. While I could see the FMC’s hesitation (all valid reasons), I don’t like that she thought it was okay to string along another (actually a decent) guy for that long. Maybe I should consider it a character flaw. 

Despite instant attraction, the push-pull dynamics go on for a good time. This works in favor of the relationship as readers have time to root for the characters. The steam is 3.5+ and quite a bit of dirty talk thrown in. However, it feels seamless due to the MMC’s arc. 

I like side characters too, especially Sam. The sister is great too and adds to the laughs. 

The book has many lighthearted scenes in the first 70%. After this, it gets a bit heavy (with reason). There are still a few light moments, though the mood shift is clear. 

While I like that the third-act breakup is handled in stages, I did want a bit more of a couple time with the lead pair before the epilogue. Moreover, the epilogue was over too soon. 

This rerelease has a bonus scene (I won’t tell you what it is) I enjoyed much. 

To summarize, Bossman is an entertaining read despite a few flaws. I’ll be sure to check out other books by the author. 

Thank you, NetGalley and SOURCEBOOKS Bloom Books, for eARC. This review is voluntary and contains my honest opinion about the book. 

#NetGalley #Bossman 

Haven’s Rock is a sanctuary deep inside Yukon for those who need a safe place away from the rest of the world. Detective Casey and her husband Eric, along with a few others, do their best to keep the place running smoothly. 

However, when one of the residents is drugged and dragged into the forest on a cold night, Casey realizes they have a potential threat on their hands. As they investigate, a snowstorm hits the place and a dead body turns up. Casey and Eric need to find the killer and end this soon. 

The story comes in Casey’s first-person POV in the present tense. 

So, I read my reviews for the previous three books before I wrote this review. Sadly, I don’t remember much but the inability to connect with Casey continues. 

The premise is cool – an abduction/ assault foiled only for another to happen during a snowstorm. Also, with the FMC being eight months pregnant, there are more limitations to the already restricted setting. 

Sadly, this time around, I didn’t feel the charm of the place. Winter is my favorite season, so I should have loved the setting. A few scenes searching in the woods with Storm were great. For the rest, the charm seems to have worn off. 

Storm is a darling, my constant and only favorite in the series. A wee kid appears for half a page and creates a mini-storm, lol. 

This time around, only the prologue is a different character’s third-person POV. The rest was Casey, which, unfortunately, didn’t do her any favor. Being in her head wasn’t entertaining, TBH. She sounded borderline whiny at times and would overthink issues that didn’t need so much ‘moral dilemma’. 

I know idealism appeals to us. It helps to an extent and encourages discussions. However, letting the main character veer into naïve and stupid territory isn’t a good idea, especially when she has experience in dealing with the worst kind of people. 

The mystery is actually good. I like most of it and the arguments around it. Sebastian turns out to be another favorite character! 

However, what I didn’t want had happened in the climax. I kept an eye on the % and pretty much knew how things would develop. Nope, not happy with that. I can see the appeal. It’ll keep readers on the edge of the seat; all that tension! But… for me, it was unnecessary and made the FMC appear as someone who likes to play a hero irrespective of the cost. I don’t look for realism in thrillers (or even in cozy mysteries) but maybe this one time, a toned-down version might have had a greater appeal. 

At least the ending is good. There’s proper closure and a happy (cute) development with some lighthearted scenes. 

To summarize, Cold as Hell has a great premise and will appeal to a lot of readers, though I’m a bit of an outliner. I recommend reading the books in order as this won’t be good as a standalone (if I say this, then you have to take it seriously). 

Thank you, NetGalley and St Martin’s (Minotaur Books), for eARC. This review is voluntary and contains my honest opinion about the book. 

#NetGalley 

 4 Stars

One Liner: Sweet and hopeful

 Luke has been struggling with just about everything since the death of his wife, Helen. Handling their six-year-old daughter, Amy has been another uphill task. If only, he could have Helen near him again. 

Connie’s relationship with her mum was one of the best. Her mum was her friend, housemate, and a cheerleader. Connie is devastated by the death of her mother and would do anything to speak to her once again. 

Teen twins, Lucy and Alex, miss their dad terribly but cannot express it. 

As their paths cross at a Bereavement Café, a cozy little place in Dublin, they meet a person who might make their dreams come true. 

The story comes in the third-person POV of Connie, Luke, and Lucasta. 

Though the book deals with the grief of losing a loved one, it has many lighthearted moments that balance out the heaviness. 

The pacing is steady almost throughout. Moreover, the narrative shifts between the three tracks with ease. The limited third-person POV helps as it is easier to go with the change (compared to first-person POV). 

The impact of losing a loved one comes across clearly in Luke and Connie’s tracks. Little Amy made me sad and happy. Luke’s work-life balance and Connie’s frustration about her job are realistic and thought-provoking. 

Of course, I happily disliked the characters I was supposed to hate. The other characters like Stella, Phoebe, and Will were good and did their bit to support the plotline. 

Since the official blurb mentions Lucy and Alex, I thought their track would be just as detailed as the others. Turns out, that’s not the case. They get some attention but not enough to be mentioned in the blurb. 

Lucasta is a key character – eccentric, straightforward successful, and kindhearted. While I could see her side, I could also feel for her assistant. The resolution of their track is well done. 

Though there are hints of love, there is no romance. The focus firmly stays on the central theme. I appreciate it a lot. Even the epilogue is just right – hopeful for a happy future but at their own pace. After all, we cannot rush through the grieving process.  

To summarize, Remember, I Love You is a story that’ll make you a wee bit sad but also feel happy and hopeful for the characters. The concept of Bereavement Café is beautiful (there are quite a few branches in and around the UK). 

Thank you, Rachel's Random Resources and Boldwood Books, for eARC. This review is voluntary and contains my honest opinion about the book. 

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 3.3 Stars

Andi (Andromeda) Glover has spent her life breathing books. With unconventional parents who live on a bus and travel for a living (successful though), she wants nothing more than a stable home. With no proper education, Andi has trouble finding jobs. 

However, when she gets a chance to catalog books in Templewood Hall’s library, she is determined to turn her life into a bookish story. A gothic house with an eccentric lady owner and her enigmatic son Hugo is sure to give Andi her HEA, isn’t it? 

However, Andi soon realizes that life doesn’t follow bookish tropes. And the odd sounds in the house might turn her life from classic romance to horror. Amidst the confusion, can she trust the gardener who appears and disappears at will? 

The story comes in Andi’s first-person POV. 

Like the author’s previous book, this too is set in Yorkshire. However, most of it takes place in Templewood Hall. 

The descriptions are cool and some metaphors (food-related) were amusing. The overall tone had dry humor which made the book rather a funny read. At no point did I feel scared (I don’t think I was supposed to anyway). 

Andi is a quirky protag and not always easy to like. However, her characterization is true to her arc. She lives bookish dreams and wants to align her life to follow some romantic novel but doesn’t succeed. She can be whiny and repetitive (especially about her sister) but we can see her frustration. She just wants a stable and loving home. 

There is some romance, though the book is mainly about Andi growing up and realizing life cannot be fiction. There’s a bit of ‘searching for a lost object’ which doesn’t go anywhere in the first half. 

The side characters are okay. My favorite is the cat addressed as The Master (no one dares call him by his name which is not revealed). The cat had more personality than most of the characters, followed by Lady Tanith (whose development comes a little too late). However, I appreciate that one of them is partially deaf and it is woven into the narrative. 

The middle feels repetitive and boring. In the last quarter has decent progress. There are two major twists (reveals). Both are handled well and don’t seem odd or unrealistic. The second one was easy to guess due to a random dialogue by a character. 

The ending is HFN with no epilogue. I would have liked a short epilogue set a year later or so. It might have enhanced the storyline. 

To summarize, Happily Ever After is a timepass read with some useful themes but is pretty much a surface-level story. I like it okay, though I did like the author’s previous book better. 

Thank you, NetGalley, and Boldwood Books, for eARC. This review is voluntary and contains my honest opinion about the book. 

#NetGalley #HappilyEverAfter 

 3.8 Stars 

Connie Llewelyn was a successful and ambitious but unhappy Michelin-star chef in London. A random restless drive took her to Starshine Cove and changed her life forever. 

Twenty-five years later, Connie is warm, loving, and the go-to person in the magical town. However, she is trying hard to stay positive after her husband’s death five years ago and her children leaving home for studies. 

A face from the past enters her life unexpectedly and soon steps into her world in the town. Connie is torn about meeting Zack again but can’t deny the attraction. Will she get a second chance at love? 

The story comes in Connie’s first-person POV in the present tense. 

The FMC has played a moderate to crucial role in all the previous books. Now, it’s her turn to find some love. 

As the fourth book in the series, this can work as a standalone but will have spoilers for the couples from previous books. Reading at least one of those will give you a better idea of Connie’s character. 

The book starts in the past, providing us a quick rundown of Connie’s past and how she arrived at Starshine Cove. This gives a comparison between her past and present and shows how she has changed (but retained some of her core traits). 

Set in spring, we get some lovely descriptions of the town’s beauty in the season. As always, the community vibe is strong with people supporting and helping each other. 

The teens and new adults are quirky, silly, fun, and loveable. They add much lightness to the plot and are adorable even when annoying their elders. 

Being a small book (250+ pages), the story moves fast. This is still okay as the couple has a teeny history and spends some time together as friends in the present. 

I like the discussions about mourning spouses, moving on, putting children first, and the changes that happen over time. Also, things are kept a bit realistic about age-related aspects (menopause, weak bladder, body pains, etc.). 

There’s some angst and lack of communication but I like how it’s dealt with. The FMC’s arc pulls it off, and the reveal presents another dilemma. It’s age-appropriate for them (or so I felt). There’s a happy ending, of course. 

To summarize, Starting Over in Starshine Cove is a heartwarming story about finding love again and being hopeful about the uncertain future. 

Thank you, NetGalley and Storm Publishing, for eARC. This review is voluntary and contains my honest opinion about the book. 

#NetGalley #StartingOverInStarshineCove 

 2.7 Stars

Every time, Maddy thinks she found the one and takes things with them into the bedroom, she blanks out and goes into the future. There, she sees herself with the guy ten years down the lane. Let’s just say, these little glimpses are enough to make her run and not look back. 

However, Maddy meets Oliver and sees a happy and beautiful future with him… but only if she breaks his heart now. Should Maddy destroy her present for a future she sees? 

The story comes in Maddy’s first-person POV in different timelines (neatly marked). 

Well, no way I can resist a premise like this! I’ve read one book by the author and liked it. However, it also made me expect a certain writing style and not finding it here took a while to get used to. 

Since the FMC is twenty-six, she is clearly not mature enough for a heavier writing style. In that sense, the overall vibe fits the characters perfectly. The narration is also fast-paced in the first half. 

The concept of blanking out into the future is well done. There’s no confusion at any point. Moreover, it doesn’t feel awkward or give us too many details. Even the intimate scenes fade out. 

Priya surely added some charm to the book (Priya and Anushka seem be to the most popular Indian names used by Western authors, lol). She is a good friend despite the theatrics (Maddy is an actor but Priya excels in drama). I think her track is much better than the central plot though we don’t get a lot of information. 

The subplot involving the stepbrother’s condition is touching and adds much-needed depth to the plot. I also like that it is kept realistic. I like the kid too. His emotions feel real, making me want to give him a hug. 

The uncertainties and difficulties of being a struggling actor are very well presented. Since both main characters are in the same field, their discussions are meaningful and helpful. Rooting for their career success is easy (even if I couldn’t root for their love life). 

The MMC is pretty decent. However, my major issue is that I couldn’t feel/ connect with their relationship at any point. It’s hard to feel their emotions or the love they have for each other. 

Some of Maddy’s decisions aren’t good/ respectful, considering how much she seems to like the guy. In fact, I don’t like quite a few of her decisions. And to think the guy feels he is lucky to have her. If only he knew the truth! 

My issue is the FMC. While it makes sense for her to act immature, her decisions tend to be stupid as well. There’s no other word for it. Though the premise makes it clear a breakup is necessary, the reasons and the whole thought process around it are… annoying. As much as I understand the need to control whatever we can of our future, the FMC spends almost all her time letting the future dictate her actions rather than trying to change the future by taking control of her present. The concept of free will is important in astrology, tarot reading, etc. There are no guarantees even if some people insist otherwise. 

Even if I let this go, the ending is so dissatisfying! I mean, why would you give it such a strange development and end it like that? It feels like a rushed attempt to conclude the story somehow or a sudden switch to lit-fic style ending when the rest is women’s fic. I wish it was better handled.  

To summarize, The Many Futures of Maddy Hart has an irresistible premise and a few worthy themes but it didn’t work for me. This is more of a me problem, so please check other reviews before you decide. 

Thank you, NetGalley and Boldwood Books, for eARC. This review is voluntary and contains my honest opinion about the book. 

#NetGalley #TheManyFuturesOfMaddyHart 

 3.5 Stars

DI Georgina ‘George’ Lennox is back in action after an accident. Partnering with Richard ‘Richie’ Stewart, she arrives at Eilean Eadar, a tiny remote Scottish island in the Atlantic Ocean, to investigate the death of one of the residents. 

 It’s supposed to be a simple case but George’s instincts tell her there’s more to it than what meets the eye. The islanders are hostile, the priest is too nosy, and strange events seem to occur, straight out of the local legend. Richie just wants to close the case and go home but George is adamant. With dark secrets enveloping them from all sides, can the duo solve the case? 

The story comes in George’s third-person POV in the present tense. 

With a lighthouse on the cover and an atmospheric premise that may or may not have a paranormal touch, I knew I had to read this one. 

Though the book is centered on a police investigation it is not a police procedural. It’s more of a slow-burn suspense where things go in circles in the first half and the action takes place in the last quarter. 

I like that the detective duo doesn’t have a romantic track. In fact, the age gap makes it an almost student-teacher or guardian-ward relationship. NGL, I like Riche a lot more than George. George has a large chip on her shoulder, and with a hazy backstory, it’s hard to see why she is that way. For a standalone, this doesn’t do her any favors. Now, if the book is supposedly the first in a series, it might work. I can’t find any information on this, though. 

The mystery is supposed to be simple. Was the death a suicide or murder? However, the investigation takes place on an island with a close-knit community, so the progress is almost zero until the last quarter when a lot happens. This further affects the pacing. 

The setting is atmospheric – darkish, dangerous, and heavy with rains and storms that add to the pressure. There’s a sort of paranormal thing but it is not either. Such stuff doesn’t work for me. Decide whether or not you want it! 

We also see pagan vs. Christian or pagan plus Christian thingy but that’s not fully there either. I mean, the island has a Catholic church (which is the largest building). As with converted cultures, they continue to follow a few pagan practices and create a strange blend of both religions. This aspect has great potential but it has not been explored fully. 

In a way, the dark side of a small community has been captured well. It may also feel a bit too stereotypical but that’s the plotline. 

The ending is decent and feels a lot like there’s more to come. I wish we knew if there would be another book. The mystery is resolved but the central track with George has unanswered questions. 

To summarize, The Wolf Tree has an intriguing premise and an atmospheric setting. How you like the book depends on how much you like the main character and the slow-burn narration. 

Thank you, NetGalley, and PENGUIN GROUP Putnam (G.P. Putnam's Sons), for eARC. This review is voluntary and contains my honest opinion about the book. 

#NetGalley #TheWolfTree 

 2.7 Stars 

No one expected Albert Franklynn to die in an accident. His wife Sylvie is shocked. However, nothing prepares her to find the truth of her husband’s life. When two other women come claiming to be his wives (unknown to each other), they can’t help but wonder how Albert managed to lead three lives separately. 

Soon, the police find out his death is likely a murder. Sylvie and her friend-cum-business partner, Liz, along with Albert’s other widow decide to get to the bottom of the issue. What else was Albert hiding? 

The story comes in the third-person POV. 

This is the first book in the series and is set in Monksworthy, a (fictional) village in Wye Valley, England. 

We are introduced to the main characters at the beginning through individual chapters. Then, the rest of the book has POVs jumping from one character to another. It’s a mix of omnipresent and limited third-person. 

After the first 15%, I realized I might enjoy this better if I increased the reading pace a bit. That helped. Something about the narration doesn’t make it as enjoyable as it should be. There’s a lot of tell (which doesn’t always bother me), making it hard to feel the vibe of the place and the characters. 

That said, the main characters are easy enough to distinguish from one another. A couple of things feel OTT. Not sure if it is for humor because I didn’t find them funny. 

Things take a turn midway through. A surprising development but it kinda makes sense. While the official police are supposed to do very little in cozy mysteries, they seem to do almost nothing here. 

The climax wasn’t well executed. For all the build-up we get until then, the actual scene is over in a page or so. After that, there’s just one mention of it. This is unsatisfying to a reader who wants to know more about the killer and their backstory (or at least a few other details). 

The title suits the book, though that aspect has also been underexplored. Most of the time, it’s the women trying to sleuth and being successful without any trouble. A bit too easy and a few coincidences dilute the feel. 

Nevertheless, the book ends with a detailed glossary of British words (for US readers) listed in alphabetical order. This is an extensive list! It could be useful elsewhere too. Save a copy of the glossary if you read this book. 

To summarize, Death of a Ghostwriter is the first book in a new cozy mystery series with an intriguing premise. The execution could have been a lot better, though. It wasn’t bad, but it wasn’t great either. 

Thank you, NetGalley and Joffe Books, for eARC. This review is voluntary and contains my honest opinion about the book. 

#NetGalley #DeathOfAGhostwriter