thelovelylibrarylady's Reviews (1.1k)

Sing Her Down lived up to its advertisement as a modern-day, feminist western. The characters were all morally-gray (even Lobos, the detective) and the plot was captivating. Many critiques of this book are about its slow start. I agree that it is a title that takes a few chapters to get into, but once you’re in, it’s hard to put down. 

(PUB DATE: AVAILABLE NOW)

(I received a digital copy of this book from NetGalley in exchange for an honest review. All opinions expressed above are my own.)

Death On The Nile may be my new favorite book from Christie. I loved the characters, the plot, and, as always, Poirot solved the mystery way before I did. This title is special as it is mainly set in Egypt. Christie succeeds in writing atmospheric descriptions of the country, making readers feel like they are also on the boat. I cannot wait to watch the recent movie adaptation soon!

Rowley has a talent for making readers belly-laugh on one page and sob on the next. His talent to provoke such emotions can be credited to his ability to write well-rounded characters with complicated lives. If you enjoyed The Guncle (Rowley’s most popular book), I encourage you to read this book as well. Actually, you might as well just read all of Rowley’s books while you’re at it, as they have all been wonderful, and The Celebrants is no exception.

(PUB DATE: AVAILABLE NOW)

(I received an audio recording of this book from NetGalley in exchange for an honest review. All opinions expressed above are my own.)

Meridian is a book that has been on my reading list for years. As someone interested in advocacy work, I have been told that this book “lit the fire” for many people I look up to. Similar to Walker’s most popular title, “The Color Purple"  this novel is straightforward with a noticeable absence of flowery language. This does not mean Meridian is simple, though. A plethora of symbolism can be found throughout the prose, making this title an entertaining read.

Everyone knows I am a huge Fiona Davis fan. If you ask me for a book recommendation and even hint at the fact you like historical fiction, I am going to put her books on your radar. So, it pains me to say that I simply didn’t vibe with her upcoming release. The magic that I have found in other books by Davis was not there. I did not feel a strong connection to Charlotte or Annie, the novel’s protagonists, as I usually do which led to me not caring how their stories ended up. I am sad that this one didn’t work for me, but I will continue to recommend and read Davis’ work due to my immense love of her other titles. 

(PUB DATE: 01/07/2025)

(I received a digital copy of this book from NetGalley in exchange for an honest review. All opinions expressed above are my own.)

This heartwarming graphic novel was beautiful both in illustration and in prose. I loved learning more about lion dancing and seeing how Valentina and Jae’s stories would overlap. The plot was a little over-the-top at times, but that did not bother me! I would love to explore more from this author/illustrator duo. 

A longtime couple, Daphne and Dominic, decide to open up their relationship for one night a year, for five years. However, both parties find that this arrangement comes with some unexpected consequences. I liked Daphne and loved seeing her character development throughout the novel. With that being said, this plot was all over the place and I would have enjoyed this title more with some slight editing. Overall, The Freedom Clause was good, but not great. 

(PUB DATE: AVAILABLE NOW)

(I received a digital copy of this book from NetGalley in exchange for an honest review. All opinions expressed above are my own.)

I am in awe over how beautiful the writing of Blood Water Paint is. While the story is presented in verse, I never felt lost or “out of touch” with the protagonist and her story. I was consumed by this novel and read it in just two sittings. If you are looking for a historical novel with a strong theme of feminism, I recommend giving this title a go!

Benedict always writes the most interesting alternative takes on real-life events. This short story focuses on Ruth, a female pilot and friend of Amelia Earhart. I appreciated how this novella shines a light on the complexities of female friendships and would like to read more from Benedict in the future. 

I could not read this book without thinking about the reality TV show 19 Kids and Counting. No, the protagonist does not have an extensive family, but the exploitation she faced and the motivations of her family are reminiscent of what we now know about the infamous Duggars. While The Book of Essie is a young adult novel, the characters read very young. It may have been Weir’s way of trying to show how the main characters were sheltered, but I thought it detracted from the story as a whole.