thelovelylibrarylady's Reviews (1.1k)

I connected with a few of the poems in this collection, but I found most to be cringey. Girl Made Of Glass is a good example of “Instagram poetry” as the verses were short, easy to decipher, and very “postable”. I have no interest in reading more from this author as this collection was just okay. 

(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.)

OKAY. I now understand the hype around Jessica Joyce. This title is a ridiculously cute romance that made me cry. Georgia and Eli, the love interests, had top-notch banter and serious chemistry. Joyce sold me on their romance and the fact that they were meant to be. If you enjoy a second-chance or forced-proximity romance, The Ex Vows is one book that you will not want to miss. 

(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 had high hopes for this one as I have been on a historical fiction kick recently and have always enjoyed stories that amplify queer experiences. While the prose was beautiful, Last Night At The Telegraph Club, lacked focus. I did not understand the author’s choice to include the chapters from the perspective of the parents and the high number of social issues - including homophobia, racism, immigration, the rise of Communism, and Asian-American-specific cultural experiences - made the story feel murky.

As someone getting married in Newport, RI this year, I knew I had to read this novel when I saw the blurb. While my wedding will be nothing like the one featured in The Wedding People, it was fun to read scenes set in Newport’s most iconic places. Espach did a fantastic job developing her characters and their relationships throughout the story. I truly was sad when this book ended - not because it necessarily had a sad ending, but because I could have easily spent many more chapters with this cast. 

(PUB DATE: 07/29/2024)

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

Lady Windermere’s Fan is a clever play that pokes fun at English society. I am a little embarrassed to admit that I did not know how many iconic Wilde quotations came from this piece. My favorite is “In this world there are only two tragedies. One is not getting what one wants, and the other is getting it”. I would love to read more plays written by Wilde soon! 

What can’t Emily Henry do? Seriously, it should be illegal to write books this well. Once again, Henry stole my heart with her latest romance. Daphne and Miles are both flawed characters who you can’t help but love and root for throughout the story. I also loved the strong female friendships highlighted in this title. If you are wavering about reading this title or have not yet read one of Henry’s books, what are you waiting for? DO IT!
(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.)

The September House is a slow burn that makes you think you understand what is happening until you quickly realize that you don’t. If you are a fan of the haunted house trope, this is a book you won’t want to miss! A huge shoutout to Orlando for her descriptions of the house and her ability to lead readers astray. 

(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.)

As a romance, The Break-Up Pact left me underwhelmed. There was a lot of miscommunication and indecision between the love interests, making me question whether they really were “meant to be”. While I didn’t buy the romance, I fell for the setting. Lord’s descriptions of the beach town where this book takes place were beautiful, saving this title from being a total flop. 

(PUB DATE: 08/13/2024)

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

While fake dating isn’t my favorite trope, I really enjoyed it in this story. Micciche’s writing was hilarious, and her development of the protagonists was awe-inspiring. Cecily and Nate’s love story was a rocky one, but I appreciated how they approached their challenges with maturity. I will be keeping my eyes open for Micciche’s next book as I just loved this title. 

(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 randomly borrowed this title from my library because I was looking for a shorter read and was delightfully surprised by how funny this title was! I loved the idea of the Queen of England getting so into her reading that she starts to neglect her royal duties. This novella highlights the importance of reading and how the act of reading is political at its core.