thelovelylibrarylady's Reviews (1.1k)

I probably should have put this book down after the first few chapters when I realized it wasn’t working for me. However, I continued with the story in hopes that it would get better. It did not. While The Wicked Unseen is a quick read, it is not one that I would recommend picking up due to its unrealistic plot and boring cast of characters. 

(PUB DATE: 06/20/2023)

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

The world will be a better place once this book is in it. Ander and Santi Were Here is a YA contemporary fiction book that highlights the power of love in all forms. All of the characters, big and small, were well developed and I felt a personal connection with each one. When they succeeded, I was happy. When they faced hardship, I cried along with them. Readers of all backgrounds should pick up this book and every YA section in schools and libraries should carry this title. I hope Ander and Santi Were Here receives the hype it deserves and gets into the hands of the readers who need it most. 

(PUB DATE: 04/04/2023)

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

After seeing this title all over my social media feeds, I decided to give Happy and You Know It a try. Unfortunately, I didn’t seem to love it as much as everyone else did. While I did enjoy the author’s writing style, the story itself was just too over-the-top for me. Maybe it’s because of my age and not being able to relate to the satirical commentary about mommy bloggers/baby groups. Whatever the reason, Happy and You Know It ended up being a pretty mediocre read for me. 

While Three Drops of Blood kept my attention, the story itself was a little choppy. After finishing this title, I read some reviews from other readers and many of them said this book felt like “two books smooshed into one”. There is honestly no better way to describe how I felt about this story. With that being said, there were some major twists and turns that I did not see coming. I appreciated these jaw-dropping moments McNeil added to the book and would probably read another title from her solely because of them. 

(PUB DATE: 03/21/2023) 

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

The Monsters We Defy is a novel that is completely out of my comfort zone. I am not a huge fantasy reader, but I think I may have found a subgenre that works for me: historical fantasy. This novel is set in Washington D.C. during the 1920s and centers on a heist to steal a ring with powers rooted in African folklore. While The Monsters We Defy is not something I would usually pick up, I am glad I did. I was captivated by both the plot and the author’s beautiful writing. I would be interested in reading more novels from this genre so if you have any recommendations, please send them my way! 

I have rediscovered my love for cozy mysteries this year. To help me remember to read more from this recent comfort genre, I have joined the Cozy Mysteries Challenge and this title was their March book pick. I really liked Lana Lee, the protagonist of this story, and her loved ones. Chien, the author, did a fantastic job with making all of the characters, big and small, well-rounded and distinct. While there were a lot of people to keep track of, I didn’t struggle keeping them all straight due to their big personalities. I will probably continue this series both because of how much I enjoyed the first book and to satisfy my curiosity about what is next for Lana and her love interest that she meets in Death by Dumpling.  

I think I am over thrillers set at summer camps for a while. I have read a handful in the last few years and they have all started to blend together in my mind. The Counselors was not a bad read by any means, but it just wasn’t super exciting or original. My three-star rating is an “it's not you, it's me” situation. If the blurb sounds good to you, go ahead and try this one. I just need a break from this very specific type of book. 

While this book has been out for two years already, I don’t think it has gotten the recognition it deserves yet. The Girls I’ve Been is a twisty thriller with an action-packed plot that I simply did not want to put down. I was completely enthralled by the protagonist, Nora, and her life. Sharpe, the author, did a wonderful job developing this character while also creating suspense throughout the story. I highly recommend adding this backlist YA thriller to your reading list!