thelovelylibrarylady's Reviews (1.1k)

Witchful Thinking is an adorable but predictable novel. I loved the story's setting and thought the author did a fantastic job creating the magical town of Freya Grove. The love interests, Lucy and Alex were also very cute, but the plot itself didn't wow me. I would recommend this title to readers who don't mind predictability and who enjoy books with a little bit of whimsy! 
(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.)

Vladimir was one of my most anticipated releases of the year and I was super disappointed after finishing this title. I was ready for the bold, edgy story that the blurb promised me, but what I actually got was a novel with the most unlikable protagonist and one the worst endings to a book that I have ever read. Some astute commentary that the author tried to include, like challenging society's expectation of monogamy, was ultimately overshadowed by the poor writing choices she made. 

I absolutely loved the four novellas in this title. While they share a common theme of books, each story was completely unique and captivating. Malfi, the author, is obviously a talented writer and I am interested in reading more of his work in the future. I highly recommend this book to others who enjoy horror fiction. 
(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.)

Well, I did it. I gave the author duo that goes by Liv Constantine a second chance. Unfortunately, I disliked this title more than the first book I read from them - the one that put me off their writing originally. I won't be reading any of their other books as there are plenty of other thrillers and mysteries out there for me to read that I think I will enjoy more. While they are a popular team, I find the authors' writing styles to be boring and their storylines to be wildly unbelievable. 

Jokes to Offend Men is a funny, unapologetically honest read. Written by four female comedian writers, this take on a classic joke book was written in response to countless sexist actions and comments they have experienced- some of which were made in an attempt to be funny. Unfortunately, their experiences are universal. Pick this one up so that you can have a laugh, at the expense of the patriarchy for once. 
(PUB DATE: 10/25/2022)
(I received a digital copy of this book from NetGalley in exchange for an honest review. All opinions expressed above are my own.)

As the third book in the Tita Rosie's Kitchen Mystery series, Blackmail and Bibingka was a comforting read for me. That may be a weird way to describe a mystery, but I have become so attached to Lila and her family and friends. I liked this title more than the last book as it wasn't as dark or intense. Manansala has finally figured out the balance of mystery and humor in the cozy mystery genre. Next, she needs to realize it's okay not to bring up EVERY character and event from the previous novels. Sometimes I felt like she included scenes just so certain characters wouldn't be forgotten. Overall, I continue to enjoy the series, but the first book is still my favorite of the bunch. 
(PUB DATE: 10/04/2022)
(I received a digital copy of this book from NetGalley in exchange for an honest review. All opinions expressed above are my own.)

Godfred's poetry is both relatable and accessible to a diverse group of readers. In this collection, the author examines the world pre- and post-pandemic (That feels extremely weird to type as I do not believe the pandemic is actually over, but that is beside the point) through both words and illustrations. Contrasting poems are what Godfred is known for and this concept is present in The Shift as well.  
(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.)

Davis fits a whole world into this story even though it comes together in under forty pages. I'm unsure what I can say about Davis or her writing that I haven't already. She is a master of her craft and I will read literally anything she writes. I thoroughly enjoyed this short story set at the famous Carnegie Hall. (less)

I enjoyed the majority of this book, but the ending made me take off a star from its ultimate rating. It wasn't terrible, but with how creative the rest of the book was, I know Shelton could have done something better. Thirteen Chairs is a short (but spooky!) collection of ghost stories. Each story was completely different and I definitely enjoyed some more than others. "The Red Tree" was by far my favorite story of the bunch. This title would be a fun Halloween read, especially as it isn't too scary or graphic.  

Before picking up this memoir, I had some background knowledge about Sarah McBride. She graduated from the university I attended for my freshman year of college, she worked for the Human Rights Campaign - an organization whose work I admire tremendously, and she made history in 2020 when she was elected to the Delaware State Senate. However, I learned a lot more about Sarah while reading this book. Her vulnerability in this memoir is amazing. She shares her story with the reader beautifully and brings attention to the important social issues that she is passionate about. I highly recommend adding this title to your tbr. It would make a great addition to a "Pride-themed" reading list and/or display, but you don't have to and shouldn't wait until June to read stories of LGBTQ+ leaders.