thelovelylibrarylady's Reviews (1.1k)

I really didn't like Holes, the author, by the end of this book. While I can't deny his dedication to getting justice for crime victims and their families, he just comes across as very arrogant at times. I do commend him for being truthful about the issues in his personal life in this memoir, but I would be lying if I said it didn't solidify my negative opinions about him. True crime fans, especially ones captivated by the Golden State Killer cases, should pick this one up as the author's work was a big reason why he was eventually caught and found guilty. 

I don't read a lot of paranormal romance so I was hesitant when I first picked up The Dead Romantics. However, it did not take long for Poston's writing and character development to win me over. All the characters, not just the protagonist, were lovable and I was truly rooting for everyone to get the happy endings they deserved. I will definitely be keeping an eye on this author and reading whatever she publishes next. 
(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.)

This is the second book I have read by McQuiston and I just haven't connected to or loved them like I feel everyone else has. Their writing gives me strong John Green vibes, and not in a good way. This title specifically felt very unrealistic and I think it is time for me to admit that I am just not a fan of this author's writing. Obviously, I am in the minority here and I know many people, including my boyfriend's sister, who loved this book and the rest of McQuiston's backlist so take this review with a grain of salt. 
(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.)

Twice a Quinceañeara was a cute romcom, but I had a really difficult time "getting into it". It got to the point where I was forcing myself to open the book and read a chapter before bed. The pacing really picked up and it became less of a chore to read around the halfway point, but that is still half of the book I didn't like. I adored Nadia's family and they truly saved this title from a lower rating. Unless you are a hardcore romance fan, I wouldn't recommend reading this one.
(PUB DATE: AVAILABLE NOW)
(I received an audio recording and digital copy of this book from NetGalley in exchange for an honest review. All opinions expressed above are my own.)

I absolutely loved this book. More After The Break is a strong contender to be my favorite nonfiction read of the year and everyone, no matter their reading preferences, should read it. Jen Maxfield, the author, is a news correspondent for NBC 4 New York. In this book, she "returns" to ten stories that she has reported on during her career, some of which were local to New York and some that were not, to see where the people impacted by these events were now. People are unexpectedly thrown into the spotlight during a tragedy and this title serves as a reminder that they are humans with real lives which keep going after the news crews leave. Maxfield also shines a light on how reporting can help people during a crisis and how this profession serves the public every single day. This is an important book that I truly enjoyed.
(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.)

While I have read titles from this author before, I was completely blown away by Lavender House. It is unlike anything else that Rosen has written, but that does not mean the fans of his previous work will not like this title. In fact, I think this book will only grow that fan base larger. As a queer, historical, murder mystery, this novel will appeal to many different kinds of readers and I cannot recommend that you pick up this title enough when it is officially published later this year. 
(PUB DATE: 10/18/2022)
(I received a digital copy of this book from NetGalley in exchange for an honest review. All opinions expressed above are my own.)

I highly recommend checking out this graphic memoir if you have or love somebody who has depression and anxiety. The illustrations are absolutely stunning and I truly saw myself in some of the scenarios she depicts throughout the story. I am so grateful I was able to review this title before its publication and think that it would make a great addition to any library's collection as it depicts mental health so honestly. 
(PUB DATE: 09/27/2022)
(I received a digital copy of this book from NetGalley in exchange for an honest review. All opinions expressed above are my own.)

While I thought this was a good story, I did not like either of the love interests. They were both insufferable and I honestly did not care about them working out their issues in this second-chance romance. It was also a little steamier than I thought it would be, but no complaints there!
(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.)

While I don't read a lot of historical fiction, I decided to give The Seamstress of New Orleans a try because of its beautiful cover and where the story is set. My grandparents used to live in New Orleans and I always enjoyed visiting them there. I thought that reading a book set in the city (especially during Mardi Gras) would be fun! Overall, this novel turned out to be just okay. The big "plot twist" is extremely predictable and it takes forever for Alice and Constance, the protagonists, to figure it out for themselves. I would recommend this title to fans of historical fiction and stories that feature strong, independent female characters. 
(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.)