Scan barcode
eyreibreathe's reviews
369 reviews
Still Life by Louise Penny
3.0
Louise Penny's Inspector Gamache series has long been on my TBR list after hearing such rave reviews, and I finally picked up Still Life. I'm a little torn, to tell you the truth. This, I believe, was my first "cozy mystery", and I found myself loving some aspects of the book while being meh about others. Let's start with the not so good (for me) and end on a positive note, shall we?
The not so good: This book kind of dragged for me. I realize cozy mysteries are slower in pace and not really edge-of-your-seat reads, and I do think with more exposure I'd learn to be okay with this, but I must admit to struggling a bit with this first book. I also had trouble, at least initially, keeping all the characters straight in my head because there were quite a few of them. This did get easier, however.
The good: I absolutely loved the setting of this book! The oh-so-cozy and charming Three Pines had me lingering over warm cups of tea and wishing I could transport myself to this picturesque little community. I also fell in love with the characters. Eccentric and snarky, they felt like my kind of people. And last but not least, I thought the way in which the "whodunnit" was revealed was super creative...I was hooked through those chapters and couldn't wait to see how that all would play out.
Verdict: All in all, I'm happy to have read this book. I think I'll pick up book 2 when winter is in full swing since these books are perfect for snuggly fireside reads. Still Life, for me, was a ⭐⭐⭐
The not so good: This book kind of dragged for me. I realize cozy mysteries are slower in pace and not really edge-of-your-seat reads, and I do think with more exposure I'd learn to be okay with this, but I must admit to struggling a bit with this first book. I also had trouble, at least initially, keeping all the characters straight in my head because there were quite a few of them. This did get easier, however.
The good: I absolutely loved the setting of this book! The oh-so-cozy and charming Three Pines had me lingering over warm cups of tea and wishing I could transport myself to this picturesque little community. I also fell in love with the characters. Eccentric and snarky, they felt like my kind of people. And last but not least, I thought the way in which the "whodunnit" was revealed was super creative...I was hooked through those chapters and couldn't wait to see how that all would play out.
Verdict: All in all, I'm happy to have read this book. I think I'll pick up book 2 when winter is in full swing since these books are perfect for snuggly fireside reads. Still Life, for me, was a ⭐⭐⭐
Big Lies in a Small Town by Diane Chamberlain
4.0
I don't know about you guys, but I am such a mood reader. Lately, I've been craving historical fiction, and I was thrilled when I was approved for this ARC of Diane Chamberlain's upcoming January release, Big Lies in a Small Town. And let me tell you all, it did not disappoint!
The Turn of the Key by Ruth Ware
4.0
"I am the nanny in the Elincourt case, Mr. Wrexham. And I didn't kill that child." Things have gone horribly wrong for Rowan. When she stumbled upon the advert for the job, she couldn't help but be pulled in. A live-in nanny position in beautiful Scotland... and with the cherry of a generous salary on top. She's over the moon when she lands the position, but she soon learns there is something not quite right about Heatherbrae House. A "smart house" where everything is controlled at the touch of a button, where hidden cameras can watch every move...a house that is said to be haunted. And now a child is dead, and Rowan is being held for murder.
Ruth Ware's latest novel, The Turn of the Key, had me hooked almost immediately. Deliciously creepy and darkly atmospheric, it summoned up memories of whispering ghost stories in the dark on long-ago nights. It gave me the same chill, the same eerie foreboding as Ware dropped little snippets of foreshadowing at a perfect pace. I also loved how this book was written in the form of a letter to a lawyer, Rowan desperate for him to take up her case. The fact she was building the story slowly in a letter, a means of communication that would usually be much more concise, gave me the sense that there had to be a reason to all this slow-building detail - a feeling that every layer was important and must culminate in one explosiveness outcome, which made the book all the more compulsive. I just HAD to find out where it all led! Sure enough, it was a twisty ride, and I couldn't get enough. The reason this was a 4-star read for me rather than a 5 - and I'm going to keep this vague so as not to give anything away - is because there are a few details that didn't get resolved, and it left me hanging a little. All in all, though, it was a an addictively good read, and I will be recommending it.
Merged review:
"I am the nanny in the Elincourt case, Mr. Wrexham. And I didn't kill that child." Things have gone horribly wrong for Rowan. When she stumbled upon the advert for the job, she couldn't help but be pulled in. A live-in nanny position in beautiful Scotland... and with the cherry of a generous salary on top. She's over the moon when she lands the position, but she soon learns there is something not quite right about Heatherbrae House. A "smart house" where everything is controlled at the touch of a button, where hidden cameras can watch every move...a house that is said to be haunted. And now a child is dead, and Rowan is being held for murder.
Ruth Ware's latest novel, The Turn of the Key, had me hooked almost immediately. Wonderfully creepy and darkly atmospheric, it summoned up memories of whispering ghost stories in the dark on long-ago nights. It gave me the same chill, the same eerie foreboding as Ware dropped little snippets of foreshadowing at a perfect pace. I also loved how this book was written in the form of a letter to a lawyer, Rowan desperate for him to take up her case. The fact she was building the story slowly in a letter, a means of communication that would usually be much more concise, gave me the sense that there had to be a reason to all this slow-building detail - a feeling that every layer was important and must culminate in one explosiveness outcome, which made the book all the more compulsive. I just HAD to find out where it all led! Sure enough, it was a twisty ride, and I couldn't get enough. The reason this was a 4-star read for me rather than a 5 - and I'm going to keep this vague so as not to give anything away - is because there are a few details that didn't get resolved, and it left me hanging a little. All in all, though, it was a an addictively good read. A big thank you to NetGalley for this ARC!
Ruth Ware's latest novel, The Turn of the Key, had me hooked almost immediately. Deliciously creepy and darkly atmospheric, it summoned up memories of whispering ghost stories in the dark on long-ago nights. It gave me the same chill, the same eerie foreboding as Ware dropped little snippets of foreshadowing at a perfect pace. I also loved how this book was written in the form of a letter to a lawyer, Rowan desperate for him to take up her case. The fact she was building the story slowly in a letter, a means of communication that would usually be much more concise, gave me the sense that there had to be a reason to all this slow-building detail - a feeling that every layer was important and must culminate in one explosiveness outcome, which made the book all the more compulsive. I just HAD to find out where it all led! Sure enough, it was a twisty ride, and I couldn't get enough. The reason this was a 4-star read for me rather than a 5 - and I'm going to keep this vague so as not to give anything away - is because there are a few details that didn't get resolved, and it left me hanging a little. All in all, though, it was a an addictively good read, and I will be recommending it.
Merged review:
"I am the nanny in the Elincourt case, Mr. Wrexham. And I didn't kill that child." Things have gone horribly wrong for Rowan. When she stumbled upon the advert for the job, she couldn't help but be pulled in. A live-in nanny position in beautiful Scotland... and with the cherry of a generous salary on top. She's over the moon when she lands the position, but she soon learns there is something not quite right about Heatherbrae House. A "smart house" where everything is controlled at the touch of a button, where hidden cameras can watch every move...a house that is said to be haunted. And now a child is dead, and Rowan is being held for murder.
Ruth Ware's latest novel, The Turn of the Key, had me hooked almost immediately. Wonderfully creepy and darkly atmospheric, it summoned up memories of whispering ghost stories in the dark on long-ago nights. It gave me the same chill, the same eerie foreboding as Ware dropped little snippets of foreshadowing at a perfect pace. I also loved how this book was written in the form of a letter to a lawyer, Rowan desperate for him to take up her case. The fact she was building the story slowly in a letter, a means of communication that would usually be much more concise, gave me the sense that there had to be a reason to all this slow-building detail - a feeling that every layer was important and must culminate in one explosiveness outcome, which made the book all the more compulsive. I just HAD to find out where it all led! Sure enough, it was a twisty ride, and I couldn't get enough. The reason this was a 4-star read for me rather than a 5 - and I'm going to keep this vague so as not to give anything away - is because there are a few details that didn't get resolved, and it left me hanging a little. All in all, though, it was a an addictively good read. A big thank you to NetGalley for this ARC!
The Giver of Stars by Jojo Moyes
3.0
I have a confession. I have written and rewritten this review umpteen times, trying not to sound so critical, and I'm still not happy with how negative it sounds. I don't like being negative, especially when an author has poured her heart and soul into writing a book, so if you stick around, I promise I'll end on a good note.
As readers, we're all different, and we approach books with varying expectations whether that be a good thing or a not so good thing. Suffice it to say, I sadly did not love this book. As I was reading, I kept having the same internal dialogue over and again: "This is an amazing, book-lovers-dream story. So WHY am I not loving it?!" I never could connect with The Giver of Stars, and I think it's because I saw an opportunity for rich storytelling, a depth in characterization, and a setting that pops off the page. What I personally ended up experiencing as a reader, though, was very different. I found the story captivating, but it too often veered into cheesy because of how the characters were written. To me, the characters felt more like stereotypes and caricatures than real people, and I also often felt like the writing of fierce, independent women characters was exaggerated to the point of feeling artificial... like they were trying too hard to be tough. Lastly, the setting never really came alive for me, and I never had the feeling of being immersed in the story. All these elements worked together to make this book a little too fluffy and unbelievable. Again, this is just my personal opinion, and looking at others' reactions, I'm definitely in the minority on this one.
Ouch! That sounded a little harsh.
As readers, we're all different, and we approach books with varying expectations whether that be a good thing or a not so good thing. Suffice it to say, I sadly did not love this book. As I was reading, I kept having the same internal dialogue over and again: "This is an amazing, book-lovers-dream story. So WHY am I not loving it?!" I never could connect with The Giver of Stars, and I think it's because I saw an opportunity for rich storytelling, a depth in characterization, and a setting that pops off the page. What I personally ended up experiencing as a reader, though, was very different. I found the story captivating, but it too often veered into cheesy because of how the characters were written. To me, the characters felt more like stereotypes and caricatures than real people, and I also often felt like the writing of fierce, independent women characters was exaggerated to the point of feeling artificial... like they were trying too hard to be tough. Lastly, the setting never really came alive for me, and I never had the feeling of being immersed in the story. All these elements worked together to make this book a little too fluffy and unbelievable. Again, this is just my personal opinion, and looking at others' reactions, I'm definitely in the minority on this one.
Ouch! That sounded a little harsh.
The Bookish Life of Nina Hill by Abbi Waxman
I picked this book up in the middle of a book slump, and it was just what I needed. What's not to love?!
✅ A total book nerd, working in a bookstore, with book references galore? Yes please!
✅ A heroine who is anxiety-ridden, awkward, and completely charming...
✅ Conversations between Nina and her cat...because, really, who doesn't have full-blown conversations with their meow? I know I do.
✅ Plenty of laugh out loud moments to make passersby raise their eyebrows and question your sanity
This was such a fun, light read, and one I found myself relating to over and over.
3.0
I picked this book up in the middle of a book slump, and it was just what I needed. What's not to love?!
✅ A total book nerd, working in a bookstore, with book references galore? Yes please!
✅ A heroine who is anxiety-ridden, awkward, and completely charming...
✅ Conversations between Nina and her cat...because, really, who doesn't have full-blown conversations with their meow? I know I do.
✅ Plenty of laugh out loud moments to make passersby raise their eyebrows and question your sanity
This was such a fun, light read, and one I found myself relating to over and over.
How to Walk Away by Katherine Center
3.0
Things are finally falling into place for Margaret Jacobsen. She just landed her dream job, and she is newly engaged to Chip, her longtime boyfriend. But on what should have been one of the happiest days of her life, her world comes suddenly crashing down, and nothing will ever be the same again. Now it's up to Margaret to find a strength that seems impossible and to find the answer to an unexpected dilemma. Should she marry Chip? She had thought he was the great love of her life, but at the moment she needs support more than ever, he has been very absent. Heck, even Ian, her cute Scottish physical therapist has been more supportive of her, despite the distant and tough exterior he presents....and the more she peels back these layers, the more she begins to look at him with new eyes.
After loving Things You Save in a Fire so much, I immediately picked up How to Walk Away. I'm finding that I really like Katherine Center's style of writing. It's at once light and reflective. Because this story unfolded a little more slowly, I really got to be submerged into what Margaret was going through. I felt compassion for her as she was coming to terms with an impossible situation and simultaneously grappling with a big decision and dealing with family drama. I liked the different relationship dynamics in this book and all the complicated emotions that are so true-to-life. It made the story all the more relatable. I again loved the witty banter between characters. Katherine Center really has a knack for writing fun, laugh-out-loud conversations that make it impossible to put a book down. Then there was the slow-building romance...it was tender and sweet, and the fact that it was slow to build added a depth to it. I can't wait to get my hands on more of Center's books in the future. This was a ⭐⭐⭐⭐ for me.
After loving Things You Save in a Fire so much, I immediately picked up How to Walk Away. I'm finding that I really like Katherine Center's style of writing. It's at once light and reflective. Because this story unfolded a little more slowly, I really got to be submerged into what Margaret was going through. I felt compassion for her as she was coming to terms with an impossible situation and simultaneously grappling with a big decision and dealing with family drama. I liked the different relationship dynamics in this book and all the complicated emotions that are so true-to-life. It made the story all the more relatable. I again loved the witty banter between characters. Katherine Center really has a knack for writing fun, laugh-out-loud conversations that make it impossible to put a book down. Then there was the slow-building romance...it was tender and sweet, and the fact that it was slow to build added a depth to it. I can't wait to get my hands on more of Center's books in the future. This was a ⭐⭐⭐⭐ for me.
Calling Me Home by Julie Kibler
3.0
Eighty-nine-year-old Isabelle has a surprising request to make of her hairdresser Dorrie. She wants her to drive her from their hometown in Texas to Cincinnati in order to attend a funeral. What follows is the story of two unlikely friends embarking on a long journey together - Isabelle being an elderly white lady, Dorrie being an African American single-mom. The long roadtrip will prove to be a journey in more ways than one as Isabelle's surprising past comes to light and as we discover what lies on the other side for them in Cincinnati. Through the weaving of this story, Dorrie will gain the wisdom and insight she needs in order to walk her own rough path.
This book gave me all the feels as it moved between past and present. It tells the story of forbidden love between Isabelle and Robert, the African American son of her family's maid, in 1939, and also of the hardships of Dorrie as she struggles to balance single motherhood and learn to trust in a budding romance of her own. The friendship between Dorrie and Isabelle was heartwarming. And I had a whole range of emotions as I watched the story of Isabelle and Robert unfold. I did feel it sometimes verged on soap opera-ish, and I will admit to wishing the language was richer and more eloquent, but all in all, it was a beautiful story - a ⭐⭐⭐⭐ read for me.
This book gave me all the feels as it moved between past and present. It tells the story of forbidden love between Isabelle and Robert, the African American son of her family's maid, in 1939, and also of the hardships of Dorrie as she struggles to balance single motherhood and learn to trust in a budding romance of her own. The friendship between Dorrie and Isabelle was heartwarming. And I had a whole range of emotions as I watched the story of Isabelle and Robert unfold. I did feel it sometimes verged on soap opera-ish, and I will admit to wishing the language was richer and more eloquent, but all in all, it was a beautiful story - a ⭐⭐⭐⭐ read for me.