Scan barcode
booksbytheglass's reviews
841 reviews
The Widow's Husband's Secret Lie: A Satirical Novella by Freida McFadden
funny
fast-paced
- Plot- or character-driven? N/A
- Strong character development? No
- Loveable characters? No
- Diverse cast of characters? No
- Flaws of characters a main focus? Yes
3.5
the way I snorted laughing at multiple references in this novella tells you absolutely everything you need to know š¤£ oh and ā¦ this book is 100% satire
itās a trope us thriller lovers have heard before: someone is following our FMC just days after her husbandās disappearance, and she has to learn about all of the secrets he was keeping from herā¦ but in the most amusing way possibleā¦
I was already rolling my eyes at all of the absurd overused tropes, but when I got to THE DRESS, I lost it completely š that was a throwback I never knew I needed and everything I could have wanted
and it only went up from there!!! if youāre a person who is sick and tired of the same overused quotes and plot points specifically in mysteries and thrillers, do yourself a favor and binge this because it will have you cackling and groaning for 100 pages straight
rating: 3.5 stars
itās a trope us thriller lovers have heard before: someone is following our FMC just days after her husbandās disappearance, and she has to learn about all of the secrets he was keeping from herā¦ but in the most amusing way possibleā¦
I was already rolling my eyes at all of the absurd overused tropes, but when I got to THE DRESS, I lost it completely š that was a throwback I never knew I needed and everything I could have wanted
and it only went up from there!!! if youāre a person who is sick and tired of the same overused quotes and plot points specifically in mysteries and thrillers, do yourself a favor and binge this because it will have you cackling and groaning for 100 pages straight
rating: 3.5 stars
Heat of the Everflame by Penn Cole
adventurous
dark
emotional
slow-paced
- Plot- or character-driven? Character
- Strong character development? Yes
- Loveable characters? Yes
- Diverse cast of characters? Yes
- Flaws of characters a main focus? Yes
4.0
um hi yes, Iāve been emotionally traumatized by this series & Iād like to seek financial compensation š¤§š and this installment yāall? I was fighting for my life from start to finish!!!!
if youāve been sleeping on this series until now, donāt make the same mistake I did! š¤Æ *stefon voice* this club has everything: romantasy, brooding morally grey MCs, savior trope, killer plot twists, found family that you refuse to let go of, epic world building, and in case you think thatās all, weāve even got DRAGONS! šāāļøš
Iām absolutely in love with this universe and these characters - even if some of the actions and sequences had me scratching my head at timesā¦ diem, our queen of all queens, is a hot mess who is just finally accepting herself and making questionable decisions for the sake of the world - but Iām also kind of here for it? Iāll be screaming at her idiocy and then marching into battle alongside her the next chapter oops
and LUTHER MY PRINCE! a lil lovestruck idiot too who didnāt do much rather than being eye candy š„µ but Iām 500% here for that tooā¦ I just really hate the keeping secrets to protect one another trope!!! it ends all of the tension yes, but it almost never is actually for the best
I just really love the theme throughout these three books that no one is inherently bad or good and that unity should always be the goal š„¹ I love when fantasy books reflect our world too
the plot twists in this one were unmatched, even though I suspected most of them, and I loved seeing how everyoneās alliances shifted throughout the story! I absolutely need the fourth book ASAP šš¤
rating: 4 stars
wine pairing: columbia valley pinot noir
if youāve been sleeping on this series until now, donāt make the same mistake I did! š¤Æ *stefon voice* this club has everything: romantasy, brooding morally grey MCs, savior trope, killer plot twists, found family that you refuse to let go of, epic world building, and in case you think thatās all, weāve even got DRAGONS! šāāļøš
Iām absolutely in love with this universe and these characters - even if some of the actions and sequences had me scratching my head at timesā¦ diem, our queen of all queens, is a hot mess who is just finally accepting herself and making questionable decisions for the sake of the world - but Iām also kind of here for it? Iāll be screaming at her idiocy and then marching into battle alongside her the next chapter oops
and LUTHER MY PRINCE! a lil lovestruck idiot too who didnāt do much rather than being eye candy š„µ but Iām 500% here for that tooā¦ I just really hate the keeping secrets to protect one another trope!!! it ends all of the tension yes, but it almost never is actually for the best
I just really love the theme throughout these three books that no one is inherently bad or good and that unity should always be the goal š„¹ I love when fantasy books reflect our world too
the plot twists in this one were unmatched, even though I suspected most of them, and I loved seeing how everyoneās alliances shifted throughout the story! I absolutely need the fourth book ASAP šš¤
rating: 4 stars
wine pairing: columbia valley pinot noir
Glow of the Everflame by Penn Cole
adventurous
emotional
mysterious
tense
medium-paced
- Plot- or character-driven? A mix
- Strong character development? Yes
- Loveable characters? Yes
- Diverse cast of characters? N/A
- Flaws of characters a main focus? Yes
5.0
oh my GOODNESS! a sequel better than the original? who is she? she is stunning!!! š¤©
after that super rude cliffhanger, I was immediately invested and curious to see where diemās story lies ahead and how her relationship with the mortals and descended adapts over time! and spoiler alert, I loved every second of her growth!!!
Iām not gonna lie, I was very annoyed with diem and her inability to let go of her past throughout most of this story. she seemed so focused on what she should do and what she should be accomplishing that she refused to accept who she actually was, but those moments at the end were š„¹š„¹ perfect
Iām also not a fan of love triangles, and I was physically in pain watching diem fight for a love with henri that he clearly didnāt reciprocate once he found out who she really was š and honestly how could she not see what was right in front of her? ugh see paragraph above
which brings me to the family of the corbois!! they were the perfect side characters I never knew I needed and now never want to live without š I would die for taran, eleanor, lily and luther many times over - Iām a sucker for a found family trope yāall
the action and plot building in this one takes the cake over the first book (which was more introductory), and left me again in total suspense on how this story is going to end! every time I get settled in an arc, it gets completely flipped on its head - and I love it!
Iāll be immediately binging the third novel thank yew
rating: 5 stars
wine pairing: burgundy red blend
after that super rude cliffhanger, I was immediately invested and curious to see where diemās story lies ahead and how her relationship with the mortals and descended adapts over time! and spoiler alert, I loved every second of her growth!!!
Iām not gonna lie, I was very annoyed with diem and her inability to let go of her past throughout most of this story. she seemed so focused on what she should do and what she should be accomplishing that she refused to accept who she actually was, but those moments at the end were š„¹š„¹ perfect
Iām also not a fan of love triangles, and I was physically in pain watching diem fight for a love with henri that he clearly didnāt reciprocate once he found out who she really was š and honestly how could she not see what was right in front of her? ugh see paragraph above
which brings me to the family of the corbois!! they were the perfect side characters I never knew I needed and now never want to live without š I would die for taran, eleanor, lily and luther many times over - Iām a sucker for a found family trope yāall
the action and plot building in this one takes the cake over the first book (which was more introductory), and left me again in total suspense on how this story is going to end! every time I get settled in an arc, it gets completely flipped on its head - and I love it!
Iāll be immediately binging the third novel thank yew
rating: 5 stars
wine pairing: burgundy red blend
Spark of the Everflame by Penn Cole
adventurous
mysterious
tense
fast-paced
- Plot- or character-driven? Character
- Strong character development? Yes
- Loveable characters? Yes
- Diverse cast of characters? N/A
- Flaws of characters a main focus? It's complicated
4.0
ummmm did I just discover another fantasy series that will become my entire personality? stay tuned š¤
Iāve been looking for a good romantasy book for a bit now after the hangover that SJM continually causes me, and after reading the rave reviews of this indie series, I can see why!!!! Iām fully invested!!!
diem is a mortal healer sheltered from the world of the descended (immortals born from gods), forced to take over duties after her motherās disappearance. and the mystery surrounding diemās family was exactly the draw I needed! diem is a feisty take-no-shit FMC, even if sheās a literal idiot sometimes, and I canāt wait to see how she grows after THAT cliffhanger ending!
luther is the prince that was promised (LOL), and while he may be a brooding shadow-wielding mortally grey MMC, heās secretly got a heart of gold AND I AM HERE FOR ALL OF THIS OKAY š„µ
this was firmly a world building introductory story with not a whole lot happening, which is why itās not a 5 star read for me, but it definitely provided a lot of necessary characterization! especially for that enemies to lovers arc I canāt wait to see š
Iām hoping for a bit more on the side characters as I fell in love with teller and lily instantly - and of course I need answers for the bellator family!!!!! henri, on the other hand, can go jump in a lake with that gale attitude and possessive alpha hole personality š«” and maura, sweet sweet maura, deserves better than being used as everyoneās pawn
brb starting the next one immediately!!!!!!! Iām so sat yāall
rating: 4 stars
wine pairing: rioja red blend
Iāve been looking for a good romantasy book for a bit now after the hangover that SJM continually causes me, and after reading the rave reviews of this indie series, I can see why!!!! Iām fully invested!!!
diem is a mortal healer sheltered from the world of the descended (immortals born from gods), forced to take over duties after her motherās disappearance. and the mystery surrounding diemās family was exactly the draw I needed! diem is a feisty take-no-shit FMC, even if sheās a literal idiot sometimes, and I canāt wait to see how she grows after THAT cliffhanger ending!
luther is the prince that was promised (LOL), and while he may be a brooding shadow-wielding mortally grey MMC, heās secretly got a heart of gold AND I AM HERE FOR ALL OF THIS OKAY š„µ
this was firmly a world building introductory story with not a whole lot happening, which is why itās not a 5 star read for me, but it definitely provided a lot of necessary characterization! especially for that enemies to lovers arc I canāt wait to see š
Iām hoping for a bit more on the side characters as I fell in love with teller and lily instantly - and of course I need answers for the bellator family!!!!! henri, on the other hand, can go jump in a lake with that gale attitude and possessive alpha hole personality š«” and maura, sweet sweet maura, deserves better than being used as everyoneās pawn
brb starting the next one immediately!!!!!!! Iām so sat yāall
rating: 4 stars
wine pairing: rioja red blend
A Talent for Murder by Peter Swanson
dark
mysterious
tense
fast-paced
- Plot- or character-driven? A mix
- Strong character development? No
- Loveable characters? No
- Diverse cast of characters? No
- Flaws of characters a main focus? It's complicated
4.0
another wild ride in these semi-sequel installments with lily and kimball! š¤Æ if you havenāt read THE KIND WORTH KILLING or THE KIND WORTH SAVING, you donāt really need to, but there are clear references to events that happened in both books! otherwise, this one can definitely be read as a standalone (ish)
focused on martha and her maybe-serial-killer husband, the story surrounds an air of mystery and suspense, looping our favorite revenge gal lily back into the mix. and while I did guess the whodunnit mystery right off the bat, that plot twist about halfway through had me gasping and throwing my book across the room š¤Æ
peter swanson never misses with the twists folks!!
the second half of the story played out pretty predictably for me and lost the momentum built in the first half, but honestly I was still reeling from the halfway twist š I was way more invested in marthaās story than lilyās so I was sad when part 2 and 3 focused mostly on lily and kimball againā¦
this was such a short bingeable read for me on my sick day, and I loved every minute of the ride! another 2024 thriller win for me!
rating: 4 stars
wine pairing: bordeaux red blend
focused on martha and her maybe-serial-killer husband, the story surrounds an air of mystery and suspense, looping our favorite revenge gal lily back into the mix. and while I did guess the whodunnit mystery right off the bat, that plot twist about halfway through had me gasping and throwing my book across the room š¤Æ
peter swanson never misses with the twists folks!!
the second half of the story played out pretty predictably for me and lost the momentum built in the first half, but honestly I was still reeling from the halfway twist š I was way more invested in marthaās story than lilyās so I was sad when part 2 and 3 focused mostly on lily and kimball againā¦
this was such a short bingeable read for me on my sick day, and I loved every minute of the ride! another 2024 thriller win for me!
rating: 4 stars
wine pairing: bordeaux red blend
King of Sloth by Ana Huang
emotional
reflective
slow-paced
- Plot- or character-driven? Character
- Strong character development? Yes
- Loveable characters? Yes
- Diverse cast of characters? Yes
- Flaws of characters a main focus? Yes
4.0
she is an ice princess & the baddiest FMC Iāve read about in a long time!!! sloane for president pls š
š¤š¼
after getting glimpses of sloane and xavier through the other kings of sin book, I was beyond stoked for their story!! and the slow burn that I was expecting was ā¦ not really a slow burn at all! they spent most of the book in a semi-relationship which was refreshing to see
sloane and xavier both have family trauma (which relatable š), and seeing them work through that together in a healthy way was so wonderful. and yes, their fears and anxiety were present throughout the whole book but who isnāt somewhat controlled by their own!! we have to stan realistic characters!!
sloaneās āconflictā at the end was weak and more of a repeat of her thoughts instead of a new realization, and I would have loved to see more of her reasoning behind her actions at the end
also this book was longgggggā¦ and for little reasonā¦ I definitely felt the same emotions and story could have worked without at least 100 pages of filler content! but the repetitive nature of who sloane and xavier are at their core was beneficial to see how much they changed by the end so š¤·š¼āāļø
I WANTED MORE MYSTERY THOUGH MKAY!! give me vukās side of the story now please!!!!!
rating: 4 stars
wine pairing: chile chardonnay
after getting glimpses of sloane and xavier through the other kings of sin book, I was beyond stoked for their story!! and the slow burn that I was expecting was ā¦ not really a slow burn at all! they spent most of the book in a semi-relationship which was refreshing to see
sloane and xavier both have family trauma (which relatable š), and seeing them work through that together in a healthy way was so wonderful. and yes, their fears and anxiety were present throughout the whole book but who isnāt somewhat controlled by their own!! we have to stan realistic characters!!
sloaneās āconflictā at the end was weak and more of a repeat of her thoughts instead of a new realization, and I would have loved to see more of her reasoning behind her actions at the end
also this book was longgggggā¦ and for little reasonā¦ I definitely felt the same emotions and story could have worked without at least 100 pages of filler content! but the repetitive nature of who sloane and xavier are at their core was beneficial to see how much they changed by the end so š¤·š¼āāļø
I WANTED MORE MYSTERY THOUGH MKAY!! give me vukās side of the story now please!!!!!
rating: 4 stars
wine pairing: chile chardonnay
Content Warnings
Graphic: Death of parent, Fire/Fire injury, and Gaslighting
Moderate: Ableism and Chronic illness
The Woman Who Lied by Claire Douglas
dark
mysterious
tense
medium-paced
- Plot- or character-driven? A mix
- Strong character development? No
- Loveable characters? No
- Diverse cast of characters? No
- Flaws of characters a main focus? It's complicated
2.5
if thereās one thing I gravitate to in thrillers, itās a dual timeline POV - and this one worked out so perfectly!
when a crime writer starts to notice events happening around her that are straight out of her books, she immediately goes into panic mode (and tbh, who wouldnāt) on who is out for her š³ as the story escalates, the reader is treated to excerpts of the book within a book, occurring at the same time as the real events!!
in theory, this would be a fantastic twist and fast paced story. in actuality, the sheer amount of characters that were introduced once by a single sentence and promptly had no effect on the plot whatsoever was astonishing. I immediately lost track of every single person as the characterization was bare minimal except for the main character. the writing itself, when there was characterization, was so simple and juvenile it made my heart hurt - a clear example of telling rather than showing.
my brain physically was spinning in circles when I read this one šµāš« like I couldnāt wrap my head around one topic before it bounced to another oneā¦ I think with a little more trimming and editing, it could achieve the same purpose without a ton of confusion on the readersā end
all in all, the bones of the story were excellent and unique, but sadly, it fell victim to too many stories and characters happening at the same time to feel any sort of impact.
thank you to netgalley and harper collins for the advanced copy in exchange for an honest review!
rating: 2.5 stars
wine pairing: australia malbec
when a crime writer starts to notice events happening around her that are straight out of her books, she immediately goes into panic mode (and tbh, who wouldnāt) on who is out for her š³ as the story escalates, the reader is treated to excerpts of the book within a book, occurring at the same time as the real events!!
in theory, this would be a fantastic twist and fast paced story. in actuality, the sheer amount of characters that were introduced once by a single sentence and promptly had no effect on the plot whatsoever was astonishing. I immediately lost track of every single person as the characterization was bare minimal except for the main character. the writing itself, when there was characterization, was so simple and juvenile it made my heart hurt - a clear example of telling rather than showing.
my brain physically was spinning in circles when I read this one šµāš« like I couldnāt wrap my head around one topic before it bounced to another oneā¦ I think with a little more trimming and editing, it could achieve the same purpose without a ton of confusion on the readersā end
all in all, the bones of the story were excellent and unique, but sadly, it fell victim to too many stories and characters happening at the same time to feel any sort of impact.
thank you to netgalley and harper collins for the advanced copy in exchange for an honest review!
rating: 2.5 stars
wine pairing: australia malbec
The Ex Vows by Jessica Joyce
emotional
lighthearted
reflective
slow-paced
- Plot- or character-driven? Character
- Strong character development? Yes
- Loveable characters? Yes
- Diverse cast of characters? Yes
- Flaws of characters a main focus? Yes
4.5
this is my first jessica joyce novel & it certainly wonāt be my last!!! contemporary romances (rather than romcoms) are my to-go, and like the works of ashley poston, emily henry, and abby jimenez, this book is the reason why!!!
I adore when I can relate to a character in a book, and even more so when I feel like my thoughts have been plucked out of my head and translated onto the page š„¹ georgiaās thoughts, fears, and tight hold onto everyone and everything she loves was like watching myself in a book, and I canāt believe jessica joyce knows me better than I know myself the audacity!
second chance romances arenāt always my thing, but the way that eli and georgiaās story unfolded was done so perfectly š©· the reasoning behind their original separation was so adult and civil compared to others that rely on the miscommunication trope! I loved seeing two adults talk about their feelings and acknowledge each otherās too š„¹š„¹
georgiaās love for her friends and family was so beautiful - and as someone who lives far far away from most of my found family, I relate so hard on feeling lost or disconnected at times from those you love the most š„² but!!! the way her friends love her back!!! no notes I cried
the plot of the wedding itself was adorable, but I think the characterization would be a bit stronger in a different setting - but this is me nitpicking because wow!!! I loved this one!!!
thank you to berkley and berkley romance for the advanced copy in exchange for an honest review!
rating: 4.5 stars
wine pairing: napa valley merlot
I adore when I can relate to a character in a book, and even more so when I feel like my thoughts have been plucked out of my head and translated onto the page š„¹ georgiaās thoughts, fears, and tight hold onto everyone and everything she loves was like watching myself in a book, and I canāt believe jessica joyce knows me better than I know myself the audacity!
second chance romances arenāt always my thing, but the way that eli and georgiaās story unfolded was done so perfectly š©· the reasoning behind their original separation was so adult and civil compared to others that rely on the miscommunication trope! I loved seeing two adults talk about their feelings and acknowledge each otherās too š„¹š„¹
georgiaās love for her friends and family was so beautiful - and as someone who lives far far away from most of my found family, I relate so hard on feeling lost or disconnected at times from those you love the most š„² but!!! the way her friends love her back!!! no notes I cried
the plot of the wedding itself was adorable, but I think the characterization would be a bit stronger in a different setting - but this is me nitpicking because wow!!! I loved this one!!!
thank you to berkley and berkley romance for the advanced copy in exchange for an honest review!
rating: 4.5 stars
wine pairing: napa valley merlot
The Risk by Elle Kennedy
funny
lighthearted
medium-paced
- Plot- or character-driven? Character
- Strong character development? Yes
- Loveable characters? Yes
- Diverse cast of characters? No
- Flaws of characters a main focus? Yes
4.5
this entire series is my guilty pleasure, and every time I finish, I wonder why I waited so long to read the next in the installment š sports romance is THAT girl I swear
focusing on brenna, the daughter of briarās hockey coach, and jake connolly, the captain of their rival school harvard, I immediately was all in š®āšØ thereās something about a forbidden romance mixed with enemies to lovers that is an automatic win for me!!!
I fell in love with brenna from THE CHASE, and Iām so happy she was able to get her own HEA š„² she deserves the world!! and delving deeper into her relationship with her dad and her own checkered past was just the growth I needed to see from her
and jake, woo boy, heās the perfect supportive boyfriend! we stan MCs who arenāt toxic masculine and put their significant others on a damn pedestal šš¼šš¼ as they should!!!! I just loved watching the two of them grow together pls
what I didnāt love was their ability to forgive and forget - which I get it, but come on, youāre just gonna let people back in your life that legitimately express they want to cause you harm? no thanks
BUT! I would read an entire series just about the two of them and their future, they were THAT couple š„¹
rating: 4.5 stars
wine pairing: dry creek zinfandel
focusing on brenna, the daughter of briarās hockey coach, and jake connolly, the captain of their rival school harvard, I immediately was all in š®āšØ thereās something about a forbidden romance mixed with enemies to lovers that is an automatic win for me!!!
I fell in love with brenna from THE CHASE, and Iām so happy she was able to get her own HEA š„² she deserves the world!! and delving deeper into her relationship with her dad and her own checkered past was just the growth I needed to see from her
and jake, woo boy, heās the perfect supportive boyfriend! we stan MCs who arenāt toxic masculine and put their significant others on a damn pedestal šš¼šš¼ as they should!!!! I just loved watching the two of them grow together pls
what I didnāt love was their ability to forgive and forget - which I get it, but come on, youāre just gonna let people back in your life that legitimately express they want to cause you harm? no thanks
BUT! I would read an entire series just about the two of them and their future, they were THAT couple š„¹
rating: 4.5 stars
wine pairing: dry creek zinfandel
House of Glass by Sarah Pekkanen
dark
mysterious
sad
fast-paced
- Plot- or character-driven? A mix
- Strong character development? No
- Loveable characters? No
- Diverse cast of characters? No
- Flaws of characters a main focus? Yes
3.5
a few days later & Iām still sitting with my thoughts on this one!! I enjoyed it way more than sarahās last solo thriller, but there was something about this that didnāt execute well for me š„²š¤
the first half of the book focused mostly on stella, a child advocate lawyer for parents going through a divorce, and her client rose, who suffers from traumatic mutism after witnessing her nanny die in front of her. the mystery behind the nannyās death and how rose was involved was a key component of the plot, and while I figured out the plot twist quite early on, it was a very entertaining ride!
the second half of the book did a 180 for me, focusing more on stellaās backstory and her own experience with traumatic mutism after her motherās death. I thought that āmysteryā of sorts was pretty obvious and didnāt need to be as fleshed out as it was - especially since it ultimately didnāt connect to the present day mystery at all.
and can we talk about that random side romance? it came completely out of the blue and felt very trauma bonding rather than an actual relationship. also, what was the point? š¤
TDLR: an entertaining fast-paced bingeable thriller but ultimately not my favorite. thank you to netgalley and st martins for the advanced copy in exchange for an honest review! you can get this one early through BOTM š«”
rating: 3.5 stars
wine pairing: sonoma coast chardonnay
the first half of the book focused mostly on stella, a child advocate lawyer for parents going through a divorce, and her client rose, who suffers from traumatic mutism after witnessing her nanny die in front of her. the mystery behind the nannyās death and how rose was involved was a key component of the plot, and while I figured out the plot twist quite early on, it was a very entertaining ride!
the second half of the book did a 180 for me, focusing more on stellaās backstory and her own experience with traumatic mutism after her motherās death. I thought that āmysteryā of sorts was pretty obvious and didnāt need to be as fleshed out as it was - especially since it ultimately didnāt connect to the present day mystery at all.
and can we talk about that random side romance? it came completely out of the blue and felt very trauma bonding rather than an actual relationship. also, what was the point? š¤
TDLR: an entertaining fast-paced bingeable thriller but ultimately not my favorite. thank you to netgalley and st martins for the advanced copy in exchange for an honest review! you can get this one early through BOTM š«”
rating: 3.5 stars
wine pairing: sonoma coast chardonnay
Content Warnings
Graphic: Child abuse, Drug abuse, and Death of parent