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bringmybooks's reviews
1206 reviews
One Puzzling Afternoon by Emily Critchley
B̷R̷I̷N̷G̷ ✨ 𝗕𝗢𝗥𝗥𝗢𝗪 ✨ B̷Y̷P̷A̷S̷S̷
I was really surprised at the depth of emotion this book brought out in me - I was expecting the mystery aspect but for whatever reason the synopsis gave me the impression this was going to be more lighthearted than super serious, and that was not the case.
This was an absolutely heartbreaking look at how dementia affects families - but most importantly, it brings you into the mind of someone with dementia in a way that is very real and very respectful. I have known two family members that suffered from dementia and the ease in which they become something you need to protect, cocoon, god forbid, even at times - “deal with” - is really brought home in this book in a way that is unfortunately all too relatable.
I thought the premise was very good and the execution of the present day timeline near flawless - the past timeline had a couple of things that took me out of the story at times, but honestly it was just a really good (albeit very sad) adult debut from Emily Critchley.
challenging
emotional
reflective
sad
tense
fast-paced
- Plot- or character-driven? A mix
- Strong character development? Yes
- Loveable characters? Yes
- Diverse cast of characters? No
- Flaws of characters a main focus? Yes
3.75
Thank you to Edelweiss, Sourcebooks Landmark, & Sourcebooks for the opportunity to read and review this book before it's publication date! This in no way affected my review, opinions are my own.
B̷R̷I̷N̷G̷ ✨ 𝗕𝗢𝗥𝗥𝗢𝗪 ✨ B̷Y̷P̷A̷S̷S̷
I was really surprised at the depth of emotion this book brought out in me - I was expecting the mystery aspect but for whatever reason the synopsis gave me the impression this was going to be more lighthearted than super serious, and that was not the case.
This was an absolutely heartbreaking look at how dementia affects families - but most importantly, it brings you into the mind of someone with dementia in a way that is very real and very respectful. I have known two family members that suffered from dementia and the ease in which they become something you need to protect, cocoon, god forbid, even at times - “deal with” - is really brought home in this book in a way that is unfortunately all too relatable.
I thought the premise was very good and the execution of the present day timeline near flawless - the past timeline had a couple of things that took me out of the story at times, but honestly it was just a really good (albeit very sad) adult debut from Emily Critchley.
Content Warnings
Graphic: Dementia
Moderate: Adult/minor relationship, Chronic illness, Pedophilia, Abortion, Death of parent, and Murder
A Traitor in Whitehall by Julia Kelly
B̷R̷I̷N̷G̷ ✨ 𝗕𝗢𝗥𝗥𝗢𝗪 ✨ B̷Y̷P̷A̷S̷S̷
My completely subjective order of JK books, ranked from my fav onwards:
Look, here’s the thing. Do you like historical fiction novels? Do you like them set in WWII (or maybe in the 1950s)? Do you like female protagonists, often with a group of close knit friends? Then you should pick up a Julia Kelly book. I don’t make the rules, y’all.
As you can see from my ratings, A Traitor in Whitehall wasn’t necessarily my favorite - but I think that’s because I struggle with mystery novels set during WWI / WWII. Very much a “it’s me, not you” (but for reals). I did like the main character well enough, but I do think there’s a fair bit of disbelief that must be suspended for some of the liberties she was allowed in her sleuthing (not that there were not HIGHLY capable female spies during WWII, but that’s not what this is).
All of that being said, as of writing this review I see that A Traitor in Whitehall is listed as “The Parisian Orphan #1,” and I can definitively say that I’ll be reading the second book when it’s published!
adventurous
informative
mysterious
tense
medium-paced
- Plot- or character-driven? A mix
- Strong character development? No
- Loveable characters? Yes
- Diverse cast of characters? No
- Flaws of characters a main focus? No
3.0
Thank you to NetGalley, Minotaur Books, & Macmillan for the opportunity to read and review this book before it's publication date! This in no way affected my review, opinions are my own.
B̷R̷I̷N̷G̷ ✨ 𝗕𝗢𝗥𝗥𝗢𝗪 ✨ B̷Y̷P̷A̷S̷S̷
My completely subjective order of JK books, ranked from my fav onwards:
- The Light Over London
- The Lost English Girl
- The Light Over London
- A Traitor In Whitehall
- The Last Dance of the Debutante
- The Last Garden in England
Look, here’s the thing. Do you like historical fiction novels? Do you like them set in WWII (or maybe in the 1950s)? Do you like female protagonists, often with a group of close knit friends? Then you should pick up a Julia Kelly book. I don’t make the rules, y’all.
As you can see from my ratings, A Traitor in Whitehall wasn’t necessarily my favorite - but I think that’s because I struggle with mystery novels set during WWI / WWII. Very much a “it’s me, not you” (but for reals). I did like the main character well enough, but I do think there’s a fair bit of disbelief that must be suspended for some of the liberties she was allowed in her sleuthing (not that there were not HIGHLY capable female spies during WWII, but that’s not what this is).
All of that being said, as of writing this review I see that A Traitor in Whitehall is listed as “The Parisian Orphan #1,” and I can definitively say that I’ll be reading the second book when it’s published!
Content Warnings
Moderate: Violence, Blood, Murder, and War
Minor: Death, Domestic abuse, Sexism, and Death of parent
The Chateau by Jaclyn Goldis
Did not finish book. Stopped at 25%.
Did not finish book. Stopped at 25%.
Took too long to get anywhere and I just couldn't stay invested.
The Ski Trip by Sarah Clarke
Did not finish book. Stopped at 8%.
B̷R̷I̷N̷G̷ B̷O̷R̷R̷O̷W̷ ✨ 𝗕𝗬𝗣𝗔𝗦𝗦 ✨
Predictable (and not in a fun way), with wooden two dimensional characters. Not enough interest to continue.
Did not finish book. Stopped at 8%.
Thank you to NetGalley, HQ Digital, & HarperCollins for the opportunity to read and review this book before it's publication date! This in no way affected my review, opinions are my own.
B̷R̷I̷N̷G̷ B̷O̷R̷R̷O̷W̷ ✨ 𝗕𝗬𝗣𝗔𝗦𝗦 ✨
Predictable (and not in a fun way), with wooden two dimensional characters. Not enough interest to continue.
The Enemy Beside Me by Naomi Ragen
Did not finish book. Stopped at 12%.
B̷R̷I̷N̷G̷ B̷O̷R̷R̷O̷W̷ ✨ 𝗕𝗬𝗣𝗔𝗦𝗦 ✨
A lot of info dumping of very serious topics contained in a flimsy fictional narrative - I’d rather read a history book to get this information.
Did not finish book. Stopped at 12%.
Thank you to NetGalley, St. Martin’s Griffin, & Macmillan for the opportunity to read and review this book before it's publication date! This in no way affected my review, opinions are my own.
B̷R̷I̷N̷G̷ B̷O̷R̷R̷O̷W̷ ✨ 𝗕𝗬𝗣𝗔𝗦𝗦 ✨
A lot of info dumping of very serious topics contained in a flimsy fictional narrative - I’d rather read a history book to get this information.
The Otherworld by Abbie Emmons
Did not finish book. Stopped at 11%.
Did not finish book. Stopped at 11%.
Thank you to NetGalley & Abbie Emmons for the opportunity to read and review this book before it's publication date! This in no way affected my review, opinions are my own.
B̷R̷I̷N̷G̷ B̷O̷R̷R̷O̷W̷ ✨ 𝗕𝗬𝗣𝗔𝗦𝗦 ✨
Writing felt a bit too juvenile to hold interest - characters felt wooden and two dimensional.
B̷R̷I̷N̷G̷ B̷O̷R̷R̷O̷W̷ ✨ 𝗕𝗬𝗣𝗔𝗦𝗦 ✨
Writing felt a bit too juvenile to hold interest - characters felt wooden and two dimensional.
The Unfortunate Side Effects of Heartbreak and Magic by Breanne Randall
Did not finish book. Stopped at 25%.
B̷R̷I̷N̷G̷ B̷O̷R̷R̷O̷W̷ ✨ 𝗕𝗬𝗣𝗔𝗦𝗦 ✨
Sickeningly sweet with a plot that had promise but ended up middling and characters whose actions repeatedly made no sense.
Did not finish book. Stopped at 25%.
Thank you to Edelweiss, Alcove Press, & Penguin Random House for the opportunity to read and review this book before it's publication date! This in no way affected my review, opinions are my own.
B̷R̷I̷N̷G̷ B̷O̷R̷R̷O̷W̷ ✨ 𝗕𝗬𝗣𝗔𝗦𝗦 ✨
Sickeningly sweet with a plot that had promise but ended up middling and characters whose actions repeatedly made no sense.
Our Last Summer by Jennifer Joyce
Did not finish book. Stopped at 15%.
B̷R̷I̷N̷G̷ B̷O̷R̷R̷O̷W̷ ✨ 𝗕𝗬𝗣𝗔𝗦𝗦 ✨
Felt a bit disconnected and jumbled, not enough interest to keep going.
Did not finish book. Stopped at 15%.
Thank you to NetGalley, HQ Digital, & HarperCollins for the opportunity to read and review this book before it's publication date! This in no way affected my review, opinions are my own.
B̷R̷I̷N̷G̷ B̷O̷R̷R̷O̷W̷ ✨ 𝗕𝗬𝗣𝗔𝗦𝗦 ✨
Felt a bit disconnected and jumbled, not enough interest to keep going.
The Keeper of Hidden Books by Madeline Martin
Did not finish book. Stopped at 20%.
Did not finish book. Stopped at 20%.
Thank you to Edelweiss, Hanover Square Press, & HarperCollins for the opportunity to read and review this book before it's publication date! This in no way affected my review, opinions are my own.
B̷R̷I̷N̷G̷ ✨ 𝗕𝗢𝗥𝗥𝗢𝗪 ✨ B̷Y̷P̷A̷S̷S̷
It’s so weird because there’s nothing inherently wrong with this story, but it didn’t feel different or unique enough to hold my attention, and I couldn’t help but keep comparing it to The Last Bookshop in London (by the same author) - which is one of my favorite books of the last decade and which I will recommend until the end of time - and it just felt flat in comparison.
B̷R̷I̷N̷G̷ ✨ 𝗕𝗢𝗥𝗥𝗢𝗪 ✨ B̷Y̷P̷A̷S̷S̷
It’s so weird because there’s nothing inherently wrong with this story, but it didn’t feel different or unique enough to hold my attention, and I couldn’t help but keep comparing it to The Last Bookshop in London (by the same author) - which is one of my favorite books of the last decade and which I will recommend until the end of time - and it just felt flat in comparison.
Catch the Moments as They Fly by Zoë Strachan
emotional
hopeful
informative
reflective
slow-paced
- Plot- or character-driven? A mix
- Strong character development? Yes
- Loveable characters? It's complicated
- Diverse cast of characters? It's complicated
- Flaws of characters a main focus? Yes
3.0
Thank you to Edelweiss & Blackwater Press for the opportunity to read and review this book before it's publication date! This in no way affected my review, opinions are my own.
B̷R̷I̷N̷G̷ ✨ 𝗕𝗢𝗥𝗥𝗢𝗪 ✨ B̷Y̷P̷A̷S̷S̷
Mid 20th century Scottish historical fiction with very relatable themes - had a literary fiction feel to it; way more character driven than plot driven. Also, I’m not sure why because I truly don’t think this makes any sense but I was reminded of Drew Barrymore’s Riding in Cars with Boys a lot. *shrugs*