emmas_bookshelf's reviews
688 reviews

Snowed in for Christmas by Jaqueline Snowe

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dark emotional funny fast-paced
  • Plot- or character-driven? Plot
  • Strong character development? Yes
  • Loveable characters? Yes
  • Diverse cast of characters? No
  • Flaws of characters a main focus? Yes

3.0

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Christmas Is All Around by Martha Waters

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funny hopeful fast-paced
  • Plot- or character-driven? A mix
  • Strong character development? Yes
  • Loveable characters? Yes
  • Diverse cast of characters? Yes
  • Flaws of characters a main focus? No

5.0

A one-time child star haunted by the Christmas movie she starred in meets a hot British man who will do anything to save his family estate, except exploit her stardom…. SWOON. And it takes place mostly in London at Christmas? I mean…. Martha Waters knocked it out of the park with this one. The yearning. The quirky family members. It’s all there, but it’s anything but sickly sweet thanks to main character Charlotte’s edges. I loved it. Sleigh.
All I Want is You by Falon Ballard

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emotional funny fast-paced
  • Plot- or character-driven? Plot
  • Strong character development? Yes
  • Loveable characters? Yes
  • Diverse cast of characters? Yes
  • Flaws of characters a main focus? No

5.0

Most Wonderful by Georgia Clark

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emotional funny fast-paced
  • Plot- or character-driven? Plot
  • Strong character development? Yes
  • Loveable characters? Yes
  • Diverse cast of characters? Yes
  • Flaws of characters a main focus? Yes

5.0

The Most Wonderful Crime of the Year by Ally Carter

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funny hopeful mysterious fast-paced
  • Plot- or character-driven? Plot
  • Strong character development? Yes
  • Loveable characters? Yes
  • Diverse cast of characters? No
  • Flaws of characters a main focus? No

5.0

Y’all this was SUCH a fun read, you gotta squeeze it in in the next few weeks. The publisher’s synopsis describes it as Knives Out with a holiday twist and that could not be more accurate!!! Two mystery writers (one cozy, one thriller) get a mysterious invite to spend Christmas in England with the most renowned mystery author of all time. Not sure why exactly she invited them, the answer soon becomes clear: to solve the puzzle of who among her ungrateful family members and would-be heirs has been trying to murder her. Naturally, these two writers also fall in love in the process. This is definitely one of my new favorite books. 

And if you were wondering, yes, this is the same Ally Carter who gave us the Gallagher Girls, writing grown up books for grown up Gallagher Girls!!
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A Jingle Bell Mingle by Sierra Simone, Julie Murphy

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emotional funny hopeful lighthearted fast-paced
  • Plot- or character-driven? Plot
  • Strong character development? Yes
  • Loveable characters? Yes
  • Diverse cast of characters? Yes
  • Flaws of characters a main focus? Yes

5.0

This is the third full length novel in the Christmas Notch series by these two and dare I say my favorite? The main characters are best described as slightly unhinged in the best way, sad, and thirsty. So thirsty. It’s fun and surprising and an excellent holiday read that’s just the right amount of Christmasy. A true rom com. I really enjoyed it and laughed out loud several times. 


How to Get a Life in Ten Dates by Jenny L. Howe

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emotional funny hopeful medium-paced
  • Plot- or character-driven? Plot
  • Strong character development? Yes
  • Loveable characters? Yes
  • Diverse cast of characters? Yes
  • Flaws of characters a main focus? Yes

5.0

 I loved this book! Haleigh Berkshire is a 25-year-old plus-size woman, enjoying life but feeling put down by her friends and family who don’t think her job(s) or dating choices are every good enough. She’s been in love with her best friend Jack for years, but agrees to let her family and friends set her up with ten men or women to go on dates with. This is such a fun friends-to-lovers romance and I loved Haleigh and Jack. Haleigh is so real! 
A Legend in the Baking by Jamie Wesley

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emotional funny medium-paced
  • Plot- or character-driven? Plot
  • Strong character development? Yes
  • Loveable characters? Yes
  • Diverse cast of characters? Yes
  • Flaws of characters a main focus? No

4.0

Jamie Wesley writes such fun romances! NFL players, a cupcake bakery, and hot boss bitches… what’s not to love? I ate this up like it was a sugar blitz cupcake and I loved it. Would recommend! 
A New Lease on Death by Olivia Blacke

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funny mysterious fast-paced
  • Plot- or character-driven? Plot
  • Strong character development? Yes
  • Loveable characters? Yes
  • Diverse cast of characters? Yes
  • Flaws of characters a main focus? Yes

4.5

This is an excellent mystery featuring the ghost of a woman who died in her apartment and the apartment’s new tenant, a much younger woman who is now trying to solve the mystery of a second dead tenant: the recently murdered neighbor across the hall. It’s quite funny, and I would recommend it if you like murder mysteries a la the TV shows Psych or Only Murders in the Building. The ending actually did surprise me! I really enjoyed listening to the audiobook!
Given Our History by Kristyn J. Miller

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emotional reflective medium-paced
  • Plot- or character-driven? A mix
  • Strong character development? No
  • Loveable characters? It's complicated
  • Diverse cast of characters? Yes
  • Flaws of characters a main focus? Yes

3.0

I have such complicated feelings about this book. Like the main character, I am a tenure track assistant professor. I found some of the depictions of academia cringe because of how real they were and some cringe just because they were cringe. I also was driven crazy by her love interest - he seems to completely lack any awareness or care for how he’s damaging her career and reputation? Ugh.