sleuthheroalien's reviews
138 reviews

Lillian Boxfish Takes a Walk by Kathleen Rooney

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4.5

 I really enjoyed this one. I love a quiet and reflective story with a strong sense of place. I was drawn in by NYC and by Lillian’s stories. I will say, if the story was just the past parts I wouldn’t have enjoyed this one. But having the back and forth between past and present worked great for me. I was totally with her on the walk, wondering where she’d go next. 
Midnight at the Christmas Bookshop by Jenny Colgan

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3.5

This is such a hard one to review. I loved The Christmas Bookshop. It’s one of my favorite books. So I was super biased about the sequel. I couldn’t not read it through the lens of comparing it to the first book. First, what I liked: snarky Carmen, bookshop joy, funny kid hijinks, loveable new character who befriends Carmen, good ending, and Edinburgh at Christmas. Second, what I didn’t like: the premise of this one basically undercuts the character growth Carmen made in the first book. It puts her in a position where she is worse off, both emotionally and financially, than where The Christmas Bookshop ended. Honestly, this story is probably the realistic version of what would’ve happened next, but I was hoping for a little more joy and a little less angst. I’d say the characters are less likable in this one, and by the end I actually skimmed a boring chapter. I think if this were a novella I would’ve liked it more. And I would actually love it if Colgan wrote another sequel that continues Carmen’s story from where this one ends. 
So You Want to Talk About Race by Ijeoma Oluo

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challenging emotional informative reflective slow-paced

4.5

Ijemoa Oluo is one of my favorite authors. I loved Mediocre and enjoy following her on Substack. So You Want to Talk About Race has been a slow and steady read for me all year. I’ve been taking time between essays to think and ponder. I love how she weaves personal stories in with education about how racism functions in the U.S. Great book.
The Book Club Hotel by Sarah Morgan

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

4.0

I gobbled this up on audio. I love a book that switches narrators between chapters, and I also love books that take place in a hotel. So this was in my wheel house. I especially enjoyed the setting (a cozy inn in Vermont), and I enjoyed the variety of challenges the friends were facing while supporting and loving each other. 

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A Christmas Spark by Diana Biller

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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? No

4.0

This was a sweet and funny novella. Two scientists in 1843. Christmas. All the rom-com joy. I read it on my Kobo and it only took a couple hours. I think this is a good one if you’re in a reading slump and want to read a quick and satisfying story. 
Lady Violet Attends a Wedding by Grace Burrowes

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adventurous emotional mysterious slow-paced
  • Plot- or character-driven? Character
  • Strong character development? Yes
  • Loveable characters? Yes
  • Diverse cast of characters? No
  • Flaws of characters a main focus? No

4.0

I love Lady Violet. She’s a wealthy widow in Victorian England, and she is totally fed up with men telling her what to do. She’s smart, empathic, and loves to solve a mystery. This will work for you if you love manor houses, sleuthing, and hot Scottish love interests. The first in the series is Lady Violet Investigates. 
Emily Wilde's Encyclopaedia of Faeries by Heather Fawcett

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adventurous dark funny mysterious slow-paced
  • Plot- or character-driven? Character
  • Strong character development? Yes
  • Loveable characters? Yes
  • Diverse cast of characters? No
  • Flaws of characters a main focus? It's complicated

4.5

I absolutely loved this one. It’s a contender for my favorite book of the year. The story is told through the scientific diary of Emily Wilde as she studies faeries on an island off the Norwegian coast in the early 1900’s. Expect loveable characters, lots of references to old fairy tales, adventure, and romance. I read this for my book club this month. I picked it because the reviews talk about how cozy it is. And it is cozy, but there are also a few surprisingly dark scenes with violence on the level of Grimm’s Fairy Tales. As an HSP reader, I was actually fine, but I wanted to note this because I didn’t expect it, even after reading lots of reviews. 
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Sense and Second-Degree Murder by Tirzah Price

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

4.0

After reading Sense and Sensibility and The Late Mrs. Willoughby, I thought it would be fun to read this one. Expect a good mystery, playful takes on Austen’s world, and Elinor and Marianne doing their thing. Don’t expect 100% historical accuracy or for this to be accurate to Austen’s story. Read it as a super fun reimagining with a good mystery at the center of things. 
Bunnicula: A Rabbit Tale Of Mystery by Deborah Howe

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dark funny lighthearted mysterious slow-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? It's complicated

4.0

I love reading Bunnicula around Halloween. This was one of my favorite books as a kid. I love the adorable vampire bunny, the mysterious white vegetables, the descent of Chester the cat, and the lovable voice of Harold the dog. It’s worth a reread if you are in the mood for something short and fun, with a lot of puns. 
Howliday Inn by James Howe

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adventurous dark funny lighthearted mysterious medium-paced
  • Plot- or character-driven? Plot
  • Strong character development? Yes
  • Loveable characters? Yes
  • Diverse cast of characters? N/A
  • Flaws of characters a main focus? N/A

4.0

 This year I decided to include Howliday Inn, the second in the Bunnicula series, in my Halloween reading. I have a clear memory of reading this one when I was in elementary school and LOVING it. But I’ve never read it as an adult, and I couldn’t remember what happened in the story. I was curious about why I loved this book so much, since it was a foundation experience for me as a reader. And it turns out Howliday Inn is a cozy mystery, one of my favorite genres. There’s a murder at a pet hotel, and Chester the cat becomes an amateur sleuth, ready to solve the crime. I think this is the first cozy mystery I ever read, and I love that young-me loved the experience just as much as adult-me does.