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sarah_thebooknerd's Reviews (879)
funny
hopeful
mysterious
medium-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
I really enjoyed this cozy mystery book. Vera owns a tea shop where a dead man is found. She does not have faith in the police solving the crime given their lack of police response. She sets off to solve it herself. Enter in Sana, Riki, Julie and Oliver who all have possible motive and are hiding something about their relationship issues with the dead man. Vera starts to show her worth to them and they all become a little found family even though Vera is worried that one might be a murderer.
I laughed a bunch and found the conversation about elderly and having worth to be an important one. We often forget the role they have within our communities and how they can help to bring us together.
I laughed a bunch and found the conversation about elderly and having worth to be an important one. We often forget the role they have within our communities and how they can help to bring us together.
adventurous
challenging
funny
hopeful
inspiring
lighthearted
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
This was just the book I needed at the time I read it.
I loved this one even more than Legends and Lattes. I loved the feel and coziness of Legends of Lattes but had a hard time relating with all of the coffee aspects and didn't think there was enough action for me. This one is centered more on books and there is more action and mission in this one that had me hooked from beginning to end.
Viv is injured and needs to heal and recover in the small town of Merk. There she goes into a bookshop that is struggling and she becomes friends with the bookshop owner and they work on reviving the bookshop. In addition they work together to bring down a necromancer. I loved every character and the found family that I now expect with a Travis Baldtree novel.
Thank you to NetGalley and publisher for an audio-ARC copy to read and review.
I loved this one even more than Legends and Lattes. I loved the feel and coziness of Legends of Lattes but had a hard time relating with all of the coffee aspects and didn't think there was enough action for me. This one is centered more on books and there is more action and mission in this one that had me hooked from beginning to end.
Viv is injured and needs to heal and recover in the small town of Merk. There she goes into a bookshop that is struggling and she becomes friends with the bookshop owner and they work on reviving the bookshop. In addition they work together to bring down a necromancer. I loved every character and the found family that I now expect with a Travis Baldtree novel.
Thank you to NetGalley and publisher for an audio-ARC copy to read and review.
challenging
emotional
hopeful
slow-paced
Plot or Character Driven:
A mix
Strong character development:
Yes
Loveable characters:
No
Diverse cast of characters:
Yes
Flaws of characters a main focus:
Yes
3.5 star
Okay... So I really liked the Jewish Rep and Queer rep in the books. I liked the story and premise, 2nd chance romance with childhood friends to lovers. I think that the book needs to be marketed as a 2nd book in a series vs appearing like a standalone. I think the information and basis for the town/ family and dynamics would have helped and the only way to get that was to read Seasons in Love first.
You wouldn't know it but the cover almost makes this book seem lighter than the subjects inside. This is the hard part with the cartoon cover phase because they are not 100% matching the content in a way.
I loved the character development of the couple but I really didn't like them as a couple. There is also a way in which they are talking which makes me think I am sitting in a therapy professional development training with a lot of therapy talk without actually being therapists. It just did not feel natural for people to talk in the way, as a social worker who has a bunch of therapist friends they so so do not talk like that in lay life. I don't know it just made it harder to consume.
Thank you to NetGalley and the publisher for an e-arc to read and review.
Okay... So I really liked the Jewish Rep and Queer rep in the books. I liked the story and premise, 2nd chance romance with childhood friends to lovers. I think that the book needs to be marketed as a 2nd book in a series vs appearing like a standalone. I think the information and basis for the town/ family and dynamics would have helped and the only way to get that was to read Seasons in Love first.
You wouldn't know it but the cover almost makes this book seem lighter than the subjects inside. This is the hard part with the cartoon cover phase because they are not 100% matching the content in a way.
I loved the character development of the couple but I really didn't like them as a couple. There is also a way in which they are talking which makes me think I am sitting in a therapy professional development training with a lot of therapy talk without actually being therapists. It just did not feel natural for people to talk in the way, as a social worker who has a bunch of therapist friends they so so do not talk like that in lay life. I don't know it just made it harder to consume.
Thank you to NetGalley and the publisher for an e-arc to read and review.
challenging
emotional
mysterious
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:
Complicated
I really loved this one and didn’t want to leave this book and polyamory relationship (FFMM) I do wish the book had more with them all together then how quickly it ended but I still loved the emotions, depth and characters that I still have this 5 ⭐️
I’m Katee fashion she always delivers on 🌶️ content.
Thank you to Netgalley for audio ArC to read and review.
I’m Katee fashion she always delivers on 🌶️ content.
Thank you to Netgalley for audio ArC to read and review.
challenging
hopeful
informative
reflective
medium-paced
This is a necessary book if you want to learn more about why abolishing police and the criminal justice system is necessary. It can give you hope for how to hold community and it looks at violence and justice differently.
I wish the book had more on how to accomplish abolition. It really discuses why the policing doesn’t work and briefly goes into trying to look beyond our punishment narrative to a more true justice and accountability. And part of it is not Mariame’s fault because justice and accountability is all about community and working through the individualistic harm and what that person can do to change but I’m referring more to the dismantling of the systems themselves.
In order to have abolition we would need to overthrow capitalism, work to dismantle patriarchy and systemic racism all things I want but I’m not sure where to start. I think Mariame would say together and through community but sometimes it seems so big!
Anyways I definitely recommend but if you want big issues it might be a struggle but if you want to have some great reflections on re-examining how you see justice and punishment this book will do that.
I wish the book had more on how to accomplish abolition. It really discuses why the policing doesn’t work and briefly goes into trying to look beyond our punishment narrative to a more true justice and accountability. And part of it is not Mariame’s fault because justice and accountability is all about community and working through the individualistic harm and what that person can do to change but I’m referring more to the dismantling of the systems themselves.
In order to have abolition we would need to overthrow capitalism, work to dismantle patriarchy and systemic racism all things I want but I’m not sure where to start. I think Mariame would say together and through community but sometimes it seems so big!
Anyways I definitely recommend but if you want big issues it might be a struggle but if you want to have some great reflections on re-examining how you see justice and punishment this book will do that.
funny
hopeful
lighthearted
medium-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:
Yes
funny
hopeful
lighthearted
fast-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
This book had me laughing so hard at times. I was walking this morning just laughing out loud and people probably were thinking all kinds of things. I do not care. The FMC is in her 50s and going through the senior employment training program and in her interviews she shares things about her life. This was so relatable, as a social worker I feel like I can get a referral for transportation and our conversations turn into what happens in this book. The narration in audio is phenomenal and I would recommend that if you are able to pick it up in audio!
emotional
funny
lighthearted
medium-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
It is hard to have a favorite Kate Clayborn Book because they all have a place in my heart but this one is definitely up there with top books.
The FMC has spent the summers at this apt building with her Nona and when she becomes sick she moves into the apt to be there for her grandmother. She works in webs design and has a found family with the apt community. The MMC is a doctor and as a child saw the FMC on a balcony on a traumatic and sad day for him. He inherited the apt of his dead uncle who he never knew. He is not allowed to sell the apt for a year and with the permission of the other renters. They refuse to let him sell it or rent it out but he was able to find some loopholes and rent it out short term.
There are antics with the FMC and MMC and others in the building to make people not want to rent the place. But with the antics they start to get close to one another, talk, and help each other the FMC learns to let go and allow changes. The MMC learns to allow people in and share his feelings and life with them.
Highly recommend!
The FMC has spent the summers at this apt building with her Nona and when she becomes sick she moves into the apt to be there for her grandmother. She works in webs design and has a found family with the apt community. The MMC is a doctor and as a child saw the FMC on a balcony on a traumatic and sad day for him. He inherited the apt of his dead uncle who he never knew. He is not allowed to sell the apt for a year and with the permission of the other renters. They refuse to let him sell it or rent it out but he was able to find some loopholes and rent it out short term.
There are antics with the FMC and MMC and others in the building to make people not want to rent the place. But with the antics they start to get close to one another, talk, and help each other the FMC learns to let go and allow changes. The MMC learns to allow people in and share his feelings and life with them.
Highly recommend!
adventurous
funny
mysterious
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
I have had the best reading month in so long and this book was so incredible. I did not want the book to end. I cannot wait for future books.
This book has it all adventures, action, love, treasure, creatures, pirates, missions, and more. I loved Amina she is such a badass. I love love love that she is a mom and still is this badass pirate.
This book has it all adventures, action, love, treasure, creatures, pirates, missions, and more. I loved Amina she is such a badass. I love love love that she is a mom and still is this badass pirate.
challenging
emotional
funny
hopeful
lighthearted
medium-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:
Complicated
Lola is back in town and she is a social justice advocate fighting for an LGBTQ+ youth center and shelter. Lola’s father was the Puerto Rican Al Capone and due to safety she had to leave town and break up with her love, Saint. Saint, has felt duty bound to family, traditions and served in the military. Now, he and Lola are trying to keep their abuelos from getting kicked out of the assisted living for pranking one another. Saint is a single father to a little girl named, Rosie who gets diagnosed with select mutism.
I loved the humor, battling abuelos, tension, fierce and strong fat Bisexual FMC. I loved the tender hearted for his daughter father who is a fierce advocate for her.
I cannot speak highly enough about this book. Thank you to Netgalley and Publisher for an Earc of this book!