This was a fun little mystery! I do think it has similar vibes to the Truly Devious series (that I love so much), to the point where it could’ve just This was a fun little mystery! I do think it has similar vibes to the Truly Devious series (that I love so much), to the point where it could’ve just had the same characters lol. Marlowe was a little annoying and I couldn’t keep track of the side characters so I didn’t bother trying to figure out the mystery, but I love that she had a modern day mystery alongside a historical one (again, like Truly Devious!). Unfortunately this won’t be super memorable but I did enjoy the reading experience. Maureen Johnson has such a great, distinctive writing style. ...more
3.5 stars. OK this is a tough one! I really love this author’s first book and was super excited to read her sophomore novel, especially when I read th3.5 stars. OK this is a tough one! I really love this author’s first book and was super excited to read her sophomore novel, especially when I read the synopsis. I love a friend group coming back together and anything relating to summer camp. For whatever reason, the main character and overall romance/love interest just didn’t really do it for me. The friendship vibes were pretty good but missed the mark a bit. I think I loved the final third of this book the most. Overall, my reading experience was a little tough – I started the book last month and then put it aside. Once I picked it back up, I was still never in the mood to read it. I generally liked it while I was reading but it definitely put me in a bit of a slump throughout the month of May. I’m glad I finished it, especially with the excellent ending, but unfortunately not a favorite. Still a good book that I would generally recommend!...more
Another super cute installment in the Dimple and Rishi universe! I was thrilled that this took place on Cape Cod but definitely wished for more of thoAnother super cute installment in the Dimple and Rishi universe! I was thrilled that this took place on Cape Cod but definitely wished for more of those feels. I loved the vast majority of the book but Pinky’s stubbornness was grating on me by the end. Samir was so sweet the whole time. Fake dating is a favorite trope and there was certainly some hate-to-love here too. Overall, a solid addition!
Merged review:
Another super cute installment in the Dimple and Rishi universe! I was thrilled that this took place on Cape Cod but definitely wished for more of those feels. I loved the vast majority of the book but Pinky’s stubbornness was grating on me by the end. Samir was so sweet the whole time. Fake dating is a favorite trope and there was certainly some hate-to-love here too. Overall, a solid addition!...more
I can totally see why this was a bit polarizing. I think you’ll either really like the voice and style or hate it. I do get the Knives Out comparison I can totally see why this was a bit polarizing. I think you’ll either really like the voice and style or hate it. I do get the Knives Out comparison to an extent. I haven’t read Benjamin Stevenson’s books but from what I understand I can see the similarities too. I really liked it! I think it was a super fun format and am eager to continue the series. The first half was a litttttle uneventful though. ...more
It took me so long to get into this for some reason but I knew once I sat down and actually read it, I’d finish it in a sitting. And that’s pretty mucIt took me so long to get into this for some reason but I knew once I sat down and actually read it, I’d finish it in a sitting. And that’s pretty much what happened. I absolutely love her writing. It’s a testament to how much I want to read her books that I read a story involving fresh grief and fresh divorce - two things I tend to avoid. Her skateboarding terminology could have been better but I will always love a skater boy love interest for obvious reasons. I also enjoyed that the synopsis gave nothing away - I recommend going in blind and seeing what kind of summer romance it turns out to be. ...more
There we go. This may be her best book yet. The others were messier and still wonderful but this one is just so pure? I loved the PEI setting (now I rThere we go. This may be her best book yet. The others were messier and still wonderful but this one is just so pure? I loved the PEI setting (now I really wanna go) and the back-and-forth of the characters. Very quiet and sweet. I read it in one sitting like I did with her first book. ...more
Another perfect one from Emily Henry. Maybe someday she’ll write a stinker but today is not that day. I really loved this. I feel like it was a littleAnother perfect one from Emily Henry. Maybe someday she’ll write a stinker but today is not that day. I really loved this. I feel like it was a little quieter than some of her other books? But had all of the same elements I love so much (tons of banter, great setting, good friendships, solid romance, complicated family dynamics, etc.). So good!...more
I think this is the first one I predicted whodunnit from the jump. I also am VERY tired of Everly talking about her weight so often. It adds nothing tI think this is the first one I predicted whodunnit from the jump. I also am VERY tired of Everly talking about her weight so often. It adds nothing to the story and is incredibly grating. I still love the setting and will definitely continue to read the series but I’ll be taking some time before jumping into the next one. ...more
Another fun installment! I’m really enjoying this series and am excited to continue. I liked the premise of this one with the wedding and having to coAnother fun installment! I’m really enjoying this series and am excited to continue. I liked the premise of this one with the wedding and having to corral all the guests to see if one was the murderer - makes it a lot easier to keep the books interesting when it isn’t the townspeople being accused all the time lol. ...more
This doesn’t add much to the “rich people behaving badly” genre but that doesn’t mean I didn’t have a fun time reading it! I love books set in northeaThis doesn’t add much to the “rich people behaving badly” genre but that doesn’t mean I didn’t have a fun time reading it! I love books set in northeast beach towns, especially with shitty wealthy people and a little bit of murder. It’s not really a mystery or a thriller necessarily… my friend described it as White Lotus-like and I agree! Not a super mysterious book but you learn of a dead body in the prologue and find out more about it later, without any of the typical thriller elements in between. I’d definitely recommend this as a breezy beach read! If the premise interests you, give it a shot, but don’t expect it to reinvent the wheel. ...more
DNF at 32%. Okay after literally sleeping on it and reading a few reviews this morning, I'm quitting this one. I have a lot to say about it but will tDNF at 32%. Okay after literally sleeping on it and reading a few reviews this morning, I'm quitting this one. I have a lot to say about it but will try to keep it brief. I adored the cover, have enjoyed McKinlay in the past, and love Martha's Vineyard. I wanted a great beach read with some bookish elements, family feels, and a cute relationship. There was honestly a lot going on here, which I usually enjoy. I like when the side characters (friends, love interest, family members, etc.) feel well-developed and fleshed out. However, the beginnings of dramatic side plots for Ben and Em were looking like too much for me in a romance (and kind of out of place). I read a few spoilers in reviews to confirm this choice and oh boy did it solidify my decision to quit. Just not necessary. The MC is neurodivergent and has dyslexia. I liked this and was intrigued to know more about something I'm fairly unfamiliar with. I don't think it was well done and she brought it up constantly throughout the story. Yes, I TOTALLY understand why this would be the case and perhaps it's good representation! I don't personally know. But it felt like it was the ONLY thing about her instead of just one part of who she was as a person. There were some utterly cringey moments, like the dancing??? and the fact that Jessica felt so juvenile. The writing was too. It was just reaaally weird and so cheesy! I loved the MV setting, the culinary aspects, and the family feels that I experienced in the first third of the book. Truly did! It's why it took me a while to decide to quit this one. If the book focused more on those and eliminated one or two of the side plots, I think it would have gone down to a reasonable length (it's over 400 pages, almost 500!??). ...more
Cute! I’m really looking forward to continuing this series soon. I’d consider diving into the second one right now if I had it in my hands! The mysterCute! I’m really looking forward to continuing this series soon. I’d consider diving into the second one right now if I had it in my hands! The mystery was predictable but I didn’t really mind. Everly and her tea shop on the beach made for a fun MC/setting to a new cozy series. ...more
Wow that really crept up on me! I thought it was going to be a four star, easy contemporary romance to finish the summer with and it ended up becomingWow that really crept up on me! I thought it was going to be a four star, easy contemporary romance to finish the summer with and it ended up becoming a favorite of the year. I’m sure many people won’t like the “love triangle” or whatever but it just felt like a real, messy story to me. I wish there was a LITTLE more oomph during certain parts but I think it’s kind of beautiful in its simplicity. ...more
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