A Bookworm's Book Reviews

The Lost Bookshop – Evie Woods

Title: The Lost Bookshop

Author: Evie Woods

Genre: Historical Fiction, Fantasy

Plot: Martha has moved to Dublin to escape an abusive husband. She takes a job working for Madam Bowden to hide. Then a PhD student, Henry, asks about Madam Bowden’s house. He wants to know more about another possible book that Emily Brontë wrote. There were rumors of a bookshop that dealt with rare books that used to be in Madam Bowden’s house. He convinces Martha to help. He learns the person in charge of the bookshop was Opaline Carlisle, but traces of her vanish after a certain point. Soon he finds a connection between Opaline and the possible second Emily Brontë book. What’s the connection? What really happened to Opaline? Will Martha and Henry be able to find the Emily Brontë book? Does it even exist?

Rating: 3.5 – a different side of bookshops and history

Opinion: This was an interesting book. It was a little darker than I was expecting. One of the characters in an asylum in the 1940s. Though there’s hope because she does take initiative and escape her asylum. While I know it hardly ever happened, I’m glad someone got to escape a place like that. I’m glad a woman from the 1940’s got to take charge of her own life and live her own life. It’s really what lead to the modern parts of the story. The modern parts confused me a little bit. The author tried to weave magic into the bookshop. For me, it didn’t really seam to fit the story. It felt like it was trying too hard to be a magical bookshop that appeared when the characters needed it. I don’t feel like it was set up nor explained super well. That or I was just too tired to understand the explanation when I read that part. Still, it wasn’t my favorite explanation of a magical bookshop. It didn’t have a great build up either. Things just happened throughout the book without much explanation. I liked that idea, just wished it had been set up differently. Overall, I really did like the book. It had lots of interesting history and being able to overcome difficulties. I recommend it to anyone who loves historical fiction.

The Life Impossible – Matt Haig

Title: The Life Impossible

Author: Matt Haig

Genre: Fantasy

Plot: Grace is a retired math teacher in England. She feels like she’s lost herself since her family’s passed away. Out of the blue, an old acquaintance, Christina, sends her a letter saying she’s left Grace a small house in Ibiza, an island off the coast of Spain. Grace reluctantly goes, hoping a change of scenery will do her good. While in Ibiza, she meets Alberto. He knew Christina. He says someone was after Christina and the island. He wants help finding out who was going after them. Grace says she’s too old to help. Alberto convinces her to help. But will Grace’s help be enough? Can they stop whoever was going after Christina? Can they protect the island? Or will the island be changed forever? And Christina’s possible killer get away with it all?

Rating: 4.2 – an interesting tale of finding your passion

Opinion: This was an interesting book. I wouldn’t have picked it out for myself but I got it as a gift. I’ve read another book by the author and I really liked that one, so I had high hopes for this book. It didn’t disappoint. The author did a great job making the magic seam like a part of every day life. It was interesting how magic influenced people. It chose the people it wanted to share its power with. It made it seem like a living creature. It was never 100% clear if it was, but the characters acted like it might be. I liked the theme of finding your passions when you’re older. And that it’s never too late to help change things. Though it was hard to suspend belief with change would be that easy to come by. It almost made it seem too easy. The theme of save the environment was a bit over the top but still let the book be enjoyable. I’m glad there was some talk about mental health. The main characters had people to talk with about their problems and help each other solve them. Overall, I really enjoyed this book. I recommend it for anyone who wants a easy read about finding your passions.

The Witch of Blackbird Pond – Elizabeth George Speare

Title: The Witch of Blackbird Pond

Author: Elizabeth George Speare

Genre: Historical Fiction

Plot: Kit Tyler is a sixteen year old traveling from Barbados to Connecticut by herself. Her grandfather recently passed, leaving her with no family on the island. When she arrives, she’s met with suspicion. Kit wasn’t raised Puritan so doesn’t understand their rigid ways. Now she’s struggling to fit in. Then she meets Hannah Tupper. She lives on the edge of town and has been deemed a witch. Kit learns that isn’t the truth. She wants to help Hannah and others, but at what cost? When people start getting sick, people start blaming Hannah. Will they blame Kit by association? Or will she escape? Will she ever be welcome in her new home? Can she learn to fit in? Or will she forever be on the outside looking in?

Rating: 4.0 – a simple and powerful tale of finding acceptance

Opinion: This was a great book. It was a relatable tale about fitting in. I remember hearing about this book growing up though I never remember reading it. I thought it was going to focus more on the witch trials going on around that time. But focused more on an outsider trying to fit in. There’s nothing wrong with that, it just wasn’t what I was expecting. It’s a good reminder that it’s very easy to find someone to blame when things go wrong, especially if they’re considered an outsider. I liked that someone stuck up for the outsider. That’s not always the case. Outsiders need to stick together. I like that Kit was finally able to find a place where she truly fit in. I was tired while reading this book, so I don’t feel like I absorbed as much as I usually did. Overall, I really did enjoy this book. It’s an easy book to read if you need a quick read. It has a great message for younger readers. I highly recommend this book for young readers who enjoy historical fiction.

Book of Night – Holly Black

Title: Book of Night

Author: Holly Night

Genre: Fantasy

Plot: Charlie Hall is a mostly reformed thief. She stole for gloamists, people who manipulate shadows. She’s determined to make a better life for her and her sister, Posey. But now the gloamists want something from her. Charlie resists at first. She’s given no choice when an old acquaintance attacks her with his shadow. Her partner Vince intervenes and destroys the man and his shadow. Charlie digs into Vince’s past and sees that he’s not all that he seems. Vince can’t or won’t give her a straight answer. Then he disappears. Charlie starts looking into things fully when an old enemy demands she help him. Will Charlie be able to find what her enemy is looking for? Can she find a way out of her problems? Can she find and help her friends and family? Or they meet their demise as well?

Rating: 3.5 – a darker side of magic

Opinion: This was an interesting book. I really liked the idea of being able to manipulate and change your shadow. It was an interesting that your shadow could become its own entity. But it only comes alive with blood and needs to be continually fed. This puts a dark twist on the book. I liked that there was a body of government that was for how the shadow magic should be used. There was history about the shadow magic. People studied and learned more about magic throughout time. Like some other reviews, I wished the magic was a little more fleshed out. I feel like the author gave a quick summary of things then called it good. I also feel like it jumped around too much. It made it hard for me to get into. I tried really hard to enjoy the book but I just couldn’t get into it. Maybe it was the writing style of the book. Maybe I just didn’t click with the third person. It might’ve been easier for me to follow if it was in first person. I do think this was an interesting book and had a good idea going for it. I just had a hard time getting into it. I recommend this book for anyone who likes a darker side of magic.

Passion Project – London Sperry

Title: Passion Project

Author: London Sperry

Genre: Romance

Plot: Bennet is a lost soul, not sure what to do with herself outside of her temp job. She feels like she’s got no future and no passions. Her roommate signs Bennet up for a dating app and encourages her to go on a date. Bennet agrees to meet Henry. Immediately she panics and runs away. Somehow, she runs into Henry the next day by chance. He convinces Bennet to start a Passion Project as friends. Each week they try and new activity, hopefully to find one or both of their passions. Slowly, Bennet comes out of her shell and becomes more comfortable trying new things. Bennet and Henry become very close. Neither are willing to admit they want to be more than friends. When challenges arise can their relationship last? Or will their pasts drive them apart?

Rating: 3.8 – another sweet and sappy romance that’s healthier

Opinion: This was a sweet book. I enjoyed the idea of trying something new or different every week. But the practical side of me said that’s going to be super expensive, especially in New York City. I guess that’s the sappy romantic side of the story. For some weird reason I couldn’t look over that part. There were lots super cute moments in the book. I’m glad that the relationships seemed more realistic. They fought, but talked about it afterwards. They talked when things got rough. They walked away from things that weren’t good for them. I’m also glad the characters got the mental health help they needed. The characters made conscious choices to make themselves better after a while. It almost made it seem too easy but it was still a challenge for the characters to change because their actions were habit. Overall, this was a very cute book. It was still sweet and sappy book while being more realistic. I highly recommend this book for any who love sweet and sappy romance.

The Summer We Ran – Audrey Ingram

Title: The Summer We Ran

Author: Audrey Ingram

Genre: Realistic Fiction

Plot: In the summer of ’96, Tess’s mom took a job for an affluent lady in Virginia. Her mother reminds Tess to be on her best behavior. The neighbor lets Tess work in her garden. While working, Tess meets Grant Alexander, son of a prominent politician. They hit it off instantly, despite their own broken pasts. Both of their mothers caution them in their summer romance. Then tragedy after tragedy strike. The two are separated, not by their own doing. In 2021, both Tess and Grant run for governor in Virginia. No one in their lives knows what happened that summer all those years ago. Tess is sent an anonymous email with a photo of her and Grant from that summer. She starts to panic and tells her campaign manager the bare bones of what happened that summer. Tess finds Grant and tells him what’s going on. As the campaign continues, both parties try to find out who’s blackmailing Tess. The more they learn, the more things unravel in their personal lives. Can both families survive? Will the truth come out? Or can Tess and Grant keep that summer a secret?

Rating: 3.6 – a interesting look at politics and consequences of hiding the past

Opinion: This was an interesting book. I enjoyed getting a behind the scenes look at politics without the book being too political. I don’t mind politics so long as it’s not the main focus. The dynamics of Tess and Grant’s relationship seem pretty realistic. Not all relationships about people from different worlds work in the real world. While this wasn’t the happiest book I’ve ever read, it’s realistic. There are consequences to our actions or lack there of. Not everything in life can be forgiven. While what happened in the book was heartbreaking, it seems more realistic. I do wish the ending had been a little happier. Or at least one or two of the characters had come to justice by the end of the book. Their fate seemed like a loose end in the book. Overall, this was an interesting book. It kept me interested throughout. I kept hoping the characters would get the ending they deserved. I recommend this book who wants to see a different side of politics and family dynamic.

The Last Speakers – K. David Harrison

Title: The Last Speakers

Author: K. David Harrison

Genre: Memoir

Plot: K. David Harrison talks about his journeys through the wilderness and remote villages to document and record the world’s dying languages. Over the course of the years, he’s found hot spots of the highest risk of disappearing forever. He talks about how people who speak a dying language have struggled to show their language and knowledge with younger people. The younger generations have less interest in learning their ancestors languages. It’s easier to learn the predominant language in the area. In the past, the speakers of dying languages have been made to feel ashamed of their first language. It’s made them hesitant to speak with others and teach others. K. David Harrison talks about how he’s lived among the people and gained their trust in order to learn more about their language and culture. He talks about how much knowledge and culture we’re losing when they disappear. While it looks bleak, there is some hope because there’s starting to be a revitalization of some of the dying languages.

Rating: 4.0 – a deep, insightful talk about language and how they’re important

Opinion: This was an interesting book. I liked how much details about the languages that are included. There’s so many interesting facts about dying languages and their cultures. There’s so much local knowledge and history recorded in those languages. I understand that it’s easier for the younger generation to learn the main language in the area they live in. They want to fit in with the language majority. But there’s so much tied to the culture within the language. There’s so many different ways to understand the world when you speak another language. The author says he’s received letters about the simplicity of only speaking one language and how everyone should speak the same language. But you lose so much culture, knowledge, and understanding when you speak more than one language. But I understand wanting to be accepted by the main stream culture and language group by only speaking the prominent language. I can see both sides of the argument with local languages wanting to protect their languages. They don’t want outsiders to change or get rid of their language. But language is adaptable and can survive if the speakers are willing. They can find their own words for modern things. There are so many things to unpack in this book. It’s a great book for any language lovers. A family I work with gave me this book as a gift and I love it. I highly recommend it for anyone who wants to learn more about languages.

Just for the Summer – Abby Jimenez

Title: Just for the Summer

Author: Abby Jimenez

Genre: Romance

Plot: Emma and Maddy are traveling nurses deciding on where to go next. They find a Reddit article about a guy, Justin, who’s got a ‘love curse.’ He says after every relationship he’s in, his partner’s next boyfriend is the one she marries. Emma replies that the same thing happens to her. They start hatching a plan to meet up, date, then break up. This should break the curse, so they think. Emma convinces Maddy to make their next work place in Minnesota, where Justin lives. Emma and Justin hit it off right away. Then Emma’s toxic mother, show up to complicate things. To make matters even more complicated, Justin has to take custody of his siblings. Justin and Emma try their best to work through everything. It starts off well, but Emma’s mother continues to make things worse. Can their relationship work? Or will their situation and past get the better of them?

Rating: 4.3 – a more realistic Hallmark style romance

Opinion: This was a great book. I liked that this romance felt pretty realistic, but still sappy. That finding love can be in the middle of the doing the most ordinary things with someone. Saying ‘I love you’ can be in the middle of a conversation and doesn’t have to be a profound statement. I also like how in depth and realistic the mental health and past trauma felt. It makes sense that people carry their past with them in subtle ways as an adult. It made the book and characters more relatable. It also was a nice difference to see that the characters didn’t feel like they needed help, at first. Some of them never got the help they clearly needed. That also made the book feel more relatable. I love that the characters also made the realization that they needed to put their current relationships on hold so that they could get the help they needed before returning to their relationships. They saw what they were doing wouldn’t be good for the people around them and did what they needed to do to make it better. I liked that this book was a little cleaner than some other romance books I’ve read. There’s still some smut, but it’s only one time versus up to four times in other books. It was nice that a healthy romance was promoted in this book. I also didn’t realize that this book is connected to another book, Part of Your World. Overall, I really liked this book, it’s longish but an easy read. I highly recommend it to anyone who loves Hallmark style romance.

Only the Beautiful – Susan Meissner

Title: Only the Beautiful

Author: Susan Meissner

Genre: Historical Fiction

Plot: Rosie Maras has just lost her family in a train accident in the 1930’s. Her parent’s boss, Celine and Truman Calvert, take her in. Rosie is taken from the vineyard, the Calvert’s own and becomes a maid in the household. Then an accident happens and Rosie becomes pregnant. The Calvert’s send her to an asylum for that and because she can see colors with sounds. The asylum tries to ‘cure’ her. Then she’s forced to give up her child after gives birth. Will Rosie ever be free of the asylum? Is it possible for her to be reunited with her child?

Truman Calvert’s sister, Helen, returns to the vineyard from Europe after World War 2. She was a nanny and teacher there during the war. Helen finds her brother’s been killed in a training accident. Her sister-in-law, Celine, is angry with everyone because of what happened with Truman and Celine. Helen travels California to find Rosie and her child. Is it even possible for her to find the child and Rosie? Or has her search been in vain?

Rating: 4.0 – a story of family and history

Opinion: This was an interesting book. It makes you think about what the US did people in asylums in the 1900’s. It almost feels tame compared to some of the things I’ve heard on the Discovery Channel, but still sad. It talks about the darker side of happened to the people that went out of sight. We hid people because they’re different. It was easier that way. It was horrible how the doctors treated the patients in the book. Part of me hoped they’d lose their license, but I knew they wouldn’t because of the times. For how sad it was, I was glad the redeemable characters got their happy ending. You could kind of see where the ending was going, but it was still a good read and a good ending. The characters in the book are relatable. They make realistic choices. Though, the odds of them finding each other were against each other were high, I’m glad they did. Overall, this was a great book. I highly recommend it for anyone who wouldn’t mind reading about the darker side of the 1930’s and ’40’s.

My Next Breath – Jeremy Renner

This book may be gory graphic for some readers.

Title: My Next Breath

Author: Jeremy Renner

Genre: Memoir

Plot: Jeremy Renner tells his story about his snowplow accident on January 1, 2023. He talks about the events that led up to that day and why he and his nephew were out using the snowplow and truck that day. There’s talk about why he did what he did and what went through his head in the moments before, during, and after the accident. He takes responsibility for the event and the effects it had on his family. He talked about his hospital stay, the surgeries, the in hospital recovery, and out of hospital recovery. Lastly, he talks about the continuing recovery two years later and returning to work.

Rating: 4.3 – a story of loss and recovery and family and love

Opinion: This was a great memoir. I understand why Jeremy Renner didn’t want to write this book. It’s super hard to write about the traumatic events in your life, especially the recent ones. It can be hard to find motivation to keep going and to keep getting better after a traumatic event when you don’t have something to hold on to. He talks so much about the love he has for his family and friends. That’s the main thing that kept him going. He attributes his family and his life experiences that gave him the ability to survive his traumatic event. It’s amazing that he had such a strong support system in his family and friends. It makes recovery that much easier on you mentally. It was relatable for me because I had a traumatic event in early 2024. It was nowhere near as traumatic as Jeremy Renner, but still traumatic. It stressed me out a little to read the book and hear about his event and his time in the hospital. For most of that, I kept thinking, ‘how is this guy still alive?’ I think my cat noticed that and snuggled with me while I was reading this book. It was nice to hear some motivation for me and others who are still recovering from traumatic events. It may look different for everyone, by you can still relate to what Jeremy Renner talks about. Finding something to hold on to makes recovering easier, whether it’s family, friends, pets, or something else. It may not be the best for squeamish people as there’s lots of talk about some of the graphic parts of Jeremy Renner’s injuries. Overall, this is a great book about finding something to hold onto after a traumatic event.