Pam
I decided to read Something More after reading You Started It in 2025. I am so grateful that I finally read Khalilieh’s debut novel. A bonus for me is that it is set in the Toronto area, which I love.
Khalilieh has a way of writing realistic characters, based on her own life experiences. Jessie’s parents are Palestinian, making Jessie a first-generation Palestinian-Canadian. With that, Jessie is trying to balance her parents’ wishes and desires for her and her siblings with what is happening in school.
I found Something More relatable, even though my high school years are far behind me. In many ways, I saw myself in Jessie, though I never had the desire to be in a school play. Jessie’s relationships with those around her were ones I heard about from my two girls as they navigated the life that is high school. There’s making friends, losing friends, crushes, dating, breaking up, and the heartache of it all is described perfectly in this book.
Something More is classified as a young-adult romance. But to me, it is much more than that. To me, this is a contemporary slice of life that is so relatable.
My biggest issue with the book was the ages of the main characters. Jessie turned 15 before we ever met her, and she’s excited to start high school in grade 9. Levi just turned 16, and he’s in grade 10. Maybe it’s just me, and the fact that my birthday was later in the year, but those ages feel off for the Canadian education system. My youngest daughter turned 15 in the middle of grade 9, as her birthday is in January. Also, at one point in the novel, Levi is driving alone at age 16. If you don’t live in Ontario, Canada, you may not see that as a flaw. But in Ontario, you don’t get to drive alone until you’ve been driving for at least a year, and you can’t start driving until you turn 16. As I said, this is an issue I have because I know the details aren’t quite right. And in other places, these ages and actions may be correct.
Overall, Something More has plenty of fun and drama! There’s character growth, messy families, and lots of fun. If you enjoy Lynn Painter’s YA books, I honestly feel you would enjoy Something More.
This is not your typical Christie novel. While there's a mystery or two, Postern of Fate is more of a recap of Tommy & Tuppence's adventures while they have one more.
I read some where that this was Christie's last novel, and that she made voice recordings of it over typing it out. As such, the story may be a bit more meandering than people expect.htt
Originally posted at readbakecreate.com.
I added My Roommate Is a Vampire to my TBR when I first learned about it, almost a year before its release. It saddens me to know that it has taken me this long to read it. Overall, I enjoyed my time with Cassie and Fredrick.
I found this to be a quick and easy read, full of interesting characters. Though he is only a side character, Reginald is great fun and one I would love to know more about. Thankfully, he is one of the main characters in Levine’s second book, My Vampire Plus-One. Even Edwina, Fredrick’s mom, is an interesting character.
While there are some sexy scenes, most of those are over the halfway point of the book. In general, I would classify this as a slow-burn romance with a lot of will-they-or-won’t-they energy. From the moment Cassie meets Fredrick, she admits he’s the sexist man she’s ever met. And through Fredrick’s diary entries and texts with Reginald, we learn he is attracted to Cassie.
Most of the story is told in the first person from Cassie’s POV. However, most of the chapters do start with something from Fredrick. There are a few places where Fredrick’s thoughts are interjected in the middle of a chapter.
My biggest issue is Cassie herself. While it’s great to have a character who doesn’t have their stuff together, it gets a tad frustrating when they seem to ignore the assistance offered by their friends and family. I guess what I’m trying to say is that Cassie has a little too much woe-is-me energy for my liking.
Overall, My Roommate Is a Vampire is a quick and easy read that is lots of fun. Who will enjoy it? Honestly, that depends on how you like your vampires. Fredrick is not a sparkling, sex-crazed, needs to bite everyone kind of vampire. He’s more of a dark, broody one. But he’s more than that, too.
Originally posted at readbakecreate.com.
As someone who grew up in the 1980s, I remember watching Fox as Alex P. Keaton every week, though mostly after the period covered in the book. And like most Gen-X, I remember watching him as Marty McFly for the first time. For me, it wasn’t on the big screen, but the impact of Back to the Future was the same no matter what! So it felt like a no-brainer to read Future Boy. And I’m glad that I did.
From reading Future Boy, I learned things about the filming of Back to the Future that I hadn’t known. Like someone else had originally been cast to play Marty McFly. That seems preposterous to me. It turns out the role was actually written for Fox, but he wasn’t initially offered it because of his obligations to Family Ties.
I listened to the audiobook, which Fox himself narrated, and I highly recommend it as well. There are sound bites of various interviews conducted while writing the book. The physical copy has photos from Fox’s life, both before he became famous and from the sets of both the show and the movie.
Overall, anyone interested in TV and movie production would enjoy reading Future Boy. I also recommend it to everyone in search of a quick, refreshing, and blunt memoir.
I want to thank Tor Publishing and NetGalley for the opportunity to read an advanced copy of Dead Weight. All opinions presented here are my own.
I requested the ARC for Dead Weight for two reasons. The first, because I’ve read a book by Knútsdóttir a couple of years ago, and found it interesting. The second is that Knútsdóttir is from Iceland. I suppose I have a weakness for Icelandic authors, even if their genre isn’t my normal.
Now, let’s talk about Dead Weight. This can be a quick read, as it’s around 160 pages. But you may find yourself taking it slowly with the first half or so. Well, after you get past the prologue and the first little bit of the first chapter. But once the ball starts rolling, it speeds to the finish line.
Yes, the events of the final few chapters are obvious from the beginning. But I wasn’t certain who it would be until a chapter or so before it happened. And just because you know what’s coming doesn’t mean it’s not worth the read.
Dead Weight is marketed as a horror; it’s more than that. Yes, there are horror elements, including some blood and gore. But it’s also a look at what happens when people get pushed to the edge. While none of the characters are what one would call good people, you will find yourself able to relate to Unnur’s thoughts and actions as the book progresses.
If you’re looking for a book with interesting pacing and story arc, you should give
Originally posted at readbakecreate.com.
I’ve finally read a Hannah Bonam-Young book, and I find myself wondering what took me so long! Truthfully, I wasn’t sure I wanted to read Out on a Limb because I didn’t think I could relate to the characters. And in many ways, I didn’t. But I did connect with Win and her concerns about a previous relationship impacting a new relationship. I feel that we are all concerned about our previous relationships impacting us when starting a new relationship. While I never had one like her, I could still understand her fears—the same was true for Bo.
Out on a Limb is told through Win’s POV. As such, it was great to see her inner turmoil with her feelings for Bo. Occasionally, though, I did wish that we could have Bo’s POV. What were his thoughts about his feelings for Win?
I found myself cheering for them throughout the story, and may have squealed with joy and excitement a few times while reading. Their relationship felt real, and while not everyone could afford to do what they did, I was great to see Win finally see she’s worthy of everything she gives to others.
Overall, Out on a Limb is a fun read that I think many people will connect with. And I, for one, cannot wait to read more by Bonam-Young!
I started reading the Ernest Cunningham books because of the titles. The first book, Everyone in My Family Has Killed Someone, was a fantastic start to the series. Throughout the entire series, the titles have been attention-grabbing. Even better, the stories and the storytelling are also attention-grabbing.
In this book, Ernest finds himself in an unprecedented situation, trying to solve multiple mysteries, from theft to murder. Some of these happen in the book, but a few do happen before the book begins. Cunningham is a writer by trade and, as such, insists on telling the story in the style of Golden Age mysteries, where all the clues are on the page for readers to process at the same time as the detective.
Obviously, I’m not going to spoil anything that happens in the book. But I do have to say that my biggest issue is that a couple of events in the book run counter to Cunningham’s way of telling the story. A few things revealed as the story progresses that don’t feel like they were referenced earlier in the book.
One of my favorite aspects of this book, and the series as a whole, is the fact that Ernest Cunningham tends to break the fourth wall. I don’t believe I have ever read another series, or even a book, that has a main character do that.
Overall, I believe anyone who enjoys reading mysteries will enjoy the Ernest Cunningham series.
I added The Bodyguard Affair to my TBR last summer after reading the synopsis. It sounded like such a fun read. And it was a fun read, with a side of heart and reality.
While the book is over 400 pages long, it doesn’t feel like it’s drawn out. There’s nothing that feels like it needs editing. Sure, Andi has her moments where she comes across as a pick me girl, but don’t we all at one point or another in our lives? Just like, there are times when Nolan comes across as a loner who doesn’t need anyone. We all know the truth! But these personality traits are what make them feel human to me.
And their chemistry? It’s there from the beginning. And what a meet-cute they have in the first chapter! That was a scene for the ages. I couldn’t stop laughing.
My biggest ick with the book begins around the halfway mark, when they start exploring their feelings. I’m all for characters doing that, especially in a romance. But this is more than that, when Andi opens herself up, intimately, Nolan comments, “Good girl!” If this was said once or twice in the book, I think I would’ve been okay with it. It feels like he says it every time!
Overall, The Bodyguard Affair is a fun read that I think many people will connect with.
Abby Jimenez has become an auto-read author for me. I’ve enjoyed reading all of her books thus far, and The Night We Met is no different. Honestly, I was surprised to get it from my library so soon after its release. Jimenez isn’t a best-selling author for no reason.
The premise of The Night We Met actually had me more curious than any of her other books. I mean, how do you write a romance where the main characters can’t be together? That said, this one is definitely a slow-burning romance if ever there was one. But the slow burn made sense, and the chemistry between Larissa and Chris was palpable from the beginning.
It was obvious from the moment you met Mike that he was not the man for Larissa. I could explain my thoughts and reasoning for saying that, but I feel like that would spoil the book. I hate that it took Larissa so long to see it. Of course, if she had seen it sooner, the book wouldn’t have been as long. And no, that’s not a bad thing. I never want a Jimenez book to end.
My biggest issue with the book was the last chapter. I’m not sure if a friendship group that had been together as long as the one in this book would move on so easily. I feel like if I say more, it would be a spoiler, and I really strive not to spoil books.
If you are concerned that this is part of a series, don’t be. Like all of Jimenez’s books, you can read them as standalones. That said, there are occasionally characters and settings that overlap from previous books, so there may be some spoilers.
Overall, The Night We Met is another fantastic book from Abby Jimenez, and I can’t wait to read more from her. Sadly, it’ll be a while before we get book three in this series.
I want to thank Atria Books and NetGalley for the opportunity to read an advanced copy of Cleo Dang Would Rather Be Dead. However, all opinions expressed here are solely mine.
Cleo Dang Would Rather Be Dead is a look at one woman’s loss and grief. It’s a look at how she processes the world around her and strives to survive. Is this book for everyone? No, but that doesn’t mean people shouldn’t read it.
I debated adding Cleo Dang Would Rather Be Dead to my TBR due to its subject matter. Twenty-six years ago, I was a young woman, excited to be madly in love and shocked to find out I was pregnant. Unfortunately, only a few days later, I lost the baby. It destroyed me and left me questioning so much. A couple of years later, when I found myself pregnant again, I was a mess until I got to hold my baby in my arms. As discussed in the book, this kind of loss never really leaves you; it just hurts a little less each day.
Setting my concerns aside, I decided to give Nguyen’s sophomore novel a read. And I’m glad I did. While reading it, you can feel she cares for Cleo and those around her. In the pages of this book, you will find sadness and sorrow. There’s no way around that. You may also question Cleo’s actions. But as you read, you find yourself understanding her actions.
My biggest issue with the book is one of the side characters, Dr. Posey. It’s scary to think there are doctors like that in the world. One willing to push medication onto their patients without really listening to their concerns. One willing to let patients medicate without restraint. Don’t get me wrong, I know doctors like that do exist. But I found myself screaming at her to stop, and actually to look at the woman in front of her.
Overall, I believe everyone can relate to Cleo Dang and her pain, even if you’ve never lost a child. While it may not be an easy read, it is one that everyone can benefit from.
While this is a bit darker and moodier than I normally read in mysteries, it was a fantastic read! The characters are all flawed, some more so than others. My biggest issue was the sexualization of women. Most of the time, the size of their bust or bottom (or even both) was used to describe them. This was done not only in conversations between the police officers but also in the narrator's thoughts. I'm still looking forward to reading more in the series.
I want to thank St. Martin’s Press and NetGalley for the opportunity to read an advanced copy of Love by the Book. All opinions presented here are solely mine.
4.75 stars rounded up to 5
I added Love by the Book to my TBR as soon as I learned about it. Why? Because I read Jessica George’s debut novel, Maame, and loved it. I am so glad that I did, because I loved this book! It was so hard to put down. When I wasn’t reading about it, I was thinking about Remy and all of her friends.
Remy is asexual and is ok with not having a long-term romantic relationship with anyone. She loves her friends and family fiercely, and she is more than happy with those relationships. As the group begins to change, Remy finds herself feeling lost. She feels left out of the group and believes her friends are leaving her behind.
Simone has never really had friends; she had her sister and was more than happy with that. As an introvert and a very private person, she was content to have only her sister as a friend. Until something separates them, and she finds herself alone.
Remy and Simone are similar people, but so very different. And it turns out maybe they are just what the other needs!
My biggest issue with the book is the last couple of chapters. While we get the conclusion we expect, it still feels a tad too perfect. Sure, there’s the break-up and the reconciliation, but it’s some of the other bits in those last few chapters that feel too “perfect.” Maybe that’s just me?
I feel as though this book is a great look at friendships–how they start, how they grow, how they evolve. Who should read Love by the Book? Anyone wanting to read a romance that’s about platonic love friendships.
Originally posted at readbakecreate.com.
I want to thank ECW Press and NetGalley for the opportunity to read an advanced copy of Three Bengal Kittens. However, all opinions expressed here are solely mine.
I was excited to learn that a fourth book in the Dr. Bannerman series was being released, as I have enjoyed the first three. My introduction to the series was quite by accident, as I was scrolling through my library looking for a quick mystery to read. And of course, I want to support as many Canadian authors as I can. The first book, Fifty-Four Pigs, was quickly read, followed by the second, Six Ostriches. Upon learning of Three Bengal Kittens, I made sure to read the third book in the series, Eleven Huskies.
In the case of most mystery series, I would say you could read them in any order, with little to no issues. In many ways, this holds for this series, but I would still recommend reading them in order. This is to better understand the quirks and relationships among the assorted characters.
Peter is an interesting character, especially the more time you spend with him. He has certain mannerisms that may bother readers if they jump into the series midway through. Why do I say that? Well, because Peter is autistic. This is something that Schott does not shy away from discussing. Peter knows his mannerisms may bother others, but after a while, he doesn’t care. Nor should he; why should he have to adapt to fit other people’s ideals?
There are also discussions of mental health issues, as Sam has psychotic episodes. While these may not always be handled in the best ways, they are openly discussed. Unfortunately, they were also used as a way to look at Sam as a main suspect in the murder. Sadly, it’s also used to make him act in ways he might not normally.
Overall, my favorite character in the series has been Pippen. He is a champion scent dog. Who knew there were competitions for such things? Pippen is essentially Peter’s best friend and an almost constant companion throughout everything that happens.
One thing I will say about this book, and the series in general, is that it’s not a typical cozy mystery. There’s not much to make you laugh or smile while trying to solve the crime. These are more slice-of-life books in which the local vet finds himself in unfortunate situations.
That said, I feel that everyone who enjoys reading mysteries should give this series a read. The books are all under 300 pages, and are not as heavy as many other mysteries and thrillers.
Originally posted at readbakecreate.com.