The Sideways Life of Denny Voss by Holly Kennedy - Book Review

Publication Date: 08th April 2025 

Genre: General Fiction 

4 Stars 

One Liner: This was good! 

Denny Voss lives in rural Minnesota with his mother, Nana-Jo, and his blind and deaf Saint Bernard, George. As someone with developmental issues, he makes a living clearing roadkill with his cousin, Agnes. 

However, Denny is arrested on the charge of murdering the local mayoral candidate. As he awaits his trial, Dr. Herald, the therapist, tries to find out more about Denny’s life. Talking about his past brings out many secrets. Denny seems to have some tough decisions to make for his future! 

The story comes in Denny’s first-person POV. 

My Thoughts: 

I was debating on this one when I saw Shelley’s review and decided to grab a copy. Thanks for that! Note that the writing style may not be for everyone. 

This is a heavier read, though it has many lovely moments and random things that’ll make you smile or chuckle. Still, the themes are pretty intense. 

The chapter heads act as little pointers about what’s to come. I wouldn’t call them spoilers as such but you can avoid them if you are too particular about things. 

Though the book is from Denny’s POV, we can see how stressful it can be for his mother and cousin to deal with him at times. His mother, especially deserves a lot of appreciation for trying to balance protecting him and making him self-reliant as much as possible. 

While I could empathize with Denny’s situation each time he got arrested, I could also see it from the other side. When you deal with criminals and twisted minds, it becomes hard to differentiate, that too without knowing any background information. It’s a catch-22 situation. Damned if they do, damned if they don’t! That said, a few of them could learn to be more sensible. 

The side characters are interesting. They are mixed – some good, some not-so-good, and some bad. Not everyone understands or likes Denny and not everyone dislikes him. So, we get a pretty realistic picture of his life in the village. 

I don’t want to say much but two events in the last quarter didn’t appeal to me. Even though one of them happened in real life, it didn’t have to be the same in fiction. After all, fiction is a way to change reality, albeit fictionally (check TW for more)! I don’t believe in ‘family is family’, so the other one didn’t work either. 

There’s repetition and things can go around in circles since Denny likes to take time but you’ll get used to it after the initial 20% or so. However, if you don’t, the book may not appeal to you as much. Quite a bit hinges on the writing style even though the characters are well-crafted. 

Lastly, don’t skip the author’s note. It is very detailed (just how I like them) and the author talks about various elements she used in the book. 

To summarize, The Sideways Life of Denny Voss is a poignant novel about what it means to be a person with developmental issues and how one’s community plays a role in making or breaking things. 

Thank you, NetGalley, and Lake Union Publishing, for eARC. This review is voluntary and contains my honest opinion about the book. 

#NetGalley #TheSidewaysLifeOfDennyVoss

***

TW: Prejudice, a bit of violence, death of a dog (which wasn’t necessary), grooming, mentions of infidelity, mentions of alcoholism 

Enchantra by Kaylie Smith - Book Review

Series: Wicked Games #2

Publication Date: 08th April 2025

Genre: Dark Romantasy 

3.7 Stars 

One Liner: Dark and entertaining 

Genevieve Grimm has been adrift since her sister became the head of her family after their mother’s death. So, when she got an invitation to attend an event in a grand palace in Italy, she jumped at the chance.

Rowin Silver doesn’t want complications or outsiders in his home. No point in risking more lives in a game where none can win. He shuts the door on Genevieve’s face only to realize she snuck in without his notice. 

Now, the two form an alliance to compete as lovers, hoping to increase their chances of survival. But with Rowin keeping many secrets, Genevieve wonders about her chances. 

The story comes in Genevieve’s third-person POV. 

My Thoughts: 

The book works as a standalone, but there are references to the previous one and a spoiler. This cannot be helped. If you are particular about spoilers, you may want to read that first. 

While Phantasma was no masterpiece, it was a fluffy read with a good dose of spice; something to grab when you want to stay entertained (and not use your brain cells). This is pretty much the same. Both books are huge (464 pages) and paced on the slower side, so pick them up accordingly. 

Genevieve is Ophelia’s (heroine of Phantasma) young sister, someone who spends her time fluttering around like a butterfly to avoid her feelings of abandonment. In this, she thinks an entry into Enchantra would help her find others like her, but little did she know she’d be fighting for her life. She is quirky, curious (worse than a cat), mouthy, and messy. She is entertaining too, what with her penchant for getting into trouble often. 

Rowin is your dark, grumpy, brooding, alpha guy with a soft heart, which is revealed over time. He has tattoos and piercings (some of those must have really, really hurt), which add to the vibe. Also, those shadows he controls! 

Given the genre, we have to accept that things will get gruesome and bloody in The Hunt, as well as result in some spicy scenes. I felt this was a bit less extensive in spice than the previous one, which is a good thing. Not that there isn’t attraction or the other stuff, but on a slightly smaller scale, say 3.5 to 4. 

The setting is great, of course. It’s creepy, atmospheric, and suffocating. What with the devil and other dangers, this is not a house you’d want to visit. Oh, those mirrors! Be warned if you have eisoptrophobia or spectrophobia. 

The side characters are the siblings (and fellow participants) in the Hunt. I felt they were done well. Each of them has a definite personality and is easy to track. Though we don’t get a lot of detail about everyone, we know enough to form a picture. 

The climax felt relatively bland (compared to book one). It seemed a bit too easy. Still, after reading 400+ pages by then, I was ready for the ending. 

There’s quite a bit of gore, but it’s written in a matter-of-fact manner. I didn’t feel put off by it (nor did it frighten me in the least). However, this may vary based on your reading preferences. Maybe gore level 3.5 on the scale of 5? 

The ending is HFN and partly open, providing a lead to the next book. Though we don’t have the details yet, there has to be book three. Someone needs to answer the remaining questions! 

To summarize, Enchantra is a dark horror romance with devils, immortals, hunting games, and a dose of spice. The best way to enjoy the book is to not think much. Forget logic and go where it takes you! 

Thank you, NetGalley and Second Sky/ Forever, for eARC. 

#NetGalley #Enchantra

The Seven O'Clock Club by Amelia Ireland - Book Review

Publication Date: 15th Apr 2025

Genre: General Fiction, Contemporary 

3.8 Stars 

One Liner: A good debut! Introspective 

Genevieve is a psychologist who wants to try a new kind of group therapy for grief. She picks four candidates – Victoria (52), Freya (31), Callum (29), and Mischa (20), people dealing with different types of grief and personal battles. 

They are to meet once a week in Genevieve’s home. Of course, all of them are skeptical about this, but give it a try (some more grudgingly than others). However, as they start to speak and get to one another, things change. Maybe, they might have a chance to finally move on from whatever is crushing their souls. 

One day, they find out the reason they were chosen for this therapy, and it tests their newly formed friendships like no other. What happens next? 

The story comes in the first-person POVs of Genevieve, Freya, Victoria, Mischa, and Callum. 

My Thoughts: 

The book is divided into multiple parts, like denial, anger, bargaining, depression, etc. 

After a short intro via Genevieve’s report written after the therapy ended, we go back to how it began. The four main characters get a chapter each as introductions. 

Luckily, the character POVs are distinct and have specific narrative styles. Callum’s are filled with F-bombs. Victoria is snarky and snobbish. Freya is detached. Mischa is lost and overwhelmed. This makes it easy to track whose POV we are reading. 

The initial setup takes time, so the first 30% is slow. We get sneak peeks into their lives, keeping the interest levels high. Emotions also run high, so it is not really a light-hearted book. Since the therapy is for grief, there are quite a few triggers as well. One of the characters is into substance abuse. 

As each character reveals their past and the key incident, we can see their pain and anguish. They also start to bond with each other, which makes things easy and complicated. 

There are a few hints about the twist that would come. I did guess some of it and wondered if that’s what it would be. It was but with something extra. However, this is a deal breaker. You’ll either like it or hate it. If you like it, you’ll enjoy the book more. 

I did like how things proceeded despite the repetition of actions and dialogues where they go back and forth about a few things.  

One thing that didn’t really work for me was the romance part. It’s not organic, and the explanation didn’t help. A toned-down version wouldn’t suit the plot, but the way it is doesn’t work either. Maybe a combined backstory might have helped. I’m not sure! 

The ending is quite good too. It ties up the loose ends without moving away from the main plot. This does result in an open-ish end, which is just right here. 

To summarize, The Seven O'Clock Club is a good debut read dealing with different types of grief, found family, and learning to move on. I will be interested in reading the author’s future books. 

Thank you, NetGalley and Black & White Publishing (Bonnier Books UK), for eARC. 

#NetGalley #TheSevenOClockClub

Our Dear Miss H. Is on the Case by Violet Marsh - Book Review

Series: (untitled) #2 

Publication Date: 25th March 2025

Genre: Historical Romance

3.7 Stars 

One Liner: Entertaining with some important themes

1750s 

Georgina Harrington loves archeology and history but her gender prevents her talents from being acknowledged. She uses her Cousin Percy’s name to submit her works and sell the antiques. Percy is happy with the deal. However, he disappears with her latest find, a possibly high-valued helmet. Georgina realizes he might have been kidnapped or is in danger. 

Alexander Lovett is always ready for an adventure and prefers to live a happy life due to his traumatic childhood. His father’s desire to fix his clubfoot and the bullies of the ton made him determined to live his life the way he wanted. Alexander is more than ready to help Georgina find Percy (who happens to be his best friend). However, he has to keep his distance from her as she is on his father’s list of chosen brides for him, and the last thing Alexander wants is to do what his father wants. 

The story comes in the third-person POVs of Georgina and Alexander. 

My Thoughts: 

While the book works as a standalone, it would be more enjoyable if you read the previous one (Lady Charlotte Always Gets Her Man) since the characters from that one appear quite a bit here. Also, we meet the MMC in the first book and can understand him better. 

The story starts a few hours before the previous book ends but comes from the MMC’s perspective. While I forget most details, I remember Pan the parrot and Banshee the monkey. Here, we have two more additions – a dog and a chicken. It’s a riot with the animals taking over and well doing what they like! 

The MMC has a clubfoot (that has been further damaged in ‘repair attempts’). The book presents how physical disability was viewed with disdain and repulsion, especially in the ton where one is supposed to be perfect (only the mask, of course). His childhood trauma, the toxic relationship with his parents, and the coping mechanisms are handled well but without overwhelming.

The FMC is an archeologist and a historian trying hard to retain control over her life and finances. We get to see the patriarchy, gender bias, and other issues associated with the theme. She is a bit gruff and quick to judge at times but it can be forgiven. It fits with her backstory. 

Despite the heavy themes, the book is a romance, so there are quite a few scenes for it. Though, I was surprised that the steam is less than 2. It’s not as steamy as I thought it would be. Not complaining! 

There’s a mystery element too which does get decent focus. However, the subplot doesn’t as such take itself seriously, so readers shouldn’t either. It expands into something a bit dangerous but farcical as well. 

The book ends with a happy epilogue and a lead for the next one. I’ll be sure to grab that too! 

To summarize, Our Dear Miss H. Is on the Case is a lighthearted romance with a touch of mystery but deals with heavy topics like disability and gender discrimination. 

Thank you, NetGalley and Forever (Grand Central Publishing), for eARC. 

#NetGalley #OurDearMissHIsOnTheCase

Kindred Spirits at Harling Hall by Sharon Booth - Book Review

Series: Ghosts of Rowan Vale #1 

Publication Date: 28th March 2025 

Genre: Contemporary Fiction, Cozy Paranormal 

3.7 Stars 

One Liner: Liked the ghosts more!

When single mother Callie Chase visits Rowan Vale on a school trip, the last thing she expects is to see ghosts. Turns out, the elderly Sir Lawrence Davenport, the village head can also see them and has been their keeper for years. He even offers to sell the place to Callie for a teeny sum so that she could be his successor. 

After much hesitation, Callie agrees. However, becoming the new owner of a village filled with humans and ghosts is easier said than done! Can she handle the responsibilities? Will the ghosts accept her? 

The story comes in (mostly) Callie’s first-person POV and the third-person POV of another character. 

My Thoughts: 

This is the first book in the series, so it takes some time to set the stage and introduce us to various characters, living and dead. The cast is pretty large, so you may want to make notes. 

The ghosts are pretty quirky and have distinct personalities. In fact, I liked them more than some of our living folk! Florrie is a little monkey, though you can’t help but fall in love with her. 

While it took me a lot of time to warm up to Callie, I loved Immi pretty soon (not at the beginning but when she gets a dialogue). I tried my best to empathize with the FMC but it wasn’t easy. Though she has good intentions, her approach is a bit all over the place. 

Immi, on the other hand, is a delight to read. I so wished she would have more space in the book. She sometimes acts like a tween but is a really lovely girl. Mia is another character I like a lot. 

Bordie is the male main lead though I didn’t see him as anything other than a trope – the handsome brooding guy with a soft heart. Good that romance isn’t central to the plot and I read this for the ghosts. Otherwise, the rating would have tanked. 

The pacing is uneven. The first half is spent on the setting but quite a few things happen in the second half. This doesn’t leave space for the romance to develop organically. Since this is any way to be a series, maybe we could have limited this one to attraction and ended it in a slightly different manner. 

To summarize, Kindred Spirits at Harling Hall has an interesting premise and even more interesting ghosts in a beautiful village. It deals with important themes like self-esteem, found family, friendships, etc. I’m curious to see what the next book will deal with! 

Thank you, NetGalley and Boldwood Books, for eARC. This review is voluntary and contains my honest opinion about the book. 

#NetGalley #KindredSpiritsatHarlingHall

Method of Revenge by Cara Devlin - Book Review

Series: Spencer & Reid Mysteries #2

Publication Date: 29th March 2025

Genre: Historical Mystery 

4.2 Stars 

One Liner: Fast-paced and gripping 

Leo (Leonara) is used to dead bodies and sees them in her uncle’s morgue. However, she ends up as a witness when a woman dies at a popular nightclub and follows a suspicious hooded figure around the corner. 

After the previous case, Detective Inspector Jasper kept his distance from Leo. He could do without the mixed emotions she inspired in him. However, the current case and Leo’s involvement make it hard. 

As they try to find more clues, Leo and Jasper should be careful about not walking into a trap. But can they see it before it’s too late? 

The story comes in Leo and Jasper’s third-person POVs. 

My Thoughts: 

While the book works as a standalone, I recommend reading the previous one for the overarching plot. There is enough background information if you haven’t read the first book.

It has been a few weeks since the previous case, and the main characters are living their lives (with teeny new developments). The book starts with the murder, so we are plunged into the plot right away. 

The narration deftly balances pace, intrigue, and emotion. The push-pull attraction between the two is stronger, though they are focused on the case and the dead bodies that have to be examined. 

The mystery is interesting. I like how it tackles the problem of using harmful chemicals like arsenic in making wallpapers and their deadly side effects. There have been a few books on this. Here, it is used for the mystery track, so we don’t get a lot of detail but can understand the extent of damage it caused and how the reason was suppressed. 

We also get some details about their pasts. I kinda guessed the big reveal in book one, but oh boy, it still didn’t prepare me for the cliffhanger. Argh… I hate waiting. At least, it’ll be only 2-3 months since the next book is scheduled for June. I can distract myself with other books. 

The dark and bleak setting of Victorian London is tangible without slowing down the pace or distracting us from the central plot. I’ve read a few books with this setting and found that I enjoy them a lot. It’s gritty and ruthless, but with touches of compassion and love. 

NGL, I’m invested in the slow-burn love track and can’t wait for the next book. The conflict is real, so it’s a huge hurdle to cross. Can they do it? They have to! 

To summarize, Method of Revenge is a solid second book in the series with intrigue, danger, and a cliffhanger (can’t get over this, lol). 

Thank you, author and Book Sirens, for eARC. This review is voluntary and contains my honest opinion about the book. 

Promise Me Sunshine by Cara Bastone - Book Review

Publication Date: 04th March 2025

Genre: Contemporary Fiction, Romance 

3.7 Stars 

One Liner: Heartwarming (trigger for grief) 

Lenny’s life has been a mess since she lost her bestie, Lou, to cancer. Unable to do anything much, she accepts temporary babysitting jobs to make a living. Her latest is for an exhausted single mom, Resse, to babysit her daughter, Ainsley. Lenny likes it enough even if she finds Resse’s brother, Miles, a kind of jerk. 

Miles sees Lenny’s grief for what it is and offers her a deal. He will help her check off the 'live again' list if she helps him connect with his sister and her daughter. Lenny is not sure anything can help her fill the gap left by Lou but she is willing to try. Who knows, this could teach her something important! 

The story comes in Lenny’s first-person POV. 

My Thoughts: 

I debated for a long time on this one. While I liked the author’s previous book, I still wasn’t sure until I read the later reviews. 

While I haven’t experienced grief like the FMC’s (#touchwood), I did lose someone very special and their memories still make me teary-eyed. My life didn’t stop but there’s this sense of emptiness in one part. Yeah, you learn to live with it. 

Despite the heaviness of the theme, the book has many lighthearted moments. The voice is quite quirky (maybe a bit too many similes but most of them are funny, so no complaints) and entertaining. 

Though Lenny is the narrator, the book does belong to the MMC. I love the dedication too! He is the central force holding the plot together. I love his characterization. Also, I noticed that like in the previous book, Miles is also a tall and well-built guy who is not fully comfortable or confident of his ‘appeal’. I like this. 

Another important aspect is the kind of relationship the MMC wants to have with the FMC. He encourages her to make friends with others and build a circle. It is quite refreshing to see friends as friends without complicating it with unwanted attractions or triangles. The focus remains steadily on the core theme. 

That’s the reason the shift to romance is seamless. No unwanted drama after the initial panic (which makes sense). No angst, miscommunication, or jealousy. No third-act breakup as well (yay!). It just flows and grows organically. 

The book drags in the middle and the pacing goes down. I think it would have helped if the MMC’s grief had been discussed at this point. It might have created a shift in narrative and sustained the interest instead of making it seem like we were going nowhere. 

Though the book is from the FMC’s POV and her grief gets the spotlight, it’s only fair to let the MMC talk about his loved ones. There are a few scenes, but frankly, I’d have liked it better if there were more. At least, we could have had a scene where Miles clears that room with Lenny to support him. 

The side characters are quite interesting. I love that little kid, Ainsley. She’s a rockstar in the making! 

This is not the book to choose if you want dramatic love declarations or intense romance. Since grief is already intense, the author chose a soothing romance. It is not flashy like neon lights. It is soft, gentle, and comforting like your favorite Tee. In fact, we get a clear indication when the MMC talks about what love means to him. I truly appreciate this approach. 

To summarize, Promise Me Sunshine is a slightly lengthy but heartwarming novel about grief, learning to heal, and living again. I wouldn’t have minded an epilogue! 

Thank you, Madison Dettlinger, NetGalley, and Random House Publishing Group (Dial Press Trade Paperback), for eARC. 

#NetGalley #PromiseMeSunshine

The Secret Detective Agency by Helena Dixon - Book Review

Series: The Secret Detective Agency #1

Publication Date: 27th March 2025 

Genre: Historical Cozy Mystery

3 Stars 

One Liner: Decent mystery; the characters need work 

1941

Jane Treen is at work in the war office in London when the news of another missing agent reaches her. Soon, she finds out a dead woman was fished out from a lake in Devon, where she shouldn’t have been. 

Arthur Cilento is the code-breaker working for war offices and is back at his uncle’s house (now his) in Devon. Soon after he discovers a body, Miss Jane arrives in the village with her one-eyed orange cat, Marmaduke. 

Jane and Arthur don’t particularly like each other but they have to work together to find the killer. Agents being killed during war is hardly a small matter! 

The story comes in the third-person POVs of Jane and Arthur. 

My Thoughts: 

Can you see that cutie cat on the cover? Yeah, that’s how this book ended up on my list. Of course, I love historical cozy mysteries, so that was another factor. 

This book is set during WWII and uses the backdrop well since both main characters work for the government. However, the mystery is kept at the cozy level with the setting primarily being a village. 

Arthur is the brainy guy who likes patterns and codes (ya, that’s why I like him more). He also has sensitive health, which is different from the usually robust male leads we see. This is a welcome development and was handled well, though I wish he would set better boundaries. 

While I liked Jane’s introduction, it didn’t take long to be irritated by her. The constant smoking was annoying and so was her attitude. I know that the ‘tough feminist woman’ trope is trending but don’t overdo it. Having a possibly tragic backstory doesn’t mean the FMC has to be so callous and self-centered. Initially, I thought she wasn’t aware of the MMC’s health condition. Turns out she knew. She just didn’t care. Since this is the first book, I’m hoping these elements are a character flaw and the FMC will become a bit human. 

While I try to bear with characters who smoke, I cannot help but roll my eyes at the repeated mention of it. This book has ‘cigarette(s) mentioned 73 times. Yes! That’s 50 times more than what I think is enough for the character development. The way Jane smoked, I’m doubtful she’ll live long enough for the series to continue. Naturally, the MMC condition was mentioned as many times. If she smoked less, both of them would breathe easily!   

The pacing is moderate, neither slow nor fast (however, do note the book ends at 88%, at least the ARC does). The setting is well done. We get just enough descriptions to create the atmosphere and give us an idea of the place. This works to keep the mystery at the forefront. 

Marmaduke is a fluffy cat who I thought would have an active role in the book. What use is a cat if all he does is lick his paws? 

Despite my evident dislike for the FMC, I did see her merit. She has a good brain and is dedicated to her job. She has emotions, which means her arc can be adjusted quickly. The mystery is also good and establishes the foundation for the next books. 

To summarize, The Secret Detective Agency is a decent start to a new series, though it would have been even better if there were fewer cigarettes. I have the second book, so let’s see how it goes. Hoping it’ll be better. 

Thank you, NetGalley and Bookouture, for eARC. 

#NetGalley #TheSecretDetectiveAgency