Three Days in June by Anne Tyler - Book Review

Publication Date: 11th Feb 2025 

Genre: Contemporary Family Drama 

2.5 Stars (outliner) 

One Liner: Enjoyed the writing but disappointed by the ending 

Life hasn’t been easy for Gail Baines. Losing her job, not being invited to participate in her daughter’s wedding activities, and the sudden arrival of her ex-husband (with a cat) cause more than enough stress. 

However, Debbie, her daughter, shares a secret with her parents, and it takes drama to the next level. How can Gail and her family navigate the situation? Will they address the past to find a way for the future? 

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

My Thoughts: 

This novella is a family drama divided into three parts – day one, day two, and day three.

Since we get the story from Gail’s POV, we only see what she presumes and assumes. This makes for an interesting choice since she is quite judgmental and quick to jump to conclusions. 

The pacing is steady even as the narration moves between the present, the MC’s thoughts, and tiny snippets of the past. I’m not a fan of long chapters but this format made it easy to separate the days and their events. 

Despite having a heavy vibe, there are little bits of unexpected (dry) humor that lighten the scene and provide a little insight into the character(s). 

Of course, it is easy enough to guess the reveal that comes midway through but this is not a mystery book, so no extra points for the reader. 

Max brings his share of charm and humor while getting on the MC’s nerves for no reason. I empathized more with him as the story progressed. Though he is not the kind of person I like (have some ambition!), Gail made me root for him instead of her. TBH, he deserved better. 

Gail, our narrator, and main lead. What do I say? I don’t mind unlikeable characters. I understand her lack of social skills or discomfort in interacting with others. I can even see why she holds herself aloof and distanced. But, she is so darn judgmental and selfish! Though I felt for her initially, by the end, I couldn’t support her. Despite that, I liked how the author created her and Max’s characters to contrast and complement each other. 

A few things have been felt open, which is fine since this is a slice-of-life kind of novella. However, the ending was disappointing. I did not want THAT to happen. There has to be an adult-to-adult conversation, acknowledgment, apology, and acceptance. Some things cannot be brushed under the carpet or ignored when they have such a lasting impact on their lives. Also, the message it sends is very unappealing. 

To summarize, Three Days in June is an interesting read as a study of characters but was a letdown in terms of plot development and conclusion. 

Thank you, NetGalley and Knopf, Pantheon, Vintage, and Anchor, for eARC. 

#NetGalley #ThreeDaysInJune 

The Lost Bride Trilogy #1 & #2 by Nora Roberts - Book Reviews

Inheritance 

Series: The Lost Bride Trilogy #1 (cliffhanger)

Publication Date: 21st Nov 2023 

Genre: Contemporary Paranormal Romance 

4 Stars 

One Liner: It's Nora Roberts! 

1806

Astrid Poole, a happy bride in love with Collin Poole, was excited about her future. However, before her marriage was consummated, she was murdered and the ring torn from her finger. Astrid promised never to leave Collin and kept it for centuries. 

Sonya MacTavish is a graphic designer who ended up without a fiancé and her wedding in a few minutes. However, a bigger shock to her is finding out that her late father was adopted and had a twin brother. Sonya has inherited a Victorian mansion on the Maine Coast. 

Reaching the mansion, Sonya is excited and nervous. Despite her self-assurances, she has to soon admit that the mansion is indeed haunted by the Lost Brides. She needs to break the centuries-old curse to free the ghosts as well as herself and the future generations from brutal deaths. 

The story comes in Sonya’s third-person POV with snippets from others’ POVs. 

My Thoughts: 

I’m always excited to read a book by Nora Roberts. It’s been a while since I enjoyed her works, so this seemed like a good opportunity (I’d have been happier if all three books of the trilogy were out but two are better than one). 

The book takes its time to get to the gothic mansion. The beginning establishes Sonya’s character and gives us an idea about her family, career, etc. Though we are made to wait, this initial setup makes it easy to understand how she settles in Poole Manor once she gets there. 

I absolutely love how the author writes friendships. I’ve seen this in most of her books and enjoy it every time. They could be cousins, best friends, childhood buddies, new friends, or anything basically, the interactions are usually positive, cheeky, and fun with many feel-good vibes. No gender bias either. 

Another aspect I noticed is how at least one main character is an artist (professionally). The characters are not only talented but love their craft and are passionate about it. I enjoy the scenes detailing their artwork. 

Naturally, I loved Cleo. She is not just a perfect balance to Sonya but also a very lovable character. The men (Trey and Owen) are just as good and complement the ladies well. 

Descriptions are another favorite. It was her books that made me fall in love with magical Ireland. While this one doesn’t reach that level of awesomeness, I could picturize the mansion and the surroundings. Who wouldn’t want to live there (never mind the haunted part)? 

One thing I didn’t expect was the slower pace throughout. I usually used to breeze through her books (to be fair, most of them were physical copies from the library) but this one took some time. I wasn’t bored but I wondered why the % moved so slowly. 

The romance between the lead couple could have been a little slower. While they don’t jump into the act right away, the slow burn is missing. I wouldn’t have minded a bit more teasing. 

Thank god I had the next book ready. That was one heck of a cliffhanger. Most of her trilogies tend to have moderate cliffhangers. Of course, this one deviated from the template of three couples (which got repetitive), so maybe that’s the reason. 

Oh, there are a lot of characters to remember. That’s bound to happen when you need to cover seven generations. A family tree would be a spoiler, so we can’t ask for it. Just go with the flow. You’ll figure them out soon. 

To summarize, Inheritance is a slow-paced yet entertaining contemporary gothic romance with enough lighthearted moments to make you smile. The dogs are adorable! 

***

The Mirror 

Publication Date: 19th Nov 2024

4.5 Stars (since I read it with book one)

One Liner: I was lured into the haunted manor  

Sonya MacTavish is actually a Poole and the only one who can break the centuries-old curse and free the lost brides in the manor.

One night, the elusive mirror appears, and Sonya walks through to watch a bride get killed and her ring stolen. The events seem to happen in a loop. Sonya and her friends have to find the rings soon, but that’s easier said than done.

The story comes mainly in Sonya’s third-person POV (with a few scenes from others’ POVs).

My Thoughts:

I continued with book two immediately after the previous one, so the cliffhanger lasted only a few seconds. My poor heart was saved, lol!

The story continues seamlessly as we get bits and pieces of new information. There’s progress on multiple levels but it is blended into routine. This makes it seem like the book has a lot of fluff with the same scenes (working, eating, meeting, etc.). It is necessary to create this buffer for the development to feel organic. Think of it as watching the episodes of your favorite serial. You get lured into their lives, watching them live a make-believe life on the screen with subtle developments. It’s the same here.

Hence, the pacing continues to be on the slower side. Again, I don’t mind. I love Molly, Clover, Jack, and the fur babies who enrich the narrative. Imagine a haunted house with built-in cleaning services, a DJ, a pet sitter, and a spooky witch. Yeah, we can do without the last one but she’ll be there until they break the curse.

I absolutely love Clover. I liked her a lot in book one but here she is easily my favorite. Though I’m not into English music, the song titles were enough to see just how wonderful she was. We meet more side characters, and Imogene stands out with ease. I like Winter too (everyone needs a mom like her) but Imogene is a star. I hope we get to meet her in the next book again.

When I started Inheritance, I didn’t think it would become a new favorite (The Sign of Seven trilogy continues to be at the top). However, this one might reach there. I don’t think the year-long gap between the books would work. In fact, reading one and two back to back kept me inside the haunted manor for six+ days and made me a part of the story. A long break would diffuse that mood and may make this feel slow and repetitive.

I was prepared for a cliffhanger ending, so this didn’t shock me. Knowing the stakes, I know book three will have a lot of action and intense scenes. We also need to get more information about Hester-Pest. I’m curious to see what lay in her past.

There is romance but it is pretty much mild. From what I remember, her books have a little more spice. This one doesn’t. Not a complaint since the current stuff works well but I wouldn’t say no if the next book has an extra sprinkle of heat. ;)

To summarize, The Mirror is a great continuation of book one. It establishes the character arcs, sets a routine, and provides more details about the lost brides. Can I get the ARC for book three when it is available? Pretty please!

Thank you, NetGalley and St. Martin’s Press, for eARC. This review is voluntary and contains my honest opinion about the book. 

#NetGalley

Not Before You by Lata Gwalani - Book Review

Publication Date: 01st March 2024

Genre: Family Drama, Contemporary 

3.5 Stars 

One Liner: Introspective but a bit biased 

Thirty-two-year-old Nikhil has never sat, spoken, or moved. His mother, Jaya, spent the past three decades nursing and caring for him. After her sixtieth birthday, Jaya’s anxiety began to overwhelm her. What will happen to her son after she’s gone? 

Her health issues and mounting concerns lead Jaya on a search for alternative care options or any solution she can find. As she plunges deep into it, her estranged husband and daughter are forced to reconsider their decisions and perceptions. 

The story comes in omnipresent third-person POV. 

My Thoughts: 

Before I begin, let me say I am not a mother. I am a daughter. 

The book starts with a poem of couplets. While it introduces the conflict in brief, a few rhymes feel forced. A free verse would have worked better. 

The perspective of death is interesting. Initially, it acts as the omnipresent narrator establishing the plot for the readers. There are a few snippets by Death scattered throughout. Over time, these lose the philosophical element.  

The characters are flawed, which makes the story feel realistic to a point. No one is perfect. They made decisions based on what they think is right. Factors like ego, irritation, stress, anger, etc., make their presence felt more than once. 

In a way, they are quite typical. People who cannot and will not communicate. People who make decisions for others. People who want things done their way. People holding grudges. All this works well to sustain the conflict. 

However, the biggest drawback was the constant reminder that Jaya was right. Somehow, the book’s tone overemphasizes Jaya. She is supposed to be this strong single mother of a specially-abled child who does nothing wrong. All her mistakes are justified because she made them out of her love for her son. 

As a reader, I do not prefer being told which character to support. That’s a decision I make. When the narration insists I need to root for Jaya, my mind invariably does the opposite. Sure, I can see nothing has been easy for her. But I can also see she is responsible for some of it. 

Most importantly, I cannot not see Divya. I started the review by stating I’m a daughter. My heart bleeds for Divya. She is collateral damage that cannot be fixed because Jaya suddenly decides she wants to. 

Moreover, the repetitive omnipresent statements about how Divya misunderstood her mother or had a wrong perspective got on my nerves. Let’s be honest, Jaya made her choice and it wasn’t Divya. This story belongs to Jaya and Nikhil, and the dear boy can’t even speak for himself, so it belongs to Jaya. It tried hard to establish Jaya as ‘the mother’. I understand but I don’t agree. 

I appreciate the focus on the emotional, social, familial, and monetary pressure of being a parent to a specially-abled child. I would have liked it better if we got a little more focus on the lack of proper care facilities and the anxiety parents constantly face. 

There are quite a few side characters that seem to blink in and out of the narrative as necessary. Maybe giving them a more meaningful presence would have enhanced the impact. There’s only one central male character, Suraj. As it happens with this genre, he is the weaker person, leaving everything on Jaya. But… yet again, being told that he is supposed to be so-and-so makes me look at things from a different perspective. Not that I elevate his character (nope) but I can see him better than I’m supposed to. 

Frankly, I thought the book would end differently. I would have preferred if it stayed with the track it began. Of course, the idea provided has merit and is necessary. But so is the other one. Maybe it would have hit harder that way. 

To summarize, Not Before You is a melancholic story of a woman doing her best to ensure the dignity of her child with special needs and how her choices affect her and others’ lives over the years. 

My thanks to the author for a complimentary copy of the book. This review is voluntary and contains my honest opinion. 

The Tinker's Daughter by Josephine Angelini - Book Review

Series: The Chronicles of Lucitopia #2

Publication Date: 17th Dec 2024 

Genre: NA Fantasy Romance 

3.7 Stars 

One Liner: A fluffy and lighthearted read 

Jonara has been a good girl all her life, which makes her a perfect choice as the village’s sacrificial offering to the dragon. Luckily for her, the dragon doesn’t eat virgins. Using this chance and the dragon’s help, Jonara rallies an army to fight Asphodel who had been destroying one town after another to claim the throne vacated by the death king. 

However, the dragon has its own secrets and Jonara could play a vital role. What does the future have in store for this feisty good girl?  

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

My Thoughts: 

I quite enjoyed the first book in the series, though I don’t remember much about the details. However, it’s not necessary. This works well as a standalone. The characters and the setting are different though the universe is the fantasy land of Lucitopia. 

While book #1 was YA, this is NA bordering on adult fiction. The lead characters are twenty and above, and there’s a fair bit of… *ahem* Still, it is closed-door romance. 

Jonara is quite a personality. She can order anyone around like a military commander. Is it any surprise that she plays a vital role in building an army to fight the villain? 

The Dragon is a sweet guy but also a sort of confused alpha. I rather like him. Also, I wouldn’t mind having such a dragon of my own. Scratch him and get gold! I’d be rich in no time. ;) 

The world-building is pretty basic but it doesn’t affect the reading experience. We can visualize the scenes as there is enough information.

The writing style is casual which may not work for everyone. Jonara’s instinct to boss around might annoy some readers. I wasn’t bothered since I expected something like that (based on my experience from book one). 

A certain scene in the first half might put off some readers, especially if they haven’t guessed it would happen. I knew what to expect (it’s a trope-y thing, and there are enough clues) so I wasn’t the least bit surprised. 

The ending provides a short glimpse into the future (as in what’s to come in the next books). I noticed book #4 added to the list and read the blurb. Do NOT do that.  

The pacing is a little off in this one but I wasn’t bored at any point. The book was exactly what I wanted to remove the traces of annoyance at my previous read. 

To summarize, The Tinker's Daughter is what a GR friend calls brain candy – it is fluffy, lighthearted, cheeky, a bit dangerous, and has a good dose of romance. Ready for book #3! 

Thank you, NetGalley, Sungrazer Publishing, and Victory Editing NetGalley Co-op, for eARC. 

#NetGalley #TheTinkersDaughter 

The Book of Gold by Ruth Frances Long - Book review

Series: The Feral Gods #1

Publication Date: 28th Nov 2024

Genre: Historical Fantasy 

2.5 Stars (outliner) 

One Liner: Depends on how much you like the main character 

Lyta is a notorious thief but she’ll do anything for her little big brother, Kit. 

Kit wants nothing to do with his sister and leads a respectable life until he is arrested on sedition charges for printing a pamphlet in his press. 

Lyta makes a bargain with the king to save Kit. She will steal The Book (the one with mysterious magical powers) in exchange for Kit’s life.

Sylvain is a reformed pirate and the king’s bodyguard. He wants nothing to do with Lyta after what she did to him. However, he seems to have no choice but to be with her for this heist. 

Things will have to get dangerous before they are sorted. 

The story comes in the third-person POVs of Lyta, Kit, and Sylvain Chant. 

My Thoughts: 

Yep, it’s me, once again falling for a pretty cover and an intriguing premise. This is supposed to be adult fantasy romance even if the main characters act like teens. 

The book starts with a list of characters and their roles as well as the list of gods and their domains. Given how the characters are introduced in the first 20%, I’m glad to have this list in advance. 

The three POVs (thanks for the third-person narration) give us the story and backstories from different perspectives. This helps since I didn’t (almost) always like the FMC and the other two balanced it out well. 

Kit was a pretty decent character. Ben and Beatriz are intriguing (I wanted more of her). The king and queen are mysterious and mercurial. Sylvain was okay too. In fact, I empathized more with him as the plot progressed though I cannot figure out why he loves Lyta. Love is brainless, at least in this case! 

Now, what do I say about Lyta? In theory, she is a great character. However, in execution, she is 200% cocky and has 10% substance. I don’t understand why we are hyping the fantasy FMCs only to make them act as if all their brain cells have turned charcoal. She is supposed to be a great thief. Guess what? It’s the opposite. None of her plans and attempts go without a hitch. Worse still, she put herself and others in danger. Also, she is too reckless and impulsive to be a pro-thief. Can anyone tell me why it is such a bad thing to do as someone else says when it is a better plan? Quite a few times, I was reminded of Until We Shatter (and not in a good way). 

This is a plot-driven book, which means the characters don’t stay true to their arcs. That affected Lyta the worst. Even her love for her brother, Kit, doesn’t always show her in good light. 

However, the plot isn’t executed well either. It is all over the place. In fact, I assumed this was a debut author’s work only to realize the author has written more books in the same genre. Moreover, I read two of her books under the pen name Jessica Throne. I’m surprised! While those books weren’t perfect, they were much better written. Three possible reasons for this:  

• The author experimented with something here

• The other publisher had a much better editor 

• This is a very early draft 

It wasn’t until after 60% that the story started to be gripping. There were many gaps even then, but I could feel the tensions and danger rising. By the way, calling it a ‘heist for the ages’ is silly. It is not; nowhere close. 

The world-building is patchy too, though I don’t know if it’ll be better in the coming books. While I like the premise of old gods being targeted by the Church, I also feel authors are using this as a go-to trope but not doing justice to it. I cannot feel the indigenous flavor or the emotion, which rather defeats the purpose. After reading the author’s note at the end, I felt she should have stuck to the original bit instead of bringing in old gods. 

It seems fantasy authors like to ‘use’ old gods but have no real respect or understanding of them. Most of them look at it from the same western Abrahamic framework which does not help the cause. 

There’s an ending but it is a semi-cliffhanger. Plot-wise I’m tempted to know more, but unfortunately, I do not like Lyta. I mostly won’t continue with the series. 

To summarize, The Book of Gold has an intriguing premise but ends up underwhelming due to various reasons. It will work better for readers who like YA fantasy (even if this is an adult book). 

Thank you, NetGalley and Hodder & Stoughton (Hodderscape), for eARC. 

#NetGalley #TheBookofGold

Still The One by Aimee Brown - Book Review - Blog Tour

Publication Date: 26th Nov 2024

Publication Date: https://mybook.to/stilltheone

Goodreads Book Page: https://www.goodreads.com/book/show/216636168-still-the-one

Genre: Contemporary Romance

3.3 Stars

One Liner: Enjoyable but has some loose ends

Book Blurb:

Eve Cassidy thought Guy Foster was the only man she would ever love. Theirs was a whirlwind romance and marriage - until it all ended in tears...

Five years after their breakup, Eve still hasn’t found a reason to believe in true love. But when Foster has an accident and she discovers she’s still listed as his next of kin, Eve knows she can’t let him wake up in the hospital with no one by his side. After all, those devilishly blue eyes have always been hard to say no to…

Foster isn’t sure if his poor battered brain is playing tricks on him when he sees the only woman he’s ever loved sitting next to his bedside. Maybe Eve never got over him like he never got over her? And when Eve agrees to him moving into her one-bedroom apartment to recover, it’s clear these exes have unfinished business.

Will weeks in close quarters be the making or breaking of this smoldering second-chance love story? Up close and personal, old habits can be hard to break.

***

My Thoughts:

The story comes in Eve and Foster’s first-person POVs.

The premise is rather sweet, and I hoped for a heartwarming story. It is a nice book, no doubt there. However, it doesn’t reach its full potential.

Eve and Foster are well-written. Since we get both POVs, we see their feelings for each other, their fears, their vulnerability, etc. I like that we never have to doubt Foster’s love for Eve. It is steady and unwavering from start to finish. Eve’s feelings are clear too though she is a bit more tentative and wary of commitment (the second time).

The flashbacks of the past are short yet detailed. Those they are not linear, it is easy to put the pieces together. What started as an insta-love ends up convincing by the end. However, I wish we had more scenes (at least 2 more) from the past.

Foster injuries make this a slow burn with no spice (not even in the past). I admit it’s a little disappointing but fine. The banter is childish and silly but fun too. I laughed and rolled my eyes at their flirting. It fits the character arcs.

I also like the medical and nursing part of the plot. The author’s professional experience blends the details into the storyline seamlessly. (This isn’t my field, I don’t know if something is incorrect)

The premise calls for extra depth to the narrative and some tears. However, the story doesn’t dig deep. Quite a few leads have been provided but have gone nowhere. Sustaining those would have made it better (the memory lapse part, the video, the annoying friend & sis, the lack of official documents which Eve didn’t seem to wonder about until the end, Eve’s other exes, etc.).

That said, the MCs do have good conversations and don’t try to hide their feelings (or confusion). Even if they messed up in the past, they try to fix things by being open about their current situation.

I tend to like the best friends more in this genre but I couldn’t really like Kait and Jess. Gen, Phil, and Matt are much better. I was glad when Eve stood her ground and set boundaries.

Don’t go into the book for the tropes, though. The forced proximity part is okay but the one-bed thing is not even an issue in a way. Read it as a clean second-chance romance (not really smoldering in there). It’s got a steady pace, so you can finish it in a couple of hours.

To summarize, Still The One is a good read about lovers finding their way back to each other after a painful separation. It could have been a lot better but should work if you want something light yet touching.

The author’s note throws a light on some of the whys, but I wish the editors worked a little more on the inconsistencies to iron out the wrinkles.

Thank you, Rachel’s Random Resources and Boldwood Books, for eARC. This review is voluntary and contains my honest opinion about the book.

#NetGalley

***

About the Author – Aimee Brown

Aimee Brown is the bestselling romantic comedy author of several books including The Lucky Dress. She’s an Oregon native, now living in a tiny town in cold Montana, and sets her books in Portland. Previously published by Aria, her new series for Boldwood is full of love, laughter, and real-life issues. The first book will be published in January 2023.

Follow the Author:

Facebook: @authoraimeebrown

Twitter: @AimeeBWrites

Instagram: @authoraimeeb

Newsletter Sign Up: https://bit.ly/AimeeBrownNews

Bookbub profile: @AimeeBrown

***

This has been a stop on the #StillTheOne blog tour by Rachel's Random Resources (@rararesources). Thanks for stopping by!