This is the Chet and Bernie book when things get almost too dark for me. Farewell to Arfs by Spencer Quinn is the fifteenth book in the series, and we’ve seen them through some dark times, with Chet’s point of view softening the sometimes awful, often violent events of the…
Betty Neels is a genre all her own, and her books are unmistakeably hers. This is one where she tries a little harder to break the mold, and it is adorable. It’s a little like watching your grandma trying to use modern tech or slang and fumbling it but looking…
For many years, I thought Betty Neels based her beloved Dutch doctor characters on her own husband. Am I the only one a little scandalized to discover that her husband was Dutch, but a sailor not a rich medical professional, and those dishy Dutch doctors were her coworkers. Betty, I’m…
Full Disclosure: Drew Hayes is a being from another realm – one where writing at an elite level is a superpower. Prove me wrong, I dare you, because I refuse to believe that this level of insight into human nature, quiet humor, and tight plotting can possibly have originated from…
For a science fiction book about an alien race interfering with our world, the most alien part of this book is the author’s relationship with emotions, religion, and women. This book tries to do a lot of things at once – reflect on religion, explore a mother-daughter bond, speculate about…
A while back, I wrote a break-up letter with this author and told her we were done. I meant it, too. I had given her so many chances with the Paper Magician and all that series, and they were competent enough, just lacking in the emotional depth and connection I…
Right after I read this book, I heard about the trauma response many abused children carry into adulthood, the ability to read people in an instant. These are adults that had to learn vigilance to a ridiculous degree to avoid physical, mental, and emotional abuse from parents or other trusted…
What do you do when the one you’re in love with is incapable of loving you back. Not because you’re unlovable or they’re unloving, but because they’re just not wired that way? That’s the challenge Drew faces as he fills notebooks with all of the reasons he loves his favorite…
Camilla Evergreen writes really good fantasy romances. This isn’t one. To be fair, it’s not supposed to be, but it is more fantastic than the vampire cat novel. This book needed more grounding in reality and less fantasy. In this story, the main character, Juliette has been lying to her…
Do you ever get so stressed that all you want is a little kid lit? No, just me? I asked for book recs for quick and fun reads for children and this one came out on top. It’s a quick and thoughtful book about time travel and friendship. It reminded…
