Review: A Five Letter Word for Love - Amy James - December 2024 As someone who still starts her morning with a hot cuppa and a cheeky round of Wordle (yes, even when the cat’s meowing and the toast is burning), I was instantly charmed by Amy James’ A Five Letter Word for Love. Add in the setting—Prince Edward Island, the very soil that gave us Anne of Green Gables—and I was sold before page one. This story felt like a warm cardigan on a chilly day. Emily, our heroine, is stuck in a job she doesn’t love—receptionist at a local auto shop—while dreaming of museum halls and curated exhibits. It reminded me so much of the TV show Shifting Gears with Kat Dennings, where Riley returns home and finds herself working in her dad’s garage, unsure of what she truly wants. Emily’s journey mirrors that same heart-tugging question: what if your dream isn’t out there, but right here? The spark in this tale comes from an unexpected place—Wordle. Emily and John, a quiet mechanic with a knack for puzz...

Review: Darkly - Marisha Pessl - November 2024 Some book covers and premises have a magnetic pull—and Darkly by Marisha Pessl was one of those for me. This YA thriller blends the eerie charm of a Willy Wonka-esque world with the tension of a deadly board game adventure, crafting a story as unique as its premise. Imagine if Willy Wonka wasn’t a chocolatier but a masterful board game designer, crafting intricately dark games that were as captivating as they were dangerous. Nearly 40 years ago, Louisana Veda was at the peak of her fame, creating stunning, handcrafted games that gained her worldwide acclaim. But her story ended abruptly when she died at just 39 years old. Her games skyrocketed in value, and then the trail went cold—until now. An ad appears, inviting seven lucky interns to work at the Louisana Veda Foundation in London. Thousands apply, but it’s Arcadia Gannon—a girl with nothing but her determination—who gets an unexpected spot. She finds herself on a remote island wit...

Review: Dinner For Vampires - Bethany Joy Lenz - October 2024 Bethany Joy Lenz, known to millions as Haley James Scott on One Tree Hill , offers readers a raw, heartfelt, and darkly humorous glimpse into her tumultuous journey in Dinner for Vampires . This memoir is more than just a celebrity tell-all—it’s a story of resilience, self-discovery, and faith in the aftermath of manipulation and betrayal. The memoir begins with Lenz’s rise to fame, juxtaposed against her desperate yearning for a sense of belonging. An only child with an independent streak, she found solace in a Bible study group of Hollywood creatives. But what started as a supportive community soon spiraled into a cult-like nightmare known as The Big House Family. Under the control of a manipulative minister and his authoritarian covenant, Lenz was coerced into relocating to a remote compound in the Pacific Northwest, surrendering her freedom, finances, and ultimately, her identity. Through candid storytelling and a sha...

  Review: Clean - Alia Trabucco Zeran - Translated by Sophie Hughes - October 2024 This particular book isn't one I normally would have gone for but something in the blurb when it was offered as an ARC from HarperCollins NZ caught my attention and so I was like I am going to give it a go. The cover isn't much and again this is one of those books I can tell you that you shouldn't judge by the cover, but then again these are the sort of covers that come with the whole "literary fiction" genre. The book starts with us meeting Estella who is a maid for a wealthy family and we learn that the daughter has died when the daughter died, the family fell apart and so she speaks behind the locked door and tells us the story of her career and how she met a family, moved in with them and helped raise their daughter. Estella felt like a part of the family but in parts, you can see that the line between part of the family and an employee is often blurred. As this is a literary ...

Review: The Inheritance - Kate Horan - January 2025 I am fascinated with DNA testing and have gotten mine done so I have found books that contain the topic fascinating and was excited when I received the ARC from HarperCollins NZ. The book starts with Meg visiting her mother Jenny in the rest home as she has dementia. Her mother calls her not only Tina but also mentions the place, Hartley. Meg had never heard of Hartley and doesn't know who Tina is, so being the journalist that she is at heart she decides to pitch a story about Hartley Gaol and a rich elite family taking over the town -the Ashworth’s. While in town Meg spends some time asking questions and soon finds out that everything, she knew about her mother was a lie and that something bad must have happened here in Hartley. Meg gets Georgia - a girl who could be her potential cousin to take a DNA test which she does, at the same time Isobel Ashworth has also taken a DNA test and the results match with Meg as a close relative...

Review: The Mistletoe Mystery - Book #2.5 Molly the Maid Series - Nita Prose - October 2024 I had been looking so forward to reading this book as I enjoyed the previous two books. I have to say I was surprised when I saw that it was a novella as I knew it would be a quick read. After reading the book, I can see why Nita only made it a novella as this was one story that if it was longer, readers would possibly lose interest and it was the perfect story made for a novella. It is one of those tales that is nice and quick and will install some Christmas spirit and happy vibes for you. This book is set five years after Molly's Grandmother died and she and Julian have been together and every year creating a new tradition. This year though Julian has been sneaky and Molly knows something is up when a blonde woman comes to their apartment asking Julian for help, bells go off in Molly's head and she starts to overthink and believes Julian is cheating on her.  How can Molly trust her ins...

Review: What A Way To Go - Bella Mackie - September 2024 If you loved *Patricia Wants to Cuddle* by Samantha Allen or the *Everyone in My Family* series by Benjamin Stevenson, you’ll feel right at home with Bella Mackie’s *What a Way to Die*. This darkly comedic thriller invites readers into the chaotic world of the Wistern family, starting with the shocking death of their patriarch, Anthony Wistern, on his 60th birthday. As a CEO of Wismere Holdings, Anthony was a financial wizard—or perhaps just an illusion. His wife, Olivia, has spared no expense in throwing him a lavish celebration at their sprawling Cotswolds estate, but things take a turn for the macabre when he suddenly drops dead. Olivia, characterized by her icy demeanor and aversion to emotional displays, raises the question: will she even mourn her husband? Meanwhile, their four children—Freddy, Jemima, Lyra, and Clara—are left grappling with the fallout of their father's untimely demise. The family dynamics are incredib...

Review: Silent Sister - Megan Davidhizar - August 2024 Lately, I have felt in a bit of a reading slump and needed something exciting to read and I often find that mysteries and thrillers are a great go-to when feeling this way. August for me has been a quiet-ish reading month, but in one way being without my e-reader for most of the month, it has helped me clear a few more books off my bookshelf including Silent Sister which was gifted to me from HarperCollins NZ. This YA edgy thriller starts with two sisters who are what we call "Irish twins" - being close enough in age, but not twins. Maddy and Grace, because of their ages, are in the same year at school, and this year both celebrating their senior year. Maddy is the "quiet twin" who loves reading and writing poetry and Grace is the "loud outspoken twin" the one who is sporty and popular. One sister wants to fit in and just wants to be seen and the other is living a facade and needs the social world to...