Scan barcode
katietotallybooked's reviews
741 reviews
Summer Stage by Meg Mitchell Moore
From Novelist:
Themes: Ensemble Casts
Storyline: Intricately plotted
Style: Witty; Well-crafted dialogue; Atmospheric
lighthearted
medium-paced
- Plot- or character-driven? A mix
- Strong character development? No
- Loveable characters? Yes
- Diverse cast of characters? Yes
- Flaws of characters a main focus? Yes
4.0
It felt refreshing to pick up a lighthearted fiction focused on family relationships and set during the summer on an island beach town. It was a way to keep summer going as we navigated the last few weeks of August here with a brief cool spell that felt very much like September weather.
Of course I enjoyed the mother-daughter relationship between Amy & Sam the most. This is one of my favourite relationships to explore in fiction. I could have done with a bit more depth here, but that isn't always to be expected from this author's books as they fare on the lighter side in terms of emotion and drama.
I enjoyed the witty written dialogue and the ensemble of characters and perspectives that we were offered as readers. There is a strong sense of place with this book, and there is no better place to set a book in my opinion than in summertime in a touristy small town.
Read if you like:
Of course I enjoyed the mother-daughter relationship between Amy & Sam the most. This is one of my favourite relationships to explore in fiction. I could have done with a bit more depth here, but that isn't always to be expected from this author's books as they fare on the lighter side in terms of emotion and drama.
I enjoyed the witty written dialogue and the ensemble of characters and perspectives that we were offered as readers. There is a strong sense of place with this book, and there is no better place to set a book in my opinion than in summertime in a touristy small town.
Read if you like:
- books by Elin Hildebrand or Susan Wiggs
- light-hearted relationship fiction
- atmospheric novels with a strong sense of place
From Novelist:
Themes: Ensemble Casts
Storyline: Intricately plotted
Style: Witty; Well-crafted dialogue; Atmospheric
A Novel Love Story by Ashley Poston
lighthearted
slow-paced
- Plot- or character-driven? A mix
- Strong character development? It's complicated
- Loveable characters? No
- Diverse cast of characters? No
- Flaws of characters a main focus? It's complicated
2.5
This book felt slow, confusing, and boring to me. Usually I love magical realism but this one didn't catch. I went into it very blind as I didn't even read the book jacket and that was not helpful!
The only reason I didn't DNF it is because it was for a book club.
I don't think this book will stay in my memory for long.
From Novelist
Themes: Close quarters, second chance romance
Mood: Inspiring
Quote:
The only reason I didn't DNF it is because it was for a book club.
I don't think this book will stay in my memory for long.
From Novelist
Themes: Close quarters, second chance romance
Mood: Inspiring
Quote:
Love looked like a man who had coffee ready for me in the mornings even though he preferred tea, and remembered exactly how I took it. Love ate my sugary spaghetti, and held an umbrella over my head when it rained, and apologized when he knew he was wrong. Love was inquisitive, and mindful, and somewhere beneath the grumpy exterior-sweet. Love was tricking yourself into doing something you didn't want to do, because you loved the person who did.
Love was a bunch of small things that added up to bigger things. Love was feeling valued. And accepted.
Just the way you were.
It was never feeling too much, or not enough, even though often you were both, because Love loved you anyway. Not in spite of it, but because of it.
Meet Me at the Lake by Carley Fortune
emotional
lighthearted
medium-paced
- Plot- or character-driven? Character
- Strong character development? Yes
- Loveable characters? No
- Diverse cast of characters? No
3.0
I liked it but I know it's a forgettable light read. It also took me a long time to read because there was about a week in July where I didn't want to pick it up at all. This is definitely a summer romance so I am glad I read it in this season.
I appreciated the themes of grief and anxiety. I also could related to Fern in being a motherless-daughter. I didn't feel too connected to the characters but I hope Will and Fern live in fictional bliss!
From Novelist:
Themes: Coping with death, Together again
Storyline: Intricately plotted
Mood: Feel-good, moving
Style: Witty, Evocative, Fast-paced
I appreciated the themes of grief and anxiety. I also could related to Fern in being a motherless-daughter. I didn't feel too connected to the characters but I hope Will and Fern live in fictional bliss!
From Novelist:
Themes: Coping with death, Together again
Storyline: Intricately plotted
Mood: Feel-good, moving
Style: Witty, Evocative, Fast-paced
The Things We Keep by Sally Hepworth
emotional
inspiring
sad
medium-paced
- Plot- or character-driven? A mix
- Strong character development? Yes
- Loveable characters? Yes
- Diverse cast of characters? Yes
- Flaws of characters a main focus? Yes
4.25
This is a story of unforgettable love set in an assisted-living facility that will move you.
The main characters were all very well developed. It was moving, evocative, emotional and captivating. I was engaged from start to finish.
It is impressive when a book can be charming and uplifting, while also sad and devastating to read. Stories centered around characters experience Alzheimer's are always harder to read as they can be so heartbreaking. This one also discusses grief, and I appreciated how the author explored childhood grief through the character of Clemintine, Eve's daughter.
It is probably my favourite Sally Hepworth novel to date and I wish they still wrote books like this!
The main characters were all very well developed. It was moving, evocative, emotional and captivating. I was engaged from start to finish.
It is impressive when a book can be charming and uplifting, while also sad and devastating to read. Stories centered around characters experience Alzheimer's are always harder to read as they can be so heartbreaking. This one also discusses grief, and I appreciated how the author explored childhood grief through the character of Clemintine, Eve's daughter.
It is probably my favourite Sally Hepworth novel to date and I wish they still wrote books like this!
The Husbands by Holly Gramazio
After finishing the book right at the end of my daughter's naptime, my first thought was “That was so wierd. What did I just read?”. I wasn't even sure if I had liked it or enjoyed it or not.
Now, after letting it marinate for about 24 hours, and listening to the author interview in the Modern Mrs. Darcy book club, I can say that the book was actually pretty clever and unique. It was unlike anything I'd ever read before, and it really does make you think. This endless supply of husbands from Lauren's attic can sound like a great idea, but it could also lead to decision overwhelm and this need to find the “perfect” husband, when in reality any one is a perfectly good choice and “maybe there isn't a single best path forward that she has to find”.
I could relate to the thrill of getting to see all of the options, and being excited by the newness of a relationship. Wouldn't it be fun to do over the time spent learning the new things about a man that you find out in those first years of dating?
This book was clever, witty and thought provoking. The author takes a unique concept, adds a sprinkle of magical realism, and writes a story that has you spinning through life's options for you. You can quickly see the numerous paths that one might potentially go on, based on the trajectory of their decision making.
I'll certainly stay tuned to this author and what she does next.
funny
fast-paced
- Plot- or character-driven? A mix
- Strong character development? It's complicated
- Loveable characters? It's complicated
- Diverse cast of characters? No
- Flaws of characters a main focus? No
3.0
Thoughts:
After finishing the book right at the end of my daughter's naptime, my first thought was “That was so wierd. What did I just read?”. I wasn't even sure if I had liked it or enjoyed it or not.
Now, after letting it marinate for about 24 hours, and listening to the author interview in the Modern Mrs. Darcy book club, I can say that the book was actually pretty clever and unique. It was unlike anything I'd ever read before, and it really does make you think. This endless supply of husbands from Lauren's attic can sound like a great idea, but it could also lead to decision overwhelm and this need to find the “perfect” husband, when in reality any one is a perfectly good choice and “maybe there isn't a single best path forward that she has to find”.
I could relate to the thrill of getting to see all of the options, and being excited by the newness of a relationship. Wouldn't it be fun to do over the time spent learning the new things about a man that you find out in those first years of dating?
This book was clever, witty and thought provoking. The author takes a unique concept, adds a sprinkle of magical realism, and writes a story that has you spinning through life's options for you. You can quickly see the numerous paths that one might potentially go on, based on the trajectory of their decision making.
I'll certainly stay tuned to this author and what she does next.
The Dinner List by Rebecca Serle
emotional
sad
fast-paced
- Plot- or character-driven? A mix
- Strong character development? Yes
- Loveable characters? Yes
- Diverse cast of characters? Yes
- Flaws of characters a main focus? No
4.5
Worthy: How to Believe You Are Enough and Transform Your Life by Jamie Kern Lima
emotional
hopeful
inspiring
reflective
medium-paced
4.5
Darling Girls by Sally Hepworth
3.5
Thoughts:
- Underwhelming - I felt like the book didn’t hold my attention that well and I was not too impressed by the ending
- The ending being that Holly Fairchild - aka Miss Fairchild was an unreliable character. What she disclosed to the therapist Dr. Warren was lies, and was told when she was in prison for kidnapping. “Amy” was her sister, not her daugher. Holly killed Amy, not her mother.
- Enjoyable overall - I did enjoy the audiobook and I did like the writing.
- I’ll continue to read Sally Hepworth, but I just wasn’t hooked on this one so much.
- I found the sisters were interesting characters, but that they also were interchangeable and easy to mix up. There wasn’t enough depth into them to really connect with each one.