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#NETGALLEY
review
julesG
Manic Pixie Dream Earl | Jenny Holiday
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Pickpick

Another September. Another Earls' Trip. This time the three gentlemen are off to visit Brighton for a fortnight of being together, talking, sightseeing, maybe some sea bathing. Like the last Earls' Trip, things do not go completely according to plan, when Effie meets his pen pal Miss Juliana Evans.

Effie and Juliana have had a longstanding epistolary relationship. They both have feelings for each other. Yet, a happy ending for them doesn't ⬇️

julesG seem to be possible, there seem to be too many insurmountable obstacles; starting with Effie's gender and not ending with an age gap.

It takes the protagonists some time to work out how a happily ever after might work. This process feels natural; they don't rush, they weigh the options, they seek the help of friends and family, they listen to their instincts.
⬇️
22h
julesG I like the slower pace of the novel and the friendship between Simon, Effie and Archie, which turned into a found family which supports its members. Since the earls have already planned next year's Earls' Trip, I am looking forward to reading about how nerdy Simon is going to woo the woman of his dreams. 22h
43 likes3 comments
review
BookishTrish
Elphie: A Wicked Childhood | Gregory Maguire
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Mehso-so

I think I liked the Broadway musical and film too much to ever be fully immersed in Maguire‘s version of the characters - particularly Nessarose. This one was just okay for me - but I do appreciate the ARC #netgalley

BookishTrish (And yes I feel bad liking the musical better given that Maguire‘s Wicked came first.) 2d
36 likes1 comment
review
BookmarkTavern
Murder Kingdom | Fred Van Lente
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Mehso-so

Tanith‘s job as a ride conductor becomes much more complicated w/ drug deals between cast members, management union busting, & oh yes, somebody is killing the other park employees.

Everything just felt so rushed. I liked the idea of poking fun at big amusement parks, mixed w/ a fairy tale themed serial killer, & the art was good & felt on brand, but we didn‘t get time to get to know anyone, & the ending wasn‘t set up enough for me. 🌕🌕🌕🌑🌑

BookmarkTavern Release Date: Tomorrow! #ARC #NetGalley 3d
AnnCrystal 💕😻💝. 3d
58 likes2 comments
review
vlwelser
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Pickpick

This is a cute cozy mystery fantasy thing. It gave me Charmaine Harris vibes. I don't typically read in this genre. I think it must be a reprint of the author's original books.

#BookSpinBingo @TheAromaofBooks

US pub date is 9/2/25
#ARC #Netgalley

TheAromaofBooks Woohoo!! 3d
33 likes1 stack add1 comment
review
BookmarkTavern
Titan of the Stars | E K Johnston
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Mehso-so

Celeste is trying to escape the poverty of her home town. Dominic is trying to survive manipulative parents & a controlling boyfriend. & their ship is also transporting alien remains. Only, the aliens aren‘t as dead as they thought.

Loved the 2 MCs though their voices were too similar for both to be 1st person, & it had a slow start for a novella. But also fun world building in a short time, great side characters, & a hook of an ending!🌕🌕🌕🌗🌑

BookmarkTavern Release Date: May 27th, 2025 #ARC #NetGalley 4d
60 likes1 comment
review
OutsmartYourShelf
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Pickpick

n earlier times, life was a lot more communal than it is today, & the concept of a private life didn't really exist in a balanced way. This is an examination of the concept', those who helped shape it, & how it came into being from its initial start in the Reformation, through the 17th & 18th centuries & Sir Edward Coke (who was responsible for the saying 'An Englishman's home is his castle') through to supporters of women's rights (continued)

OutsmartYourShelf including Mary Astell, Mary Wollstonecraft, & John Stuart Mill in the 19th century. Today the ownership of one's image & the 21st century has brought forth new questions about privacy & the public space.

This was both an interesting & thought-provoking read. I especially enjoyed the historical chapters but found myself a little less engrossed as we neared modern day. The argument that privacy was historically looked on as a way to hide things
4d
OutsmartYourShelf from others rather than being a retreat from the outside world was intriguing & it shows how much society has changed & mainly uncoupled from religious influence in England. Well-researched & well-written, I recommend this if you like challenging reads. 4🌟

My thanks to #NetGalley & publishers, Pan Macmillan/Picador, for the opportunity to read an ARC.

Full Review: https://www.goodreads.com/review/show/7254294359
Read 14th-17th May 2025
4d
DieAReader 💖💖💖 4d
30 likes4 comments
review
BookmarkTavern
Strange New World | Vivian Shaw
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Mehso-so

After the averted end of the world, Greta is tasked w/ a road trip w/ an angel & a demon to see if they can work together w/out having allergic reactions. Too bad this trip coincides w/ an attempted coup of the New York undead mob.

I‘m torn. This fixed 1 of my major problems w/ book 3, but also went straight back to Greta & The Boys. I found the mystery fascinating, the side characters charming, but the ending a bit abrupt & too open.🌕🌕🌕🌗🌑

BookmarkTavern Release Date: May 20th, 2025 #ARC #NetGalley 5d
64 likes1 comment
review
julesG
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Pickpick

A wedding on an island, with a storm rolling in and some tension between the guests and people in the wedding party; what could possibly go wrong? Eleanor, the writer of detective fiction, starts investigating.

Fourth wall breaks, an unreliable narrator, and quirky secondary characters make this a page turner. I cannot wait to see what will happen to Eleanor next, she's going on a retreat with some other crime writers next.

#NetGalley

julesG 2nd book in the Vacation Mysteries series #SeriesLove2025 @Andrew65 @TheSpineView 5d
TheSpineView Fantastic! ❤️📖📚 5d
53 likes2 stack adds2 comments
review
kezzlou85
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Pickpick

This was a slow burn start but towards the end it really picked up. There was a few really dramatic moments keeping me interested in the story. This does touch on some dark and possibly triggering themes with the parts about Leo's family but it doesnt steal focus from the main mystery. The ending was well done and cleverly written. I liked Leo and Shan, they faced their own issues but kept trying to get justice. #Netgalley 3*

blurb
Deblovestoread
Untitled | Unknown
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#14books14weeks

Here is my list of books to tackle from May 26 to September 1. A combination of #NetGalley ARCs, a couple #CampLitsy picks and a few I‘ve been wanting to pick up.

If you want to join make your list of 14 books and tag @Liz_M Thanks for hosting!

Liz_M What a great mix of genres, formats, and reasons to read these! (edited) 5d
sarahbarnes I really want to read those Boyne books, too! Great stack! 5d
56 likes2 comments