These are the Advance reader copies I read this month. Read on to see my verdicts on each of them! Thanks to the publishers and NetGalley for the copies in exchange for an honest review.
Thief and the Noble by Dana LeCheminant
Verdict: DNF
I really wanted to love this book, especially since it’s a Robin Hood retelling. . It just wasn’t keeping my attention. The major conflict AKA the two main characters realizing the truth about each other, was resolved pretty early on. What else can happen? This is one I might revisit, but I had a hard time connecting with the characters so I don’t have motivation to continue. The writing was also not very polished and a little rough in places.
Asking for A Friend by Andi Osho
Verdict: DNF
Wanted to love this. The premise is really neat. However, the execution was off. I didn’t find the characters very likable, and I couldn’t keep them straight from one another. I’m sure that would have come as I kept reading, but I was losing interest fast. Especially because there was so much dialogue and pop culture references that I didn’t get.
Overall, I couldn’t get a sense of where this book was headed. If it wasn’t for the marketing synopsis, I wouldn’t have a clue what was happening. And while that might be fine for some genres, romance is one that needs to have a clear direction.
The Last Grand Duchess by Bryn Turnbull
Verdict: perfect if you like the Royal Diary series as a kid
I love the history of the Romanov family, so I knew I had to read this one. Having Olga as the main character is a smart choice; she was a very interesting person and it’s nice to see focus on another sister besides Anastasia.
The pace is slow, which I didn’t mind. There are also a lot of characters, even though the author did consolidate somewhat. I do worry that some readers would be confused. (I had just read the nonfiction so I was fine.)
Olga is on the periphery of much of the story; overhearing important conversations but not being a part of them. However, this changes as the books goes on, which I appreciated, and I realized it was part of her character growth. I was also impressed by how hopeful the ending was, despite the inevitable tragic ending.
Summerhaven by Tiffany Odekirk
Verdict: ate this one up!
Loved this one! Couldn’t put it down. The premise is wonderful and full of potential. (Child hood best friends fall in love. Or do they?) The writing hooked me in and kept me so engaged the whole time. This is a closed-door, “proper romance.” So many great moments to swoon over. It was so romantic and I lived for the pining. It had some nice nods to Austen, specifically Emma and Pride and Prejudice. I’d love to read more from this author; I hope she writes more historical romance. |
One Night on the Island by Josie Silver
Verdict: DNF.
A real disappointment. I have loved Silver’s work in the past, but this fell flat. I was so bored. The premise is simple and unoriginal, but I was willing to read because I trusted Silver to imbue magic into a well-travelled trope. (There’s only one bed / romance on a quaint island.) I just found myself dreading picking this up.
I was also turned off by the love interest being legally married (albeit separated). For much of the book, he’s really pining for his wife and is hopeful they’ll get back together. It’s just not a setup I love for a romance.
A Perfect Equation by Elizabeth Everett
Verdict: liked, didn’t love
| Overall very delightful! I enjoyed this one much more than the first in the series, although there were definitely moments I questioned what the two main love interests really saw in each other. I love seeing a woman in STEM and pioneering female intellectuals. This book straddles the line between girl boss feminism and the more intentional, nuanced feminism I personally prefer in novels. I also appreciated how our heroine was a “fallen woman” and how she learned to reckon with her status. The hero’s history with epilepsy added an interesting dynamic to their relationship and his growth as a character. I felt like there were perhaps a few too many characters, which were hard to keep track of. This wasn’t as bad as the first book, but still a slight issue. |
Meg Loves Words 