rebeccasreadingrambles's reviews
2840 reviews

I loved this book! Though I really miss the plaza of Asia Village, I loved seeing Lana and her sleuthing on the road. I think because it was wonderful to see her and her sister working together (or if not fully together, then not apart) for once away from all the other distractions.  I was thoroughly invested in this mystery and though I guessed it before Lana I loved watching her sleuthing abilities and seeing how she could really read people.  And of course it still made me very hungry.

Note: I LOVED the audiobook version!

Wow this book was not what I expected. What a wild ride.  A unique and confusing story that makes you feel like you are going a bit crazy, while being completely fascinating and compelling. After just a short while into the book, I didn't want to stop reading because I had to know what was going on (in both the past and what was going to happen). The storytelling was SO well done! I loved the vivid characters and this made me want to visit these gorgeous places.  It was an interesting look into travel especially as a female traveler and also made me a bit mad that it's harder to exist in this world safely as a female presenting person just trying to experience travel.  The last half was heart-pounding and made this a truly great book.

Note: I listened to the audiobook and it was lovely and so well done!

What an amazing book. Even after 16 installments this series never misses and it hits all the cozy vibes and is one of my happy places. I love how this series is classic cozy, but also does not shy away from really tough topics.  The way that Kathleen will fiercely protect her friends and family is the best; she does not scare easily and will not back down.  Reading about her bridal shower and wedding and all the loving people she has surrounded herself with made me SO HAPPY and tear up.  I loved the dramatic and gasp-worthy ending to the mystery (which in itself was so fascinating).  And the magical cats are THE BEST. I love Hercules and Owen (and Micah) and love how they help out with the investigation.

I had tears in my eyes at the ending of this book and I desperately hope this series never ends!

What a lovely and nostalgic last Nantucket book. I loooooved seeing so many characters from previous books and just the vibes of Nantucket were so great. I love returning to this fictional version of Nantucket every summer and this was a great and dramatic way to end my summer reading.  I love characters that are easy to hate, when surrounded by others that I love and the author really hit that balance here.  Ridiculously petty social dynamics at play in this wealthy community that are easy to get wrapped up in and a great escape to listen to. The ending had me yelling and I loved how it all turned out.

Note: I listened to this audiobook as I have with all of the previous EH books I've read and as always the narrator is fantastic and does an amazing job bringing the exact right voices for these characters.

Love love love. I have been saving this book, thinking it was going to be the last. But now that I know there will be another one, I greedily grabbed this one and it was the PERFECT cozy book to lift my mood.  Flavia de Luce is now a very dear friend and I was ecstatic to be back with her and Dogger and Bishop's Lacey.  The setting and small town and close knit community (even if they don't always get along) is my comfort cozy place and this book absolutely lived up to that.  Seeing Flavia and Dogger working together was so much fun and I just love their partnership.  They have been through so much and it makes me so happy that Flavia has some wonderful adults to look after her that treat her like the mature kid she is without trying to sniffle her curiosity. I love all the chemistry involved in this mystery. 

My own complaint is there wasn't enough Daphne and Ophelia.

Note: I listened to the audiobook and really enjoyed it! I've experienced this series both listening and reading and I recommend either way.

I have NEVER felt about a book the way I felt about this book. I did not stop, I did not pause, I put my headphones in through lunch and ignored my coworkers. I could not severe myself from this story for even a moment.  Wow. Compelling, addictive, fascinating, thrilling, beautiful. The writing was absolutely perfection. The author knew when to draw things out and when to make it snappy. They knew how to tug our heartstrings, to string us along by our emotions and never let go. Even now at the end I am not okay because I feel like I need to see these characters for myself.  The emotions were INSANE, fear, hope, loss, sadness, more hope, despair, round and round and round.  I cannot remember the last time I felt this way for characters in such a quick time - that is AMAZING writing. I think I cried dozens of times (how dare you!)

Don't let a fear of planes keep you from reading this book; that's not the focus and honestly you will be moved by the rest of the story. If you, like me, were horrified and fascinated by the show Chernobyl then you will LOVE this book.

I jumped into this series with this book after reading that it could be read as a standalone and I don't full agree.  Yes, the mystery itself does not connect to others.  But the way that characters are just thrown at you, and at the beginning in particular it jumps around POVs so much, it's very hard to keep track or understand how it all connects.  Also the MC goes by a ton of different names which is very confusing especially when listening.  Overall, the story was interesting, but it didn't captivate me.  I wanted answers, but in a very light way, I wasn't hooked or dying to keep reading.  I almost DNF at about 50%, but kept going because I was curious about the ending.

Note: I actually do not recommend the audiobook for this one, and think it would be less confusion to read in print.

Phew. That ending was wild and this whole book honestly was wild.  My expectation for what this book was when I started and at the end were completely different and now I kind of feel like I should re-read it with my eyes open.  It felt like a slow burn at first and then it really ramped up at the end with the tension. I'll be honest I could not understand what the hype was about at first; it seemed like just a party girl novel but with a vampire twist.  But it was gory and a creepy and the second half got it's hooks in me.  

What a fun spin on a thriller (because vampires always are a winner right?!) that I enjoyed!

Also, I HIGHLY recommend the audiobook version!

Oooh a good book for scary season!  I will admit, I jumped into this series blind with this book.  However, it was instantly cozy and the characters was so easy to connect with that I had no problem diving right in like I was part of the crew. I am a sucker for any home reno books and shows so the combo here was great and so well written.  Plus the haunted house vibes walked a perfect line of believable, but leaving room for skepticism.  I love that the MCs were pragmatic without being totally dismissive of the possibility of a ghost.  Also the handled Fiona with so much care as they investigated her mother's death and reveal many buried secrets.  Plus they have the most adorable pooches as companions in this book and I enjoyed the side stories with their family and their doggos.  However, at times it felt like there were too many storylines and I was missing a lot of the home renovation aspects that I was excited for.  Also some of the dialogue I personally didn't like (way too many "bros" used). Overall this was a fun and cozy story with a shocking ending!

This book is SO GOOD! I am in awe of the bravery of early pilots jumping into these OPEN AIR cockpits?!  I looked up some of these planes and they're like canoes with wings! This book is beautifully written and it is fascinating the way Bessie achieved her dream of being a pilot.  Not only was she fighting segregation, racism, and sexism on the ground and at home, but she was fighting the forces of gravity! Truly inspiring, I will never forget what I learned in this book and these awe-inspiring, vivid characters.

Note: I listened to the audiobook and highly recommend that format!