Month: June 2024

Review: The Haters by Robyn Harding

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Goodreads

Release date: July 2, 2024

Publisher: Grand Central

Genre: Mystery/Thriller

Synopsis:

Camryn Lane is living her dream. After years of struggle and rejection, her first novel has finally been published. Her editor is happy; her teenage daughter is proud; and her boyfriend and friends are all excited for her. She’s on top of the world—until she receives a disturbing message from an unknown sender.

Rattled by the accusations she finds there, Camryn swallows the sick feeling in her stomach and resolves to put the missive out of her mind. But when she checks her ratings on a popular book site, she finds a scathing one-star review. The reviewer is so articulate and convincing that soon, Camryn’s book is flooded with bad reviews. Could the reviewer be the same person who sent the ugly email? And why do they want to ruin her?

As the online harassment creeps into Camryn’s personal life, she vows to find out who’s behind it. Is it really a disgruntled reader? Or could it be someone she knows? The troll’s actions are escalating, and when the abuse turns deadly, it will take everything Camryn has to unmask the enemy so intent on destroying her—and finally learn why she’s being targeted. 

Review:

As soon as I saw this was about an author receiving a one star review I was in. If you’re all involved in the bookish community you’ve seen authors get review bombed before and it’s craziness so naturally I was curious how the author would use this as a plot point. She put her own unique spin on it, this was less thriller and more character driven domestic suspense but I liked it. Just don’t expect super exciting and tense pacing, more of a steady build up with lots of sly reveals and secrets. I actually felt sorry for Camryn throughout most of the book, all of the events taking place made her rightfully distrusting of everyone in her life and her loneliness was apparent. The author included sections from Camryn’s book, Burnt Orchid and I’m always down for a book within a book bit of cleverness. The ending did get a little over the top but it was fun so I didn’t truly mind. Overall a fun read and a great option for poolside reading this summer!

Overall rating: 4/5

Thanks to the publisher for my review copy.

Review: A Novel Love Story by Ashley Poston

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Goodreads

Release date: June 25, 2024

Publisher: Berkley Romance

Genre: Contemporary Romance

Synopsis:

A professor of literature finds herself caught up in a work of fiction… literally.

Eileen Merriweather loves to get lost in a good happily-ever-after. The fictional kind, anyway. Because at least imaginary men don’t leave you at the altar. She feels safe in a book. At home. Which might be why she’s so set on going to her annual book club retreat this year—she needs good friends, cheap wine, and grand romantic gestures—no matter what. 

But when her car unexpectedly breaks down on the way, she finds herself stranded in a quaint town that feels like it’s right out of a novel… 

Because it is. 

This place can’t be real, and yet… she’s here, in Eloraton, the town of her favorite romance series, where the candy store’s honey taffy is always sweet, the local bar’s burgers are always a little burnt, and rain always comes in the afternoon. It feels like home. It’s perfect—and perfectly frozen, trapped in the late author’s last unfinished story. 

Elsy is sure that’s why she must be here: to help bring the town to its storybook ending. 

Except there is a character in Eloraton that she can’t place—a grumpy bookstore owner with mint-green eyes, an irritatingly sexy mouth and impeccable taste in novels. And he does not want her finishing this book. 

Which is a problem because Elsy is beginning to think the town’s happily-ever-after might just be intertwined with her own.

Review:

This one is for the romance book girlies, especially those of us who have daydreamed about visiting our favorite fictional small town in real life. I adored the unique and magical premise naturally, the author always writes the most whimsical and charming romances and this was no exception. At first it seems like a dream come true for Elsy to be stuck in Eloraton but can she really leave her real life behind in order to stay in this sweet little town? This series is so special and important to her, it got her through some of the worst years in her life so abandoning it seems crazy to her. The magic and power of books is the overarching theme here and I think this made the romance take a bit of a backseat but I didn’t mind. I was so charmed by the quirky town and Elsy’s personal journey the romance as almost a secondary plot point made sense for me. Another delightful read from a trusted author, a true escape in the sweetest manner.

Overall rating: 4/5

Thanks to the publisher for my review copy.