The Spice Box Letters by Eve Makis | Book Review #170

The Bookish Island's Book Review:

The Spice Box Letters by Eve Makis 

Are there spoilers?

Maybe.

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Title: The Spice Box Letters

Author: Eve Makis

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Pages: 320

Published: 2015

Genre: Historical Fiction, Fiction, Mystery, Contemporary, Adult

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Date Read: September 28, 2019

Rating: ★★★★☆

Goodreads

Katerina inherits a scented, wooden spice box after her grandmother Mariam dies. It contains letters and a diary, written in Armenian. As she pieces together her family story, Katerina learns that Mariam's childhood was shattered by the Armenian tragedy of 1915.

Mariam was exiled from her home in Turkey and separated from her beloved brother, Gabriel, her life marred by grief and the loss of her first love. Dissatisfied and restless, Katerina tries to find resolution in her own life as she completes Mariam's story – on a journey that takes her across Cyprus and then half a world away to New York.

Miracles, it seems, can happen – for those trapped by the past, and for Katerina herself.

The Rating:

My Review:

The Spice Box Letters was a book that got sent to me by the publishers YEARS ago and I never picked it up which always made me feel bad because deep down I thought I wouldn't like it but here I am totally kicking myself for not having read it earlier. Cause damn. It's so not what thought it would be. Every page was heart wrenching and sad and I totally wanted Katarina and her family to find each other and see that they weren't alone in all of what they went through cause they went through so much.

I think this is one of the first Historical Fiction that I actually really liked.

This book isn't scary or anything but the way the author wrote about these characters terrifying stories was so that my heart was racing during certain scenes. And my heart hurt for the suffering of Katrina's grandmother and her brother.
This was such a beautiful story about sacrifice, and family.

 I am happy that I finally got to it. And I just so happen to have read it on a rainy day too.

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The Bookish Island

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Him by Sarina Bowen & Elle Kennedy | Book Review #167

The Bookish Island's Book Review:

Him by Sarina Bowen & Elle Kennedy

Are there spoilers?

Nope.

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Title: Him

Author: Sarina Bowen & Elle Kennedy

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Pages: 360

Published: 2015

Genre: Romance, Sports, New Adult, Contemporary

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Date Read: March 29, 2019

Rating: ★★★★★

Goodreads

They don’t play for the same team. Or do they?

Jamie Canning has never been able to figure out how he lost his closest friend. Four years ago, his tattooed, wise-cracking, rule-breaking roommate cut him off without an explanation. So what if things got a little weird on the last night of hockey camp the summer they were eighteen? It was just a little drunken foolishness. Nobody died.

Ryan Wesley’s biggest regret is coaxing his very straight friend into a bet that pushed the boundaries of their relationship. Now, with their college teams set to face off at the national championship, he’ll finally get a chance to apologize. But all it takes is one look at his longtime crush, and the ache is stronger than ever.

Jamie has waited a long time for answers, but walks away with only more questions—can one night of sex ruin a friendship? If not, how about six more weeks of it? When Wesley turns up to coach alongside Jamie for one more hot summer at camp, Jamie has a few things to discover about his old friend... and a big one to learn about himself.

Warning: contains sexual situations, skinnydipping, shenanigans in an SUV and proof that coming out to your family on social media is a dicey proposition.

The Rating:

My Review:

There was so much going on in this book and I enjoyed every page.
It was both a fun read and a great romance.

Now I was supposed to write this review months ago so I barely remember what I was going to say about this book but I really did love it.

It was also my first M/M romance so that was interesting. Although I have read yaoi before, so it wasn't that weird. I really liked it. Reading Jaime and Ryans' story of how they went from friends to strangers, to friends and so much more. So much love for these two that I couldn't wait to read the sequel and I got my hands on it and read that too.

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The Bookish Island
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Hungry For More by Alexa Riley | Book Review #165

The Bookish Island's Book Review:

Hungry For More by Alexa Riley

Are there spoilers?

Nope.

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Title: Hungry For More 

Author: Alexa Riley

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Pages:?

Published: 2018

Genre: Romance, Novella, Contemporary, Contemporary Romance 

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Date Read: April 30, 2019

Rating: ★★★☆☆

Goodreads

Sage Carter has spent her whole life surrounded by her family that treats her like a child. When she finally decides to live life on her own, it’s still under the shelter of her brother's apartment. But the day before Thanksgiving, his business partner comes to visit and just so happens to find her in the kitchen…in her underwear. Can she make it through the holiday without dying of embarrassment? Or will the incident be the spark that lights the fire from within?

Jensen Powell has done things in his own way on his own timeline. When he’s forced to go home with his business partner for Thanksgiving, he doesn’t expect to find a curvy bombshell waiting for him. One look and she belongs to him if only she’ll give in. He hasn’t had a reason to be thankful until now, and he’s making the most of it.

Warning: This Turkey Day romance is stuffed full of all your favorites. It’s warm and sweet with all the guilty pleasures you’re after. Go ahead and get second helpings. Nobody is looking.

The Rating:

My Review:

Hungry For More is apparently a Thanksgiving-themed novella. And I totally in not read it during Thanksgiving but I still enjoyed it.

It's very much an insta-love story. Very sexy and steamy. And even though Jensen was a little too intense at the beginning I totally got into it and felt that he truly cared for Sage.
And after a few pages of reading their story, I got into it and found myself cheering them on...
to be happy (I didn't intentionally write it this way but let's keep it).

I also liked that Jensen and Sage had the perect amout of backstorry to let their stry make sense even though it as a short novella. And I kinda thik I like Alexa Riley's writing so I might go looking for more of her novels.

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The Bookish Island
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The Chase by Janet Evanovich & Lee Goldberg | Book Review #163

The Bookish Island's Book Review:
The Chase by Janet Evanovich & Lee Goldberg

Are there spoilers?

Nope.

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Title: The Chase 

Author: Janet Evanovich & Lee Goldberg

Series: Fox and O'Hare #2

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Pages: 304

Published: 2014

Publisher:  Bantam 

Genre: Mystery, Fiction, Romance, Crime

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Date Read: May 2, 2019

Rating: ★★★☆☆

An internationally renowned thief and con artist Nicolas Fox runs daring cons now teams undercover for FBI with the agent who caught him, Kate O'Hare. Together they catch the world’s most wanted—and untouchable—criminals, next to Carter Grove, former White House chief of staff, now the ruthless leader of BlackRhino private security for a rare Chinese rooster from the Smithsonian.

The Rating:

My Review:

The Chase didn't catch and hold onto my attention like The Heist did but it was still a good read. This one had a lot of the same elements that the first one had too.

I love how Kate and Nick's relationship is still going on like a slow burn. they obviously have a lot to sexual tension between them and they flirt with each other so it's all there. And I can't wait to see when it starts to get more official.

Kate's father is still my favorite character. He's just so cool. And I still think that Sylvester Stallone or Bruce Willis or even Jean-Claude Van Damme could play him. Or maybe a little bit of the three of them in one. Crazy but smart, and a loving father, and a good fighter/sharpshooter. But also I don't think he'd be old. Like I know he's retired but I don't think he's old-old. Ya know?

Goodreads

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The Bookish Island
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Where You'll Find Me by Natasha Friend | Book Review #162

The Bookish Island's Book Review:
Where You'll Find Me by Natasha Friend 

Are there spoilers?

Nope.

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Title: Where You'll Find Me

Author: Natasha Friend 

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Pages: 272

Published: 2016

Publisher:  Farrar, Straus, and Giroux 

Genre: Middle Grade, Young Adult, Mental Health

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Date Read: April 30, 2019

Rating: ★★★★☆

The first month of school, thirteen-year-old Anna Collette finds herself…

Dumped by her best friend, Dani, who suddenly wants to spend eighth grade “hanging out with different people.”

Deserted by her mom, who’s in the hospital recovering from a suicide attempt.

Trapped in a house with her dad, a new baby sister, and a stepmother young enough to wear her Delta Delta Delta sweatshirt with pride.

Stuck at a lunch table with Shawna the Eyebrow Plucker and Sarabeth the Irish Stepper because she has no one else to sit with.

But what if all isn’t lost? What if Anna’s mom didn’t exactly mean to leave her? What if Anna’s stepmother is cooler than she thought? What if the misfit lunch table isn’t such a bad fit after all?

With help from some unlikely sources, including a crazy girl-band talent show act, Anna just may find herself on the road to okay.

The Rating:

My Review:

Just by looking at this book you'd think it would hold a beautiful story full of happiness and friendship but no! The pretty flowers and paster rainbows have nothing to do with the story and I love it.

This book deals with such a powerful theme. The main characters mother almost dies of an overdose on painkillers and leaves her daughter to deal with it. 

But that's not just it. Anna also deals with adults being inconsiderate and malicious gossip. Along with losing friends, not knowing when other kids are being nice or messing with her, new stepmom and a baby step-sibling. This kid is barely a teen and she has already dealt with so much. That I couldn't help but root for her to find some sort of peace in all the mess she was in.

I think I might have cried twice. Not only because of what Anna went through but because of her friends'stories. There are just too many moments in this book that tugged at my heartstrings and made me cry so much.

And in the end, I was left being so thankful for the messed up childhood I had because it ever went beyond the point of being completely alone in a tough situation like Anna was. 

Goodreads

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The Bookish Island
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Manga Classics: Sense and Sensibility by Stacy King | Book Review #161

The Bookish Island's Book Review:
Please Send Help by Gaby Dunn & Allison Raskin

Are there spoilers?

Nope.

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Disclaimer:

This book was sent to me by the publishing company (St. Martins Press) through NetGalley in exchange for an honest review.

Title: Sense and Sensibility ( Manga Classics)

English Script and Story Adaptation by Stacy King

Original Author: Jane Austen

Artist: Po Tse

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Pages: 308

Published: 2016

Publisher: Udon Entertainment

Genre: Classics, Manga

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Date Read: March 17 > March 18, 2019

Rating: ★★★★☆

Impulsive Marianne Dashwood and cautious Elinor are as different as two sisters could be, yet both are shattered by their father's sudden Death. Elinor's attachment to the reserved Edward Ferrars is torn asunder by family opposition and his own dark secret, while Marianne's brilliant romance with the dashing John Willoughby comes to a tumultuous end in a devastating public betrayal. Can the two sisters overcome these trials to find true, lasting happiness?

Jane Austen's beloved first novel, filled with romance, redemption and social critique, is brought to life for a modern audience in this gorgeous manga-style adaptation!

The Rating:

My Review:

I actually read Sense and Sensibility after I read Jane Eyre so it was something I was excited about.

Not only was the art good but the way the characters were portrayed made me relate and understand everything that was going on so much more than if I were to read it in text only. I think that this way I got to see all the things that I wouldn't have been able to picture otherwise.

Marianne and Elinor were such good characters. They were the complete opposite of each other when it came to love and they both went in different routes but their goal was always true and strong and healthy love. Which is admirable and made me relate to both of them.

Though let's be honest I would have pushed Willoughby aside (hand on face pushing) and went to Colonel Brandon's arms. Cause that man was dashing.

And in the end, I was left with the feeling of wanting to drop everything and watching the movie and whatever other adaptations exist.



Image found in google

Like the 1995 adaptation with Kate Winslet and Emma Thompson. Which I've ever seen.

But I have seen From Prada to Nada and loved it so I will be adding that as the next movie I see as well.

Although I did watch Material Girls a long time ago. Mostly because I was a fan of anything Hilary Duff did. But it wasn't as good as I thought it was gonna be so not watching that again. Or maybe I will?

The question now is.
Do you think there should be a new modern adaptation to Sense and Sensibility like From Prada to Nada and something better than Material Girls? Or do you want another period drama?

Goodreads

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The Bookish Island
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Manga Classics: Jane Eyre by Stacy King | Book Review #160

The Bookish Island's Book Review:
Manga Classics: Jane Eyre by Stacy King

Are there spoilers?

Not really. But this is also based on a classic so it shouldn't matter if I'm the one spoiling this for ya.

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Disclaimer:

This book was sent to me by the publishing company (UDON Entertainment) through NetGalley in exchange for an honest review.

Title: Jane Eyre (Manga Classics)

English Script by Stacy King
Original Author: Charlotte Brontë
Artist: SunNeko Lee
Story Adaptation: Crystal S. Chan

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Pages: 319

Published: 2016

Publisher:  Udon Entertainment  

Genre: Manga, Romance, Classics

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Date Read: March 5 > March 6, 2019

Rating: ★★★★☆

As an orphaned child, Jane Eyre is first cruelly abused by her aunt, then cast out and sent to a charity school. Though she meets with further abuse, she receives an education, and eventually takes a job as a governess at the estate of Edward Rochester. Jane and Rochester begin to bond, but his dark moods trouble her. When Jane uncovers the terrible secret Rochester has been hiding, she flees and finds temporary refuge at the home of St. John Rivers.

The Rating:

My Review:

Jane Eyre is one of the books I didn't think I would get to anytime soon but when I saw it on NetGalley I could help but to request it. And I got it.

I've wanted to read Jane Eyre for some time but the heft of the book always scared me off. Because it's such a big book. So reading it in manga for was perfect. I still want to re-read it sometime in the future but I was happy to get to see all the beautiful and detailed illustrations.

The story is still there. The characters are more expressive than in the movie adaptations. Especially the really old ones. I caught the ending of one that was black and white and the guy who was Mr. Rochester was going too strong in being serious.
But the manga managed to capture me for a full day without me having to stop in the middle. I was enamored by it all.

Goodreads

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The Bookish Island
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Please Send Help by Gaby Dunn & Allison Raskin | Book Review #159

The Bookish Island's Book Review:
Please Send Help by Gaby Dunn & Allison Raskin

Are there spoilers?

Nope.

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Disclaimer:

This book was sent to me by the publishing company (St. Martins Press) through NetGalley in exchange for an honest review.

Title: Please Send Help

Author: Gaby Dunn & Allison Raskin

Series: I Hate Everyone But You #2

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Pages: 320

Published: July 2019

Publisher:  Wednesday Books 

Genre: Young Adult, New Adult

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Date Read: March 31, 2019

Rating: ★★★☆☆

In this hilarious follow-up novel to the New York Times bestseller I Hate Everyone But You, long distance best friends Ava and Gen have finally made it to the same time zone (although they’re still over a thousand miles apart).

Through their hilarious, sometimes emotional, but always relatable conversations, Ava and Gen are each other’s support systems through internships, relationship troubles, questionable roommates, undercover reporting, and whether or not it’s a good idea to take in a feral cat. Please Send Help perfectly captures the voice of young adults looking to find their place in the world and how no matter how desperate things seem, you always have your best friend to tell it like it is and pick you back up. 

The Rating:

My Review:

Please Send Help is the Sequel to I Hate Everybody But You which I read a while back. And although its the sequel it didn't have the same themes throughout it. And I'm not mad at it. But I'm also not thrilled.

It was good to see that the friendship between Ava and Gen was still going. Despite them now being in two different (and far away states) they still kept texting and emailing each other. Which is also the format of the book.

And through those texts and emails, you could see how they dealt with a lot of things and still managed to stay in constant communication and care about one another. Despite how needy and childish they were to each other at times.
They also contradicted each other in the way they treated each other.

One of the things that bothered me with this story is that nothing really seemed to happen. The hurdles they were thrown in got patched up quick and it didn't seem to leave an effect on the two. Some of the things they did should have had bigger consequences than they got. And it left me not understanding their choices and issues.

I'm not saying that I didn't like the characters and the way they interacted with each other or how the two "worlds" Ava and Gen were living in were created and utilized. What I'm saying is that it seemed to have a lot of little climaxes that had equally little resolutions that didn't really fix anything because some of the situations they were in didn't make that much sense.
And like I wrote above they were not the sort of problems that left the characters changed. Yeah, they seemed to grow as new adults now that they had graduated from college (since in the first book they were freshmen in college [which was a huge leap between the two books]) and were starting their jobs,  but nothing else. They were in the same situations as the first book just a little bit different.

Still, I'm glad I got to read this book. Because I got to see how strong Ava and Gen's friendship is and to see how they are still figuring things out as they go. And didn't magically know how the world work. It was enjoyable although frustrating at times.

Goodreads

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The Bookish Island
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Darwin: An Exceptional Voyage by Fabien Grolleau & Jérémie Royer | Book Review #158

The Bookish Island's Book Review:
Darwin: An Exceptional Voyage by Fabien Grolleau & Jérémie Royer

Are there spoilers?

Nope.

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Disclaimer:

This book was sent to me by the publishing company (Nobrow) in exchange for an honest review.

Title: Darwin: An Exceptional Voyage

Author: Fabien Grolleau & Jérémie Royer

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Pages: 184

Published: February 2019

Publisher:  Nobrow

Genre: Nonfiction, Graphic Novel, Biography, Comic

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Date Read: March 30, 2019

Rating: ★★★☆☆

The year is 1831. A gifted yet somewhat distracted young man named Charles Darwin has been offered a place aboard the H.M.S. Beagle. The journey will change both his life and the course of modern science…

This is an intelligent and immersive graphic novel from award-winning duo Fabien Grolleau and Jérémie Royer that follows legendary scientist Charles Darwin as he embarks on the voyage that began his career. Join him on a journey of thrilling discovery as he explores remote corners of the natural world and pieces together the very beginnings of his revolutionary theory of evolution.

The Rating:

My Review:

I ended up giving this 3 stars out of five and here are my reasons.

The illustrations/art in this book were incredible. I had the same feelings when I was reading Audubon. And I think I like how the animals were done more than the people but that's just because the animals look beautiful. Nature was also beautiful in this book. The endpapers were cool and the cover with all the animals surrounding Darwin was very beautiful.

These two (the author and illustrator) managed to bring a story I didn't know about come to life through the form of a graphic novel. And it was easy to follow and understand.

I felt something and although it wasn't a good feeling and it left me angry it happened.
And this is all I have to say on that.
In the end, I'm stuck with the same thoughts as I had while reading Audubon. Humans are terrible. And the natives didn't deserve the treatment they were getting. And although Darwin was opposed of the way the natives were treated he didn't do anything. He wasn't a saint despite his contributions to science.

Aside from these three thoughts, I can't seem to feel anything else in regard to this book. Which is why I gave it that rating. So a solid 3 is a good rating with all that in consideration.

Goodreads

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The Bookish Island
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Penne Dreadful by Catherine Bruns | Book Review #157

The Bookish Island's Book Review:
Penne Dreadful by Catherine Bruns 

Are there spoilers?

None.

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Title: Penne Dreadful

Author: Catherine Bruns

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Pages: 416

Published: July 30, 2019

Publisher:  Poisoned Pen Press

Genre: Mystery, Cozy Mystery, Food

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Date Read: March 7 to March 13, 2019

Rating: ★★★★☆

Tomato sauce isn't the only thing that runs red...

Local chef Tessa Esposito is struggling to get back on her feet following her husband's fatal accident. And when the police knock on Tessa's door, things just get worse. They've discovered Dylan's death wasn't an accident after all, and they need Tessa to start filling in the blanks. Who would want her beloved husband dead, and why?

With the investigation running cold, Tessa decides it's time to save her sanity by reconnecting with her first love-cooking. And maybe the best way back into the kitchen is to infiltrate Dylan's favorite local pizza parlor, which also happens to be the last place he was seen before he died. But the anchovies aren't the only thing that stink inside the small family business, and with suspects around every corner, Tessa finds that her husband's many secrets might land her in hot water.

The Rating:

My Review:

Penne Dreadful is was a twisty cozy mystery with a food theme.

Tessa's husband had recently passed away in a car accident. But later she finds out that it wasn't an accident after all. She takes a job at her husband's last job in order to snoop around and find out whatever she could. In the process of learning that her husband was keeping a lot of secrets from her. Leaving her with many questions.
Together with her cousin, Gaby, who owns a bookstore, they get themselves into dangerous situations.

This story was a fun, well-crafted cozy mystery. With well-developed characters and a strong plot.
And I totally didn't see who the main suspect was till the end.

The author also included recipes at the end. For pizza, sauce, and stromboli.
🍕🍝🍅

Goodreads

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The Bookish Island
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Deja Who by MaryJanice Davidson | Book Review #155

The Bookish Island's Book Review:
Deja Who by MaryJanice Davidson

Are there spoilers?

A little. Maybe.

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Title: Deja Who

Author: MaryJanice Davidson

Series: Insighter #1

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Pages: 304

Published: 2016

Publisher:  Berkley

Genre: Fantasy, Paranormal, Romance, Mystery, Humor, Urban Fantasy, Paranormal Romance

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Date Read: March 4, 2019

Rating: ★★★☆☆

Leah Nazir is an Insighter. Reincarnation is her business. But while her clients' pasts are a mess, Leah's is nothing short of a tragedy. She's been murdered. A lot. If left to that bitch, destiny, it'll happen again. Leah wants to know who's been following her through time, and who's been stalking her in the present...

P.I. Archer Drake has been hired by Leah's mother to keep an eye on her. But the more time he spends watching, the more he finds himself infatuated. Before long, he even finds himself agreeing to help find the person who wants her dead. Over and over again.

Now going full-on "rewind," Leah hopes it can stave off the inevitable. After all, she's grown fond of this life - and even fonder of nerdy Archer. But changing her pattern means finding out who her killer is today. And as Leah fears, that could be anyone she has come to know and trust. Anyone.

The Rating:

My Review:

Deja Who was a weird read for me. I didn't know if I should find the characters and situations funny or weird. Weird because I felt that if the author intended it to be a serious story then it was not good. But if it was meant to be a funny story and I just didn't get it I'm at fault and need to rethink my opinions. So here they are.

I didn't expect to read a funny book when I bought it or when I started reading it. It was only when I finished reading it that I paused and had to think if it was all meant to be funny.

I liked the concept of Insighters. A mystery where the main character was someone who could see peoples past lives and help them deal with their present life based on what happened to them in the past. Still, it felt like the concept was only superficial. Instead of the main concept.

Leah changed so much but maybe that was the humor in the story. She changed so much from the beginning to the end. And while that often means character growth, in this it felt too much. And childish. I mean, she wasn't my favorite character and neither was Archer.
Their relationship was weird too. But again maybe its meant to be funny. Archer would just blurt out whatever weird thought he had. And it made him way younger than he was. He was acting like a high schooler and not a 30-something-year-old, which he was.

And the story, although like I said was a good concept, it went above and beyond what I expected. Background characters got more detailed and were given more backstory than I would have preferred.
If more was established with the main characters or how they were portrayed rather than having overly detailed background characters I think that I would have enjoyed this more.

Still, I'm not gonna lie. The concept was good. And the explanations and stories about the people with past lives were detailed and well written. But I'm not meant to like the background characters more than the main characters. So in that, I ended up giving this a 3 out of 5 stars.

But now I don't know if I should re-read it or be satisfied with it. Or if I want to read the second one in the series or not.

Goodreads

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The Bookish Island
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