Bookish Delights

Brace yourself: today's post may take full advantage of the "catch-all" nature of this header... I've got a little sample of many things I want to share.

Other Birds (Sarah Addison Allen)
⭐⭐⭐⭐
This book was ... enchanting. It's not always the happiest of stories, but it is hopeful - and that is everything. So many threads come together in this one, weaving together individual stories until they've lost (and found) themselves in the broader story being told. It's a story of connections, of love, of survival, of hope. It's beautiful. 

Daisy Darker (Alice Feeney)
⭐⭐⭐⭐⭐
Very much an homage to And Then There Were None, with a sneaky twist that makes things so much wilder. I love the trend of weaving flashbacks into the narrative to bring you up to real time, and it works so very well with Daisy's story. There's no way to say a lot about this one without spoiling some of the experience, and even though I figured out a few of the quirks/twists earlier than revealed, it was still a fun reading experience. (Is it socially acceptable to call a family being picked off-one-by-one story as a fun reading experience?)

Cover Love!

This one is too beautiful to keep under wraps until January. 
I've only read one other book by Hawkins (Reckless Girls), but it was an enjoyably twisty read, so I'll definitely be picking this one up for reasons beyond the pretty cover. 

Here's a link to the book page on Goodreads, in case you want to read the blurb / add it to your TBR list.

Sidenote: You'd never guess from the cover that's a thriller, would you? I definitely get the Italian vibes, but not the thriller.

Earlier this month I got an email about Marie Benedict's new novel, and after a moment of excited fangirling (and immediately adding to my TBR on Goodreads), I had to sit back and look at this cover. It's definitely eye-catching, and there's a sense of drama and movement.

I confess to knowing next to nothing about the Mitford sisters (oops?), so I'm doubly-intrigued by the premise and promise of this novel. 

How long again until January? (I tease, but there really are some fabulous books scheduled to publish that month).

 

Finally here's one that is slated to publish the end of November, and I am a fan of the dreamy romantic vibes. Knowing how Kiera Cass writes, it will probably be more "complicated" and less "fairytale," but how's this for the teaser they're blurbing (perhaps a first line?):

Love has a sound. It sounds like a thousand heartbeats happening at the same time.

Now that's something that'll catch your attention! Here's the Goodreads link if you want to read the full description.

Another new feature being introduced today: Bookish Delights! Somewhat different from a Friday Ramble, this will be for spotlighting cover reveals and upcoming releases; mini reviews of books I've read and loved and various fun things I'd like to share with y'all.

Today, I've got a few mini reviews to share, but who knows what will be in the next post ...

Love & Saffron (Kim Fay)
⭐⭐⭐⭐⭐
This was a lovely read: decadent and comforting and wholesome and so very like a hearty, rustic country dinner. It's not as "light and fluffy" as you might think, but it is infused with hope and heart and flavor. It feels both cozy and somehow true - I savored it, but read it in a day. It is, quite simply, a lovely treat of a read.

The Seven Husbands of Evelyn Hugo (Taylor Jenkins Reid) 
⭐⭐⭐⭐
Whenever a book has so much buzz surrounding it, I'm always a bit skeptical. But I finally gave in and read this one - to see what the fuss was about - and I can understand why people are talking. It's a quick read: I could barely put it down when real life interrupted my reading time! It is also ... Unusual. Engrossing. Salacious. Riveting. And a bit more complex than anticipated. Evelyn's story is messy and convoluted, and completely Hollywood-dazzle. She made decisions that make me cringe and shake me head, but I had to know what she would do next. It reads like a tell-all, but also a late night sleepover gossip session. It may not be for everyone, but I can definitely understand the buzz.

Miss Eliza's English Kitchen (Annabel Abbs)
⭐⭐⭐⭐
This was an intriguing read. There's secrets and hints of things lurking in the shadows. There's struggle and quiet joy in the simple things. There's friendship - unexpected but real. It's a quiet, comfort-sort of read, with a true homage to the act of cooking and the delight of eating good food.

The Siren of Sussex (Mimi Matthews)
⭐⭐⭐⭐⭐
I can't help but fangirl a bit over this one. A gorgeous cover? ✔ An equally gorgeous story? ✔ Victorian fashion? ✔ Horses? ✔ Social drama? ✔ Brainy women who don't wish to be pigeonholed? ✔ A dazzling love story with a kind and respectful hero? ✔ This one checked all the boxes for me, and I cannot wait for the next book in the series to be released (in October).