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AroundTheBookWorld
Hotel Magnifique | Emily J. Taylor
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review
monalyisha
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Mehso-so

Quite possibly the most three-star book I‘ve ever read. 😅

Too many small details, which I normally don‘t mind, but it doesn‘t feel like they add anything (e.g. “I dropped the keys into the bowl on the table”; “I slid the bin from the shelf and lowered it to the ground”; “I pulled onto the shoulder…sliding the gear into park”; “I opened the door, getting out of the truck”, “I reached out…I pushed it open…My eyes widened,” etc).👇🏻

monalyisha 1/5: It could be the first person, present tense POV that doesn‘t work for me. At times, Young‘s writing style feels almost akin to a step-by-step instruction manual. I understand the choice. Each small action makes June feel real; it‘s basically a granularly-written, authorial mindfulness practice — an attempt to ground June in the moment, *whenever* that moment is. Still, it‘s grating. 18h
monalyisha 2/5: And…I‘m not fully convinced it‘s a stylistic choice and not just how Young always writes. It‘s fitting that what doesn‘t work for June is timing & tense; that‘s exactly what doesn‘t work for me about the whole novel. 18h
monalyisha 3/5: At the same time, if we‘re talking about living two lives, June‘s seems like one I *could* live. 18h
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monalyisha 4/5: Her blonde hair (check), her green dress (check), the abalone shell that holds her rings (consistent with my aesthetic sensibilities); her farm (a buried wish, to lead a simpler and more rural existence — one that our capitalist society and financial reality will never let me lead); her child (a sweet choice I did not make but conceivably could have) — not to mention her hunky Irish husband (yes, please). (edited) 18h
monalyisha 5/5: So, I can‘t hate the book entirely. There‘s a lot to feel sentimental and tender about. 18h
monalyisha Things I‘d like to have learned more about: 1. the origin of the curse, & 2. Birdie‘s life. June fights so hard to give Annie a life that doesn‘t disintegrate & unravel. What does she do with it? All we really know is that she ends up as June‘s parental figure & that she had a husband at some point. I need *more.* And, to be honest, I would have preferred more closure for Mason. “He fell in love with an intern” doesn‘t quite cut it. Why an intern? 17h
cariashley Such a great review, you nailed so many of my issues/questions with this one! 15h
monalyisha @cariashley Thank you! I was *scouring* reviews trying to determine if anyone else felt like I did and coming up wanting. 😅 So, your comment is both validating and appreciated! 5h
50 likes8 comments
review
alecia3dixie
What the Woods Took | Courtney Gould
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Pickpick

I really liked this one! I usually do not like Young Adult and try to avoid it. At first, it was a little whiny and teen angsty. But I ended up really liking the characters once everything started taking a turn to the paranormal. I loved the paranormal in this one. If you believe in paranormal things in the woods, you'll like this one. 4.5/5

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Allthebookclubs
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Pickpick

An enchanting book about time travel and the consequences that could come. Every time I put the book down I couldn‘t stop thinking about June. This was so beautifully written and sure to be one of my tops books of the year. Book #25 in 2025

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Smlambert725

“We stood there, four generations of Farrow women, cursed to live between worlds. But in that moment, in the valley of the Blue Ridge Mountains, we existed only on one.”
#March2025

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behudd
Dreams Lie Beneath | Rebecca Ross
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Pickpick

⭐️⭐️⭐️💫
There was so much in this story that felt totally brand new. The nightmare wardens and the wraiths from the mountain kingdom, especially.
Though, for all the ground it had to cover, I do feel like it dragged in the middle and then raced to the end.
It wasn‘t as good as Divine Rivals, but I will gladly read all of Ross‘ work.

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Texreader
The Spellshop | Sarah Beth Durst
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Alwaysbeenaloverofbooks
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This will be my weekend read! Have a great Friday everyone 😻

Texreader Looks good!! Enjoy! 2w
Read4life Happy Friday, Misty!! 2w
Alwaysbeenaloverofbooks @Read4life you too Lynn ❤️ 1w
AnnCrystal Pretty 😍📚. 1w
58 likes5 comments
review
rmaclean4
The Spellshop | Sarah Beth Durst
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Mehso-so

Sweet, cute, but I don't know if I will remember much of this novel in a couple of weeks. Good break from all the awful news in the US and the world.

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Alwaysbeenaloverofbooks
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Happy St Patrick‘s Day 💚 🍀 It‘s a beautiful day for porch reading! 📖

It‘s been a busy weekend with work and bad weather. Thankfully we were safe and had no damage. My thoughts and prayers are with everyone affected by the tornadoes 🙏🏻🙏🏻

#LitsyLove

Mimi28 Happy St. Patrick‘s Day ☘️!! Glad you had no damage 🙏🏽😊🩷🫶🏽🤗 2w
Alwaysbeenaloverofbooks @Mimi28 thank you Michelle 💚 2w
66 likes2 comments