Recent Reads: Mini Book Reviews

It has been awhile since we have written about books on here! It’s partly due to being busy and partly due to not feeling an inspiration on what to read (or to read at all). Sometimes when you’re busy and mentally exhausted, it can be hard to pick up a book and read. Life has slowed down just a little, and we’ve both found ourselves picking up books a little more! Here’s a collection of what we have been reading and our thoughts!

People We Meet On Vacation by Emily Henry

People We Meet on Vacation follows Poppy and Alex, two best friends who couldn’t be more different. Every summer for nearly a decade, they take a trip together somewhere new. Following a vacation that changed everything, they no longer speak. Now, two years later, Poppy convinces Alex to take one more trip together in hopes of fixing their friendship.

I went into this one with high expectations because I’ve really enjoyed Emily Henry’s other books. Unfortunately, the book did not quite match my expectations.

While the premise of longtime friends navigating complicated feelings during annual vacations is fun, I personally found the story a little slow and somewhat boring at times. I also felt like there was very little character development throughout the book, which made it harder for me to stay invested in Poppy and Alex’s relationship. They seemed, to me, to be the same people, essentially, at the end of the book that they were at the beginning with very little changing between them throughout the book.

I ended up not finishing the book and just googled the ending of the book about 3/4 of the way through. I’ve really enjoyed Emily Henry’s books, as I’ve said, so I will keep reading her books! This one was just a little bit of an outlier for me.

House of Earth and Blood by Sarah J. Maas

House of Earth and Blood, the first book in the Crescent City series, follows Bryce Quinlan, a party-loving half-Fae living in a modern fantasy city filled with magical creatures. After a brutal tragedy changes her life forever, Bryce becomes involved in investigating a series of mysterious murders alongside Hunt Athalar, a powerful fallen angel with his own dark past.

I absolutely loved this book (no surprise lol). Sarah J. Maas created a whole new world that felt both similar and different from her other stories. While the story involves Fae and other magic creatures like her other books, Crescent City is set in a modern world with cars and electricity and other modern technologies. I really enjoyed this aspect of the book!

Not only was I invested in the world and how it worked and how the politics of the world would play out, I also found the characters and their stories intriguing. Bryce is both frustrating and lovable to me. While she did feel similar to lead characters in some of Sarah J. Maas books, it didn’t take away from the story for me. Her story and character arc was different enough that they did not feel the same. Plus, I really enjoy reading strong, complex, yet feminine characters in books!

I really could not put this book down! It pulled me out of a reading slump and got me back into reading. I cannot wait to read the next book!

The Busybody Bookclub by Freya Sampson

The Busybody Book Club centers on a small-town book club that unexpectedly becomes entangled in a local mystery. The members bond over books, gossip, and their love of reading. As they begin uncovering clues, they find themselves in a situation that is far more complicated than they originally thought.

I listened to The Busy Body Book Club as an audiobook and really enjoyed it! The characters were fun and interesting, and the story was fun to follow! I love trying to guess whats actually going on and what will unfold next. This one kept me thinking the whole time!

If you are looking for something light and entertaining, The Busybody Book Club is a great option!

The Ragpicker King by Cassandra Clare

The Ragpicker King continues the story of Kel and Lin in the world of Castellane, where political intrigue, crime syndicates, and hidden identities shape the fate of the city. As tensions rise among the kingdom’s ruling powers, both characters must navigate dangerous alliances, personal loyalties, and secrets that could reshape everything they know about their world.

I enjoyed this book! Going into, I did expect the story to pick up as I thought the first book was a little slow, but I felt like this second book followed the pace of the first. With that said, I never did find myself bored! There just wasn’t as much “action” as I am used to in these kinds of books. I think what helped keep me entertained were the characters. They’re all interesting to me, and I enjoyed their stories and interactions. The characters helped the slower pace feel intentional as you’re left with time to explore the characters and relationships. Overall, I liked this book, and I am excited to see what the next one brings!

And that is all for now! What have you been reading?