Kiwiria

Last reviews of 2025!

The Baby-Dragon Café - A.T. Qureshi, 2.5/5, 270 pages
This was 100% a book I wanted because of the cover and the title. "The Baby-Dragon Café" just sounded like the perfect cozy fantasy read. I'd also read another of A.T. Qureshi's books earlier this year (written as Aamna Qureshi) and really enjoyed it, so I figured I'd give it a chance despite the lack-luster reviews on goodreads.

Unfortunately, those reviews were mostly well deserved.

Granted, I read this in translation, and regardless of the original writing, the translation was CLUNKY as. Idioms were translated literally instead of trying to find a suitable Danish phrase instead. So since the other book I've read by Ms. Qureshi (A Witch's Guide to Love and Poison) was quite well written, I'm willing to blame the quality of the writing on the translator, rather than on Ms. Qureshi. I did cringe at some of the baby talk used to adress the dragons, but I don't know how much of that was due to poor word-choices by the translator, and how much I would have cringed at the original English as well.

The plot itself was cute, and good enough to keep me reading despite the clunky language. I loved reading about Saphira's café and wish we had gotten to read more about how she actually trained Sparky, rather than just about how much she doted on him and baby-talked to him.

The romance was a bit more tell than show, but ultimately worked for me. I really wish Ms. Qureshi had thought up a different ending though. It seemed like a cop-out to me, and an unnecessary way of bending to society's norms. (Trying to keep it vague to avoid spoilers).

All in all, it ended up being a fairly average read, and I don't think I'll bother with any more of the books in the series ... even if one of them DOES take place in a bookshop!


All Our Hidden Gifts - Caroline O'Donoghue, 2.5/5, 400 pages
This ended up being an "It was good, but ..." read for me.

It was well written - I read the first few pages at the library to figure out if I wanted to bring it home with me, and was instantly intrigued. I definitely enjoyed the writing style and wanted to know more about Maeve, Roe, Lily and Fiona.

Unfortunately it was very, very, VERY heavy on the supernatural / occult aspect of things. I know I should have seen that coming from the back blurb mentioning tarot readings, but I'd somehow assumed that it would be more sub- than main plot. It did stay true to its own universe, so I didn't have to suspend my disbelief too much, but that kind of witchy business is not really something I care to read about, so even though I did get the sequel out of the library as well, I think I will just leave the series here.


The Christmas Tree Farm - Laurie Gilmore, 4/5, 369 pages
Christmas rom-com that's a lot heavier on the romance than the Christmas part. Still a sweet story though, and completely lived up to the expectations set by the previous book. In fact, I think I might like this one a tad more, as I thought the way the relationship evolved seemed more believable.


Magic, Maps and Mischeif: A Cozy Neurodivergent Adventure - David Green, 3.5/5, 389 pages
It took me awhile to get properly into this, but once I did, I ended up really enjoying it. I loved reading about Greton's life in Barrow Hill, his map-making business and his growing friendships with Aria, Petra and the pub owning elf (whose name escapes me right now). This toes the line between cozy fantasy and just plain fantasy, and I definitely enjoyed the "cozy fantasy" sections the most.

I'd guessed both outcomes of the ink-making business ahead of time, and was very pleased to be proven right :-D

As the sub-title states, there's a lot of representation in this novel, both with regards to neurodiversity and sexuality. Greton is autistic, asexual and (I think) aromantic. Aria is (probably) ADHD and (definitely) gay ... I think I'll leave it at that, not to risk spoiling anything.

A cozy read, and I'll definitely check out more of David Green's writing.


A Copenhagen Snowmance - Pernille Hughes, 3/5, 385 pages
Aggressively Danish. As a person living in Copenhagen myself, it was quite funny to read how many references to Danish foods, drinks, traditions and places Pernille Hughes could shove into one book. It seemed slightly over the top at times, but looking at the other reviews on Goodreads, it seems to work for other readers, which made me wonder ... are the books I love that are set in Paris / Edinburgh / Prague / etc. as heavy-handed as this one was, and I just don't notice, because it's not my home town?

That aside, I did quite enjoy the book. It was very predictable, but I expect that in a Christmas romance, and I liked both Anna and Jamie and enjoyed seeing them get to know each other. "Fake dating" and "Forced proximity" are obvious tropes for a Christmas romance, but it still worked, and was a lot less cringe-worthy than it could have been.

Even the third-act breakup worked for once, and wasn't due to a miscommunication, but a conflict that needed to be handled.

So a sweet read, even if highly unrealistic. It stayed true to its own universe, so it worked for me.


Nobody's Girl - Virginia Roberts Guiffre, 4.5/5, 400 pages
Fascinating and harrowing story. It is absolutely heartbreaking to hear all that Virginia went through, and how she was let down and abandoned again and again and again by everybody - including the ones who ought to love her the best and protect her the most.

I really appreciated that so much page time was spent on Virginia's (all too short) life after she got away from Epstein. Reading about all the different court cases were equal parts interesting and depressing. If you ever need evidence that "money talks", the fact that it took SO LONG to bring Epstein to justice - and that some of the people Virginia was trafficked to still walk free - should speak its own plain language.

Very well written and extremely interesting memoir.


Books Read: 92
Pages Read: 17,446
Hours Listened To: 371
Book of the Month: Nobody's Girl - can't wait for the sequel!
Biggest Disappointment: The Baby-Dragon Café - although I am kinda curious how much of the unwieldy language was due to the translation and how much was in the original writing also.

... and in case embedding doesn't work, here's the direct link instead.

Prayer and a Bible - Megan Woods
As always I have to start off this list with a recommendation from Simon as he always sends me links to the best songs. I think this might be my favourite of his recommendations this year. It's not my usual fare, but it's just got a certain charm that I can't resist.
And I found healin' / In those ancient words of wisdom
I found what I was missin' / Livin' on a prayer and a Bible

Buzzkill - Lanie Gardner
I have absolutely no memory of how I came across this song, but I love its energy. I think I heard it in a TV series, and immediately used soundhound to add it to my list ... but my google skills are coming up short, so it might just have been that I heard it on the radio instead.

Take Me to Church - Hozier
So, I've been living under a rock, and only actually heard this song this year. A good friend of mine would quote it whenever I mentioned going to church on a given Sunday, and I had NO idea what he was talking about ... until I suddenly heard it on TikTok one day, and went "Oh ... OH!!!"

... so now I tease him that I automatically think of him whenever I hear it ;-)

Affirmation - Savage Garden
Before we left for New Zealand, Henriette and I made a joint playlist to listen to on our long drives. We ended up vastly underestimating how long time we'd spend in the car, and probably listened to it 6 or 7 times all the way through! This was one of Henriette's additions, and I'm back in the car, driving through gorgeous scenery whenever I listen to it.

idk - Allison Eide
A random TikTok find, but I was instantly hooked. It's got a good rhythm, and I really like the message. I might not know the answers to everything - but I know the one who'll see me through it all.

The Life of a Showgirl - Taylor Swift, Sabrina Carpenter
Taylor Swift seems to be a bit hit-and-miss for me, but every now again she releases a song that I just can't resist. I don't know that I would even have heard this, if it hadn't been for a friend sending me the spotify link, but for awhile there we'd constantly quote it to each other, and now it's just a firm part of my 2025 soundtrack.

I'm Always Talking to Jesus - Newsong
Another recommendation from Simon, and one where I actually want to be able to say "I'm in this picture and I don't like it." I'm okay at the talking part - less so at the listening.
I'm always talking to Jesus / And He's always talking to me
A comfort again and again / Oh, what a friend
He's always listening
I'm always talking to Jesus / Telling him all of my troubles
I know: wherever I go, I'm not alone / He always hears me

New Heart - Crash Adams
Another song I found thanks to TikTok - I first heard the version where Sophie Powers freestyled a rap as one of the verses, and that version is still my favourite, but unfortunately not available on Spotify. It is ridiculously catchy, and I get the chorus stuck in my mind at the drop of a hat ... but I love it all the same.

A Feeling We Can't Hide - Lyra Vesperi
Simon introduced me to Lyra just a few months ago, and I immediately fell in love. The music is so catchy, and could easily work as a soundtrack to a cartoon I used to read as a child ("Elverfolket" to any other Danes out there). I had a VERY hard time deciding which song to choose, and could just as easily have picked "Dance Upon the Green", "Your Only World" or "An Oath Made in Ale" but ended with this one, as it's the one that most consistently has me tapping my foot in response.

Goodbye Yesterday - Elevation Rhythm & Gracie Binion
We sang this at Arc Church Copenhagen the Sunday my sisters and I visited, and I couldn't get it out of my head afterwards.
You rescued me out of the mess I was in
You traded my sorrow for something to sing
Now, I'm dancin' on the grave that I once lived in

Free Like - Maddie & Tae
This has almost the same vibe to it as "Shoot Tequilla" by Tigirlily Gold which was on my list a few years ago. Instant add :-D

Dusty Bible - The River Sons
Another recommendation from Simon. In fact, there were quite a number of songs I could have added by The River Sons, but this one ended up being my favourite. Even when we stop talking to him, God is never far away - "he just sits idle".

Like Jesus - Ross King
I have a feeling Simon is even more heavily represented on this list than usual X-D Because yes, this is a recommendation from him too. The lyrics by themselves instantly earned them an inclusion on this list.
wanna be like Him when He tells the Pharisees the depth of their own sin
But I don't really wanna be like Jesus, later
When He dies for them

I refuse to pick and choose / The parts of Jesus that are easiest to bow down to
And I won't use / His name in vain to prove
Who I want Him to be / That's just idolatry
I wanna be like Jesus
I don't want Him to be like me

DON'T - LØLØ
Okay, first of all - WHAT is up with English-speaking people using Ø instead of O??? I've seen it so many places, and it makes me roll my eyes every time. Ø is its own letter with its own sound, people!!! It's not just a fancy way of writing O.
... Aaaaaaanyways ...
A random TikTok find that immediately appealled to me. Weirdly enough the singer reminds me a LOT of the actress who plays the mother in "How I Met Your Mother".

God of Promises - Newsboys
I've loved Newsboys ever since I first discovered them back in 1996. I even got to hear them in concert at a music festival in New Zealand. So I'm always pleased when I see that they release something new.

I See a Light - We Are Messengers
Picking just one song by We Are Messengers was hard y'all!! At one point I think I had four or five contenders. But "Joy Comes in the Morning" has always been one of my go-to comforts, so at the end of the day, I knew this song had to make the cut.
When the night comes / Hope is still bright.
Tears may fall in the evening / But joy comes in the light.

Matter to You - We Are Messengers
... I couldn't stick to just one though. The entire album "Where the Joy Is" is worth a listen, but these were my two favourites. Once again these songs come curtesy of Simon, which I guess comes as a surprise to absolutely nobody ;-)
All I really want is to matter to you.

Close - We Are Messengers
I know, I know!!! But you guys, the lyrics to this one!!! This is a longer quote than I usually add, but give it a read anyways.
God, You know the the tears I've cried / And the times I couldn't breathe
Oh, You never left my side / So I rest here at Your feet
I know You're working all things for my good / In the way that only You could
Maybe the why just don't matter / What if it's not for me to know
Maybe the point is just to trust You / Find the faith to let it go
Cause sometimes falling feels like flying / It's the only way I know
So I won't hurry through the heartache / If it's what it takes
To draw me close

Make America Danish - Maximillian Tee
I kept wavering about whether or not to add this song - another TikTok find, made popular in the beginning of the year, when Trump first started talking about purchasing Greenland. It somehow seemed too silly to deserve a place on this list ... but honestly, isn't silly exactly what we need sometimes?
Forget fast food, we're bringing the charm
Butter cookies and Carlsberg on every farm
Make America Danish, it's time to reboot.
Redesign the White House, make it cute

God Is With Us - The Afters
Simon sent this to me waaaay back in January, and I immediately teared up when reading the lyrics - but had no idea how much they would come to mean to me. The message is much the same as "Closer" by We Are Messengers, so I considered only adding one of them - but they approach it so differently, so in the end, I had to include both.
Where is God in the heartache?
Where is God in the fear?
Where is God when it hurts so bad that you can't hold back the tears?
Where is God in the sickness that the prayers didn't fix?
When it don't make sense, where is God in all of this?
Haven't we all had times where we ponder this question?
He is right here where He's always been
He never left, and He never will
Where is God?
God is with us
He is right hеre where Hе's always been
It's where He'll be 'til the very end
Where is God?
God is with us

Lost in the Weeds - Christian Music Creations
Changing music styles completely. I don't know if it's quite right to call this 'country', but it's definitely more country'ish than I usually listen to, yet there is something about it that just appeals to me.
I was lost in the weeds / but you found me there.

The Carousel Waltz - Richard Rodgers
And finally, a bit of an unusual addition as I don't often include classical music here. But thanks to a friend of mine, I fell in love with this arrangement over the year, and thought it a fitting conclusion to my playlist.

Quite a few books this month, so I'll be kind, and hide the reviews behind a cut :)
( Don't think I'll make it to 100 this year though. I'm only at 77! )
Book of the Month: The Unlikely Yarn of the Dragon Lady - such a delightful read!
Biggest Disappointment: The Tangled Web of the Woolgathering Castoffs. SUCH a shame, since I loved the first book!

Lots of rereads this month! But at least it got me back into reading again :-)

Shaman - Noah Gordon*, 5/5, 652 pages
I've read this book several times by now and still enjoy it. I've always liked historical novels, and this is one of the better ones I've come across. It incredibly detailed, but the slow pace makes sense, and allows the reader to fully immerse themselves in the setting and atmosphere.

As always, when I read this kind of book, I'm appalled at how Native Americans (or native anyone really) were treated by the colonizers. It's a hard few chapters to get through.

My favourite parts were still the descriptions of the actual doctoring - both by Rob J. and by Shaman.


The Very Secret Society of Irregular Witches - Sangu Mandanna*, 4.5/5, Audiobook ~10hrs
I would definitely characterize this as "cozy fantasy". Take your stereotypical British fiction and add a magical element, and you've nailed the atmosphere of this book to a tee. And it seems to be a stand-alone novel, which is a pleasant surprise.

It's a comfort read with (mostly) likeable and quirky characters. I loved the kids and felt they actually acted like kids rather than "small grown-ups". There are few surprises to be found here (although not none! There were some twists I hadn't seen coming), but in this type of book, I didn't really expect there to be either. I had guessed the final resolution ahead of time, but not - as it turned out - the twist it took to get there.


A Witch's Guide to Magical Innkeeping - Sangu Mandanna, 4.5/5, Audiobook ~10hrs
I'm so glad that Sangu Mandanna is sticking to writing stand-alone novels rather than series. So rare for fantasy authors these days!

I had very high hopes for this novel as I absolutely adored "The Very Secret Society of Irregular Witches", and fortunately it completely lived up to my expectations. To the point that I listened to the entire thing in just three days!!!

Once again found family plays a big role in the novel, and I actually think that part was even better done here than in TVSSoIW. I loved all (almost all, anyways) the inhabitants of the inn (Posy especially), and was really taken by Sera's quest to find the magic spell needed to restore her magic.

Certain aspects of the ending I had seen a mile off - others did take me somewhat by surprise. It wasn't quite as satisfying as I had hoped, but on the other hand, I can't quite see how else it could have ended.


The Search - Nora Roberts, 3.5/5, 488 pages
Not one of Nora Roberts' best books, but still very enjoyable. Fiona's and Simon's relationship was a lot more "tell rather than show", but on the other hand I LOVED reading about Fiona's work with the dogs - both the training and the search & rescue. Wouldn't have minded a lot more focus on that.

The suspense part was very predictable, but then it usually is.


Shelter in Place - Nora Roberts*, 4/5, audiobook ~15 hours
I by far prefer Nora Roberts' suspense novels to her romance novels. Sure, there's an element of romance in all of them, but she understands how to balance it properly, and writes suspense really, really well. I thought this a fascinating account of the aftermath of a mass-shooting - how different people handle the experience differently, and how people employ more or less healthy coping-mechanisms in order to move on.

There was less of a twist in this book than in some of the others I've read, but I didn't mind that part. And I loved reading about Simone's art as well as life on the island. Cici was just amazing, and Barney not half-bad either. Simone's fall-out with her family seemed slightly unrealistic, but their way of making up didn't, which really appealed to me. It's seldom reconciliation is written well.


Mr. Mercedes - Stephen King*, 4/5, audiobook ~14hrs
I love how Stephen King doesn't stick to just one or two genres, but seems to write a little bit of just about everything. This is his first foray into crime fiction (that I've read), and I thought he did it really, really well! Especially the last few chapters had me sitting on the edge of my seat and biting my nails (figuratively, anyway). A definite page-turner! And fortunately one with a proper ending, despite it being the first in a trilogy... although I'm still going to go straight ahead with the next book anyway.

I really liked Bill, Janey, Holly and Jerome and am pleased that we'll get to see at least most of them in the next books as well.


The Fault in Our Stars - John Green*, 4/5, 315 pages
I'd been warned by just about everybody that this book would made me cry. People kept saying that it was the saddest book they'd ever read, and to be prepared for a sob-fest. I don't know if I was perhaps too prepared, because while certainly sad, I didn't think it was nearly as bad as they had made it out to be. Certain parts did bring tears to my eyes, but cry? No, not this time. Of course, it might have helped that I'd guessed the ending already in Amsterdam, so it didn't come as the shock to me as it might have to others.

But it's an amazingly beautiful book. John Green really knows how to write characters to the point where the plot is of lesser importance. I couldn't put it down, but kept wanting to know more about Hazel, Gus, Isaac and the rest of them.


Books Read: 51
Pages Read: 9,753
Hours Listened To: 234

Swept Away - Beth O'Leary, 2.5/5, Audiobook ~10hrs
I loved the first part. Reading about Zeke and Lexi being stuck on the boat hit all the right notes of the "forced proximity" trope for me. Sure, it was unrealistic as - but it worked for me.

So 4 - almost 5 stars for that part.

But then ... apparently Beth O'Leary didn't think that almost drowning was conflict enough, but added the most ridiculous and unnecessary of all twists, and I came close to giving up on the book right then and there. Completely pointless, and just plain mean.

So 1 star for that part.

Fortunately they managed to resolve things in a decent manner, which is why I decided to round up rather than down on goodreads. But I could have done without the epilogue!


Waking Gods - Sylvain Neuvel*, 3.5/5, 336 pages
I downgraded the rating a bit on this reread (from 4.5 to 3.5) - there were just too many things left unanswered and too many jumps in narration. I realize this was a deliberate choice by the author, but it kept pulling me out of the narrative. Still enjoyed it otherwise though.


Faraday's Flowers - Tony Kendrick*, 2/5, 190 pages
I first discovered this book when I was a young teen. I came across it at a flee market while on vacation in Bornholm, thought the back blurb looked interesting and picked it up. As such it was one of the first "grown-up" books I read, which probably had a lot to do with how much I liked it. I hadn't reread it in ~25 years though, and alas, this book did not stand the test of time, and I had to downgrade the rating from a 4 to a 2! The mere fact that it took me TWO WEEKS to finish this short 190-page book should tell you something by itself.

None of the characters seemed fleshed out, and Wayse seemed to mostly just stumble his way around Shanghai and accidentally discovering the people he needed to talk to without any real rhyme or reason.

Nostalgia demands that I hold on to this book, as I really did love it as a teen! But I don't see myself ever rereading it.


The House Witch - Delemhach, 4/5, Audiobook ~17hrs
Lovely cozy fantasy :-) The first in a series, but while it did have a bit of an abrupt ending, it was very much a fairytale-style ending, so it was still nicely self-contained. But very charming, so I want to continue on with the series.
I want to read more about life in the kitchen - how Fin uses his magic, how the knights and maids work side by side ... basically more cozy fantasy stuff and less political intrigue stuff ;-)


Library of the Dead - Glenn Cooper*, 4/5, 350 pages
I'm in a bit of a reading slump, so decided to try to restart it by rereading an old favourite - time will show if it worked. It's a fascinating read even on this, my fourth reread.

Books Read: 37
Pages Read: 6,775
Hours Listened To: 144
Book of the Month: "The House Witch"
Biggest Disappointment: "Swept Away".

My total number of books read this month is quite low, but that's in part because I listened to a total of 40 hours worth of audiobooks!!! That's almost as much as in January and February put together!

Sunrise on the Reaping - Suzanne Collins*, 4/5, Audiobook ~13hrs
Really good - but so sad! Of course I knew this going into it, but there were still so many heartbreaks along the way, that I hadn't expected.

Haymitch starts out as a confident young man who refuses alcohol. He has a loving family and a sweet girlfriend. How does he end up a battered victor, mentally destroyed, a drunk who's all alone? It would have to be a rough ride.

And it was. Suzanne Collins did not pull any punches, which made for a hard read. Of course I knew all the other tributes would have to die, but I still got to care about more of them than I thought I would. I really appreciated the backstory to people we meet in later books - that added a nice nuance I hadn't expected.

I did feel that Suzanne Collins lost me a bit in the last few chapters though. The Edgar Allan Poe poem took up way too much page space there, and kinda hijacked the story. It's a clever writing trick, but should have been used MUCH more sparingly than it did. That brought down the rating a bit - especially as I read this as an audiobook, so couldn't just skim those parts.


The Dragonet Prophecy - Tui T. Sutherland, 3/5, Audiobook ~9hrs
Childrens fantasy, but written well enough that it's an enjoyable read for adults also. I liked it well enough, but it's very clearly the first in a longer series, so nothing was resolved.

I liked the world-building, and was fascinated by the ideas of dragons who didn't come into their powers until subjected to their natural environments - that was a really nice touch! I liked Clay, Tsunami and Glory, but didn't really feel like we got to know the others as well. I would have loved to see more of Peril though, and hope that she turns up again in later books.


Recipe for Love - Katie Fforde, 3.5/5, 400 pages
There was a lot to love in this book.
And there was a lot to roll my eyes at.

I LOVED all the descriptions of the competition. I wish there had been more of that. I'm a wanna-be foodie, and reading about the different challenges, and how the contestants completed them? Yes, please!
For much the same reason, I enjoyed reading about Zoe helping out in the kitchen as well and loved Fen and Rupert.

Cher was cartoon-like in her cattiness. Her narcissistic tendencies seemed realistic at first, but quickly went overboard, and Zoe was far too much of a doormat.

The relationship with Gideon was equal parts sweet and eye-roll worthy. Part of that was due to awkward writing, and part was due to it being shoved down the reader's throat, rather than letting it evolve organically.

At the end of the day, I found more to like than to dislike, and I'd definitely recommend it thanks to the contest ... but with a huge disclaimer.


The Space Between - Lauren Keenan, 3.5/5, 320 pages
I haven't read many books set in New Zealand - and especially not many historical novels set in NZ, so this made for a fascinating read about a period in time I don't know all that much about. It's very well-written, but naturally (given its subject matter) a fairly bleak book. It's ridiculous how horribly indiginous people were treated by colonizers no matter where they arrived. This book may have hit closer to home than most, as I've been to Parihaka Marae, and heard about not just the loss of land, but the loss of this land from people touched by it.

It was a bold move to use so much Te Reo Māori in Matāria's chapters, but I rather liked the fact that everything wasn't translated (even if I would have appreciated a glossary together with the bibliography and historical notes at the end of the book), and most things could be gleaned from context, so I don't feel like I missed out on much.


The Time-Traveler's Wife - Audrey Niffenegger*, 4/5, 18hrs
I had forgotten just how sad it is. There are a few chapters near the end that are almost depressing, and the NYE chapter had me sobbing.

There were also a few chapters that seemed almost pointless - I've never enjoyed reading about other people's dreams, and clearly this was no exception. The long descriptions of Claire's work bothered me less, as that seemed to help flesh her out as a character.

I'm nitpicking though. I still really enjoyed the book - even if I did downgrade it from 5 stars to 4.

Books Read: 21
Pages Read: 3,979
Hours Listened To: 85
Book of the Month: Probably "Sunshine on the Reaping", but it was a close call.
Biggest Disappointment: None this month.

Sooo ... up until November I had only bought/received 8 books the entire year, and thought I was doing really well!!!

Then came the book fair, my trip to Edinburgh and Christmas! Suddenly I wasn't doing so well any longer! X-D So this list is slightly long ... On the plus side, I've read all but 4 books on it! (... and have trashed 3 - less great statistics)






Happy Place - Emily Henry Emily Henry is a bit hit-and-miss for me, and unfortunately this was a HUGE miss. I read it - and put it straight on my "to be trashed" pile.
The Silent Patient - Alex Michaelides Not really sure what I thought of it. It drew me in, but the ending fell a bit short.
The Housemaid - Freida McFadden This book suddenly turned up everywhere and everybody was raving about it, so of course I had to see what the fuss was all about. Unfortunately, I found the second half deeply unpleasant, so while it was hard to put down suspense-wise, I have absolutely no desire to read more of that series.
The Last Murder at the End of the World - Stuart Turton I didn't even know he had a new book out, but thanks to great timing, Liz told me about it the very week Lars was off to London, so he could buy a copy for me :-D Not quite as good as his two other books, but still really, really good!

Zero Stars, Do Not Recommend - M.J. Wassmer I found this in a bookshop in Stockholm and thought it sounded really intriguing! And the set-up was excellent, but the execution extremely frustrating. Another book that went straight to the trash.
The Scholomance - Naomi Novik I heard this trilogy as audiobooks and absolutely loved them, so knew they had to be added to my physical library :-D
The Wishing Game - Meg Shaffer and Mind Games - Nora Roberts These two were birthday presents from my parents. Both 5 star reads that I owned as audiobooks and where I knew I wanted to add them to my physical library as well :-D

The Book Club Hotel - Sarah Morgan I came across this at the annual book fair and thought the back blurb sounded interesting. I'm so glad I bought it, as it ended up being one of the best books I read all year! Nothing special, but just SO cozy. Right book at the right time.
Smile, Sisters, Guts, Drama, Ghosts - Raina Telgemeier The book faire sold all five books as a set at a price that was too good for me to resist. "Smile" and "Drama" were by far the best, but they were all worth reading.
The Spellshop - Sarah Beth Durst I stumbled over this while in Edinburg and could not resist the cover! Fortunately the plot completely lived up to it too. I don't usually buy hardcovers because of their price point, but this was SO worth it :-D
Legends and Lattes - Travis Baldree Another book I'd read as an audiobook and wanted to add to my physical library.

Beach House Summer - Sarah Morgan Christmas present from my in-laws. Good, but not great. I liked it well enough, but definitely not Sarah Morgan's best.
The Picture House By the Sea - Holly Hepburn Also a Christmas present. I'd seen this at the book fair and thought it sounded interesting. Haven't read it yet, but am keeping my fingers crossed that it'll live up to my expectations.
... I came across a "3 books for £6" deal in Edinburgh and ended up buying 6 books :-P
Murder in the Bookshop - Anita Davidson This was a historical cozy mystery. I wasn't a huge fan, but it was decent enough - and at £2 definitely worth the price!
The Christmas Love Letters - Sue Moorcroft I discovered that I don't own very many Christmas books, and thought this one sounded sweet. Didn't get to read it this Christmas though, so I'm saving it for next year.

The Summer Swap - Sarah Morgan So far Sarah Morgan has either written solid 3-star books or clear 5 star ones. That's a good enough track record for me to want to read more by her.
The House Sitter - Mira V. Shah Very intriguing "closed room" mystery. The start reminded me a lot of the TV series "The Flight Attendant", but it quickly veered off in another direction.
The Gingerbread Christmas Village - Kiley Dunbar Unfortunately this was a huge disappointment, and I actually ended up DNF'ing it :-( I'd LOVED the only other book I've read by Kiley Dunbar, so had great hopes for this one, but it was way too depressing, and I ended up just not caring for any of the characters. So after forcing myself to read the first 200 pages I gave it up as a lost cause.
The Library of Lost Love - Norie Clarke I'll be honest - I mostly bought this because of the title :-P The back blurb sounds really cute too, and at £2 I figured it was worth the chance :-)

Came SO close to making my goal this year!!

The Spellshop - Sarah Beth Durst, 4.5/5, 374 pages
I picked this up on a whim while in Edinburgh because I simply could not resist the cover! I don't usually go for hardcovers, but I'm glad I did here, because the book is just gorgeous ... and fortunately the contents delivered. Cozy fantasy when it's best, and I ended up almost book hungover after finishing it. I really want to visit Caltrey now - swim with the merhorses, try Bryn's pastries, and of course talk to Caz at the jam shop :-D

I loved how Kiela and Caz figured out how to use their "remedies" and my one complaint about this book would be that we didn't get to see nearly enough of the spells in action. Unfortunately, it's not really a book that lends itself to a sequel (and I almost think it would be a shame if one was written), so I will have to be satisfied with the few that I did see.

Really charming book. I'm glad I saved it for the Christmas vacation.

Beach House Summer - Sarah Morgan, 3/5, 367 pages
I mostly liked it, but it was too sad in the beginning and too twee in the end for me to love it. Sarah Morgan is a bit hit and miss for me - when she's good, she's really, really good, so I keep coming back to her, but some of her books are just too sad to really be considered comfort reads, and this was definitely the case with this one.

I loved seeing Joanna interact with Nessa, Ashley and Rosa, but didn't really buy her relationship with neither Mel nor Nate, which kinda put a spanner in things. She seemed closer to Glen somehow.

I liked seeing Ashley and Eden together :-) That really worked for me, and their teenage angsting and bonding both rang true.

Oh, and Jo's stepmum can go jump in a lake! She seemed needlessly cruel, although I guess it did serve a purpose in explaining why Joanna acted the way she did.


The House Sitter - Mira V. Shah, 3/5, 276 pages
I almost gave up on this within the first 30 pages, because I couldn't get used to the writing style, but promised myself to give it until page 50 ... and on page 47 I had not only gotten used to it, but the book took a turn that made me drop any ideas of giving up on it!

The book is split up into three acts, and the first one is definitely just to set the scene - the book gets a lot more interesting in the second two, with the last one almost reminding me of "Murder on the Orient Express" or "Knives Out" in the way it goes through all the suspects, all the possibilities, and all the new secrets that are revealed on almost every page. By that time it had definitely turned into a page turner, and I had to know what happened next.

In the end, it mostly delivered. Most of the ends were tired up, and most of my questions were answered (with one glaring omission, where I'm wondering if I just accidentally skip past it), and the motive kinda made sense.

So a good book, but not a great one.

... but seriously - can anybody tell me who actually invited Aahnaya to house sit, and why she looked so much like Marina???

Christmas Carols and a Cornish Cream Tea - Cressida McLaughlin, 3.5/5, Audiobook ~10hrs
Despite apparently being the 5th book in a series, it can easily be read as a standalone novel - I certainly didn't feel like I was missing out on anything, so I think it's more a case of them being companion novels than an actual series.

It ended up being a very enjoyable Christmas romance - and for once pretty 50/50 on the "Christmas" and the "romance" part. The romance was believable, and the conflict not as much of a nuisance as it could have been. Meredith and Finn actually communicated most of the time, which made for a refreshing change!


How to Lose a Guy Before Christmas - A.J. Pine, 3/5, Audiobook ~5hrs
Pros:
* Cute couple.
* Loved Tinsel!
* Realistic resolution of the 3rd act breakup.

Cons:
* Not enough Christmas by a long shot!
* Tinsel was completely unrealistic! (Yes, I know I loved it - those two facts aren't mutually exclusive).
* Heartbreaking 3rd act breakup.


Booked for the Holidays - Liz Maverick, 4/5, Audiobook ~5hrs
A Hanukkah novel for once. Surprisingly sweet, kinda bookish and without a third act breakup / conflict!! That made for a VERY refreshing change. I greatly enjoyed it, and could easily see myself returning to it on a fairly regular basis.


The Best Worst Christmas - Kate Foster, 3.5/5, Audiobook ~6hrs
Parts of it were kinda depressing, but there was no 3rd act breakup, and I loved the way they actually got things resolved.

As usual - heavier on the romance than the Christmas, but I liked the twist on the enemies-to-lovers trope. Of course I could see the ending a mile away, but that's normal for Christmas stories :D

Books Read: 119
Pages Read: 15.848
Hours Listened to: 536
Book of the Month: "The Spellshop" - cozy fantasy at its best.
Biggest Disappointment: One that didn't make it to this list, as I DNF'ed it - but waaaaay too late, so it wasted a good part of my reading time this month.

1. Things That I'm Afraid Of - Josh Wilson
Of course I need to start out with a recommendation from Simon. Each and every year he manages to find a few songs that are exactly what I need to hear at that point in time. This year was no exception.
I walked through the valley of shadows
And it scared me half to death
But you're with me everywhere I go
So I won't give up yet
My fears would surely kill me
If I didn't know the truth
The things that I'm afraid of
are afraid of you.

2. The Building - Emily Ann Roberts
This was actually a bi-product of a TikTok find. I saw a tiktok of another song by Emily Ann Roberts (which will show up later on this list), and accidentally added the entire album to my spotify list rather than just that one song. Very happy accident, as I ended up really loving this song. She's got a really pleasant voice, and I love the lyrics.
Full lyrics are here - I tried to find some to quote, but ended up just wanting to quote all of it X-D So you get a link instead.

3. Heaven on Earth - Stars Go Dim
Another song curtesy of Simon. This one spoke to me right away. It's got a very catchy rhythm, and I find myself bobbing along to it whenever I hear it.

4. Hands of the Healer - Brandon Heath
When Simon first sent me this one, my immediate response to hearing the lyrics was, "Why don't you @ me already???".
If we're gonna pray about it
There's no use in worrying
If we're gonna worry about it
Why are we praying?

5. Icon - Askepot the Musical
I haven't been terribly impressed by the new musicals I've seen over the last few years. The music just hasn't been catchy enough for me to even consider going home and checking them out on spotify afterwards. This new adaptation of Cinderella was a very pleasant exception to that rule, and I've been listening to some of the songs ever since. I had a hard time deciding which song to add here, but I think this is the one that works best even without understanding Danish.

6. 8 Dates - Why Am I So Single?
Another TikTok find. Apparently this is a demo for an upcoming musical? I was surprised by how immediately I was hooked ... until I discovered that it was made by the same people who created the music for "SIX!" ... then it all made sense :-P

7. My Why - Matthew West
That squee you heard around the 4th of October was me discovering that Matthew West had put out another album! Limiting myself to just one song was impossible, so you get two!
And when I cross that finish line and my race has been run
May the reasons why I lived my life come down to just this one
To look into my Father’s eyes and hear Him say “Well done”
Yeah
That’s my why
Amy Grant's "Father's Eyes" updated :-D

8. Don't Stop Praying - Matthew West
Don't stop praying
Don't stop calling on Jesus' name
Keep on pounding on Heaven's door
And let your knees wear out the floor
Don't stop believing
’Cause mountains move with just a little faith
And your Father’s hеard every single word you'rе saying
So, don’t stop praying
I pretty much loved every song on it, so even limiting myself to just two was HARD! I also considered "Last Page of the Bible" and "Breakthrough's Coming". He's got an amazing way with words, and always manages to touch me in some way.

Oh, and if you have kids who've recently moved away from home, I'd recommend NOT reading the lyrics to 18 Summers. They even made ME cry!

9. FREE - Alive City
I don't know why I like this one as much as I do. It's REALLY not my usual fare, but somehow just worked.

10. We Didn't Start the Fire - Fall Out Boy
I actually haven't listened much to the original, but I'm strangely taken with this updated version of it. Really does emphasize how crazy the last years have been!

11. Try - Colbie Caillat
The sound of this one reminds me a lot of "Slow Down" by Myla Smith, which Brenda introduced me to quite a few years ago.

12. He Set Her Off - Emily Ann Roberts
The TikTok find mentioned earlier. Emily Ann Roberts have written a LOT of really catchy songs! I also really like "Whole Lotta Little", but ended up picking this one, because the lyrics, "Thought she was fragile like a flower, but she's fragile like bomb!" were just too good to be ignored!

13. One More Song for You - Casting Crowns
Apparently there has to be at least one song by Casting Crowns on these lists :-D This is just a lovely song of worship.
Maybe one more hand in the air saying, "You are holy"
One more shattered heart singing, "You are good"
Maybe one more voice crying out for mercy
One more hungry soul declaring, "You're enough"

14. That's Who I Praise - Brandon Lake
A recommendation from the always lovely Nina :-) Gotta love songs that reference people from the Bible as clearly as this one does.
I wanna dance like David, I want a faith like Paul
I wanna sing like Silas, tearing down those prison walls
I wanna face that fire, it won't burn me though
God's got my back, Shadrach, Meshach, Abednego.
Add that to a tune that makes it hard for me to sit still, and you have an instant winner!

15. Take Me to the Beach - Imagine Dragons
Really, really, really not my usual fare, but I adored "Believer" which they put out a few years ago, so Spotify apparently figured I needed to listen to this too. I was hooked from the intro, and the first few lines just solidified it. So on the list it goes!

16. WE PRAY - Coldplay
Okay, so this is a bit funny - a friend of mine sent this to me as an example of why he didn't like Coldplay's new stuff as much as their old songs. I listened to it ... and loved it X-D I know that the lyrics are really basic, but there's something about the constant refrain of "We pray" that really spoke to me. No matter what else happens in my life - I pray.

17. A Bar Song (Tipsy) - Shaboozey
This was played at our work Friday bar back in August sometime, and it's terribly catchy, and catches the bar vibe quite eloquently.

18. Faithfully - TobyMac
According to Spotify Wrapped, this was my most listened to song of 2024 - so I kinda HAD to add it here X-D ... it makes sense though, as Simon sent it to me on January 6th, so I've had all year to fall in love with it! When I forget my way, Simon's really awesome at stopping my spiral and getting me back on track - and more often than not, he finds just the right song to help me do so.
But when my world broke into pieces
You were there faithfully
When I cried out to You, Jesus
You made a way for me
I may never be the same man
But I'm a man who still believes
When I cried out to You, Jesus
You were there faithfully

19. Cinderella Snapped- Jax
I originally discovered Jax on TikTok through her gorgeous song "Like My Father" (seriously, if you haven't read the lyrics - go do so!), and have been keeping up with the new things she's been putting out. I had a hard time deciding whether to add this one or "zombieland", but ended picking this one, because I love alternative takes on fairy tales -- which is why Tale as Old as Time" by Lydia the Bard" was also a strong contender for the list.

20. Here for a Reason - Ashes Remain
One last song recommendation from Simon. Looking back through his recommendations, I think this might have been a new-to-him artist as well, because he recommended different 5 songs in one day! X-D This ended up being my favourite of the lot, but I definitely need to keep an eye out for what else they put out.

21. De brandvarme piger - BVP
No songs from the European Song Contest this year, but I have to add one from the Danish kid version. I usually never keep up with that, but this year a colleague told me that his daughter and niece were taking part of it, so of course I had to see how they did ... and discovered to my surprise, that I actually really loved their entry, and have been listening to it ever since! Unfortunately they didn't win, but personally I thought it was the best submission of the lot.

HOW is it November already???

The House in the Cerulean Sea - TJ Klune*, 4/5, Audiobook ~13hrs
A reread as the sequel's just come out.
So very, very different from TJ Klune's other books. It never fails to surprise me how easily he navigates between different styles and genres. This is unlike any of the other books I've read by him (although he still loves the word 'dashing' ;) ), but just as charming as any of them.

I grew very fond of all the children at Marsyas Orphanage and found it surprisingly difficult to leave them all behind when the story ended. It's not really a book that lends itself to sequels, but I do hope that TJ Klune will explore this universe further, and perhaps let us see how the children fare in the future, as visitors in other books.


Somewhere Beyond the Sea - T.J. Klune, 3/5, Audiobook ~16hrs
Unfortunately I didn't like this as much as I had expected to.

When I finished the first book I wrote in my review: "It's not really a book that lends itself to a sequel". That is still my opinion, and also reflects in the rating I ended up giving here. This sequel lacked most of the charm I found in the first book in the series.

I still enjoyed Linus' and Arthur's interactions, I loved the kids (especially Sal), and I really enjoyed seeing the kids relate to the townspeople. But where the main mood of the first book was hopeful and optimistic, the mood in this one just felt flat. Both Rowder and Miss Marblemaw seemed cartoon-like in their evilness, and were without any kind of depth. I could have excused that in Rowder, as she only paid a small part, but Miss Marblemaw just ended up annoying me. She was the kind of villain you hate to hate - a bit like Umbridge in HP5.

Also, I didn't feel that Arthur's angst about his anger rang true. I know that THitCS is written from Linus' point of view, and we therefore don't get to see much beneath the surface of Arthur, but I still thought there was a significant change of his character between these two books. And at the same time, the "voices" of the two books were so similar that I kept forgetting that we were hearing Arthur's thoughts rather than Linus'.

And finally the ending just didn't work for me. Too perfect, too deus ex machina. But with T.J. Klune making Rowder as evil as he did, I'm hard pressed to see how else it could have ended.

So why still 3 stars instead of 2? At the end of the day, T.J. Klune writes incredibly charming books, so even at "not his best", is books are still better than most. I loved getting to read more about the kids, and giggled at all the references to his other books - especially the Verania series :D


Indigo - Audrey Faye*, 3.5/5, 167 pages
I loved the characters and I loved the story. I'm a sucker for small towns where everybody gets into everybody's business, and Indigo certainly didn't disappoint in that regard. I loved the quirkiness of a mothering ghost and an artist on skateboard.

What detracted a few stars for me was the huge role astrology played in the characterization of Indigo. It seemed overdone, and turned her into somebody who would probably be more than a little "too much" in real life - actually regardless of whether or not you put any stock into it yourself. Fortunately, she redeemed herself near the end, and I loved her and Drew together.

And hopefully the focus will change in the later books, where Indigo's no longer the main character.


Blue - Audrey Faye*, 4/5, 158 pages
A lot better than the first one. I loved seeing Blue and Grim together, and read most of it with a huge smile on my face. Just goes to show that I'd much rather read about carpentry and clay throwing than chart reading any day of the week ;-) And the characters are charming as always. Can't wait for the last book in the series now!


Gone-Away Lake - Elizabeth Enright*, 5/5, 172 pages
This was one of my favourite books as a child, and I'm happy to say that it completely passed the test of time. It's just as charming as I remembered it, and Elizabeth Enright really made me feel like I knew the characters and I got to care for them.

Usually I can take or leave illustrations in a book, but the illustrations in my copy of the book (or rather, my mother's copy) - done by Beth and Joe Krush - are gorgeous, and really add to the story.


Return to Gone-Away - Elizabeth Enright*, 4.5/5, 145 pages
Not quite as good as the first book in the series, but then it is hard to improve on perfection ;) And it's still really excellent, and a wonderful comfort read, even if the plot isn't as interesting and a tad more repetitive.

Also, there was far too little Min and Pin in this one! I missed them!


The Year of Plenty - Rebecca Brammer*, 5/5, 175 pages
Written in the style of American classics like the Little House series we get to follow the life of a family - we hear about their holiday traditions, their joy and sorrows, their schooling, their friendships and relationships, and - my favourite parts - the running of the farm. I've always been utterly fascinated by all the every-day chores that came with running a farm 100 years ago, and the work necessary for setting away food to last through the winter.

The Year of Plenty is one of those books you sink down into, and it's almost torture to have to come back out again. I came to care about all the members of the family, and wanted to hear more about what happened to them. Rebecca Brammer shows an incredible gift for in-depth characterizations and creating an atmosphere with her words. Her writing seems effort-less and the plot tight. I hope to meet the Fraley family again in future books.


His Perfect Faithfulness - Eric & Leslie Ludy*, 4/5, 62 pages
I first read this book back in 1999, and was blown away by the beauty of it. I'd read it a few times since then, but not since 2007, so when I picked it up this time it was with a touch of cynicism and trepidation, whether it would be able to live up to my memory of it.

Fortunately, it mostly could. Sure, it's still hopelessly idealistic, but Leslie and Eric remained true to their own convictions and weren't pressured into anything. They walked with God every step of the way, and while their form of courtship wouldn't work for everybody, it so clearly worked for them.

The story is quickly read - just 62 pages if you skip the "Guy talk" and "Girl talk" at the end of the book (which I always do) - and it remains a sweet read. There was less focus on "this is the only way to have a holy courtship" than I had feared, and more focus on "follow God's will for your life" -- which I'm obviously totally in favour of!


Breaking Dawn - Stephenie Meyer*, 5/5, Audiobook ~20hrs
While the other books were great in their own right, it really felt as if they were just setting the scene for this one. Not that that makes Breaking Dawn better than any of the others, it just made it feel more complete. I loved that Bella became a vampire so early in this book, that we got to see how she reacted to that as well, and how she adjusted to her new life. Which also means that I actually preferred the first half to the last half.

Like with the other books in the series, I just couldn't put it down and ended up listening to all 20 hours in about a week.


Books Read: 94
Pages Read: 13.771
Hours Listened to: 451
Book of the Month: None - I've reread a lot, and the new reads weren't amazing.
Biggest Disappointment: Same.