Tag: series

Mini-Reviews: Rake, Wildwood, Mistake

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Eva Leigh, My Fake Rake

Lady Grace Wyatt and Sebastian Holloway have been friends for years, as both are socially awkward, scientifically minded nerds. Grace is infatuated with another scientist, but he sees her only as a colleague. So she and Sebastian concoct a plan: He’ll become a stylish, sought-after rake, then publicly flirt with Grace to make her crush jealous. But their plan goes awry when Grace and Sebastian find themselves wildly attracted to each other. I wanted to like this book – it seemed like a silly but fun gender-flipped take on the makeover trope (he takes off his glasses and is suddenly hot!) – but the execution fell flat. The hero and heroine are both anachronistically progressive (at one point, the hero refuses tobacco because it would be culturally appropriating Native American rituals), and their scientific interests try but fail to substitute for actual personalities. Ultimately, the book just wasn’t well-written or fun enough to compensate for these issues, and I don’t plan to try more by Leigh.

Juliet Marillier, Wildwood Dancing

Jena and her four sisters have a happy life as the daughters of a loving and prosperous merchant. Moreover, every full moon they’re able to visit the Other Kingdom, where they dance till dawn at the fairy court. But things change when Jena’s father travels south for his health, leaving the girls virtually alone. Jena’s sister Tati falls in love with a mysterious denizen of the Other Kingdom, and her cousin Cezar tries to take control of her father’s estate and business. Can Jena and her frog companion, Gogu, right these wrongs before it’s too late? I adored this book when I first read it and still liked it a lot this time around. Marillier’s prose is magical, and she creates a believable and immersive world. I really liked the incorporation of fairy tales and folklore, not just “The Twelve Dancing Princesses” but also “The Frog Prince” and vampire legends. I also appreciated the moral complexity of the book’s villain, Cezar, despite the intended YA audience. I prefer Marillier’s adult work, but this is still a very good read.

Sarah Mayberry, Her Best Worst Mistake

Martin is a conservative, buttoned-up corporate lawyer. Violet is a free spirit who wears scandalous outfits and likes breaking the rules. They’ve disliked each other for years but have had to get along because Martin was dating Violet’s best friend, Elizabeth. But when Elizabeth suddenly dumps Martin, Violet feels sorry for him and reaches out – only to discover a shocking sexual chemistry between them. But could that chemistry be the beginning of something more? This is a novella (about 150 pages) that manages to pack in quite a bit of backstory for the two main characters, setting up their opposites-attract dynamic and the conflicts that initially keep them apart. I liked both Martin and Violet and found their journey to love believable, if a bit sudden. There are several steamy scenes near the beginning, but the overall romance is surprisingly sweet. Recommended if you like the premise.

Mini-Reviews: Remember, Mortal, Bomb

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Mary Balogh, Remember When

Clarissa Ware, the dowager countess of Ravenswood, is taking stock of her life. She’s nearly 50, her husband has been dead for several years, and her children are grown. Now she wants to discover who she is apart from her role as society wife and mother. To that end, she rekindles her friendship with village carpenter Matthew Taylor, who was her neighbor and best friend growing up. But any relationship between them will cause gossip; should they get together despite the possible cost to their reputations? This is a gentle, peaceful installment of the Ravenswood series. The conflict is practically nonexistent, and many of the scenes feel repetitive, as both Clarissa and Matthew spend a lot of time reflecting on whether they should be together. There are also the obligatory updates on Clarissa’s many children and family members, which I found a bit tedious. Overall, it was a decent enough read, but so far this series hasn’t grabbed me…though I am excited for Stephanie’s book now, and I hope it’s coming soon!

Genevieve Cogman, The Mortal Word

World-hopping, book-stealing Librarian Irene Winters has just been given her most high-stakes assignment yet. A secret peace treaty between dragons and Fae is in the works, mediated by the neutral Library—but one of the dragon negotiators has just been murdered. Irene and Vale are summoned to the scene of the crime, a version of Belle Époque Paris, where they must solve the murder and prevent negotiations from breaking down. But do the powers that be really want the truth to come out? This is another fun, page-turning installment of the Invisible Library series; it might even be my favorite so far. Most of the major series characters (Kai, Lord Silver, etc.) are on the scene and get some good page time. The romantic subplot takes a significant step forward. Plus, I always enjoy a good murder mystery! So yeah, I liked this one and am excited to continue with book 6.

Lissa Evans, Small Bomb at Dimperley

World War II has just ended, and Valentine Vere-Thissett is leaving the army to return to Dimperley manor, which he’s just inherited (along with a title) from his older brother, who died in the war. Valentine doesn’t particularly want the responsibility, especially since Dimperley is falling apart. Fortunately, Zena Baxter, who came to Dimperley in a group of pregnant women who were evacuated from London during the war, has an idea that might save the estate. But not everyone is ready to embrace her plan. I loved this slice-of-life novel and its realistic depiction of postwar changes, but the characters are what really make the novel shine. Every single one is treated humanely and feels like a real person. There’s also plenty of quiet humor and an understated romance that I loved. All in all, an incredibly satisfying reading experience. I’m so glad I saw pamelad’s review on LibraryThing and decided to buy the book from a UK store (since it hasn’t been published in the US)—totally worth it!

Mini-Reviews: Dials, Misdirected, Mirror

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Agatha Christie, The Seven Dials Mystery

At a lively country house party, the young guests mock their friend Gerry Wade for always sleeping late. They decide to play a prank on him, setting up eight alarm clocks in his room to go off early in the morning—but the joke falls flat when Gerry is found dead the next day, ironically from an overdose of sleeping medication. The death is ruled an accident, but when another of the houseguests is killed shortly thereafter, Gerry’s friends begin to suspect murder. The resulting story is a mashup of thriller and farce that includes sensitive political documents, hijinks at a second house party, and the mysterious Seven Dials society. This novel is a fun romp, with a light tone despite the murders, and Christie puts her own unique spin on the “secret society” trope. I enjoyed rereading the book and seeing just how she pulls off the unexpected conclusion. Not a top-tier Christie, but a good read nonetheless!

Lucy Parker, Misdirected

Hattie Murton is an actress with a major role on the popular (and steamy) historical soap “Leicester Square.” Now she has a problem: Her character is about to embark on a passionate romance with the show’s villain, played by the coldly arrogant Anthony Rafe. She’s not eager to simulate love for the man who treats her and everyone else with cynical disdain, so she’s shocked to feel a genuine spark of attraction during their scripted love scenes—and even more shocked to discover that Anthony might feel the same way. Lucy Parker is an autobuy author for me, so I was hoping to love this book, and I did. Hattie is a sweetheart without being insufferably saccharine, and Anthony is a swoonworthy hero who nevertheless retains his hard edges. His indignation at his growing feelings for Hattie is a delight! Definitely recommended for romance fans if you like the premise.

This book is only available on Audible right now, and it’s narrated by Nicola Coughlan (of “Derry Girls” and “Bridgerton” fame) and Gwilym Lee. I never listen to audiobooks, so I don’t have any basis for comparison, but I think both narrators did a good job, especially Lee. It was hard for me to get into the story at first, and occasionally I got confused about who was speaking, but ultimately the format didn’t prevent me from enjoying the book. Though if it’s ever published in paperback, I will definitely pick up a copy!

Kristen Britain, Mirror Sight

This installment of the Green Rider series is somewhat unusual. At the end of the last book, Karigan was spirited away somewhere; in this book, we learn that she’s traveled 168 years into the future. The Sacoridia she knows has vanished, and the land is now ruled by a tyrannical emperor. Technology has advanced, but magic is virtually unknown and the Green Riders are no more. Karigan is determined to get back to her own time and somehow prevent this future from occurring—but what if she can’t find a way home? I was initially biased against this book, fearing it would be a tedious side adventure with no lasting consequences for the series. But I actually found the book a refreshing change of pace, with an interesting steampunk setting and some new characters for Karigan to interact with. That said, it’s still far too long, and it doesn’t affect the series arc in any real way. My enthusiasm for this series is waning, honestly, but I’m still invested enough that I plan to continue for now.

Mini-Reviews: Love, Wagering, Demon

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Molly Clavering, Love Comes Home

Jane Cranstoun is having a wonderful time visiting friends in England and has just become secretly engaged to handsome naval officer John Marsh. But now she’s summoned back to Scotland to welcome her younger sister, Love, home from finishing school. Though only 18, Love has very definite opinions and plans for the future – plans that include marrying Jane off to their new neighbor, Peregrine Gilbert, much to Jane’s dismay. The ensuing romantic tangle causes a fair amount of turmoil, but it all turns out right in the end. This was my first book by Molly Clavering, but it won’t be my last; if you like the kinds of books published by Virago, Persephone, etc., you’ll like this one too. I must admit, the plot didn’t go where I was expecting it to, and I wasn’t thrilled about some developments. But overall I found this a pleasant, gentle, and occasionally quite funny read.

Eva Shepherd, Wagering on the Wallflower

Lady Hazel Springfield is a socially awkward bluestocking. Now in her fifth Season, she knows she’s unlikely ever to marry, unless some old and/or impoverished man wants her for her dowry. Enter Lucas Darkwood, an incredibly rich and handsome man with a passion for horse racing and breeding. To win an acquaintance’s exceptional broodmare, he makes a bet that he can find Hazel a beau before the Season is over. To make her seem more attractive to other men, he starts paying attention to her himself, only to find that he’s gotten more than he bargained for. I liked the “She’s All That” premise of this romance, but overall the book is just okay. Hazel and Lucas are nice, but they’re pretty flat stock characters, and I never really got invested in their romance. Oddly, I found Hazel’s siblings more interesting, and I think her two sisters each have their own book…but I’m not sure I care enough to seek them out.

Lois McMaster Bujold, Penric’s Demon

Penric kin Jurald, the younger son of a minor noble, is about to finalize his betrothal to a rich merchant’s daughter when fate takes a hand and changes the course of his life. When he encounters a dying woman on the road, he stops to help and ends up acquiring her demon—which means he’s now a sorcerer, albeit an untrained one, able to do magic. Now Penric is suddenly a person of interest to both the local Temple and certain secular powers, who all have different agendas for the demon’s (and therefore Penric’s) future. I really enjoyed this novella, which introduces new characters to the Five Gods universe, where the Chalion books are also set. The plot is simple yet effective, and Penric and his demon, a.k.a. Desdemona, are great characters whom I’m excited to follow in future installments of the series. Another winner from Bujold!

Mini-Reviews: Lake, Simple, Beg

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John Bude, The Lake District Murder

At an isolated garage in the Lake District, a man is found dead inside a car, with an apparatus indicating that he deliberately killed himself by asphyxiation. But Inspector Meredith notices a few things that aren’t consistent with suicide and soon comes to believe the man was murdered. As Meredith investigates, he also uncovers shady business dealings at the garage and searches for the connection between them and the murder. I love a good Golden Age mystery, but this one was often frustrating for me. The plot doesn’t really present a puzzle for readers to solve; rather, the story plods along with what feels like a minute-by-minute account of Meredith’s investigation. I think Bude was trying to make the point that detective work is often dull routine, not dramatic and glamorous—but that doesn’t make it fun to read about the dull routine! Overall, fans of police procedurals might enjoy this one more than I did, but I found it a slog.

Pamela Morsi, Simple Jess

Althea Winsloe is a young widow with a three-year-old son and a good farm property. Her small, tight-knit community is pressuring her to marry again, but she has no desire to give up her freedom or her farm. Still, she needs a man to help her work the land, so she hires Jesse Best, known to everyone as “Simple Jess” because he has an intellectual disability. As Althea gets to know Jesse, she realizes that despite his limitations, he’s very knowledgeable about farming and hunting – as well as being kind, loyal, and handsome. I think this is a book that might be polarizing; Morsi boldly chooses to tell some of the story from Jesse’s POV, and while I think she portrays him with sensitivity and kindness, it’s certainly a fine line to walk. I was rooting for him from the start, and I also liked the various secondary characters who populate Althea and Jesse’s community. Overall, I really liked this one and appreciated the unique premise, but I don’t think it’s a book for everyone.

Sarah Adams, Beg, Borrow, or Steal

This is Adams’s third book set in Rome, Kentucky, and the heroine is the oldest Walker sister, Emily. She’s the one who (seemingly) has it all together, who helps her family with terrifying competence and no hesitation. But lately she’s been feeling lonely and dissatisfied—that is, until her longtime nemesis, Jack Bennett, moves back to town. Emily and Jack have always argued, but now their fights are feeling more flirty than genuinely aggressive. They’ll have to overcome some baggage, however, before they can move past their bickering and truly trust each other. I enjoy the enemies-to-lovers trope and think this book does it well. I’m also a fan of prickly heroines who are outwardly competent but inwardly struggling, so Emily particularly appealed to me. Toward the end, I think things got a bit too syrupy-sweet (all the men in this series are annoyingly perfect), but I enjoyed the book and will definitely read the next one when it comes out!

Mini-Reviews: Miles, Plot, Country

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Jenny Colgan, 500 Miles from You

Lissa and Cormac are both home care nurses, she in London and he in the tiny town of Kirrinfief, Scotland. When Lissa is traumatized by an on-the-job tragedy, her boss forces her into a swap: She’ll go to Kirrinfief for three months, where she’ll theoretically have enough peace and quiet to begin healing, and Cormac will take her place in London. At first, both Lissa and Cormac have trouble adjusting to their new surroundings, but gradually they grow and change in unexpected ways. I’ve read a few books by Colgan and found them sweet, uplifting comfort reads. This book definitely has more darkness in it: Lissa’s trauma is described in detail, and many of the patients she and Cormac treat suffer horribly. But the novel retains a gentle feel and warm sense of community, especially in Kirrinfief. Scottish life is a bit too idealized, and the novel seemed to end rather abruptly, but I did enjoy it overall and will continue to read more by Colgan.

Genevieve Cogman, The Lost Plot

In this fourth installment of the Invisible Library series, Irene and Kai are unwillingly roped into political intrigue among the dragons, which puts the Library’s careful neutrality between dragons and Fae in jeopardy. To protect the Library, Irene and Kai travel to an alternate version of Prohibition-era New York City, where they have to evade mobsters and police as well as dragons. This fourth installment of the Invisible Library series is a fun read, consistent with previous books in the series. I enjoyed the new setting with its gangsters and speakeasies, and Irene continues to subtly grow and change as she realizes the Library isn’t always her highest priority. I missed Vale in this book, but it looks like he’ll be more prominent in book 5, which I plan to read next month.

Fiona Hill, The Country Gentleman

Anne Guilfoyle is celebrated as one of the cleverest ladies in London, and she relishes her position and status. But when her fortune is lost due to a bad investment, she’s forced to move to a country manor she’s inherited from a distant relative—and by the terms of the will, she must reside there for 10 months every year. Anne resents the change in her circumstances and views her country neighbors—especially the owner of the closest estate, Henry Highet—as ignorant bumpkins. But as she acclimates to her new life, she grows to appreciate country living, and Highet, more. I’m always on the hunt for well-written, steamless historical romances, and this one definitely fits the bill! Anne is somewhat hard to like at first, as she’s very condescending, but she grows sufficiently throughout the book. I also really liked Anne’s companion and the secondary love story featuring her. Overall, this was a very pleasant surprise, and I’m eager to try more by Fiona Hill.

Mini-Reviews: Blackveil, Scales, Claws

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Kristen Britain, Blackveil

For centuries, a magical wall has protected Sacoridia from the forest of Blackveil, which was originally an Eletian kingdom but was tainted long ago by the evil sorcerer Mornhavon the Black. Now the wall has been breached, and a group of combined Eletians and Sacoridians, including Karigan, is sent inside the forest to discover whether anything good remains. But there are tensions among this group, and they are not the only ones who’ve entered Blackveil. I’m continuing to enjoy this series, though the books are very long and slow-moving – the group going to Blackveil doesn’t actually get there until more than halfway through! But I like that the series doesn’t forget about any plot threads, following up with many characters as they deal with magical destinies, court intrigues, and so on. Things are left very much unresolved at the end of this book (as in, there’s a bona fide cliffhanger), so I will certainly be continuing with the next one!

Stephanie Burgis, Scales and Sensibility

Elinor Tregarth is a “poor relation,” used to being despised and tormented by her spoiled cousin Penelope. But after one particularly awful day, Elinor has had enough and decides to leave her cousin’s home for good—taking Penelope’s dragon with her. (In this world, dragons are fashionable pets, small enough to perch on a lady’s shoulder.) As she decides owhat to do next, Elinor wishes she were as confident and poised as Mrs. De Lacey, one of society’s leading ladies. To her surprise, the dragon has the magical ability to make her look like Mrs. De Lacey—which gives Elinor the confidence to right some wrongs and even find romance. I love a good “magical Regency” novel, and this one is charming. It’s essentially a (steamless) Regency romance, with the fun addition of some dragon lore. I’m not sure the plot would stand up to rigorous scrutiny, but if you’re happy to go along for the ride, there’s plenty to enjoy here.

Stephanie Burgis, Claws and Contrivances

This sequel to Scales and Sensibility features Elinor’s sister, Rose, who has been living with a ramshackle but loving set of distant relations. When Rose discovers a dragon in the buttery, she assumes it must belong to her relatives’ neighbor, Sir Gareth. On her way to return the dragon, she encounters Cornelius Aubrey, an absentminded scholar hoping to consult with Rose’s uncle on some aspects of dragon lore. He convinces Rose not to surrender the dragon to Sir Gareth, and for plot reasons they must pretend to be betrothed. As they uncover a dastardly scheme involving the mistreatment of dragons, Rose finds herself increasingly attracted to her fake fiancé. This is another charming Regency romance with magical elements. I really enjoyed the interplay between Rose’s well-meaning bossiness and Aubrey’s obliviousness. The romance is sweet, the secondary characters are fun, and justice is served in the end. I believe there will be another book in this series at some point, featuring the third Tregarth sister, and I definitely plan to pick it up!

Mini-Reviews: Muse, Accomplished, Burning

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Mimi Matthews, The Muse of Maiden Lane

This final book in the Belles of London series features Stella Hobhouse, who’s bold by nature but has been stifled by her strict brother and by self-consciousness about her unusual silver hair. Meanwhile, Teddy Hayes is a passionate artist who struggles to be independent despite having to use a wheelchair for mobility. When the two meet by chance in an art gallery, Teddy is struck by Stella’s unique beauty and wants to paint her. She resists at first, but as the two grow closer, they both find the courage to take a chance on art and love. I’ve been waiting for Teddy’s book since he appeared as a supporting character in A Convenient Fiction, and overall I was not disappointed. I liked that the book doesn’t shy away from either his flaws or his vulnerability, and Stella is a great match for him, as she understands and shares his struggle for freedom. The novel is a little too overpopulated with characters from previous books, but otherwise I really enjoyed this one. The first book in a new series by Matthews is slated to come out in 2025, and I will definitely be checking it out!

Amanda Quain, Accomplished

Georgie Darcy has been in a dark place ever since her boyfriend, Wickham Foster, betrayed her and almost got her expelled. Her classmates at Pemberley High all hate her, and her overprotective older brother, Fitz, seems to view her as nothing but a problem for him to solve. Georgie is determined to fix everything, but all her plans go spectacularly awry. I’m of two minds about this YA take on Pride and Prejudice from Georgiana’s POV. It’s a clever idea, and I actually really liked the book’s portrayal of Fitz Darcy (and Charlie Bingley, who is an utter delight). The novel also highlights just how horrible Wickham was to Georgiana in P&P; here, he’s clearly emotionally abusive and has left Georgie with some serious trauma. I honestly just wanted all the Darcys to go to therapy! I also found Georgie pretty frustrating, as she consistently makes the worst possible decisions. Overall, I think the pros of the book outweigh the cons, but I haven’t decided whether I want to keep it or not.

Genevieve Cogman, The Burning Page

After the events of The Masked City, Irene is on probation with the Library and is being sent on a lot of low-interest but high-danger jobs. But she’s back in action when her old enemy, Alberich, threatens both her specifically and the Library in general. Meanwhile, someone else also seems to be trying to kill her – could it be her Fae nemesis, Lady Guantes? As Irene pursues her dual goals of serving the Library and staying alive, she also gets some insight into Library politics and learns a bit more about whom she can really trust. I’m continuing to enjoy this series, and I was happy to see Irene, Kai, and Vale all working together in this installment. Irene’s growth is compelling: She’s always been emotionally detached and totally committed to the Library, but now she’s forging close relationships that may be changing her priorities. I’m interested to see how things develop, so I’ll most likely continue with the series into next year.

Mini-Reviews: Bride, Beau, Tomb

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Mary Balogh, A Christmas Bride / Christmas Beau

In A Christmas Bride, Edgar Downes (brother of Cora from The Famous Heroine) is seeking a wife, but instead of proposing to one of society’s eligible young debutantes, he’s attracted to the scandalous widow Lady Helena Stapleton. Helena is drawn to Edgar as well, but because of certain events in her past (described in A Precious Jewel), she’s full of self-loathing and believes herself unworthy of love. Can Edgar change her mind? Then, in Christmas Beau, Max, the Marquess of Denbigh, is pursuing revenge against Judith Easton, the woman who jilted him eight years ago. He plans to seduce her, then break her heart as she broke his. But as he woos her, he begins to have second thoughts about his scheme.

One thing I admire about Balogh is her willingness to write unusual or unlikable protagonists. Helena and Max both do some objectively terrible things, and while I didn’t fully buy into their redemption arcs (especially Helena’s), I did appreciate their moral complexity. Christmas Beau is the more enjoyable book, in my opinion – A Christmas Bride has too many callbacks to previous novels – but both are pretty good reads. Be warned, both books are also overflowing with sappy depictions of a picture-perfect English country Christmas, complete with adorable children and unreasonably kind and accepting secondary characters. But ’tis the season for that sort of thing, and if you have a high sugar tolerance, you’ll probably enjoy these novels.

Kristen Britain, The High King’s Tomb

After the events of First Rider’s Call, the magical wall that protects the kingdom of Sacoridia from the dark magic of Blackveil is beginning to crumble. To fix it, King Zachary needs an ancient book that will explain the magic necessary to repair the wall, so he sends Karigan along with a rookie Rider to find it. But the acolytes of the evil sorcerer Mornhavon the Black are also after the book, hoping to destroy the wall for good. This continuation of the Green Rider series is, like its predecessors, a solid “classic” fantasy novel. I found it a bit too sprawling—there are a lot of POV characters and at least four different plots going at any one time, and it takes a while for everything to come together. That said, I appreciate the continuity between books and the realism of these characters having lives and problems in addition to the main “defeat the evil sorcerer” plot. My library has the rest of this series, so I’ll most likely continue with it in the new year.

Mini-Reviews: Rule, Convenient, Plus

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Sarah Adams, The Rule Book

Nora Mackenzie is a talented sports agent who’s constantly fighting to be taken seriously by her male peers. So when she gets the opportunity to take on NFL star Derek Pender as a client, she jumps at the chance – even though they used to date in college, and it ended badly. When Derek learns that Nora wants to be his new agent, he decides it’ll be a good opportunity for him to get a little revenge on the woman who broke his heart. But their working relationship ignites old feelings, which may put both their careers at risk. I don’t particularly care about football, and second-chance romance isn’t one of my favorite tropes. That said, this is a pleasant, entertaining contemporary romance, and the connection between Nora and Derek feels genuine. It was also fun to get a few cameos from Nathan and Bree from The Cheat Sheet. Overall, it’s fine but not a book I’m super enthusiastic about.

Mimi Matthews, A Convenient Fiction

Alex Archer came from nothing; he was raised in an orphanage and ran away as soon as he could. Due to his skill at cards, he’s amassed a comfortable fortune through gambling over the years, but now he’s set on acquiring an estate through marriage. He has his sights set on a local heiress, Henrietta Talbot, but finds himself drawn to her friend Laura Hayes instead. Laura has neither property nor fortune – in fact, she’s barely making ends meet – but their mutual attraction threatens to overthrow all Alex’s plans. There’s nothing particularly unique about this Victorian romance, but for some reason it really works for me. What can I say? I love emotionally repressed heroes and practical heroines, and despite the fact that this book is steamless, the chemistry between Alex and Laura is palpable. I love Mimi Matthews in general, and this is one of my favorites by her. I’m now even more excited for The Muse of Maiden Lane, which features Laura’s brother, Teddy, as the hero.

Jenny L. Howe, On the Plus Side

Everly is a plus-size young woman who feels she’s “too much” and tends to hide herself, both physically and in terms of her opinions, desires, and talents. When she’s nominated for a makeover show geared toward plus-size individuals, she is excited for the chance to reinvent herself, and she soon finds herself drawn to grumpy cameraman Logan. But when the show starts taking some narrative liberties with Everly’s story, both her romance and her newfound confidence are threatened. I wanted to love this book, and as a plus-size woman myself, I could relate to many of Everly’s experiences and struggles. But in the end, everything works out for her pretty quickly and effortlessly. She attracts Logan’s admiration immediately, accepts her body wholeheartedly, and even mends her complicated relationship with her mother. It all just feels too easy and idealized. Overall, I’d consider trying more by Howe, but this book fell a little flat for me.