You are a dream. A hope. A remembrance of what we once were.

Of course this story completely slayed me. I should've known better than to doubt. I thought I'd already found a favorite from T.J. Klune in The House in the Cerulean Sea and it would have been impossible to top that. But here comes a story that I love just as much, if not more.

On the surface, In the Lives of Puppets seems simple enough. It's a tale about a boy and his father and some robots, and they go on an adventure together. But the more I read, the more I realized it is so much more.

If ever there was a story about what it means to be human, this is it. It's an ode to our affinity for love and friendship, as well as a celebration of our flaws and quirks. And it does so with humor and heart, alternating between making me chuckle and filling me with joy. Of course humor is subjective, but the blend of innocent and naughty in here totally worked for me. It brought a spark of levity to an otherwise very sweet story.

Klune did a wonderful job with the science fiction elements, taking an interesting premise and building it into something fascinating and thought-provoking. Often with speculative fiction, either we don't get enough explanation and so the whole thing feels vague, or we get too much explanation and you get mired in the how's and why's. But Klune struck it just right, and the sci-fi elements end up feeling natural and wholly believable.

It did take me a little bit to get into the story, so don't be discouraged if you don't find it riveting right off the bat. Like any good fable, the first 100 pages or so introduces us to the cast of characters and their circumstances. It builds up slowly and easily, all the while feeling quite cozy. But then we get to the main conflict, and I was hooked.

I've been trying to put my finger on exactly why T.J. Klune's tales feel so special, and I've finally figured it out. It's because reading them makes me feel like a kid again, stepping into a magical world where you can cheer on the good guys as they triumph over the forces of evil. Along the way, you fall in love with the characters and their world, and it feels like you are really there, immersed in the wonder of it all.

As a reader, every time I pick up a book, this is the experience I'm hoping for. To have a story sink into your thoughts and wrap itself around your heart and leave you discombobulated afterwards, there's no other feeling like it in the world.

Readaroo Rating: 5 stars!

My heartfelt thanks for the copy that was provided for my honest and unbiased review.

She invited us all here for a reason. We're not just going to enjoy a holiday and then go home.

Every once in a while, I get the itch to pick up a psychological thriller. That exciting premise! The jaw-dropping twists and turns! And so I get my popcorn ready and prepare to be amazed.

But I should've known. Yes, this story was an entertaining diversion, but unfortunately it didn't really deliver in terms of surprises. And so yet again, my jaw remains firmly closed.

Four friends receive the invitation of a lifetime. The girl they used to bully in school is getting married, and she's inviting them to an all expenses paid holiday on a tropical island for her hen party. Of course these four women saw nothing strange or sinister about this request, and they accept the generous offer posthaste. But what happens when they arrive and things start to go wrong?

I found the beginning of this book riveting. But then as time went on, my attention started to flag. Part of the problem is that I had some trouble differentiating between the four women. They all have the same voice and the same self-centered vileness. And since the chapters alternate between each of their perspectives, I kept getting them and their secrets mixed up.

Also, not much happens for quite a while. There is the promise of secrets and impending doom, but nothing actually happens until more than halfway through. In the meantime, it's a lot of shallow drama and posturing, all of which isn't that exciting.

Then once we get to the twists and turns, I just wasn't surprised. Here's the problem—when there are only five people on the island, there's not that many ways this can go. Not to mention the beginning gives away part of the ending on purpose, and I've already seen similar things before in other mysteries. So all told, I saw every twist and turn in here coming from a mile away.

No doubt this was a decently fun way to spend a few hours. But how much you'll be surprised will depend on what you've seen before, and unfortunately for me, I've already seen it all.

Readaroo Rating: 3 stars

This was a pick for my Book of the Month box. Get your first book for $5 here.

Ooh, how fun to don one's detective cap and suss out a killer in the midst, all under the guise of a party!

Pip, our favorite teen detective from A Good Girl's Guide to Murder, is joining friends for an evening of sleuthing. They're having a murder mystery party set in the 1920s, complete with costumes and accents. And when someone "dies", there are plenty of clues and red herrings to cast suspicion in every which way.

Reading this novella reminds me just how much I loved the original series. Pip is such a smart and spunky heroine, and it's thoroughly entertaining to follow along as she tries to figure out the killer. The way the clues are laid out and the setting of a remote island with a dysfunctional, wealthy family exude so much Agatha Christie vibes.

Since this is just a pretend murder, the stakes are low. It feels more cozy than suspenseful, but the book does a nice job of injecting some dark atmosphere into the mix, so it's still quite riveting. In fact, I had trouble putting it down and breezed through the whole thing in about two hours.

I will say, I don't generally gravitate towards novellas (or short stories, for that matter). It's because I find them to be a bit unsatisfying. Just as you're getting into the whole thing, it's already over. And it felt a bit like that here. I wanted more. More of the murder, more of the solving, more of the explanation. But I suppose it's better to end up wanting more than wanting less, so that's a small complaint.

It was definitely fun to revisit Pip's world. I was a little sad that the series was over, so I'm glad to have this bonus story so I could experience just a bit more of what I loved.

Also, as an aside, is this sort of murder mystery game a real thing? Because I need it in my life pronto.

Readaroo Rating: 4 stars

Ah, another satisfying romcom from the queen of the spicy read!

Hallie Welch has been harboring a secret crush on Julian Vos since their high school days, when they almost smooched in the romantic vineyards that belong to his family. Now Julian is back in town, and Hallie might finally get a second chance at that kiss. But they are so different—he an uptight professor and she a carefree, chaotic gardener—that surely nothing can come of their attraction, right?

I always dig into Tessa Bailey books with relish, knowing I'm in for a swoony, steamy good time. The characters are flawed but loveable, the chemistry is off the charts, and the dialogue is cute and sassy. Sure, the premise can be a bit over the top, and if you think too carefully, the conflicts often don't make much sense, but that's romance for you. I'm in it for the light and fluff, and that's exactly what I get.

This story's combination of tropes—grumpy/sunshine, opposites attract, and second-chance romance—is a fun one and there's sure to be something for every romance reader. And the setting of a vineyard could not be more romantic and undoubtedly appeals to the lush in me.

My only small nitpick here is that the secret admirer angle doesn't really make sense. It dragged the story out longer than was necessary and could easily have been left out. But then the title wouldn't make any sense, so there you go.

Of course since it's a Tessa Bailey book, I have to mention the spice level. Her books are pretty explicit, possibly shockingly so if you haven't read one before. So tread carefully and definitely avoid if that isn't your jam.

I'm already excited for the next book. I see that Julian's sister will get her own story and I can't wait to read it.

Readaroo Rating: 4 stars

My heartfelt thanks for the copy that was provided for my honest and unbiased review.

More and more, I've really come to enjoy Sally Hepworth's brand of domestic suspense, and The Soulmate is another worthy one to add to the collection.

Pippa and Gabe's perfect house is situated on a cliff, with sweeping views and a dramatic drop down to the jagged rocks and sea below. That's why they always warn their children to stay away from the edge. But the spot attracts unwanted attention, with people coming there to end their lives. Up till now, Gabe has managed to talk all of them from jumping, but his luck has finally run out. But when Pippa learns that the woman who jumped has a connection to Gabe, she starts to wonder if she really knows her husband at all.

Dun dun dun! Okay, that premise sounds awesome. I can't help but be drawn in, and it turned out to be a riveting read. This easily could've been one of those books I read in one sitting if I had the time.

But to properly enjoy this, I think it's important to set the right expectations. This book isn't a mystery or thriller by any means. It's more of a domestic drama, with the narrative told in a nonlinear fashion to add that necessary bit of suspense. And it works. I was on the edge of my seat the whole time, even though there was nothing that shocking or crazy going on.

Hepworth has a way of sketching out the dynamics in dysfunctional families that just hooks the reader. This time, it's a marriage that seems perfect from the outside, but the flaws are there once you peel away the layers. Add to that children, extended families, and a dose of mystery, and it makes the whole thing very fun and exciting.

As for the big reveal at the end, there really wasn't anything like that. While everything is explained and resolved, there certainly weren't any jaw-dropping or even eyebrow-raising moments. But it still feels like a satisfying conclusion.

This is the third Sally Hepworth I've read, and now that I have my expectations set correctly, I've really come to enjoy her stories and writing style. Whenever I want a family drama with a dash of suspense mixed in, she's definitely an author I reach for.

Readaroo Rating: 4 stars

This was a pick for my Book of the Month box. Get your first book for $5 here.

The story that started it all, Legends & Lattes is what originally helped put cozy fantasy on the map. And to this day, I still think it sets the gold standard for the genre.

I don't know what I expected going in. The cover would have me thinking it's some sort of Dungeons and Dragons fanfic. But I don't know anything about the game, so I imagined this wouldn't be my jam. Ha, was I wrong.

Viv is tired of being a bounty hunter and is hanging up her sword. The orc is settling down to the quiet life, opening a coffee shop in the city of Thune. But can she really leave her previous life behind and find success and a new home, especially in a city where she is a complete stranger and no one even knows what coffee is?

Ah, this story! It's just brimming with joy and heart on every page. To read it is to be enveloped in the gentlest, warmest of hugs. You don't have to be an orc or bounty hunter to fully appreciate the themes in here—of starting anew, finding yourself and a place to belong, and opening your heart to never thought-of possibilities. It's such a core part of the human experience, and this book captured a most lovely rendition of it.

But to say this story is cozy doesn't mean it's boring. To the contrary, there is excitement and tension aplenty, with all the right components to have me turning the pages as fast as I could. I wanted to gulp it down, but also to savor it slowly. I couldn't think of a single thing I didn't enjoy in here, from the characters to the plot to the writing.

I can totally see why this book has gotten all the hype, and I can't recommend it enough. Now I know what you're thinking: But Yun, I don't read stories about orcs or hobs or gnomes. Well, neither do I, and look where I am. Obviously, if you only enjoy tales of sadness and misery, this book isn't for you. But if you want something truly heartwarming and delightful, then this is not to be missed.

Readaroo Rating: 5 stars!

I'll be right here. Until they drag me off the line. I'm not going anywhere.

Oh, Anthony Bourdain. The world lost a great chef and unmatched culinary ambassador the day you died.

Kitchen Confidential is the memoir that originally put Anthony Bourdain on the map. I never got around to reading it when it was first published back in 2000, but I've always been a fan of his, catching his No Reservations and Parts Unknown whenever I had the chance. So it's with no small amount of excitement that I've finally gotten around to his famed memoir.

Reading it for the first time more than two decades later, I can't help but feel as though a ghost has leapt off the pages. His voice is as vibrant as ever, his eye for the delicious and the shocking coming through on every page. To read his words is to experience his view of the world, and it is filled with food, drugs, profanity, and astonishing candor.

If you've ever been curious about how a professional kitchen is run, well, this will satisfy that curiosity. And what's in here is eye-opening, to say the least. Sprinkled with Bourdain's self-deprecating dark humor, it's sure to make you chuckle and cringe in equal measure. After having read this, I'm not sure I'm in a particular hurry to eat out, at least in the types of restaurants he highlights.

What makes Bourdain so special is clearly evident amongst the pages here, even from a book he wrote long ago. He has a way with words, building what would be mundane happenings at the hands of a lesser wordsmith into riveting and scintillating vignettes. And he does this again and again. I couldn't look away.

In particular, his chapter on his first visit to Japan has all the flavors of what would become his trademark later. His unabashed enthusiasm for trying new foods and experiencing new cultures, and his innate understanding that the two are inextricably linked. To read his words is to feel his emotions, and they are tinged with the bittersweet—wonder for new culinary adventures but also sadness for all that he wouldn't have the chance to experience.

I confess I'm a full-blown foodie. I love trying new restaurants, finding new things to eat that I've never had before. That moment, when you take the first bite of a never-before-tried dish and realize you've found a new favorite, it's one of the best feelings in the world. And Anthony Bourdain passionately embodied that. To read about his early days is an honor, and I'm glad I finally got around to it.

Readaroo Rating: 4 stars

This was a pick for my Book of the Month box. Get your first book for $5 here.