Book Review: The Spellshop by Sarah Beth Durst

 

Pages: 384

Genre: Adult Fiction

Pub. Date: July 9, 2024

Publisher: Tor

Source: Personal Copy

My Rating: 3.5 out of 5 stars

Goodreads says, "Kiela has always had trouble dealing with people, and as librarian at the Great Library of Alyssium, she hasn’t had to.

She and her assistant, Caz, a sentient spider plant, have spent most of the last eleven years sequestered among the empire’s precious spellbooks, protecting the magic for the city’s elite. But a revolution is brewing and when the library goes up in flames, she and Caz steal whatever books they can and flee to the faraway island where she grew up. She’s hoping to lay low and figure out a way to survive before the revolution comes looking for her. To her dismay, in addition to a nosy—and very handsome—neighbor, she finds the town in disarray.

The empire with its magic spellbooks has slowly been draining power from the island, something that Kiela is indirectly responsible for, and now she’s determined to find a way to make things right. Opening up a spell shop comes with its own risks—the consequence of sharing magic with commoners is death. And as Kiela comes to make a place for herself among the quirky townspeople, she realizes that in order to make a life for herself, she must break down the walls she has kept so high."

Alyssium is burning due to unrest in the community and along with it, its gorgeous library, filled to the brim with manuscripts and books. Kiela has worked there for over ten years along with her assistant, a  spider plant, and this is the only world she knows. But things are really unsettled on Alyssium, so they embark on the open ocean for Caltrey, a small island she grew up on. Once Kiela arrives, her family's cottage is still there, so they get to work freshening it up. She wants to lay low and not draw too much attention, but the island is small and its inhabitants start to recognize that the once abandoned cottage is  now being restored. Larran, a good looking and helpful neighbor, has also started stopping by and helping out when needed, much to Kiela's initial dismay. Caltrey is suffering from the lack of magic though and Kiela recognizes this. She has taken spell books from the burning Alyssium library and intends on using some spells (illegally!) to restore Caltrey and help its people. She opens a storefront that sells a variety of  berry jams grown from her garden's berry bushes (with the help of spells), but also secretly provides "remedies" for the people of Caltrey and the land.  Sarah Beth Durst's The Spellshop is a sweet fantasy that is comforting - like a long day in the sunshine in your garden without a cloud in the sky.

Kiela is an interesting character in The Spellshop. She's a bookish introvert, so I think many readers can relate to her desire to hide away in this gorgeous cottage, make jams, read books, tend to her garden, and relax.  Enter Larran, who stirs things up a bit for her, and has her questioning what she wants out of her life. My favorite friendship in the novel is with her spider plant, Caz, who walks, talks, and is all-around a funny character. There are plenty of other fantasy creatures in The Spellshop which adds to the whimsical element.

The Spellshop is my first cozy fantasy novel (some refer to it as cottagecore fantasy) and I wasn't sure if it was going to be for me. Honestly, I needed a palate cleanser after an extremely suspenseful thriller and this book was the perfect option. Sometimes you just want a low key story without too much stress, right? The Spellshop doesn't have any intense battles, edgy romantic scenes, or major conflicts, which at the time, was just what I needed. So, if low-key fantasies are for you, give The Spellshop a try this summer. I was pleasantly surprised by how happy I was to be  lost in this fantasy world that was downright adorable.

Are you a fan of Sarah Beth Durst? Is The Spellshop on your summer TBR list? Let me know your thoughts in the comments below.

Blog Tour and Giveaway: Jane Escapes to the Jungle of Individuality

Every child is special and has their own unique characteristics. It's okay to be different, but sometimes it can be difficult or even scary for kids to embrace that. Today, I am excited to share a new picture book with you all called Jane Escapes to the Jungle of Individuality, which conveys the message of the importance of being a unique individual and practicing self-compassion.

 

Learn More About the Book:

 

Jane Escapes to the Jungle of Individuality 

Written by Jennifer Nestor

Illustrated by Victoria Mikki

Ages 4-9 | 40 Pages

Publisher: BookBaby | ISBN-13: 979-8350953602

 

Publisher’s Book Summary: This heartfelt adventure follows a young girl named Jane as she tries to navigate the challenge of feeling different in her own skin while experiencing bullying at school. Though she is soft-spoken and quirky on the outside, she struggles on the inside—desperately wanting to belong. Escaping from an uncomfortable moment on the school bus, Jane has a vivid daydream where she enters the Jungle of Individuality: a place filled with animals who all have unique characteristics, just like herself. As she embarks on an incredible journey of self-discovery with some new friends, she quickly realizes her individuality is something she should embrace while also learning self-compassion and being brave when things get tough.

You can purchase your own copy of Jane Escapes to the Jungle of Individuality at Barnes and Noble, Bookshop and Amazon. Also, you can learn more about Jennifer Nestor by visiting her website and connecting with her on Facebook, Instagram and TikTok.

 

 

The Giveaway: 

 

I've partnered with Jennifer Nestor to host a giveaway to celebrate the publication of Jane Escapes to the Jungle of Individuality. Enter for a chance to win a Back-to-School prize pack, including a signed copy of Jane Escapes to the Jungle of Individuality. Good luck!

  Jane Escapes to the Jungle of Individuality, by Jennifer Nestor: Book Giveaway

Book Review: The Summer Pact by Emily Giffin

 

Pages: 352

Genre: Adult Fiction

Pub. Date: July 9, 2024

Publisher: Ballantine

Source: Personal Copy

Other Books By Author: Meant to Be, The Lies that Bind,

First Comes Love, and Something Borrowed

My Rating: 3.5 out of 5 stars

Goodreads says, "Four freshmen arrive at college from completely different worlds: Lainey, a California party girl with a flair for drama; Tyson, a brilliant scholar and law school hopeful from D.C.; Summer, a recruited athlete and perfectionist from the Midwest; and Hannah, a mild-mannered southerner who is content to quietly round out the circle of big personalities. Soon after moving into their shared dorm, they strike up a conversation in a study lounge, and the seeds of friendship are planted.

As their college years fly by, their bond intensifies and the four become inseparable. But as graduation nears, their lives are forever changed after a desperate act leads to tragic consequences. Stunned and heartbroken, a pact is made to be there for each other in their time of need, no matter how separated they are by circumstances or distance.

Ten years later, Hannah is anticipating what should be one of the happiest moments of her life when everything is suddenly turned upside down. Calling on her closest friends, it soon becomes clear that they are facing their own crossroads. True to their promise, they agree to take a time out from lives headed in wrong directions and embark on a journey of self-discovery, forgiveness, and acceptance.

In this tender portrayal of grief, love, and hope, Emily Giffin asks: When things fall apart, who will be at our sides to help pick up the pieces?"

Freshman year at the University of Virginia, four college freshmen bond and become inseparable. There's Lainey, a flighty Californian, who aspires to become an actress. Tyson, a good looking Black man who hopes to become a lawyer, and Summer, the scholar and athlete, with dreams of becoming a doctor. Lastly, there's Hannah, a quiet Southern girl with a controlling mother. All four, despite their  differences, become close friends, especially after a tragedy unites them further. Fast forward many years, and Hannah is planning her dream wedding, but something happens that blows up her seemingly perfect world. The friends come together to support Hannah during her time as they all promised they would in college. After Hannah's life is turned upside down, and Lainey and Tyson both are in a funk, they decide to take a trip, and one of the stops is gorgeous Capri. This trip ends up impacting their lives in more ways than one as each character is dealing with something. Emily Giffin's The Summer Pact is a fun beach read and while it wasn't my favorite of Giffin's, I think many readers will enjoy being swept up in not only the drama amongst these friends but also the beauty of Capri.

Giffin takes us back to college and how this unlikely friend group formed. I wish we had spent more time there developing their friendships, but readers get enough of an idea that this foursome is  extremely close. I think Giffin does a wonderful job portraying close friendships, but by thirty-some years old, I find it hard to believe that friends would drop things for each other, including girlfriends,  good jobs, etc. Tyson ends up having to make a ton of tough decisions to go on this trip, some of which seem pretty rash and immature. I am not sure at 30+ years old, this is entirely believable unless you are  independently wealthy, but it is what it is. Nonetheless, the commitment to the group was admirable, especially as Hannah's world was falling apart.
 
My favorite aspect of the novel was Capri in The Summer Pact. Readers can tell that Giffin spent some time on this beautiful island it comes to life wonderfully. This is why I brought his novel on vacation with me, because there's nothing better than being poolside and reading about the characters following through Capri. But that is not to say that this novel doesn't deal with some heavy issues, because it most definitely does. There's suicide, alcoholism, controlling parents, parental expectations, racism, infidelity, and more.
 
Overall, I felt The Summer Pact's characters were too immature for me to entirely connect to, and to be honest with you, I don't think Giffin was at the top of her game writing (or storytelling wise) when it comes to this novel, but it ended up being a decent beach read and a great way to pass a summer afternoon.
 
Are you a fan of Giffin? Is The Summer Pact on your TBR list? Let me know your thoughts in the comments.

 

Blog Break

 

I'm on a blog break enjoying some much needed downtime. I'll be back soon sharing more beach reads and summertime fun. While I am gone, if you are looking for a beach read, be sure to check out my beach read menu for more recommendations.

I plan on reading some good books while I am gone and I'm currently enjoying The Summer Pact by Emily Giffin. Let me know what you are reading in the comments below. I'll be back soon!

 

Book Review: Husbands & Lovers by Beatriz Williams

 

Pages: 384

Genre: Adult Historical Fiction

Pub. Date: June 25, 2024

Publisher: Ballantine

Source: Publisher for review

Other Books By Author: A Hundred Summers, 

The Beach at Summerly,  Our Woman in Moscow, 

The Secret Life of Violet Grant, and The Summer Wives

My Rating: 5 out of 5 stars

 

 

Goodreads says, "Two women—separated by decades and continents, and united by a mysterious family heirloom—reclaim family secrets and lost loves in this sweeping novel from the New York Times bestselling author of The Summer Wives.

New England, 2022. Three years ago, single mother Mallory Dunne received the telephone call every parent dreads—her ten-year-old son Sam had been airlifted from summer camp with acute poisoning from a toxic death cap mushroom, leaving him fighting for his life. Now, in a search for the donor kidney that will give her son a chance for a normal life, Mallory’s forced to confront two harrowing secrets from her past: her mother’s adoption from an infamous Irish orphanage in 1952, and her own all-consuming summer romance fourteen years earlier with her childhood best friend Monk Adams—now one of the world’s most beloved singer-songwriters—a fairytale cut short by an agonizing betrayal.

Cairo, 1951. After suffering tragedy beyond comprehension in the war, Hungarian refugee Hannah Ainsworth has forged a respectable new life for herself—marriage to a wealthy British diplomat, a coveted posting in glamorous Cairo. But a fateful encounter with the enigmatic manager of a hotel bristling with spies leads to a passionate affair that will reawaken Hannah's longing for everything she once lost. As revolution simmers in the Egyptian streets, a pregnant Hannah finds herself snared into a game of intrigue between two men…and an act of sacrifice that will echo down the generations.

Timeless and bittersweet, Husbands And Lovers draws readers on an unforgettable journey of heartbreak and redemption, from the revolutionary fires of midcentury Egypt to the moneyed beaches of contemporary New England. Acclaimed author Beatriz Williams has written a poignant and beautifully voiced novel of deeply human characters entangled by morally complex issues—of privilege, class, and the female experience—inside worlds brought shimmeringly to life."

 

It's 2019 and Mallory is a single mom to her ten year old son, Sam. He is attending summer camp and she receives a life changing call that he ate a death cap mushroom, which is poisonous. He ends up very sick from this incident and is hospitalized. After he survives this horrific event, he needs a kidney transplant to life a full life and is currently on dialysis. This entire experience obviously impacts Mallory and Sam's life and Paige, Mallory's sister, is encouraging her to contact Sam's father, because maybe he is a donor match since they aren't. But Sam's dad isn't just any man. He is Monk Adams, a famous Grammy award winning musician whom she hasn't spoken to in years. He is planning to get married on Winthrop Island and it just so happens that Paige has a friend who invited them to stay on Winthrop, so off they go. What could possibly go wrong? The other timeline is told through Hannah's point of view. She lives in the 50s in Cairo, Egypt, and is in an unhappy marriage to a much older (and cruel) Englishman. She meets Lucien and her life is forever changed as he ignites a spark in her that she thought was long gone. Williams expertly weaves both stories together and in turn, readers get a memorable tale. Husbands & Lovers by Beatriz Williams is a page turner filled with historical details, a contemporary romance, a gorgeous beach setting, and more. 

I really enjoyed Mallory from the start of Husbands & Lovers. I especially appreciated the flashbacks to high school when she first met Monk and how their relationship developed during college. Mallory worked for Monk's family, helping to nanny his step siblings, and spent the summer on gorgeous Winthrop Island. These chapters really added to the beach read feel and I loved how their relationship unfolded. Also, Monk is such a memorable character and I absolutely adored him as well. Mallory and Monk seem so happy that readers are curious as to what went wrong and slowly Williams clues us in.  The flashbacks, in combination with present day details, readers slowly put the pieces together and long for Mallory and Monk to reunite in 2019.

The other timeline in Husbands & Lovers is just as compelling and told from a historical perspective in 1951 Cairo. Hannah is such a strong woman and I really was mesmerized by her past and her experiences during the war. The whole time I kept wondering how Mallory was connected to Hannah as their worlds seem so vastly different, but Williams did a great job weaving the story together. Paige, Mallory's sister, finds out their mother was adopted, so there is a subplot to understand their lineage more as well as the origin of a beautiful bracelet that their mother left behind for Mallory. As someone who loves studying their family's ancestry, this was right up my alley.

I love all of the novels that Williams writes, but Husbands & Lovers especially hit the spot as it combined a contemporary romance set on the coast, flashbacks to high school and college, as well as a historical setting that was entirely transporting. It's a winning combination for me! So, if you love all of those things in a novel as well, Husbands & Lovers should not be missed. Once I finished the novel, I was actually sad, which rarely happens these days! Let me know in the comments if you are a fan of  Williams and if you've read or plan on reading Husbands & Lovers.