MINI REVIEWS: September & October

I read too many books to write full length reviews on all of them. Plus some of them I don’t have much to say. But, there are some I still want to mention here.

So, we are going to try this mini review format! If we like how this turns out, I will do one of these every so often. It is basically a wrap up type post, but I don’t want to commit to doing monthly wrap ups. 

I was not sure how many reviews to include so naturally I asked my Instagram followers instead of making a decision. I made a poll and the result was 40% of people voted for 5 reviews and 60% voted for 5+ reviews.  So I decided to include six.

So, here are six mini reviews for some books I read in this fall season:

Lovely Seeds by RH Swaney:
Wow. This poetry collection felt like it was specifically targeting me. It uses both imagery and metaphors (and probably more literary devices than my brain remembers) of nature to weave together themes of anxiety, self care, reflection, friendship, living for the moment, and so much more. There are also pictures of gardening and nature to reinforce the themes. 

Unlike most poetry collections, it does not discuss romantic relationships and instead focused on one’s self, friendship, and familial relationships. I loved this collection and am planning on buying a physical copy, once my book buying ban is over. *Thanks to NetGalley & the publishers for giving me an eARC in exchange for an honest review*
5/5 stars

Escaping From Houdini by Kerri Maniscalo:
This third installment of the Stalking Jack the Ripper series did not disappoint. I would have liked to see more Thomas and Audrey Rose made some questionable decisions. There were some parts of the plot that I did not love, but I was enamored with the magic and the mystery of this book. I am eagerly anticipating book four.
4.5/5 stars

A Thousand Perfect Notes by C.G. Drews:
This is a heartbreakingly beautiful work by the famous PaperFury. Her voice is so vivid and memorable.  She created wonderful characters, that I cared for instantly. I just wanted them to be happy and eat cake. The book does deal with some darker themes and my heart hurt at some points.
TW: Child Abuse
4.5/5 stars

Under Locke by Mariana Zapata
I am a huge Mariana Zapata fan, but I was disappointed with this one. The guy was too possessive and territorial for me. Iris was very passive at times and I could see why, but I wanted her to fight for herself. Dax and Iris’ relationship seemed a little problematic at times (he is her boss and he grabs her once or twice). I did like the tattoo shop dynamic though and the friendships in this story. 
3/5 stars

Check out my reviews of her other books which I have enjoyed WAY more than this one:
BOOK REVIEW: The Wall of Winnipeg & Me
BOOK REVIEW: From Lukov with Love

Lethal White by Robert Galbraith (JK Rowling)
WOW. All I really have to say about this is that anytime Robin and Cormoran interacted I wanted to scream (in a good way). I love them so much. JK Rowling is a master storyteller and this book was an excellent addition to the series. (RE + CS = forever)
5/5 stars 

Foolish Hearts by Emma Mills
This book is a fun contemporary novel and I binged it in one sitting. What I enjoyed most about this was how it deals with friendships at the forefront. There are some cute romantic relationships and characters to ship, but we are focused on friendships way more. Friendship are so crucial in high school and it was nice seeing a YA novel with a focus on female (and male) friendships.
3.5/5 stars 

Goodreads Links:
Lovely Seeds
Escaping From Houdini
A Thousand Perfect Notes
Under Locke
Lethal White
Foolish Hearts

*photos not mine*