Fourth Wing by Rebecca Yarros
By Rebecca Yarros
Book 1 of 3: The Empyrean - Fourth Wing - Enter the brutal and elite world of a war college for dragon riders from #1 New York Times bestselling author
And Then You Were Gone
By R.J. Jacobs
After years of learning how to manage her bipolar disorder, Emily Firestone finally has it under control...
A List of Cages
By Robin Roe
When Adam Blake lands the best elective ever in his senior year, serving as an aide to the school psychologist, he thinks he's got it made.
Reminders of Him
By Colleen Hoover
A troubled young mother yearns for a shot at redemption in this heartbreaking yet hopeful story from #1 New York Times bestselling author Colleen Hoover.
Latest Reviews
This is a clean, office-set romcom about an ambitious accountant, Erin Melrose, sent to assess a faded satellite unit of Garrison Board Games and nudged...Read More
I breezed through this sweet office romcom and liked its simple promise: a numbers first high achiever lands in a messy satellite team and remembers...Read More
The Last Nuclear War presents a gripping premise with clear relevance to today’s world. The author succeeds in raising urgent questions about survival, politics, and...Read More
I tore through The Housemaid's Secret in two sittings and still found time to side-eye every locked door in my flat. What it’s about: Millie...Read More
Eastern Shadows surprised me. It’s not the kind of thriller that races ahead with twists every other page, but it pulls you in with mood...Read More
There’s something quietly haunting about this one. Eastern Shadows doesn’t yell for attention, it lures you in with a whisper. The writing is clean, the...Read More
Aria Aber’s debut novel Good Girl follows 19-year-old Berlin-born Nila Haddadi, the daughter of Afghan immigrants, who navigates the collision of heritage and freedom in...Read More
This one’s a little different, and that’s exactly why it stuck with me. Just Love Her isn’t your typical linear story. It’s poetic, spiritual, and...Read More
Mel
I just finished The Neighbor: A Detective D. D. Warren Novel by Lisa Gardner, and wow, what a ride! This book had me hooked from...Read More
Resetting the board – Review for Back to Start: Love Changes the Heart by Sunshine Rodgers
This is a clean, office-set romcom about an ambitious accountant, Erin Melrose, sent to assess a faded satellite unit of Garrison Board Games and nudged toward a kinder idea of success. The corporate open sets the context crisply. Erin is a decade into the ladder, angling for promotion, and told to find savings in a culture that has grown brittle. The board-game motif is established early and returns as a running device. Go back to start is not only a card prompt. It is the thesis.
Strengths. The annex crew deliver warm found-family energy that gradually softens Erin. The in-text photo wall and the recurring tag Family Photos At Work embody the theme of work as community. A late scene frames morale, not only money, as the company’s deeper problem, which gives Erin a credible pivot in outlook. Readers who want wholesome beats will appreciate the gentle date scenes and the PG register.
Craft and execution. Prose is clear and serviceable, with brisk scene work and straightforward internal monologue. The workplace contrast is painted in broad strokes. Corporate is marble and rules. The annex is messy and human. That clarity helps pace, but sometimes flattens nuance. Antagonists read archetypal, which softens jeopardy. The humour leans on repeated maths puns and office gags. A lighter touch or greater variety would lift re-read value.
Structure and pacing. The set-up lands cleanly. The middle stacks similar beats of culture clash and annex hijinks, which can blur. The final movement circles back to the title concept and articulates Erin’s values in the boardroom, an on-theme close that prioritises tone over tension.
Characterisation. Erin’s arc from insulated efficiency to engaged teammate is readable and coherent. Travis functions as a supportive anchor rather than a source of conflict, keeping the romance low heat by design. Side characters carry the comic business and supply the found-family notes the book promises.
Paratext. The PDF is tidy, with chaptering and back matter that foregrounds the author’s Christian inspiration and a social hashtag that mirrors the in-world wall of photos. The faith emphasis lies mainly in the acknowledgements rather than in the overt plot, broadening the audience fit.
Verdict. Warm and sincere, with a clear motif and gentle humour. Soft stakes and repetitive jokes cap its ceiling, yet it will satisfy readers seeking a wholesome workplace uplift.
Summary Review
Back to Start: Love Changes the Heart is a clean workplace romcom that does what it says on the tin. Erin Melrose, a promotion minded accountant at Garrison Board Games, is sent to a shabby annex to tighten budgets and instead finds a rough and ready team who treat work like family. The board game motif is neat and on theme, with the idea of going back to start mirroring Erin’s reset in values. The prose is clear, the scenes move briskly, and the tone stays PG throughout. The strengths are warmth, an easy found family vibe, and a romance that supports rather than overwhelms Erin’s arc. The weaknesses are just as clear. Antagonists are painted in broad strokes, the middle act repeats a few culture clash beats, and the humour leans on the same maths and office gags once too often. Stakes remain soft, so tension never properly bites, but the book is sincere about kindness and purpose at work, and it lands its final note without strain. Readers who want a wholesome office uplift, light faith touch in the margins, and zero spice will be well served. Those seeking sharper conflict or surprise will likely want more.
Book reviewed:
Office maths, found family, and a second chance at joy – Review for Back to Start: Love Changes the Heart by Sunshine Rodgers
I breezed through this sweet office romcom and liked its simple promise: a numbers first high achiever lands in a messy satellite team and remembers why people matter. Erin Melrose walks into Garrison Board Games ready to tighten budgets and instead finds potlucks, in jokes, and a wall of photos that looks like a family fridge. The tone stays light, the prose is clear, and the board game idea ties it all together with a gentle reset theme.
What works best is the warmth. The Annex crew win you over, the running gags give sitcom pace, and Travis as boyfriend stays supportive in the background so Erin’s growth can lead. On the flip side, the office villains are broad, a few maths jokes repeat, and the middle lingers on similar culture clash beats. Still, it lands on kindness and purpose without preaching, and it is fully clean: no violence, no heat, just feel good office stakes that resolve on theme.
Book reviewed:
A Provocative Concept Undermined by Uneven Execution – Review for The Last Nuclear War by Hazem Abdelmowla
The Last Nuclear War presents a gripping premise with clear relevance to today’s world. The author succeeds in raising urgent questions about survival, politics, and humanity under the shadow of total destruction, and the thematic ambition is commendable. Unfortunately, the novel’s execution does not fully match its scope. The narrative structure feels fragmented, with abrupt shifts that weaken immersion. Dialogue often reads stiff and expository rather than natural, and the descriptive passages, while vivid in places, lean on repetition. Editing inconsistencies, grammatical slips, pacing lags, and overuse of melodrama, distract from the otherwise compelling subject.
As a reading experience, the book is engaging enough to keep interest, especially for fans of post-apocalyptic fiction, but it lacks the polish and refinement expected of professional-grade work. With tighter editing, stronger character development, and more disciplined pacing, this could have been a powerful entry into the genre.
Book reviewed:
The Last Nuclear War
By Hazem Abdelmowla
In a fractured world reborn from viral ruins, energy is scarce and power is currency. Mousa, a gifted child adrift in a society ruled by influence...
Polished Floors, Dirty Secrets – Review for The Housemaid’s Secret
I tore through The Housemaid’s Secret in two sittings and still found time to side-eye every locked door in my flat.
What it’s about: Millie returns, trying to keep her life on track with a new housekeeping job in a glossy Manhattan apartment. The wife never leaves the guest room. The husband is charm on a stick. The rules are odd. Then the pay goes up and so do the questions. That is all you need before the rug starts moving under your feet.
What I liked: McFadden keeps chapters snappy and the tension tidy, which suits Millie’s dry, survival-mode voice. The moral murk is the fun of it. No one is spotless, everyone has leverage, and the reveals arrive at just the right clip. I also liked how the book nods to consequences from the first novel without making new readers feel lost.
What gave me pause: A few coincidences lean convenient, and you will spot one twist if you read a lot of domestic noir. It still lands because the fallout is messy in a satisfying way.
Try this if you love: Lisa Jewell’s knotty secrets, Ruth Ware’s closed-room unease, and bingeable, high-stakes nanny/housemaid plots.
Verdict: Slick, pacey, and deliciously untrustworthy. I had fun.
Book reviewed:
The Housemaid's Secret
By Freida McFadden
Book 2 of 3: The Housemaid: An unbelievably twisty read that will have you glued to the pages late into the night.
A Thriller with Depth – Review for Eastern Shadows by Peter Nordgren
Eastern Shadows surprised me. It’s not the kind of thriller that races ahead with twists every other page, but it pulls you in with mood and detail. The setting is so well drawn it almost feels alive, and that gave the whole book a steady, atmospheric weight.
The main character felt refreshingly real, uncertain, imperfect, and very human. That made it easier to root for him, especially when things turned tense. The story does move at a slower pace, and there were moments where I wanted it to pick up, but the pull of the mystery kept me turning pages.
What I enjoyed most was the mix of suspense and emotion. It isn’t only about uncovering a secret, but also about understanding the people behind it. That gave the book a thoughtful edge I wasn’t expecting.
If you like your thrillers layered, with strong characters and a rich setting, this one is worth picking up.
Book reviewed:
Eastern Shadows
By Peter Nordgren
Eastern Shadows is a gritty, haunting reflection on the duality of human nature, and...
Shadows That Whisper – Review for Eastern Shadows by Peter Nordgren
There’s something quietly haunting about this one. Eastern Shadows doesn’t yell for attention, it lures you in with a whisper. The writing is clean, the setting richly layered, and the sense of unease builds in slow, deliberate waves.
Goodreads Mel Reviews
This isn’t your typical missing-person thriller. Yes, there’s a disappearance. Yes, there are lies. But what really drives the story is the atmosphere, the feeling that you’ve stepped into a place that remembers everything, even the things people try to forget.
The lead character isn’t some superhero-in-disguise. He’s flawed, a little lost, and trying to do the right thing in a world that keeps shifting under his feet. That groundedness makes the story hit harder when things start to unravel.
At times, I did wish for a tighter grip on momentum, the pacing dips in spots, but the emotional undercurrent always pulled me back in. This book is more about uncovering why things happen than racing to what’s next. And that works.
It’s thoughtful, restrained, and quietly gripping. Perfect for readers who want their thrillers with depth and a strong sense of place.
Book reviewed:
Eastern Shadows
By Peter Nordgren
Eastern Shadows is a gritty, haunting reflection on the duality of human nature, and...
Goodreads Mel Reviews:
Eastern Shadows by Peter Nordgren
My rating: 4 of 5 stars
This book got under my skin in a quiet way. Eastern Shadows isn’t a loud, twist-packed thriller, but it knows exactly how to build tension. The setting is vivid, almost like a character itself, and the atmosphere holds a weight that never really lets go.
The main character feels real — flawed, unsure, and human. That makes the moments of danger and doubt cut deeper, because you believe he’s just trying to keep his head above water. The story takes its time, sometimes a little more than I wanted, but there’s a steady pull that keeps you turning the pages.
What I liked most is how it balances mystery with emotion. It’s not just about what happened, but why people do the things they do — and how far they’ll go to hide them.
Thoughtful, moody, and memorable. A strong pick if you like thrillers with depth and a sense of place.
In the Mirror – Review of Good Girl by Aria Aber
Aria Aber’s debut novel Good Girl follows 19-year-old Berlin-born Nila Haddadi, the daughter of Afghan immigrants, who navigates the collision of heritage and freedom in an electrifying artistic subculture. As Nila chases photographic dreams and battles grief, she dives into a world of underground clubs, drugs, and a fraught romance with older American writer Marlowe. Through her voice, Berlin pulses, not just as a backdrop, but as a living, breathing character. Critics praise Aber’s writing as “poet’s novel, replete with sparkling prose”.
What stands out is the emotional authenticity: Nila’s internal monologues invite you in, raw and impulsive, yet never distant. Though the pacing slows at moments, the vivid texture of place and identity more than compensate. As Kirkus notes, “Art is a fragile magic, just like love” — kirkusreviews.com.
A bold, lyrical debut — powerful in emotion and atmosphere, if not breakneck in pace.
Why you’ll love it:
Good Girl offers a poignant journey through the life of Nila, a 19-year-old Afghan-German artist navigating Berlin’s underground art scene. It’s a coming-of-age tale that subtly wrestles with heritage, autonomy, and the creative process.
Book reviewed:
Good Girl: A Novel
By Aria Aber
A story of love and family, raves and Kafka, staying up all night and surviving the mistakes of youth, Good...
Just Love Her by Raz Mihal
This one’s a little different, and that’s exactly why it stuck with me. Just Love Her isn’t your typical linear story. It’s poetic, spiritual, and more like a heart-led reflection than a plot-heavy novel. The narrator speaks directly from the soul, touching on divine love, connection, and what it really means to feel.
📌 Spoiler-safe zone: Everything below refers to the overall tone and themes, not plot events past the early chapters.
It took me a few pages to settle into the rhythm, but once I stopped trying to understand it with my mind and let myself feel it through the heart, something clicked. This book isn’t here to entertain, it’s here to stir something deeper.
There are moments that feel like whispers to the soul. It’s romantic in a transcendent way, spiritual without being preachy, and full of quiet intensity. Not everyone will “get it,” and that’s okay. But if you’ve ever felt love so deep it broke you open, this one might speak to you.
Book reviewed:
Just Love Her
By Raz Mihal
"Just Love Her" by Raz Mihal is a spiritual exploration of divine love and soul connection. Through heartfelt...
Mel
The Neighbor: A Detective D. D. Warren Novel
I just finished The Neighbor: A Detective D. D. Warren Novel by Lisa Gardner, and wow, what a ride! This book had me hooked from the very first chapter. It starts with the sudden disappearance of Sandra Jones, a young mother who seemingly vanishes without a trace. Her husband, Jason, is secretive and uncooperative, their marriage isn’t as perfect as it seems, and their four-year-old daughter may know more than she lets on. Enter Detective D.D. Warren, who is determined to uncover the truth, but with every clue, the case gets more unsettling.
What I loved most about this book is how Gardner keeps you second-guessing everything. Every character feels unreliable, and just when I thought I had it figured out, she threw in a twist that completely changed my perspective. The psychological depth of the story adds an eerie, almost claustrophobic feeling, like you’re trapped in the mystery yourself.
My only minor complaint is that the pacing starts off a little slow, but once it picks up, it’s impossible to put down. The ending? Let’s just say I’m still thinking about it! If you love dark, twisty thrillers that keep you guessing until the last page, this one is definitely worth reading.
Book reviewed: