Fiction – Page 5 – Jill's Book Blog

Review: Cursed Princess Club, Vol. 1

Title: Cursed Princess Club, Vol. 1
Author: LambCat
Genre: Graphic Novel, Fantasy, Romance
Publisher: Webtoon Unscrolled
Source: Purchased
Format: Paperback
Release Date: January 3, 2023
Rating: ★★★★★

Goodreads Synopsis:

Meet Gwendolyn – living proof that princesses don’t always have it all. See, although she lives in a castle and her father is the King, Gwendolyn isn’t like a movie princess, or even a fairly-tale princess. She’s got a big heart, but isn’t particularly attractive and doesn’t have a Disney-quality singing voice. But one night, she accidentally stumbles upon the twisted world of the Cursed Princess Club, and her life will never be the same. Hexed and cast out, the ladies of the club are just the people Gwendolyn needs to show her that just because she doesn’t “fit the mold” does not mean she’s any less of a princess.

[Episodes 1-29]

Review:

Cursed Princess Club is a hilarious graphic novel! This story showed that appearances can be deceiving. The youngest sister, Gwendolyn, wasn’t as glamorous as her older sisters, but she was the kindest and most thoughtful. Since she wasn’t as pretty as her sisters, her suitor didn’t want to be with her as soon as he saw her, instead of getting to know her first. There were many laugh out loud moments in this story, especially with some unfortunate misunderstandings. I’m so excited to continue reading this series!

Cursed Princess Club, Vol. 1 is a funny graphic novel!

Other books in the series:

Cursed Princess Club, Vol. 2
Cursed Princess Club, Vol. 3
Cursed Princess Club, Vol. 4

Have you read Cursed Princess Club, Vol. 1? What did you think of it?

Review: Blood Lasts Forever

Title: Blood Lasts Forever
Author: Jeff Gunhus
Genre: Thriller, Contemporary
Publisher: Seven Guns Press
Source: iRead Book Tours
Format: Ebook
Release Date: November 11, 2024
Rating: ★★★★

Goodreads Synopsis:

Not every death is a tragedy.

When fifteen-year-old Wyatt Bucks is found dead in the Sagasett River, the small town of Chambers breathes a collective sigh of relief. Wyatt was a troubled youth, feared and despised by many. But his death, deemed an accident by the local sheriff, leaves a chilling legacy that will haunt the town for decades.

Twenty years later, Mitch Ansel, now a middle school teacher, receives a call that resurrects the nightmares of his past. Alongside his old friends, the Fab Five, Mitch is forced to confront the dark secret they’ve buried for years—a secret that ties them to Wyatt’s death.

As the friends reunite at a remote cabin, they must navigate a web of deceit, fear, and violence. Each carries scars from the past, but none are prepared for the revelations that await them. Mitch’s terrifying visions of Wyatt and the relentless pull of their shared guilt threaten to unravel their lives and sanity.

Review:

Blood Lasts Forever is a creepy and suspenseful thriller. It is the scariest book I’ve read in a long time. I made the mistake of reading it before I went to sleep, and then I was wide awake for a long time! There were some very disturbing scenes, but I think it justified the murder that happened when the main characters were kids. Check the content warnings before reading this one.

Blood Lasts Forever is a suspenseful thriller that will keep you on the edge of your seat!

Thank you iRead Book Tours for sending me a copy of this book as part of a paid campaign!

Content warnings: child abuse, sexual assault, animal abuse, animal death, murder, PTSD, hallucinations, body horror

Have you read Blood Lasts Forever? What did you think of it?

Review: Nina Peanut: Creative Genius

Title: Nina Peanut: Creative Genius
Author: Sarah Bowie
Genre: Graphic Novel, Middle Grade
Publisher: Union Square and Co.
Source: Publisher
Format: Paperback
Release Date: August 13, 2024
Rating: ★★★★★

Goodreads Synopsis:

Perfect for fans of Diary of a Wimpy Kid, here is a witty and humorous story about a girl’s claim to fame and her journey toward self-discovery.

Nina Peanut runs a very serious, very amazing YouTube channel; so why are her grandmother and her best friend, Brian, her only viewers? (Hint: it might have something to do with her obsessions with quirky stuff like a potato with a human face.) Nina wants to be as popular as queen bee Megan Dunne, and when Nina’s cat accidentally wanders into one of Megan’s videos, Nina realizes she just might have the chance to chase her dreams. But as Nina goes down the road of stardom, she starts to question whether or not fame is worth the price she’s paying.

Review:

Nina Peanut likes making videos for an online site, but she has to learn that getting likes online doesn’t mean that you will have good friends in real life. This is an important lesson for kids to learn these days when they want to gain popularity online, but that can take away from your real life interactions. Your online popularity can also be taken away or turned into something that makes you feel bad or embarrassed quite quickly as well. Nina was also funny, and she reminded me of a younger Georgia Nicolson character.

Nina Peanut: Creative Genius is a fun middle grade graphic novel!

Thank you Union Square and Co. for sending me a copy of this book!

Have you read Nina Peanut: Creative Genius? What did you think of it?

Review: A Hush at Midnight

Title: A Hush at Midnight
Author: Marlene M. Bell
Genre: Thriller, Contemporary, Mystery
Publisher: Ewephoric Publishing
Source: iRead Book Tours
Format: Ebook
Release Date: September 1, 2024
Rating: ★★★★

Goodreads Synopsis:

A manipulator.

A fatal plan for revenge.

Award-winning author of the Annalisse series, Marlene M. Bell, brings distant friends together in the rural South only to have one of them become the victim of a brutal crime of passion.

Once celebrated for her show-stopping pastries and irresistible desserts, former celebrity chef Laura Harris is now making headlines for a far darker reason.

Laura has been accused of murder.

How could this petite chef have brutally smothered the beloved small-town matriarch, World War II ferry pilot veteran, Hattie Stenburg? Hattie wasn’t just a pillar of the community; she was Laura’s confidant and mentor. The shocking twist? Hattie’s will contained recent changes, bypassing next-of kin and leaving her entire fortune and historic estate to Laura.

As Laura scrambles to clear her name, she uncovers sinister secrets lurking beneath the town’s idyllic surface. The real murderer is always one step ahead, leaving taunting clues and threatening Laura to leave Texas—or face deadly consequences. With time not a luxury, Laura must untangle the web of deceit before the killer makes her the next victim.

In “A Hush at Midnight,” Marlene M. Bell twists an amateur sleuth crime mystery into a race against the clock to solve her mentor’s murder.

Review:

A Hush at Midnight was a thrilling mystery. There were many subplots that made the mystery a little more complex, and most of them were connected in the end. The writing was descriptive and beautiful. It created a full and vivid picture of the setting in my mind.

A Hush at Midnight is a suspenseful thriller!

Thank you iRead Book Tours for providing a copy of this book as part of a paid campaign.

Content warnings: death of parent (off page), cancer, strangulation, death, stalking

Have you read A Hush at Midnight? What did you think of it?

Review: Sophie: Frankenstein’s Hound

Title: Sophie: Frankenstein’s Hound
Author: Brian Anderson
Genre: Graphic Novel, Children’s
Publisher: Marble Press
Source: Publisher via NetGalley
Format: Ebook
Release Date: October 15, 2024
Rating: ★★★★★

Goodreads Synopsis:

From the creator the much-loved webcomic, “Dog Eat Doug,” Sophie is a hilarious new graphic novel series, a sendup of family life from the perspective of one snarky dog who wants nothing more than to have everything—without ever having to share.

Life is good when you’re a dog and you have humans all to yourself. But what about when a new baby enters the picture . . . along with a couple of cats intent on taking over the world?

Full of mini adventures, pop culture spoofs, sharp jokes, adorable illustrations, and a sneaky dose of heart, Jurassic Bark and Frankenstein’s Hound are the perfect introduction to these characters and their world. Just right for the pet-obsessed among us no matter the age, while simultaneously appealing to the kids who love to giggle at Big Nate, Dog Man, Garfield, and Snoopy.

Review:

This is another adorable graphic novel about Sophie the chocolate lab and her human baby brother Doug. There were some new pets added to the family including two cats and foster dogs. The cats were hilarious. They were always plotting to take over the world. This book was even funnier than the first one.

Sophie: Frankenstein’s Hound is a funny kids graphic novel!

Thank you Marble Press for providing a digital copy of this book!

Other books in the series:

Sophie: Jurassic Bark

Have you read Sophie: Frankenstein’s Hound? What did you think of it?

Review: Sophie: Jurassic Bark

Title: Sophie: Jurassic Park
Author: Brian Anderson
Genre: Graphic Novel, Children’s
Publisher: Marble Press
Source: Publisher via NetGalley
Format: Ebook
Release Date: October 15, 2024
Rating: ★★★★★

Goodreads Synopsis:

From the creator the much-loved webcomic, “Dog Eat Doug,” Sophie is a hilarious new graphic novel series, a sendup of family life from the perspective of one snarky dog who wants nothing more than to have everything—without ever having to share.

Life is good when you’re a dog and you have humans all to yourself. But what about when a new baby enters the picture . . . along with a couple of cats intent on taking over the world?

Full of mini adventures, pop culture spoofs, sharp jokes, adorable illustrations, and a sneaky dose of heart, Jurassic Bark and Frankenstein’s Hound are the perfect introduction to these characters and their world. Just right for the pet-obsessed among us no matter the age, while simultaneously appealing to the kids who love to giggle at Big Nate, Dog Man, Garfield, and Snoopy.

Review:

Sophie: Jurassic Bark is such a cute kid’s graphic novel! Sophie, the chocolate Labrador, takes the baby Doug on adventures in her imagination. It reminded me of the Wishbone TV show from when I was a kid. I laughed out loud a few times while reading this one. I think kids and their parents will love this book!

Sophie: Jurassic Park is a great kid’s graphic novel!

Thank you Marble Press for providing a digital copy of this book!

Other books in the series:

Sophie: Frankenstein’s Hound

Have you read Sophie: Jurassic Bark? What did you think of it?

Review: The Night Before Christmas at Dunder Mifflin

Title: The Night Before Christmas at Dunder Mifflin
Author: Brian Baumgartner, Ben Silverman, Maël Gourmelen
Genre: Picture Book, Humor
Publisher: Mariner Books
Source: Publisher
Format: Hardcover
Release Date: November 5, 2024
Rating: ★★★★★

Goodreads Synopsis:

A new Christmas classic for all ages and the ultimate holiday gift for every fan of The Office: Spend “The Night Before Christmas” at Dunder Mifflin in this hilarious and timeless illustrated retelling of the beloved poem, featuring a visit from Michael Scott as Santa and narrated by Kevin Malone (author Brian Baumgartner).

’Twas the night before Christmas, and all through Dunder Mifflin…

It’s Christmas Eve at Scranton’s finest paper company, and Michael Scott is nowhere to be found. As the office dozes off after their raucous holiday party, two mysterious visitors sneak a Santa peddling holiday cheer and that’s what she said jokes, and his beet-loving, dutiful, right-hand elf. Armed with absurd gifts for the staff, tacky decorations for the office, and absolutely nothing good for Toby, the two prepare to give Dunder Mifflin a holiday they’ll never forget.

A hilarious twist on a Christmas classic, The Night Before Christmas at Dunder Mifflin is a rollicking, festive, and heartwarming jaunt through everyone’s favorite office, the perfect holiday treat for any fan of the show.

Review:

This was such a cute Office version of the classic Christmas story. All of the characters from the TV show received the perfect Christmas gifts for them, such as a paint set for Pam and a retirement countdown sign for Stanley. There were many inside jokes for fans of the show that made me laugh.

Twas the Night Before Christmas at Dunder Mifflin is a great gift for fans of The Office!

Thank you HarperCollins for sending me a copy of this book!

Have you read The Night Before Christmas at Dunder Mifflin? What did you think of it?

Review: The Most Wonderful Crime of the Year

Title: The Most Wonderful Crime of the Year
Author: Ally Carter
Genre: Romance, Contemporary, Mystery
Publisher: Avon
Source: Publisher via NetGalley
Format: Ebook
Release Date: September 24, 2024
Rating: ★★★★★

Goodreads Synopsis:

Knives Out gets a holiday rom-com twist in this rivals-to-lovers romance-mystery from New York Times bestselling author Ally Carter.

The bridge is out. The phones are down. And the most famous mystery writer in the world just disappeared out of a locked room three days before Christmas.

Meet Maggie Chase and Ethan Wyatt:

She’s the new Queen of the Cozy Mystery.

He’s Mr. Big-time Thriller Guy.

She hates his guts.

He thinks her name is Marcie (no matter how many times she’s told him otherwise.)

But when they both accept a cryptic invitation to attend a Christmas house party at the English estate of a reclusive fan, neither is expecting their host to be the most powerful author in the world: Eleanor Ashley, the Duchess of Death herself.

That night, the weather turns, and the next morning Eleanor is gone.

She vanished from a locked room, and Maggie has to wonder: Is Eleanor in danger? Or is it all some kind of test? Is Ethan the competition? Or is he the only person in that snowbound mansion she can trust?

As the snow gets deeper and the stakes get higher, every clue will bring Maggie and Ethan closer to the truth—and each other. Because, this Christmas, these two rivals are going to have to become allies (and maybe more) if they have any hope of saving Eleanor.

Assuming they don’t kill each other first.

Review:

Maggie Chase and Ethan Wyatt are mystery writers who are both invited to an English mansion for Christmas. The mansion is owned by Eleanor Ashley, the famous author of 99 mystery novels. On their first night at her home, Eleanor disappears without a trace. Though some of Eleanor’s family is there too, only Maggie and Ethan take on the task of searching for clues and finding Eleanor, while also avoiding assassination attempts on their lives.

This was a fun holiday mystery. Eleanor left some clues about her disappearance, but they were closely related to her novels. Since Maggie was a huge fan of hers, she was able to figure them out. The mystery was fun to follow, and I had a hard time figuring out who was responsible.

The Most Wonderful Crime of the Year is a great Christmas mystery!

Thank you Frenzy Books for providing a digital copy of this book!

Content warnings: poisoning, fire, gun violence

Have you read The Most Wonderful Crime of the Year? What did you think of it?

Review: The Hotel Balzaar

Title: The Hotel Balzaar
Author: Kate DiCamillo, Júlia Sardà
Genre: Middle Grade, Historical Fiction
Publisher: Candlewick Press
Source: Publisher
Format: Hardcover
Release Date: October 1, 2024
Rating: ★★★★

Goodreads Synopsis:

In a wise and magical follow-up to The Puppets of Spelhorst, Kate DiCamillo revisits the land of Norendy, where tales swirl within tales—and every moment is a story in the making.

At the Hotel Balzaar, Marta’s mother rises before the sun, puts on her uniform, and instructs Marta to roam as she will but quietly, invisibly—like a little mouse. While her mother cleans rooms, Marta slips down the back staircase to the grand lobby to chat with the bellman, study the painting of an angel’s wing over the fireplace, and watch a cat chase a mouse around the face of the grandfather clock, all the while dreaming of the return of her soldier father, who has gone missing. One day, a mysterious countess with a parrot checks in, promising a story—in fact, seven stories in all, each to be told in its proper order. As the stories unfold, Marta begins to wonder: could the secret to her father’s disappearance lie in the countess’s tales? Book two in a trio of novellas bound by place and mood—with elegant line art by Júlia Sardà—The Hotel Balzaar masterfully juggles yearning and belief, shining light into every dark corner.

Review:

Marta’s mother works at the Hotel Balzaar while Marta creeps around the hotel during the day, being quiet and not disturbing anyone. One day, a woman arrives with a pet parrot. She tells Marta stories that remind Marta of her father who has disappeared. She realizes that the answers to her father’s disappearance may be hidden in these stories.

This story reminded me of the Eloise books and movies, since Marta lived in a hotel like her. However, there was a more serious tone since Marta was always thinking about her missing father. The story takes place decades ago and the beautiful black and white illustrations reflected that.

The Hotel Balzaar is a beautiful middle grade story!

Thank you @penguinrandomca and @tundrabooks for providing a copy of this book. This book was gifted to me from Penguin Random House Canada as part of the Holiday Book Magic Campaign! The Holiday Book Magic books are a curated list of books that are perfect for gifting and enjoying all year long!

Have you read The Hotel Balzaar? What did you think of it?

Review: Make My Wish Come True

Title: Make My Wish Come True
Author: Rachael Lippincott, Alyson Derrick
Genre: Young Adult, Romance, Contemporary, LGBTQ
Publisher: Simon and Schuster Books for Young Readers
Source: Publisher
Format: Paperback arc
Release Date: October 1, 2024
Rating: ★★★★★

Goodreads Synopsis:

A sapphic Netflix-esque Christmas movie meets How to Lose a Guy in 10 Days from the New York Times bestselling author duo of She Gets the Girl Rachael Lippincott and Alyson Derrick.

Hollywood teen actor Arden James’ messy reputation is interfering with her career when a notoriously picky director won’t give her a role based on her party-girl image. So she and her publicist make up a lie – not only is she from a small town (true) but her childhood best friend Caroline, is her long-term girlfriend (false) and she can prove it when she goes home for Christmas.

Caroline Beckett hasn’t thought about her ex-best friend Arden James for years, focusing instead on her dreams about becoming a journalist. When Arden turns up on her doorstep and promises her an article in Cosmopolitan magazine on their twelve snow-covered romantic days together, Caroline agrees to play along.

But when old feelings start to bubble up, what will fall faster – Arden and Caroline or the Christmas Eve snow?

A gorgeous, heartwarming cosy romance – perfect for the holidays!

Review:

Hollywood teen actor Arden James has developed a reputation for partying. She auditions for her dream role, but the director won’t take her seriously because of her reputation. Arden decides to go back to her hometown and start a fake relationship with her childhood best friend and crush to show the public that she can have a wholesome image. Caroline Beckett was Arden’s best friend and first crush until she abandoned her to move to Hollywood. Caroline has focused on her dream to become a journalist since then. When Arden asks her to be in a fake relationship, she promises Caroline that she can write the article that introduces their relationship to the public. However, their staged dates stir up old feelings that both of them have, so they must figure out if they will confess their feelings to each other.

This was a fun holiday rom com! Arden and Caroline had a heartwarming romance without a lot of drama. I liked that Caroline was Jewish and they talked about celebrating Hanukkah as well as Christmas. Since their town had so many Christmas traditions, Caroline decided to start a Hanukkah celebration in the town too.

Make My Wish Come True is a cute sapphic holiday romance!

Thank you Simon Teen for sending me a copy of this book!

Have you read Make My Wish Come True? What did you think of it?