Sam's Fireside - Cosy Book Reviews & Recommendations

“...but whatever came, she had resolved never again to belong to another than herself.” The Awakening was another classic I listened to for #classiclitbookclub in 2024. Looking back, I think it’s one that would grow on me with rereads. Edna Pontellier was a woman way ahead of her time. She isn’t happy with her life, or with her role as a wife and a mother. Despite the expectations of society, she basically throws in the towel, sticks her fingers up to the world, and says: nope, I’m not doing this anymore. I’m going to do what I want from now on. Some people aren’t meant to be parents, and some just don’t want to be. But in her time, Edna was married and a mother because that’s what was expected. Drop her in the twenty-first century and I don’t think she would have made the same choices. The climax of the book is heartbreaking, but I think Edna felt like she didn’t have another option. I really enjoyed the rebellious side of The Awakening, and writing this review makes me want to read i...

"Polly often wondered whether, if someone were to cut through Ward Hunt, they'd find 'greed' running through him like a stick of Blackpool rock." Published in the UK in 2024 as The Happiest Ever After, this book has a brand-new US title—The Accidental Rewrite—and it's out today! I absolutely adored listening to this. It was cute, sad, fun, and absolutely hilarious—I was giggling all the way through. Polly is awesome. She's put up with a lot, and now, finally, it's time for her to put herself first—though, of course, it doesn't quite go to plan. I love books with UK references, like Mrs Bucket (Bouquet), Kew Gardens, and sticks of rock! I even had to explain to a US friend what a stick of rock is (candy found in seaside towns throughout the UK). Pink mint is the best, by the way! Colleen Prendergast was brilliant narrating this one. With her gorgeous northern accent, her voice is still spinning through my head even as I write this review. I'm de...

“The problem with knowledge, is it's inexhaustible craving. the more of it you have, the less you feel you know” Chosen for September’s read for #thatindiebookclub, I’m still unsure how I feel about The Atlas Six. I listened to the audiobook, and since the story is told from multiple viewpoints, the full cast definitely helped keep track of the numerous characters. The story was unlike anything I’ve experienced before—there was so much to take in and work out, and I got lost many, many times. Figuring out who each character was and what their magical power entailed was… complicated. I liked some characters, hated others, and felt ambivalent about the rest. I did like the plant lady—Reina, I think—but the voice of the plants was a bit sickly-sweet and weird (you wouldn’t get that if you’re reading the print version!). There’s a lot going on, but at the same time, not much actually happens—yes, I know that sounds contradictory, but that’s exactly how I felt 😂. Will I read the next o...

'She's turned her lemons into the equivalent of a lemonade conglomerate.' If an author asks me to read their book, I’ll skim the synopsis, say yes or no, and then forget all about it — so I usually go in blind. It could be fantasy, romance, or thriller and I’d have no clue until I start reading! That’s exactly what happened here. When I picked up The Bystander on Sunday, I was a little cautious (as I often am with debut novels), but I needn’t have worried. I was hooked from the very beginning — mystery, suspense, thrills, and even a few cringe-worthy moments! The story felt unique — I’ve never read anything quite like it. The description mentions a shooting, but things quickly take an unexpected turn I didn’t see coming. It also shines a light on issues that are more common than many of us might realize, which made it all the more impactful. Corruption, deceit, violence, and even a dash of romance — if you love a thriller with all that wrapped in, definitely grab a copy of ...

“It’s not easy to say no to your ideal of success. But… sometimes your definition of success changes.” Crisp autumn mornings, with the smell of fresh apples on the trees, cinnamon buns in the bakery, and pumpkin spiced latte to top it all off. The Honeycrisp Orchard Inn gave me Gilmore Girls vibes, along with snippets of all the other autumn books I've devoured this year. I loved it.  The entire story is cute and heartfelt, romantic and full of humour. Ellie's ex-boyfriend is a complete knob-jockey who deserves to be pushed off the roof of the cute little inn. I'm so glad we didn't see a lot of him in the story. Pumpkin the pug was a huge hit, with me and with everyone who flocked to his Instagram account - there's just something about a dog in PJs! 😂 I felt that, despite living in the city for years, Ellie had a lot of personal growing-up to do, to realise that what she wants now, isn't necessarily the same as what she wanted when she was a kid. She found her...

'He was a very good skater and all, but I couldn't enjoy it much because I kept picturing him practicing to be a guy on roller-skates on the stage.' The Catcher in the Rye was chosen for September's #classiclitbookclub. This is my first time reading it, and I’m still not entirely sure how I feel about it. At first, I found Holden to be annoying, the story depressing, and there was a lot of overthinking. But as the book progressed and drew to a close, I started to understand why Holden narrates the way he does.  Holden seemed like a troubled teen still grappling with the death of his brother. His parents appeared more concerned about his academic failures than his emotional state. I suppose this is reflective of the time in which the book was written—mental health awareness was not as prevalent back then. Today, there are more resources available for teens going through similar struggles.  What really stood out to me was Holden's internal conflict—he’s trying to act...

"Annie was an on-kilter kind of girl." Book number five in the Dream Harbor series, and finally we get to read about Annie and Mac's story. I need to say this though… am I the only one who, for some reason, thought that Annie and Mac were a senior couple?? Nope? Just me then! 🙈 Is it just characters in books who don't communicate and end up wasting months—sometimes years—of their lives? The Gingerbread Bakery was written from Annie and Mac's points of view, from both "then" and "now." I must admit I got a little lost sometimes as to what year we were in, but I soon caught up. It was such a cute read, and I loved every minute—especially when we caught up with all the other characters from the previous books. Personally, I'd have liked to spend some more time in the actual Gingerbread Bakery and less time on the relationship, but that's just because I love cakes! The Cinnamon Bun Bookstore is still my favourite book, and Noah and Hazel a...