The Memory of Lavender and Sage perfectly captures my favorite women's fiction trope. We all know that I can't resist a “Woman buys ramshackle house in small rural town and renovates it, thereby renovating her whole life in the process” story.
You know what else? This one's set in FRANCE. Plus, author Aimie K. Runyan throws some magical realism into the mix.
Are you excited yet?
What’s The Memory of Lavender and Sage about?
The...
Welcome, Tartlets, to my living, breathing, ever-updating list of Books for Jane Austen Lovers.
If you’ve been reading the blog for awhile, you’re well aware that I’m a Janeite, a.k.a, a huge Jane Austen fan. I grew up on Pride and Prejudice and Sense and Sensibility (the books and the movies), and I’m always willing to read a retelling, reimagining, or continuation of Jane Austen’s beloved classics and timeless words.
I’ve read a...
There’s nothing bad about Pineapple Street. But... there's nothing great about it, either.
My book review today is for a novel that was getting all the buzz when it came out in 2023. Pineapple Street was a GMA Book Club Pick, and it was nominated for not one, but two Goodreads Choice Awards: Readers' Favorite Fiction and Readers' Favorite Debut Novel.
After such illustrious praise, I cracked open Jenny Jackson's debut novel with great...
You won’t believe how many people tell me to read Crying in H Mart after learning that I run a book-inspired recipe blog. It's probably the first book recommendation out of people's mouths. After reading just a few pages of Michelle Zauner's memoir, though, it's easy to understand why: her story is a love letter to Asian-American food culture.
Interestingly, though, I didn't love Crying in H Mart as much as I'd hoped to.
What is Crying...
“What’s up, bitches???” (If you know, you know!) I’m here with a book review for Grateful as F*ck: 22 Days to Transform Your Life with Gratitude by Francesca Amber, one of my favorite podcasters and motivational gurus.
What’s Grateful as F*ck about?
Grateful as F*ck provides daily prompts -- for 22 days -- on how to live a more grateful, meaningful life. Author Amber injects her personal experiences, valuable insight, and...
If you’re looking for a chilly winter read with a chilling premise, you need to pick up Echo: A Detective Harriet Foster Thriller.
What’s Echo about? Echo is the third and final book in the Detective Harriet Foster series by Tracy Clark. The primary plot of this novel focuses on Chicago police detective Harriet “Harri” Foster, who's working with her partner Vera Li to solve the murder of a billionaire’s college-age son and the...
So many people have recommended that I read Wintering: The Power of Rest and Retreat in Difficult Times.
Maybe it’s because I love hygge and cozy winter vibes so much. Maybe it’s because I speak frankly about dealing with seasonal depression. Or, maybe it’s because I essentially work three jobs and need to rest, goddammit.
Whatever the reason, I was very excited to get my hands on a copy of Wintering and glean what pearls of wisdom I...
Is it even Christmas if we’re not reading holiday rom-coms? And I don’t think you can get any more in the holiday spirit than by going to Alaska for Christmas.
What’s Alaska for Christmas about?
Alaska for Christmas is a Christmas rom-com about Isla, who gets amnesia during a glacier hike (umm, what???) and ends up falling for her rescuer, Coast Guard office Aaron, who also happens to be her childhood nemesis. Isla (love that name!)...
I tried, Tartlets. I really, really tried to get into Real Life and Other Fictions.
This women's fiction book by Susan Coll totally seemed like one I would enjoy. I mean, The Mothman’s in it! We all know supernatural stuff is right up my alley. And, there’s a dog in the book. Animals are the best. The main character's a struggling writer and novelist, and I can completely relate to that.
Despite all this and so much else recommending this...
Beth Kempton's Calm Christmas and a Happy New Year: A Little Book of Festive Joy is a delightful holiday read.
I’m always searching for Christmas books that are a little outside the box. Yes, I want something with more substance than a rom-com. However, I don't want someone dying or discovering they have cancer around the holidays, either. (Elin Hilderbrand's Winter Street Series, I'm looking at you.)
Even though I usually read fiction at...
