Recent Reads: The Hidden World of Gnomes by Lauren Soloy

Source: From Librarything Early Reviewers program. This in no way alters my opinion or review. 

The Hidden World of Gnomes by Lauren Soloy  

Publisher: Tundra Books
Publication Date:  June 20, 2023

 

Format: Hardback

Rating:


Goodreads Synopsis:

A delightful introduction and collection of facts about the secret lives of gnomes that will charm and fascinate readers of all ages.

This book is an introduction to the hidden folk called gnomes, who live in a happy place they call The Pocket. Where is The Pocket, you ask?

Well, it’s all around you, all the time.

Gnomes are curious little creatures, and they’re very shy. But after reading this book, you will learn to spot the telltale signs that gnomes are around . . . and maybe even meet one!

Lauren Soloy has been studying gnomes her whole life, and she has created this book to share her knowledge with you. For example, what jobs do gnomes do? Babysitting robin's eggs, squirrel-tail fluffing, storytelling. Where do they live? In gardens, forests and any place with plants, birds and bugs. What are their names? Hotchi-Mossy, Able Potter, Cob Tiggy and Puckle Swift, to name a few.

With charming details and surprising facts, this celebration of all things gnome will enchant readers of all ages.

 Review: 

This was so wonderful! A hardback edition graphic novel all about gnomes and their hidden, secret, beautiful natural world. It is about the gnomes but also joy and the beauty of nature too. 

The vibe is cute, cozy, warm and inviting, and it is like an encyclopedia of gnomes with pictures and information about their hobbies and enviornmental likes... it is adorable! 

I loved this cover, the end pages, and all the illustrations are great.  Some focus on the gnomes, others are about joy or nature, and enjoying the outside. Reminders to stop and look around and enjoy nature. 

Overall it is super simple and whimsical but sometimes that is exactly what you need. 

Other notes/thoughts - is this a UK author? I had to look up woody pig... aka rolly polly in USA.? Loved Twiggy dell - they are a craft hoarder and this made me laugh out loud.

Recent Reads: The Golden Spoon by Jessa Maxwell

The Golden Spoon by Jessa Maxwell 

Publisher: Atria Books
Publication Date:  March 7, 2023

 

Format: Audiobook
Source: Bought with Audible credits.

Rating:

Goodreads Synopsis: 

For six amateur bakers, competing in Bake Week is a dream come true.

When they arrive at Grafton Manor to compete, they're ready to do whatever it takes to win the ultimate The Golden Spoon.

But for the show's famous host, Betsy Martin, Bake Week is more than just a competition. Grafton Manor is her family's home and legacy - and Bake Week is her life's work. It's imperative that both continue to succeed.

But as the competition commences, things begin to go awry. At first, it's small acts of sabotage. Someone switching sugar for salt. A hob turned far too high.

But when a body is discovered, it's clear that for someone in the competition, The Golden Spoon is a prize worth killing for...

Review: 

I listened to the audiobook of this one. The audio is read by multiple readers as a full cast. I generally listen at more than 1x speed, but there was one character that sounded far too anxious and mousey for me to do that with this one which was an immediate bummer. 

The book follows six contestants on a baking show. The audiobook is read by a full cast, which is always nice for these kinds of books with multiple POVs. Betsy Martin is the grandmother of baking, like a Martha Stewart meets baking but she is feeling threatened about her show and her age and the new guy they hired to co-host with her. 

I liked the cast of characters, they played well as single characters and as a group off each other throughout the book. I found Betsy so rude and annoying all the time. She was entitled and showed it. I liked the competition aspect of the book, and it felt like watching a show to some degree, but the whole thing was predictable in a lot of ways. If I go into too much detail it will spoil it, so I won't. There was a mystery... but it wasn't necessarily the dead body from the beginning, but that was a flashy start.

Other thoughts - Lottie and Pradyumma's friendship was so cute, like mom and son and I appreciated their helping each other. (apologies for any name misspelling, I listened to the audiobook). Stella was too frantic for me and I had to slow down my listening speed to hear her properly. I liked that the reader got into her character in that way because she was anxious all the time. I didn't like Hannah, she was there for fame and would have done anything for it, which was a bit gross. I wish I had more time with Peter he seemed interesting and Gerald was weird, in a nerdy way... (which so am I) he has some OCD and perfectionist issues which were great for this setting. I wanted more of him being sneaky. 

Overall this book was ok. I liked the characters but wanted more from the mystery - it fell really short. 

Recent Reads: A Green Velvet Secret by Vicki Grant

Source: From Librarything and the Publisher in exchange for an honest review. This in no way alters my opinion or review.

A Green Velvet Secret by Vicki Grant 

Publisher: Tundra Books
Publication Date:  March 7, 2023

 

Format: Hardback


Rating:


Goodreads Synopsis: 

Letters from beyond the grave and a green velvet dress reveal a secret about Yardley's beloved grandmother; for fans of The Parker Inheritance and The List of Things That Will Not Change and ages 10 and up.

It's always hard to lose a friend, but for Yardley O'Hanlon it's devastating. Her best friend is her wild and wonderful grandmother Gidge. They're two fashionable peas in a quirky little pod. They spend all their time together sewing and crafting and creating beautiful things — until Gidge dies, and Yardley loses her for good.

Or does she?

Yardley isn't convinced. Gidge was a big believer in reincarnation. She promised she'd never leave Yardley, and Gidge always kept her promises. So when a stylish older woman walks into the Over Easy Vintage Emporium where Yardley is helping out, Yardley is sure it's her grandmother, back from the dead. But her happiness doesn't last long, as the woman runs away in terror and no one else believes she was Gidge reincarnated. It's only with the help of a beautiful green velvet dress, a series of letters from "the other side" and an irritating twelve-year-old buttinsky named Harris that Yardley discovers there's more to the mystery woman — and Gidge — than she ever imagined.

Review: 

This book is all about family, grief, finding friendship, and the flair for being different. Yardley is a young girl and she is best friends with her grandmother Gidge. They do everything together, but in the beginning of the book Gidge finds out something terrible, she has cancer. Together they spend time trying to rebuild Gidge's karma before her grand departure from the world in hopes of her being reincarnated. After her passing Yardley is in a tough spot. 

Yardley is a little strange, much like Gidge, but she gets through it most the time with the help of her very eccentric family. The book follows her as she learns to live without Gidge, making new friends, and learns about grief and how to overcome it in her day-to-day life.  

This was a super sweet book. I laughed and cried with Yardley and her family and felt Gidge around as I read. This book covered some harder lessons for middle grade readers, but did it really well and in a way that was constructive and not overly -explanational. I think that Yardley came to terms with her new life well, I think that younger readers dealing with loss might find this book helpful.

Recent Reads: Kiss the Girl by Zoraida Córdova

Source: From the publisher in exchange for an honest review. This in no way alters my opinion or review.

Kiss the Girl by Zoraida Córdova

Series: Meant to Be #3
Publisher: Hyperion Avenue
Publication Date:  August 1, 2023

 

Format: Paperback ARC


Rating:


Goodreads Synopsis: 

Ariel del Mar is one of the most famous singers in the world. She and her sisters—together, known as the band Siren Seven—have been a pop culture phenomenon since they were kids. On stage, wearing her iconic red wig and sequined costumes, staring out at a sea of fans, is where she shines. Anyone would think she’s the girl who has everything. 

But lately, she wants more . Siren Seven is wrapping up their farewell tour, and Ariel can’t wait to spend the summer just living a normal life—part of a world she’s only ever seen from the outside. But her father, the head of Atlantica Records, has other begin her breakout solo career immediately, starting with a splashy announcement on a morning talk show. 

The night before, Ariel and her sisters sneak out of their Manhattan penthouse for a night of incognito fun at a rock concert in Brooklyn. It’s there that Ariel crosses paths with Eric Reyes, dreamy lead singer of an up-and-coming band. Unaware of her true identity, Eric spontaneously invites her on the road for the summer. And for the first time in her life, Ariel disobeys her father—and goes with him. 

Caught between the world she longs for and the one she’s left behind, can Ariel follow her dreams, fall in love, and, somehow, find her own voice?

Review: 

While this is a book in the Meant to Be series, it can be read as a standalone. They all follow a Disney princess in retellings and modern adaptations. 

Kiss the Girl follows pop/singer 'princess' Ariel del Mar and her sisters as they end their pop group careers to move into adulthood, but daddy has another plan and tried to force Ariel into a new solo contract instead of letting her just live. She decides the only way to be free is to become the merch girl for a new up and coming band touring the US. ..but in secret of course. She changed her appearance and is not using her real name. 

This is a slow burn romance with communication issues and the someone blows it trope. Ariel is so innocent and read younger that she seemed to be. Eric is your a band-boy in attitude but looking for love, often in the wrong places and while they are both told to stay away from each other, that forces them together. I liked the characters a lot in this book, it was a lot of fun to read - the band's relationship with each other and crew and the conversations the del Mar sisters have are LOL funny.

I liked the overall plot but wanted more addressing of the daddy-issues for both Ariel and Eric but feel like that never came full circle. I also loved some of the Latino/a flair thoughout, but wanted it to be more. It felt like it wanted to be diverse but only because it should be. I think they should have gone for it and embraced it more.

The romance was pretty cute and perfect, the will they won't they, betting, and the cute times together were great. 

I really liked that Ariel was trying to find herself, granted not in the best way possible, but it was something. I liked her journalling and found it a refreshing addition - love a good to do list. 

Overall, even though I wanted more in some areas, this book was so adorable, made my heart happy to read it. 

(no spicy, pretty clean romance, behind doors scenes, and some innuendo texts) 

Building the Book Pile #433

Welcome to Building the Book Pile!

Hello Readers, Bloggers, and Awesome people! 

Hi there! Finally, some reviews up for you... sorry it is taking so long. I have so many books I need to review - I have been focusing on the reading part. 

I hope you all are having a great weekend.

Coming up on the Blog

Recent Reads: Kiss the Girl by Zoraida Córdova (Adult)

Recent Reads: A Green Velvet Secret by Vicki Grant (MG)

and next week...

Recent Reads: The Golden Spoon by Jessa Maxwell (Adult)

Early Reader Review: Follow the Shadows (The Tales of Moerden #1) by Rosemary Drisdelle (MG)

Books Received Recently...   

A Fragile Enchantment by Allison Saft - from Netgalley and the Publisher for review.

Have you missed anything lately?

Early Reader Review: Lights by Brenna Thummler (YA/GN)- 4 stars

Waiting on Wednesday: A Touch of Chaos by Scarlett St. Clair (Adult)

Recent Reads: Worldwide Crush by Kristin Nilsen (MG/YA) - 3 stars

Recent Reads: Megabat Megastar (Megabat #5) by Anna Humphrey (MG) - 3 stars

Donating Caffeine is greatly appreciated ... Donate on Ko-fi

What are you reading this summer? Leave a comment for me.

Happy Reading!

Recent Reads: Megabat Megastar by Anna Humphrey

Source: From Librarything Early Reviewers program and the publisher in exchange for an honest review. This in no way alters my opinion or review. 

Megabat Megastar by Anna Humphrey  

Series: Megabat #5
Publisher:  Tundra Books
Publication Date:  July 25, 2023

 

Format: Hardback


Rating:

Goodreads Synopsis: 

Megabat wants to help his Daniel earn some money. But how? Easy! Become a STAR. The next laugh-out-loud book in this sweet and funny chapter book series featuring a talking bat.

Daniel's allowance is not going to cover the cost to fix his dad's phone screen, which he and Megabat broke. And he is out of ideas.

Megabat has a GREAT become famous! Famous people have lots of money.

Daniel is also grounded, and being stuck inside is pretty boring.

Megabat has no time to spend with bored Daniel, he's too busy learning the skill that will make him famous and rich.

Daniel really doesn't like Megabat's new catchphrase, or his fancy new hairdo.

Megabat will show him!

When Megabat takes things too far and ruins Daniel's mom's dinner party with his "magic show," chaos ensues . . . and Daniel is not too happy. And Megabat learns there are some things that are more important than fame and riches. Kris Easler's adorable illustrations paired with Anna Humphrey's hilarious text make for another unforgettable Megabat adventure, one that will appeal to Megabat fans and newcomers!

Megabat #2 Review | Megabat #3 Review

Review: 

The Megabat series is a really fun one for beginning/youth readers. It is pretty easy to read, and the stories are fun and adventurous. Like the others in the series, you don't need to have read the last ones to follow along. It would help but not really necessary. 

Megabat is a fruit bat that lives with Daniel, they also have other pet and animal friends in the house and yard, and they get into all sorts of adventures/ problems with. In this installment Megabat is trying to help Daniel raise money to replace Dad's phone because they broke it. Communication problems and Megabats understanding of the human world made it hard for him to understand how to become famous... so that he can make money and he tries to become famous during Mom's dinner party. It does not go well.

I think that these books are really cute, but my ongoing issue is that Megabat's speech isn't great and as a new readers/learner I feel like this might cause some problems. I like that the little bat is the main character though, it is a fun way to tell a story.

Overall - super cute, love following the animals, some of the bat-talk might be confusing to learners.