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booksbytheglass's reviews
855 reviews
A Killing Cold by Kate Alice Marshall
adventurous
dark
mysterious
tense
slow-paced
- Plot- or character-driven? Character
- Strong character development? Yes
- Loveable characters? No
- Diverse cast of characters? No
- Flaws of characters a main focus? Yes
4.0
moral of the story: never trust rich people, they can cover up anything š¶ (for legal reasons, this is a joke)
kate alice marshall always writes the most heart-pounding non-stop thrillers, and this one was no exception! I lost track of how many twists and diversions there were by 3/4 of the way through š«Ø
when theo meets her fiancĆ©ās family over the holidays, in the middle of nowhere ski country, sheās immediately drawn in by classism with severe flashbacks to the past she could never remember š and although the characters seemed fine chalking the entire plot of the story up to fate, I wanted a deeper meaning!!!! I wanted a plausible explanation!!!!
the slow burn mystery was well written with the pacing of each action and event keeping readers on their toes until the very end! 2025 is shaping up to be the year of thrillers - Iām so happy to be out of my reading slump!
thank you to netgalley and flat iron books for the advanced copy in exchange for an honest review!!
rating: 4 stars
wine pairing: new zealand sauvignon blanc
kate alice marshall always writes the most heart-pounding non-stop thrillers, and this one was no exception! I lost track of how many twists and diversions there were by 3/4 of the way through š«Ø
when theo meets her fiancĆ©ās family over the holidays, in the middle of nowhere ski country, sheās immediately drawn in by classism with severe flashbacks to the past she could never remember š and although the characters seemed fine chalking the entire plot of the story up to fate, I wanted a deeper meaning!!!! I wanted a plausible explanation!!!!
the slow burn mystery was well written with the pacing of each action and event keeping readers on their toes until the very end! 2025 is shaping up to be the year of thrillers - Iām so happy to be out of my reading slump!
thank you to netgalley and flat iron books for the advanced copy in exchange for an honest review!!
rating: 4 stars
wine pairing: new zealand sauvignon blanc
Famous Last Words by Gillian McAllister
dark
emotional
mysterious
tense
medium-paced
- Plot- or character-driven? A mix
- Strong character development? No
- Loveable characters? It's complicated
- Diverse cast of characters? No
- Flaws of characters a main focus? It's complicated
4.5
the first book of 2025 and it was such a banger!!! I absolutely love gillianās creative writing & how everything just ties together so well by the end! š¤Æ
the āmissing spouseā trope is so overdone, but the fact that gillian immediately morphed that trope into a hostage situation blew my ever-loving thriller mind!! this plot had my heart racing as I wanted to read faster and faster to see what the resolution was!
flipping POVs between the confused and devastated spouse who just learned her husband is involved in a hostage crisis & the hostage detective on the case ā¦ was an absolutely brilliant move! it kept the pace active and moving without having a dull middle section
and that conclusion, while albeit a bit predictable, was incredible! even though I did guess a part of the twist, seeing all the puzzle pieces click together was so satisfying š«Øš«Øš«Ø
a fantastic thriller to start off 2025! thank you william morrow and netgalley for the advanced copy in exchange for an honest review!
rating: 4.5 stars
wine pairing: sonoma coast chardonnay
the āmissing spouseā trope is so overdone, but the fact that gillian immediately morphed that trope into a hostage situation blew my ever-loving thriller mind!! this plot had my heart racing as I wanted to read faster and faster to see what the resolution was!
flipping POVs between the confused and devastated spouse who just learned her husband is involved in a hostage crisis & the hostage detective on the case ā¦ was an absolutely brilliant move! it kept the pace active and moving without having a dull middle section
and that conclusion, while albeit a bit predictable, was incredible! even though I did guess a part of the twist, seeing all the puzzle pieces click together was so satisfying š«Øš«Øš«Ø
a fantastic thriller to start off 2025! thank you william morrow and netgalley for the advanced copy in exchange for an honest review!
rating: 4.5 stars
wine pairing: sonoma coast chardonnay
The Business Trip by Jessie Garcia
Did not finish book.
Did not finish book.
very wordy and drawn out explanations followed with telling rather than showing
Dashing All The Way by Chelsea Curto
funny
lighthearted
fast-paced
- Plot- or character-driven? Character
- Strong character development? N/A
- Loveable characters? Yes
- Diverse cast of characters? No
- Flaws of characters a main focus? It's complicated
4.0
I love me an age gap romance okay š was this anything to write home about? no, but that wasnāt the purpose. chelsea says herself that this is a spicy book with a little bit of cute fluffy wholesome plot - and thatās exactly what I needed!
margo and finn are the unlikely duo I needed, and boy were they so hot together š«Ø like please I need this in my life (begging for 2025 thx)
I loved the open communication about needs and wants, and how they were realistic about their own separate lives and how they fit in with one another (literally and metaphorically š)
the perfect last spicy book to finish out 2024!!!
rating: 4 stars
wine pairing: rosa regale sparkling wine
margo and finn are the unlikely duo I needed, and boy were they so hot together š«Ø like please I need this in my life (begging for 2025 thx)
I loved the open communication about needs and wants, and how they were realistic about their own separate lives and how they fit in with one another (literally and metaphorically š)
the perfect last spicy book to finish out 2024!!!
rating: 4 stars
wine pairing: rosa regale sparkling wine
Hexed by Emily McIntire
dark
mysterious
slow-paced
- Plot- or character-driven? A mix
- Strong character development? Yes
- Loveable characters? It's complicated
- Diverse cast of characters? No
- Flaws of characters a main focus? Yes
5.0
okay this might be one of my new favorites of this series!! I love when the villains are just misunderstood morally grey baddies š and venesa was NO exception!
and yāall know how much I enjoy a mafia romance, so the west side story-esque set up between enzo (prince of the NY mafia) and venesa (princess of the southern mob) was done so so well! emily mcintere NEVER lets me down when it comes to forbidden romances š®āšØš®āšØ
what worked so well for me was the clear development of the side and background characters! between aria, bastian, fisher, and gio, I wanted spin offs of them all! I want to see how they all grew up together and where they go from here!!
and of course, it wouldnāt be a classic never after story without betrayals and crazy plot twists! I devoured this one and am greedily demanding the next one pls
also, complete side note, but emily writing this masterpiece while undergoing chemo for stage 4 cancer and beating its ass? sheās the true icon and badass & we love her for it š©·
READ THIS SERIES THANK YEW
rating: 5 stars
wine pairing: virginia rosƩ
and yāall know how much I enjoy a mafia romance, so the west side story-esque set up between enzo (prince of the NY mafia) and venesa (princess of the southern mob) was done so so well! emily mcintere NEVER lets me down when it comes to forbidden romances š®āšØš®āšØ
what worked so well for me was the clear development of the side and background characters! between aria, bastian, fisher, and gio, I wanted spin offs of them all! I want to see how they all grew up together and where they go from here!!
and of course, it wouldnāt be a classic never after story without betrayals and crazy plot twists! I devoured this one and am greedily demanding the next one pls
also, complete side note, but emily writing this masterpiece while undergoing chemo for stage 4 cancer and beating its ass? sheās the true icon and badass & we love her for it š©·
READ THIS SERIES THANK YEW
rating: 5 stars
wine pairing: virginia rosƩ
Beautiful Ugly by Alice Feeney
dark
mysterious
tense
slow-paced
- Plot- or character-driven? A mix
- Strong character development? No
- Loveable characters? No
- Diverse cast of characters? Yes
- Flaws of characters a main focus? Yes
4.0
alice feeney has done it again!!! the absolute queen of thrillers and plot twists is BACK - and this time, itās a doozy š I finished the book and immediately had to go back and tab it because holy shit what did I just read
the story focuses on grady, an author who decides to move to a remote island to write his latest book after his wife disappears. and let me tell you, even though grady (and at times abby too) were the most unlikable narrators and characters ever, there was so much to love about the rest of the story!
the setting itself is what cemented the story into top tier category for me! from the mist and fog always rolling in, to the redwood trees haunting around the cabins, and even to the residents of the island who all have their mysterious quirks, I was so invested from start to finish!!!
this is definitely a slow burn thriller, and boy does the ending pay off! I did guess one of the minor twists based on my history of reading, but I loved being gut punched by the rest š³ per alice feeney fashion, it aināt over until itās over
there were a few moments that annoyed me about both grady and his wife abby and kept me from giving this story a full five stars. the entire pregnancy side plot was a big cringe to me as it seemed that both grady and abby just kept ignoring each otherās wishes for their future. and the reason behind the islandās existence needed a bit more flushing out for me š¶
TLDR: another alice feeney winner in my book, but nothing can ever top HIS AND HERS šŖ
rating: 4 stars
wine pairing: tasmania malbec
the story focuses on grady, an author who decides to move to a remote island to write his latest book after his wife disappears. and let me tell you, even though grady (and at times abby too) were the most unlikable narrators and characters ever, there was so much to love about the rest of the story!
the setting itself is what cemented the story into top tier category for me! from the mist and fog always rolling in, to the redwood trees haunting around the cabins, and even to the residents of the island who all have their mysterious quirks, I was so invested from start to finish!!!
this is definitely a slow burn thriller, and boy does the ending pay off! I did guess one of the minor twists based on my history of reading, but I loved being gut punched by the rest š³ per alice feeney fashion, it aināt over until itās over
there were a few moments that annoyed me about both grady and his wife abby and kept me from giving this story a full five stars. the entire pregnancy side plot was a big cringe to me as it seemed that both grady and abby just kept ignoring each otherās wishes for their future. and the reason behind the islandās existence needed a bit more flushing out for me š¶
TLDR: another alice feeney winner in my book, but nothing can ever top HIS AND HERS šŖ
rating: 4 stars
wine pairing: tasmania malbec
The Co-op by Tarah DeWitt
emotional
lighthearted
reflective
slow-paced
- Plot- or character-driven? Character
- Strong character development? Yes
- Loveable characters? Yes
- Diverse cast of characters? Yes
- Flaws of characters a main focus? Yes
4.0
this book was so lovely!!! I love when two characters can come together and talk about their issues and why they didnāt work initially š„¹ is thisā¦ maturity?!
friends to lovers usually isnāt my jam, but second chance romance always is - and it was so sweet! ryan and deacon were the cutest (and hottest) couple - their tension was bouncing off the walls the entire book and I wanted so badly to shove them together to work out their emotions
and I think what I liked most about THE CO OP was the real and raw emotions behind it allā¦ both deacon and ryan are saddled with grief while trying to figure out their own lives, and it reflects heavily on a few years where I couldnāt figure it out either š„²
the ending was a bit rushed after the slow burn romance throughout the entire novel, but I love a good HEA I didnāt mind š„¹ the miscommunication, however, was a bit annoying, especially since if they were simply honest about their feelings from the start, everything would have been fine!!!! Iām not bitter!!!
all of that to say, Iām glad I took my time with this one š©· thank you berkley romance for the advanced copy in exchange for an honest review!
rating: 4 stars
wine pairing: burgundy red blend
friends to lovers usually isnāt my jam, but second chance romance always is - and it was so sweet! ryan and deacon were the cutest (and hottest) couple - their tension was bouncing off the walls the entire book and I wanted so badly to shove them together to work out their emotions
and I think what I liked most about THE CO OP was the real and raw emotions behind it allā¦ both deacon and ryan are saddled with grief while trying to figure out their own lives, and it reflects heavily on a few years where I couldnāt figure it out either š„²
the ending was a bit rushed after the slow burn romance throughout the entire novel, but I love a good HEA I didnāt mind š„¹ the miscommunication, however, was a bit annoying, especially since if they were simply honest about their feelings from the start, everything would have been fine!!!! Iām not bitter!!!
all of that to say, Iām glad I took my time with this one š©· thank you berkley romance for the advanced copy in exchange for an honest review!
rating: 4 stars
wine pairing: burgundy red blend
Only Santas in the Building by Alexis Daria
lighthearted
medium-paced
- Plot- or character-driven? Character
- Strong character development? Yes
- Loveable characters? Yes
- Diverse cast of characters? Yes
- Flaws of characters a main focus? It's complicated
4.0
okay this was so cute! I love a good ol romantic gesture š„¹ and especially at holiday season when someone is alone and grieving? stop I cry
I can relate a lot to the FMC who lost her grandmother earlier in the year and is having a hard time celebrating without her, but enter theo, her upstairs neighbor who shows her the joy in creating new memories š„¹š©·
this was the perfect cutesy christmas romcom to end the series! I loved seeing the little gestures that led up to a confession that was understanding of time and space - and not wanting to rush things for the sake of everyoneās feelings! do these men exist in real life? asking for a friend š
rating: 4 stars
wine pairing: napa valley cabernet sauvignon
I can relate a lot to the FMC who lost her grandmother earlier in the year and is having a hard time celebrating without her, but enter theo, her upstairs neighbor who shows her the joy in creating new memories š„¹š©·
this was the perfect cutesy christmas romcom to end the series! I loved seeing the little gestures that led up to a confession that was understanding of time and space - and not wanting to rush things for the sake of everyoneās feelings! do these men exist in real life? asking for a friend š
rating: 4 stars
wine pairing: napa valley cabernet sauvignon
Merriment and Mayhem by Alexandria Bellefleur
funny
lighthearted
medium-paced
- Plot- or character-driven? A mix
- Strong character development? Yes
- Loveable characters? Yes
- Diverse cast of characters? No
- Flaws of characters a main focus? No
4.5
okay this was the best one of this series yet! and it may be because I have a firefighter crush? like are we kidding š¶š¶
this one made me LAUGH! it had all of the makings of a hallmark movie - a danger-prone single woman trying to honor her late grandmotherās wishes & a firefighter constantly saving her (literally) - and I loved every second of it!
was it a bit cheesy and predictable? of course! but it wasnāt cringey in the slightest, which I appreciate. the only lil criticism I have is that evie decided to move to this town after one date with griffin? uprooting her life for a MAN? what a concept š«„
anyway for the sake of romance, this was wonderful! a perfect funny cheesy lil romcom š
rating: 4.5 stars
wine pairing: provence rosƩ
this one made me LAUGH! it had all of the makings of a hallmark movie - a danger-prone single woman trying to honor her late grandmotherās wishes & a firefighter constantly saving her (literally) - and I loved every second of it!
was it a bit cheesy and predictable? of course! but it wasnāt cringey in the slightest, which I appreciate. the only lil criticism I have is that evie decided to move to this town after one date with griffin? uprooting her life for a MAN? what a concept š«„
anyway for the sake of romance, this was wonderful! a perfect funny cheesy lil romcom š
rating: 4.5 stars
wine pairing: provence rosƩ
All by My Elf by Olivia Dade
funny
fast-paced
- Plot- or character-driven? Character
- Strong character development? No
- Loveable characters? No
- Diverse cast of characters? No
- Flaws of characters a main focus? No
2.0
ā¦ confess your feelings by playing never have I ever in a hot dog van? sounds very childish for a bunch of professors but okay
LIKE AT LEAST MAKE A SLEIGH OR SOMETHING WOW
anyway, I just canāt get over the fact that olivia dade wrote an entire holiday novella based on a hot dog van and thought it was sexy š¶ like the spicy scenes were great but I couldnāt get over that it was just ā¦ in elf costumes in a wiener carā¦
also can we get over the trope of not speaking feelings because youāre embarrassed or assume something? like please just one conversation
rating: 2 stars
wine pairing: sparkling california wine
LIKE AT LEAST MAKE A SLEIGH OR SOMETHING WOW
anyway, I just canāt get over the fact that olivia dade wrote an entire holiday novella based on a hot dog van and thought it was sexy š¶ like the spicy scenes were great but I couldnāt get over that it was just ā¦ in elf costumes in a wiener carā¦
also can we get over the trope of not speaking feelings because youāre embarrassed or assume something? like please just one conversation
rating: 2 stars
wine pairing: sparkling california wine