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James by Percival Everett // Book Review – Simone and Her Books
"I am the angel of death, come to offer sweet justice in the night. I am a sign. I am your future. I am James." Well, I'm so glad I'm able to add another favorite of 2024 to my list before the year ended. This is the retelling of Huck Finn through the eyes of…
The Thirteenth Child by Erin A. Craig // Book Review – Simone and Her Books
I'm a huge fan of Erin A. Craig. Ever since reading The House of Salt and Sorrow, I'm always hankering for whatever she's about to write next. And with this dark retelling of the fairy tale "Godfather Death," Erin A Craig outdoes herself with a dark fantasy filled with magic, morals, and friendships. Here's more…
The Most Wonderful Crime of the Year by Ally Carter // Book Review – Simone and Her Books
This was a fun and entertaining, low stakes romantic mystery that very much feels like you're reading Knives Out. Here's more about The Most Wonderful Crime of the Year 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…
The Shadow of the Wind by Carlos Ruiz Zafon // Book Review – Simone and Her Books
I was recommended this book by another influencer who said if I liked The Book of Doors, then I would like The Shadow of the Wind. While the two books are vastly different from each other, I left reading The Shadow of the Wind with a sense of awe and adoration for the characters and…
5 Vampire Books Worth Reading this Halloween – Simone and Her Books
Happy Halloween, everyone! There is an unbelievable amount of vampire stories to pick from during this season. I'm so happy about that because I've been a fan of vampire stories since I was a kid. And if you're like me trying to wade through all the stories to find the ones worth reading, then I…
Jonathan Strange and Mr. Norrell by Susanna Clarke // Book Review – Simone and Her Books
Well, this was a massive undertaking of a book, but worth pretty much the entire month it took me to read it. Sadly, my thoughts on this book will be a bit scattered since it took me so long to read it and I took a massive break in the middle of the month to…
I Was a Teenage Slasher by Stephen Graham Jones // Book Review – Simone and Her Books
If you're a fan of slasher films like Friday the 13th or Halloween and you've always wanted to know what motivates the killer to do what he does? Well, this insightful story dives into the mind of a slasher and plays around with the idea that maybe they're as much the victim as the ones…
The God and The Gumiho by Sophie Kim // Book Review – Simone and Her Books
If you're a fan of those fantasy-focused Kdramas filled with Korean mythical creatures and a fun little contemporary romance twist, then you're going to love The God and The Gumiho. Thanks to Del Rey for the gifted copy of this book. More about The God and The Gumiho Kim Hani has retired from a life…
Wandering Stars by Tommy Orange // Book Review – Simone and Her Books
"Wandering stars, to whom it is reserved the blackness of darkness forever." Here's more about Wandering Stars Colorado, 1864. Star, a young survivor of the Sand Creek Massacre, is brought to the Fort Marion Prison Castle, where he is forced to learn English and practice Christianity by Richard Henry Pratt, an evangelical prison guard who…
Not in Love by Ali Hazelwood // Book Review – Simone and Her Books
I will admit, I was drawn to this one by the cover. It's not one of those "oh this is a cutesy cover, but we're going to hit you in the face with a side of spice," but definitely brought the spice and story for me. Here's more about Not in Love Rue Siebert might…
People We Meet on Vacation by Emily Henry // Book Review – Simone and Her Books
Holy cow, am I going to be calling my challenge off early because I've finally read my favorite Emily Henry book? Here's more about People We Meet on Vacation Poppy and Alex. Alex and Poppy. They have nothing in common. She’s a wild child; he wears khakis. She has insatiable wanderlust; he prefers to stay…
The Emily Henry Summer Reading Challenge – Simone and Her Books
What better way to spend the summer than reading some great romances from an impeccable author? Recently, I was on Instagram and noticed that everyone has their favorite Emily Henry book. And while I've read most of Emily Henry books, I thought I would try and figure out my favorite. The hard part? I don't…
I only read one book this month and that’s okay! – Simone and Her Books
Looking back at my reading this May has been a little surprising. While I've been reading on and off again, I've actually only finished one book. I started off the month strong and finished a book I'd been reading for three weeks, but then after that I started and finished one other book. In the…
Annie Bot by Sierra Greer // Book Review – Simone and Her Books
Never thought I would be rooting for a robot... Here's more about the book Annie Bot was created to be the perfect girlfriend for her human owner, Doug. Designed to satisfy his emotional and physical needs, she has dinner ready for him every night, wears the cute outfits he orders for her, and adjusts her…
A Novel Love Story by Ashley Poston // Book Review – Simone and Her Books
If you've ever wanted to find a fictional world somewhere in the real world, then this is the romance for you. Thanks to Berkley for the gifted read. Here's more about A Novel Love Story Eileen Merriweather loves to get lost in a good happily-ever-after. The fictional kind, anyway. Because at least imaginary men don’t…
Funny Story by Emily Henry // Book Review – Simone and Her Books
I'm a huge fan of Emily Henry and the newest from her has been such a delight! Here's more about Funny Story Daphne always loved the way her fiancé Peter told their story. How they met (on a blustery day), fell in love (over an errant hat), and moved back to his lakeside hometown to…
How to Live Safely in a Science Fictional Universe by Charles Yu // Book Review – Simone and Her Books
I'm a huge fan of stories full of character-driven energy, filled with science fiction tropes, and pulls on your heart in that way only a good science fiction story that wants you to believe in humanity again could ever do. Here's more about How to Live Safely in a Science Fictional Universe A story of…
Happily Never After by Lynn Painter // Book Review – Simone and Her Books
There was something about the premise that really drew me to this book; a set of wedding objectors that go around stopping weddings before they tie the knot. But what you get is so much more and at the same time, not enough. Here's more about Happily Never After When Sophie Steinbeck finds out just…
Do Androids Dream of Electric Sheep? by Philip K Dick // Book Review – Simone and Her Books
My first PKD and I don't think it'll be my last. Reading a book that's supposed to be set in the future, but that future is 2021 and it's now 2024...that's a bit weird, but I don't think PKD skimped in any way on its science fiction-y components or its even bigger themes. Here's more…
The Book of Doors by Gareth Brown // Book Review – Simone and Her Books
I'm off on a wibbley wobbley timey wimey adventure with this one! Thanks to William Morrow Books for the gifted copy. Here's more about The Book of Doors Cassie Andrews works in a New York City bookshop, shelving books, making coffee for customers, and living an unassuming, ordinary life. Until the day one of her…
An Education in Malice by S.T. Gibson // Book Review – Simone and Her Books
This is the second book by S.T. Gibson that I've tried and I'm so glad to give her another chance. Here's more about An Education in Malice Sumptuous and addictive, An Education in Malice is a dark academia tale of blood, secrets and insatiable hungers from Sunday Times bestselling author S.T. Gibson, author of the…
Bookshops and Bonedust by Travis Baldree // Book Review – Simone and Her Books
"See you in the story past the story," said Fern. It's strange for someone with my level of anxiety to be okay with a book that doesn't have that "uh oh" moment. You know, when the worst case scenario has come to fruition, the other shoe has finally dropped, and the bad news just gets…
A Torch Against the Night by Sabaa Tahir // Book Review – Simone and Her Books
This was actually a reread for me, but when I was going through my notes, I realized I never wrote a review for this book. Since this is one of my favorite series, I thought it made sense to finally share what I think. More about A Torch Against the Night Now, in A TORCH…
Bride by Ali Hazelwood // Book Review – Simone and Her Books
The newest queen of rom-coms released her first romantasy book and it's filled with wolves, vampires, and so much more. Here's more about Bride A dangerous alliance between a Vampyre bride and an Alpha Werewolf becomes a love deep enough to sink your teeth into in this new paranormal romance.Misery Lark, the only daughter of…
Where the Dark Stands Still by A.B. Poranek // Book Review – Simone and Her Books
If you're as obsessed with Miyazaki as I am, then this is the book for you. Thanks to McElderry Books for the gifted copy. Here's more about Where the Dark Stands Still Raised in a small village near the spirit-wood, Liska Radost knows that Magic is monstrous, and its practitioners, monsters. After Liska unleashes her…
Vera Wong’s Unsolicited Advice to Murderers by Jesse Q. Sutanto // Book Review – Simone and Her Books
You know, I never considered myself a fan of cozy mysteries until I came across Vera Wong's Unsolicited Advice for Murderers. If this is what most cozy mysteries feel like, then consider me sold. More about Vera Wong's Unsolicited Advice to Murderers Put the kettle on, there’s a mystery brewing…Tea-shop owner. Matchmaker. Detective?Sixty-year-old self-proclaimed tea…
Good Material by Dolly Alderton // Book Review – Simone and Her Books
I started reading this one because my office book club chose it for March. I put the book on hold hoping that it would arrive before the end of March, but I was gifted a lucky copy and I ended up reading it before we even met for February's book club. This is also my…
High Fidelity by Nick Hornby // Book Review – Simone and Her Books
I've been a huge fan of High Fidelity the movie since it came out. Every few months, my husband and I would get the jones to watch it again. It also helped that Rob was a huge fan of pop music, but the book revealed to me that he's also a massive man child. Here's…
My January 2024 Hopefuls – Simone and Her Books
Now empowered with my new resolutions for this bookish year, I wanted to share with you a little TBR I put together. For the most part, I don't want to be writing these TBRs every month. In fact, I plan on putting a little TBR together every few books I read because library holds come…
2024 Reading Goals – Simone and Her Books
Hello 2024. Hello blog friends. I know it's been quite a while since I wrote here. And honestly, I'm returning with a bit of trepidation only because it's been so long since I've written a blog post (so I have no clue if I still "got it") and I've burnt out so badly that I…
The Glass Hotel by Emily St. John Mandel // Book Review – Simone and Her Books
My first book of 2024. I went into this one with completely different expectations. I thought it'd be dystopian. I thought it would be sci-fi, but instead it was the best kind of literary; the kind that interweaves lives to show you how one singular event or a hotel can shape the lives of a…
My 2023 book blogging intentions – Simone and Her Books
Hello everyone! It's been quite some time since I've written in this space and mostly because I've been trying to figure out what I want to do here. As much as I love reading and writing reviews, I felt a bit stagnant coming down to the end of 2022 and wanted to take a break…
My March 2023 Hopefuls – Simone and Her Books
Happy March! I love this month and I feel it has a lot to do with spring. I feel it in the air and despite living in a humid climate and experiencing summer all year round, I want to celebrate the occasion with some fantastic fantasy! This month, I'm exploring some rereads, some new books,…
Lonely Castle in the Mirror by Mizuki Tsujimura // Book Review – Simone and Her Books
What if one day you walked through your bedroom mirror and find yourself in a castle that grants wishes? That's what happens to Kokoro in this incredible story. Thanks to Erewhon Books for the gifted copy. Here's more about Lonely Castle in the Mirror Bullied to the point of dropping out of school, Kokoro’s days…
Only a Monster by Vanessa Len // Book Review – Simone and Her Books
A fantasy book that uses science fiction elements? Count me in. Here's more about Only a Monster It should have been the perfect summer. Sent to stay with her late mother’s eccentric family in London, sixteen-year-old Joan is determined to enjoy herself. She loves her nerdy job at the historic Holland House, and when her…
Heart of the Sun Warrior by Sue Lynn Tan // Book Review – Simone and Her Books
Well, this incredible series is over and I'm sad because it was exactly what I wanted. It's soapier, it's got more action, lots of adventures, and will make you feel all the things. Thanks to Harper Voyager for the gifted book. Here's more about Heart of the Sun Warrior After her perilous quest to free…
Bloodmarked by Tracy Deonn // Book Review – Simone and Her Books
When I first read Legendborn, I knew that Tracy Deonn was onto something really special. The story of how a young Bree finds out the truth of her ancestry has captured so many readers. People hesitant to read the book absolutely love it by the end. People who don't normally read fantasy are compelled to…
Sea of Tranquility by Emily St. John Mandel // Book Review – Simone and Her Books
This is the first book since Station Eleven that I've read from Emily St. John Mandel. I heard that there was moon people and time travel, so I thought I would give it a shot. I'm so thankful I did. Here's more about Sea of Tranquility Edwin St. Andrew is eighteen years old when he…
Five Cozy Fantasy Reads to Enjoy this November – Simone and Her Books
While I know everyone loves October for the spooky reads and December for the holiday reads, lonely November needs some love and what better way to celebrate this month between two big holidays (in most countries. The US has Thanksgiving) than with some super cozy books. Grab yourself a cup of hot cider or a…
Spells for Forgetting by Adrienne Young // Book Review – Simone and Her Books
My first book by Adrienne Young and I regret not picking her up sooner. This is her adult fantasy filled with magic, mystery, and a bit of romance. Thanks to Delacorte Press for the gifted read. Here's more about Spells for Forgetting Emery Blackwood’s life changed forever the night her best friend was found dead…