The Bookshelf
-
Book Review: The Pumpkin Spice Café by Laurie Gilmore
“Living in the Caribbean, I don’t get the crisp autumn afternoons or golden leaves swirling in the wind—but that doesn’t mean I don’t crave a cozy, seasonal read now and then. The Pumpkin Spice Café promised just that: something light, warm, and comforting. And it delivered. The title alone practically whispers cinnamon-scented charm, and the…
-
Before the Coffee Gets Cold: A Quiet Time Travel Tale
What makes Before the Coffee Gets Cold so moving isn’t the time travel itself, but the people who choose to use it. Fumiko, Kohtake, Hirai, and Kei are all flawed, vulnerable, and deeply human. Each of them longs for something—whether it’s love, forgiveness, or the chance to say what was left unsaid. Even though they…
-
Thriller recommendation – The Guest List by Lucey Foley
“The Guest List is the kind of thriller that pulls you in from the first page and doesn’t let go. Set on a remote island off the coast of Ireland, the story unfolds through multiple perspectives, each character carrying secrets and grudges that come to light as the wedding spirals into chaos. What I loved…
-
Book Review: Circe – Madeline Miller’s Spellbinding Retelling
“Circe is the kind of book that lingers long after you’ve closed it. Madeline Miller takes a forgotten figure from Greek mythology and gives her a voice that is fierce, vulnerable, and unforgettable. The writing feels like poetry flowing from past to present to future so seamlessly that you hardly notice the shifts. What struck…
-
Twists, Silence, and Snowstorms: A Double Dose of Suspense
Two thrillers. Two locked minds. One wild night in a snowstorm. In The Silent Patient, a famous painter stops speaking after a shocking act of violence. In No Exit, a college student discovers a kidnapped child during a blizzard. Both stories dive deep into psychological tension, twisted motives, and survival under pressure. I reviewed them…
-
The Love Hypothesis by Ali Hazelwood
In The Love Hypothesis, Ali Hazelwood drops us right into the messy, slightly chaotic life of Olive Smith, a biology Ph.D. student who’s just trying to survive grad school. Olive’s not a believer in happily-ever-after, but she wants to convince her best friend that she’s moved on from an old crush. Her solution? Kiss the…
-
Never Let Me Go: A Powerful, Unforgettable Read
What is the story about – Never Let me go by Kazuo Ishiguro Kathy H., now in her early thirties, looks back on her childhood at Hailsham, a seemingly idyllic English boarding school. Alongside her friends Ruth and Tommy, she recalls a life filled with art classes, health checks, strange rules and a quiet but…
-
Dark Twists and Secrets: 3 Thrillers You’ll Love
I’ve been on a bit of a thriller streak lately. I was in the mood for books with secrets, lies, unreliable narrators, shady characters and that delicious feeling of not knowing who to trust. I picked up The Last Thing He Told Me, The Family Upstairs, and The Woman in Cabin 10 over the past…
-
Welcome to My Little Corner of the Book World
Hello and welcome! I’m Valda, and I’m so glad you’re here. So here I am, starting a blog. This blog is my little corner of the internet where I share my love for books, honest reviews, recommendations, and all the bookish thoughts in between. Living here in the Caribbean gives you plenty of quiet time…