Bookshelf
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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 story felt like wrapping myself in a soft throw while the rain tapped gently on the roof.”
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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 can’t change the present, the simple act of revisiting the past gives them a new way forward. That’s what struck me most: the reminder that closure doesn’t always come from rewriting our stories, but from learning how to carry them.
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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 most was Lucy Foley’s pacing, she reveals just enough to keep you guessing, and every chapter ends with a reason to keep turning the pages. The setting was atmospheric and tense, almost a character itself, and the ending tied everything together with the perfect mix of shock and satisfaction.
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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 me most was Circe’s journey from exile and loneliness to power and self-definition. The ending was perfect quiet yet powerful and left me thinking about choice, freedom, and transformation in a way only the best stories do.
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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 side by side—here’s what kept me hooked, what fell flat, and why they both earned a solid 3.5 stars.
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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 first man she sees in the hallway. That man happens to be Dr. Adam Carlsen, a brilliant but infamously moody professor who has the power to make grad students cry. Instead of calling campus security, Adam surprises her by agreeing to keep up the charade of being her boyfriend. The two strike a deal: Olive…
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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 constant sense that something isn’t quite right. At Hailsham, the children are told they are special. They’re encouraged to create art, to stay healthy, to follow routines. But no one explains why any of this matters. As Kathy pieces together memories from her past, we start to see the purpose of their education and the…
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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 few weeks, and each one had enough suspense to keep me turning the pages. None were perfect, but all had something that kept me invested. Here’s what I thought of each them; spoiler free. The Last Thing He Told Me by Laura Dave⭐️⭐️⭐️½ What’s it about This one kicks off with a handwritten note: “Protect…
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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 to read, especially when you need to escape from everything else going on. Books don’t judge your reading pace, and they’re always there when you need them. “I have lived in books more than I have lived anywhere else. – Neil Gaeman – The ocean at the end of the lane. I read everything. Romance…