REVIEW - The Midnight Library (ebook)

 

The Midnight Library by Matt Haig (audiobook)

OVERVIEW

This book was originally published in 2020, and was on many "recommended book lists", and won multiple awards. So I had very high expectations. 

Well, I liked the book, but didn't love it. I truly thought it was about a library, and "real books" would help the main character find her way again. Boy, was I disappointed! 

There was a lot about physics and parallel universes, which would be a great way to really lean into the speculative fiction aspects. It could have been even wilder and included magical realism more heavily. Yes, there was some of both, not enough for my taste. For some reason, while reading this book, I kept thinking of A Wrinkle in Time and how it took speculative fiction to the nth degree.

The last twenty pages or so were the best of the book, and I would have liked that powerful writing throughout the book. 

OVERALL REVIEW: 3.5 stars.

 

Writing: 3.0 stars

Matt has written approximately twenty-five books, including fiction, non-fiction, and children's genres.  

His writing just didn't do it for me. It wasn't beautiful, descriptive, or elegant. 

Character development: 3.5 stars

The main characters are Nora (a young woman) and Mrs. Elm (Nora's former school librarian). 

The secondary characters are Joe (Nora's brother), Dan (Nora's friend), and Ash (Nora's friend).  

The tertiary characters are all the various people, including friends and family, whom Nora interacts with throughout the book. I cannot say much more, or I will ruin the book for anyone who reads this review.    

The character development was okay. It felt as if Nora was led by Mrs. Elm to make the changes, which resulted in her introspection and her growth. I really wanted so much more.  

Storyline:  4.0 stars

The storyline about Nora, who has lost her way in her life, finds a library that helps her find her way. I wish that speculative and fiction had been turned up. The storyline was the best part of the book - it was scientific and different. Being purposefully vague here again.

The locations were Bedfordshire, Cambridge, and London, England.  

Memorable/Informative:   3.5 stars

There were some powerful quotes, but I have already forgotten them, so that says a lot. 

Book cover: 3.0 stars

Meh!    

 

Book title: 3.0 stars 

Somewhat misleading.  

 

Recommend

Los Angeles Public Library (LAPL) borrow: ebook

The Midnight Library by Matt Haig

288 pages

Viking

Release date: 8/13/2020

 

INFORMATIONAL LINKS

Matt Haig

Goodreads review

The Storygraph review

Viking

Los Angeles Public Library (LAPL)

TRIGGER WARNINGS:

Alcohol; alcoholism; suicide; death of a parent; grief, strong cursing; cancer; gun violence; medical content

Happy reading, 

Dorothea 💜

My next audiobook is ...

 The Year of Magical Thinking by Joan Didion (audiobook)

Happy reading,

Dorothea 💜

DNF - Better Small Talk (audiobook)

 Better Small Talk by Patrick King (audiobook)

Somehow, this was NOT the book that I checked out! How did I do this? There ARE multiple audiobooks with similar names! I have returned the wrong book and will look for another audiobook to listen to tonight!

Happy reading,

Dorothea 💜 

My next audiobook is ...

 Better Small Talk by Patrick King (audiobook)

Happy reading,

Dorothea 💜

REVIEW - We Might Just Make It After All (audiobook)

 We Might Just Make It After All by Elyce Arons (audiobook)

OVERVIEW

This is a memoir of the personal and professional relationship between Elyce and Kate. They met as undergrads at the University of Kansas in 1981, and their friendship took off from there!

Most of the memoir covers their friendship before Kate Spade New York was sold to Liz Claiborne in 2006. This is a love letter from Elyce to Kate about their friendship. They had a very normal best-friendship, which included the normal difficulties of any relationship. 

If you are looking for a tell-all with details about Kate Spade's death by suicide, this is not the book for you. 

OVERALL REVIEW: 4.5 stars

 

Writing: 4.5 stars

The writing was strong with real and raw anecdotes that are true of any long-term friendship. Elyce was the only person who could have written this book about her best friend. 

Narration: 5.0 stars

Elyce does a great job with the narration. I love it when the author narrates the audiobook. Especially as it is her and Kate's lives before, during, and after the loss of her best friend. Elyce was never the "face" of any of the companies with Kate, but she rocks it! 

Character development: 4.5 stars

The main characters are Elyce (the author and BFF) and Kate (the eponymous designer and BFF).    

The secondary characters are the other partners (both professional and personal), parents, friends, and family. 

The tertiary character is Kate Spade New York - the company. 

There is a huge cast of characters (especially New York fashion folks), which makes it hard to follow who is who, as I am from Los Angeles. 

The character development was good, but most especially for the two main characters. We are let into their entire friendship and backstories. 

Memorable:  4.0 stars

Kate and Elyce, along with their partners, create an international and multi-million-dollar empire out of basically nothing. Of course, they make mistakes along the way, but what entrepreneurial spirit during the wild 1990s!!

 

Entertaining/Educational:  4.0 stars

I had always thought that I had bought Kate Spade during the heyday, but I was wrong! I didn't realize that Kate, Elyce, and their partners sold their final stake in Kate Spade New York in 2006.

Book cover: 4.0 stars

There had to be a better picture! 

 

Book title: 5.0 stars 

Perfection on ALL levels! (Read the book to find out WHY!)

Strong recommend

Los Angeles Public Library (LAPL) borrow: audiobook

9 hours, 25 minutes 

Simon & Schuster Audio 

Release date: 6/17/2025

 

INFORMATIONAL LINKS

Elyce Arons

Goodreads review

The Storygraph review

Simon & Schuster Audio

Los Angeles Public Library (LAPL)

TRIGGER WARNINGS: Moderate cursing, sexism, misogyny, suicide, pregnancy

Happy reading, 

Dorothea 💜

My next ebook is ...

 The Midnight Library by Matt Haig (ebook)

Happy reading,

Dorothea 💜

REVIEW - A Resistance of Witches (eARC/ebook)

 A Resistance of Witches by Morgan Ryan (eARC/ebook)

OVERVIEW

I received a complimentary copy of this book. Opinions expressed in this review are completely my own.

Oh, my goodness! This is Morgan's debut novel, and I can guarantee that this will not be her last novel. 

This is a book about World War II (I know, dear readers) and British witches who are fighting against Hitler and the Nazis. How could I ever resist such an incredible premise?

The topic of witches has always fascinated me from the Harry Potter series to the Practical Magic series to the A Discovery of Witches series, plus throw in Stevie Nicks's music, and you get my vibe! 

This novel was freaking amazing!! I inhaled it and I loved it!

OVERALL REVIEW: 5.0 stars.

 

Writing: 5.0 stars

I honestly cannot believe that Morgan is a first-time writer! She writes so descriptively, elegantly, and beautifully as if she has lived in this book's world. So incredibly talented!

I loved the main character of Lydia, her friends, and her coven. Please make this a series, Morgan!

Character development: 5.0 stars

The main characters are: Lydia (a British witch), Rebecca (a French resistance fighter), and Henry (an American art historian). What a triumvirate of incredible and diverse characters!

The secondary characters are: Evelyn (Lydia's mother), the British coven, and French resistance fighters. 

The tertiary characters the bad guys: bad witches, Nazis/Gestapo, Hitler, and everyone working against the Allied forces.  

The character development was strong, which I so enjoy! Most especially due to the addition of witchcraft (read the book to find out more)!

Storyline:  5.0 stars

The storyline is about a British witch coven fighting against the Nazis while searching for the Grimorium Bellum (an evil grimoire or book of magic) before the Nazis discover it. The timeline covers from November 1940 to Victory in Europe Day (May 8, 1945).  

World War II was not the main focus of the book (I was so glad), but rather the politics of the witch coven and its impact on the war. 

The locations were primarily London, England; Dordogne, France; and Bavaria, Germany.   

Memorable/Informative:   5.0 stars

This novel was a creative way to think about "what if" about World War II. 

Book cover: 5.0 stars

Beautiful!    

 

Book title: 5.0 stars 

Excellent!  

 

Highly recommend

NetGalley eARC/ebook

A Resistance of Witches by Morgan Ryan

415 pages 

Viking

FUTURE release date: 7/15/2025

 

INFORMATIONAL LINKS

Morgan Ryan

Goodreads review

The Storygraph review

Viking

NetGalley

TRIGGER WARNINGS:

Anti-semitism; violence; death of a parent; murder; grief, mild cursing; war; gun/knife violence; medical content; witchcraft. 

Happy reading, 

Dorothea 💜

My next eARC/ebook is ...

 A Resistance of Witches by Morgan Ryan (eARC/ebook)

Happy reading,

Dorothea 💜

My next audiobook is...

 We Might Just Make It After All by Elyce Arons (audiobook)

Happy reading,

Dorothea 💜

REVIEW - The Names (ebook)

 

The Names by Florence Knapp (ebook)

OVERVIEW

This is Florence Knapp's debut novel. OMG! This novel delivers on its premise in a big, beautiful way. This novel features three timelines, all of which follow the same main characters. But one character has a different name in each timeline. 

This novel reaches out and grabs you by the throat at the cellular level. How does our name impact who we are and who we become? Would our lives have been different if our names had been different? This novel lays it all out for one character and how it impacts others!

As someone with an unusual first name, Dorothea, it makes me wonder what people think of me just knowing my name. Really heady and deep things to ponder!

I. LOVED. THIS. NOVEL!

OVERALL REVIEW: 5.0 stars.

 

Writing: 5.0 stars

This author has artistic and beautiful writing. It was descriptive, powerful, and so realistic.

I truly hope this author writes more books, as she is unbelievably talented! 

Character development: 5.0 stars

The main characters are Cora (wife to Gordon Sr and mother to Bear/Julian/Gordon Jr); Gordon Sr (Cora's husband and father to Bear/Julian/Gordon Jr); Maia (the older sister); and Bear/Julian/Gordon Jr (the younger brother).  

The secondary characters are Síbhe (Cora's mother and the kids' grandmother); Cian (Síbhe's friend); Mehri (Cora's friend); and Fern (Mehri's daughter). 

The tertiary characters are all the various people, including friends, lovers, and others, with whom the main characters are involved in that specific storyline (there is some overlap at times).    

The character development was strong. Each timeline reflected the differences in the characters and lives that Bear/Julian/Gordon Jr would have had with a different name and circumstances. Beyond well done and fascinating! 

Storyline:  5.0 stars

The storyline is focused on Bear/Julian/Gordon Jr in three distinct timelines in 1987, 1994, 2001, 2008, 2015, and 2022. 

The main and secondary characters are represented in each of the three timelines. But the tertiary characters may or may not be in the different timelines. Each timeline tells a different story about how Bear/Julian/Gordon Jr's life unfolds in each timeline. It may seem confusing, but it is creative and unique! 

The locations were primarily cities in England and Ireland, and Paris.  

Memorable/Informative:   5.0 stars

What's in a name? This novel answers that for Bear/Julian/Gordon Jr.

It doesn't, however, answer how YOUR name impacted your life and what would have happened had you been named differently. Strong food for thought! 

Book cover: 5.0 stars

Gorgeous!    

 

Book title: 5.0 stars 

Perfect!  

 

Highly recommend

Los Angeles Public Library (LAPL) borrow: ebook

The Names by Florence Knapp

336 pages 

Pamela Dorman Books

Release date: 5/6/2025

 

INFORMATIONAL LINKS

Florence Knapp

Goodreads review

The Storygraph review

Pamela Dorman Books

Los Angeles Public Library (LAPL)

TRIGGER WARNINGS:

Domestic violence; death of a parent; violence; murder; grief, mild cursing; pandemic; gun violence; medical content

Happy reading, 

Dorothea 💜

My next read is ...

 The Names by Florence Knapp (ebook)

Happy reading,

Dorothea 💜