Does anyone else have a really hard time writing reviews of books they absolutely adored? I can rip apart a trashy novel easily, but when it’s something I love, all I can say is “Book Was Good. Me Likey.” I thought if I crammed them into one bigger review it may take some of the pressure off. Anyway, the following books were wonderful, and I definitely likey. Five Stars for all of them.
Assistant to The Villain by Hannah Nicole Maehrer
Evelyn Sage is just trying to make ends meet as she is the only financial support for her ailing father and younger sister. One day, while coming home through the woods she stumbles across The Villain. Literally. The Villain has been terrorizing the countryside and there are numerous wanted posters. However, he and Evie hit it off and he offers her a job. As his personal assistant. The book then skips to a few months later, where Evie has perfected the art of avoiding stepping on stray eyeballs.
This book has been described as Once Upon A Time meets The Office, but I didn’t feel that was accurate. The Office is mostly cringe humor and The Villain is not cringeworthy. In fact, The Villain is a hottie, and the banter between him and Evie is ADORABLE.
A lady in my neighborhood started a book club, and this was the first book we picked. We didn’t know this was the first book of a planned trilogy though, and I’m DYING for the next installment in August. This book was freaking adorable, and The Villain is now in my top 10 Book Boyfriends list!
The Seven Year Slip by Ashley Poston
Clementine works for a publishing firm in NYC, and she likes her job, but she doesn’t love it. She has inherited an apartment from her Aunt. Her Aunt told her once that the apartment is magical. Occasionally, it skips time, but only seven years in the past. Her Aunt’s only rule is not to fall in love with anyone you meet in the past. Her Aunt did and was heartbroken. One day, Clementine meets a man from the past in her apartment, and he is aspiring Chef Iwan. He is trying to get a job as a dishwasher at a Michelin-starred restaurant. He talks about food as though it were the most romantic thing in the world, and you can already see where this is going.
One of my favorite reads of last year was Poston’s The Dead Romantics, so I jumped on this as soon as it was available. It was lyrical and romantic, and I fell head over heels with it. It’s just truly beautiful.
Starling House by Alix E. Harrow
Opal is a twenty-something taking care of her high school-aged brother in a small town in Kentucky. Their Mother died in a car crash when Opal was too young to assume that kind of responsibility, and they live in a Motel, mostly by the good graces of the owner. Opal has been fascinated with the gothic old house of the Starling family since she was a little girl. The rest of the town thinks the house is cursed and avoids it, but Opal makes a point of walking by on her way to work and staring inside the gates. One night, she meets the current occupant, Arthur Starling, and he offers her a job as a housekeeper. The inside of Starling House is gothic and creepy and seems to love Opal. The house is sentient. I have read quite a few “The Gothic House Is Sentient” books, and maybe this is now my preferred genre.
I am a huge fan of Harrow’s previous work, and I submitted The Ten Thousand Doors of January as one of my top three books for this year. I loved this one just as much, I just felt January was more of an epic. I can’t get either book out of my head, and I will always read anything Harrow writes.