Bogormen

Title: Delilah Green Doesn't Care
Author: Ashley Herring Blake
Genre: Chick-lit, LGBTQ+
Rating: 4.5/4
# pages: Audiobook ~10hrs
Date read: June 2025

Delilah Green swore she would never go back to Bright Falls—nothing is there for her but memories of a lonely childhood where she was little more than a burden to her cold and distant stepfamily. Her life is in New York, with her photography career finally gaining steam and her bed never empty. Sure, it’s a different woman every night, but that’s just fine with her.

When Delilah’s estranged stepsister, Astrid, pressures her into photographing her wedding with a guilt trip and a five-figure check, Delilah finds herself back in the godforsaken town that she used to call home. She plans to breeze in and out, but then she sees Claire Sutherland, one of Astrid’s stuck-up besties, and decides that maybe there’s some fun (and a little retribution) to be had in Bright Falls, after all.

Having raised her eleven-year-old daughter mostly on her own while dealing with her unreliable ex and running a bookstore, Claire Sutherland depends upon a life without surprises. And Delilah Green is an unwelcome surprise…at first. Though they’ve known each other for years, they don’t really know each other—so Claire is unsettled when Delilah figures out exactly what buttons to push. When they’re forced together during a gauntlet of wedding preparations—including a plot to save Astrid from her horrible fiancé—Claire isn’t sure she has the strength to resist Delilah’s charms. Even worse, she’s starting to think she doesn’t want to...


I'd read a couple of lukewarm reviews about this book, so wasn't really sure what to expect, but honestly? It was really, really cute! Had all the hallmarks of a great romcom and very few of my pet peeves.

Friends in unlikely places? Check.
A cute / precocious kid? Check.
An antagonist who turned out to be more three-dimensional than the main character gave them credit for? Check.

And while I loved seeing the romance develop, what really made me squee was seeing Delilah actually make friends! I loved her chemistry with Iris and Ruby.

Best of all, while the book did have a third-act conflict (because of course it did), I wouldn't actually go so far as to call it a third-act breakup. It wasn't a contrived plot-twist, and was actually resolved in a believable manner.

Title: Here One Moment
Author: Liane Moriarty
Genre: Fiction
Rating: 2.5/5
# pages: Audiobook ~16 hours
Date read: June 2025

Aside from a delay, there will be no problems. The flight will be smooth, it will land safely. Everyone who gets on the plane will get off. But almost all of them will be forever changed.

Because on this ordinary, short, domestic flight, something extraordinary happens. People learn how and when they are going to die. For some, their death is far in the future—age 103!—and they laugh. But for six passengers, their predicted deaths are not far away at all.

How do they know this? There were ostensibly more interesting people on the flight (the bride and groom, the jittery, possibly famous woman, the giant Hemsworth-esque guy who looks like an off-duty superhero, the frazzled, gorgeous flight attendant) but none would become as famous as “The Death Lady.”

Not a single passenger or crew member will later recall noticing her board the plane. She wasn’t exceptionally old or young, rude or polite. She wasn’t drunk or nervous or pregnant. Her appearance and demeanor were unremarkable. But what she did on that flight was truly remarkable.

A few months later, one passenger dies exactly as she predicted. Then two more passengers die, again, as she said they would. Soon no one is thinking this is simply an entertaining story at a cocktail party.

If you were told you only had a certain amount of time left to live, would you do things differently? Would you try to dodge your destiny?


Very, VERY slow-moving. Not enough to make me consider giving up on it, but far more so than I had expected.

As many other reviews stated - one's enjoyment of this book is 100% dependent on whether or not you care for Cherry. I didn't dislike her - as some did - but I by far preferred the chapters that didn't revolve around her. Which is a shame, as she was ultimately the main character, and I turned out to just not care either way.

I wasn't disappointed by the ending - it couldn't really have gone any other way - but I'm not sure the book as a whole worked for me. And it definitely didn't need to be as long as it was! (SIXTEEN HOURS!!!)

(I still want to know what happened with Ethan though! Did feel like we were left hanging there!)

Title: The House Witch
Author: Delemhach
Genre: Fantasy
Rating: 4/5
# pages: Audiobook ~17hrs
Date read: May 2025

When Finlay Ashowan joins the staff of the King and Queen of Daxaria, he’s an enigma. No one knows where he comes from or how he came to be where he is, which suits Fin just fine. He’s satisfied simply serving as the royal cook, keeping nosy passersby out of his kitchen, and concocting some truly uncanny meals.

But Fin’s secret identity doesn’t stay hidden for long. After all, it’s not every day a house witch and his kitten familiar, Kraken, take to meddling in imperial affairs. As his powers are gradually discovered by the court, Fin finds himself involved in a slew of intrigues: going head-to-head with knights with less-than-chivalrous intentions, helping to protect the pregnant queen, fending off the ire of the royal mage, and uncovering a spy in the castle. And that’s only the beginning—because Fin’s past is catching up with him just as his love life is getting complicated . . .


Lovely cozy fantasy :-) The first in a series, but while it did have a bit of an abrupt ending, it was very much a fairytale-style ending, so it was still nicely self-contained. But very charming, so I want to continue on with the series.

I want to read more about life in the kitchen - how Fin uses his magic, how the knights and maids work side by side ... basically more cozy fantasy stuff and less political intrigue stuff ;-)

Title: Nightwork
Author: Nora Roberts
Genre: Suspense
Rating: 4/5
# pages: Audiobook ~16hrs
Date read: April 2025

Harry Booth started stealing at nine to keep a roof over his ailing mother’s head, slipping into luxurious, empty homes at night to find items he could trade for precious cash. When his mother finally succumbed to cancer, he left Chicago—but kept up his nightwork, developing into a master thief with a code of honor and an expertise in not attracting attention - or getting attached.

Until he meets Miranda Emerson, and the powerful bond between them upends all his rules. But along the way, Booth has made some dangerous associations, including the ruthless Carter LaPorte, who sees Booth as a tool he controls for his own profit. Knowing LaPorte will leverage any personal connection, Booth abandons Miranda for her own safety—cruelly, with no explanation—and disappears.

But the bond between Miranda and Booth is too strong, pulling them inexorably back together. Now Booth must face LaPorte, to truly free himself and Miranda once and for all.


Stereotypical Nora Roberts. You know what you're gonna get going into it, but it's always an enjoyable ride. This isn't the best of her works - mostly because the initial conflict with Miranda annoyed me (trying to stay as spoiler-free as possible), but I do get why it was necessary, and their way of making up again was a LOT more satisfying than I had expected it to be.

Also, I kinda love that the fact that she writes such formulaeric books meant that I knew the final confrontation would go well, and there wouldn't suddenly be yet another wrench thrown into the machine in the 11th hour. I get so impatient with that stuff, and would much rather have a long lead-in to the confrontation, and then have everything work out as planned.

Title: Sunrise on the Reaping
Author: Suzanne Collins
Genre: Dystopian
Rating: 4/5
# pages: Audiobook ~13hrs
Date read: March 2025

When you’ve been set up to lose everything you love, what is there left to fight for?

As the day dawns on the fiftieth annual Hunger Games, fear grips the districts of Panem. This year, in honor of the Quarter Quell, twice as many tributes will be taken from their homes.

Back in District 12, Haymitch Abernathy is trying not to think too hard about his chances. All he cares about is making it through the day and being with the girl he loves.

When Haymitch’s name is called, he can feel all his dreams break. He’s torn from his family and his love, shuttled to the Capitol with the three other District 12 tributes: a young friend who’s nearly a sister to him, a compulsive oddsmaker, and the most stuck-up girl in town. As the Games begin, Haymitch understands he’s been set up to fail. But there’s something in him that wants to fight . . . and have that fight reverberate far beyond the deadly arena.


Really good - but so sad! Of course I knew this going into it, but there were still so many heartbreaks along the way, that I hadn't expected.

Haymitch starts out as a confident young man who refuses alcohol. He has a loving family and a sweet girlfriend. How does he end up a battered victor, mentally destroyed, a drunk who's all alone? It would have to be a rough ride.

And it was. Suzanne Collins did not pull any punches, which made for a hard read. Of course I knew all the other tributes would have to die, but I still got to care about more of them than I thought I would. I really appreciated the backstory to people we meet in later books - that added a nice nuance I hadn't expected.

I did feel that Suzanne Collins lost me a bit in the last few chapters though. The Edgar Allan Poe poem took up way too much page space there, and kinda hijacked the story. It's a clever writing trick, but should have been used MUCH more sparingly than it did. That brought down the rating a bit - especially as I read this as an audiobook, so couldn't just skim those parts.

Title: Recipe for Love
Author: Katie Fforde
Genre: Chick-lit, foodie
Rating: 3.5/5
# pages: 400
Date read: March 2025

Take one aspiring cook, one judge, and a spoonful of romance...

When Zoe Harper wins a coveted place in a televised cookery competition she's thrilled. It's a chance to cook her way to fame and fortune and the little delicatessen she's set her heart on.

The first task has hardly begun when she finds herself with rather too much on her plate. Not only has she got to contend with the fiercely competitive and downright devious Cher, but she's fast developing an inconvenient crush on one of the judges - the truly delicious Gideon Irving.

All too soon there's more than canapés, cupcakes and cordon bleu at stake. Will Zoe win the competition or is Gideon one temptation too far? And is Zoe really prepared to risk it all for love?


There was a lot to love in this book.
And there was a lot to roll my eyes at.

I LOVED all the descriptions of the competition. I wish there had been more of that. I'm a wanna-be foodie, and reading about the different challenges, and how the contestants completed them? Yes, please!

For much the same reason, I enjoyed reading about Zoe helping out in the kitchen as well and loved Fen and Rupert.

Cher was cartoon-like in her cattiness. Her narcissistic tendencies seemed realistic at first, but quickly went overboard, and Zoe was far too much of a doormat.

The relationship with Gideon was equal parts sweet and eye-roll worthy. Part of that was due to awkward writing, and part was due to it being shoved down the reader's throat, rather than letting it evolve organically.

At the end of the day, I found more to like than to dislike, and I'd definitely recommend it thanks to the contest ... but with a huge disclaimer.

Title: Family for Beginners
Author: Sarah Morgan
Genre: Chick-lit
Rating: 4.5/5
# pages: 350
Date read: February 2025

New York florist Flora Donovan is living the dream, but her bubbly optimism hides a secret. She’s lonely. Orphaned as a child, she’s never felt like she’s belonged anywhere…until she meets Jack Parker. He’s the first man to ever really see her, and it’s life changing.

Teenager Izzy Parker is holding it together by her fingertips. Since her mother passed away a year ago, looking after her dad and little sister is the only thing that makes Izzy feel safe. Discovering her father has a new girlfriend is her worst nightmare—she is not in the market for a replacement mom. Then her father invites Flora on their summer vacation…

Flora’s heart aches for Izzy, but she badly wants her relationship with Jack to work. As the summer unfolds, Flora must push her own boundaries to discover parts of herself she never knew existed—and to find the family she’s always wanted.


Finally a chick-lit with no third-act breakup, and where people actually communicated! Such a refreshing change! I loved seeing the characters interact, and how they slowly started to understand each other and make the necessary adjustments. I liked that people were oblivious rather than malicious.

The ending was perhaps a tiny bit too twee. But all in all, I loved it :)

Title: Assistant to the Villain
Author: Hannah Nicole Maehrer
Genre: Fantasy
Rating: 4/5
# pages: Audiobook ~14 hours
Date read: January 2025

ASSISTANT WANTED: Notorious, high-ranking villain seeks loyal, levelheaded assistant for unspecified office duties, supporting staff for random mayhem, terror, and other Dark Things In General. Discretion a must. Excellent benefits.

With ailing family to support, Evie Sage's employment status isn't just important, it's vital. So when a mishap with Rennedawn’s most infamous Villain results in a job offer—naturally, she says yes. No job is perfect, of course, but even less so when you develop a teeny crush on your terrifying, temperamental, and undeniably hot boss. Don’t find evil so attractive, Evie.

But just when she’s getting used to severed heads suspended from the ceiling and the odd squish of an errant eyeball beneath her heel, Evie suspects this dungeon has a huge rat…and not just the literal kind. Because something rotten is growing in the kingdom of Rennedawn, and someone wants to take the Villain—and his entire nefarious empire—out.

Now Evie must not only resist drooling over her boss but also figure out exactly who is sabotaging his work…and ensure he makes them pay.

After all, a good job is hard to find.


Very charming read! I was hooked almost from the get-go, and my interest never wavered.

It's one of those books that's hard to review without revealing too much though, so I'm having a hard time figuring out what to write. I really loved the characters, and loved seeing Evie and the Villains interactions. There were definitely some twists and turns I hadn't seen along the way.

One thing I will say though, is that I would have liked to know ahead of time just how open the ending is. Fortunately, I have the sequel readily available, so it's not an issue, but I was very puzzled how they intended to wrap everything up within the last 15 minutes of the audiobook.

Turned out - they didn't! So onwards with the sequel! Hoping that its ending is less open, considering that the next one isn't out until August this year!!!

Title: The Honey Witch
Author: Sydney J. Shields
Genre: Fantasy
Rating: 3.5/5
# pages: 368
Date read: January 2025

Twenty-one-year-old Marigold Claude has always preferred the company of the spirits of the meadow to any of the suitors who’ve tried to woo her. So when her grandmother whisks her away to the family cottage on the tiny Isle of Innisfree with an offer to train her as the next Honey Witch, she accepts immediately. But her newfound magic and independence come with a price: No one can fall in love with the Honey Witch.

When Lottie Burke, a notoriously grumpy skeptic who doesn’t believe in magic, shows up on her doorstep, Marigold can’t resist the challenge to prove to her that magic is real. But soon, Marigold begins to care for Lottie in ways she never expected. And when darker magic awakens and threatens to destroy her home, she must fight for much more than her new home—at the risk of losing her magic and her heart.


I have very mixed feelings about this book - making it hard to review!

I absolutely adored the first ~250 pages. This seemed like cozy fantasy at its best, and I loved reading about Marigold becoming a Honey Witch. I was ready to give it 4 ... possibly even 5 stars!

Alas, it seemed like Sydney Shields wrote herself into a corner. She very obviously knew where she wanted to go, but not necessarily the best way to get there, making for some ... interesting choices along the way. Most of them were minor nit-picks. I might not agree with them, they might grate on me, but they worked. Unfortunately the final show-down did not.

( Vague spoilers below )

A shame - if she had allowed herself enough page-space for a proper resolution, this could easily have become a favourite read for 2025.

Title: The Spellshop
Author: Sarah Beth Durst
Genre: Fantasy
Rating: 4.5/5
# pages: 374
Date read: December 2024

Kiela has always had trouble dealing with people, and as librarian at the Great Library of Alyssium, she hasn’t had to.

She and her assistant, Caz, a sentient spider plant, have spent most of the last eleven years sequestered among the empire’s precious spellbooks, protecting the magic for the city’s elite. But a revolution is brewing and when the library goes up in flames, she and Caz steal whatever books they can and flee to the faraway island where she grew up. She’s hoping to lay low and figure out a way to survive before the revolution comes looking for her. To her dismay, in addition to a nosy—and very handsome—neighbor, she finds the town in disarray.

The empire with its magic spellbooks has slowly been draining power from the island, something that Kiela is indirectly responsible for, and now she’s determined to find a way to make things right. Opening up a spell shop comes with its own risks—the consequence of sharing magic with commoners is death. And as Kiela comes to make a place for herself among the quirky townspeople, she realizes that in order to make a life for herself, she must break down the walls she has kept so high.


I picked this up on a whim while in Edinburgh because I simply could not resist the cover! I don't usually go for hardcovers, but I'm glad I did here, because the book is just gorgeous ... and fortunately the contents delivered. Cozy fantasy when it's best, and I ended up almost book hungover after finishing it. I really want to visit Caltrey now - swim with the merhorses, try Bryn's pastries, and of course talk to Caz at the jam shop :-D

I loved how Kiela and Caz figured out how to use their "remedies" and my one complaint about this book would be that we didn't get to see nearly enough of the spells in action. Unfortunately, it's not really a book that lends itself to a sequel (and I almost think it would be a shame if one was written), so I will have to be satisfied with the few that I did see.

Really charming book. I'm glad I saved it for the Christmas vacation.