Bogormen

Title: Christmas Carols and a Cornish Cream Tea
Author: Cressida McLaughlin
Genre: Christmas, chick-lit
Rating: 3.5/5
# pages: Audiobook ~10hrs
Date read: December, 2024

All Meredith Verren has ever wanted is to escape the holiday season without having to wear a Christmas jumper. Her new job at the cosy gift shop in a picturesque Cornish tourist spot is making it impossible for her to maintain her scrooge-like manner.

With their seasonal hampers on everyone’s wish list, Meredith must paste on a smile and fake some holiday cheer. Then she meets handsome new arrival, Finn, who wishes it could be Christmas every day and wants her to feel the same way too.

Can she embrace the holly and the ivy before the decorations are packed away for another year?


Despite apparently being the 5th book in a series, it can easily be read as a standalone novel - I certainly didn't feel like I was missing out on anything, so I think it's more a case of them being companion novels than an actual series.

It ended up being a very enjoyable Christmas romance - and for once pretty 50/50 on the "Christmas" and the "romance" part. The romance was believable, and the conflict not as much of a nuisance as it could have been. Meredith and Finn actually communicated most of the time, which made for a refreshing change!

Title: You'll Be the Death of Me
Author: Karen M. McManus
Genre: YA, Suspense
Rating: 4/5
# pages: 326
Date read: May 2023

Ivy, Mateo, and Cal used to be close. Back in middle school they were best friends. So, when Cal pulls into campus late for class, and runs into Ivy and Mateo, it seems like the perfect opportunity to turn a bad day around. They'll ditch school and go into the city. Just the three of them, like old times. Why did they stop hanging out, anyway?

As soon as they pull out of the parking lot Cal knows why. Ivy's already freaking out about missing class, and heartthrob Mateo is asleep in the backseat, too cool to even pretend like he wants to be there. The truth is they have nothing in common anymore.

At least they don't until they run into the fourth student ditching school that day. Brian "Boney" Mahoney is supposed to be accepting his newly won office of class president. Which is why Ivy follows him into an empty building, only to walk into the middle of a murder scene. Cal, Ivy, and Mateo all know the person lying on the ground of that building, and now they need to come clean. They're all hiding something. And maybe their chance reconnection wasn't by chance after all.


Most of the plot of this book took place over the course of a day, which I thought was an interesting change from the other books I've read by Karen M. McManus. I did find it highly unrealistic in places, but it stayed reasonably true to its own universe, so it didn't bother me as much as it would have otherwise.

I liked how the relationships between Ivy, Mateo and Cal evolved and changed through the day, and appreciated how realistic they felt. Sometimes people do rotten things - sometimes those things can be forgiven.

Title: Where the Drowned Girls Go (Wayward Children #7)
Author: Seanan McGuire
Genre: Fantasy
Rating: 3/5
# pages: 150
Date read: October, 2022

Welcome to the Whitethorn Institute. The first step is always admitting you need help, and you've already taken that step by requesting a transfer into our company.

There is another school for children who fall through doors and fall back out again.
It isn't as friendly as Eleanor West's Home for Wayward Children.
And it isn't as safe.

When Eleanor West decided to open her school, her sanctuary, her Home for Wayward Children, she knew from the beginning that there would be children she couldn't save; when Cora decides she needs a different direction, a different fate, a different prophecy, Miss West reluctantly agrees to transfer her to the other school, where things are run very differently by Whitethorn, the Headmaster.

She will soon discover that not all doors are welcoming


Not the best in the series, as I felt it was very slow to get started. I felt like it was just treading water until after Cora had been at Whitethorn for awhile. Once it did get properly started I really enjoyed it though. I actually rather liked that most of the action took place "here", rather than behind a Door.

Title: Across the Green Grass Fields (Wayward Children #6)
Author: Seanan McGuire
Genre: Fantasy
Rating: 4/5
# pages: 174
Date read: April, 2022

Regan loves, and is loved, though her school-friend situation has become complicated, of late.

When she suddenly finds herself thrust through a doorway that asks her to "Be Sure" before swallowing her whole, Regan must learn to live in a world filled with centaurs, kelpies, and other magical equines―a world that expects its human visitors to step up and be heroes.

But after embracing her time with the herd, Regan discovers that not all forms of heroism are equal, and not all quests are as they seem…


While I've (so far) enjoyed all the books in this series, this is definitely one of my favourites. It is very much a companion novel, as we don't get to meet the other Wayward Children at all, but I'm certain that we'll hear more about Regan in future books. She's adorable, and I loved her way of showing trust to and making friends of pretty much everybody she met.

As always, it ended very abruptly, but that seems to be par for the course in this series.

Title: One Last Stop
Author: Casey McQuiston
Genre: LGBTQ+
Rating: 3/5
# pages: 418
Date read: December, 2021

For cynical twenty-three-year-old August, moving to New York City is supposed to prove her right: that things like magic and cinematic love stories don’t exist, and the only smart way to go through life is alone. She can’t imagine how waiting tables at a 24-hour pancake diner and moving in with too many weird roommates could possibly change that. And there’s certainly no chance of her subway commute being anything more than a daily trudge through boredom and electrical failures.

But then, there’s this gorgeous girl on the train.

Jane. Dazzling, charming, mysterious, impossible Jane. Jane with her rough edges and swoopy hair and soft smile, showing up in a leather jacket to save August’s day when she needed it most. August’s subway crush becomes the best part of her day, but pretty soon, she discovers there’s one big problem: Jane doesn’t just look like an old school punk rocker. She’s literally displaced in time from the 1970s, and August is going to have to use everything she tried to leave in her own past to help her. Maybe it’s time to start believing in some things, after all.


This book had two things going against it from the very beginning: 1. It came very highly recommended. 2. I absolutely loved the last book I read by Casey McQuiston ("Red, White and Royal Blue"). Unfortunately, these things combined meant that it couldn't quite live up to my expectations, and thus it took me over a month to finish it. I didn't dislike it, I just found it way too easy to put it down and not pick it back up again for ages.

I think my main problem was that though I loved the concept, I never really got to care for the characters. Not quite why, because they had everything going for them that usually makes me love characters, but it did mean that I wasn't all that invested in the outcome.

Ah well :-/

Title: If I Never Met You
Author: Mhairi McFarlane
Genre: Chick-lit
Rating: 4.5/5
# pages: 432
Date read: May, 2021

If faking love is this easy... how do you know when it’s real?

When her partner of over a decade suddenly ends things, Laurie is left reeling—not only because they work at the same law firm and she has to see him every day. Her once perfect life is in shambles and the thought of dating again in the age of Tinder is nothing short of horrifying. When news of her ex’s pregnant girlfriend hits the office grapevine, taking the humiliation lying down is not an option. Then a chance encounter in a broken-down elevator with the office playboy opens up a new possibility.

Jamie Carter doesn’t believe in love, but he needs a respectable, steady girlfriend to impress their bosses. Laurie wants a hot new man to give the rumor mill something else to talk about. It’s the perfect proposition: a fauxmance played out on social media, with strategically staged photographs and a specific end date in mind. With the plan hatched, Laurie and Jamie begin to flaunt their new couple status, to the astonishment—and jealousy—of their friends and colleagues. But there’s a fine line between pretending to be in love and actually falling for your charming, handsome fake boyfriend...


I liked the first book I read by Mhairi McFarlane - I LOVED this one. Even though it was a lot more predictable, I just have to admit that I'm a huge fan of the fake-dating trope. Especially when it is done as well as it was here.

My heart broke for Laurie during the setup of the plot, but I loved seeing her come into herself, and play to her strengths, instead of letting others play to her weaknesses. I was kinda worried how the main conflict would be brought about, but it was less contrived than I had feared, and more easily resolved, so that was a huge plus. I really, really, really appreciate that McFarlane doesn't allow her characters to wallow in angst for too long, but have them actually communicate! A+.

My one complaint was that I think the end came too quickly. Would have liked to see just a chapter or two of "what came next" - especially at work.

And again, I loved how the characters were written, and how McFarlane explored the various relationships - both familiar, friendly and romantic.

(Oh, and I LOVED Hattie! More of her, please :D)

Title: Come Tumbling Down (Wayward Children #5)
Author: Seanan McGuire
Genre: Fantasy
Rating: 3.5/5
# pages: 206
Date read: April 2021

When Jack left Eleanor West's School for Wayward Children she was carrying the body of her deliciously deranged sister--whom she had recently murdered in a fit of righteous justice--back to their home on the Moors.

But death in their adopted world isn't always as permanent as it is here, and when Jack is herself carried back into the school, it becomes clear that something has happened to her. Something terrible. Something of which only the maddest of scientists could conceive. Something only her friends are equipped to help her overcome.

Eleanor West's "No Quests" rule is about to be broken.

Again.


I was glad to see this book once again focus on all the Wayward Children instead of just one or two. However, the Moors will never be my favourite place to visit, so that made me subtract a star.

Otherwise this was basically exactly what I have come to expect from the Wayward Children series, and only made me more eager to read Christopher and Kade's stories.

Title: Dying with Her Cheer Pants On
Author: Seanan McGuire
Genre: Horror, paranormal
Rating: 4/5
# pages: 290
Date read: November 2020

Despite its humble origins, there is no more challenging or physically dangerous teen sport in the world than cheerleading. Cheerleaders are seriously injured and even killed at a higher rate than other high school sports. Their stunts are performed in skimpy uniforms without the benefit of proper safety equipment…and yet they love them, glittery eyeshadow, spirit bows, and all.

And then there are the Fighting Pumpkins, who take that injury rate as a challenge. Students of Johnson’s Crossing High School, they answer to a higher calling than the pyramid and the basket toss, pursuing the pep rally that is rising up against mysteries and monsters, kicking gods with the pointed toes of professional athletes chasing a collegiate career.

Meet Jude, half-vampire squad leader; Laurie, who can compel anyone to do as she asks; Heather, occasionally recreationally dead; Marti, strong enough to provide a foundation for any stunt; Colleen, who knows the rule book so well she may as well have written it; and Steph, who may or may not be the goddess of the harvest. The rest of the squad is ready to support them, and braced for the chaos of the big game, which may have a big body count. Prepare to jump high, yell loud, and look pretty with the Fighting Pumpkins, those glorious girls in the orange and green, whose high kicks could still be enough to save the world.

And if they’re not, it isn’t going to be for lack of trying.



A collection of related short stories all focusing on the cheer team, the Fighting Pumpkins.

Basically "Buffy the Vampire Slayer" if Buffy was a cheerleader and the vampires were various aliens, zombies and monsters instead. I really liked it, and though I'm not usually into short stories, I will always make an exception when it comes to may favourite authors.

Title: Down Among the Sticks and Bones (Wayward Children #3)
Author: Seanan McGuire
Genre: Fantasy
Rating: 3.5/5
# pages: 186
Date read: July 2019

Twin sisters Jack and Jill were seventeen when they found their way home and were packed off to Eleanor West’s Home for Wayward Children.

This is the story of what happened first…

Jacqueline was her mother’s perfect daughter—polite and quiet, always dressed as a princess. If her mother was sometimes a little strict, it’s because crafting the perfect daughter takes discipline.

Jillian was her father’s perfect daughter—adventurous, thrill-seeking, and a bit of a tom-boy. He really would have preferred a son, but you work with what you've got.

They were five when they learned that grown-ups can’t be trusted.

They were twelve when they walked down the impossible staircase and discovered that the pretense of love can never be enough to prepare you a life filled with magic in a land filled with mad scientists and death and choices.


So far the weakest of the Wayward Children books, but I still really liked it - even if I now do feel the urge to reread "Every Heart a Doorway" to remind myself what happened "next" to Jack and Jill.

It is a LOT darker than the other books in the series - but due to the nature of the Moors (no pun intended) it really couldn't be anything else. I mean... there's even a character CALLED "Dr. Bleak"!

Title: Indexing
Author: Seanan McGuire
Genre: Fantasy
Rating: 3.5/5
# pages: Audiobook ~12hrs
Date read: April, 2019

“Never underestimate the power of a good story.”
Good advice...especially when a story can kill you.

For most people, the story of their lives is just that: the accumulation of time, encounters, and actions into a cohesive whole. But for an unfortunate few, that day-to-day existence is affected—perhaps infected is a better word—by memetic incursion: where fairy tale narratives become reality, often with disastrous results.

That's where the ATI Management Bureau steps in, an organization tasked with protecting the world from fairy tales, even while most of their agents are struggling to keep their own fantastic archetypes from taking over their lives. When you're dealing with storybook narratives in the real world, it doesn't matter if you're Snow White, Sleeping Beauty, or the Wicked Queen: no one gets a happily ever after.


I can always count on Seanan McGuire to make me uncomfortable about things I hadn't originally thought about.... first mermaids and now innocuous-looking fairytales!! I will never look at Mum's fairytale collection the same ever again, that's for sure!

That said, as a whole the book couldn't quite live up to my expectations. It was a good read and I greatly enjoyed it, but I've almost come to expect Seanan McGuire to blow me away by now, and that didn't quite happen here. At the end of the day I liked it - but I didn't love it.

... still fully expect to read the sequel though!