I typically post between two and three book reviews a week. Please refer to my review policy if you’d like to submit a book for consideration. I invite you to subscribe to my newsletter to get a summary of my reviews once a month.
I’ve had the book Dead Mom Walking by Rachel Matlow on my shelf for what feels like ages (its only been two years, but that’s a long time for me). I had read really positive reviews of it when it was released, and I knew it was going to be funny, so I kept it…
Although Possessed by Jowita Bydlowska has ghosts in it, but they are beside the point. Mental health struggles, abusive behavior, and depression are truly at the heart of this book. A work of literary fiction that made me uncomfortable, I found myself moving between episodes of interest and horror, mainly due to the thoughts and…
Before I get any Canlit lovers TOO excited, I should mention straight away that this is a middle grade novel meant for kids aged 9-13, Lawrence Hill has not written another adult book yet. But for those who are fans of his, perhaps reading this book may scratch that itch for a little while. I…
Some thriller readers may already be familiar with the author C.J. Tudor – she wrote the bestseller The Chalk Man a few years ago and continues to build her audience from that success. A Sliver of Darkness is the first book of hers that I’ve read, and it’s a collection of short stories, all works…
I was excited to see another Flavia Z. Drago picture book land on my doorstep in the lead up to Halloween, because my kids loved her first book Gustavo the Shy Ghost, and it’s still a go-to book for our reading all year round. The second ‘creepy’ picture book I’m reviewing for Halloween is part…
The atmosphere of The Ghost Woods by C.J. Cooke is a winning combination of ghosts, witches, creepy houses, and eerie secrets that you’re better not knowing. I read this book a few weeks ago and some of the images are still floating through my head, not because I was surprised by them but because the…
I’ve been a bit hesitant to read vampire books since the whole genre was overtaken by YA authors hoping to recreate the success of the Twilight Series. But when I saw that A Dowry of Blood by S.T. Gibson was an alternative re-telling of Dracula meant for adults, my interest was definitely piqued. Like many…
The perfect read for Halloween enthusiasts and witch-lovers of all stripes, The Witches of Moonshyne Manor by Bianca Marais scratched an itch I didn’t realize I had. Its got all the ingredients of a perfect October read: a rambling haunted mansion, a coven of witches with a varied array of powers, a dark and mysterious…
Woman Eating by Claire Kohda explores the life of a vampire through the lens of a millennial and the struggles unique to that generation: someone who is struggling with living on their own, providing for themselves, reconciling who they are, all while dealing with a parent in a care home. Although I wouldn’t call the…
Last year I read the bestseller Beartown by Fredrik Backman, the first in the Beartown series which had come out years ago. This Fall I was sent the third and last installment in that series called The Winners, which took me awhile to read due to its length (670 pages) but I enjoyed once I…
Big books come out in the Fall – it’s book awards season and it’s when all the serious award contenders are released, especially those that should sell well for holiday shopping season a few months later. In the case of Fayne by Ann-Marie MacDonald, this book is not only a big deal for Canadian publishing (she’s the…
We all need a little push now and then, and these kids books offer opportunities for growth, in many different aspects of our lives. How to Apologize by David LaRochelle, illustrated by Mike Wohnoutka communicates a very clear message that children and adults alike will benefit from. In very clear illustrations and examples, it shows…
