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Category: Book Reviews

The Eighth Detective by Alex Pavesi (Book Review)

July 21, 2020 Taylor Leave a comment

The Eighth Detective by Alex Pavesi is a story within many smaller stories (all fictional), exploring the different components of…

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Posted in: Book Recommendations, Book Reviews

Book Review: Behind the Red Door by Megan Collins

July 11, 2020 Taylor Leave a comment

I didn’t know what to expect when I started Behind the Red Door by Megan Collins. I hadn’t read anything…

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Posted in: Book Recommendations, Book Reviews

Book Review: He Started It by Samantha Downing

July 7, 2020 Taylor Leave a comment

I’m a sucker for a road trip novel, so I was thrilled to get my hands on a copy of…

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Posted in: Book Recommendations, Book Reviews

Book Review: How to Save a Life by Liz Fenton & Lisa Steinke

July 3, 2020 Taylor Leave a comment

How to Save a Life by Liz Fenton & Lisa Steinke puts a new twist on Groundhog Day, and I…

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Posted in: Book Recommendations, Book Reviews

Book Review: Afterland by Lauren Beukes

June 27, 2020 Taylor Leave a comment

Lauren Beukes’ new novel, Afterland, is haunting in its timing. It depicts a post-apocalyptic world ravaged by a virus that…

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Posted in: Book Reviews

Book Review: A Good Girl’s Guide to Murder by Holly Jackson

June 13, 2020 Taylor Leave a comment

A Good Girl’s Guide to Murder is well-loved on Bookstagram (and probably everywhere else, too!). It felt like everyone had…

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Posted in: Book Recommendations, Book Reviews

Book Review: The Southern Book Club’s Guide to Slaying Vampires by Grady Hendrix

May 22, 2020 Taylor Leave a comment

Grady Hendrix’s new book, The Southern Book Club’s Guide to Slaying Vampires, has gotten a TON of buzz on Bookstagram.…

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Posted in: Book Recommendations, Book Reviews

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About Me

Hi, I’m Taylor!

I’m from Seattle, but recently moved to Austin, TX. (Bring on the taco trucks & sunshine!)

I’ve been part of the Bookstagram community for 3+ years now (previously known as SilverFire Books), and I’ve loved every minute of it!

When I’m not working, you can usually find me curled up with a book and a cup of iced coffee. I’m also a big fan of dogs, chocolate, and ridiculous dance moves.

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Want a free printable bookish crossword puzzle? Join my email list below!

Recent Posts

  • People Like Her by Ellery Lloyd (Book Review)
  • The Wrong Family by Tarryn Fisher (Book Review)
  • Waiting for the Night Song by Julie Carrick Dalton (Book Review)
  • The Heiress by Molly Greeley (Book Review)
  • Most-Anticipated Thriller Books of Winter 2021
✨ What did you read this weekend?? I finished Pe ✨ What did you read this weekend?? I finished People Like Her & I’m sharing my thoughts below!✨(Book gifted by @harperbooks ) Emmy Jackson is an uber-popular ‘Instamum’, a social media influencer who shares content on motherhood, womanhood, and family life. With over 1 million followers, her life seems permanently linked to the ‘gram. But as Emmy’s success continues to grow, she doesn’t realize how vulnerable she and her family might be. This story focuses on themes like social media, privacy, marriage, and motherhood, all in a very seamless way. I loved the writing style here. It’s the kind of style that draws you in no matter what the topic is. I’m sure it takes a lot of work for writing to feel effortless and easy to read, while still managing to surprise and enthrall you. While some of characters weren’t necessarily likeable, they were all interesting (which I think emphasizes the skill of the authors). The characters’ thoughts and stories had me glued to the page, even as someone who doesn’t have children. Parts of this story need to be taken with a grain of salt. (If you’re a sensitive reader, I recommend checking the trigger warnings.) Obviously, rating this book highly does not mean I’m condoning the characters’ actions. But I think this book opens up a fascinating dialogue about social media in the influencer age. Overall, this is an engrossing thriller that takes a hard look at the dark side of social media. Definitely recommended! Rating: 4.5⭐️ (out now!)
🏨 HOTELS & MOTELS 🏨 Since travel is so restr 🏨 HOTELS & MOTELS 🏨 Since travel is so restricted right now, I was inspired to put together a book stack featuring books set in hotels! (Or, at least with hotel/motel in the title 🤷‍♀️) That way, I can feel like I’m going places 🚗 ✈️ 🛳 I haven’t read these yet, but they’re all on my ever-growing TBR list! (The Woman in Cabin 10 isn’t set in a hotel, but on a cruise ship - close enough, right? 😅) A couple others I have read and loved: The Shining by Stephen King (a classically creepy hotel setting) and A Gentleman in Moscow by Amor Towles (fascinating historical fiction). 💬 Have you read any of these? Are there any hotel-related books I’m missing?
😋 Lemon raspberry muffins + my latest thriller 😋 Lemon raspberry muffins + my latest thriller read 🙌 (Thanks @htpbooks @bookclubbish for the gifted copy!) I haven’t read any other books by Tarryn Fisher, so I wasn’t sure what to expect going into this. The Wrong Family is part slow-burn domestic thriller, part character study. It took a minute to suck me in, but pretty quickly I became fascinated with one character in particular (Juno). While I wasn’t as entranced by the chapters from Winnie’s point of view, I tore through Juno’s chapters! I also loved the Seattle setting. That’s close to where I grew up, so it reminded me of home. 🌲 I’ve read enough thrillers that I can often guess the twists, but there were a couple things I didn’t see coming in this one! Great for fans of: -domestic suspense -character-driven thrillers -stories with themes around motherhood and social issues Rating: 4⭐️ (out now!) 💬 What’s the last thriller you read? . . #thewrongfamily
❄️Wintry Book Stack❄️ Just a stack of boo ❄️Wintry Book Stack❄️ Just a stack of books with snowy winter vibes! ⛄️ So far, I’ve only read One Day in December (I really liked it!), and the rest are on my TBR list. Have you read any of these? . . . . . . #winterreads #winterbooks #bookstack #cozybooks #booksonbooks #toberead #readersgonnaread #allthebooks #readersofinstagram #readerlife #tbrlist #tbrpile #booksandcandles #winterdecor #bookcollector #bookhoarder #stackofbooks #fortheloveofbooks #wanttoread #bookspines #bookpile #booksarecool
This book was compared to Where the Crawdads Sing, This book was compared to Where the Crawdads Sing, so I knew I had to have it. [Thanks @forgereads for the gifted copy!] As I’m sure I’ve mentioned before, books set in nature are my kryptonite. I loved the lush New England setting in Waiting for the Night Song. I felt like I was trekking through the forest alongside Cadie and Daniela. It reminded me a bit of my own childhood: picking blackberries, scraped knees, and exploring the forest behind my home growing up. But I have to say, I preferred the parts of the story set in the past, thick with nostalgia and summer magic and mystery. For me, the first half of the story was stronger than the second half. There were recurring themes around childhood friendship, ecology, guilt/morality, immigration, and racism in a small town, all of which are important topics. But I think the story was trying to do too many things at once, and it all got a bit jumbled. Additionally, the dialogue and character interactions were odd at times. Sometimes the characters would do things that didn’t make sense, or talk in ways that didn’t feel genuine. They discussed certain events or arguments over and over, to the point of feeling repetitive and unnecessary. For that reason, the ending dragged on, which took away some of the magic from the earlier parts of the story. While I did enjoy this one for the most part, sadly, it didn’t quite live up to my expectations. But I do know others have loved it, so don’t let my review stop you from checking it out! Rating: 3.25⭐️ (out today) 💬 Have you ever been hiking? Where’s your favorite place to go? 🥾⛰
The Heiress takes a misunderstood Jane Austen char The Heiress takes a misunderstood Jane Austen character, the sickly Anne de Bourgh from P&P, and breathes life into her story. [Book gifted by @williammorrowbooks ] Anne de Bourgh, Darcy’s cousin from Pride and Prejudice, is the heir to Rosings Estate. Yet she’s spent her life in a laudanum (an opium tincture) haze since she was a baby, due to her “weak disposition”. But something prods in the back of her mind, causing her to wonder if this is all there is to life, or if there’s something holding her back. The story has a Gothic tint to it, feeling like the classic it’s built upon, but it also feels fresh and new. There’s a lot of sensory detail and introspection in the first part of the story. (You’ll understand why if you read it). Don’t expect an adrenaline-fueled plot here: I think this one is meant to be read at a leisurely pace. Personally, I really enjoyed it! But if you like a lot of action in the books you read, just be aware of that. It’s more about enjoying the journey of being immersed in a different place & time, and watching the character development unfold. There’s romance, family drama, a “season” in London society, and sprawling estates. Most of all, I love that it gives a ‘lesser’ character a chance to tell her own story. It’s one that will surprise and delight readers, with a transformation we can all root for. Fans of Pride & Prejudice, Bridgerton, and/or Sarah Waters should enjoy this one! Rating: 4⭐️ (out now!) 💬 Tell me a warm drink you’ve been enjoying lately! I recently discovered this cinnamon spice herbal tea, and it’s giving me all the cozy feels 🥰 #wmtastemakers
📚 What was the last book you got in the mail? T 📚 What was the last book you got in the mail? This is my book haul from Christmas - so excited about them all! 🙌 . . . . . . #booksonbooks #girlswhoread #readersgonnaread #allthebooks #wanttoread #tbrpile #bookmail #bookwormsofinstagram #bookishlove #ilovebooks #bookcollector #readerlife #bookhoarder #pileofbooks #fictionlover #fortheloveofbooks #bookspines #bookpile #booksarecool #newbooks #newbooksmell #bookhaul #bookgram #alwaysreading #fictionbooks
I am SHOOK. This was beautifully written, devastat I am SHOOK. This was beautifully written, devastating, and utterly engrossing. [book gifted by @penguinrandomhouse @vikingbooks ] Let me start with this: The Push is not an easy book to read. It’s dark and emotional, and it gets under your skin. But it was also nearly impossible to tear my eyes from the page. Legitimately gave me chills. Essentially, this story is about motherhood and nature versus nurture. But it’s also about so much more. I won’t go into the synopsis more, because I think it’s best to go into it blind. It takes a minute to get used to the writing style, but after that, you won’t be able to put it down. I wouldn’t consider this a horror book, but it was terrifying all the same. I’m not a mother, but this felt SO real, like I was experiencing everything the main character went through. There were honestly moments where I had to remind myself to breathe. I do recommend checking out the trigger warnings before reading this one. I can’t say I ‘enjoyed’ this in the typical, pleasant sense (i.e. don’t expect too many warm & fuzzy feels), but it’s a remarkable, skillful, and shattering debut that I doubt I will ever forget. Rating: 5⭐️ (out now!) 💬 What are your plans for this weekend? Any books you’re hoping to read?
When I heard this book was a loose retelling of Ja When I heard this book was a loose retelling of Jane Eyre – but set in the South during modern day – I was SOLD. (Thanks @stmartinspress for the gifted copy!) This was such a cool way to pay homage to a Gothic classic, but in a subtle way. The Wife Upstairs took inspiration from it, but the story was unique and had its own flair. I really liked the Southern setting. This was heavily focused on the Thornfield Estates neighborhood, which is dripping in wealth and fueled by juicy gossip. If you need a super likeable character in order to enjoy a book, this may not be the one for you. The characters are far from perfect, with heavy shades of grey when it comes to morality. But it certainly kept my attention and I flew through the pages! We’re slowly fed more and more into characters’ backstories, and I enjoyed seeing everything play out. I wasn’t particularly shocked by anything that happened, but I still enjoyed the journey of the story. I also found it fun searching for the little pieces of Jane Eyre that were placed in the story, though I don’t think you need to have read that book to enjoy this one! Rating: 4⭐️ (out today!) 💬 What’s a literary classic you’ve been meaning to read forever?
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