The Shortstack: Mini Book Reviews

4 Stars

I’m a sucker for friends-to-enemies-to-maybe-something-more, and this one delivered a lot of heart in that department. I loved that it opened with a playlist — such a fun, personal touch that set the mood perfectly. The romance was sweet, awkward, and emotionally layered in all the right ways. That said, it did feel a little long-winded at times, which kept it from being a full 5-star read for me. Still, a great pick if you're into messy, real characters and slow-burn vulnerability.

2 Stars

This one was really slow—like glacial. I don’t mind a good slow burn, but this was more like a slow crawl in the dark where I couldn’t tell what I was supposed to be feeling half the time. I spent most of the book confused, waiting for the pieces to fall into place, and when they finally did… the ending just didn’t land for me. That said, I’ll give it credit—it definitely had an unsettling, eerie vibe that stuck with me. I just wish the payoff had matched the buildup. A miss for me overall.

4 Stars
This book hit hard. After experiencing my own losses, the way the baby’s death was written was almost too much — genuinely triggering at times. It’s raw, unsettling, and doesn’t shy away from emotional brutality.

I struggled a bit with the narration style, especially listening to the audiobook. The way characters spoke and the pacing made it harder to sink into, and I think reading a physical copy might’ve made a difference.

Still, the story had me constantly questioning: Did she do it… or didn’t she? That back-and-forth doubt kept me turning pages. And the ending? It didn’t offer closure — just left me with this heavy, empty, almost haunted feeling. It’s not an easy read, but it’s powerful and will sit with you long after you finish.

3 Stars

This one was a bit of a mixed bag for me. I love Darcy Coates and I adore Dorran—he’s the reason I’m sticking with the series—but Secrets in the Dark felt really unnecessarily long. There were whole stretches that dragged and honestly could’ve been cut without losing anything important. It had the classic eerie atmosphere I’ve come to expect, but this one was almost a struggle to get through at times. I’m giving it 3 stars because I do want to see where the story goes next, but this installment tested my patience. Darcy’s work is hit or miss for me, and sadly this one just didn’t hit as hard as I hoped.

4 Stars
I’ve read several of Emily Henry’s books now and loved every one — she’s easily become a go-to author for me. That said, Happy Place has been my least favorite so far.

The writing is still solid and there are moments that shine, but the characters didn’t feel as fleshed out this time. I had a hard time really knowing them, and the signature humor and snappy banter I usually love just wasn’t there in the same way.

Still, it’s Emily Henry — so even a slightly off one is better than most. The emotional depth is there, and it’s worth the read, especially if you're already a fan. Just don’t go in expecting the same spark as Beach Read or Book Lovers.

4 Stars
This was a solid mystery with a lot to keep me hooked. I really enjoyed the pacing, and there were plenty of twists and red herrings to keep me guessing. That said, I was a bit confused at the start trying to keep track of who was who — some of the character introductions blurred together a little.

The ending felt like it came out of left field, and not entirely in a satisfying way. It almost didn’t match the tone of the rest of the story. I also couldn’t shake the feeling that it was trying just a little too hard to be A Good Girl’s Guide to Murder — from the main character’s personality to how she approached solving the case, it felt a little too familiar.

Still, I had a hard time putting it down. The writing was strong, the mystery was engaging, and despite a few bumps, it was a really enjoyable read.

2 Stars

I really wanted to get into this one—the mystery itself is actually interesting and I’d love to read more about the case—but this book just wasn’t it for me. I was kind of bored throughout, and the narrator really didn’t work for me. The way it was delivered made it tough to stay engaged, even though I liked how the book was structured overall. It just fell flat in audio form. Definitely curious to learn more about the story, but not through this version.

1 Star
I wanted to love this so badly. The cover is absolutely gorgeous, and I’m usually all in for anything fairy or Faerie-inspired. But unfortunately, this one just didn’t work for me.

It was so slow, and the writing style made it really hard to follow what was actually happening. I found myself rereading passages and still not fully understanding the flow of the story or the magic system. It felt more like trying to decode a poem than enjoy a narrative.

Despite the beautiful premise and the potential, it just fell completely flat for me. If you’re looking for something immersive or emotionally gripping, this might not be it — at least it wasn’t for me.

1 Star

This one just didn’t work for me. It was so slow, which really dragged down the experience—especially for a haunted house story where I expected more tension and payoff. For this kind of horror, the pacing should’ve been sharper and more intense. Instead, it was honestly just a weird read that left me more confused than creeped out. That said, I’ll give it credit: it did give me a genuinely unsettling feeling a few times. Definitely don’t read it alone at night. But overall, it missed the mark for me.

2 Stars
I know this book is super hyped, but honestly… I just didn’t get it. It felt really slow, and I struggled to stay interested. I guess it just wasn’t my type of book.

I did think the interview format was unique and kind of cool — it made it feel like a behind-the-scenes rock documentary. But at the same time, that structure also left me a little confused at times. It was hard to really connect with the characters or follow the emotional depth when it was all told through quotes.

I can see why others might love it, but it just didn’t work for me.

4 Star

I was really excited to dive into this one after loving We Were Liars, but Family of Liars didn’t quite hit the same. It was a bit slow, and while I appreciate the atmosphere, the pacing dragged in places. The big “twist” didn’t shock me at all—I saw it coming—and I found it harder to really connect with the characters or get to know them deeply. That said, it was still a good read. I enjoyed being back in that world and learning more about the Sinclair family's past. Just not as gripping or impactful as the first book for me. Still worth the read, especially if you're a fan of the original.

4 star

I really enjoyed getting to dive deeper into the individual backstories of characters we met in Every Heart a Doorway. The focus on Jack and Jill’s story was fascinating, and I especially loved the dark, gothic world they found themselves in—it had strong Dracula and Frankenstein vibes that totally worked for me. That said, I did keep mixing up the twins from time to time, which made parts a little confusing. Still, this was a really strong installment in the series and added a lot of depth to characters I already found intriguing. Creepy, atmospheric, and beautifully written.

5 Stars 

I didn’t think it was possible to love this more than the first one… but I absolutely did. My Vampire Plus-One completely stole my heart—Reginald especially. He owns my heart, my soul, everything. I adored him. The story is the perfect mix of silly and sexy, with just the right amount of heart to make me swoon. Jenna Levine has such a fun, fresh voice and this book had me grinning, blushing, and totally obsessed from start to finish. I need more Reginald content immediately.