Alice with a Why - Middle Grade Review

Goodreads: Alice with a Why by Anna James

Rating: Really Liked It (4 Stars)
Source:   Library

Description:  England, 1919. Alyce – with a Y – lives with her grandmother, the original Alice, having lost her father during the Great War. When a mysterious invitation to a tea party hits her square in the face, Alyce realizes her grandmother’s strange stories of a place called Wonderland might have some truth to them after all.

But the land Alyce finds herself in feels different from the Wonderland of her grandmother’s stories – for it is trapped in its own war. The Sun King and the Queen of the Moon are fighting over a stolen hour, and soon Alyce is tasked with setting it right. With the help of the Hatter, the Cheshire Cat and a Sailor Fox, Alyce will have to solve Wonderland’s problems and, eventually, find her way back home.

Enter an enchanting adventure through Wonderland. Starring new characters and old favourites, Alice With a Why is both a celebration of Lewis Carroll's beloved original story, and a modern masterpiece.

Genre: Middle Grade

Why I Picked This Book:   I've really enjoyed another book by this author and the premise caught my eye.

My Impression: To be completely honest I'm not a huge fan of Alice in Wonderland.  I love the story itself, and the Disney movie is one of my favorites, but the book itself feels a little bit like someone telling me about their dream in great detail.

With that in mind, this was a fun read.  It had all the madcap feel and world play of the original Alice story but with a new Alyce.  I loved the play on the different versions of Alice and I loved seeing the familiar characters.  There are a few moments of poignancy mixed in with the craziness.  I also really enjoyed seeing the original Alice in adulthood.  

This was a quick read that I very much enjoyed.  There's not a lot of character development but there is a lot of fun.  It'd be a good companion to the movie or the original book as well as being enjoyable on its own.  

Would I Read More of this Series/Author? Absolutely!  This is the second book by this author that I've read and I've really enjoyed both.

Would I Recommend this Book?  I would - especially if you're in the mood for a quirky middle grade.

Friday Fives - Five Quick Reviews for Books I've Read Recently

I'm in a list making kind of mood so I thought I'd start making random five lists.  Sometimes they'll be bookish other weeks not so much. This week I'm sharing 5 quick reviews for books I've read recently.

1.  Legend in Green Velvet by Elizabeth Peters - This may be my favorite of the standalone Peters books that I've read so far.  I loved the Scottish setting and the relationship between Susan and Jamie.  The mix of Susan's love for Scottish history and Jamie's disinterest was fun and the way Jamie's looks were used was really fun.  The mystery was a good one but got a bit lost in the chaos of all the escapes - which were so fun I didn't really feel the loss.  My Rating: Really Liked It (4 Stars)

2.  This Fallen Prey by Kelley Armstrong - This is the third book in the Rockton series.  I love the setup here with the town of people hiding for whatever reason who must survive essentially on their own.  The addition of a new person caused quite a bit of chaos and was an interesting plot device.  Armstrong is fantastic at pacing and this was no exception.  My only issue - which is very much a case of it's not you it's me - was the level of violence in this one particularly with incidents involving animals.  It was borderline too much for me which impacted my enjoyment of the read.  I don't mind some violence but the animal addition and just the constant presence made this book not the most ideal read for me.  I will read another book in this series but if it continues in the same vein I don't think this series is for me.  My Rating: Liked It! (3.5 Stars)

3.  Herbal Homicide by Fiona Grace - This the first book in the Penny Hawthorne series and I loved the premise.  Herbalist and tea shop owner, Penny Hawthorne, goes to Switzerland to create a line of teas for a resort and gets involved in a murder investigation.  Unfortunately, it just didn't work for me.  Other than occasional mentions of skiing it was very easy to forget where the book was set.  As well, Penny seemed oddly famous in Switzerland for a shop owner in New England.  If she was famous for her botanical work there was no real explanation of that.  Despite all that the mystery wasn't bad and it was entertaining overall.  What knocked it down a star was the fact I listened to the audio which was read by an AI voice.  The inconsistencies of tone, inflection, and emotional nuance where distracting as well as the random mispronunciations.  I will be more careful to avoid AI voices in the future.  My Rating: Just Okay (2 Stars)

4.  Summer Hours at the Robbers Library by Sue Halpern - The cover and the title pulled me in so I really didn't know too much about the plot going in.  It starts off with the beginning of the backstory of one of the characters that was a bit off-putting at first and I almost DNF'd it.  I'm glad I didn't!  Once I got through the first chapter I got to know Kit and Sonny and Rusty and all the other characters that live in the world of the library in small town New Hampshire.  Things are not easy and nothing ends wrapped up nicely in a bow but I really enjoyed the characters growth through the book.  I even enjoyed the backstory as it was woven into the story.  The audio is very well done and this is an author I would definitely read again.  It is kind of a quiet story that handles big topics with characters I found easy to like and to connect with.  My Rating: Really Liked It (4 Stars)

5. A Talent for Murder by Peter Swanson - This was my second book by Peter Swanson and I thoroughly enjoyed this wild ride of a story!  Every time I thought I had what was going to happen next pinned down it would take a sharp turn.  But with all the twists and turn the story never got confusing and the development made sense.  I discovered after I had started it that this is actually the third book in the series featuring Harry Kimball and Lily Kintner.  There may be some spoilers for the past two books but I had absolutely no issue jumping in with this one.  Their previous relationship had no bearing on the mystery and their past history is explained easily and without an info dump.  I thoroughly enjoyed this one and am looking forward to reading more of this author.  The audiobook was nicely done with multiple narrators.  My Rating: Really Liked It! (4.5 Stars)

Books from the Backlog - The Summer Retreat

Today I'm linking up with Carole from Carole's Random Life of Books for Books from the Backlog.  I really enjoy the chance to feature a book that's been hiding in the piles of books for far too long!

Goodreads:  The Summer Retreat by Sheila Roberts

Blurb:  Celeste Jones has plans for a perfect summer with her boyfriend (and hopefully soon-to-be fiancé)—until he dumps her to be with the woman he’s had on the side for months. Heartbroken and furious, Celeste resolves to move on. When the going gets tough, the tough…okay, the not-so-tough go to the beach.
As soon as school lets out for the summer, she waves goodbye to her first-graders, packs up her bikini and heads for Moonlight Harbor, where she knows her big sister, Jenna, will receive her with open arms. Jenna could probably use some help at the Driftwood Inn, and Celeste is happy to do chores around the place in exchange for a relaxing summer escape. She just needs something—or someone—to distract her from her troubles.

Finding The One can be tricky, and Jenna is determined to make sure Celeste gets it right this time around. Not that Jenna’s an expert. She’s still trying to sort out her own love life. But if both sisters listen to their hearts, eventually they’re bound to discover that life—and love—is good at the beach.

Why It Needs to Come Off the Shelf:  I have a couple of books by this author but I keep getting her confused with another author whose books I didn't enjoy.  This author's covers are lovely and the books always sound intriguing so I need to read one by her - and this looks like a great summer read.

What I'm Reading Right Now - May 6

I always have a few books going.  Here is what I'm reading and what I'm thinking about them.

Ebook

You Can Tell Me by Melinda Leigh - This is my first book by this author and so far I'm really enjoying it.  The pacing has been really good.

Print Book

The Dancing Floor by Barbara Michaels - I read this once so many years ago I don't count it as a reread.  I'm about halfway done with this one and I can see why I never felt like rereading it.  It's fine but I don't really care about any of the characters and the story isn't pulling me in just like Michaels books usually do.

Audiobooks

None.  Audiobooks just haven't been clicking with me lately so I've been focusing on podcasts.  I did finish All Shall Be Well by Deborah Crombie which I liked back at the end of April.

What are you reading right now?

Top Ten Tuesday - Ten Authors I Wish Were Still Writing

Today I'm linking up with Top Ten Tuesday hosted by That Artsy Reader Girl which is all about lists.  Since lists are one of my favorite things this is one of my favorite linkups!  Today's topic is Ten Authors I Wish Were Still Writing.  

1.  Agatha Christie - This feels mandatory.  Specifically, 1940s/50s Agatha Christie where she was really playing with different concepts and her mysteries were so beautifully detailed.

2.  Barbara Michaels - I love her Gothic-y mysteries and her stories.  I just wish there were more.

3.  Dorothy Gilman - I have one more Mrs. Pollifax book to read before I have finished the series and that makes me very sad.

4.  Patricia Wentworth - I'm almost out of new to me books by her and have read all the Miss Silver books and I really want more.

5.  Victoria Thompson - I love her Gaslight Mystery series and have really loved how she grew her characters and the world they live in. I was so saddened to hear of her death though I am glad I have a few books in the backlist left to read.

6.  Mary Roberts Rinehart - I love her classic mysteries with a Noir-ish twist.  I still have a few to read but am not in a rush because I don't want to be finished.

7.  Maeve Binchy - She has written two of my very favorite found family books and this is another author where I'm so glad I have books left to read.

8.  Lisa Kleypas* - This has an asterisk because she has a new book up on NetGalley which I am very excited about but I have missed her!  

9.  Kate Morton - I'm pretty sure she's still writing but I need her to write faster!  I only have one book left of hers to read and haven't heard of any release date for a new book.

10. Brynn Bonner - Her genealogy cozy mysteries are some of my absolute favorite and there are only 4 books.  I've tried to find other books she's written but with no luck.   I would love more books in this series.

Which authors do you wish were still writing - or which authors do you need to write faster?

The Library After Dark - Mystery Review

Goodreads:  The Library After Dark by Ande Pliego

Rating: Not For Me
Source:   Publisher

Description:  Aria Stokes is finally feeling settled—she lives in a tiny New York apartment, works as a bookseller at a local shop, and has even taken a leap of faith in love by indulging her attraction to bookstore regular Jasper. And he seems to already know her so well.

As a Valentine’s Day surprise, Jasper gets the two of them tickets to an exclusive, after-dark tour of the Daedalus Library—the grandiose establishment famed for its immersive genre-based reading rooms and, more notoriously, its rumored hauntings. While Aria normally loves all things ghastly, this place holds more dark secrets than she’d prefer Jasper to know. Like that the last time she was here, she left a body behind.

But when the automatic-door entry malfunctions and Aria, Jasper, and the five other people in their tour group become trapped in the library, they are forced to venture through the storied rooms and hidden passageways of the Daedalus in search of escape . . . and Aria quite literally has nowhere to hide from the shadows of her past. Then the group learns there’s a murderer in their midst.

Now, as she tries to break out of the library’s intricate reading rooms, Aria has to decide who she can trust—and what secrets are best kept buried—if she wants to make it out alive.

Genre: Mystery - Horror

Why I Picked This Book:  The blurb really caught my attention and how could I resist that cover?

My Impression: I wanted to love this.  I knew it was going to be a bit darker and potentially gorier than I'm used to but it's a haunted library with a very grim edge so how could I resist?  I was prepared for darker themes and more on page blood and violence.  However, what I wasn't prepared for and couldn't get past is that I just couldn't get into this at all.   I couldn't keep the characters straight and to be honest after a bit I didn't care enough to try.  

The writing style is very detailed with a lot of foreshadowing that I found frustratingly slow.  That said, from the other reviews I've read online it seems like this is either a love it or hate it kind of book.  Some people find the details and world building magical and very dark fairy tale-ish whereas others (me included) found it dull with hard to remember characters.    I think it's worth giving a try in case you're part of the former school of opinions but this may be one you try to find from the library just in case.  

Would I Read More of this Series/Author? No I don't think so.  I don't this author's style works for me.

Would I Recommend this Book? Yes, but with reservations.  This is one I would try and borrow or get a sample of before buying.

* I received this book in exchange for an honest review.  As always my opinions and impressions are completely my own. *

This Month in Reading - April 2026 Recap

Monthly Reading Total: 18 - This was better than I thought as I was pretty distracted this month.  I did finish the month strong, so I think that helped quite a lot.

Type:

Print: 7

Ebook: 5 

Audio: 6

Genre:

Mystery - 9 

Fiction - 8

Romance - 1 

Favorite Books of the Month:

Ms. Mebel Goes Back to the Chopping Block by Jesse Q. Sutanto - The beginning was a little slow but the last half was fantastic - especially the ending.  Mebel is a character that will stay with me.

Soyangri Book Kitchen by Jee Hye Kim - This was a lovely quiet book with delightful book references.  

This Month's Rereads:

A Caribbean Mystery by Agatha Christie - one of my favorites for a reason!

Jane of Lantern Hill by L.M. Montgomery - same as above!

A Witch's Guide to Magical Innkeeping by Sangu Mandanna - I was kind of meh on this book the first time I read it but it's definitely proof of just how much mood and expectations impact your reading experience.  This time I really enjoyed it.

This Month's Armchair Travel:

Domestic Travel:  I only visited one new state this month - North Carolina.  I revisited Maine, Connecticut, Kentucky, and New York.

International:  There was a lot of international travel!  I visited England 7 times, Australia, South Korea, Canada, and 1960s Barbados.

How was your reading for April?  Where did your reading take you?