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unniechan's review against another edition
adventurous
lighthearted
medium-paced
- Plot- or character-driven? Character
- Strong character development? Yes
- Loveable characters? Yes
- Diverse cast of characters? No
- Flaws of characters a main focus? No
3.75
Content Warnings
Moderate: Domestic abuse and Murder
catbois's review against another edition
adventurous
mysterious
fast-paced
- Plot- or character-driven? Plot
- Strong character development? No
- Loveable characters? Yes
- Diverse cast of characters? No
- Flaws of characters a main focus? Yes
3.25
It would be charming if it wasn’t so problematic.
Content Warnings
Graphic: Body shaming, Fatphobia, and Racism
Moderate: Domestic abuse and Infidelity
chrissaay's review against another edition
funny
lighthearted
mysterious
medium-paced
3.25
Content Warnings
Moderate: Fatphobia
Minor: Domestic abuse and Murder
skunze's review against another edition
mysterious
slow-paced
- Plot- or character-driven? Plot
- Strong character development? No
- Loveable characters? No
- Flaws of characters a main focus? No
1.0
Content Warnings
Graphic: Murder
Moderate: Domestic abuse
Minor: Drug use and Eating disorder
misskitty14's review
lighthearted
mysterious
fast-paced
- Plot- or character-driven? Plot
- Strong character development? No
- Loveable characters? No
- Diverse cast of characters? No
- Flaws of characters a main focus? No
2.5
Maybe reading the series back-to-back was a bad idea...
In this second installment of the Hannah Swensen series, the author took a hard right turn into Hallmark territory and I was not a fan. The "love triangle" our main character finds herself in did not develop much; she's sort of seeing both men but nothing serious with either of them. We get suggestions of adult themes, but mainly of the pg joke variety (ex. If you're worried about the killer, you don't have to go home alone...) On one hand, I get it: both men are pretty boring and lackluster. But why bother to include it at all?!
The mystery this time has more going on with it, but I was really offended by how dumb she was this time around. Once we get a major break in the case, we immediately get introduced to a new character with direct ties to this clue but she is completely oblivious. Heck, at multiple times she acknowledges the growing connections but shakes it off for who knows what reason. I was just so angry with her.
However, what I found most absurd is how popular her cookie shop is! For living in a small Minnesota town I'm shocked that her cookie store (note: it isn't a bakery or coffee shop) is so busy in the morning AND she has to be mindful of the afternoon rush. Plus, I'm over the main theme of the series; I get it, she likes cookies, but they are everywhere and she treats them like drugs (she pushes them on her sister to calm her down and regularly tries to get her cookie/chocolate/sugar fix).
I MIGHT come back for the third book, but for now, I need to take a break from this saccharine series.
In this second installment of the Hannah Swensen series, the author took a hard right turn into Hallmark territory and I was not a fan. The "love triangle" our main character finds herself in did not develop much; she's sort of seeing both men but nothing serious with either of them. We get suggestions of adult themes, but mainly of the pg joke variety (ex. If you're worried about the killer, you don't have to go home alone...) On one hand, I get it: both men are pretty boring and lackluster. But why bother to include it at all?!
The mystery this time has more going on with it, but I was really offended by how dumb she was this time around. Once we get a major break in the case, we immediately get introduced to a new character with direct ties to this clue but she is completely oblivious. Heck, at multiple times she acknowledges the growing connections but shakes it off for who knows what reason. I was just so angry with her.
However, what I found most absurd is how popular her cookie shop is! For living in a small Minnesota town I'm shocked that her cookie store (note: it isn't a bakery or coffee shop) is so busy in the morning AND she has to be mindful of the afternoon rush. Plus, I'm over the main theme of the series; I get it, she likes cookies, but they are everywhere and she treats them like drugs (she pushes them on her sister to calm her down and regularly tries to get her cookie/chocolate/sugar fix).
I MIGHT come back for the third book, but for now, I need to take a break from this saccharine series.
Content Warnings
Moderate: Domestic abuse and Murder
dreezy's review
lighthearted
mysterious
slow-paced
- Plot- or character-driven? A mix
- Strong character development? No
- Loveable characters? No
- Diverse cast of characters? No
- Flaws of characters a main focus? It's complicated
1.0
Content Warnings
Graphic: Murder
Moderate: Body shaming, Eating disorder, Fatphobia, and Racism
Minor: Ableism and Domestic abuse
shinysarah28's review
funny
lighthearted
mysterious
medium-paced
- Plot- or character-driven? Character
- Loveable characters? Yes
- Diverse cast of characters? No
- Flaws of characters a main focus? No
3.75
Content Warnings
Moderate: Domestic abuse
Minor: Fatphobia
justineboots's review against another edition
funny
lighthearted
mysterious
medium-paced
- Plot- or character-driven? Plot
- Strong character development? No
- Loveable characters? Yes
- Diverse cast of characters? No
- Flaws of characters a main focus? No
4.5
I couldn’t resist following up the first book with the second right away and this did not disappoint. Another fun twisty small town mystery.
Just like the first there’s some very questionable/problematic dialogue/comments/humor. Again nothing that wasn’t acceptable at the time the book was published but that really doesn’t belong in modern literature. I’ll leave content warnings but it’s nothing really egregious.
The characters are well crafted and seem to be whole persons. The love triangle is very subtle and while this is not often a trope I enjoy, I’m appreciating it here. The plot was intriguing and the resolution satisfying. It definitely requires some suspension of disbelief in terms of luck and realism but that is the way with most cozy mysteries.
My only comment is that both this and the first book were set in winter of the same year and I read the description of the next book and it seems to be another winter setting. How many people are gonna be murdered in a small town in 3 months??? Hahahahaha
Just like the first there’s some very questionable/problematic dialogue/comments/humor. Again nothing that wasn’t acceptable at the time the book was published but that really doesn’t belong in modern literature. I’ll leave content warnings but it’s nothing really egregious.
The characters are well crafted and seem to be whole persons. The love triangle is very subtle and while this is not often a trope I enjoy, I’m appreciating it here. The plot was intriguing and the resolution satisfying. It definitely requires some suspension of disbelief in terms of luck and realism but that is the way with most cozy mysteries.
My only comment is that both this and the first book were set in winter of the same year and I read the description of the next book and it seems to be another winter setting. How many people are gonna be murdered in a small town in 3 months??? Hahahahaha
Content Warnings
Graphic: Ableism, Domestic abuse, and Fatphobia
robynn_leigh's review against another edition
funny
lighthearted
tense
fast-paced
- Plot- or character-driven? Plot
- Strong character development? No
- Loveable characters? It's complicated
- Diverse cast of characters? No
- Flaws of characters a main focus? No
3.0
Content Warnings
Graphic: Domestic abuse and Murder
Moderate: Child abuse and Drug abuse
Minor: Body shaming