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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: Racism, Body shaming, and Fatphobia
Moderate: Infidelity and Domestic abuse
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: Eating disorder and Drug use
misskitty14's review against another edition
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: Murder and Domestic abuse
dreezy's review against another edition
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, Racism, Fatphobia, and Eating disorder
Minor: Domestic abuse and Ableism
shinysarah28's review against another edition
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: Domestic abuse, Ableism, 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
mrs_kornely's review against another edition
2.0
Content Warnings
Moderate: Domestic abuse
Minor: Racism
skelbea's review against another edition
lighthearted
mysterious
fast-paced
- Plot- or character-driven? Plot
- Strong character development? No
- Loveable characters? It's complicated
- Diverse cast of characters? No
2.5
This book is sadly almost a carbon copy of the first one. Same progression and not much character development. It wouldve been better as a stand alone. The mystery itself was solidly average. Not grounbreaking but not awful. Combine that with the outdated opinions on Indigenous people, fatphobia and an ableist slur, it make for a pretty disappointing read overall.
Content Warnings
Graphic: Domestic abuse, Murder, and Gun violence
Minor: Ableism, Fatphobia, and Racism
A character is a victim of domestic abuse. There are descriptions of said abuse in the book.