Tuesday, February 18, 2025

Top Ten Tuesday: Books I Never Reviewed

Welcome to this week's edition of Top Ten Tuesday which is hosted by That Artsy Reader Girl. This week's them is Books I Never Reviewed. When I set my reading/blogging goals this year, I said that I wanted to make sure that I reviewed all the historical fiction I read and all the books by Aussie authors. So far, I have well and truly exceeded that and have reviewed just about everything I have read. It isn't my intention to go back to reviewing every book I read as there is too much "I am so far behind" pressure that comes with that, but when it happens organically....great.


So I will start with the couple of things I have read but not reviewed this year, and then go back to last year's list to see what I can find there!



The Wedding People by Alison Espach - I read this a couple of weeks ago and absolutely loved it! It's a 5 star read for me. I intend to review this later this week.

Never Want to Sea You Again by Leonie Woods - This is a short story freebie from the author's Substack page. It's a fun, forced proximity romance. One fun thing is that you can choose if you want to read the spice version or the not so spicy version of the story! I chose the spicy version. A billionaire's secret daughter hides on board a yacht and finds herself in the middle of the ocean with a grumpy sailor! 

The Venice Hotel by Tess Woods - I read this towards the end of last year and really enjoyed it! It brings together a group of characters in a Venice hotel at Christmas time and they end up having to work together to help one of the guests. It was darker than I expected but very good!

The Missing Sister by Lucinda Riley - You know, I have read all but the last book in this series and never reviewed any of them! I listen to them all on audio and they are big books. I do find the accents that are used, and the fact that there are different narrators for every audiobook, a bit odd. Maybe when I finish the series I will do some kind of retrospective review!

The Last Night in London by Karen White - I meant to pick up a Madeline Martin book when I started this one, but I liked it nonetheless!

The Ex Factor by Rachael Johns - This was another free short story and is still available on Substack. In this story a woman returns to the town and the husband she left behind so that she can get her divorce papers signed. This one was a bit spicy too!




Before We Forget Kindness by Toshikazu Kawaguchi - This is part of the Before the Coffee Gets Cold series. I have reviewed a couple of them but not all of the. Seeing this author at Melbourne Writers Festival was one of my bookish highlights of last year. I listen to this series on audio too!

The Lost Bookshop by Evie Woods - Another audio read. I liked this one, without loving it. It's about a bookshop that has disappeared and a modern quest to find out what happened there. I am super excited about Evie Woods next book which is out soon called The Mysterious Bakery on Rue de Paris!

The Last List of Mabel Beaumont by Laura Pearson - Yes, another opportunity to gush about how amazing Laura Pearson is. I have now read three of her books and they are all so unusual with really imaginative ideas! And, of course, great reads! My favourite is The Beforelife of Eliza Valentine, but this comes a close second.

The Yellow Wood by Minnie Darke - I have been a huge fan of Aussie author Minnie Darke since I read The Lost Love Song which is an absolutely beautiful book. This was an Audible only book about a free spirited woman who doesn't want to be tied down to anyone or anywhere and the artist who loves her and is trying to move on.

The Presidents Hat by Antoine Laurain - Over the last couple of years I have become a bit of an Antoine Laurain fan girl. There's every chance I will still review this for Paris in July later this year.


And yes, I know that is eleven choices but I thought I would throw in an extra given that two of them are short story freebies from the authors!

Have you read any of these?




35 comments:

  1. I agree with you that Antoine Laurain offers books that are fun to read. I have to check if I missed any! I'm very amused at the huge number of authors who write about going to Paris (or a French provincial town) and opening either a book store or a bakery. Or a similar story -- book shop, bakery, English-speaking girl. You seem to have found someone who is writing BOTH of these repeated tales. I await your judgement. I try very hard to stick with books by French authors if the subject is Paris, but I don't always manage.
    best... mae at maefood.blogspot.com

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    1. I am happy to read those types of stories. They help me feel like I am visiting France much more than I ever will be able to!

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  2. I was feeling overwhelmed by how behind I was on reviews, but decided this year to let that go. If I go back and review them, great; if not, that's okay too. Your list here reminds me of books I want to read that I haven't gotten to yet. That's a different sort of problem though. Haha!

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    1. 100%! I don't feel the pressure that I did back in the day to review everything. I will mention the books in posts when I am reading them and if I review them one day... great! If I don't...great!

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  3. There are about 500 people ahead of me at the library for The Wedding People!

    I wonder why Minnie Darke did an Audible only book. It seems limited for someone still building her audience but I suppose it is part of Amazon/Audible's plan to take over the world.

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    1. There are quite a lot of Audible only stories out there these days. Part of the Amazon push to be a publisher I guess!

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  4. One of these days I have to try Kawaguchi...

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    1. Yes! Or one of the other similar style stories out there!

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  5. I just checked out The Wedding People. I hope I feel like reviewing it. Sometimes I don't write reviews because I am lazy and other times I just can't figure out anything interesting to say.

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    1. Sometimes 5 star reviews are hard to write other than to say I loved it! And I hear you on the reasons for not writing reviews but really, unless we have committed to writing one, it really is okay if you just can't for some books!

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  6. I enjoyed reading The Lost Bookshop, but didn't feel compelled to write an in-depth review of it.
    Pam @ Read! Bake! Create!
    https://readbakecreate.com/favorite-mysteries-i-read-in-2024/

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  7. I felt that The Lost Bookshop had a really misleading title - much more about Witchcraft.
    https://clairehennighan.wordpress.com/2025/02/18/books-i-never-reviewed/

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    1. I didn't see witchcraft but I also didn't love it.

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  8. The Yellow Wood sounds good.

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  9. I'm not always sure how some books slipped through the cracks, especially books that I read multiple times!

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  10. I haven't read any of these but nice list and Never Want to Sea You Again looks especially fun. I like that you can choose which version to read.

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    1. I hadn't seen that option to choose between spice levels before. It was a good idea!

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  11. I have not read these but what gorgeous covers! I am actually impressed with those of you who find time to read and review books PLUS read more books you haven't reviewed, lol. I barely get the read and reviewed part done. Sigh....maybe when I work from home or retire one day?? Great list Marg!

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    1. LOL Shellie! The key is to try and find the right balance to you so it doesn't become a chore or pressure. Regardless of anything reading is supposed to be fun and something that fills your cup!

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  12. Laurain is great!
    I wanted to use this chance to review 10 books, but then got busy with soemthing else!

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    1. I am counting my comments about the two short stories as reviews! lol

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  13. The Last Night in London is one of the few Karen White books I haven't read. Really need to catch up on The Royal Street series. I have wanted to read The Lost Bookshop for a while. Thanks for sharing your great list.

    https://thebookconnectionccm.blogspot.com/2025/02/top-ten-tuesday-top-ten-books-ive-never.html

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    1. I read some of her early books set in Charleston but it had been a while since I read one!

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  14. I found The Seven Sisters a hastle to review, so I didn't do this either.

    My TTT: https://laurieisreading.com/2025/02/18/top-ten-tuesday-books-i-never-reviewed-on-this-blog/

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  15. I love the sound of THE LOST BOOKSHOP, but I've seen mixed reviews. I'm glad you liked it even if you didn't love it.

    Happy TTT!

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    1. Mixed is probably a fair word to use for that book!

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  16. I have President’s Hat on my tbr! ~Carol @ReadingLadies

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  17. I'm listening to The Lost Bookshop just now. I'm enjoying both timelines but not sure if the magical elements to it add anything. Maybe it will make more sense when I'm finished!

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    1. I'll be interested to hear what you think Joanne!

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  18. The Wedding is on my list to read soon!! I made it a part of a challenge to hopefully force me to get to it this year. haha. I'm glad you loved it!

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