Book Review: All the Ice Cream in the Land by Emmy Kastner

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All the Ice Cream in the Land  by Emmy Kastner  is about a princess, the kingdom she lives in, and her loyal subjects. Full of twists and turns, children will surely delight in this story about ice cream. When I saw the title and cover art of this kid's book, it made me instantly think of my childhood and how I would've loved a book like this one. A huge shout out and thank you to NetGalley and Simon and Schuster Children's Publishing for approving my request to read this book. I received a copy for free in exchange for my honest review. The storyline is very easy to follow, making it especially suitable for toddlers, preschoolers, and early readers, particularly children between the ages of two and six. Its straightforward narrative and clear structure make it an excellent choice for read-aloud sessions at home, bedtime stories, or classroom story time. While there is limited character development, which is typical for a picture book format, the princess is still an intere...
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Book Review: Finlay Donovan is Killing It (Finlay Donovan, #1) by Elle Cosimano

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Book Club Book Review of Finlay Donovan is Killing It (Finlay Donovan, #1) by Elle Cosimano
Finlay Donovan Is Killing It (Finlay Donovan #1) by Elle Cosimano opens with a stressed-out single mother of two, Finlay Donovan, whose babysitter suddenly doesn’t show up. Already overwhelmed, Finlay heads to a meeting with her book editor, where their discussion of a fictional plot is overheard. Due to a misunderstanding, Finlay is mistaken for a contract killer and inadvertently accepts an offer to kill someone’s husband.

This novel was chosen as the August pick for the book club I belong to. I knew it was a popular book, but it’s not one I would have picked up on my own, even though it falls within my favorite genre. I struggled through the first 125–150 pages because the premise felt so far-fetched. It almost became a “Did Not Finish” for me, but I didn’t want to show up to book club without finishing the book.

That said, I was glad I stuck with it. There were parts I genuinely enjoyed, though I’m still not sure why so many readers found this book funny. To me, it felt extremely dark, and it reminded me a bit of the TV show Good Girls. Despite the dark subject matter, it’s a fast-paced novel that I finished quickly over a weekend, and I would still consider it a beach read.

Book Review Finlay Donovan is Killing It Finlay Donovan #1 by Elle Cosimano
One aspect I found particularly interesting was the contrast between Finlay and her babysitter, Vero. At twenty-two, Vero seemed far more put together than Finlay, who is thirty-one. I also found it strange that Finlay’s wardrobe consisted almost entirely of t-shirts, jeans, and sweats. How do you reach your thirties without owning any business-casual outfits or dresses?

There were several elements I really liked about Finlay Donovan Is Killing It. The relationship between Finlay and Vero stood out the most. I loved that Finlay had someone she could implicitly trust. The romantic subplot added an entertaining layer to the mystery, especially as I tried to figure out whether Finlay would end up with one of the men she was “dating.” I also appreciated the underlying theme of women supporting other women, although not in the context of murder.

Despite the far-fetched storyline and the main character’s questionable decisions, I ultimately gave Finlay Donovan Is Killing It (Finlay Donovan #1) by Elle Cosimano four out of five stars.

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