Hidden Bookshelves

Category: Reviews

  • Review: Happily Never After by Lynn Painter

    Review: Happily Never After by Lynn Painter

    ​Happily Never After by Lynn Painter is a witty and heartfelt romantic comedy that follows Sophie Steinbeck, who discovers just before her wedding that her fiancé has cheated on her—again. Unwilling to confront the situation herself due to her future father-in-law being her father’s formidable boss, Sophie enlists Max, a professional “wedding objector,” to disrupt the ceremony by declaring, “I object!” -Penguin Random House

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    I recently read Happily Never After by Lynn Painter on Libby.

    This blog post main contain spoilers for it, so please read at your own risk.

    It follows Sophie as she hires Max, who as a side job, objects at weddings, because her fiancé cheated on her (and not for the first time) Afterwards, she gets in contact with Max and joins him as they become partners in crime. Of course since they’re spending so much time together they grow close and some feelings bloom, but here is the thing. Sophie does not believe in love. She never did. 

    I personally have been a romance kick and using Libby has made accessing romance books super easy while not having to buy them. This was, I think, the fourth book I read on Libby. 

    While the book itself was not the best written book ever (not Pride and Prejudice or Sherlock Holmes), it definitely kepy my attention and I found it to be very character driven. 

    I strive to have Sophies reaction if I had ever found out my fiance was cheating on me. Hiring someone to object at your own wedding and blast the reason why? Amazing. The fact that this book ends with a HEA with the person you hired to object at your wedding is hilarious. 

    Now what I did find odd in the book is that the best friend/maid of honor is the one who had known about Max’s side gig and had originally hired him for Sophie…but she isn’t really mentioned again? I feel like she should have been more involved in the story then just that  night of the wedding where the three of them get trashed. She just seemed to disappear after that and wasn’t really mentioned again.

    This I think is a he falls first trope and I love the way he (Max) approaches it. I also love the way he deals with her ‘senior’ roommates. He definitely could have been more communicative for one of the conflicts of the book. But obviously wasn’t because otherwise the conflict wouldn’t have happened in the first place. So miscommunication is another trope you see in this book.

    All in all, I did enjoy this light, funny book that I devoured in one evening (yes I stayed up way too late to finish it.)

    -Fallon

  • Why Libby Is Underrated

    As a new Libby user (I know surprised me too) I get some weird satisfaction from opening up the Libby app on my phone and seeing that folks are waiting for the book I’m currently in the middle of reading.

    I have been told for years now that I need to update my library card ( I let it expire by accident) and sign up for Libby. I never saw the appeal because I’m the type of person that wants to have the books on her shelf like some sort of trophy that collects dust.

    I also read a lot on Kindle Unlimited, but with the recent updates Amazon made, I want to reduce my ebook purchases through them, best way to do that? Libby.

    Libby is an app on your phone or tablet (you can also get the books to your Kobo) that allows you to connect your library card and get ebooks and audiobooks on loan just like you would at your physical library. So essentially with a little patiences you get access to free ebooks and audiobooks from your library without needing to leave your house (Bonus!)

    Just like at your local library the book you want to ‘check out’ may already be borrowed by another Libby user, but no fear, you can put it on hold! Meaning that when that book is returned it will go to your account! Some libraries will have multiple copies of the same book in attempt to cut down the wait time on popular books.

    When you check out a book there is a 14 day period where the book is in your account. If you don’t read/listen to it in that time then it is returned. You can return it early if you complete it before your time is up. 

    Access Multiple Libraries: Libby can be linked to multiple library cards, allowing users to explore different collections and access a wider range of titles. (Ask us how we know)

    One thing is that your library may not have access to a copy of an ebook you want to read, but you can put a notification on so that if/when it does become available to you, then you can borrow/put it on hold. (I already have four or five books I put this notification on.)

    I think that more folks should get involved with using Libby if they’re readers. Not only are you supporting your local libraries, but you’re helping reduce the profit (even if only by a smidge) of big businesses like Amazon who really only care about their profits instead of consumers experience. 

    I wish I would have started using Libby way sooner and would highly recommend it to anyone who has or wants a library card.

    -Fallon