I am so behind on book reviews! I probably will not go back and write reviews for all of the books that I have read in the past few months, but I did want to write a few short (some very short!) reviews for more recent reads.

The Kamogawa Food Detectives by Hisashi Kashiwai, trans. Jesse Kirkwood

Genre: Cozy Mystery

This was a fun quick read, but a thoughtful one. I thought the premise was so unique, and it was such a combination of so many things – nostalgia, memory, foodways, research and detective work, logic, all wrapped up in each meal. It was beautiful and poignant, and gave me a lot to think about. Have I had a meal that meant so much to me, that it could remind me of one moment in time so completely, that it could take me back to that moment if I ate it again, if it were prepared in the exact same way? Maybe? I am not sure! I did enjoy this book, but it did get a little repetitive. That is my only complaint! I am definitely glad that I read it. I also finished the book wanting to eat Japanese food so badly, so we might be doing that soon. It was more cozy than mystery and it felt perfect to read on rainy days.

The Love Remedy by Elizabeth Everett

Genre: Historical Romance

So I was thinking this would be just a simple historical type romance, and it was. It did however touch on much deeper topics more political and religious in nature, so I do not think this book is for everyone. When I was done reading it, I wasn’t sure how I felt. It wasn’t what I was expecting, and I think had I known, I would not have read it, simply because I didn’t want to visit those topics in what I had anticipated to be a fun read. It also sort of detracted from the actual story, or distracted from it. I am going to list the trigger warnings below in the next paragraph, because I want more sensitive readers to know before reading that this is something they will encounter should the choose to read it. It was not a poorly written book or a bad story, it was just not what I was expecting, and I probably would have liked it more without that storyline. A fellow book blogger said that other books by this author also delve heavily into the political realm.

Trigger warnings: off-page sexual assault of a 15 year old, off-page abortions by means of bringing on menses

Flowerheart by Catherine Bakewell

Genre: Cozy Fantasy, YA

Oh, this was such a delightful read! I read it so quickly, and it was just so refreshing and easy, which was exactly what I needed after reading The Love Remedy. Clara Lucas has a wild magic, one that gets out of control most of the time. After accidentally cursing her father, she needs to find be able to harness her magic and cure him. However, most of the witch council is ready to take her magic from her, just when she needs it most. She finds a teacher in her old friend Xavier, who has a mystery of his own that he is struggling with. Despite sounding like this will be a tense read, it really isn’t. It is a YA book and a fast read, one that is pure escapism, and full of flowers and love. Clara has a very strong and kind spirit, and I just enjoyed her relationship with her father so much.