Boundless Thoughts

Hey there! I drink tea and read books. Currently residing in Sweden, I am just a girl who is trying to read both in Swedish and English while going through her daily personal and professional life. I post my honest reviews and opinions on Goodreads. And hopefully, through NetGalley and now Tumblr, I will have the chance to read and review more English books. For Book Reviews, e-mail: [email protected] Hashtags: #boundlessthoughtsbyantonette

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The Grape Tradition 🍇 by @thepatchflores ⭐⭐⭐⭐

Synopsis:

"Sometimes the silliest traditions lead to the most unexpected love stories—like eating twelve grapes on New Year’s Eve."

"Sometimes the silliest traditions lead to the most unexpected love stories—like eating twelve grapes on New Year’s Eve."

Elle Chen doesn’t believe in luck. So when her best friend, Beth, swears that eating twelve grapes on New Year’s Eve will bring a whirlwind romance, Elle rolls her eyes. But after Beth’s success, Elle figures there’s no harm in trying it herself. At a wine-tasting event shortly after, Elle locks eyes with Craig, a charming sommelier who checks all her boxes—adventurous, confident, and undeniably attractive. The connection is instant, and Elle starts imagining the possibility of a love story she’s never thought she deserved.

But as things heat up with Craig, Elle finds herself drawn to Ben—her longtime neighbor and friend, who’s always been there for her, whether it’s fixing her flat tire or sharing a late-night coffee. Ben’s quiet, steady presence has never made her think twice... until now.

What Elle doesn’t realize is that Ben has loved her for years, silently waiting for the moment she would finally see him. Caught between the thrill of new romance and the comfort of something familiar, Elle must decide where her heart truly belongs. With twelve grapes and a leap of faith, she’ll discover that love isn’t about luck—it’s about finding the person who’s been there all along.

In this heartwarming novella, Elle learns that sometimes, the love we’re searching for is closer than we think.

Review:

Thank you very much, Pat for giving me the opportunity to read your book. Not only that, you and your book took me out of my slump!

TGT is definitely one of the easiest reads I've had. I enjoyed my time, not only from the butterflies but also the nostalgia and familiarity it gave me. While reading, I could not help but imagine a K-Drama set in Korea and Cebu.

I wouldn't want to spoil much, but since I'm a huge fan of love triangles (and harem romance), I could not help but root for all the characters and ship Elle-Craig and Elle-Ben.

There were parts of the book that got me confused, and at times, it was just too fast for my taste. Given that this is a novella, I also understood why.

Overall, it was a good read. Easy 4-stars for me!

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Sylvia Locke’s Cinderella and the Evil Fairy Godmother Tairy Fails Book 2 David Horn

I received an advance review copy for free, and I am leaving this review voluntarily.

Synopsis: Fairytale Land's baddest girl is about to head to a prince's ball. A modern, twisted retelling of Cinderella.

Once upon a time in Fairytale Land, there lived Sylvia Locke—the baddest girl around. So bad that her grandparents have shipped her off to live with her uptight Aunt Marjorie and two goody-two-shoes step-cousins. When an invitation to the prince's ball arrives, Sylvia is determined to attend at any cost, even if it means enlisting the help of an evil fairy godmother (against Fairytale Land laws, but has that ever stopped her?).

Along this chaotic quest, Sylvia stumbles into some unexpectedly imperfect friends. But will she also learn to appreciate those who truly care for her? The second book in the Tairy Fails series of modern, twisted retelling that puts a hilarious, rebellious, new spin on the classic fairy tales. Perfect for elementary school kids and early chapter book readers.

Review: Sylvia is always up for an adventure. She is basically a walking trouble. Though I admit, her misfits were entertaining and got me hooked all throughout. The Wizard character was not what I had guessed. I really thought when the first book ended, that POV was from the Tin Man of The Wizard of Oz.

As usual, the writing was very easy to read and the story was easy to follow. Perfect for young readers.

I also felt that the second book has more graphics than the first and I am here for it.

Sylvia was sassier too. She got spunk.

As a romance girly, I rooted for Prince Quinn and Sylvia, but then again, this is a kids book so the ending was more fitting than what I had made up in my head.

Lessons to takeaways: Be honest. Owning up your actions is the first step of growing up. Have fun.

Overall, 4 stars. The 10 year old me would have enjoyed this book greatly.

[boundlessthoughtsbyantonette]

Dear Hades Hope Bolinger & Alyssa Roat

I received an advance review copy for free, and I am leaving this review voluntarily.

Synopsis: She' s a monster. He' s a mortal. Killing each other should be easy… right?

When Medusa and Tiresias rise from the Underworld as twenty-first-century teens and meet through Persephone and Hades' new dating app, it seems like a second chance. Dating is hard when you turn everyone to stone, but dating a blind prophet may be a loophole … even if he does occasionally spout dire prophecies.

But not everyone is pleased with an app designed to kindle romance between mortal enemies. As distrust grows between the heroes, monsters, and gods making up the app's user base, it' s easier to fall into old habits than fall in love. With pressure building on both sides, Medusa and Tiresias accept their kill their date, no matter how much they bond over their love of dogs or the way the gods have wronged them in the past.

Caught amongst meddling gods, murderous heroes, and a classic Greek bet, Medusa and Tiresias may have signed up for more than a dating profile. With war brewing at the hands of the gods, working together may be the only way to save mortals and monsters alike.

Told entirely through instant messages and transcripts, this is one mythically funny romantic comedy you don' t want to miss.

Review: I was definitely not expecting the story to be fully told in text messages. I was in for a ride. What a unique experience!

At first, it was a bit difficult for me to read and follow the characters but I eventually caught up. Also, I'm not very familiar with gods, goddesses and Greek Mythology so I cannot review the side of this book unfortunately.

However, based on my experience, reading this was fun, it was witty and very heartwarming. A quick read and a great palate cleanser. Rating: 4 Stars Can recommend.

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Kiss Me Thrice The New York Ballet Theater Pas de Deux: Book One Written By: Ellie Mack

Three unexpected kisses.

Two ambitious dancers.

One chance at happily ever after.

Lindsay Ferg lives by a simple no dating, no distractions, just dance. It works—right up until an injury sidelines her partner and jeopardizes her career at New York Ballet Theater. Now she’s stuck dancing Romeo & Juliet opposite David Powers. He’s the company’s biggest male star, Lindsay’s second-biggest regret, and the definition of distraction.

David doesn’t want to dance this season—not because of his history with Lindsay, but because his life is falling apart. But when NYBT’s director confides that the financial future of the company is dependent on the success of Romeo & Juliet, David has no choice but to grab his tights and get to work.

In the studio, sparks fly, lines blur, and an explosive stage kiss leads to an unusual arrangement. During the day, they practice choreography, and at night they focus on harnessing the chemistry that’s threatening to derail the performance. The distraction starts to feel suspiciously like dating, and for the first time in Lindsay’s life, dancing isn’t enough—but one wrong step could close the curtain on NYBT forever.

As opening night approaches, Lindsay can’t help wondering if she and David are as doomed as the lovers they’re portraying, or if there’s a happily ever after waiting for them in the wings.

Rating: ⭐⭐⭐.75, rounding up to 4 for Goodreads and Amazon

I may be a little biased since I automatically favor books that involve ballet as I am a ballerina myself. What more if it is a ballet romance, right?

So this book does not only involve the pros of being a professional ballerina, but it also deals with the hardship of being a dancer, being in a dance company, a dancer's struggle, and the politics (for lack of a better term) in the dance community.

I am not a professional ballerina so I cannot attest to the accuracy of being in a company, however, the dance terminology and the environment were very relatable on my end. The book started very slow and I had to push myself to continue reading. But then, Lindsay and David started having moments together and that was the game changer for me. What can I do? I'm a sucker for a prima ballerina and a male principal dancer romance.

Lindsay's OCD, David's family trauma, and both of their backstories made the characters more realistic. The romance between the two progressed slower for my liking but was very fitting for the story.

Also, there were pages that I had to fast-read, skim through, and sometimes skip (I am so sorry) because it became repetitive for my preference. My attention span was no longer on the story and a couple of times, I just wanted to know what and how things ended for David and Lindsay.

Overall, this book has a lot of potential. I am looking forward to the rest of the books in this series.

[boundlessthoughtsbyantonette]

Mermaid On A Mountain Top Written by: Sherri Eri Illustrated by: Nuratiqah Sabrin

Blurb: True love… scales… an enchanted mountain. What if you’re a mermaid, banished to the top of a mountain, and only your true love’s kiss can bring you back home to the deep blue sea? But what if you can’t even remember who your true love is, nor he, you?

Rating: ⭐⭐⭐ Disclaimer: The way the book was written does not work for everyone. Age Group: 3-8 Years

First and foremost, I love the concept behind this book. The author Sherri Eri and her brand Picture The Book create stories that allow visually impaired readers to picture the illustrations better while reading or when being read by someone else.

This book is more of a picture book than a typical children's book. Rhyming phrases and sentences can be found throughout. If this is not your cup of tea, this book isn't for you. As for me, everything was easy to follow and the words used were not overwhelming either. With the lesser number of words found in this book, the illustrations serve their purpose by helping ignite the imagination of a young reader.

The plot was very familiar to me. It is very cliche and predictable for adults. After all, it is similar to The Little Mermaid but make it very appropriate for toddlers.

*I received an advance review copy for free, and I am leaving this review voluntarily.

[boundlessthoughtsbyantonette]

Witches Garden Chaos by Laurel Lorenzini

Blurb: Join Mags, the witch doctor, and her quirky family on another thrilling adventure!

When word spreads of a possible sighting of Mags' missing daughter, Miriam, everything spirals into chaos for Mags, her granddaughter Bo, sister Flo, and their assortment of pets, including a dragon, cat, and lizard. With the arrival of wandering travelers and a troubled half-witch, half-plant, the situation only becomes more frenzied. Will they manage to restore order and locate Miriam? Dive into the excitement by grabbing your copy today!

Rating: ⭐⭐⭐⭐⭐

This book is by far the best ARC I've read this 2024. Wasn't expecting anything but ended up enjoying everything about it.

The characters, the graphics, the plot, the writing style - chef's kiss.

Despite being a Children's Book, I can see myself re-reading this and would probably get a physical copy of both the first and second book (if I could).

The characters were so whimsical yet also relatable at the same time (personally). The world building was also very interesting.

What I love most is the writing style. It worked well for me and I had my whole focus while reading.

Can highly recommend and excited for what's next.

*I received an advance review copy for free, and I am leaving this review voluntarily.

[boundlessthoughtsbyantonette]

Bluebell and the Missing Mermaid The Fairies of Therwen Wood: Book 3 By P. J. Reed

Can Bluebell, Billy, and Tobin rescue the mermaid and find the missing sun and moon? Join Bluebell and her friends on a secret wish mission to the Emerald Shore. Meris the Mermaid is missing, and the sunny seaside weather is broken. Bluebell tries to mend the weather with a bit of fairy magic, but it all goes horribly wrong, when the sun and moon disappear! Even worse, King Triton thinks they have stolen the sun and moon and sends the Sea Patrol after them. Can Bluebell, Billy, and Tobin rescue the mermaid and find the missing sun and moon?

-- 5 out of 5 Stars!

Thank you very much BookSirens for the Advance Reader Copy in exchange for an honest review.

Wow. This book is sweet and fun! Very well written too. Of all the children's books that I have read lately, the way this book was written is top-tier. Incomparable. Perhaps I am biased because I love fairies and mermaids, but I am truly amazed. I admit, I did not have the complete background of Bluebell as I have not read the first two books (though I would love to), but I felt like I got the gist after reading the first few chapters and got the information I needed to push through. I recommend reading from the start. Don't be like me.

I also love the names of the characters and their banter. It was very funny. The way the setting and how the story moved smoothly from one chapter to another is very creative. Hats off to the author.

This series deserves more acknowledgment. I have nothing but good words for this book.

Though I am confused. Does this book have two book covers? I prefer the one where the mermaid is holding a fish if so.

[boundlessthoughtsbyantonette]

The Bright Bay Mermaids: Anna's Secret By Jamie M. Kaye

Join Cassie and Anna on a journey filled with friendship, mermaid magic, and underwater adventures!

Cassie Lovato hates living on a sailboat. To make matters worse, her best friend moved away and she has to face the third grade all alone. But when the new girl in their class, Anna, tells Cassie that she lost something in the ocean and only someone with a boat can help her, it’s up to Cassie to come to her aid.

As their friendship emerges, Anna reveals herself to be a mermaid and has the power to transform Cassie into one as well. As a mermaid, Cassie discovers a whole new world of submarine wonders and learns a little about ocean conservation, too. Join Cassie and Anna on a thrilling adventure as they navigate the depths of friendship, uncover the mysteries of the sea, and embark on a journey of self-discovery.

With heartwarming lessons and breathtaking discoveries, "The Bright Bay Anna's Secret" is a captivating tale of magic, friendship, and the boundless wonders of the ocean.

Rating: 3.75 to 4.0 Stars

I was in my mermaid era when I decided to review and read this one. After reading a couple of mermaid children's and middle-grade books, I couldn't help but be attracted by the title and the cover. It was very eye-catching.

This book was an easy read, a quick one I say. However, it took me some time to get in the mood and feel the characters. Some parts were a bit slow for me and the overthinker in me was thinking too hard about the plot holes, when in fact, I shouldn't have to and should have just gone with the flow.

Overall, I enjoyed the book despite having left with a couple of unanswered questions. Maybe the next book will provide answers which I am ecstatic about.

The only downside with this book for me is that the graphics are very inconsistent. I understand that the photos were made by AI as said in the disclaimer. However, I would have preferred if Anna and Cassie's looks were the same throughout. In the end, it is just a matter of preference. Nonetheless, good job Jamie! I love your imagination. I am looking forward to reading Book 2.

[boundlessthoughtsbyantonette]

Sylvia Locke and the Three Bears Tairy Fails: Book 1 by David Horn

RED ALERT FOR FAIRY TALE LAND: Sylvia Locke is out and ready to cause mischief.

Once upon a time in Fairy Tale Land, there lived a very bad girl indeed. Sylvia Locke may have been abandoned by her adventuring parents but that’s no excuse for being mean to her loving grandparents, rude to everyone at school, and even bullying rare magical creatures. Right?

One day, when out on a break-and-enter job at the Bear family’s house, Sylvia happens upon a magical mirror that turns out to be more than she bargained for. Could even a kid like Sylvia find a friend? Could some warm and fuzzies change her heart?

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3.75 Stars but rounding up to 4 Stars To sum everything up, this is your modern fairy tale with fanciful twists!

Thank you very much BookSirens for the Advance Reader Copy in exchange for an honest review.

First and foremost, let's talk about the book cover, shall we? This is definitely what I would expect from a modern version of our beloved classic fairy tale. This gives whimsical, adventurous, mischievous, and classic yet modern.

I find this cover perfectly fitting with the story.

Now, the title. It is very catchy I must say, however, what does "Tairy" signify?

We all know that this was based on Goldilocks and the Three Bears and Sylvia Locke gives a nice ring for this modern version. The chapter titles were engaging and whimsical as well. I enjoyed each of them. All the places mentioned in this book were very funny too!

Moving on to the story and the plot itself - I love that Sylvia Locke has a backstory.

The story eventually unfolds everything and explains why things happened the way they did and why the main character acted specifically like that in specific chapters.

Most importantly, the book and the author, teach us valuable lessons which may differ from one person to another.

Why 3.75 Stars? There were parts I found messy and things were a bit all over the place. Some things were left unexplained and perhaps, I will find answers as the series continues.

This is a good book, don't get me wrong. It is perfect for kids and elementary readers. Sometimes, Sylvia and her attitude were just too much for me.

And at the Epilogue, did we get a snippet of Book 2? Exciting!

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Wishing you all a whimsical Easter filled with adventures from old and new worlds of your beloved books. Have a great one!

[boundlessthoughtsbyantonette]

Officially a Reviewer for BookSirens!

Shoutout and huge thank you to BookSirens and Anna – ARC reader extraordinaire! for expanding my book reviewer journey. After a few months of fur-ternity leave, I am very happy and excited to finally read ARCs and share my reviews once again. In fact, I am about to begin a Middle Grade book by the amazing David Horn. Very ecstatic to dive into this! Will be posting the review on Goodreads and Tumblr after Easter. Stay tuned for that!

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Book Sale: Prices and more books available at https://boundlessthoughtsbyantonette.tumblr.com/booksforsale

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Hi dear readers! <3 Hoping you all are doing great. I am still on Fur-ternity leave (what a fun journey it has been) for almost a month now. Thought I'd give some update and show you what I have been doing (on the side) as well. I have been preparing my very first Reading Journal and here are some of the books and labels I will be using later on. All of these are subject to changes anytime. I bet more books will be added! Do you have a Reading Journal too? Let me know below!

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Currently on Fur-ternity Leave. Will be back upon further notice. In the meanwhile, take care and happy reading everyone.

[boundlessthoughtsbyantonette]

And guess what we will be reviewing next week?

Baking Vegan Bread at Home Beautiful Everyday and Artisan Plant-Based Breads by Shane Martin

Pub Date 12 Mar 2024 Quarto Publishing Group – Harvard Common Press, Harvard Common Press

-- This book is perfect for me - a Vegan and an aspiring baker. Isn't that lovely? Stay tuned readers!

#BakingVeganBreadatHome #NetGalley #boundlessthoughtsbyantonette

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I just reviewed I Know Happy by Lindsay N. Giroux. #IKnowHappy #NetGalley

NetGalley helps publishers and authors promote digital review copies to book advocates and industry professionals. Publishers make digital r

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I Know Happy by Lindsay N. Giroux (Author), Alicia Teba Godoy (Illustrator)

Expected publication February 20, 2024, by Free Spirit Publishing

Synopsis Children learn to recognize and understand the feelings of happiness, excitement, and pride.

A young feelings detective looks for clues, both physical and emotional, to identify happiness, excitement, and pride in themselves and others. The child uses a special notebook to draw their feelings and identify how they feel. By noticing the clues, the feelings detective knows their sister is surprised and their grandma is excited.

We Find Feelings Clues Increase children’s emotional vocabulary and boost their emotional literacy. This series helps children learn how to find, notice, and use a variety of clues to identify and name their emotions and those of others. Clues are found in facial expressions and body language, sensations within the body, and knowledge of past experiences. After identifying an emotion, children also learn how they can feel better when their emotions are overwhelming. Each book features a child using the tool of the feelings detective notebook to record their feelings through drawings and words. Additional information and strategies on recognizing and dealing with feelings are included at the back of each book.

-- A huge thank you to NetGalley for giving me the chance to read this book in exchange for an honest review.

I Know Happy - what an intriguing book title. At the age of 25, this children's book made me pause and ask myself if I knew what happiness was. For a book, that is a good thing! It is an attention-getter. With a blank slate and no idea, I dove in. It made me curious what this whole book was all about.

Next, the cover made me all giddy. I like how cute the illustrations were. The only downside is that I am not such a big fan of orange. I would rather have it pink or blue, just a personal preference, but orange seems more fitting for the idea of happiness. Orange IS a happy color.

Right as I started reading the book, the concept of having my own feelings detective notebook was very enticing. The fact that it is not just applicable to young readers but to us adults is mindblowing. I should probably try it and apply it in my life. Until now, the idea is honestly still stuck with me and I cannot help but think about it. This children's book just completely makes sense that I want a hard copy and would recommend it to friends with kids and even adults for a light, quick, and meaningful read. This book was written simply and directly to the point. It doesn't drag or beat around the bush.

"Sometimes it's easy to know how I feel." "Sometimes it's hard."

Wow. Just wow. And I thought nothing would make this book even more relatable than it already is.

I also like the idea that this book encourages coping, like how the main character is into art. However, I wonder if the main character was left nameless to make it more applicable to all readers, and to make the imagination run wild.

Some parts of the book also include questions like - What activities help you feel happy or calm? When have you felt excited? Simple questions but huge enough to connect and make precious moments with the readers. Other feelings were also introduced, not just happiness, such as excitement, surprise, pride, and delight.

The different locations and characters made the book more interesting. I suppose it was the reason they were added in the first place. It worked. As simple as this book is, it makes such a huge impact.

Another part that I like about this book is that it invokes an author-reader interaction. Whenever the main character takes a deep breath, I do too surprisingly!

Now talking about the Author's Note, I never encountered one like this. I for one encourage exploring emotions at a young age. I am very pleased to have known someone advocating the same principle. Also, the ideas shared by the author at the end of the book are very precise and downright easy to understand. I would love to enumerate all but where is the fun with that? I shall let you experience and discover it yourself.

To the author and illustrator, thank you for a job well done. You delivered.

Overall Rating: An easy 5-star read!

#IKnowHappy #NetGalley