About

Hello Bookworms!

Welcome to In The Solarium. This is a space to share my thoughts and feelings on the many different books I read.
On this blog, you’ll find book reviews, monthly wrap-ups, and other book-related blog posts.
So grab a cup of hot tea or coffee, a favored blanket to tuck into, and enjoy.
-Chelsea

Add me as a friend on GoodReads or StoryGraph to keep up with what I'm reading!

A little about me:

My name is Chelsea(she/they) and I am a 27 year old librarian at two different public libraries. At one I am in charge of the entire adult fiction collection so as you can imagine I try to keep my nose in as many review and publishing sites/services as I can. And try to read just as many if I can.

In The Solarium comes from my dream of one day having my own solarium where I can read books surrounded by plants while drinking tea or coffee all day.

I have been reviewing books on and off for about 5 years. I started seriously reviewing when I graduated from my undergraduate degree in 2017 when I wanted to relearn to enjoy something I had loved from my youth again. And this blog was born out of a need for direction in the middle of the pandemic. And after one of my coworkers turned me on to NetGalley to read ARCs… the rest was history.

Comments

A Beeline to Murder - Meera Lester

4/5 ⭐ I was a little nervous when I started it that I wasn't going to like it because some of the dialogue is a bit much but I was pleasantly surprised! The setting was wonderfully designed and you felt like you were there in Las Flores, walking downtown and visiting the cute and quaint places Abby visits in her quest to solve the murder of French-Canadian pastry chef Jean-Louis Bonheur. She is aided by the victim's brother and her former colleagues in the police department to uncover the truth. And the victim's adorable and excitable dog, Sugar. I liked how the book was dotted with recipes for not only baked goodies but other things like doggie treats, chicken wraps and how to treat a bee sting. I wasn't the biggest fan of all the cheeky dialogue between Abby and her best friend Kat. Or when it was used elsewhere. There is an overabundance of nicknames used. It felt over the top and after a while it was annoying. But that was probably the only part I wasn't a fan o...

One by One - Ruth Ware

3/5 ⭐ Possible Spoilers - Read with care Snowed in on the French Alps, a cozy chalet filled with execs from a social media company, and murder. What started as a intriguing murder mystery said to be inspired by one of the greatest mystery writers, quickly fell down the slopes the author wrote about. I had heard mixed reviews about Ruth Ware's novels, some said they were great, some said they were left disappointed. I thought it only fair to read one and see for myself. Unfortunately, I felt disappointed. This one was talked up a lot in it's homage to Agatha Christie's arguably best work 'And Then There Were None' which is why I decided to start with this one. Maybe that was my fault. Maybe I should have started with another one. But this one also sounded the most interesting to me anyways. It started off strong, introducing the characters and setting. Building the suspense before the first crime took place. But between the flipping back and forth POV and the dragge...

Payback's a Witch - Lana Harper

5/5 ⭐ Filled with a fantastical description, feisty characters, and a devious plan concocted by three spurned witches, this book is hard to put down. I am notorious for being picky when it comes to fantasy and romance stories, so finding one that was a combination of both that I loved was thrilling. Emmy Harlow has finally returned home in order to fulfill a centuries-long tradition in her family. I don't know if it was just me but I could feel the struggles Emmy was facing from page one. Harper managed to make her feel alive and genuine, which I am coming to find appeals to me when reading. Emmy fled her hometown nearly 10 years earlier and the wounds are still hurting. She's a little lost, a little pissed, and a little in love. Her homecoming is something she struggles with throughout most of the main story. The longing for a home but not knowing if it is the place she grew up in, the magical and wonderful Thistle Grove. Or if it is magicless, solitary Chicago to which she fl...

In The Solarium

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