My reading year is off to such a good start, and I’ve been finding so many good stories, I felt it only fair to share some mini reviews with y’all. As Spring creeps ever closer, we’re nearing the season of outdoor reading, and everyone knows you need good books for reading outside. {I’m very much looking forward to the first day of hammock reading. It’s going to be so good, y’all.}

The Blonde Identity | Ally Carter | Avon | 2023
I read the LitJoy TBR special edition of this one, which features the most fun sprayed edges and pink foil accents on the cover. {You can sneak a peek here}. The premise of this one is a girl wakes up with amnesia in a snowbank in Paris, gets chased by goons, and discovers she has an identical twin who is a spy on the run. So of course she joins forces with her twin’s former partner, and epic hijinks ensue. Is it ridiculous? Oh yes. It is amazingly good fun to read? Also yes. This one would make an incredible movie too, and I’m really hoping there will be another adventure.

The Kamogawa Food Detectives | Hisashi Kashiwai | G.P. Putnam’s Sons | 2024
True confession: the cover is what drew me to this one. Also a penchant for “foodie” books. After devouring this cozy little morsel, I know why it’s such a bestseller in Japan. It’s more a series of short vignettes than a true “novel,” with each section focusing on one person’s need to rediscover a flavor from their past. The detectives are a retired police detective, who is the chef, while his daughter conducts the interviews. It’s incredibly simple in terms of plot and substance, but there’s true heart and emotion as well. And the food. I don’t even know what 2/3 of these flavors are, but I still got hungry reading about them.

The Proof of the Pudding | Rhys Bowen | Berkley | 2023
The latest installment (#17!) in the Royal Spyness series is a blend of both food and mystery. Lady Georgianna {our unexpected, unlikely, sleuth} has hosted her first dinner party, debuting her newly discovered French chef to great success. So much success that a neighbor requests to hire this chef for his own upcoming party – which has very different {aka: deadly} results. Of course Georgie finds herself involved in the investigation (again), and it’s quite the mystery. This series as a whole is good fun, and it’s been lovely to trace the characters’ growth over many books.

There we have it: three enjoyable reads {and a whole series!} to give your spring reading a jumpstart. I’ve got a feeling there will be more mini reviews coming, if my reading streak continues.

What have you been reading and loving this year? Do share, there’s never enough books, and my hunch is outside reading season will be the best ever this year.

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