Book Review – Just the Good Parts by Robbie Couch

 

 

 

 

Just the Good Parts by Robbie Couch is about a high schooler, Caspen Coolsby, who is worried about his missing dad.

Caspen’s dad has been missing for a few months, and Caspen feels like everyone has given up looking for him except for him. When Caspen finally gets a lead on his dad’s disappearance, the clues come in a rather unusual and unlikely way.

Since his dad disappeared, Caspen’s mother has decided to rent out the upstairs apartment. Three college students move in, and Caspen’s mom welcomes them with candles. When the students light the candles, each one triggers a special memory for that student. While they relive their memories, Caspen is somehow able to join them and experience those moments as well. Caspen believes the memories are connected to his dad because no one loves candles more than his father.

While exploring the students’ memories, Caspen keeps running into a handsome boy named Lars. Lars is the only person in the memories who can see and hear Caspen. As the two try to make sense of the memories, the lines between reality and memories begin to blur. Will Caspen uncover the truth behind his father’s disappearance before it’s too late?

The book started off interesting, and I liked the idea of being able to view someone’s memories through an object they have a connection to. However, the story started getting a bit confusing, and eventually I began to realize where it was heading. I felt that some parts were unnecessarily confusing, and I wish the story had been more fleshed out. I would have liked more explanations about why those particular students were chosen and why Lars was there. There were several parts of the story that I felt could have been explained better. Overall, it was an okay read, but I think the execution could have been better.

 Disclosure: I received a free copy of this book in exchange for an honest review. All opinions expressed are entirely my own and were not influenced by the publisher or author.

November 2026 Empties

 

If you are wondering how I managed to finish so much this month, it's mostly because I forgot to do an empties post in October. So now, it looks like I did a lot of decluttering when I actually did nothing.

I will say that I fell into that hype of beef tallow, and it was not worth it. I got the beef tallow facial cleanser, face cream, and body lotion from HealthyDerm. It did absolutely nothing and performed subpar compared to other products in a similar price range. I think in the future I might get it again if it were on sale for a lot cheaper.

I got a few classics that I had when I was younger. I tried the Herbal Essences Rose Hip Shampoo and Conditioner. It smelled amazing and had a nice floral scent that lingered. I remember their fruity scents and loving them. However, the floral shampoo was a nice change of pace. 

I tried The Body Shop Shea Shower Cream. I used to get their stuff often when I used to work across the street. I was pleasantly surprised to see their stuff available on Amazon. The body cream had a cocoa butter scent. It was creamy but didn't do much moisturizing or lathering. It was rather disappointing. 

Lush Snow Fairy was an amazing body butter. It was thick and creamy but not greasy or tacky. It definitely is very expensive for a small container that was not filled up all the way. However, the scent smelled so good, and it was a cotton candy scent. I love how it lingered on my skin all day.  

Until next time.  

Book Review – The Fourth Wife by Linda Hamilton

 

The Fourth Wife by Linda Hamilton follows Hazel Russon as she becomes the fourth wife of Jacob Manwaring and discovers a sinister secret that taints their marriage.

In 1882 Utah, Hazel Russon’s life is defined by three things: the Mormon Church, polygamy, and the men who hold power over her. Hazel dreams of living a monogamous life with her childhood sweetheart and having the freedom to play the piano, even though the church considers it sinful.

She knows that it is every Mormon woman’s duty to obey her husband and remain devoted to him and her calling as a sister wife, especially if she hopes to attain eternal salvation. When she is summoned by a church elder, she fears what he might ask of her.

The church elder declares that it is godly for Hazel to marry a man she has never met and become his fourth wife. Hazel is happy to discover that Jacob Manwaring is attentive and handsome. However, she is shocked when she arrives at her new home and learns that she will be living with all of Jacob’s wives and children under the same roof, rather than in separate households as is customary.

Although Hazel is warm and caring, she senses tension and resentment among the sister wives. She then begins hearing strange music, catching glimpses of an apparition, and experiencing terrifying, bloody nightmares. As her nightmares and sleepwalking worsen, Hazel becomes unsure of what frightens her more: her husband or the sinister presence that seems to be haunting the house.

I thought the novel was an okay read, with some creepy moments. As a woman in modern times, I found it difficult at times to read about polygamy and how women were treated as second-class citizens in society/religion. The story moved a bit slowly in places, and I often felt like I was waiting on the edge of my seat for something to happen. While I liked most of the characters, they sometimes grated on my nerves when they slowly revealed information or refused to communicate with one another. Overall, I found it to be a spooky read and would be open to reading more books by the author.

Book Review - Venus Washington, Eye Spy by Maisha Oso

  

 

Venus Washington, Eye Spy by Maisha Oso is about a young girl, Venus Washington, who is nervous about going on a trip with her mother after she discovers she might be part alien.

Venus is excited when her mom tells her that they will be going on a trip. However, when her dad mentions that their destination is part of her name, Venus assumes he is referring to the first part of her name. She figures this must mean they are going to Venus and that she must be half alien. After all, she has heard that her mom has eyes on the back of her head! Venus is determined to find her mom’s extra eyes and prove that she is part alien.

This chapter book is a quick read for young readers. It is part of a series but can be read as a standalone. Similar to the other books, Venus takes things very literally, which leads to plenty of misunderstandings, mayhem, and chaos. Adult readers might find her behavior annoying, but I can see younger readers enjoying her misunderstandings and the chaos that follows.

 Disclosure: I received a free copy of this book in exchange for an honest review. All opinions expressed are entirely my own and were not influenced by the publisher or author. 

Book Review – Hardy Boys Clue Book Fall Mysteries 3-in-1 by Franklin W. Dixon

 

Hardy Boys Clue Book Fall Mysteries 3-in-1 by Franklin W. Dixon is a compilation of three short stories featuring two brothers, Frank and Joe, as they solve mysteries.

In The Bad Luck Skate, Frank and Joe are excited to cheer on their friends on the Bayport Checkers hockey team. However, the mood darkens when someone dumps paint all over the team’s lucky skate, and then their friend’s hockey stick breaks. The team’s star player and goalie begin to worry that their luck has run out. Has the team’s luck really run out, or is someone trying to sabotage them?

In The Pirate Ghost, the brothers’ friend Jason wins a treasure map during Bayport’s Pirate Palooza. However, Jason receives a warning telling him not to hunt for the treasure. Is the legendary ghost of Captain Scurvydog warning people of a deadly curse, or is someone more human trying to mess with Jason?

In The Great Pumpkin Smash, the brothers are excited to attend Bayport’s annual Boo at the Zoo party. They look forward to participating in the activities but are devastated to discover that all the painted pumpkins on display have been completely destroyed. The duo must find the culprit, or the annual event will be canceled.

The book took a bit of time to get into. I felt like the first story was a bit stilted and boring. However, as I read on, I found the other stories more enjoyable. I thought the last story was the best because it had better pacing and a more engaging storyline. The first story felt more like someone was presenting a case, giving us all the details, and asking us to figure out who the culprit was, while the last story read more like an actual story.

I do like that there are three short stories in one book, and I enjoy autumn-themed mysteries. However, since all three stories are included in the same book, I felt that some of the repetitive details weren't necessary, especially when the same information was repeated in every story. I also found Aunt Trudy’s character a bit bizarre and didn't understand why she was written that way.

I did enjoy the format of reading about the crime and the brothers’ investigation of the suspects, followed by questions that let readers guess who the culprit is before the answer is revealed. I was able to guess two out of the three mysteries before the culprits were revealed. Overall, I think this is a good starting point for budding mystery fans.

Disclosure: I received a free copy of this book in exchange for an honest review. All opinions expressed are entirely my own and were not influenced by the publisher or author.