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Fix-It Witches #4
The Only Purple House in Town
Iris Collins is the messy one in her family. The "chaos bunny." Her sisters are all wildly successful, while she can't balance her budget for a single month. It's no wonder she's in debt to her roommates. When she unexpectedly inherits a house from her great aunt, her plan to turn it into a B&B fails—as most of her plans do. She winds up renting rooms like a Victorian spinster, collecting other lost souls...and not all of them are "human."
Eli Reese grew up as the nerdy outcast in school, but he got rich designing apps. Now he's successful by any standards. But he's never had the same luck in finding a real community or people who understand him. Over the years, he's never forgotten his first crush, so when he spots her at a café, he takes it as a sign. Except then he gets sucked into the Iris-verse and somehow ends up renting one of her B&B rooms. As the days pass, Eli grows enchanted by the misfit boarders staying in the house...and even more so by Iris. Could Eli have finally found a person and a place to call "home"?
Eli Reese grew up as the nerdy outcast in school, but he got rich designing apps. Now he's successful by any standards. But he's never had the same luck in finding a real community or people who understand him. Over the years, he's never forgotten his first crush, so when he spots her at a café, he takes it as a sign. Except then he gets sucked into the Iris-verse and somehow ends up renting one of her B&B rooms. As the days pass, Eli grows enchanted by the misfit boarders staying in the house...and even more so by Iris. Could Eli have finally found a person and a place to call "home"?
368 pages, Paperback
First published July 11, 2023
1004 people are currently reading
19919 people want to read
About the author
Ann Aguirre
81 books7,064 followersNew York Times and USA Today bestselling author Ann Aguirre has been a clown, a clerk, a savior of stray kittens, and a voice actress, not necessarily in that order. She grew up in a yellow house across from a cornfield, but now she lives in Mexico with her family. She writes all kinds of genre fiction, but she has an eternal soft spot for a happily ever after.
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Displaying 1 - 30 of 1,794 reviews
May 7, 2023
✨The Only Stalker in Town (Hopefully) ????✨
This book was a hot mess. Right out of the gate, I was so disturbed by Eli admitting to stalking Iris. The author tried to excuse it as a quirk and something completely innocent, but I was unsettled. The rest of the book was boring, the fantasy elements were random and confusing, and the found family wasn’t cozy enough to keep me engaged. It’s also book 4 in a series, but the cover didn’t look like the others so I thought it was separate.
I’ve read so many contemporary “soft” fantasies where the heroine doesn’t have powers (for now) and has a really shitty mother. The Only Purple House In Town was no different. That setup is so TIRED. Give me heroines with agency, self confidence, and a metric fuckton of powers.
The writing style didn’t work for me either. The book was in third person POV (dual between Eli and Iris), but it used too many first person italicized thoughts. Just write the book in first person then! The italics were annoying and pulled me out of the story, and in Eli’s case they creeped me the hell out. They turned him into a weirdly patronizing simp.
✨
Eli was a legitimate STALKER. He was CREEPY and OBSESSED. It was NOT a turn on. He openly admitted to himself that he’d be creeped out if someone had been looking at his social media accounts for YEARS like he was doing to her. Yet when she found out he was like haven’t you also kept tabs on people? It’s not weird! Yeah buddy people she had actually relationships with. And she wasn’t stalking them online monthly for years.
Exhibit A:
But over the years, he never lost track of Iris.
Eli had developed this habit of checking out her social media. Once a month, no more.
This dude and her had one interaction when he was ten and she was twelve, she didn’t even remember it, and he idolized her ever since. Then he moves in with her and tries to support her financially without telling her the truth until like 80% because she overhears his lies. She rightfully kicks him out but then blames HERSELF for being too harsh because “he’s not perfect but neither am I. ❤️”
I could tell that the author knew some readers (me) would find this man creepy, so she kept trying to make him self aware by admitting his creepy stalker ways. That doesn’t work!! It actively makes it worse because he acknowledges he’s in the wrong but KEEPS DOING IT. His actions in the book made him the “hero” but in any other book he’d be the villain.
Exhibit B:
What she doesn't know won't hurt her, right?
He was acutely aware that he might come off as a stalker or a creep if he explained things wrong, as he often did. Frequently, words were his enemy, and the last thing he wanted was to upset or frighten her.
Hell, I'd be alarmed if someone told me they'd been reading my socials for that long.
And then I moved in with her...
Exhibit C:
How am I supposed to tell her the rest without her concluding I'm a stalker or a creep or both?
Exhibit D:
"You've been stalking me online? For years, it seems." She took a step back, hands out as if to ward off his weird, obsessive tendencies.
Eli moved away as well, not wanting her to feel pressed. "No! Haven't you randomly wondered about someone you used to know and searched their name?"
Iris sighed. "Okay, I admit it. But only with certain exes. Like, I do sometimes wallow in anger and regret and look at pictures Dylan and Lily have posted."
✨
Overall, nothing about this book worked for me. The end tried to do SO MUCH and it made my brain hurt. The fantasy elements weren’t strong enough to warrant that wild af ending (that still didn’t convince me of Iris’s agency but whatevs). The found family was disrupted by terrible neighbors and went off in so many tangents that it lost the focus. The romance was the kind that mentions Love after one kiss. The book tried to do way too much, namely trying to convince me that stalking is both normal and attractive. It was too boring to hate enough to make it a one star read. But it sure was close.
⭐️.5/5 0🌶️*/5
*The book is entirely closed door and all we got was that their bodies became one.
P.S. Also this woman needed rent money but she kept letting people work to reduce their rent. I get she’s a good person but the rent was so low already and I guess I’m just not nice enough 😭
P.S.S. I already didn’t buy that her jewelry business warranted another employee, but the fact that they charmed it with a viral spell to actually make it profitable???? I had to LAUGH. That’s so unserious.
P.S.S.S. Oh yeah, he’s a HAWK shifter and the language was vague enough to where I can credibly think that they had sex as hawks. No one tell me differently.
Thanks to the publisher for an eARC via NetGalley. All opinions are honest and my own.
Disclaimer: All quotes were taken from the ARC and are subject to change, but the note at the beginning said it is the final manuscript intended for prepublication review. They didn’t ask advanced readers not to quote, as unfinished arcs do.
This book was a hot mess. Right out of the gate, I was so disturbed by Eli admitting to stalking Iris. The author tried to excuse it as a quirk and something completely innocent, but I was unsettled. The rest of the book was boring, the fantasy elements were random and confusing, and the found family wasn’t cozy enough to keep me engaged. It’s also book 4 in a series, but the cover didn’t look like the others so I thought it was separate.
I’ve read so many contemporary “soft” fantasies where the heroine doesn’t have powers (for now) and has a really shitty mother. The Only Purple House In Town was no different. That setup is so TIRED. Give me heroines with agency, self confidence, and a metric fuckton of powers.
The writing style didn’t work for me either. The book was in third person POV (dual between Eli and Iris), but it used too many first person italicized thoughts. Just write the book in first person then! The italics were annoying and pulled me out of the story, and in Eli’s case they creeped me the hell out. They turned him into a weirdly patronizing simp.
✨
Eli was a legitimate STALKER. He was CREEPY and OBSESSED. It was NOT a turn on. He openly admitted to himself that he’d be creeped out if someone had been looking at his social media accounts for YEARS like he was doing to her. Yet when she found out he was like haven’t you also kept tabs on people? It’s not weird! Yeah buddy people she had actually relationships with. And she wasn’t stalking them online monthly for years.
Exhibit A:
But over the years, he never lost track of Iris.
Eli had developed this habit of checking out her social media. Once a month, no more.
This dude and her had one interaction when he was ten and she was twelve, she didn’t even remember it, and he idolized her ever since. Then he moves in with her and tries to support her financially without telling her the truth until like 80% because she overhears his lies. She rightfully kicks him out but then blames HERSELF for being too harsh because “he’s not perfect but neither am I. ❤️”
I could tell that the author knew some readers (me) would find this man creepy, so she kept trying to make him self aware by admitting his creepy stalker ways. That doesn’t work!! It actively makes it worse because he acknowledges he’s in the wrong but KEEPS DOING IT. His actions in the book made him the “hero” but in any other book he’d be the villain.
Exhibit B:
What she doesn't know won't hurt her, right?
He was acutely aware that he might come off as a stalker or a creep if he explained things wrong, as he often did. Frequently, words were his enemy, and the last thing he wanted was to upset or frighten her.
Hell, I'd be alarmed if someone told me they'd been reading my socials for that long.
And then I moved in with her...
Exhibit C:
How am I supposed to tell her the rest without her concluding I'm a stalker or a creep or both?
Exhibit D:
"You've been stalking me online? For years, it seems." She took a step back, hands out as if to ward off his weird, obsessive tendencies.
Eli moved away as well, not wanting her to feel pressed. "No! Haven't you randomly wondered about someone you used to know and searched their name?"
Iris sighed. "Okay, I admit it. But only with certain exes. Like, I do sometimes wallow in anger and regret and look at pictures Dylan and Lily have posted."
✨
Overall, nothing about this book worked for me. The end tried to do SO MUCH and it made my brain hurt. The fantasy elements weren’t strong enough to warrant that wild af ending (that still didn’t convince me of Iris’s agency but whatevs). The found family was disrupted by terrible neighbors and went off in so many tangents that it lost the focus. The romance was the kind that mentions Love after one kiss. The book tried to do way too much, namely trying to convince me that stalking is both normal and attractive. It was too boring to hate enough to make it a one star read. But it sure was close.
⭐️.5/5 0🌶️*/5
*The book is entirely closed door and all we got was that their bodies became one.
P.S. Also this woman needed rent money but she kept letting people work to reduce their rent. I get she’s a good person but the rent was so low already and I guess I’m just not nice enough 😭
P.S.S. I already didn’t buy that her jewelry business warranted another employee, but the fact that they charmed it with a viral spell to actually make it profitable???? I had to LAUGH. That’s so unserious.
P.S.S.S. Oh yeah, he’s a HAWK shifter and the language was vague enough to where I can credibly think that they had sex as hawks. No one tell me differently.
Thanks to the publisher for an eARC via NetGalley. All opinions are honest and my own.
Disclaimer: All quotes were taken from the ARC and are subject to change, but the note at the beginning said it is the final manuscript intended for prepublication review. They didn’t ask advanced readers not to quote, as unfinished arcs do.
Read
September 2, 2023DNF @15% bc WHY is the male love interest a stalker basically?? He’s been checking in on her socials for years, regularly. And then be signs up to her roommate even tho he has his own home(s)!? WEIRDO behavior. No thanks!
August 7, 2023
So. Well. I have lots of thoughts on this one. Buckle up.
The Cover:
This is what sold the book to me. Later found out it was the 4th book in a series, but I have zero interest in any of the books before this one, so I pre-ordered just this one. I love the purple and the overall cozy vibe of the cover and the house, though I will say that there are slight spoilers if you're curious about the supernaturals living in the house.
Printing Issues:
I've never before had an experience significant enough to include in a review, but the quality control on this book (at least the edition I received) was lacking. Pages 139-170 were bolded for no reason. This affected the text, the chapter headers, the page numbers; but did not affect the author name or book title on each page. It wasn't a flashback or anything either, just weird and kinda eyestrain to read. Then on page 171/172, there was a hole in the page. It was in a space without words for 171, but in the middle of the sentence on the backside of the page. So that was not great.
The Writing:
Overall I'm not looking for high quality writing from a book like this. It was generally competent, but it could lean rather simple and repetitive. There was a sentence that was something like "faint smile at the faint rain" that would have been highly marked down by my sixth grade English teacher (I hated it at eleven, but I can't deny that Ms. Ziegler's rules made my writing better; the absolute red pen that would have been used for starting multiple sentences in a paragraph with the same word in this book... I dread to imagine). And just generally a lot of being told something, often 4+ times, instead of being shown.
General Issues:
- How Money Works
This is a book that takes place in the modern day, presumably on the East Coast, in a location that is at least in a timezone 2hrs ahead of New Mexico. They have cellphones and wifi and entirely modern conveniences. Iris cannot afford her phone bills or rent, but she manages to pay for a full house cleaning by a team of professionals that spend hours there. Additionally, at a yard sale mid-book, she's shocked that someone would buy the bed, dresser, and mattress from one of the rooms for $50 total. Total. And she mentions that she "had the mattress recently cleaned." I'm sorry, but in what world did the mattress get cleaned for less than $50???
There's also zero mention of inheritance taxes (there's a reason a lot of people sell the house they inherit-- because they can't afford to pay the taxes out of pocket and depend on proceeds from the sale). There's also zero mention of property taxes that she has to budget for. And trust me, we get into budgeting for quite a lot of things, as it's kinda crucial to the plot, so I don't think the author overlooked it. I think she genuinely doesn't realize that a five bedroom house in New England will cost thousands of dollars to the government per year (definitely over $5k) just to exist.
- Forced Inclusivity
I love all the queer rep that we got in this book, but a lot of it felt very forced and like the author was soapboxing at me. I share the same views, so it's not like I'm mad at the messaging, just the delivery? For example: Iris has a very uncharacteristic conversation -with no segue- to just ask the elderly gent why he's able to correctly gender the non-binary person. And it just feels really weird and preachy.
- "Real" Family
Which then brings me to the family element, where they also preach several times that 'this is how real family should act' or criticizing a family and berating them to their face on how family should act such and such way instead. But then it ALSO has conversations about how your found family is more important anyway. And then ALSO (spoilers) a character finds out that they're not biologically related to their family so the other characters start talking about finding their "real" family (referring to their bio-parents). Which is such a loaded and judgmental term and I hate it. For all the messaging in this book, they should absolutely know better than to use that terminology.
Beating a Dead Horse:
I hope you weren't tired of hearing about "found family" because it's definitely a topic that comes up a LOT. Not only do we get all up in everyone's personal family history (making judgments on good and bad families, and which are "real") the characters also call themselves on page and additionally in dialogue with one another a found family. And then a character makes an app called Found Family, no less! There's cheesy, and there's obvious, and there's repetitive. And unfortunately the writing feels much more the latter two than the former. Not to mention that it does it constantly with basically any topic; there is no nuance, and there's a lot of repetition.
Note: If you like The Fast and the Furious and how much they talk about family, maybe this book is for you! Not quite as many car chases and explosions, though (ie none).
The Romance:
For as much as this felt like it was supposed to be a romance, and each chapter has the POV of both love interests, the romance felt super rushed and not fleshed out. We don't do anything to unpack his stalker behaviour since they were kids, they don't discuss their hopes and dreams for the future, they just immediately fall into domestic life at the same time they do with all the housemates but I guess in this case it's love? Idk, man. I was here for it, but then it really took a backseat to all the "Family" and house repairs.
Did I Like Anything In This Book?:
I like the communal living and idea of this gaudy purple house that everyone is repairing (though I'm highly skeptical of the SINGLE BATHROOM WITH A SHOWER being shared between six adults).
I like the different supernatural species that I got to see, but really wish there'd been more (like the synopsis and cover implied).
I was amused when characters would say they "ship" two other characters.
I liked Bev's.
Overall:
This is a fairly predictable read with cozy fantasy vibes, if not as polished an execution as I'd like. While I did make it to the end of the book, I found a lot of the characters to be oversimplified, the realism to be lacking (c'mon, we talk with the inheritance lawyers and even get into ordinances about how many unrelated adults can live together in a single-family dwelling unit... but can't fathom taxes?!), and the writing to be middling to subpar. Probably a 2.5 overall, rounded up. Though I'm honestly struggling to come up with other adjectives than "fine" so I might round down on further reflection.
The Cover:
This is what sold the book to me. Later found out it was the 4th book in a series, but I have zero interest in any of the books before this one, so I pre-ordered just this one. I love the purple and the overall cozy vibe of the cover and the house, though I will say that there are slight spoilers if you're curious about the supernaturals living in the house.
Printing Issues:
I've never before had an experience significant enough to include in a review, but the quality control on this book (at least the edition I received) was lacking. Pages 139-170 were bolded for no reason. This affected the text, the chapter headers, the page numbers; but did not affect the author name or book title on each page. It wasn't a flashback or anything either, just weird and kinda eyestrain to read. Then on page 171/172, there was a hole in the page. It was in a space without words for 171, but in the middle of the sentence on the backside of the page. So that was not great.
The Writing:
Overall I'm not looking for high quality writing from a book like this. It was generally competent, but it could lean rather simple and repetitive. There was a sentence that was something like "faint smile at the faint rain" that would have been highly marked down by my sixth grade English teacher (I hated it at eleven, but I can't deny that Ms. Ziegler's rules made my writing better; the absolute red pen that would have been used for starting multiple sentences in a paragraph with the same word in this book... I dread to imagine). And just generally a lot of being told something, often 4+ times, instead of being shown.
General Issues:
- How Money Works
This is a book that takes place in the modern day, presumably on the East Coast, in a location that is at least in a timezone 2hrs ahead of New Mexico. They have cellphones and wifi and entirely modern conveniences. Iris cannot afford her phone bills or rent, but she manages to pay for a full house cleaning by a team of professionals that spend hours there. Additionally, at a yard sale mid-book, she's shocked that someone would buy the bed, dresser, and mattress from one of the rooms for $50 total. Total. And she mentions that she "had the mattress recently cleaned." I'm sorry, but in what world did the mattress get cleaned for less than $50???
There's also zero mention of inheritance taxes (there's a reason a lot of people sell the house they inherit-- because they can't afford to pay the taxes out of pocket and depend on proceeds from the sale). There's also zero mention of property taxes that she has to budget for. And trust me, we get into budgeting for quite a lot of things, as it's kinda crucial to the plot, so I don't think the author overlooked it. I think she genuinely doesn't realize that a five bedroom house in New England will cost thousands of dollars to the government per year (definitely over $5k) just to exist.
- Forced Inclusivity
I love all the queer rep that we got in this book, but a lot of it felt very forced and like the author was soapboxing at me. I share the same views, so it's not like I'm mad at the messaging, just the delivery? For example: Iris has a very uncharacteristic conversation -with no segue- to just ask the elderly gent why he's able to correctly gender the non-binary person. And it just feels really weird and preachy.
- "Real" Family
Which then brings me to the family element, where they also preach several times that 'this is how real family should act' or criticizing a family and berating them to their face on how family should act such and such way instead. But then it ALSO has conversations about how your found family is more important anyway. And then ALSO (spoilers) a character finds out that they're not biologically related to their family so the other characters start talking about finding their "real" family (referring to their bio-parents). Which is such a loaded and judgmental term and I hate it. For all the messaging in this book, they should absolutely know better than to use that terminology.
Beating a Dead Horse:
I hope you weren't tired of hearing about "found family" because it's definitely a topic that comes up a LOT. Not only do we get all up in everyone's personal family history (making judgments on good and bad families, and which are "real") the characters also call themselves on page and additionally in dialogue with one another a found family. And then a character makes an app called Found Family, no less! There's cheesy, and there's obvious, and there's repetitive. And unfortunately the writing feels much more the latter two than the former. Not to mention that it does it constantly with basically any topic; there is no nuance, and there's a lot of repetition.
Note: If you like The Fast and the Furious and how much they talk about family, maybe this book is for you! Not quite as many car chases and explosions, though (ie none).
The Romance:
For as much as this felt like it was supposed to be a romance, and each chapter has the POV of both love interests, the romance felt super rushed and not fleshed out. We don't do anything to unpack his stalker behaviour since they were kids, they don't discuss their hopes and dreams for the future, they just immediately fall into domestic life at the same time they do with all the housemates but I guess in this case it's love? Idk, man. I was here for it, but then it really took a backseat to all the "Family" and house repairs.
Did I Like Anything In This Book?:
I like the communal living and idea of this gaudy purple house that everyone is repairing (though I'm highly skeptical of the SINGLE BATHROOM WITH A SHOWER being shared between six adults).
I like the different supernatural species that I got to see, but really wish there'd been more (like the synopsis and cover implied).
I was amused when characters would say they "ship" two other characters.
I liked Bev's.
Overall:
This is a fairly predictable read with cozy fantasy vibes, if not as polished an execution as I'd like. While I did make it to the end of the book, I found a lot of the characters to be oversimplified, the realism to be lacking (c'mon, we talk with the inheritance lawyers and even get into ordinances about how many unrelated adults can live together in a single-family dwelling unit... but can't fathom taxes?!), and the writing to be middling to subpar. Probably a 2.5 overall, rounded up. Though I'm honestly struggling to come up with other adjectives than "fine" so I might round down on further reflection.
July 14, 2023
I got the audiobook advanced reader copy (ARC).
First of all, the narrator does a pretty good job. The characters felt distinguishable from each other and her voice was easy to hear.
This is a sweet read with a lovely beta hero and a kind heroine who gathers people around her. I didn’t read the reviews first… just dived in. I expected a romance with some found family vibes. And that's what I got for the first 1/3-1/2 of the book. And then it went downhill with WAY TOO MANY DETAILS!
This book has so many elements and plots. This is supposedly a romance, but the other stuff gets in the way and the romance gets put in the back seat. It could have been so lovely, but we hardly get any romance in the midst of this. For some, this might work… but I wanted romance and it’s super slim.
1. I love found family… but each member gets their own story arc and it gets overwhelming.
2. Representation for sexual orientation and gender identity/expression. The author had so many different characters with all sorts of combinations. Transexual, gay, lesbian, bi-curious, non-binary, polyamory, and so on. It’s positive rep, but the level of detail overwhelms the story.
3. Other plot points:
4. Too much “perfect”.
Stupid third act breakup is so foreshadowed, I could have written it out. I know that this always happens when one of the main characters keeps secrets, but the heroine freaks out in an obnoxious way. The way she curses at him is so out of character that it hurted a lot.
This book gets soooo complicated! It started off so cute but it gets muddled with the multiple plot points and details to be truly excellent. The author could have used some help to focus the story.
Safety deets (almost doesn’t matter cause the romance is so sidelined)
- no om/ow drama.
- consent is in there, but there’s some keeping secrets which is annoying… but we get LOTs of discussion over agency and consent.
- no sexy times… just a little nonexplicit kissing.
- we don’t hear about either’s sexual history… but the heroine has had several boyfriends. We don’t hear of anyone the hero ever dated.
First of all, the narrator does a pretty good job. The characters felt distinguishable from each other and her voice was easy to hear.
This is a sweet read with a lovely beta hero and a kind heroine who gathers people around her. I didn’t read the reviews first… just dived in. I expected a romance with some found family vibes. And that's what I got for the first 1/3-1/2 of the book. And then it went downhill with WAY TOO MANY DETAILS!
This book has so many elements and plots. This is supposedly a romance, but the other stuff gets in the way and the romance gets put in the back seat. It could have been so lovely, but we hardly get any romance in the midst of this. For some, this might work… but I wanted romance and it’s super slim.
1. I love found family… but each member gets their own story arc and it gets overwhelming.
a. Grumpy old man needs to figure out how to stay busy/how to be loved even if he’s not busy. He updates the house and gets grumpy about not having enough to do. And maybe he’s going to sell his carpentry.
b. Divorced woman wants to date around and is bi-curious after years of being married to a man. And she’s dating a witch. We get to meet her ex and hear about his dating history too. Oh, and we hear about her family. And maybe she’s going to sell her knitting products.
c. Young woman recently broken up with her girlfriend. Who just so happens to be a “tech” witch, meaning she can magically fix up the house (which causes the grumpy old man to be grumpier). Oh… and she also wants to join the divorced woman’s girlfriend’s coven.
d. Non-binary young person who is being persecuted by their family so has to move out. Oh, and they’re an artist and work to make their living as an artist.
e. Young man is selling his Gamma’s house and is figuring out how to sell his tech apps and is being pressured into a new opportunity. And he’s a shifter. Oh… and he might have cozy stalked the female main character over the years… which causes some last-minute drama.
f. Main female character has so many story arcs centered around her. She’s treated like crap by much of her family… but maybe they’re not her family? Who is she really? (oh… and when we learn, it’s like “here you go, no big deal”). She has money issues and is starting her own business. Oh… and she’s inherited a house. And she’s getting into a romance, too. Oh… and she doesn’t have magic like the rest of her family but maybe she has magic… but we won’t know until the end, out of context. Oh, and her sister stole her boyfriend. The explanation at the end of her true past is super complicated and could have made a book in and of itself.
g. And let’s not even get into all the side characters that have their own stories and show up in the middle of things.
2. Representation for sexual orientation and gender identity/expression. The author had so many different characters with all sorts of combinations. Transexual, gay, lesbian, bi-curious, non-binary, polyamory, and so on. It’s positive rep, but the level of detail overwhelms the story.
3. Other plot points:
a. “Evil” neighbor seeks to shut them down.
b. Persecution against paranormals.
c. Interactions with past main characters from the “fixit witches” series.
4. Too much “perfect”.
a. The heroine is like Cinderella and super sweet in her family of nasty people.
b. Everyone in the house accepts each other so well. Even the grumpy old man is okay with using “they” because “it’s polite”.
c. Magic cures hard issues super easily.
Stupid third act breakup is so foreshadowed, I could have written it out. I know that this always happens when one of the main characters keeps secrets, but the heroine freaks out in an obnoxious way. The way she curses at him is so out of character that it hurted a lot.
This book gets soooo complicated! It started off so cute but it gets muddled with the multiple plot points and details to be truly excellent. The author could have used some help to focus the story.
Safety deets (almost doesn’t matter cause the romance is so sidelined)
- no om/ow drama.
- consent is in there, but there’s some keeping secrets which is annoying… but we get LOTs of discussion over agency and consent.
- no sexy times… just a little nonexplicit kissing.
- we don’t hear about either’s sexual history… but the heroine has had several boyfriends. We don’t hear of anyone the hero ever dated.
September 17, 2023
This is an entertaining, well-written, contemporary romance, fantasy novel. It has a likable female protagonist, a kind and caring male protagonist, an assortment of engaging, interesting and diverse supportive characters, family drama, a heartwarming romance, magic, and a happily ever after ending. I listened to the audio version of this novel, and the narrator, Ms. Carly Robins, has a lovely voice and does an outstanding job depicting the characters and their personalities.
September 11, 2023
yes, this book had witches and vampires but the scariest part was that they were landlords.
March 29, 2024
This has to be the most boring book I’ve ever read in my life. Nothing in this book happens. The paranormal aspect is a lazy allegory for marginalized people, there is a MAGA group called HAPI, there is a Karen. It’s just. If I wanted to read this book but TLDR I would go back to tumblr circa 2013 and read posts about people who stood up to the bullies and everyone all clapped, because that’s what this book is. There’s no compelling drama, there’s no character development, the male lead is insufferable, their relationship is cringe. I’m just no. This was not good.
I feel like all this complaining makes me come off as pro trump, I’m definitely not. I’m pro good stories, and this just isn’t. It’s this weird back pat for wokeness that is unnecessary and shallow with no real anything. Just, no.
Update: I’ve moved my library and this is the only book I left behind. I would like to give it to a little free library but I would feel bad for afflicting this mediocrity on anyone else 🫡
I feel like all this complaining makes me come off as pro trump, I’m definitely not. I’m pro good stories, and this just isn’t. It’s this weird back pat for wokeness that is unnecessary and shallow with no real anything. Just, no.
Update: I’ve moved my library and this is the only book I left behind. I would like to give it to a little free library but I would feel bad for afflicting this mediocrity on anyone else 🫡
July 19, 2023
The Only Purple House in Town by Ann Aquire
Paranormal romance. Fix-it Witches series #4. Can be read as a stand-alone.
Iris Collins doesn’t feel like she fits in with her family and her current roommate situation is no better. The news that she has inherited a house from a distinct relative is the perfect time to start over and get her own jewelry making shop started. Iris moves into the huge purple house with gingerbread trim and starts looking for roommates.
Eli Reese believes moving into Iris’s house is the perfect opportunity to thank her changing his life all those years ago. If he can help her now, he will think of it as fate. Spending time with her has his feeling deepening and he realizes he needs to come clean about their history, his job and the fact that he’s a hawk shifter.
🎧 I read an ecopy of this book and followed up with an audiobook. The narrator is Carly Robins and the performance is wonderfully done with distinct voices for Iris, Eli, Sally, Henry Dale, and others. The narration makes clear the careful steps Eli takes with Iris, the gruffness of Henry Dale and Sally’s exuberance. Emotions are clear and timing is well done. This narrator has an extensive catalog and it’s clear with this book that experience lends to an audiobook preference over reading.
I listened to this at 1.5 which is my preferred timing.
“When Iris smiled, stars might as well be twinkling in her gray eyes. He lost his breath a bit.”
Eli is a bit timid with Iris but so adorable in his wanting to help make her life better. When the home group teams up, it’s clear they are now a family. The paranormal twist for Iris is a bonus which brings joy and satisfaction.
3.5
I received a copy of this from NetGalley and Dreamscape Media.
Paranormal romance. Fix-it Witches series #4. Can be read as a stand-alone.
Iris Collins doesn’t feel like she fits in with her family and her current roommate situation is no better. The news that she has inherited a house from a distinct relative is the perfect time to start over and get her own jewelry making shop started. Iris moves into the huge purple house with gingerbread trim and starts looking for roommates.
Eli Reese believes moving into Iris’s house is the perfect opportunity to thank her changing his life all those years ago. If he can help her now, he will think of it as fate. Spending time with her has his feeling deepening and he realizes he needs to come clean about their history, his job and the fact that he’s a hawk shifter.
🎧 I read an ecopy of this book and followed up with an audiobook. The narrator is Carly Robins and the performance is wonderfully done with distinct voices for Iris, Eli, Sally, Henry Dale, and others. The narration makes clear the careful steps Eli takes with Iris, the gruffness of Henry Dale and Sally’s exuberance. Emotions are clear and timing is well done. This narrator has an extensive catalog and it’s clear with this book that experience lends to an audiobook preference over reading.
I listened to this at 1.5 which is my preferred timing.
“When Iris smiled, stars might as well be twinkling in her gray eyes. He lost his breath a bit.”
Eli is a bit timid with Iris but so adorable in his wanting to help make her life better. When the home group teams up, it’s clear they are now a family. The paranormal twist for Iris is a bonus which brings joy and satisfaction.
3.5
I received a copy of this from NetGalley and Dreamscape Media.
July 26, 2023
Now this was not what I expected at all!!!
When Iris inherits her Aunt's home, her miserable life sparks with hope. On the other hand, Eli has made a fortune for himself building apps but a bullied childhood has scared his personality. The two collide under unprepared circumstances and the next thing we know Eli is housing at the Air BnB that Iris made out of the inherited home.
I was totally in the mood for a cozy book, but it's not a regular cozy story. It's a world of supernatural creatures (Dracula, faes, witches, non-binary humans) in a tech-savvy world co-existing with humans. The character's ability and positioning were a bit complex at the start, but everything made sense once you arrive at the right part of the book. I would like to go on, but here's a better way to share my highlights:
🤌 Found family vibes
🤌 Misfits trope
🤌 Diverse creatures/characters
🤌 Paranormal Romance
🤌 Epitome of inclusivity
🤌 Low stakes, community vibes
🤌 Embracing the failures and starting anew
🤌 Smooth pacing, easygoing
Thank you @netgalley @dreamscape_media and @ann_aguirre_author for the Audiobook. I really want to buy this book in hardcover now!
Genre: #fantasy #supernatural #romance
Rating: 4/5 ⭐️
When Iris inherits her Aunt's home, her miserable life sparks with hope. On the other hand, Eli has made a fortune for himself building apps but a bullied childhood has scared his personality. The two collide under unprepared circumstances and the next thing we know Eli is housing at the Air BnB that Iris made out of the inherited home.
I was totally in the mood for a cozy book, but it's not a regular cozy story. It's a world of supernatural creatures (Dracula, faes, witches, non-binary humans) in a tech-savvy world co-existing with humans. The character's ability and positioning were a bit complex at the start, but everything made sense once you arrive at the right part of the book. I would like to go on, but here's a better way to share my highlights:
🤌 Found family vibes
🤌 Misfits trope
🤌 Diverse creatures/characters
🤌 Paranormal Romance
🤌 Epitome of inclusivity
🤌 Low stakes, community vibes
🤌 Embracing the failures and starting anew
🤌 Smooth pacing, easygoing
Thank you @netgalley @dreamscape_media and @ann_aguirre_author for the Audiobook. I really want to buy this book in hardcover now!
Genre: #fantasy #supernatural #romance
Rating: 4/5 ⭐️
November 2, 2023
This read like a Fox News anchor used AI to write a “woke” and witchy cozy fantasy, except they didn’t know anything about the fantasy genre so they filled space with things like the culinary history of tacos Al pastor and how communal pantries work.
This was genuinely one of the worst books I’ve ever read. I was so close to giving up but spite and the promise of giving a dramatic retelling to anyone who would listen kept me going. The premise and cover seemed so cute and promising, but there were so many things that I just could not look past. I appreciate that the author attempted diverse representation, but a lot of it felt superficial and forced. Also what is up with the male main character not having ANY personality other than stalking the female main character since elementary school and being able to turn into a hawk?!
Anyway, I suffered so you don’t have to.
This was genuinely one of the worst books I’ve ever read. I was so close to giving up but spite and the promise of giving a dramatic retelling to anyone who would listen kept me going. The premise and cover seemed so cute and promising, but there were so many things that I just could not look past. I appreciate that the author attempted diverse representation, but a lot of it felt superficial and forced. Also what is up with the male main character not having ANY personality other than stalking the female main character since elementary school and being able to turn into a hawk?!
Anyway, I suffered so you don’t have to.
This entire review has been hidden because of spoilers.
August 17, 2023
I haven't read anything by Ann Aguirre before, and I listened to the audio version of The Only Purple House in Town as a standalone, and it worked just fine!
Ann Aguirre spins such a fun tale, full of romance, family drama, and supernatural fun. The characters are charming, and there's such a lovely message of found family and acceptance. What a pleasure!
The audio version is performed by the delightful Carly Robins. Robins has a fun and lively voice, which suits the tone of The Only Purple House in Town perfectly.
an audiobook copy of The Only Purple House in Town was provided by Dreamscape Media, via NetGalley, for the purpose of my honest review, all opinions are my own
Ann Aguirre spins such a fun tale, full of romance, family drama, and supernatural fun. The characters are charming, and there's such a lovely message of found family and acceptance. What a pleasure!
The audio version is performed by the delightful Carly Robins. Robins has a fun and lively voice, which suits the tone of The Only Purple House in Town perfectly.
an audiobook copy of The Only Purple House in Town was provided by Dreamscape Media, via NetGalley, for the purpose of my honest review, all opinions are my own
August 19, 2023
I enjoyed this book so, so much! The characters were amazing. Such an interesting mix of backgrounds and personalities. Henry Dale was my most favourite of the roommates but I definitely adored them all. The next door neighbour reminded me so much of my own - all up in your business, trouble maker and overall just meh human. Does she get hers? You'll have to read to find out.
Read this if you like:
LGBTQIA+ rep
Paranormal Romance
VERY little steam (kissing)
Character growth
Supernatural
Found Family
Heartwarming endings
HEA
Cozy Fantasy
My thanks to Sourcebooks Casablanca for this gifted copy!
Read this if you like:
LGBTQIA+ rep
Paranormal Romance
VERY little steam (kissing)
Character growth
Supernatural
Found Family
Heartwarming endings
HEA
Cozy Fantasy
My thanks to Sourcebooks Casablanca for this gifted copy!
February 28, 2024
⭐️⭐️ -Audiobook
Book #4 in the Fix-It Witches Series
I can’t believe the same author who wrote the first three books in this series wrote this. The first three books had such strong female character, but this…I don’t know whether to feel sorry for Iris for being so stupid or smack the crap out her.
Trigger Warning: Stalking
Book #4 in the Fix-It Witches Series
I can’t believe the same author who wrote the first three books in this series wrote this. The first three books had such strong female character, but this…I don’t know whether to feel sorry for Iris for being so stupid or smack the crap out her.
Trigger Warning: Stalking
This entire review has been hidden because of spoilers.
September 6, 2024
What a cute, happy, and magical read. I needed a light-hearted pick me up and this was it.
July 12, 2023
One of my MOST anticipated reads of the year and it didn't disappoint!!
I am OBSESSED with this gorgeous purple cover but the story was a lovely, feel-good supernatural romance filled with a quirky cast of queer paranormals who all come to live in “Violet Gables,” a big purple house Iris has inherited from a distant relative.
Technically this is the fourth book in the Fix-It witches series but it definitely works as a standalone. I loved the found family, the secret pining, the he falls first, dance lessons, curmudgeonly older side characters and the fae/fairy storyline!
Recommended for fans of Ashley Blake and Sangu Mandanna's The very secret society of irregular witches.
Many thanks to NetGalley and Sourcebooks for early digital and audio copies AND for sending me a beautiful finished copy I will cherish.
Steam level: kissing only
I am OBSESSED with this gorgeous purple cover but the story was a lovely, feel-good supernatural romance filled with a quirky cast of queer paranormals who all come to live in “Violet Gables,” a big purple house Iris has inherited from a distant relative.
Technically this is the fourth book in the Fix-It witches series but it definitely works as a standalone. I loved the found family, the secret pining, the he falls first, dance lessons, curmudgeonly older side characters and the fae/fairy storyline!
Recommended for fans of Ashley Blake and Sangu Mandanna's The very secret society of irregular witches.
Many thanks to NetGalley and Sourcebooks for early digital and audio copies AND for sending me a beautiful finished copy I will cherish.
Steam level: kissing only
August 4, 2023
Thanks to NetGalley and Dreamscape Media for the ARC. It hasn't affected the contents of my review.
This actually reads more as a cozy fantasy with a romance in it rather than a romance with cozy elements. So heads up cozy fantasy fans! I really, really enjoyed everything to do with the plot and the house full of misfits that end up being a found family for each other. The romance was a little bit iffier for me. The third act conflict felt like it was there because the author thought it had to be, and it felt contrived to me, like if these characters were actual people left to their own devices they would have behaved differently. It just pulled me entirely out of this otherwise lovely book. Which is still worth reading! I would like to live in Violet Gables.
[3.5 stars, rounded up]
This actually reads more as a cozy fantasy with a romance in it rather than a romance with cozy elements. So heads up cozy fantasy fans! I really, really enjoyed everything to do with the plot and the house full of misfits that end up being a found family for each other. The romance was a little bit iffier for me. The third act conflict felt like it was there because the author thought it had to be, and it felt contrived to me, like if these characters were actual people left to their own devices they would have behaved differently. It just pulled me entirely out of this otherwise lovely book. Which is still worth reading! I would like to live in Violet Gables.
[3.5 stars, rounded up]
November 13, 2023
I have mixed feelings about this book.
On one hand, the writing was choppy and the ending was ridiculous.
On the other hand, I enjoyed the found family trope and I loved the purple Victorian house, aptly named 'Violet Gables' in the book, and how all the housemates came together to make it a home.
Essentially, this book was cozy but I would hesitate to recommend it.
On one hand, the writing was choppy and the ending was ridiculous.
On the other hand, I enjoyed the found family trope and I loved the purple Victorian house, aptly named 'Violet Gables' in the book, and how all the housemates came together to make it a home.
Essentially, this book was cozy but I would hesitate to recommend it.
January 3, 2025
Books read & reviewed: 3️⃣🥖4️⃣0️⃣0️⃣
╔⏤⏤⏤╝❀╚⏤⏤⏤╗
4️⃣🌟, cozy indeed
——————————————————————
➕➖0️⃣1️⃣2️⃣3️⃣4️⃣5️⃣6️⃣7️⃣8️⃣9️⃣🔟✖️➗
So this book for me is certainly a very cozy book, it doesn't feature that much of a complex story that really needs a deep thinking and understanding it's just a very cozy book good for palette cleansing or whatever that means in the book community, dunno why other reviews are really same this is a very very very very very problematic book (maybe they haven't read haunting adeline yet...or worse hunting adeline)
✧･ﾟ: *✧･ﾟ:*Pre-Read✧･ﾟ: *✧･ﾟ:*
💜I expect to be just like a cozy book about housemates doing housemates things💜
╔⏤⏤⏤╝❀╚⏤⏤⏤╗
4️⃣🌟, cozy indeed
——————————————————————
➕➖0️⃣1️⃣2️⃣3️⃣4️⃣5️⃣6️⃣7️⃣8️⃣9️⃣🔟✖️➗
So this book for me is certainly a very cozy book, it doesn't feature that much of a complex story that really needs a deep thinking and understanding it's just a very cozy book good for palette cleansing or whatever that means in the book community, dunno why other reviews are really same this is a very very very very very problematic book (maybe they haven't read haunting adeline yet...or worse hunting adeline)
✧･ﾟ: *✧･ﾟ:*Pre-Read✧･ﾟ: *✧･ﾟ:*
💜I expect to be just like a cozy book about housemates doing housemates things💜
September 12, 2023
*LGBTQ+ rep, family emotional and mental abuse/gaslighting
There is something not quite right about misfit Iris Collins, or so she and her family think. When her online jewelry business falls flat, and she's unable to pay her month's rent, Iris hits rock bottom. She gets news that might help her get back up though, when an attorney reaches out to her about her deceased Great Aunt Gertie's house. In the magical town of St. Claire, Iris learns that found family is just as good if not better than born family and that sometimes, with a little help from your friends, you can turn your life around.
So there's a brief summary of the book now on to my personal thoughts and opinions...I absolutely adored this book. While I was reading this stand-alone/part of a series, I switched between reading this book and another and did not want to keep switching once I was really into the 3rd or 4th chapter. I'm going to introduce you to my personalized genre category called "SNL-F" or Supernatural Lite Fantasy. Feel free to use it, just shout me out. Don't be put off by the category because the magical fantasy aspect is like a scented candle - there but not really affecting anything substantial. At least until towards the end. But you are still able to remain very present in the current world dealing with everyday real issues that are relatable.
Iris moves into her Aunt Gertie's gorgeous Victorian house and understands that taking on roommates is necessary for things like food, electricity, oh and water. She gathers a wide spectrum of lovable misfits like herself, makes a home and family with them, and shuts down the harassing neighbor when she comes to make trouble.
Eli Reese, a successful designer of apps and the first of Iris' roomies. He gives off faint vibes of Joe Goldberg from Caroline Kepnes' "You". But really, he's a nerdy cinnamon roll when it comes to all things Iris and helping her reach the greatness he knows is inside her.
Then there's Howard, Sally, Mira, and lastly Rowan. All misfits seeking a place to call home and feel safe. Iris provides the home and together they help each other make it through life's challenges. I won't say much because spoilers, but if you like feel-good romantical stories without smut (time & place) or other graphic descriptions (mood) of two people being together, this is the book for you.
It's a very quick read if you're in between books or can't decide on your next, so grab yourself a nice cup of tea, coffee or hot chocolate, your favorite blanket or sweater, and get started. Perfect for the fall or holiday season. Hope you enjoy!
This review is unsolicited and contains the uncensored personal thoughts of the author about the above book. I do not assume and hereby disclaim any liability to any party for any loss, damage, or disruption caused by errors or omissions, whether such errors or omissions result from accident, negligence, or any other cause.
October 15, 2024
This was a warm hug of a book. Light fantasy. Light (non-spicy) romance. Full of found family and coziness.
July 15, 2023
This absolutely lovely romance with a ramshackle purple house full of queer found family is the most heartwarming, soft and tender thing I’ve read recently! Full RTC when I stop sighing wistfully while rereading that adorable ending!
October 29, 2025
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I grabbed The Only Purple House In Town from library for book club and went in ready for cozy, quirky magic. A big purple Victorian called Violet Gables, a misfit household, and a romance sounded like my catnip. I did enjoy parts of it, but the writing and choices around the main couple kept knocking me out of the story.
Let’s start with the third act blowup. Eli being a rich benefactor who knew Iris from childhood is not the scandal the book treats it to be. Iris kicking him out over that had me ready to DNF. It felt performative instead of earned, and it tanked my goodwill toward her in that moment.
As an adoptee, the family plot hit hard. Iris’ mom and sisters showing up to announce DNA results without consent, then basically writing her off, had me seeing red. I wanted to burn the world down for Iris. That thread could have been powerful, but it’s handled in a way that made me mad at the characters without giving me satisfying character growth in return.
Rain and Fen turning up as Iris’ fae parents did not surprise me. There are plenty of context clues, so the reveal landed more as a checkbox than a twist. Maybe I read too much fae, but I wanted the magic to feel stranger and deeper.
Bright spots do exist. Henry Dale and the other housemates are endearing. Violet Gables itself is a vibe. I’d absolutely read a spinoff about the aunt who left Iris the house. Give me her backstory and please explain the angel figurine obsession.
Where the book really lost me was the execution. The pacing whiplashes between scenes that jump with missing connective tissue and scenes that linger without adding much. The found family theme is hammered so hard that it starts to feel like a lecture instead of a feeling. The dialogue leans into youth slang and online-culture talk in a way that reads clunky, like a teacher trying to sound relatable. It took me out of the moment.
Romance readers, temper expectations. This did not read as a romance to me. I could not picture either lead because physical description is light, there is almost no romantic tension, and when intimacy finally arrives it fades to black quickly. The relationship felt like proximity plus nostalgia rather than chemistry that builds on the page.
Who might enjoy this: readers who want low-stakes cozy paranormal with a strong house-as-haven setup and a big, eclectic roommate cast. That part works. If you need tight plotting, organic banter, or a swoony love arc, this probably will not scratch the itch.
✏ Instagram ✏ My Blog ✏ The StoryGraph ✏ TikTok
I grabbed The Only Purple House In Town from library for book club and went in ready for cozy, quirky magic. A big purple Victorian called Violet Gables, a misfit household, and a romance sounded like my catnip. I did enjoy parts of it, but the writing and choices around the main couple kept knocking me out of the story.
Let’s start with the third act blowup. Eli being a rich benefactor who knew Iris from childhood is not the scandal the book treats it to be. Iris kicking him out over that had me ready to DNF. It felt performative instead of earned, and it tanked my goodwill toward her in that moment.
As an adoptee, the family plot hit hard. Iris’ mom and sisters showing up to announce DNA results without consent, then basically writing her off, had me seeing red. I wanted to burn the world down for Iris. That thread could have been powerful, but it’s handled in a way that made me mad at the characters without giving me satisfying character growth in return.
Rain and Fen turning up as Iris’ fae parents did not surprise me. There are plenty of context clues, so the reveal landed more as a checkbox than a twist. Maybe I read too much fae, but I wanted the magic to feel stranger and deeper.
Bright spots do exist. Henry Dale and the other housemates are endearing. Violet Gables itself is a vibe. I’d absolutely read a spinoff about the aunt who left Iris the house. Give me her backstory and please explain the angel figurine obsession.
Where the book really lost me was the execution. The pacing whiplashes between scenes that jump with missing connective tissue and scenes that linger without adding much. The found family theme is hammered so hard that it starts to feel like a lecture instead of a feeling. The dialogue leans into youth slang and online-culture talk in a way that reads clunky, like a teacher trying to sound relatable. It took me out of the moment.
Romance readers, temper expectations. This did not read as a romance to me. I could not picture either lead because physical description is light, there is almost no romantic tension, and when intimacy finally arrives it fades to black quickly. The relationship felt like proximity plus nostalgia rather than chemistry that builds on the page.
Who might enjoy this: readers who want low-stakes cozy paranormal with a strong house-as-haven setup and a big, eclectic roommate cast. That part works. If you need tight plotting, organic banter, or a swoony love arc, this probably will not scratch the itch.
October 21, 2024
"you're my bias" was cute but the rest was meh
September 17, 2023
❀ 1/5
8.11.23
I had no idea this was the fourth book in the series till writing my review. I am shocked at this book's writing style and plotting, just across the board, but for it to be the fourth book the author had put out in the series??
The synopsis of this book is so appealing, with the rebranding of the cover it looked good enough that it pulled me in. It was pretty much downhill from there. First off I was expecting more depth to the story, but there was absolutely none it read incredibly juvenile. This is something that I would expect out of a ya romance, and some ya romances are better written than this! It wasn’t friends to lovers, and the mmc childhood interest of her frankly turned weird by the middle of the book. The only thing I know to compare this is a wattpad romance. I read Twice Shy that also follows a girl inheriting a fixer upper old house that turns into a b&b, that book is everything I wanted out of this. I also felt like the author was trying too hard to explain her theme and if we can not get that organically through the characters and plot, the mark has been missed.
There was no setup for the book at all. I also really didn’t like how the author did the relationship with her family, family dynamics can be downright nasty like that, but it honestly felt like the stepmother from Cinderella and the step sisters. So tropish and unoriginal it had me cringing. After finishing this the only thing going through my head is what did I just read?
8.11.23
I had no idea this was the fourth book in the series till writing my review. I am shocked at this book's writing style and plotting, just across the board, but for it to be the fourth book the author had put out in the series??
The synopsis of this book is so appealing, with the rebranding of the cover it looked good enough that it pulled me in. It was pretty much downhill from there. First off I was expecting more depth to the story, but there was absolutely none it read incredibly juvenile. This is something that I would expect out of a ya romance, and some ya romances are better written than this! It wasn’t friends to lovers, and the mmc childhood interest of her frankly turned weird by the middle of the book. The only thing I know to compare this is a wattpad romance. I read Twice Shy that also follows a girl inheriting a fixer upper old house that turns into a b&b, that book is everything I wanted out of this. I also felt like the author was trying too hard to explain her theme and if we can not get that organically through the characters and plot, the mark has been missed.
There was no setup for the book at all. I also really didn’t like how the author did the relationship with her family, family dynamics can be downright nasty like that, but it honestly felt like the stepmother from Cinderella and the step sisters. So tropish and unoriginal it had me cringing. After finishing this the only thing going through my head is what did I just read?
This entire review has been hidden because of spoilers.
September 27, 2023
oh boy, was this something. such a cute cover and a lovely concept that was not executed well. my one positive is that this book had a really crazy amount of queer characters, and i was so deleted by that. however, i literally despised the two main characters and their relationship with each other. eli was a weird, crazy weirdo and iris should have never forgave him.
ALSO!?!? the twist at the end was literally bonkers and had me cracking up over how ridiculous it was. so i will give the book that; i was laughing quite a bit but i don't think i was supposed to be.
ALSO!?!? the twist at the end was literally bonkers and had me cracking up over how ridiculous it was. so i will give the book that; i was laughing quite a bit but i don't think i was supposed to be.
May 2, 2024
YES
BEYOND BEAUTIFUL COVER
FOUND FAMILY
SUPERNATURAL
AND OMG IT'S JUST SO GOOD
BEYOND BEAUTIFUL COVER
FOUND FAMILY
SUPERNATURAL
AND OMG IT'S JUST SO GOOD
July 20, 2023
debating between a 3.5 or a 4 ⭐
First I wanna say that I had no idea this was part of a bigger series but I was happy to find out this could be read as a stand alone. I really enjoyed this! I will definitely look into the other books in the series!
The book read like a cozy fantasy which I love. The main focus of the book is found family which is one of my favorite tropes. I really enjoyed the characters! There were a lot but they all felt different enough that I didn't get them all mixed up.
as for the audiobook the narrator was great! I do think this is a book that could have been a bit better with 2 narrators since the book does switch up POV's and I would get confused who we were reading from between Eli and Iris.
Now I must try and convince my fiancé to paint our house purple.
*Thank you Netgalley, Ann Aguirre and Sourcebook publishing for a copy of the audiobook in exchange for an honest review!*
First I wanna say that I had no idea this was part of a bigger series but I was happy to find out this could be read as a stand alone. I really enjoyed this! I will definitely look into the other books in the series!
The book read like a cozy fantasy which I love. The main focus of the book is found family which is one of my favorite tropes. I really enjoyed the characters! There were a lot but they all felt different enough that I didn't get them all mixed up.
as for the audiobook the narrator was great! I do think this is a book that could have been a bit better with 2 narrators since the book does switch up POV's and I would get confused who we were reading from between Eli and Iris.
Now I must try and convince my fiancé to paint our house purple.
*Thank you Netgalley, Ann Aguirre and Sourcebook publishing for a copy of the audiobook in exchange for an honest review!*
January 20, 2024
It was a pleasant read, and I recommend it if you are looking for cozy fantasy, but didn't have quite enough crunch for my taste--yes, I expected everything would work out, but it was too much things working out to really make me care. Also, and this is a very particular criticism-I do not think the author has actually renovated a Victorian house. You can't just paint the interior walls of such a house. First you have to spend hours patching and spackling the wide variety of cracks and holes, and this can take days and make you question all your choices.
September 25, 2024
Oh wow.
Um.
I haven’t actively disliked a book this much in a long while.
It was chosen as a monthly read for the Romance Book Club that I host at the library, and it makes me feel slightly better that everyone else in the club had the same feelings I did.
So, I hated this. I only finished it because a) I had to host the book club, so it was literally my job to finish, and b) I was justabout curious enough about some kind of last-minute, big-finish redeeming moment. (That moment never came.)
-Other reviews have pointed out the premise of Eli being a stalker from the beginning is a huge problem, and it very much is. The whole plot hinges on child-Eli being rescued by child-Iris from playground bullies, and Eli keeping tabs on Iris for the intervening decades, despite them not actually knowing each other. When Iris inherits a house in town, Eli rents one of the rooms despite not needing to, and without coming clean. What made it worse was his continuous assertions that he very much wasn’t a stalker.
-The forced inclusion. The secondary characters felt like walking check marked diversity boxes. No depth, no arc, no personality or features other than their identities.
-The awkward insertion of the magical creatures storyline. I kept forgetting Eli was an actual shapeshifting hawk - it didn’t have any real bearing on the plot, wouldn’t be mentioned for multiple chapters, and then it would be thrown into a random moment with a rushed sentence about how he flew out the window to decompress.
-The awkward insertion of Iris’ special powers/her family dynamic. The importance of Found Family is a theme buried somewhere in this mess, but it could have been achieved simply with Iris’ vampire family members staying in the background as she finds her groove with the Purple House and its inhabitants. Instead, Iris’ interactions with them are jammed into an already overstuffed muddle.
-The romance (or lack thereof.) Even ignoring the problematic stalker element, Eli’s admiration of Iris feels proprietary and strangely infantilizing. As one of my book club members said, “Is he in love with her, or with the idea of her?” and I thought that nailed it. I didn’t feel the chemistry, I didn’t feel the exchange of respect and friendship (and swoon-worthy butterfly moments) and there was a dire lack of heat. I don’t need spice in my romances, (although I do love it) but I need heat.
-The writing itself is awkward and exposition-heavy, with characters info-dumping via unrealistic dialogue.
Mystifyingly, this is an author that library patrons are constantly recommending to me, and after reading this book, I’m not sure why. I might try one of her other books/series, but it will be awhile before I convince myself it’s worth it.
Um.
I haven’t actively disliked a book this much in a long while.
It was chosen as a monthly read for the Romance Book Club that I host at the library, and it makes me feel slightly better that everyone else in the club had the same feelings I did.
So, I hated this. I only finished it because a) I had to host the book club, so it was literally my job to finish, and b) I was justabout curious enough about some kind of last-minute, big-finish redeeming moment. (That moment never came.)
-Other reviews have pointed out the premise of Eli being a stalker from the beginning is a huge problem, and it very much is. The whole plot hinges on child-Eli being rescued by child-Iris from playground bullies, and Eli keeping tabs on Iris for the intervening decades, despite them not actually knowing each other. When Iris inherits a house in town, Eli rents one of the rooms despite not needing to, and without coming clean. What made it worse was his continuous assertions that he very much wasn’t a stalker.
-The forced inclusion. The secondary characters felt like walking check marked diversity boxes. No depth, no arc, no personality or features other than their identities.
-The awkward insertion of the magical creatures storyline. I kept forgetting Eli was an actual shapeshifting hawk - it didn’t have any real bearing on the plot, wouldn’t be mentioned for multiple chapters, and then it would be thrown into a random moment with a rushed sentence about how he flew out the window to decompress.
-The awkward insertion of Iris’ special powers/her family dynamic. The importance of Found Family is a theme buried somewhere in this mess, but it could have been achieved simply with Iris’ vampire family members staying in the background as she finds her groove with the Purple House and its inhabitants. Instead, Iris’ interactions with them are jammed into an already overstuffed muddle.
-The romance (or lack thereof.) Even ignoring the problematic stalker element, Eli’s admiration of Iris feels proprietary and strangely infantilizing. As one of my book club members said, “Is he in love with her, or with the idea of her?” and I thought that nailed it. I didn’t feel the chemistry, I didn’t feel the exchange of respect and friendship (and swoon-worthy butterfly moments) and there was a dire lack of heat. I don’t need spice in my romances, (although I do love it) but I need heat.
-The writing itself is awkward and exposition-heavy, with characters info-dumping via unrealistic dialogue.
Mystifyingly, this is an author that library patrons are constantly recommending to me, and after reading this book, I’m not sure why. I might try one of her other books/series, but it will be awhile before I convince myself it’s worth it.
April 7, 2024
This book was a breath of fresh air. I haven't been much of a contemporary romance fan, but I confess that I do love a warm, cozy story where you just get the chance to know some unique folks who seem like real people, and watching them form connections, and for their lives to be get better. In real life, that doesn't happen all that much. And I love a sweet love story. I think they are underrated.
Iris is a down on her luck woman who has always been treated like an f-up by her family. She has never fitted in, and she's felt like a failure in everyway. When she inherits her great-aunt's house in St. Claire, Illinois, it's like a gift. Now she can start a new life away from the judgmental eye of her overbearing mother and two sisters (one of whom stole her boyfriend). The house is a bit of a wreck, but it's livable. Iris gets the idea to rent out some of the rooms to help with her empty pocketbook. Before she knows it, she's forming her own little quirky family.
I loved just about everything about the book, but I'll freely admit that Eli was without a question my favorite thing about this book. He was so sweet and adorable and kind. He was such a peach. I loved the developing romance between Iris and Eli. I also appreciated Eli's backstory. That's part of why I was so mad about something that happens near the end. I have to admit, I had to take off .75 stars just for that. Otherwise this book would have been a five star read.
This book reminds me of what I love about Jodi Thomas books, except with paranormal thrown in, and a lot more representation and diversity. The cozy, warm feeling of love and companionship between the pages (and not just eros love). Yeah, I'm a sucker for that. As I said, the level of diversity was great. There's a big mix of ethnicities and gender/sexuality, and also characters of different ages. That made me so happy.
I haven't read other books in the "Fix-It Witches" series but it didn't affect my appreciation for this book. It made me curious to go back and read those for more vibes.
Now I just want to read more of these cozy paranormal romances.
Overall rating: 4.25/5.0 stars.
Iris is a down on her luck woman who has always been treated like an f-up by her family. She has never fitted in, and she's felt like a failure in everyway. When she inherits her great-aunt's house in St. Claire, Illinois, it's like a gift. Now she can start a new life away from the judgmental eye of her overbearing mother and two sisters (one of whom stole her boyfriend). The house is a bit of a wreck, but it's livable. Iris gets the idea to rent out some of the rooms to help with her empty pocketbook. Before she knows it, she's forming her own little quirky family.
I loved just about everything about the book, but I'll freely admit that Eli was without a question my favorite thing about this book. He was so sweet and adorable and kind. He was such a peach. I loved the developing romance between Iris and Eli. I also appreciated Eli's backstory. That's part of why I was so mad about something that happens near the end. I have to admit, I had to take off .75 stars just for that. Otherwise this book would have been a five star read.
This book reminds me of what I love about Jodi Thomas books, except with paranormal thrown in, and a lot more representation and diversity. The cozy, warm feeling of love and companionship between the pages (and not just eros love). Yeah, I'm a sucker for that. As I said, the level of diversity was great. There's a big mix of ethnicities and gender/sexuality, and also characters of different ages. That made me so happy.
I haven't read other books in the "Fix-It Witches" series but it didn't affect my appreciation for this book. It made me curious to go back and read those for more vibes.
Now I just want to read more of these cozy paranormal romances.
Overall rating: 4.25/5.0 stars.
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