NetGalley Buddy Readers discussion

She can hop into any novel, she just can’t stay there. Come along with the book witch in this magical and inspiring love letter to reading from the USA Today bestselling author of The Wishing Game.

Rainy March is a proud third-generation book witch, sworn to defend works of fiction from all foes real and imaginary. With her magical umbrella and feline familiar, she jumps into and out of novels to fix malicious alterations and rogue heroes.

Book witches live by a strict Real people belong in the real word; fictional characters belong in works of fiction…. Do not eat, drink, or sleep inside a fictional world, lest you become part of the story. Falling in love with a fictional character? Don’t even think about it.

Which is why Rainy has been forbidden from seeing the Duke of Chicago, the dashing British detective who stars in her favorite mystery series. If she’s ever caught with him again, she’ll be expelled from her book coven—and forced to give up the magical gifts that are as much a part of her as her own name.

But when her beloved grandfather disappears and a priceless book is stolen, there’s only one person she trusts to help her solve the case: the Duke. Their quest takes them through the worlds of Alice in Wonderland, The Great Gatsby, and other classics that will reveal hidden enemies and long-buried family secrets.

Elyse and I are starting this one today! Pub Date is April 7th. Feel free to join us! 😊

Yay! Just put B down for a nap and I'm starting it now!

It's definitely a different one!

End of Book 1 / 19%

Yes very different 😂 but I don't hate it? I saw other reviews saying it's different and I see what they mean now.

It reminds me of (view spoiler)[ the The Eyre Affair/Thursday Next series. I think I would be enjoying it more except that I know this author can write much more compelling, immersive stories.

I liked that the Duke was made conscious so quickly, it feels less icky when he has awareness and free will. I wonder if he'll make it out to the real world or manufactur a crisis so she gets sent back.

I wonder who Rainy's dad is? Maybe someone from the Nancy Drew book since it's the only thing her mom left her?

Are we expected to believe that her grandfather won't notice the new ring the second she gets home?

And Duke just showed up on her bed, because of course. Girl, you live in modern times. Where is your pepper spray?

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End of Book 2 / 70%

Ok, well, this has (view spoiler)[ picked up for sure. I'm liking the hunt for the hare and what happened to her mom. The clues and overall hunt do seem much younger than in previous Shaffer books though, as if this one is written for a much younger audience. But then why throw in the scene with the shirtless duke in the morning?

I also would have loved more character development. Nobody seems to be having any growth at all. Especially for the Duke - he spent a year dating her and now is back in the real world but he still seems to just follow his book prescribed personality etc?

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Ok so book one WAS Romance so I guess (view spoiler)[that was all supposed to happen but it was kind of gaggy. 🤣 So here's hoping Mystery is a little more interesting. I feel like she's going to break all the rules. (hide spoiler)]

End of Book 3 / 78%

Well, if I said I saw that twist coming, I would be lying. I was thinking that (view spoiler)[ maybe Rainy was half fictional character, half irl person. Not that she was fully a fictional character.

Kinda loving the reversal to send a fictional character into the real world instead of the opposite.

This twist kinda made the book grow on me, honestly. But it feels like it's going to be a love it or hate it twist for readers. (hide spoiler)]

I'm 54% through. It's nowhere as good as her previous books.

72% 🤯🤯🤯 I didn't see that coming though I feel like I should have? 🤣

Elyse wrote: "72% 🤯🤯🤯 I didn't see that coming though I feel like I should have? 🤣"

RIGHT? ngl, this redeemed the book a bit for me.

ok, finally done.

So I was right about (view spoiler)[ her being 1/2 fictional character... but actually she was a fictional character who was 1/2 fictional from a fictional book... inception style? lol

I ended up liking this more than I thought I would. 3.5 stars, might round it up, though.

The last like bit after we got the 78% reveal started to feel a lot more like the books she normally writes. I got all the wonder and belonging vibes there, finally. I wish we had more of that and not so much setup. Even 50/50 would have been great.

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