The Nantucket Inn by Pamela M. KelleyMy rating: 3 of 5 stars
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Jess—aka Reviews by Jess—is a sassy, top-ranked Goodreads reviewer who reads a little of everything. From steamy romance to dark fantasy, plus stories featuring mental health, hidden disabilities, and LGBTQ+ rep, she brings bold, unfiltered reviews readers can trust. Expect sass, sparkle, and a TBR that’s about to explode.
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Saturday, September 6, 2025
Review: Mockingjay
Mockingjay by Suzanne CollinsMy rating: 5 of 5 stars
Mockingjay closes The Hunger Games trilogy with a gut punch of war, loss, and resilience. Where the first book was about survival and the second about rebellion, the third is about the devastating cost of revolution—and it doesn’t shy away from the horrors of conflict.
Katniss is no longer just a girl with a bow—she’s the face of a movement, a reluctant symbol manipulated by leaders on both sides. What makes her so compelling here is her vulnerability: she is traumatized, grieving, and often broken, but she continues forward because she must. Her story is not about glory; it’s about survival in a world that demands sacrifice.
The romance thread reaches its heartbreaking resolution. Peeta, broken and hijacked by the Capitol, is both a symbol of love’s fragility and its resilience. Gale’s harder edges and ruthless strategies force Katniss—and readers—to confront the morality of war. The love triangle ends not in melodrama, but in the quiet recognition of who Katniss needs to survive, not just who she desires.
The war sequences are raw and brutal. Collins doesn’t glorify battle—she shows us its destruction, the toll it takes on children, families, and entire districts. The loss of beloved characters (Finnick, Prim) hits like a physical blow, reminding us that revolutions are never without cost. And the ending—bittersweet, subdued, but deeply resonant—reminds us that healing is possible, even if scars remain.
This isn’t a triumphant finale, but it’s the right one. Mockingjay forces us to grapple with trauma, power, and the messy truth of human resilience. It’s dark, heartbreaking, and necessary—a masterpiece of YA dystopia that dares to tell the truth about war.
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Review: Death of the Matchmaker
Death of the Matchmaker by Angelica KateMy rating: 2 of 5 stars
Death of the Matchmaker has an imaginative premise: Missy Mays inherits her late mother’s matchmaking business—along with her ghost. Her mom won’t pass on until she successfully completes ten matches, which sets Missy up for plenty of chaos. Add in her neighbor, a cynical divorce lawyer, and there’s plenty of room for banter, clashing ideologies, and potential romance.
The problem isn’t the setup—it’s the execution. The story struggles to balance its paranormal comedy with the romance at its center. The ghostly mom brings some funny moments, but her presence often overshadows Missy’s own arc, making it hard for her character growth to shine through. The romance with the neighbor feels rushed and underdeveloped, more plot device than organic connection.
The pacing also feels uneven. Some chapters drag while others rush through key developments, leaving emotional beats underexplored. The side characters, while quirky, don’t contribute much depth to the story, and at times, the book leans on cliché rather than pushing into the freshness its premise promised.
While the book has charm, humor, and moments of fun, it didn’t pull together into a satisfying whole. For me, it was a miss, though readers who love quick paranormal rom-coms with lighthearted hijinks may find more to enjoy.
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