Book Review: If Love Could Kill

• Publisher: Knopf, Pantheon, Vintage and Anchor
• Publication Date: February 6, 2024
• Author: Anna Motz
• Genre: Health, Mind & Body | Nonfiction | Parenting & Families
• Page Count: 272

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Rating: 2 out of 5.

Review

If Love Could Kill is a collection of 10 case files of women involved in violent acts that the author was involved in. The book provides a psychoanalysis of each of the 10 women and the why’s for their propensity toward violence.

Cases were varied and included psychological disorders such as Munchausen’s Syndrome, Self Mutilation, and Erotomania, among others. But in the end it all comes down to the vicious cycle of the abused becoming the abuser after an endless cycle of violence.

I didn’t particularly care for the book inasmuch as I was probably expecting more of a true crime type narrative. Instead, I felt like a student in a case studies class analyzing symptoms, dysfuctions, and therapies.

The book eventually becomes a platform for the author promoting her political beliefs and reforms. Something that I didn’t need to read about. Two okay stars.

I received a DRC from Knopf, Pantheon through NetGalley. The review herein is completely my own and contains my honest thoughts and opinions.

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DRC Review: The Bounciest Monster on Mill Street

• Publisher: ViaNova Productions
• Publication Date: October 2, 2023
• Author: Sarah Sparks
• Genre: Children’s Fiction | Health, Mind & Body | Parenting & Families
• Page Count: 32

⭐⭐⭐⭐⭐

Rating: 5 out of 5.

Review

The Bounciest Monster on Mill Street is yet another installment in the cute Monsters on Mill Street series. I thoroughly enjoyed reading this book. The rhymes made it so fun and entertaining, that when read aloud to the young ones, it can really be a time with loads of laughs, snickers, and giggles. The illustrations like always are so adorable and full of personality.

The main character in this particular book is Becks who is more fidgety and hyperactive than anyone else she knows. Becks can’t sit still for the life of her. Until one day things get way out of hand and Becks is forced to reckon with the aftermath of her actions.

Like the other books in the Monster series, there is a subtle life learning moment built in. It is sure to resonate with parents and children alike…That it’s good to take some time out to relax and have some quiet moments. That actions do have consequences.

The Bounciest Monster on Mill Street is a perfect book for pre-schoolers who are at the age where social interactions demand acceptable behaviors. Five fun stars.

I received a DRC from ViaNova Productions through NetGalley. The review herein is completely my own and contains my honest thoughts and opinions.

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DRC Review: The Angriest Monster on Mill Street

• Publisher: ViaNova Productions
• Publication Date: October 2, 2023
• Author: Sarah Sparks
• Genre: Children’s Fiction | Health, Mind & Body | Parenting & Families
• Page Count: 34

⭐⭐⭐⭐

Rating: 4 out of 5.

Blurb

Meet Albie, a small but fiercely temperamental monster, whose oversized emotions set off a chain of disastrous events, including earthquakes, tornadoes, and flooding that engulfs the entire street! Join in the adventure as monsters scurry for cover and Albie attempts to quell the mounting chaos. Will life on Mill Street ever be the same?

With lively illustrations and playful rhymes, each book in the Monsters on Mill Street series follows an energetic and lovable monster on an adventure filled with chaos and unexpected challenges. Every child will recognize a piece of themselves in Albie and the colorful cast of characters on Mill Street.

But wait, there’s more! Because the Monsters on Mill Street series is specifically designed to assist children in developing executive functioning and social-emotional learning (SEL) skills , it’s a treasure trove for parents, grandparents, and educators who are looking to inspire young readers and empower them to overcome life’s challenges.

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My Thoughts & Opinions

The Angriest Monster on Mill Street is another installment in the Mill Street Monsters series. I didn’t care for it as much as the author’s other book, The Messiest Monster on Mill Street, as I thought it could be a little scary for some preschoolers. However, the story does convey an important lesson on controlling emotions — that seeking help with issues is sometimes necessary and good for one’s wellbeing.

As with the other books in the series, the illustrations are cute and colorful. I loved how the emotions were illustrated. Though it got a little scary at times.

The rhyming wasn’t as distinct in this book. So I didn’t find it quite as fun to read. But I suppose it had a lot to do with the subject matter.

Overall, The Angriest Monster on Mill Street was a cute rhyming book that is sure to convey some important lessons in anger management to the young ones. Four stars.

I received a DRC from ViaNova Productions through NetGalley. The review herein is completely my own and contains my honest thoughts and opinions.

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