I JUST DIDN’T GET THE SPARK Maybe I’m comparing it too much to the first book (which I love love love!) but it was so hard to finish this one. I was legit falling asleep … I liked the twist and turns in the end. It is what it is.

Such a beautiful, atmospheric read! I wasn't expecting this lyrical writing from this author, given that my first experience with her books was through Fable and it was just passable - I don't know if it's because it's an YA novel and Adrienne Young writes adult characters best, but here, I was hooked from the start with the mystery of the Farrow women and the murder of this beloved town character. June is a great MC - she is brave, emphatic and most of all relatable and it made me want to follow her story. I was expecting some of the twists, but the main ones, especially regarding the family was just JAW-DROPPING! So, so good and well though-out! I do have a few complaints, though - the main conflict resolved itself too easily and too fast, and though I loved the couple, I think it lacked scenes between them to make the reader fully invested. Yes, the chemistry was there, the angst as well, but there was no big moment and the development bewteen them as mostly off page. I think this book would benefit from 50-70 more pages to reach its full potential and become a 5 star-read for me, but I enjoyed it a lot and will check out other novels by Adrienne!

The turning point for the series.. Quagmires!! A 3-letter organisation I shall say nothing more about!! At least the Baudelaires have some happiness in Duncan and Isadora. Speaking of which, this series is the reason why I latched onto the name Isadora as a child and wished that was my name. Nero is awful but there is hope he might eventually leave or get fired, hence why this currently stands near the top of the caregiver ranking. My current caregiver ranking (extremely minor spoilers proceed carefully): 1. Uncle Monty: Truly cares for those kids although his one downside was dismissing them with their concerns for Stefano and interrupting them rather than listening. 2. Prufrock Preparatory School: I know this seems odd but at least the kids got fed and an education (dismal one but other parents send their kids here too). Only bad part is they have to sleep in a shack, but I do feel that outweighs Aunt Josephine fearing everything at their expense. 3. Aunt Josephine: How did this woman clear the case worker home visit to get these kids (a joke), she quite literally will not place the needs and well-being of children above her fears of everything. 4. Sir: I completely forgot about this man and good riddance. He is quite happy to let the children work in a lumbermill with no food, no safety, no education, and then willing to place them into care of a random stranger. Once again, clearly no home visit by a case worker to consider the suitability of this placement. 5. Count Olaf: I.. you know why