This was just okay. A collection of several different, slightly interconnected short stories, all centering around the MCs’ local community center library. We watch all of our characters come in confused, angry, lost, or listless. They all find their way to their local library, where they all meet a mysterious librarian who gifts them a handmade felt craft out of a cookie tin and encourages them to check out books not related to what they came in for. Quirky, heartfelt, curious, and ultimately uplifting, this book calls forth the idea that life is not about what you’ve accomplished, but rather living in the moment each day.

I had a couple of issues with it. It really, really dragged in places, especially at the end- the last story was so hard for me to get through. I listened on audio book to this, and thought that whole some of the voice actors were really engaging, others took me out of the moment. It wasn’t long, but I did feel myself hoping it was over soon which I don’t love as a reader. I also hated the way the men in the book casually remarked about the women- “cute”, “small”, and “young” were repeated much too often for my taste, and the younger wife trope among multiple of the MMCs was hard to swallow. Also, we get it, the librarian is a large woman. The almost-revulsion that this description is repeated with by several of the characters is redundant and felt more and more disrespectful as the novel went on. I’d have preferred less repetition in general (i.e. I really only needed felting defined once), but this especially left a bad taste in my mouth.

Overall, I understand they were going for heartwarming and hopeful, which did come across. 2.75 stars. I wouldn’t recommend this one unless it was a niche interest for someone, or hopecore was their main genre.

This book doesn’t know what it wants to be- is it a dystopian? A psychological thriller? A horror novel? A commentary on oppression, or assimilation, or compliance with police/power? I’m not sure!

I think 2.75 stars is where I’m at. I LOVED the atmosphere, the vibes, and some of the messages/thoughts (on belonging, following orders, fitting in, recognizing oppression, not honoring identity, etc). I liked the MC enough, loved the old man, and was terrified of the Memory Police. However, so much of it was confusing or illogical. I’m okay with some required buy-in in a book- magical powers, curses, weird worlds, creepiness, all okay with me. But the disappearing was confusing, either because it lost the plot a little near the end, or because I just didn’t click with that facet of the world building. It was hard to believe, and hard to picture- especially since the disappeared object still were around, and kept being referenced by the MC as well as other characters (example: the old man literally lives in the wheelhouse of the ferry, talks about having driven the ferry, but the ferry itself is long since disappeared. Shouldn’t he not remember it, or at least not be able to talk about it?).

Additionally, this book is a vibes read 1000%. There is little to no actual plot or forward motion. I’m here for a vibes read, and I think the author really had a specific vibe in mine and NAILED it. But if you’re looking for story, you should not look here, IMO.

Overall, a cool read, but not one I think I’d recommend or something I’d reread. I will, however, be googling to see if the author has an explanation out there somewhere? Bc I’m still confused.

W O W this one hit harder than book 1!!! The reveals start literally on page 8 and continue throughout, alllll the way until page 400.

I’m not a big domestic thriller reader, but this book reminds me of the feeling I get when I watch Murder She Wrote- a calm sort of curiosity, interrupted by bouts of stress and tension, scrunching up my face while I read quickly through a plot revelation, a twisted lie, or someone almost getting found out. Heaven’s Debris is a mess of almost every character stepping on each others’ toes to keep up their charades, and I loved it!! The characters are real people- I feel like I have coworkers who remind me of Gerry and Faye, and that I’ve definitely met some Darceys in my time. It’s endearing to see Cisco love his wife and daughter so much, and I’m so happy we got a little more of his backstory and life in this one- petition for more Cisco in book 3!

I do love that while he’s the central tying theme between the books, these are true standalones- you could start with either, or only read one, and still get the full effect.

There were spots that dragged a little for me- sometimes I lost a little tension with Faye’s inner monologue, which made her sound overly complain-y or annoying. But to be fair, I do NOT agree with a lot of her decisions, so I could just be annoyed with her, lol.

I am super pleased with the ending- everything is tied up nicely, and makes sense. In addition, I love about Denoncourt’s books that there aren’t a bunch of nonsensical, crazy red herrings to combat. The resolutions make sense, the tension is purposeful, and the characters are sensical. No one serves as just a distractor, and everything is (mostly) realistic.

I’ve requested an ARC for book 3, so now I just wait!