Book Review: The Girl with the Pearl Earring by Tracy Chevalier

 


Title: Girl With A Pearl Earring

By: Tracy Chevalier

Genre: Historical

Pages: 233

Release Date: 1999

Rating: ★★★★★

 

Summary from Goodreads:

With precisely 35 canvases to his credit, the Dutch painter Johannes Vermeer represents one of the great enigmas of 17th-century art. The meager facts of his biography have been gleaned from a handful of legal documents. Yet Vermeer's extraordinary paintings of domestic life, with their subtle play of light and texture, have come to define the Dutch golden age. His portrait of the anonymous Girl with a Pearl Earring has exerted a particular fascination for centuries—and it is this magnetic painting that lies at the heart of Tracy Chevalier's second novel of the same title.

Girl with a Pearl Earring centers on Vermeer's prosperous Delft household during the 1660s. When Griet, the novel's quietly perceptive heroine, is hired as a servant, turmoil follows. First, the 16-year-old narrator becomes increasingly intimate with her master. Then Vermeer employs her as his assistant—and ultimately has Griet sit for him as a model.

 

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Review:

Girl with a Pearl Earring by Tracy Chevalier is a beautifully written and captivating novel. I loved every page of this read. The prose is elegant, the historical detail vivid, and the characters come alive with quiet intensity. Chevalier brings Vermeer’s world to life in a way that feels both intimate and timeless. A stunning story that lingers long after the last word.

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Three Star Thursday

 


Welcome back to Three Star Thursday, where I share the books that landed right in the middle of my rating scale. These aren’t bad reads by any means, but they didn’t sweep me off my feet either. They had moments I enjoyed, balanced with parts that left me wanting more. Sometimes that makes for the most interesting discussions, so let’s dive into this week’s trio of three star reads.

Through Gates of Garnet and Gold

Seanan McGuire

Publication Date: January 6th, 2026

Through Gates of Garnet and Gold by Seanan McGuire wasn’t quite the hit I hoped it would be. The concept had promise, but I found myself struggling to stay engaged and often lost focus while reading. A decent read overall, but it didn’t fully capture my attention.








Aftermath

Chuck Wendig

Aftermath by Chuck Wendig wasn’t my favorite Star Wars read, but it still had its bright spots. The pacing and style didn’t fully click for me, yet I really enjoyed seeing some of the old, familiar characters return. A mixed experience overall, but worth it for the nostalgia factor.










The Sweetest Fruits

Monique Truong

The Sweetest Fruits by Monique Truong had so much potential, but it ended up being a bit of a letdown for me. I stumbled across this book while on vacation, and while it started off with a wonderful story, the momentum quickly faltered. Instead of deepening the narrative, the author shifts into summarizing one character before moving on to the next, which happens several times. This structure broke up the pacing and flow, leaving the book feeling disjointed and ultimately disappointing.







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Arc Review: The House Saphir by Marissa Meyer

 


Title: The House Saphir

By: Marissa Meyer

Genre: Fantasy

Pages: 432

Release Date: November 4th, 2025

Rating: ★★★★☆

 

Summary from Goodreads:

Mallory Fontaine is a fraud. Though she comes from a long line of witches, the only magic she possesses is the ability to see ghosts, which is rarely as useful as one would think. She and her sister have maintained the family business, eking out a paltry living by selling fraudulent spells to gullible buyers and conducting tours of the infamous mansion where the first of the Saphir murders took place.

Mallory is a self-proclaimed expert on Count Bastien Saphir - otherwise known as Monsieur Le Bleu - who brutally killed three of his wives more than a century ago. But she never expected to meet Bastien's great-grandson and heir to the Saphir estate. Armand is handsome, wealthy, and convinced that the Fontaine Sisters are as talented as they claim. The perfect mark. When he offers Mallory a large sum of money to rid his ancestral home of Le Bleu's ghost, she can’t resist. A paid vacation at Armand’s country manor? It’s practically a dream come true, never mind the ghosts of murdered wives and the monsters that are as common as household pests.

But when murder again comes to the House Saphir, Mallory finds herself at the center of the investigation—and she is almost certain the killer is mortal. If she has any hope of cashing in on the payment she was promised, she’ll have to solve the murder and banish the ghost, all while upholding the illusion of witchcraft.

But that all sounds relatively easy compared to her biggest learning to trust her heart. Especially when the person her heart wants the most might be a murderer himself.

 

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Review:

The House Saphir by Marissa Meyer is a creepy, intense, and wonderfully immersive journey. The atmosphere is thick with unease, the kind of gothic tension that keeps you glancing over your shoulder as you read. Meyer balances the unsettling with strong character work, weaving a story that feels both eerie and enchanting. While not perfect, it delivers exactly what you’d want from a dark, haunting tale and leaves you satisfied, yet still thinking about its twists long after the last page.

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Novella Review: A Gentleman's Guide to Getting Lucky by Mackenzi Lee

 


Title: The Gentelman' Guide to Getting Lucky

By: Mackenzi Lee

Genre: Historical Romance

Pages: 128

Release Date: November 26th, 2019

Rating: ★★★★☆

 
Summary from Goodreads:

In this funny and frothy novella that picks up where the New York Times bestselling The Gentleman’s Guide to Vice and Virtue leaves off, freshly minted couple Monty and Percy fumble through their first time together.

Monty’s epic grand tour may be over, but now that he and Percy are finally a couple, he realizes there is something more nerve-wracking than being chased across Europe: getting together with the person you love.

Will the romantic allure of Santorini make his first time with Percy magical, or will all the anticipation and build-up completely spoil the mood?

 

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Review:

This was a kinky little side quest, and I loved every moment of it. The Gentleman’s Guide to Getting Lucky is a fun, flirty short story that gives us more time with beloved characters in a lighthearted, intimate setting. It’s a quick jaunt through their world that doesn’t take itself too seriously, but still delivers charm, wit, and a dash of emotional depth. A delightful bonus for fans of the series! 

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Weekly Menu #624 And The Book Of The Week

 


This week’s menu takes us to China, where bold flavors meet fresh vegetables and protein packed dishes. From comforting noodle bowls to sizzling stir fries, I’ve put together a lineup that’s both nourishing and flavorful, with a balance of tofu, chicken, beef, and even a dedicated fish day. It’s all about variety, spice, and bringing a little taste of Chinese cooking right to the dinner table.

Alongside cooking, I’ve also been reading The Bluest Eye by Toni Morrison. This novel is powerful and heartbreaking, exploring themes of beauty, identity, and the ways society can shape how we see ourselves. Morrison’s prose is both lyrical and unflinching, pulling me into the lives of her characters in a way that’s unforgettable. It’s not always an easy read, but it’s one that lingers with you long after you’ve put it down.

WEEKLY MENU

Monday

Chicken and snow pea stir-fry

Kids - Chicken strips with snow peas and rice

 

Tuesday

Beef and bok choy stir-fry

Kids - Cheese, Crackers and Carrots

 

Wednesday

Steamed fish with ginger and scallions

Kids - Grilled Chicken with rice and cucumber

 

Thursday

Ma Po tofu with ground turkey

Kids - Ground Turkey with Crackers and Applesauce

 

Friday

Szechuan-style green beans with minced pork

Kids - Green Beans and Minced Pork

 

Saturday

Lemon chicken with broccoli and carrots

Kids - Chicken and Broccoli

 

Sunday

Family Dinner

Spaghetti

Salad

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Sunday Confessions #321

 


It’s Sunday again, which means it’s time for another round of bookish confessions. This is where I spill the truths I’ve been holding onto all week. Whether it’s a book I couldn’t finish, a guilty pleasure read I devoured in one sitting, or a hot take I know might ruffle some feathers. Think of it as my cozy corner to be honest about the highs, lows, and unexpected twists of my reading life.


Sunday Confessions #320
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Weekly Menu #623 And The Book Of The Week
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August 2025 Wrap Up
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Vampire Wednesday: Bury Our Bones in the Midnight Soil by V. E. Schwab
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ARC Review: Red City by Marie Lu
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Fiction Friday: The Edge of Water by Olufunke Grace Bankole


Weekly Menu #624 And The Book Of The Week
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Novella Review: A Gentleman's Guide to Getting Lucky by Mackenzi Lee
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Arc Review: The House Saphir by Marissa Meyer
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Three Star Thursday
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Book Review: The Girl with the Pearl Earring by Tracy Chevalier
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Sunday Confessions #322





★★★☆☆

Sleepless in Staffordshire by Celeste Bradley was a quick and pleasant read, but it left me wanting more. A friend who’s just starting to get into reading suggested it, and while I enjoyed the light story, the lack of character development and world building held it back. It felt too short. If the author had taken more time to flesh things out, this easily could’ve been a 5 star read. For me, it was just “eh,” but I’ll keep cheering my friend on in her reading journey.







282/100 2025 Reading Challenge



Another Sunday, another round of bookish truths off my chest. I always feel a little lighter after sharing the messy, honest side of my reading life, and I hope it sparks a smile, a nod of agreement, or even a lively debate. Books aren’t just about polished reviews. They’re about the personal journeys we take with them, the quirks we uncover, and the confessions we dare to make. Until next week, may your pages be full and your confessions few.

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Fiction Friday: The Edge of Water by Olufunke Grace Bankole

 

Title: The Edge of Water

By: Olufunke Grace Bankole

Genre: Fiction

Pages: 272

Release Date: February 4th, 2025

Rating: ★★★★☆

 

Summary from Goodreads:

Set between Nigeria and New Orleans, The Edge of Water tells the story of a young woman who dreams of life in America, as the collision of traditional prophecy and individual longing tests the bonds of a family during a devastating storm.

In Ibadan, Nigeria, a mother receives a divination that foretells danger for her daughter in America. In spite of this warning, she allows her to forge her own path, and Amina arrives in New Orleans filled with hope. But just as Amina begins to find her way, a hurricane threatens to destroy the city, upending everything she’d dreamed of and the lives of all she holds dear. Years later, her daughter is left with questions about the mother she barely knew, and the family she has yet to discover in Nigeria.

Exploring the love of a determined mother and dreaming daughter who do not say enough to each other until it is too late, the detangling of Yoruba Christianity, traditional religion, and folklore, and the tellings of three generations of daring women—through times of longing, promise, and romance, as well as heartbreak—Olufunke Grace Bankole’s The Edge of Water is a luminous debut novel about a young woman brave enough to leave all she knows behind, and the way her fate transforms a family destined to stay together.

 

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Review:

The Edge of Water is a heart wrenching and beautifully written story that I couldn’t put down. The characters face immense hardship, yet they carry themselves with resilience and quiet strength, doing their best to carve out meaning and hope in a difficult world. It’s raw, emotional, and deeply human. A story that lingers long after the last page.

Received an advance reader copy in exchange for a fair review. 

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