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Laura's Lit and Flicks
Your Favorite Book and Movie Review Blog
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About the Blog
Hello friends, bookworms, and movie buffs. Welcome to my book and movie review blog. In early 2020, I started a casual blog to explore a longtime passion of mine: writing. I love books and movies, making them the natural topic for my blog and I’m lucky to have grown a small audience of readers.
As a brief outline for anyone new to Lit and Flicks, I review books and movies spanning many genres. I post a 1-5 star scale rating, including half stars, as well as a written review for each novel or film. Then I delve into an analysis and opinion. I also feature photos, brackets, and even an advice column related to books and movies. Happy reading and watching!
-Laura
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The Hacienda by Isabel Cañas (2022)
The Hacienda by Isabel Cañas (2022) A gothic suspense story set after the Mexican War of Independence. Laura’s Rating: 3/5 Stars Plot : When Beatriz’s father is taken after the overthrow of the Mexican government, she latches onto a proposal from a handsome, wealthy man. His countryside estate provides security at first, but soon Beatriz feels a sense of unease and feels like she is being watched when no one is around. Can young priest Padre Andrés help her drive out the dar
litandflicks
3 days ago1 min read
Wuthering Heights by Emily Brontë (1847)
Wuthering Heights by Emily Brontë (1847) The only novel by Emily Brontë published a year before her death. Laura’s Rating: 3.5/5 Stars Plot: Young Catherine Earnshaw and Heathcliff are in love but destined for heartbreak and tragedy in the Yorkshire Moors. Analysis: I read this in preparation to see the recent movie. I genuinely thought I would hate this and surprisingly, I didn’t. I didn’t love it either, but I could actually follow the plot and remained interested (which I
litandflicks
Apr 161 min read
The Association by Bentley Little (2001)
The Association by Bentley Little (2001) A couple finds out that dealing with HOAs can be a nightmare. Laura’s Rating: 2.5/5 Stars Plot : Barry and Maureen leave the hustle and bustle of California to find tranquility in a gated community in Colorado. At first, the gates and the tidy neighborhood seem like a dream, but things aren’t as peaceful as they seem. The homeowners association has control over everything and their authority seems to know no bounds. Analysis : This bo
litandflicks
Apr 81 min read
All Good People Here by Ashley Flowers (2022)
All Good People Here by Ashley Flowers (2022) The debut novel from the host of the Crime Junkie podcast . Laura’s Rating: 2.5/5 Stars Plot: Margot Davies was six when her friend and neighbor January Jacobs went missing and was discovered in a ditch hours later. Twenty years later, Margot is a journalist in the big city but returns to care for her ailing uncle. When another young girl goes missing, Margot feels like history is repeating itself and it’s her mission to save th
litandflicks
Mar 311 min read
Lit and Flicks Bookstore Tour: Trope Bookshop
Lit and Flicks Bookstore Tour 🌹 Trope Bookshop 🌹 @tropebookshop 📍Charlotte, NC Trope Bookshop is a women-owned romance bookstore featuring almost every subject, setting, and subgenre available. The store is thoughtfully curated with seating, cute throw pillows, merch, and sections divided by genre. The staff is friendly and knowledgeable and can give you a recommendation for anything you’re looking for — and I do mean anything. Trope is definitely worth a stop if you’re in
litandflicks
Mar 281 min read
The Housemaid (2022) & The Housemaid’s Secret (2023)
The Housemaid by Freida McFadden (2022) Laura’s Rating: 3.5/5 Stars Plot : Millie is hired by Nina Winchester to clean, cook, and help out with her daughter. Nina is demanding and her moods are erratic, only alleviated by the presence of her husband Andrew. Millie imagines how it would be to have Nina’s perfect life…and her perfect husband. Analysis : Millie and Nina are both decently layered characters and their interactions will keep a reader on their toes. This book isn’
litandflicks
Mar 231 min read
The Haunting of Maddy Clare by Simone St. James (2012)
The Haunting of Maddy Clare by Simone St. James (2012) A historical fiction tale with a supernatural twist. Laura’s Rating: 3.5/5 Stars Plot : Set in 1920s England, the story follows Allistair Gellis, a ghost hunter, and his assistant Sarah Piper as they investigate a potential haunting. The haunting is thought to be done by Maddy Clare, a maid who died by suicide and whose ghost is now wreaking havoc on a small town. Analysis : I once again enjoyed the post WWI setting that
litandflicks
Mar 131 min read
Lit and Flicks Bookstore Tour: Tomorrow Bookstore
Lit and Flicks Bookstore Tour 💜 Tomorrow Bookstore 💜 @tomorrowbookstore 📍Indianapolis, IN Tomorrow Bookstore is an independent bookstore on Mass Ave, in the heart of downtown Indy. Featuring popular titles as well as indie authors, Tomorrow has a fun and cozy vibe. I always love a staff recommendations shelf and there was even artwork from local artists to buy.
litandflicks
Mar 71 min read
I Found You by Lisa Jewell (2017)
I Found You by Lisa Jewell (2017) Three stories converging into one. Laura’s Rating: 3/5 Stars Plot : Single mom Alice finds a man sitting on the beach by her house with no memory of how he got there or who he is. Young newlywed Lily’s husband doesn’t return home from work and she realizes she doesn’t know all that much about him. Decades earlier, a family drama unfurls at the same beach. Analysis : At about halfway through, not that much had happened. The characters were ok
litandflicks
Mar 41 min read
Trust by Hernan Diaz (2022)
Trust by Hernan Diaz (2022) Four versions of a couple’s rise to power. Laura’s Rating: 3/5 Stars Plot : Benjamin Rask and his wife Helen are New York legends. Benjamin is a Wall Street tycoon and Helen’s aristocratic roots give her social clout. How exactly did they accumulate their wealth and influence? Well it depends on who you ask. Analysis : Okay, so the various perspectives and different documents are a great idea and work as an effective concept. However, most of the
litandflicks
Feb 181 min read
Lit and Flicks Bookstore Tour: Storyline Bookshop
Lit and Flicks Bookstore Tour 📖 Storyline Bookshop 📖 @storylinebookshop 📍Upper Arlington, Ohio Okay how cute is this place! Storyline feels warm and welcoming, with reading nooks, playful decor, a coffee cart, and a huge area for author talks and events that feels like a cozy living room. I love the organization by genre that breaks fiction into fantasy, romance, thrillers, horror, and more. Each corner of the store has something new and the selection of books, games, and
litandflicks
Feb 81 min read
A Short Stay in Hell by Stephen L. Peck (2012)
A Short Stay in Hell by Stephen L. Peck (2012) “ Anticipation is a gift. Perhaps there is none greater. Anticipation is born of hope. Indeed, it is hope’s finest expression. ” Laura’s Rating: 4/5 Stars Plot : After devout Morman Soren Johansson dies, he wakes up in an afterlife that is nothing like what he expected. He finds himself in a seemingly endless library and is tasked with finding the book containing his life story. Analysis : It turns out Hell is nothing like what
litandflicks
Feb 51 min read
Eleanor & Park by Rainbow Rowell (2012)
Eleanor & Park by Rainbow Rowell (2012) “He made her feel like more than the sum of her parts.” Sigh . Laura’s Rating: 4/5 Stars Plot : Awkward Eleanor has nowhere to sit on the bus. Until Park, the semi-outsider, reluctantly scoots over and shares his seat. What follows is a story of first time love among two misfits. Analysis : The adolescent yearning is absolute perfection. The love story is so simple, but so effective. Author Rainbow Rowell perfectly captures the awkward
litandflicks
Jan 261 min read
Murder in Old Bombay by Dev March (2020)
Murder in Old Bombay by Dev March (2020) A historical mystery set in British India and based on a true story. Laura’s Rating: 3/5 Stars Plot : Captain Jim Agnihotri is recovering in a military hospital in British India. After reading Sherlock Holmes to pass the time, he becomes intrigued by a case of two women falling to their deaths under mysterious circumstances. Analysis : This book isn’t bad, but it’s not great either. I was bored shortly after the initial setup and it f
litandflicks
Jan 171 min read
Lit and Flicks Bookstore Tour: Novel Blends
Lit and Flicks Bookstore Tour ☕️ Novel Blends ☕️ @novelblends 📍Bowling Green, OH Novel Blends offers coffee and an array of books in the heart of Bowling Green. The selection of books was a little different from the same titles I see in most bookstores, so this is a good place to discover something new to read. The gorgeous book page display speaks for itself and is a must see. With plenty of spots to sit and sample your next read, I’d recommend stopping by.
litandflicks
Jan 101 min read
What Moves The Dead by T. Kingfisher (2022)
What Moves The Dead by T. Kingfisher (2022) A retelling of Poe’s The Fall of the House of Usher . Laura’s Rating: 1/5 Stars Plot : Alex Easton visits a childhood friend, Madeline Usher, after receiving a letter that she is dying. At the House of Usher, Alex discovers a grotesque overgrowth of fungus, mold, and decay among the crumbling Usher estate. Analysis :I didn’t enjoy this book. The mushroom/fungus focused horror didn’t really do much for me and reminded me of Mexican
litandflicks
Jan 51 min read
Dear Lit & Flicks: Collector in Training
New Year’s resolution: Bring back Dear Lit and Flicks Dear Lit & Flicks, What book covers and spines are worth the upgrade for having in your personal library collection? Would you be willing to spend this much (see response for context) for the perfect tome? Or are they just an ostentatious display of “shelf wealth?” -Collector in training For context: I received this inquiry based off of an article detailing how several publishers offer deluxe special editions of books tha
litandflicks
Jan 31 min read
My Year in Books 2025- Best and Worst
My Year in Books 2025- Best and Worst My goal was to read 60 books this year and I (just) made it! I did set my goal before I knew I’d be starting a masters program this year, so I feel pretty good about getting as much reading done as I did. Here are my top 5 and bottom 5 books that I read this year: Best Books of 2025: The Silent Companions (4.5/5 Stars) The Life We Bury (4.5 Stars) An American Marriage (4 Stars) Midnight in the Garden of Good and Evil (4 Stars) All the
litandflicks
Dec 29, 20251 min read
The Most Wonderful Crime of the Year by Ally Carter (2024)
The Most Wonderful Crime of the Year by Ally Carter (2024) Two mystery writers are thrown into a mystery of their own where the stakes are life and death. Laura’s Rating: 4/5 Stars Plot : Cozy mystery author Maggie Chase and cool guy crime writer Ethan Wyatt are both invited to spend Christmas with a mysterious fan at a huge estate in England. Two problems: Maggie hates Wyatt, who can’t even bother to remember her name… and their host goes missing shortly after their arrival.
litandflicks
Dec 24, 20251 min read
Lit and Flicks Bookstore Tour: River Lights Bookstore
Lit and Flicks Bookstore Tour ✨Special Guest Submission✨ River Lights Bookstore @river_lights 📍Dubuque, Iowa Located on historic Main Street in Dubuque, River Lights is a very cute and cozy shop. They offer blind date with a book, a selection of games, and literary gifts. The store hosts many author signings and other book events in the area. Thank you to Rebecca for the submission. I’ll definitely be stopping by if I find myself in Iowa!
litandflicks
Dec 20, 20251 min read
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Note that this is not the Dear Lit and Flicks submission form. You can find that in the Dear Lit and Flicks Tab.
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