Book: Juniper Bean Resorts to Murder: A Killer Romantic Comedy (Happily Ever Homicide) by Gracie Mitchell, Gracie Ruth Mitchell
Reviewed by Rie
Rating: 4.5/5
Juniper Bean Resorts to Murder was exactly the kind of cozy mystery I was hoping for: fun, easy to follow, full of laughs, and with just enough romance sprinkled in to keep things interesting without ever taking over the actual mystery. I’d seen several people mention enjoying this one, so I went in expecting a cozy whodunit with a side of romance, and that’s pretty much exactly what I got.
The mystery itself was a lot of fun, especially because there are two mysteries intertwining throughout the story. It kept me guessing and gave me plenty to follow without the plot ever feeling overly complicated. By the last few chapters, I had a pretty good idea of whodunit, but I still thought the reveal was handled well and everything wrapped up neatly. There were also several moments that genuinely made me laugh, including the pear figure scene (Juniper, I understand you) and the ending gotcha involving the bathroom. There were plenty of little moments like that sprinkled throughout the book.
But honestly, Juniper is what made this book for me. I absolutely adored her. She’s been through a lot, but she manages to hold herself together while still being strong, funny, courageous, and completely willing to show her emotions when she needs to. She’s quirky in exactly the way that makes me laugh, and I found myself really connecting with her throughout the story. The cast as a whole was great, too. I enjoyed the different personalities and the relationships between the characters, and everyone felt believable and consistent.
And then there’s the romance, which I really enjoyed. The slow burn, forced proximity, small age gap, and grumpy/sunshine elements were all there, but thankfully none of them felt like they were being waved directly in my face. The chemistry developed naturally, with some hesitation before things finally started moving in that direction, and I thought that worked really well. There were SO MANY cute moments that I don’t even know where I’d start picking favorites. What I especially appreciated was that the romance never overshadowed the mystery. There was enough of it to satisfy me, but the story still knew what its main focus was.
The audiobook was also a win for me. The dual narrators did a great job bringing the characters to life and keeping me immersed in the story. The writing flowed well, the humor landed, and there were plenty of emotional moments mixed in with all the coziness.
And cozy is definitely the word I’d use for this book. It has that warm, comfortable feeling I want from a cozy mystery, while still giving you an actual murder to solve. There are some heavier elements woven in, particularly around parental neglect and absentee parents, so it isn’t completely fluffy, but those pieces felt naturally incorporated rather than preachy or overdone.
I think this is a particularly good fit for anyone looking for a cozy mystery with a side of romance. If you’re hoping for a spicy romance, though, this probably isn’t the one for you. The romance is kissing-only, which I actually found refreshing here because it let the relationship develop without pulling attention away from the mystery.
My rating landed at 4.5 stars, and I definitely wrestled with whether to give it a 4 or a 5. I enjoyed it a lot, but it didn’t quite reach that “OMG THIS IS ONE OF MY FAVORITES” level for me. At the same time, four stars felt like I was underselling just how much fun I had with it. So 4.5 it is.
Mostly, I just finished this book thinking: I could definitely read more Juniper Bean. And honestly, I think that says a lot.