After my last Riley Sager (The House Across the Lake), I said I was done. But then this one came out and it was a male protagonist and it was getting After my last Riley Sager (The House Across the Lake), I said I was done. But then this one came out and it was a male protagonist and it was getting pretty good reviews. So I decided to give it a go.
And now, I can finally say with certainty that I'm done with Riley Sager. This book wasn't bad, per se. It was just boring and predictable. I think if you're a fan of his already or if you're new to thrillers and want to dip your toes in, this is a perfectly fine book to read. But for me, there was nothing super special about it....more
given all the hype this book has had over the last year, i really expected a lot more from it. it definitely kept me engaged. but i predicted pretty egiven all the hype this book has had over the last year, i really expected a lot more from it. it definitely kept me engaged. but i predicted pretty early on what was happening and i hate when that happens with thrillers....more
I read Celeste Ng's debut novel Everything I Never Told You a few years ago and was, sadly, incredibly underwhelmed by it. And unfortunately, I feel mI read Celeste Ng's debut novel Everything I Never Told You a few years ago and was, sadly, incredibly underwhelmed by it. And unfortunately, I feel much the same about this book. I think she has some really interesting concepts and ideas. But the execution of those ideas always just leaves a bit to be desired for me.
First off, I will say that I absolutely love Celeste Ng's writing. She paints an incredibly vivid picture and her prose is beautiful. And the characters in this book are so compelling! Like I said, I really loved the idea of this book. But everything felt a little underdeveloped. There was a lot of telling and not a lot of showing. The pacing was off. And I think the end just fizzles out instead of being the much grander spectacle is sort of set itself up to be.
I'm unsure if I'll keep reading Celeste Ng. I want to like her books. But I'm nervous to keep trying them because I don't want to continue to be disappointed....more
the idea of this book is so intriguing! in theory, i really should have loved it. however, the pacing was all over the place. the first 50% was so slothe idea of this book is so intriguing! in theory, i really should have loved it. however, the pacing was all over the place. the first 50% was so slow and then the last 50% moved too fast. at the end of the book, i still had a lot of unanswered questions. i think the message is important and i appreciate what the author was trying to do. however, i don't know that it was 100% successful in terms of a thriller....more
This was incredibly atmospheric but felt so under-developed. The mystery was obviously the most compelling aspect of the story. But it took almost 75%This was incredibly atmospheric but felt so under-developed. The mystery was obviously the most compelling aspect of the story. But it took almost 75% of the book for something to finally happen. I finished because I was definitely intrigued by what was happening. But the entire time I was reading, I just wanted more.
Will definitely read more from Adrienne Young in the future though because I really did enjoy her writing style. I understand this was her first adult novel after writing exclusively YA and I think that shows. But I can definitely see potential so I will definitely try her again!...more
An absolutely incredible collection of essays. I need to buy myself a copy of this book so I can reread it and annotate all of the parts that really sAn absolutely incredible collection of essays. I need to buy myself a copy of this book so I can reread it and annotate all of the parts that really stick out to me. In all honesty, that might end up being the whole book. This was so good....more
This is the kind of short fiction I like. Now I plan on reading everything Claire Keegan has ever written. I will be buying myself a physical copy of This is the kind of short fiction I like. Now I plan on reading everything Claire Keegan has ever written. I will be buying myself a physical copy of this because this is something I'll definitely want to reread many times in the future!...more
abby jimenez is an author that's always sort of been on my radar but never someone i was in a hurry to check out. after everyone raving about this andabby jimenez is an author that's always sort of been on my radar but never someone i was in a hurry to check out. after everyone raving about this and her newest release, i felt like it was finally time to give her a shot. and i'm glad i did because this was really adorable!
i was hesitant because i don't always love age gap romances where the woman is older. only because it always seems to be a huge dwelling point and the main character will go on and on about it for the whole book. luckily, that did not happen here. after some initial hangups, it's hardly mentioned for the majority of the book, which i really appreciated. it also doesn't hurt that daniel is every woman's dream love interest.
overall, this was a solid and incredibly enjoyable contemporary romance and i can't wait to pick up yours truly in the new year....more
what a perfect little romance to really start getting me into the christmas spirit.
is this series the greatest thing that's ever been written? no. do iwhat a perfect little romance to really start getting me into the christmas spirit.
is this series the greatest thing that's ever been written? no. do i have so much fun reading these books? absolutely....more
I've really gone back and forth on whether or not I should actually rate this book. I sometimes choose not to give a star rating to a very personal acI've really gone back and forth on whether or not I should actually rate this book. I sometimes choose not to give a star rating to a very personal account of a person's life and the trauma they've experienced. This book, while being a personal account of the author's trauma and how she chose to overcome it, also presented a bit of a challenge for me. I think I'll leave this book unrated but it does feel a bit like a 3 star read if I'm rating only on the reading experience.
This is a collection of essays all about Sarah Polley's life and the ups and downs she experience growing up as a child actor in Canada. At the start of the book, the author clearly states that this is a series of essays written over the course of many years as her way of reckoning with some of the things that she experienced. It is a not a book that was written all in one go to be published together. I don't think she wrote any of these essays with the express idea of a book in mind.
And that is my biggest hang-up with this book. The structure of the collection is the book's downfall in my opinion. The essays span many years and really cover the gambit of Sarah Polley's life. But it's not put together in a linear way. I think the collection would've been far more effective if we started with the essays that illustrate the beginnings of Sarah's life and work up to the present day. I would have connected with her story much easier if we didn't jump around all over the place.
I think the starts to explore some really interesting topics in each of these essays. But I think the book lacks a depth that could've made this an absolutely outstanding memoir. I think I'd still recommend it if you are a fan of essay collections about a person's response to trauma and how they have overcome what has happened to them in life. And I'd definitely recommend the audiobook, which Polley narrates herself. But this is not going to make it to my top favorite non-fiction reads, unfortunately....more
probably closer to a 3.5/5 stars but i'm rounding down.
i wanted a cute little holiday romance to read while i put my christmas tree up and this mostlyprobably closer to a 3.5/5 stars but i'm rounding down.
i wanted a cute little holiday romance to read while i put my christmas tree up and this mostly fit the bill. i'm usually a sucker for a good friends to lovers romance but the miscommunication, or lack of communication, really sucked some of the joy out of this one for me.
it was cute though and i do think i'll continue on in the series cause i'd love to see some of the other romances develop!...more
the idea of this book is so intriguing to me. and i've heard some pretty decent reviews of it so i was excited to get to it. it felt like i3.5/5 stars
the idea of this book is so intriguing to me. and i've heard some pretty decent reviews of it so i was excited to get to it. it felt like it would be a good fall read and honestly, it was, so i'm glad i waited until now to read it. was it a perfect book? no. but was it a good reading experience? yes.
my problem with this book really just stems from the fact that it dragged on a little too long for me, which is saying something considering this book is less than 300 pages. i think it easily could've been 50 pages shorter and achieved the same goal. i also predicted the ending fairly early on so the shock factor was not there in the end.
i haven't had the best luck with roshani chokshi's books in the past. but i was pleasantly surprpised that i liked this as much as i did. which means i won't be giving up on her any time soon....more
i've never read anything by angela davis but now i definitely want to check out more of her works. she's thoughtful and smart and her general attitudei've never read anything by angela davis but now i definitely want to check out more of her works. she's thoughtful and smart and her general attitude about the unrest and unfairness of the world today really comes across in her writing. i obviously checked this out because i'm trying to educate myself more on the ongoing crisis in gaza. and i'm so glad i read this. it was educational and informative in an easily digestible way, which i really appreciated. i definitely i could benefit from a reread and maybe reading it physically next time so i can really fully engaging with everything the author is saying and every point she's making. but i did think this was a critical book to pick up during this tumultuous time and it's definitely going to continue to be a springboard for my further education....more
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