The YA White Lotus comp is spot on with this one! The Reunion has compulsive plotting, but I think the characters would have served the reader better The YA White Lotus comp is spot on with this one! The Reunion has compulsive plotting, but I think the characters would have served the reader better if their voices had been a little more unique per character, as there are many narrators in this story. The big reveal for the main mystery felt a little lackluster, but I still had a fun time reading this one.
*Many thanks to the publisher for providing my review copy....more
”Tell me a secret, I hear Gram whisper to me, and my heart stretches in memory. I blink up at the sky, wondering where she is. Som4.5 stars rounded up
”Tell me a secret, I hear Gram whisper to me, and my heart stretches in memory. I blink up at the sky, wondering where she is. Someone’s going to tell me one of yours.”
Gorgeous cover? ✔️ Swoon worthy rivals-to-lovers romance? ✔️ A moving story about grief? ✔️
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These are three of my most important checklist items in romance novels, and You, with a View excelled in all areas. We all know that the cover is initially why I requested this book, but I found that the banter and steam were completely my taste once I dove in. I love books that feature a road trip, and the angsty enemies-to-lovers vibes between Theo and Noelle, alongside the modern use of technology to further their story, felt so contemporary, but not in a trying too hard sort of way. Also? Paul is the grandpa I never had, and he was an absolutely gem that furthered the story in a comforting way.
The reason why this book resonated so heavily with me though is that I had my very own Gram, except her title was Maw Maw. She was my biggest cheerleader, the person I could talk about anything and everything with, and the day she died left a hole in my heart that no one else on this earth will ever be able to fill. I could 100% relate to Noelle’s grief journey and the wide range of emotions she felt while untangling Kat and Paul’s love story. Is saying that this book hurt so good a thing? Because it did, and it does. And it will continue to do so.
I’m very impressed by this debut, and I cannot wait to read Jessica Joyce’s next release!
*Many thanks to the publisher for providing my review copy....more
”Well, find your own magic, I suppose. The magic way to give your kids the perfect childhood that will turn them into better adu3.5 stars rounded to 4
”Well, find your own magic, I suppose. The magic way to give your kids the perfect childhood that will turn them into better adults than you could have ever been. The magic way to undo whatever damage your parents did to you, to keep your kids happy and safe and protected forever.”
If you read Hide then you probably have an idea of what to expect with Mister Magic. Not that the plots are exactly the same, but the formula of mysterious build up to supernatural horror/thriller is present again, and I think that this genre works really well for the author. The less you know about this one going in the better, so my review is going to be brief and vague, but know that this is a dark, enthralling, suspenseful read that dabbles in how The Mandela Effect might have influenced elder millennial memories. What makes it even more meaningful is the author’s note in the back, explaining where the inspiration for this novel came from. If you’re looking for a lightning fast read where you may not understand everything by the end of the book, but have a ball of a time reading, this book is for you.
I can’t quite put my finger on why Torre’s recent releases aren’t sticking the landing for me. I adored The Good Lie and Every Last Secret, but A FamiI can’t quite put my finger on why Torre’s recent releases aren’t sticking the landing for me. I adored The Good Lie and Every Last Secret, but A Familiar Stranger and now A Fatal Affair haven’t scratched the juicy, drama filled itch I seem to associate with her style. I do not mind over the top, unrealistic drama, but I think what is happening here is that these latest books contain SO many characters that do not essentially play into the plot in a meaningful way, making it difficult to keep track of them or care about what happens to them. Also, the plot threads seem chaotic, rather than complementing each other, which makes it difficult to appreciate the twists and turns thrown our way. That said, there is something so compulsive about the author’s writing, so I’ll continue to give her books a try, but I’ll likely wait for release rather than requesting early editions.
*Many thanks to the publisher for providing my review copy....more
Chloe Gong is an incredible author, and her first foray into the adult fantasy realm was a delight to experience! Shakespeare retellings seem to fit wChloe Gong is an incredible author, and her first foray into the adult fantasy realm was a delight to experience! Shakespeare retellings seem to fit well with her writing abilities, and although I’m not overly familiar with Antony and Cleopatra and perhaps couldn’t appreciate the minute details as much as someone who was, I didn’t feel like I was missing out on anything. The setting and characters were both tangible and developed/unique, and THE TWISTS. Gong really knows how to write twists and keep them coming. I can’t wait to get my hands on the following installment to find out what happens next!
*Many thanks to the publisher for providing my review copy....more
”You were always the best part of me. If I could take back even one second of waiting for other people and other places and just be with you, I’d do i”You were always the best part of me. If I could take back even one second of waiting for other people and other places and just be with you, I’d do it.”
I was not expecting this book to hit me squarely in the feels, but I am suing SFM for emotional damages, because this book was exquisite. Going in, I didn’t really have a clue of what to expect, as it is my first read from the author. Would it be dark, like a Stephen King, coming of age, battle the evil giant sort of way? Well, it definitely is a coming of age tale, but it is SO much more than your typical small town horror novel. While parts are dark, the overall feel is more suspenseful and surprisingly hopeful.
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The balance between the past tense narrative as the gang discovers the houses and what magic they hold and the present tense search for Brandi and the truth of the 15 years they have been gone from town is perfectly done, and the atmosphere of the Arkansas Ozark felt like a character all in its own. An unexpected touch was how lovingly this book wraps up, with a HEA in every way imaginable. If you enjoy books that break genre barriers with a compulsive feel, do yourself a favor and check out The Wonder State.
*Many thanks to the publisher for providing my review copy....more
This slow burning mystery from the queen of thought provoking fiction is another one to add to your TBR this year! Mexican Gothic and Untamed Shore reThis slow burning mystery from the queen of thought provoking fiction is another one to add to your TBR this year! Mexican Gothic and Untamed Shore remain my favorites of her novels, but Silver Nitrate follows close in their footsteps in my rankings. Dark, timely, and unapologetic, if you are looking for a novel of suspense with an atmosphere of creeping dread that suddenly smacks you across the face, this is it.
*Many thanks to the publisher for providing my review copy....more
It took me awhile to sort out my thoughts on this one, as it was not quite what I expected, but that isn’t a bad thing. I buddy read this with my sistIt took me awhile to sort out my thoughts on this one, as it was not quite what I expected, but that isn’t a bad thing. I buddy read this with my sister Irina, and part of the reason I love reading the same book as a friend or friends is due to the fact that you can really hash out your book review content ahead of time. We both ended up with similar feelings on None of This Is True, and foremost agreed that it was a compulsive, must read suspense tale.
Lisa Jewell is an incredibly talented storyteller, as she can really take the odd day-to-day occurrences and entwine them with clear and concise character development, giving birth to novels that allow the reader to fully engage with the cast of characters, no matter if they are likable or despicable. This book is no different, and the multiple povs really give us insight into the various narrators inner thoughts and feelings while the tension ramps up around them. Josie and Alix couldn’t be more different; they come from different lifestyles and circumstances, and yet… Could they be more similar than originally meets the eye?
No spoilers, but there are some heavy themes discussed here. In fact, the build up of 85% of the novel is such a beautiful master class on slow burning suspense, and how to do it so that you don’t lose the reader in the process, that I was sure this would be Jewell’s darkest novel yet. The final 15% is what threw me for a loop. There are a few aspects that I had to overlook up until this point, behaviors and lack of affirmative action in the characters that I don’t think would play out the way it did in the book in real life, but understandably needed to be done to progress this particular story.
However, my reason for not giving this a full 5 stars is that this final 15% felt as if it just lost steam and wasn’t sure of how it wanted to end, so it took a milder finale that had me feeling a little deflated, going from full speed ahead to a little bit of, “Wait, that’s it?” I believe the ending was designed to give the reader some authority over how they perceived not only the entire story, but also what happens after the final page is turned, although I would have been more satisfied with full closure.
That said, this game of cat and mouse was such a deviously delightful read that I can’t help but highly recommend it for your 2022 TBR. While not my favorite Lisa Jewell novel, it is an immensely enjoyable read that will be a fantastic book club choice, brimming with copious discussion material.
*Many thanks to the publisher for my review copy....more
Have you ever read a book that is so timely and effective in its message that you do not feel the slighte”Who has the right to write about suffering?”
Have you ever read a book that is so timely and effective in its message that you do not feel the slightest bit qualified to review it? That your thoughts on such a masterpiece are not even worthy of being put to paper, literally or figuratively, because they are trite, vapid, and banal in comparison to the quality of the text being discussed? That’s how I feel trying to put the proverbial pen to paper with my thoughts on Yellowface.
Is this book satire? Obviously and not quite so much. What I mean is, it’s clearly satire, but to an extent that these characters are not exact flesh and blood, but the issues discussed in this book are far from farcical. Most reviewers have noticed the central themes in Yellowface rearing their ugly head in the real world, especially in the past few years, so it is refreshing and exhilarating to read a fictional novel encompassing these issues in a way that only R.F. Kuang could create.
”Give me your bruises and hurts, she told us, and I will return to you a diamond.”
Let’s be clear: June is not a character that you will feel empathy for. She will not be redeemed, rooted for, or endeared by the end; however, watching her downfall is oddly satisfying in a way that I cannot quite explain. The insight into the process of releasing a book with a Big Five publisher is compelling and intriguing, and it’s, sadly, easy to see how something like this story could transpire. The beauty of this tale is no one is safe from criticism; Kuang makes it clear that there are various forms of privilege that transpire across lines of race, class, gender, etc., and every single character really has something to answer for.
In one word: Brilliant.
*Many thanks to the publisher for providing my review copy....more
I’ve read a few books from this author and, while not my favorite, I really enjoyed What Never Happened! The pacingMurder in paradise, you say?
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I’ve read a few books from this author and, while not my favorite, I really enjoyed What Never Happened! The pacing is a bit of a slow burn for the first half, but if you can stick with it, the plot is complex and the ending did manage to surprise me. Please note there is the inclusion of Covid in the story, as the early days and onset might be triggering for some. I found it cleverly used as a way to insert a claustrophobic sense on the island as the story continues on. If you’re looking for a unique read, give this one a try.
*Many thanks to the publisher for providing my review copy....more
A moment of silence please for this absolute stunner of a cover. Going into this book, I knew”Flowers are better than people.”
3.5 stars rounded to 4.
A moment of silence please for this absolute stunner of a cover. Going into this book, I knew that Julie Soto is a fanfic darling, but I hadn’t experienced her writing for myself. Pleased to report that this was a wonderful traditionally published debut!
The drama behind the celebrity wedding in the present tense, the visuals my mind conjured when the floral meetings were described, and Elliot just being *cough* Elliot were all strong aspects of the novel. I haven’t read many romance novels with a wedding planning setting, and it was fun getting to experience the ins and outs of what goes on behind the scenes, while also seeing Ama and Elliot’s creative genius at play. The narrators for the audiobook are fabulous, and the steam is ...more
What if you picked up a book one day that used your full name and not so subtly accused you of a horrific crime, while also allu3.5 stars rounded to 4
What if you picked up a book one day that used your full name and not so subtly accused you of a horrific crime, while also alluding that there are more secrets that could come to the surface? And what if that book was already optioned for Netflix and all the rage and you couldn’t go anywhere without seeing it?
”The book was fiction, but it wasn’t. It told the truth but wrapped it in lies. I might’ve called it ominous if I were into the whole foreshadowing thing.”
That’s the premise for I Know What You Did by Cayce Osborne. This slow burning mystery requires patience from the reader, but the subject matter is so intriguing that I found it easy to stay glued to the story, and turning the pages as I neared the ending was a breeze. It’s a short novel coming in at 272 pages, so nothing incredibly deep in terms of characterization, but Petta/Petal has a distinct voice and the sense of place is really well done in this novel. I did not see the culprit ahead of time, which was also a nice surprise! If you’re looking for an atmospheric, slow burning mystery this summer, give this one a try.
*Many thanks to the publisher for providing my review copy....more
If you love a slow burning spooky read, this one is great. The setting is both claustrophobic and damning, and would be a fantastic addition to anyoneIf you love a slow burning spooky read, this one is great. The setting is both claustrophobic and damning, and would be a fantastic addition to anyone’s fall TBR. The narrative started to feel very repetitive over time, as we’re hearing similar things from both POVs, but the pacing really takes off at about 60% in. I found the villain to be predictable, and the monologue they go on seems a little disjointed and off balance with the flow of the rest of the text, but overall I would consider this one a win. I’ll be on the lookout for the author’s next book to see what she comes up with!
*Many thanks to the publisher for providing my review copy....more
Another entertaining read in the Agathas series! As someone who is not the target audience for these books, I pick them up for pure entertainment rathAnother entertaining read in the Agathas series! As someone who is not the target audience for these books, I pick them up for pure entertainment rather than any sort of deep critique, and when the last book ended by flaunting a historic mystery involving Mona Moody, I knew I needed to pick up The Night in Question. The authors did a fantastic job tying in the present characters to the history of Levy castle, and the twists and turns were great and unexpected. I can’t quite put my finger on why these books give me pause to rate any higher than 3 stars, but I think it’s something to do with the fact that the dialogue between the teens and their inner monologue just feels… off? Like adults were writing the characters trying to sound cool and hip but just missed the mark? Regardless, this was a fast paced, fun read.
*Many thanks to the publisher for providing my review copy....more
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