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| 1836333552
| 9781836333555
| B0D39M633B
| 4.28
| 18
| Sep 04, 2024
| Sep 04, 2024
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it was amazing
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This is one of my quickest, most entertaining reads and an instant five-star rating without hesitation! Why do I ever reconsider my ratings? I am obse
This is one of my quickest, most entertaining reads and an instant five-star rating without hesitation! Why do I ever reconsider my ratings? I am obsessed with the enemies-to-lovers trope, and the well-constructed heat, volatile chemistry between the main characters, increased by the tension of forced proximity and witty banter. In this book, the holiday spirit, best friend’s little sister, smart and hilarious pranks involving glitter, and several Casio watches make it irresistible! I laughed so much and enjoyed the immature yet perfectly hot encounters between Tristan and Nina! I truly loved it and couldn’t put this book down, turning it into my guilty pleasure (it’s worth skipping daily errands to bury my head in the pages). The story revolves around Nina Thompson, who is planning to spend a peaceful Christmas with her family, reading her book, munching on her favorite snacks, and drinking gallons of hot chocolate. But when she finds out her bane of existence, the "Prince of Darkness" as she saved his name in her phone, her brother Dylan’s best friend and roommate Tristan, is invited to spend the holiday with her family due to weather conditions that caused his flight to San Diego to be canceled, things take a turn. Tristan and Nina have known each other for nearly 15 years, and their tumultuous relationship involves too many insults, revenge plots, and nonstop pranks that rekindle their hatred and annoyance. Nina hates him calling her "Gremlin" since her childhood, and Tristan has no idea how his words impact her or how his actions are judged by Nina from a negative perspective. As soon as he reaches the house, the nonstop pranks start—the game is on! But when their screaming contest starts to threaten the family’s peace, Tristan realizes he has never gotten Nina out of his head since the day she dared to drop the towel around her body in front of him. Nina also notices her childhood crush, who has turned into her arch-nemesis, giving signals that confuse her mind. Their hatred starts turning into hyperventilating attraction, which means they have to get each other out of their systems. Could one night together solve the problem at the risk of getting caught at a family gathering? But what if one night is not enough and their attraction is more than sexual, something more concrete that they cannot deny anymore? Overall, this book is hot as hell, an easy, very entertaining, humorous read with a well-executed version of my favorite tropes! I had an amazing time, and yes, I wholeheartedly recommend it! Grab your margaritas, daiquiris, or any of your favorite refreshments as you lie on your couch, sipping them while you flip through the pages! Enjoy the full experience! Many thanks to NetGalley and Bollywood Books for sharing this very entertaining romance’s digital reviewer copy with me in exchange for my honest thoughts. medium blog twitter ...more |
Notes are private!
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1
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Jul 19, 2024
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Jul 21, 2024
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Jul 19, 2024
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Kindle Edition
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| 0593379977
| 9780593379974
| 0593379977
| 4.11
| 55
| Aug 27, 2024
| Aug 27, 2024
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it was amazing
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If you enjoyed "Cheerleaders," you won't want to miss the sequel, which offers a gripping return to "Sunnybrook" after the tragic deaths of five cheer
If you enjoyed "Cheerleaders," you won't want to miss the sequel, which offers a gripping return to "Sunnybrook" after the tragic deaths of five cheerleaders. This time, with new characters leading the way, the author takes us on another dark journey that delves into the sinister side of college football. The story explores how people cross ethical lines to eliminate obstacles, revealing the immense power within the football community and the shocking consequences of putting that power in the wrong hands. Eleven years after the cheerleaders' deaths, Hadley moves to Sunnybrook when her mother becomes the superintendent at Sunnybrook College. Trying to escape from her addict husband who was imprisoned for embezzling drugs, Hadley, after long therapy sessions and spending a lot of time in isolation, slowly comes out of her shell with the help of creative writing. Her arch-nemesis, Peter, who took away her scholarship opportunity with a piece about the school's dancers, motivates her to become the editor-in-chief and defeat him. The Tigers football team, Sunnybrook’s heroes, are worshipped by every student and directed by a family of football players. When Hadley is assigned to write a piece about the team and gets invited to a party by the popular player Logan, she never expects things to spiral out of control, resulting in Logan's coma from alcohol poisoning. This is just one of the attacks against the football players. An anonymous source begins sending Hadley cryptic messages, guiding her to uncover the dirty secrets of the football team. As she digs deeper, she unexpectedly finds allies in her nemesis Peter and her stepsister Monica (main character from "Cheerleaders" making her cameo). However, she soon realizes the massive football community is determined to keep their secrets buried. With two casualties already, has Hadley put herself on the list of victims by opening Pandora’s box? Overall, this is a riveting page-turner with a heart-pounding pace that keeps you on the edge of your seat. I enjoyed it as much as the first book and highly recommend adding it to your reading list! Many thanks to NetGalley and Random House Children’s/Delacorte Press for sharing this unputdownable thriller’s digital review copy with me in exchange for my honest thoughts. Follow me on medium.com to read my articles about books, movies, streaming series, astrology: medium.com twitter ...more |
Notes are private!
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1
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Jul 19, 2024
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Jul 21, 2024
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Jul 19, 2024
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Hardcover
| ||||||||||||||
| 0316576794
| 9780316576796
| 0316576794
| 4.41
| 148
| Aug 13, 2024
| Aug 13, 2024
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it was amazing
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We all have to agree on one fact: T. J. Newman is the queen of action-packed, adrenaline-pumping, heart-throbbing thrillers that readers devour in one
We all have to agree on one fact: T. J. Newman is the queen of action-packed, adrenaline-pumping, heart-throbbing thrillers that readers devour in one sitting, biting their nails and squirming at the edge of their seats. Each of her novels is often better than the blockbusters you watch, and "Worst Case Scenario" is no exception. It's an action-thriller masterpiece that makes you visualize the scenes in your mind! The building pressure and climactic moments make you scream and pray not to lose one of your favorite characters. I even imagined my own cast for a potential movie adaptation: Kate Winslet as the kickass, no-nonsense, brainy, relentless Joss Vance; Brad Pitt as Steve Tostig, the recently widowed, emotionally restrained, leading firefighter; Colin Farrell as the analytical, problem-solving Ethan Rosen; Kurt Russell as Marion, the secret hero who uses his wits and experience to communicate in town; Hilary Swank as the caring, hardworking, sacrificing firefighter Dani Allen; Glen Powell as President Dawson (I'm still reeling from his scene in "Twisters" with the wet white shirt); Ana de Armas as Carla; and Paul Mescal as Levon. Here's the main plot of the book: Imagine an accomplished pilot suffering a widow-maker heart attack while 295 lives are in his hands at 35,000 feet. The plane crashes into the worst possible place: a nuclear power plant in the small town of Waketa, Minneapolis, creating damage more catastrophic than expected, potentially reaching Level 8 on the nuclear event scale—a level higher than Hiroshima and Chernobyl. This catastrophic national crisis has global implications, including a leak from the plant that contaminates the Mississippi River, affecting agricultural resources, forcing evacuations, and disrupting the entire balance of habitation sources. The book follows numerous perspectives and crowded characters dealing with the situation in their own ways, including the White House crew. The entire world's eyes are on Waketa's race against time, with a countdown of 16 hours and 38 minutes. The bravery shown, the solutions embraced, and the sacrifices made for the greater good of humanity are genuine and extremely touching. The tempo increases with each chapter, the situations escalate as the ticking bomb of time moves quickly. You devour the pages, fingers crossed for the crisis room in Waketa, the firefighters who defy orders to save a five-year-old boy's life, Marion's bunk crisis management, the church congregation's efforts to bring people together and send forces to the most needed places. There are too many heroes in this book, too many heartwarming moments, and one heart-wrenching moment that made me cry so hard. My emotions were everywhere. I was scared, thrilled, exhilarated. I cried, cursed, my heart was literally in my mouth. My blood ran cold! This is an amazing heart-pounding and wrenching novel with a meaningful conclusion that you shouldn’t miss. Many thanks to NetGalley and Little Brown and Company for providing this fantastic page-turner's digital reviewer copy in exchange for my honest thoughts. Follow me on medium.com to read my articles about books, movies, streaming series, astrology: medium blog twitter< ...more |
Notes are private!
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1
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Jul 18, 2024
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Jul 19, 2024
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Jul 18, 2024
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Hardcover
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| 0593977564
| 9780593977569
| 0593977564
| 4.69
| 108
| Oct 08, 2024
| Oct 08, 2024
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it was amazing
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It's tough to review Sophie Kinsella’s latest autobiographical book without feeling as though daggers are stabbing into your heart, with tears streami
It's tough to review Sophie Kinsella’s latest autobiographical book without feeling as though daggers are stabbing into your heart, with tears streaming down your cheeks, and barely holding yourself back from choking up. What surprised me, however, was that despite honestly fictionalizing her own life story and changing some sequences of events, she never loses her positive outlook. This has always made me adore her novels, along with her amazingly unique sense of humor. There were several times when I laughed so hard I nearly fell off the couch and peed myself (which is why I always wear adult diapers before starting her books, just in case). The chapters about her eight-hour brain surgery after being diagnosed with stage 4 glioblastoma, dealing with short-term amnesia, learning to talk again, and using a Zimmer frame to walk without falling are hard to absorb. Yet, her uplifting writing tone—accepting things she cannot change and infusing them with honesty, optimism, and sarcasm—shows how incredible a writer she is. One particularly memorable moment is when the doctor asked her who the president was, and she jokingly replied, "Hugh Grant," before correcting herself to say he was the Minister of Foreign Affairs, which made me literally guffaw. Two of my favorite chapters include the family Scrabble gathering and her early morning conversations with her husband. Initially, I hesitated to start this book, fearing it would break my heart and devastate me as I read the fictionalized journey of author Eve, based on Kinsella’s own battle with a brain tumor and terminal cancer, including the entire radiotherapy and chemotherapy process. But after reading the book, I realized how wrong I was. My respect and devotion to the author only grew as I witnessed her bravery, power, and brilliant mind. Additionally, the book gave me so much hope and inspiration. I wished the author all the happy endings she highly deserves after giving her fans so many great laughs, happy tears, and immense hope that encourages them to trust themselves, believe that positive things happen, and overcome bad luck in their lives. Her bravery and honesty inspire you to change your own life, starting with your perception. The universe needs more authors like Kinsella, who change our worlds by delivering humor and warming our hearts with full of positive possibilities. Her books have vividly colored my life with her humorous vision for the past 20 years. I love her works, adore her courage, and applaud her for doing the toughest thing: facing her fears, sharing her most private challenging moments, and pouring those feelings into her writing. We need her words, her power of comedy, and the hope she delivers through her characters to help us keep going and embrace happiness. Many thanks to NetGalley and Random House Publishing Group/The Dial Press for sharing this meaningful journey’s digital reviewer copy with me in exchange for my honest thoughts. Millions of thanks to Sophie Kinsella for bravely sharing this meaningful journey with us. Follow me on medium.com to read my articles about books, movies, streaming series, astrology: medium.com twitter ...more |
Notes are private!
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1
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Jul 18, 2024
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Jul 21, 2024
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Jul 18, 2024
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Hardcover
| ||||||||||||||
| 1639109757
| 9781639109753
| 1639109757
| 4.12
| 500
| Dec 10, 2024
| Dec 10, 2024
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it was amazing
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After I finished this book, only one sentence popped into my mind: I love it so much! Interestingly, I loved Maxine and Hunter’s parts more than Rosie
After I finished this book, only one sentence popped into my mind: I love it so much! Interestingly, I loved Maxine and Hunter’s parts more than Rosie and Aiden’s, even though they are the same characters! This book is unique and creative, following standard romance formulas between two stubborn, opposite characters and my favorite tropes—enemies to lovers, forced proximity, opposites attract—adding Southern charm, Peruvian genuineness, and holiday vibes. The settings in New York, which should be considered the most romantic city in the world, seem specifically designed for lovers (romantic park walks, beautiful shops with dreamy Christmas decorations, gorgeous gourmet restaurants, sipping frozen hot chocolate at Serendipity! Yes, this never-sleeping city is even more romantic than Paris!). I didn’t mind the formula, even though it’s a match made in heaven concoction for me to devour each week to heal my soul! (We need more romances, my friends! Don’t listen to real-life brooding Aidens! They’re cute for our broken hearts, life vests to help keep our heads above the water and not drown in the harsh waves life throws at us!) The execution of the tropes, the blossoming slow-burn romance, the genuine family parts, and the banter in the writing class between Rosie and Aiden are perfect! The conclusion was also heartwarming! I didn’t expect to enjoy this book so much, but the end of the chapters belonging to Max and Hunter were so close to pure perfection! Let’s talk about the plot quickly: Rosie, looking at things through rose-tinted glasses, is a passionate, caring, sweet but also straightforward, bold, adventurous young woman in her mid-twenties with Peruvian American heritage. She leaves her life and family in Tennessee to move to New York to pursue her passion to be a romance author. Attending writing classes crosses her path with Aiden Huntington, a green-eyed, tall, broad-shouldered, gorgeous man who hates the idea of romance and becomes her worst critic, turning into her arch-nemesis even though she had a quick crush on him the first time she set her eyes on him. Their banter turns into volatile arguments in the class, creating more havoc than they expected. As a solution, their instructor forces them to write a book together combining romance and literary fiction, spending more time together to learn to respect their genres and become more civil as team colleagues. What they didn’t expect was that they would create characters based on themselves and start to write about their feelings, pushing the thin line between hate and adoration. As they get to know each other, the walls they constructed start diminishing, and the lines get blurred as the sparks keep flying. Can they end this book project together as they wish without a tragedy, but most likely with a HEA, and apply it in real life to themselves? Both of them are afraid of burning. But what if, without risking your heart, you cannot get closer to your soulmate? Overall: I enjoyed it! Some stubborn attitudes of the characters pissed me off, but I still rounded up 4.5 stars to 5 blazing stars for the sake of Maxine and Hunter! Many thanks to NetGalley and Alcove Press for sharing this meaningful romance novel’s digital reviewer copy with me in exchange for my honest thoughts. medium.com twitter ...more |
Notes are private!
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1
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Jul 16, 2024
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Jul 19, 2024
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Jul 16, 2024
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Paperback
| ||||||||||||||
| 0008609209
| 9780008609207
| B0BMF2M8Z6
| 4.09
| 112,100
| Jun 22, 2023
| Jun 02, 2023
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really liked it
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I cannot resist reading a fabulous book about books that includes heart-wrenching yet empowering women’s fiction. It blends romance with magical reali
I cannot resist reading a fabulous book about books that includes heart-wrenching yet empowering women’s fiction. It blends romance with magical realism, taking us on a journey from Paris to London and Ireland with dual timelines and three perspectives—Ophelia, Martha, and Henry. These characters, who have long been supporting figures in other people's lives, finally earn the spotlight in their own stories. The main theme of the book is: "In a place called lost, strange things are found." If you can solve the meaning of this riddle, you may truly capture the full essence of the entire manuscript. Let me introduce you to the characters and their timelines: In 1922: Opaline runs away from her childhood home after her older brother, nicknamed "Reaper" for making the toughest calls to take the lives of his own soldiers, returns from the war and pushes her into a marriage with a man she doesn’t know. Only her father understands her and introduces her to the magical world of books. This becomes her salvation and the beginning of a career as a book dealer after she finds herself in Paris, working at the special bookstore "Shakespeare and Company" as an apprentice. She even finds love at first sight. But when her brother tracks her down, she is forced to disappear again, this time to a mysterious building in Dublin where she establishes her own bookstore. Here, books that relate to her emotions appear just when she needs them. In the present time: Martha, a domestic abuse victim, runs away from her old life and alcoholic husband to start anew in Dublin, hoping not to be found. She starts working at #12 Ha’Penny as a housekeeper for Madame Bowden, an eccentric ex-actress who considers herself a competitor of Grace Kelly with several marriages and deceased husbands. Martha's path crosses with Henry, a quirky British PhD student who left London after proposing to Isabel, an extrovert who enjoyed influencing Henry's peculiarities. Henry insists there's a hidden bookstore at #11 Ha’Penny, which he claims to have seen but refuses to share this information with Martha, who still has trust issues. Three ordinary people encounter extraordinary events that change the trajectory of their lives, connected by a touch of magic. This might be the best definition of this story. The traumas faced by both Opaline and Martha are heartbreaking and hard to absorb, but their determination and inner strength are inspiring, giving readers hope that everything is possible as long as you continue to dream and do everything in your power to make them come true. Overall: This is a well-constructed, bittersweet, magical journey that promises hope beyond the sadness and hardships of life. This is the first time I have read Evie Woods, and it certainly won’t be the last. I look forward to getting lost in the literary universe she has created in her other books. Many thanks to NetGalley and Harper 360 for providing me with this remarkable book's digital reviewer copy in exchange for my honest thoughts. Follow me on medium.com to read my articles about books, movies, streaming series, astrology: medium blog twitter< ...more |
Notes are private!
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1
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Jul 16, 2024
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Jul 22, 2024
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Jul 16, 2024
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ebook
| ||||||||||||||
| 0593832566
| 9780593832561
| 0593832566
| 4.61
| 18
| unknown
| Jan 21, 2025
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it was amazing
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Psst! My bookish friends, stop what you're doing, cancel your plans, and dive into this book without even reading the blurb—just take my word for it!
Psst! My bookish friends, stop what you're doing, cancel your plans, and dive into this book without even reading the blurb—just take my word for it! This is an incredibly smart, twisty, and disturbing read. It's not your usual formulated locked-room mystery but a perfect dysfunctional family saga—a well-executed domestic thriller that made my blood run cold. The characters go to great lengths to protect their secrets in the name of saving their family, showing how greed blurs the lines and how the thirst for power brings out the caged animal instincts people have hidden for years. It's raw, realistic, harsh, and shocking! The cold-hearted confrontations between family members, each with their secret agendas and expert use of gaslighting, increase the tension. As the story unfolds, you find yourself disliking each character more, and the surprising revelations pull the rug out from under you just when you think they can't possibly cross another line—but they do. The Agarwal family reminds you of an Asian version of Succession's Roy family. There's Raj, a powerful patriarch and merciless business mogul father leading a multimillion-dollar Delhi-based company. He's about to hand out the company shares and resign after suffering a stroke (much like Logan Roy in Succession). His sacrificing, fragile wife Shalini (or is she?) does everything in her power to bring a happy family life to their children and support his wishes. They're planning to sell the company to their rivals for a handsome price. To distribute the shares equally among their three children, they're combining the process with Raj and Shalini's forty-year wedding anniversary, celebrated on a luxury island off the west coast of Scotland, recently bought by their eldest, golden child, Myra. Myra hosts the reunion, intending to ask for extra money to renovate the estate and open it to the public. She has a big secret besides her failing financial situation. Her brother Aseem, who took over his father's position in the company after Raj's health deteriorated, is married to Zoe, a popular influencer and the family's outcast, chosen by Aseem over an arranged marriage. Aisha, the youngest child in her mid-twenties, who introduced Zoe to Aseem, plans to surprise her family by bringing her boyfriend Gabe, a successful tech entrepreneur. This feeds suspicion that he must be after her money. The story is told from Zoe and Myra's points of view. Both are dealing with their own demons and harboring secrets. Myra grapples with a broken heart after a failed relationship and losing her baby, while Zoe is overwhelmed by living with her in-laws in New Delhi and dealing with Shalini's controlling nature. From the beginning, we know one of them is dead. But who? Each character is merciless and will do anything to protect what they have, even if it means crossing dark lines in the name of family. Who is dead? Who is the perpetrator? What really happens behind the closed doors of the Agarwal family? Overall, this book is brilliant, breathtaking, and unputdownable! It has earned my blazing five stars for a deadly dysfunctional family saga! Many thanks to NetGalley and PENGUIN GROUP Viking/Pamela Dorman Books for providing this amazing thriller's digital review copy in exchange for my honest thoughts. ...more |
Notes are private!
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1
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Jul 15, 2024
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Jul 24, 2024
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Jul 15, 2024
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Hardcover
| ||||||||||||||
| 0063245248
| 9780063245242
| B0D3C9FDPM
| 3.45
| 20
| unknown
| Feb 18, 2025
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really liked it
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This twenty-years-later high school reunion love story leans more towards second chances in love than enemies or frenemies to lovers. It centers on tw
This twenty-years-later high school reunion love story leans more towards second chances in love than enemies or frenemies to lovers. It centers on two young people whose paths diverged during high school due to family problems and a series of misunderstandings. It's truly frustrating, but what can be said? When you're young, impulsive, and a little insecure, you easily perceive things differently and are often too proud to correct them by being the bigger person. In this novel, Rachel Lang, 38, who was voted “Most Likely to Succeed” in school, feels like a total embarrassment after getting laid off from her longtime job into which she poured sweat, blood, and overwhelming effort without any gain. She also parted ways with her fiancé three years ago. As a long-time planner, her life is nothing as it seems; she still lives with her high school friend Nat, who is a TV star. After losing her job, she becomes Nat's personal assistant until she finds her own path. In the meantime, she decides to take risks and do things she never would have if she had stayed at her old job, such as RSVP’ing for her 20th high school reunion. Of course, a Facebook DM from her ex-friend Danny Phan also influenced her decision. Danny and Rachel have a long and complicated past. They had their own “You’ve Got Mail” moments when they anonymously wrote to each other in a chat room until they decided to meet and realized Danny was the same boy she tried so hard to tutor in her spare time to earn the school administrators’ good graces. They became close friends and confidantes, sharing their secrets and fears, and attracted to each other until one kiss and a series of misunderstandings and poorly chosen words ruined things between them. Now Rachel returns to her high school, where she left her hopes, passions, ambitions, and old self, to meet her old friend for closure. But a series of unexpected events push them together to team up for searching backstage tickets promised by Nat to the school committee. This results in hilarious and slightly dramatic incidents throughout the night—starting with Danny hitting a cactus while running away from a TV show set with Rachel. After these adrenaline-filled moments, they realize they have many unsaid words and confessions to make, exploring their twenty-years-older selves. Their chemistry is still palpable. Could they make it work a second time, two decades later? I'm giving this sweet read 3.5 stars. I think it lacked angst. There were not many obstacles or drama that might hold Rachel and Danny back from each other. When we explore their pasts, they seem to have acted extra immature and insecure, and it shouldn't have taken two decades for them to see those mistakes. There are some dramatic parts about Danny’s family issues that needed more layers. Rachel’s character was still impulsive after two decades, claiming she had changed, but some of her dialogues and stubborn attitudes made me roll my eyes. I also found the ending a little abrupt. It was an interesting choice for concluding the story. Despite these issues, I enjoyed the fast pacing, the one-night adventure, and the high chemistry between the characters, which made me round up my rating to 4 stars. It's a sweet, easy-to-read, enjoyable second chance love story, ideal for romance lovers who enjoy quick reads! Many thanks to NetGalley and Avon and Harper Voyager for sharing this high-chemistry romance's digital reviewer copy with me in exchange for my honest thoughts. Follow me on medium.com to read my articles about books, movies, streaming series, astrology: medium blog twitter ...more |
Notes are private!
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1
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Jul 13, 2024
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Jul 14, 2024
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Jul 13, 2024
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Kindle Edition
| ||||||||||||||
| 0063338211
| 9780063338210
| 0063338211
| 3.94
| 70
| Sep 24, 2024
| Sep 24, 2024
|
really liked it
|
Julie Murphy and Sierra Simone have combined their steamy, witty, and creative powers to release a book that's on fire with extra hotness that hits th
Julie Murphy and Sierra Simone have combined their steamy, witty, and creative powers to release a book that's on fire with extra hotness that hits the roof! Whoop! Too hot to handle, but I'm always up for a challenge! We’re returning to a small town in Vermont, with a Christmas setting and two blazing characters: an adult film actress/one-time movie director/make-up artist/new screenwriter whose project is bought by Hope Channel (like many in the industry, she juggles multiple roles) and Isaac Kelly, a former band boy, now depressive, sullen, still hot but heartbroken, living in the town's historic mansion. Their common ground: creative blocks that stop them from progressing in their jobs. Another big common ground: the legendary threesome they experienced and never forgot two years ago. A great part of the book's opening is witnessing the first book’s legendary characters, Bee and Nolan, through Teddy Ray Fletcher’s POV as he attends their wedding. Sunny and Isaac’s paths cross that weekend as guests, leading to shameless flirting that turns into another steamy one-night stand in Sunny’s dilapidated hotel room, which could double as a North Pole movie set with its terrible heating, insulation, and wiring system. When Isaac discovers the room’s horrible condition, he invites Sunny to stay at his mansion during her time in Vermont. What harm can be done when two people share a massive place with numerous rooms, each having their own little corners to get lost in? Isaac's theory is they will barely see each other, so why not help a hot friend who already had two unforgettable one-night stands? This arrangement might help them destroy their creative blockages. Sunny can be inspired by the Christmas spirit of Vermont, and Isaac can finally find his muse to write and compose more memorable songs. The grumpy and the sunshine start living under the same roof without thinking about jingle-mingling, but how long can they resist their attraction when they already know the pure passion they share? This is absolutely another entertaining sequel of this humorous, spicy series! If you enjoyed the first two books, don't skip this one, which promises extra fun and steamy scenes with high chemistry between the main couple! You can also devour it as a standalone without diminishing the fun level. The opposite attracts, the grumpy meets sunshine tropes blended in a steamy romance and Christmas spirit perfectly. The duo set the chapters on fire and made the readers hyperventilate in a good way! Highly recommended as a unique holiday book for those who enjoy spice and a creative sense of humor! Many thanks to NetGalley and Avon and Harper Voyager for sharing this spicy holiday romance’s digital review copy with me in exchange for my honest thoughts. medium.com twitter ...more |
Notes are private!
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1
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Jul 12, 2024
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Jul 12, 2024
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Jul 12, 2024
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Hardcover
| ||||||||||||||
| 0778368459
| 9780778368458
| 0778368459
| 4.64
| 42
| Jan 07, 2025
| Apr 29, 2025
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it was amazing
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I'm not sure if I just read a darkly honest and horrifyingly realistic analysis of Covid and its aftermath—exposing how it pushed people to the brink
I'm not sure if I just read a darkly honest and horrifyingly realistic analysis of Covid and its aftermath—exposing how it pushed people to the brink of survival and fueled illogical hatred and racism against Chinese people (a phenomenon that might be called Sinophobia)—or if I just experienced a spine-tingling, gory ghost story intertwined with a serial killer murder mystery, featuring mutated bats at crime scenes. I believe I encountered both, making this book uniquely unconventional and thought-provoking, while also turning readers into scream queens with its heart-throbbing tension. I warn you, my friends, this is one of the best books I've read, but it is truly hard to digest. It’s extraordinarily gory, stomach-churning, jaw-dropping, and eye-popping with fear. There are numerous triggering and graphic scenes of violence that realistically portray the changing face of New York during the pandemic, as people navigate their way through the darkness. The story opens with 24-year-old Chinese woman Cora Zeng and her sister Delilah waiting for the subway at an abandoned station. A mysterious man appears as the train approaches, utters the word "bat eater," and pushes Delilah onto the tracks, resulting in her brutal death before Cora's eyes. Unfortunately, the man escapes. In the following chapter, we find Cora working as a crime scene cleaner, washing away the cruelest and goriest remains of bodies, mostly those of Chinese people targeted by a mysterious serial killer who leaves mutilated bats at the crime scenes. Cora faces not only a foreboding situation but also struggles with grief and guilt as a sister who always lived in the shadow of her stepsister. We learn about her estranged relationship with her parents, her father's abandonment to form a new family in China, her cult-member mother's misuse of her college fund, and Delilah's impending departure from her life (ironically, her last words before she died). Cora's guilt, abandonment, resentment, and anger evolve into mental issues, including OCD. When she learns about the Chinese myth of hungry ghosts returning to fulfill their cravings, she initially dismisses it until she notices food disappearing from the house and encounters what remains of her sister's ghost. Unable to consult her two eccentric aunties—one a pyromaniac, the other overly conservative—Cora turns to her two coworkers, Yifei and Harvey, who also deal with the horror of bile-piling crime scenes. They become close confidantes, declaring themselves ghostbusters to help Delilah pass peacefully between universes following Eastern traditions, and they team up to catch the killer known as Batman, who targets Chinese people. The unconventional bond between these three eccentric characters and their unique ways of facing supernatural forces and unexpected situations warmed my heart. They become each other's family during the most tragic and vulnerable times, showing the importance of having someone to hold on to and care for. The realistic depiction of racism and the unfair Sinophobia people faced, combined with a scary ghost story rooted in Eastern folklore and a bleak, dark murder mystery, is perfectly executed. The book is terrifying and thought-provoking, making readers nod in agreement with the author's explored points, which makes it extra special and one of a kind. Overall, this book is harsh reality! It's extra bleak, dark, and not for the faint of heart, but it rocked my world with its honesty and creative execution. I wholeheartedly loved it! I also cried a lot after reading the Author’s Note, which shook me to the core. I advise you not to miss it after finishing the book. Many thanks to NetGalley and Harlequin Trade Publishing / MIRA for sharing this amazing horror novel’s digital reviewer copy with me in exchange for my honest thoughts. Follow me on medium.com to read my articles about books, movies, streaming series, astrology: medium blog twitter< Merged review: I'm not sure if I just read a darkly honest and horrifyingly realistic analysis of Covid and its aftermath—exposing how it pushed people to the brink of survival and fueled illogical hatred and racism against Chinese people (a phenomenon that might be called Sinophobia)—or if I just experienced a spine-tingling, gory ghost story intertwined with a serial killer murder mystery, featuring mutated bats at crime scenes. I believe I encountered both, making this book uniquely unconventional and thought-provoking, while also turning readers into scream queens with its heart-throbbing tension. I warn you, my friends, this is one of the best books I've read, but it is truly hard to digest. It’s extraordinarily gory, stomach-churning, jaw-dropping, and eye-popping with fear. There are numerous triggering and graphic scenes of violence that realistically portray the changing face of New York during the pandemic, as people navigate their way through the darkness. The story opens with 24-year-old Chinese woman Cora Zeng and her sister Delilah waiting for the subway at an abandoned station. A mysterious man appears as the train approaches, utters the word "bat eater," and pushes Delilah onto the tracks, resulting in her brutal death before Cora's eyes. Unfortunately, the man escapes. In the following chapter, we find Cora working as a crime scene cleaner, washing away the cruelest and goriest remains of bodies, mostly those of Chinese people targeted by a mysterious serial killer who leaves mutilated bats at the crime scenes. Cora faces not only a foreboding situation but also struggles with grief and guilt as a sister who always lived in the shadow of her stepsister. We learn about her estranged relationship with her parents, her father's abandonment to form a new family in China, her cult-member mother's misuse of her college fund, and Delilah's impending departure from her life (ironically, her last words before she died). Cora's guilt, abandonment, resentment, and anger evolve into mental issues, including OCD. When she learns about the Chinese myth of hungry ghosts returning to fulfill their cravings, she initially dismisses it until she notices food disappearing from the house and encounters what remains of her sister's ghost. Unable to consult her two eccentric aunties—one a pyromaniac, the other overly conservative—Cora turns to her two coworkers, Yifei and Harvey, who also deal with the horror of bile-piling crime scenes. They become close confidantes, declaring themselves ghostbusters to help Delilah pass peacefully between universes following Eastern traditions, and they team up to catch the killer known as Batman, who targets Chinese people. The unconventional bond between these three eccentric characters and their unique ways of facing supernatural forces and unexpected situations warmed my heart. They become each other's family during the most tragic and vulnerable times, showing the importance of having someone to hold on to and care for. The realistic depiction of racism and the unfair Sinophobia people faced, combined with a scary ghost story rooted in Eastern folklore and a bleak, dark murder mystery, is perfectly executed. The book is terrifying and thought-provoking, making readers nod in agreement with the author's explored points, which makes it extra special and one of a kind. Overall, this book is harsh reality! It's extra bleak, dark, and not for the faint of heart, but it rocked my world with its honesty and creative execution. I wholeheartedly loved it! I also cried a lot after reading the Author’s Note, which shook me to the core. I advise you not to miss it after finishing the book. Many thanks to NetGalley and Harlequin Trade Publishing / MIRA for sharing this amazing horror novel’s digital reviewer copy with me in exchange for my honest thoughts. Follow me on medium.com to read my articles about books, movies, streaming series, astrology: medium blog twitter< ...more |
Notes are private!
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2
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May 19, 2024
not set
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May 26, 2024
not set
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Jul 11, 2024
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Hardcover
| ||||||||||||||
| 0593639022
| 9780593639023
| 0593639022
| 4.29
| 56
| Sep 10, 2024
| Sep 10, 2024
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it was amazing
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Bring out your napkins and heavy weapons (hard drink, comfort food, cuddles, wishful thinking to relax) before starting Emma Noyes’ latest book, and g
Bring out your napkins and heavy weapons (hard drink, comfort food, cuddles, wishful thinking to relax) before starting Emma Noyes’ latest book, and get ready to be shaken to the core! It’s absolutely tear-jerking, angsty, and heart-wrenching, but some parts are interestingly hilarious, especially the natural, witty dialogues between dysfunctional family members: three noisy, one stoic brainy sibling, two overly dramatic parents, and one heroine who is the observer, outcast, and youngest member of the family, feeling alone in the crowd! This book boldly approaches many sensitive subjects that make your heart bleed, such as the death of a family member, grief, psychosomatic illness, disability, mental health issues, OCD, and depression. Eliot Beck is the heroine of this story. At only 21, she leaves her crowded family behind, cutting her connection with everyone except her best friend Manuel for three years to start fresh after her diagnosis of OCD. She cannot silence the voices in her head, which keep repeating that she’s a bad person and doesn’t deserve happiness. By skipping college and risking homelessness, she moves to a city of crowded loners, the best place for someone who always felt like an abandoned outsider in her big family. She lived like a wallflower, silent, calm, and mature, barely restraining the thunders erupting inside her head. She buries herself in her job and is promoted from assistant to copywriter, following her family’s stories from text messages without joining the conversation. When she gets invited to Canada for her brother Taz's wedding festivities, she tells herself it will only take four days. As soon as her job is done, she can go back to her cave and continue her intense work life, hiding under a cloak of invisibility and limiting her connections with people. But when she realizes her family also invited Manuel, her best friend she cut off, she feels trapped and must confront years of boiled-over feelings. She longs for her lost brother Henry, the only sibling who truly saw and understood her. She must rip off the band-aid and start learning to communicate because she cannot run anymore, at least not for four days! She discovers her father in a wheelchair, her overly expressive mother, her straightforward sister, her step-but-not-so-mature brothers who always argue, and her analytical, newly marrying brother and his in-laws, each dealing with their own problems, reminding her she’s not alone in dealing with the hand life dealt her. But the hardest part might be being brave and coming clean about her feelings for Manuel, which she’s been hiding for years. Can she manage to leave her safe place and take her first brave step to confess that the voices in her head never stopped and she’s barely holding on? Isn’t she exhausted from fighting them alone? Overall, this is one of the most profound, well-developed stories about a dysfunctional family and mental health awareness that I’ve ever read, and I highly recommend it! Many thanks to NetGalley and Berkley Publishing for sharing this profound book’s digital reviewer copy with me in exchange for my honest opinions. ...more |
Notes are private!
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1
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Jul 09, 2024
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Jul 11, 2024
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Jul 09, 2024
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Paperback
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| 0593475399
| 9780593475393
| 0593475399
| 4.10
| 365
| Jul 23, 2024
| Jul 23, 2024
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really liked it
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Jennifer Mathieu’s The Faculty Lounge offers a poignant yet humorous glimpse into the chaotic and heartfelt lives of the staff at Baldwin High School.
Jennifer Mathieu’s The Faculty Lounge offers a poignant yet humorous glimpse into the chaotic and heartfelt lives of the staff at Baldwin High School. The story kicks off with an elderly substitute teacher’s sudden demise in the faculty lounge, sparking a series of events that blend the ordinary with the extraordinary. Far from being a thriller, this novel is a vibrant mosaic of personal stories and professional challenges faced by educators. Mathieu masterfully weaves a narrative through the eyes of a diverse cast: a former punk rocker turned principal, a rebellious school nurse, and a disillusioned English teacher, among others. Each character is meticulously crafted, their lives depicted with authenticity and warmth. The depiction of their daily struggles—parental interference, bureaucratic hurdles, and the constant balancing act of personal and professional lives—rings true to anyone familiar with the education system. The book doesn’t shy away from serious topics like grief, addiction, and family dysfunction, yet it maintains a light-hearted tone that keeps the reader engaged. The spontaneous scattering of the substitute’s ashes by concerned parents sets off a chain of events that’s both hilarious and touching. These moments of levity are balanced with deep, reflective passages that explore the characters’ backstories and motivations. The Faculty Lounge is not just for those in the education sector; it’s a universal tale of human connection and resilience. Mathieu’s insightful and empathetic portrayal of her characters ensures that their stories will resonate with a wide audience. This novel is a testament to the power of storytelling in capturing the essence of everyday heroes in our schools. Highly recommended for anyone looking for a heartfelt, funny, and thought-provoking read, The Faculty Lounge is a testament to the unseen lives of educators and their unyielding spirit. Whether you’re an educator or simply someone who enjoys a well-told story, this book is a must-read. Many thanks to NetGalley and PENGUIN GROUP Dutton | Dutton for sharing this fantastic farce's digital reviewer copy with me in exchange for my honest opinions. medium.com twitter ...more |
Notes are private!
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1
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Jul 09, 2024
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Jul 10, 2024
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Jul 09, 2024
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Hardcover
| ||||||||||||||
| 0593723767
| 9780593723760
| 0593723767
| 4.25
| 12,496
| May 23, 2024
| Sep 03, 2024
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really liked it
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Welcome to the heartfelt, cry-your-eyes-out, teary, angsty story of the Blue Sisters, which reminded me of a modern tale of the March sisters with hor
Welcome to the heartfelt, cry-your-eyes-out, teary, angsty story of the Blue Sisters, which reminded me of a modern tale of the March sisters with horrible, self-absorbed parents! This is a captivating sisterhood saga and tale of a dysfunctional family where three sisters, living in different cities and leading their own paths, deal with the grief of Nicky’s first death anniversary. Each sister has a different approach to the hand the world dealt them. The eldest sister, Avery, graduated from Columbia, experienced a breakdown with drug addiction, joined a cult, slept on the streets, and had a quick awakening to rewrite her life story. She became a successful lawyer, found her beautiful wife, and now lives in domestic bliss at the age of 33. Avery is the analytical, reasonable one and often the real mother to the girls due to their own mother’s lack of maternal instincts. Bonnie, the second daughter, 31, had a brief connection with their alcoholic father, who tried to raise her as the son he never had. He paid for her boxing classes, which led to her rising and falling career as a boxer. After a devastating defeat, she changed careers to become a bouncer in LA, channeling her resentments and missed opportunities into physical pain. She is the stoic one of the family. Nicky, the sister they are grieving, was the most joyful one. She found happiness in little things, was more sentimental and caring, and was a good teacher. She suffered from endometriosis and bore her pain alone until the day she died. The youngest sister, Lucky, 24, never considered herself lucky despite her early success as a model at the age of 14. She earned big money, traveled around the world, and filled her emptiness with alcohol and drugs until her body gave out. The common thread among them is their reliance on addictive behaviors to cope with their grief, unhappiness, and hatred for their dysfunctional family. Avery is a kleptomaniac, Bonnie is addicted to pain, and Lucky is an alcoholic and drug addict, though they have not confessed this to anyone, not even themselves. When their parents decide to sell the two-bedroom family house they grew up in and tell them to share their late sister’s belongings, the sisters unite against their parents to stop the sale. Their meeting in New York brings out long-simmering emotions, including anger, sadness, and unsaid secrets that threaten to become an avalanche, potentially tearing apart what they have preserved for years. Can they learn to let go of the past and rebuild by healing their own brokenness? Each sister is broken inside, and to heal, they must learn to trust and support each other. But can they achieve this crucial task? Overall: Bring out your napkins! This book will bring out your ugly tears and is guaranteed to tear your heart open. Each connection with the characters may resonate with your own life story, vices, resentments, family problems, and redemptions. The powerful, genuine, and profound story of the Blue Sisters Saga is a must-read! Many thanks to NetGalley and Random House Publishing Group/Ballantine Books for sharing this heartfelt fiction’s digital reviewer copy with me in exchange for my honest thoughts. medium.com twitter ...more |
Notes are private!
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1
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Jul 09, 2024
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Jul 09, 2024
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Jul 09, 2024
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Hardcover
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| 1250762065
| 9781250762061
| 1250762065
| 4.19
| 147
| Sep 03, 2024
| Sep 03, 2024
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really liked it
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I literally howled at the moon, making ear-bleeding sounds as I cried my eyes out after reading "You've Reached Sam." So, when I got my hands on anoth
I literally howled at the moon, making ear-bleeding sounds as I cried my eyes out after reading "You've Reached Sam." So, when I got my hands on another Dustin Thao book, I was beyond excited. Maybe a masochistic part of me needed a good cry! I knew from the first page that my heart would break, but I was ready for it. Pass the hot sauce, please! Without pain, how can we truly appreciate life's great little moments? This book is one of the toughest reads to grade. I fell in love with parts that touched my heartstrings, but I also hated other parts. It’s rare to read a book that swings between two stars and five stars, only to dip back down again. The author sometimes took aimless directions that dragged the main character, who acted like he was walking on clouds and making illogical decisions from the start. After gathering my thoughts and embracing the emotions the book evoked, I focused on the sentimental parts and gave it 3.5 stars. I debated rounding it up to 4 or down to 3, but ultimately, because of the grieving heart and the beautiful cover art, and my dedication to the author after his first book, I rounded it up to 4 stars. Still, I’m not satisfied with the misdirection and aimless wandering of the story. It made me think it was about a boy named Haru (I wish the blurb didn’t spoil his second meeting with Eric and the big secret), but it’s not! The story revolves around Eric Ly, a 19-year-old queer Vietnamese man grieving his friend Daniel (an unstarted love story). Taking a gap year, Eric is aimless, unsure about applying to college or focusing on his future. His sister Jasmine has left for college and is slowly disappearing from his life as she focuses on her plans. Then Daniel bumps into Haru, an eccentric, mysterious boy he spent a magical day with in Japan (the traditional festive parts are my favorite), and takes him to a cafe. But Haru abruptly disappears after their meeting and reappears the next day in his bedroom, making no sense unless he’s a figment of Eric's imagination. Why does he see Haru, and why is he drawn into his orbit, helping him get up at his lowest points? Did Haru come back to help him deal with his grief and find a purpose? But what if, once his mission is accomplished, Haru leaves his life like everyone else did? The book’s focus keeps changing directions, and Eric's naïve decisions are frustrating! At moments, it’s hard to distinguish between reality and fantasy. The big mystery is very obvious, and I wish the author had focused more on that part. The family connection parts were also missing. If the ending hadn’t made me cry so much and touched my heart, I would’ve rated it lower. But I loved the conclusion and seeing the character find his path and think more sensibly. I didn’t enjoy this as much as the first book, but it's still a captivating, heartbreaking tearjerker with a touching queer love story. I recommend it to fans of the author, angsty romance, Eastern mythology, and YA fantasy lovers! Many thanks to NetGalley and St. Martin’s Press / Wednesday Books for sharing this highly anticipated fantasy romance book’s digital reviewer copy with me in exchange for my honest thoughts. medium.com twitter ...more |
Notes are private!
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1
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Jul 09, 2024
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Jul 09, 2024
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Jul 09, 2024
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Hardcover
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| 059365322X
| 9780593653227
| 059365322X
| 4.46
| 114
| Sep 17, 2024
| Sep 17, 2024
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it was amazing
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OMG! Osman has brought back the big guns and released a brand-new addictive series that I highly enjoyed. At first, I had slight doubts if I could lov
OMG! Osman has brought back the big guns and released a brand-new addictive series that I highly enjoyed. At first, I had slight doubts if I could love it as much as the Thursday Murder Club series, but my prayers were answered, and yes, I absolutely adored this new book and its new characters: Steve Wheeler: a retired cop, local investigator, pub quiz and puzzle expert, pint lover, stray cat cuddler, and a man still grieving his wife, Debbie, as he talks to her about his day. He also has a unique bond with his daughter-in-law, Amy Wheeler. Amy Wheeler: works in private security as an experienced bodyguard, protecting highly important people. She is calm, calculating, motivated by adrenaline rushes, and always keeps her emotions at bay. Interestingly, she has a successful marriage with her husband, despite rarely seeing each other, and has a closer relationship with her father-in-law than with his son, talking to him every day. What if fate brings them together to unite their powers and skills to outsmart a very dangerous man named François Loubet? Disguising himself behind emails written in a British gentleman’s tone, Loubet is a powerful money smuggler who uses micro-influencers for fake advertisement jobs to carry his money across oceans, aided by a smoke screen agent company whose owner is oblivious to the scheme. Loubet targets influencers protected by Maximum Impact Solutions, where Amy works. Coincidentally, an influencer is found dead each time they unknowingly smuggle money near Amy while she is protecting another client. Amy’s latest job is protecting the second most popular eccentric thriller author( Lee Child is still number one), Rosie D’Antonio, who might be in her eighties (her age is still unknown, but she has the spirit of a 20-year-old). Rosie included a character in her latest book clearly based on Russian chemical oligarch Vasiliy Karpin, making her a target and forcing her to hide on her private island in South Carolina with Amy and former Navy Seal Kevin, who also serves as their private chef. When another influencer, Andrew Fairbanks, is found dead on a yacht near their location, Amy realizes it’s no coincidence that each time she is assigned to a client, someone nearby gets killed. Could someone be trying to frame her for the murders and ultimately target her to finish the job? When she gets attacked by an unexpected person, she realizes there’s a target on her back. She must escape, dragging Rosie with her, who is delighted to have a heart-throbbing adventure as hitmen chase after them. To protect Rosie and herself, Amy needs someone she can fully trust. Her father-in-law, Steve, is the only man who fits the description. Initially, Steve has no intention of leaving his house, missing the pub quiz, or chatting with his friends over a few pints. And who would take care of his cat, Trouble? But when duty calls and his daughter-in-law’s life is at stake, he must push himself out of his comfort zone, finding himself in a whirlwind adventure: traveling on private jets, experiencing gourmet food, getting drunk with the mischievous thriller author, vomiting all over the Dublin countryside before helicoptering, shooting at hitmen, befriending new people, and having the time of his life. Would Steve’s wits and Amy’s skills outsmart the army of men sent by François Loubet? And will they be able to identify who he really is, as anyone in their close circle could be working for him? The clock is ticking. The evidence against Amy piles up! They have to find this mysterious man before he beats them in their own game. Overall: I had an amazing time and laughed so hard! Rosie D’Antonio is a legendary character who stole the chapters and made me guffaw several times. I even fell off the couch, laughing so hard my stomach hurt. I wish there were more books, and I could read them for weeks! It is a true mood healer! I cannot wait to read more adventures of this team! I am looking forward to catching up on more "We Solve Murders" agency’s adventures! Many thanks to NetGalley and PENGUIN GROUP Viking/Pamela Dorman Books for sharing this amazing cozy mystery’s digital reviewer copy with me in exchange for my honest thoughts. And thank you so much to Richard Osman for introducing these amazing characters and writing this fabulous book! blog twitter ...more |
Notes are private!
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1
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Jul 05, 2024
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Jul 06, 2024
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Jul 05, 2024
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Hardcover
| ||||||||||||||
| 0593817621
| 9780593817629
| 0593817621
| 4.53
| 17
| unknown
| Jan 28, 2025
|
really liked it
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Wow! This brazen, entertaining, and chemistry-filled close proximity romance combines elements of "Planes, Trains, and Automobiles" with a wedding cha
Wow! This brazen, entertaining, and chemistry-filled close proximity romance combines elements of "Planes, Trains, and Automobiles" with a wedding chase set in Ireland, making it absolutely addictive! I was so close to giving five stars if there weren't so many setbacks, angsty drama, and past relationship baggage for both the main and supporting characters! The banter, explosive chemistry, and hilarious situations Ada and Jack find themselves in were brilliant. If their long road trip could be an independent novel without so much past drama, trust issues, and self-exploration, I might even declare it my favorite romance of the year. But there were necessary conflicts, the maturing up, and learning to love yourself before jumping into relationships approach which is well executed, but I still wish there was more spice than inner conflicts and angst. Their attraction is palpable, but their love story's progression is slow burn! You keep asking yourself why they don’t just tear each other’s clothes off instead of being stuck on people who never deserved their trust or hearts. Here's a quick summary of the plot: Ada, a young tattoo artist who recently closed her business and is taking a break from her boyfriend Carter (his decision after an 8-year relationship), finds herself carrying a special veil for her sister’s wedding in Ireland. Unfortunately, due to passport issues, she couldn't catch her family on time and is traveling alone, still checking her phone to see if her ex-boyfriend has reached out after her store's bankruptcy. When her flight gets canceled, she finds herself at a London hotel lobby with a useless voucher from the airline, broke, with nowhere to sleep. She's bombarded with texts from her sister asking her whereabouts and on the verge of a breakdown, when a tall, handsome stranger offers her a drink until the rain stops. The handsome stranger, Jack, is also heading to a wedding as the best man. Ada confides in him about not wanting to attend the wedding and her doubts about the groom, as well as her disdain for the groom’s womanizer best man (calling him a “pig”). Jack, in turn, questions the bride's intensity and their happily ever after. After a few drinks, Jack offers Ada to share his room since she has nowhere to go. However, when they reach the room, Ada realizes he doesn’t just want to share his room but also his bed for a one-night stand. When they both get texts from the airline at the same time, they realize they’re heading to the same wedding. Jack is the womanizer pig her sister warned her about! Jack then makes an offer Ada can't refuse: to travel together using a ferry and train to reach Ireland, with all expenses paid by Jack (a hotshot lawyer with enough funds). Beggars can't be choosers! Even though Ada is torn between punching him and kissing him passionately, she aims to reach the wedding destination. She can resist his charm for one day, can't she? Maybe she should rethink this as the sparks keep flying! Overall, there are great themes like sharing the same bed and faking a marriage, which spice up the chemistry and heat up the chapters. Despite the past relationship baggage, I loved the conclusion and the characters’ final growth (including supporting characters and teary sisterhood moments). I wish the epilogue was a little longer, but the final witty line was well executed and smart! I truly enjoyed this self-exploration, high-chemistry, forced proximity romance despite its extra angsty moments, and I'm looking forward to reading more works from the author. I’ve already added her to my auto-approved romance authors’ list. P. S. :I’m definitely craving a Neapolitan pizza right now—checking flights to Naples! Many thanks to NetGalley and Berkley Publishing for sharing this entertaining book’s digital reviewer copy with me in exchange for my honest thoughts. Follow me on medium.com to read my articles about books, movies, streaming series, astrology: medium blog twitter ...more |
Notes are private!
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1
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Jul 2024
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Jul 14, 2024
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Jul 01, 2024
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Paperback
| ||||||||||||||
| unknown
| 4.11
| 19
| Dec 10, 2024
| Dec 10, 2024
|
really liked it
|
Gossip Girl meets Happy Death Day (minus the Groundhog Day loophole, just premonitions of a corpse in prom gowns) with Maxton Hall vibes (poor girl fa
Gossip Girl meets Happy Death Day (minus the Groundhog Day loophole, just premonitions of a corpse in prom gowns) with Maxton Hall vibes (poor girl falls for rich boy) describes this fast-paced, intriguing YA mystery. The well-played twists make it a promising read for fans. I finished it in one sitting while my husband kept feeding me pudding, worried I'd starve myself as I voraciously read nonstop. The story revolves around Ruby Toller, a scholarship student and social pariah from South Oleander, Florida, trying to fit in with the wealthy North Oleander elites, the "Bling Brigade." Raised by her single mother Nadine, who owns a struggling park called "Wonderpark," Ruby is determined to save the business despite her mother's boyfriend pushing for a sale. Ruby's only solace comes from her loyal friends, Anton, an aspiring fashion designer, and Xavier, who aims to become a doctor. Lacking financial security, Ruby's future seems uncertain, but she has a secret weapon: her TikTok account, "Reputation Killer," where she exposes the dirty secrets of her classmates, especially targeting Magnus Bennett, the son of a man who ruined her mother's life. Her mission takes a dark turn when she sees a vision of herself as a ghost in a prom gown designed by Anton, attacked in a restroom. After retrieving her burner phone, she’s caught by mean girls Daphne and Violet, who reveal her secret identity on TikTok. With seven days until prom night, Ruby's identity as the Reputation Killer is exposed, and her previous victims seek vengeance. Meanwhile, a serial killer dubbed the Mannequin Killer is on the loose, using gunshots to kill, just like the wound Ruby’s ghost has on her forehead. The ghost continues to appear, making Ruby question if it's a hallucination from stress or a real premonition of danger. Despite the threats, Ruby finds support in her friends Anton and Xavier, and even Alexander, her crush and a Bling Brigade member, who help her fight against the school's corruption and privileged schemers. Will Ruby survive, despite the ominous warnings from her ghost? Time is ticking, and she must outwit the villains with all her wits and stamina. Overall, it's a fast-paced mystery with well-developed characters and a compelling plot. I couldn't put it down as the suspense kept my heart racing! Highly recommended! Many thanks to NetGalley and Random House Children’s / Delacorte Press for sharing this stunning thriller's digital review copy with me in exchange for my honest thoughts. ...more |
Notes are private!
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1
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Jul 2024
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not set
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Jul 01, 2024
| |||||||||||||||||
| 0593482581
| 9780593482582
| 0593482581
| 4.44
| 80
| Sep 24, 2024
| Sep 24, 2024
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it was amazing
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I still sigh, dabbing my tears, even though it's been nearly an hour since I finished this book! I don't have enough words to express my adoration! It
I still sigh, dabbing my tears, even though it's been nearly an hour since I finished this book! I don't have enough words to express my adoration! It's like déjà vu—each time I read another Erin A. Craig book, my life just stops. I cancel everything to give my full attention to the book. If I can’t read to the end, my mind keeps wandering back, making it impossible to concentrate on meetings, writing, laundry, dinner, or even remembering where I am or what time zone I’m in. She’s the queen of reimagining the Grimm Brothers’ dark stories, adding extra essence, sentimentality, vision, and well-developed characters. This time, she retold the Grimm Brothers’ dark and sinister fairytale “Godfather Death,” revolving around young healer Hazel Trepas. She is the 13th child of her family, left behind in poverty, neglect, and emotional abuse until her godfather, Dreaded End itself, Merrick, returns to reveal her unique gift—which comes with a high price. She’s born to be a powerful healer, but that doesn’t mean she can save every life, even those she loves. At 18, she’s sent to the ruthless court to save King Marnaigne, who suffers from a mysterious disease related to gold liquid moving inside his body like a worm. The disease is contagious and has claimed the lives of others, including a priest and a maid who contacted the king. Hazel must use her powers to achieve an almost impossible healing mission while dealing with a pantheon of gods with secret agendas to shape royal politics. Along the way, she meets the rakish and sarcastic Prince Leopold again, who awakens different feelings inside her. Her godfather always told her to follow the rules and showed her a deathshed of candles, each representing a life and its determined longevity. If she interferes with fate to save a life that’s destined to end, it could affect other people’s fates like a domino effect and ruin their destinies. But now there’s so much at stake. Without saving the king, she cannot leave, but this means disobeying her powerful godfather’s wishes. Can you defy Death without expecting consequences? Can Hazel take risks for the greater good, or will her actions bring more chaos to the royal family than she can imagine, earning the wrath of her ruthless godfather? This dark but engaging and creative version of a fairytale is well-written with surprising twists and a game of gods with secret agendas, reminiscent of GOT-style schemes. The profound, dysfunctional, but unique relationship between Dreaded End and Hazel blossoms in each chapter. Dreaded End seems like a cruel, neglectful, dark father with compelling missions for Hazel, but he shows his affection in his own possible ways. Hazel knows how to be alone, having felt invisible in her crowded family that neglected her needs. Even though her Godfather provides a beautiful house with all her needs met, she still seeks love, affection, and a sense of belonging. Because of her healing powers, Hazel lives a secluded life, feeling loneliness to her bones. But what if, in the most unexpected place, with the most unexpected person, she finds love destined to be doomed? Could she be brave enough to defy her Godfather’s wishes, choose herself first, challenge her own destiny, and rewrite her future? I’m still absorbing the last whirlwind chapters of the book, which made me dizzy with twists and heart-stopping cliffhangers. The most epic part of the book is surely the epilogue, which warmed my heart and made me cry. I know I’m rambling, so I’ll cut it short. I loved this beautifully written, powerful fairytale that tugged at my heartstrings, earning a well-deserved five stars. Thank you to Erin A. Craig, who never ceases to amaze and impress me with her powerful writing. Her versions of Grimm Brothers’ tales are even better than the originals. Many thanks to NetGalley and Random House Children’s / Delacorte Press for sharing this incredible fantasy book’s digital reviewer copy with me in exchange for my honest thoughts. blog twitter ...more |
Notes are private!
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1
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Jul 2024
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Jul 03, 2024
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Jul 01, 2024
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Hardcover
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| 006327518X
| 9780063275188
| 006327518X
| 4.00
| 2
| unknown
| Jan 28, 2025
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really liked it
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Wolves are out there! Waiting for doomsday on 12.12.22, led by the Bronze Lord. They have a mantra: “They are watching. They are armed. They will triu
Wolves are out there! Waiting for doomsday on 12.12.22, led by the Bronze Lord. They have a mantra: “They are watching. They are armed. They will triumph.” But are these people real, or are they the figment of a delusional old ex-rock star’s imagination? Meg (Magnolia) Russo is about to test this theory in the hardest way possible. While driving her 18-year-old daughter, Lily, a young music prodigy, to Ithaca College with her devoted husband, Justin, by her side, their car is approached by another vehicle filled with skinheads taking photos of Lily. Meg snaps and realizes she is about to lose control of the car. Something is terribly wrong. Why are they going off the road? What’s happening? And BAM! The airbags deploy too late. The accident takes Justin’s life, leaving a traumatized mother and daughter struggling to move on. Meg suffers from back pain, and Lily takes a gap year, spending most of her time sleeping and smoking pot with her new friend, Carl. Meg decides to reopen her bookstore, which she previously ran with her late husband. On opening day, a strange woman makes a scene, dropping books in the young adult section as if looking for something. She makes a declaration in front of other customers, showing her fingers: one gone, three left, implying Meg's dead husband. The three left behind are her father, daughter, and herself. Could her husband’s death be related to something more sinister? Bizarre and terrifying events start happening: vandalism at the store, police harassment of Lily, threatening messages, and deepfake videos released on an anonymous site. Meg begins to think her estranged ex-rock star father, Nathan, might have been telling the truth all along. He had warned her about people targeting him for a song he wrote called “Pearly Gates,” which allegedly contains satanic messages hidden in the lyrics. Nathan, who lives in seclusion near the Catskills, communicates only via letters and landline, leading a drug-induced, delirious life filled with conspiracy theories about wolves watching and waiting to attack. Meg learns there’s more to this story. A book she wrote at 15, called “Prophecy,” is targeted by these lunatics who call her Sybil, Satan’s daughter who can predict the future. They believe the plague mentioned in her book is Covid, and doomsday will come on the symbolic date the book refers to. Lily becomes their next target when a video of her singing her grandfather’s famous song goes viral. As a secret ritual, the watchers cut off one of their fingers, lurking around and gathering information. They could be anyone: a neighbor, a friend, someone you’ve known for years. As the threat escalates and the doomsday these fanatics believe in approaches, Meg is determined to protect what’s left of her family. She’s already lost her husband and is ready to fight to protect her daughter, even at the risk of her own life. But what if the threat is already too close to stop? Overall: OMG! The tension is incredibly thick throughout the book—I could cut it with a knife. It took my breath away in several chapters. The building pressure made my ears whistle. I was so close to giving it five stars, but there are still a few unanswered questions that rubbed me the wrong way. There should have been more concrete proof of why people are so adamant about targeting this family, rather than relying on coincidental occasions. The brainwashed fanaticism is terrifying, adding a horror element to the story, but some parts were too far-fetched for me to fully grasp. Despite that, I read it in one sitting, with a stomach ache from the tension and stress. It’s an unputdownable book that will make you clench your fists, pop your eyes out, and tap your feet in agitation. It’s a well-written thriller that truly disturbed me! If you’re looking for something that will make your heart race and give you real chills, this is your book! Many thanks to NetGalley and William Morrow for providing me with this high-tension, brilliant thriller’s digital reviewer copy in exchange for my honest thoughts. medium.com twitter ...more |
Notes are private!
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1
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Jul 2024
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Jul 05, 2024
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Jul 01, 2024
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Hardcover
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| 0063249219
| 9780063249219
| 0063249219
| 4.11
| 84
| Oct 01, 2024
| Oct 01, 2024
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really liked it
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Best way to start this review is with this regular quote: Karen Marie Moning releases a new fantasy series and her devoted readers just read and revie
Best way to start this review is with this regular quote: Karen Marie Moning releases a new fantasy series and her devoted readers just read and review! No questions! Not even reading the blurb! Having no clue what the story is about or what kind of paranormal beings we’ll be introduced to! As for me, witches are my soft spot (I consider myself one without the magical ability or witchcraft knowledge. Mostly, people change the 'w' word to 'b' when they call me, but I hear what I want to understand, no worries!). I couldn’t resist the charm of this book because it feels like a combination of "Discovery of the Witches" meets "True Blood" and "Haunting of Hill House." Southern occult blends with gothic vibes, and let’s not forget we are also introduced to vampires. I’m sure in the following books we’ll meet more paranormal entities like werewolves and shapeshifters—I can’t wait! I enjoyed the plot and the slow burn introduction to the secrets of Divinity: a town that not everyone can see or reach without being invited or having enough power to be accepted by its residents. The story revolves around 24-year-old Zo Grey, living in debt, working multiple jobs to keep a roof over her head, and taking care of her mother, who is battling cancer. One day, while begging for another job at the diner, she gets a call from the fire department informing her that the house she shares with her mother has burned down, with her mother inside. Without having time to process the shock, she’s summoned to Divinity, Louisiana, to inherit from an estranged relative, Juniper Cameron, a pillar of the town she never met. When she arrives at the grandiose "Watch Hill House" with its amenities (including a waterfall, pool, botanic garden, acres of woodland, countless rooms, and secret passages), she cannot believe her luck. But the house is not the only thing left for her. She’s also paid monthly for her expenses, and for each year she spends in the house, she will be paid 1 million dollars. At the end of three years, she’ll inherit 140 million dollars and Juniper Cameron’s unliquidated assets. However, there are strange rules she must obey, including that nobody can live with her for three years, and her guests cannot stay more than two days, meaning her best friend Este can only visit her briefly. After spending seven days and nights on the premises, she is directed to open a letter from Juniper explaining her new responsibilities. Zo is enchanted by the power of the house, still thinking about a one-night stand with a charismatic stranger named Kellan, and she’s also charmed by her new groundskeeper. She’s repeatedly warned to stay away from him, especially by Juniper’s centuries-old consultant, James Baufolt, who becomes her right-hand man and savior from nosy townsfolk who don’t accept her as an outsider. These are the least of Zo's concerns as she starts discovering her powers and realizes she’s a witch. She learns she’s been lied to about her identity, and this isn’t the only secret her mother kept from her as they kept moving towns, running from something unknown. What if she isn’t the rightful heir? What if her powers serve darker purposes? What was her mother running from if she’s Juniper’s rightful relative? Could she reign in Juniper’s place and govern Divinity while her enemies plot her demise? By the end of the book, we are still in the dark. Many questions are left unanswered for the sequels. Despite some eye-rolling and disappointments in certain chapters, I was hooked and eager to learn more. Zo Grey/Cameron’s tragic story intrigues me, but I still have questions about her. She hasn’t evolved into the person she should be. She’s an orphan, lost, and has no idea who she really is or what she’s capable of. She acts like a bewildered girl with high libido, torn between the men around her. First, there’s mysterious Kellan, then she meets her charming Scottish groundskeeper, Devlin, who has his own secrets. She even lusts after bodyguards hired to protect her! Don’t get me wrong. At a young age, she’s been through a lot, working multiple jobs to care for her sick mother, only to find out her entire life was a lie. Of course, she’s shocked and not strong enough to take the throne of Kovan (a 13-witch family with 169 members), inherit a vast wealth, and play power games with her enemies without enough experience and training. I hope she matures, learns from her mistakes, and digs through the secrets to find out who she really is. And, of course, she must make a choice between two charming men. But we have to wait for the sequel to see what happens. I screamed at the cliffhanger and am hopeful I will love the second book even more. Overall, I consider this book a prequel, and I think the real fun will start in the next books of the series. After reading the delicious and frustrating cliffhanger, I’m looking forward to the sequel. I’m rounding up 3.5 stars to 4 for the high potential and my love for witches! Many thanks to NetGalley and William Morrow for sharing this year’s most anticipated fantasy read’s digital reviewer copy with me in exchange for my honest thoughts. Follow me on medium.com to read my articles about books, movies, streaming series, astrology: medium blog twitter ...more |
Notes are private!
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1
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Jun 29, 2024
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Jun 29, 2024
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Jun 29, 2024
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Hardcover
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my rating |
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|---|---|---|---|---|---|---|---|---|---|
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| 4.28
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it was amazing
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Jul 21, 2024
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Jul 19, 2024
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| 4.11
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it was amazing
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Jul 21, 2024
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Jul 19, 2024
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| 4.41
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it was amazing
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Jul 19, 2024
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Jul 18, 2024
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|||||
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| 4.69
|
it was amazing
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Jul 21, 2024
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Jul 18, 2024
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|||||
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| 4.12
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it was amazing
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Jul 19, 2024
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Jul 16, 2024
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|||||
|
| 4.09
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really liked it
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Jul 22, 2024
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Jul 16, 2024
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|||||
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| 4.61
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it was amazing
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Jul 24, 2024
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Jul 15, 2024
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|||||
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| 3.45
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really liked it
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Jul 14, 2024
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Jul 13, 2024
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| 3.94
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really liked it
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Jul 12, 2024
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Jul 12, 2024
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|||||
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| 4.64
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it was amazing
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May 26, 2024
not set
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Jul 11, 2024
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|||||
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| 4.29
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it was amazing
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Jul 11, 2024
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Jul 09, 2024
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|||||
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| 4.10
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really liked it
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Jul 10, 2024
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Jul 09, 2024
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|||||
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| 4.25
|
really liked it
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Jul 09, 2024
|
Jul 09, 2024
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|||||
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| 4.19
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really liked it
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Jul 09, 2024
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Jul 09, 2024
|
|||||
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| 4.46
|
it was amazing
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Jul 06, 2024
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Jul 05, 2024
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|||||
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| 4.53
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really liked it
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Jul 14, 2024
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Jul 01, 2024
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|||||
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| 4.11
|
really liked it
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not set
|
Jul 01, 2024
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|||||
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| 4.44
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it was amazing
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Jul 03, 2024
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Jul 01, 2024
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|||||
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| 4.00
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really liked it
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Jul 05, 2024
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Jul 01, 2024
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|||||
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| 4.11
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really liked it
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Jun 29, 2024
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Jun 29, 2024
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