I really enjoyed this! I'm a fan of Adam Nevill, and I am slowly making my way through his work. This one was definitely engaging, I couldn't put it dI really enjoyed this! I'm a fan of Adam Nevill, and I am slowly making my way through his work. This one was definitely engaging, I couldn't put it down. I loved the concept, and I also enjoyed that while we did see the monsters, we never found out WHY they were here or where they came from. I dunno, I just loved that. Sometimes things are better when they're left unexplained. Not slog of a backstory about it, no long winded reasoning. It just IS, and that was great!
I really loved the cast of characters, and man, did I hate Bob! Excellent villain of the story, that's for sure!
Anyway, yes! A little horror, a little sci-fi, loved it!...more
**spoiler alert** More of a 3.5 stars, but I did enjoy it for the most part! The beginning really hooked me, I was into it, but then it started to fee**spoiler alert** More of a 3.5 stars, but I did enjoy it for the most part! The beginning really hooked me, I was into it, but then it started to feel much too long. I found myself skimming Matt's emails to the studio people and whatnot. I just wanted the actual ghost hunting part of the story. Those parts I, for the most part, really enjoyed! I was right with it until the end, which threw me a little bit. I wish I had been something a bit more....grounded, I guess, then surprise maze hidden under the house, created by ancient entities/Gods and all that. I preferred it when it was just some crazy ghost story where scientists had maybe created a doorway to the other side. I still enjoyed it, just wish things had played out more to my own tastes. Which is selfish, and not the authors fault at all. I'd for sure read Craig DiLouie again!...more
I saw the title of this book. The synopsis for this book. Somehow, I convinced myself this was a horror novel. Boy, was I surprised when I started reaI saw the title of this book. The synopsis for this book. Somehow, I convinced myself this was a horror novel. Boy, was I surprised when I started reading it. It became VERY apparent, VERY quickly, that I was VERY wrong.
That said, this was a lovely, sad book on growing up and grief and how we all cope with the terrible things that happen to us. Tiger was a wonderful lead character in this story, and watching her struggles felt relatable (though I thankfully never experienced those things myself). I also appreciated the subtle hints that alcoholism runs in family's, and that you need to be aware and take care of yourself. We can overcome our demons, if we really want to do so.
This is the third book by Kathleen Glasgow that I've read, and she's nailed it every time. Kudos for covering hard topics so beautifully!...more
I think this one is definitely 3.5 stars from me. I did like it, I had a good time reading it, but there were a few times that it felt so hokey it tooI think this one is definitely 3.5 stars from me. I did like it, I had a good time reading it, but there were a few times that it felt so hokey it took me out of the story a bit. I hope that makes sense!
It was refreshing to see a different take on a haunted house story. It was fun to see someone trying to co-habitat with the things in the house rather than just run off and abandon ship. The mystery with Hal didn't feel too mysterious, I felt like what happened was pretty obvious, but maybe not for everyone. I won't say more, I don't want to spoil it, but yeah. That part was just okay.
The ending is sort of what got me. I wish the book had gone on a bit to tell us how the cops DID react to everything LOL. THAT would have been pretty cool to see!...more
Okay. So. 3.5 stars for this one. I did enjoy the story! The setting was great, and the Irish folklore was fantastic. LOVED the take on fae/changelingOkay. So. 3.5 stars for this one. I did enjoy the story! The setting was great, and the Irish folklore was fantastic. LOVED the take on fae/changelings. I thought that was really cool, and I'd say the first quarter of the book was amazing. Loved meeting Mina, and getting introduced to everyone in the coop. From there, however, the book suffered a bit from too much information crammed in when it wasn't necessary. It got a bit slow, and it really brought the feel of the story down quite a bit. A lot of things in the middle could have gone, and the pacing would have been a lot better.
That being said though, I did enjoy it! It was an interesting concept, and the ending obviously was left wide open for a second book. It looks as though book two will be out in October, so I'll have to get hold of that one to see what happens to Mina next.
I was entertained by this one! An interesting take on a possession story, that's for certain. The ending was sort of predictable, but not in a bad wayI was entertained by this one! An interesting take on a possession story, that's for certain. The ending was sort of predictable, but not in a bad way. Just in an 'ah yes, I am justified in my thought process' sort of way. Not so sure on the bits about her mother carving their backs to protect them, but it wasn't super problematic or anything. Just kind of made me shrug my shoulders a bit.
But yes! I liked this one for sure. Would have been an ironically fun Christmas read....more
This book was weird and a little confusing, but also enthralling. I couldn't put it down once I really got started. I loved the concept of a bizarre cThis book was weird and a little confusing, but also enthralling. I couldn't put it down once I really got started. I loved the concept of a bizarre children's show that disappeared after a tragic accident took place, unable to be found even by Redditors (who are relentless, lemme tell ya). I loved all of the characters, and I Just wish we'd had a slightly different ending. It wasn't surprising, but the only part of the book that let me down a little bit.
Now I have to read some more books by Kiersten White!...more
An interesting retelling of David Copperfield....even though I hated David Copperfield. What? I'm not a big fan of the classics. They just aren't my tAn interesting retelling of David Copperfield....even though I hated David Copperfield. What? I'm not a big fan of the classics. They just aren't my thing.
I waffled on my rating for this one. I went with three, because I didn't NOT enjoy the book. While it was laced with Appalachian hillbilly tropes (and I'm an Appalachian so I often take offense to these), Kingsolver wasn't actually WRONG about a lot of the things she put in her story either. Pills got a hold on this area of the world in the early 2000s, and nothing has been the same since. In that regard, it almost felt TOO much like reading about people I went to high school with. Good kids, some from bad situations and some not, who spiraled downward and couldn't claw their way back out.
The nicknames got on my nerves after awhile though. I say that as someone who has an entire family full of nicknames. Nobody in this damn family of mine is called by their given name, but nobody is called stuff like 'Fast Forward' either. That's too much of a mouthful. I knew a guy named Whacker once. That's more on par for this part of the world, trust me on that one.
All in all, it was okay. It wasn't the most amazing read of all time for me, and it did spark some negative feelings in me because of the stereotyping. Though she did nail some aspects of how things went down with big pharma here, and how it's still going now. ...more
It was okay. I know a lot of folks seemed to have been disgusted by it, but the whole shock factor gore stuff doesn't really bother me. Most of the tiIt was okay. I know a lot of folks seemed to have been disgusted by it, but the whole shock factor gore stuff doesn't really bother me. Most of the time I just roll my eyes at it and go on. Kind of weird with the eating babies thing, and I'd like to know a little bit more about the WHY of that. The whole ferret thing...I dunno, there should have been some better, weird reasoning there or something.
The first person narrative was good, I liked seeing his POV, and the writing itself was pretty good. The ending was, strangely, predictable given the rest of the content in the story, but it was probably the best bit. Tying it up that way was fun, I really liked that part.
Anyway, I can understand why some people wouldn't want to read this. It was well written and all, but clearly was just going for shock value over really great storytelling. Which, hey, that's fine with me. Clearly I was down to read it....more
This was....something. I've read a few books now by the author, and most of them I enjoyed (besides Survive the Night). This one was mostly just...a lThis was....something. I've read a few books now by the author, and most of them I enjoyed (besides Survive the Night). This one was mostly just...a lot, and it took away from the book itself by throwing so much stuff into the mix.
You have the beginning of the story, which sees an actress who recently lost her husband turning into an alcoholic to cope. For some reason her mother decides the best course of action is to send her up to the lake to stay at the family lake house. Where, you know, her husband drowned. In said lake. Wtf.
She saves a neighbor, a former world famous super model, from drowning and the two become quick friends. She begins to spy on said super model and her famous social media mogul husband from her deck via a pair of super great binoculars. When the model goes missing, Casey (the alcoholic actress) automatically assumes the husband did it.
Then there's a new neighbor who is a hot guy who is flirty. So that's a thing too.
Eventually we learn that three teenage girls have gone missing over the past few years form the lake too. The social media mogul is a SERIAL KILLER!
But wait! There's more!
Another neighbor, a 70 year old named Eli, tells a campfire story about how spirits get trapped in water and can inhabit/possess people. Here comes the random supernatural part of the story which is where I got really lost with this book.
Turns out the actress isn't dead. Just chained to a bed because the spirit of Casey's dead husband (he drowned in the lake, remember) has possessed her. He entered her body the day she was drowning and Casey saved her.
At this point we ALSO find out that Casey's husband was murdered...by Casey. She found out HE was the one who killed those teen girls, she found evidence, so she drugged him and pushed him off the boat into the lake where he drowned.
For a little razzle dazzle at the end, the social media mogul ends up falling into the water and HE gets inhabited by Casey's dead husband (this is after Casey kissed the spirit outta the model and into herself, and then drowned herself to get rid of him only to be saved last minute by the model). So, she kills the social media mogul too.
In the end they all lived happily ever after. Casey got sober and hooked up with hot neighbor guy. Super model moves into the lake house that Casey and her family own. Life is good.
Except for poor social media mogul, who did nothing and STILL ended up killed.
This book was a wild ride. It was like reading a few different stories at once. If they had been separate, I think they would have been good. I'd have really enjoyed a story about Casey finding out the Len was a serial killer, and expanding on that. Like her plotting what to do, etc, and see more about the girls and Len and WHY he was doing it.
I will still gladly read Riley Sager, but this was...a lot....more
I picked this book up as a Kindle deal, but I swear y'all that it was SO familiar while I was reading it. I'm very confident I had never actually readI picked this book up as a Kindle deal, but I swear y'all that it was SO familiar while I was reading it. I'm very confident I had never actually read the book before, as the characters and some of the situations weren't familiar, but the major plot point was. To the point that I figured out the twist very early on in the story, and was not at all shocked at being right.
It could just be a weird coincidence and me tricking myself into thinking the story was familiar. That's very possible, as I read a lot of books, I don't even know.
I enjoyed it though. It wasn't anything groundbreaking, but a decent read and it kept me entertained. I really liked Tom and his family situation, and it was interesting to see who turned out to be the actual true villain of the story! A nice little YA horror read....more
I did enjoy this, but it wasn't as good as the first two books. The first two were such big, epic stories, and then this one felt...a bit lackluster? I did enjoy this, but it wasn't as good as the first two books. The first two were such big, epic stories, and then this one felt...a bit lackluster? We spent WAY too much time on Apollo, and we didn't get nearly enough Jacks and Evangeline. While I am ultimately happy with the ending, it just felt like a lot of buildup and then was just kind of anticlimactic.
I hope this isn't the last time we see Jacks though. He's definitely been a favorite character of mine throughout Garber's books, and I'd like to see him again in the future. Also I've seen others talking about this book setting up for some sort of Apollo series and...no. I have no interest in that, sadly, and would prefer to see her venture into something new. ...more
Liked this one even more than the first! I think I just can't get enough of Jacks, to be honest. 10/10 would live in The Hollow forever, stone or no sLiked this one even more than the first! I think I just can't get enough of Jacks, to be honest. 10/10 would live in The Hollow forever, stone or no stone....more
I've read all of CC's books, and I have even greatly enjoyed a few of them. When I saw her branching away from her usual YA/Shadowhunters stories, I fI've read all of CC's books, and I have even greatly enjoyed a few of them. When I saw her branching away from her usual YA/Shadowhunters stories, I figured I'd give it a shot!
Turns out, it just wasn't for me.
The main issue I had was Lin. I just didn't really care for the character, and I'd sort of zone out during her chapters. The first few chapters of the book were honestly good and had me hooked! I loved Kel and Connor, and if the story had just been about the two of them I'd have enjoyed it a lot more. There was just something about Lin that I didn't mesh with, unfortunately.
There was also so much info dumping and big sections of world building that didn't feel like it naturally flowed. Maybe that's just me though.
I had to skim to finish this one, which sucks. I will try to read it again in the future, and hopefully not have to skim and actually get more into the story. I shouldn't have dove into this one after just finishing up the Court of Thornes and Roses books. That was clearly a mistake, my brain was still stuck in that fantasy world, and it felt like I spent my reading time comparing the two. Which is, you know, just not fair....more
This was a cute little peek into Alice Oseman's process for writing and drawing Heartstopper. It was interesting to see how she evolved the charactersThis was a cute little peek into Alice Oseman's process for writing and drawing Heartstopper. It was interesting to see how she evolved the characters over time, and to see the original sketches she did of Nick and Charlie. Not a ton of new information to be found here or anything, but still worth a look if you're a fan of the series (which I am)!...more
I liked the first book in this series, and even the second one, but this one...yeah. No. Why was this even necessary? It was fine to end after book twI liked the first book in this series, and even the second one, but this one...yeah. No. Why was this even necessary? It was fine to end after book two, and I just didn't vibe well with this one. I did finish it, but I didn't particularly have a good time. It wasn't bad or anything, I just didn't feel like we needed a third book for this story....more
I'm not quite sure how I feel about this book. I stayed up late to finish it, both to see what would happen and also because I just REALLY wanted it tI'm not quite sure how I feel about this book. I stayed up late to finish it, both to see what would happen and also because I just REALLY wanted it to be over.
I think the main issue I had was that Jeff is supposed to be 15 years old, but comes off as much younger a lot of the time. Which is kind of wild, considering the very heavy subject matter at play here, and given what he did to himself. I hated how he would adamantly deny he had any sort of problem, but then would think to himself about how he wished they'd just let him die. My guy, come on.
I also hated how he called the doctor Cat Poop. You are fifteen. You are not twelve.
I despised the whole thing with Rankin, which was basically just sexual assault from the get-go. Just because you reciprocated eventually, doesn't mean you were not assaulted. Especially the second and THIRD times he did it to you.
I also hated how Sadie's death got kind of...I don't know. Not glossed over, but also not realistically dealt with. Jeff had made fast friends with her, and she was basically his ONLY friend given how things were with Allie and how Martha is a kid who opened up to him but is too young for him to really unload his own issues and problems on. It felt like once he came out with why he really tried to kill himself, Sadie's death got shoved aside. I think it would have had a MUCH bigger impact.
Anyway, the "twist" was decent, and it all did make sense once the pieces came together. It just felt like things were missing at times, or maybe the writing slipped. I do give the author a big pat on the back though for tackling these sorts of issues. As a writer who has written novels both about the struggles of LGBTQ youth and about mental health issues, it isn't easy. They are difficult things to write about, so props for that!...more
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