Anyway, two books: Beach Read by Emily Henry and The Last Murder at the End of the World by Stuart Turton. Reviews below.
What I'm Reading Right Now: The Gathering by CJ Tudor finally made it to the top of the pile. I've just started it but I quite like it so far.
What I'm Planning to Read Next: Next will definitely be The Guncle Abroad because it's due back at the library soon. Then I plan to make a list of books-for-prompts and tackle those (plus whatever is picked at my Dusty Bookshelf and Finish What You Started challenges.)
103. Beach Read by Emily Henry
January, a perpetual romantic, finds it hard to churn out her next novel when she sours on romance. When her new neighbour turns out to be an old school rival who writes literary fiction, they decide to switch genres as a way to challenge themselves.
I expected a non-mystery version of a cozy mystery, a light fluffy read with essentially one-dimensional characters. What I got was a surprisingly funny and much ‘deeper’ story than I expected, about the masks that we wear both in public and to ourselves, and the need to be true to who we are. The humour especially felt very natural and relaxed, as did the character progression. I was pleasantly surprised and will definitely seek out more from this author.
Dates Read: August 18 to 21, 2024
Page Count: 505 (large print version)
5 out of 5 stars
+ Lost Challenges 74 Letters - June E = bare feet on cover (73/74)
+ Challenge Factory Save The Bees - Task 3B - character who is a good cook
104. The Last Murder at the End of the World by Stuart Turton
As I sit here to write this review, I find that the word that comes to mind most often when I try to describe this book is “annoying”.
It’s an interesting premise: what’s left of the world’s population resides on a small island, fortified by a force field erected against the weird insect-infested fog that has destroyed the rest of the world. The residents revere the Elders despite the mysterious things that happen every night.
The annoying part comes in because the book really thinks it’s far more clever than it actually is. It’s extremely clear right from the start what most of the mysteries are, from the origins of the residents to the Elders’ secrets. About the only mystery IS the murder, and the resolution there is, imo, rather sloppy.
I really wanted to love this, but found myself feeling mostly meh about the whole thing.
Dates Read: August 22 to 26, 2024
Page Count: 353
3 out of 5 stars
+ Challenges & Fandom Fan Favourite - 05. Fave genre published first six months of 2024 (15/16)
+ Challenge Factory Save The Bees 3C - shelter on cover (Task 3/7 complete)
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