This shit was good! If you have the opportunity, please listen to this on audio. I think I was lowkey blown away with how the story unfolded 4.5 Stars
This shit was good! If you have the opportunity, please listen to this on audio. I think I was lowkey blown away with how the story unfolded because Tintera did a good job misleading me as the reader. It was evenly placed with jacked up characters. But I still need to understand who did it!!...more
I'm pretty sure that Jeneva Rose just isn't the author for me at this point....I'm pretty sure that Jeneva Rose just isn't the author for me at this point.......more
I'm going to be the unpopular opinion with this one. It just didn't work for me!
This was my first experience reading Ashley Elston although I'm aware I'm going to be the unpopular opinion with this one. It just didn't work for me!
This was my first experience reading Ashley Elston although I'm aware of the work that she's done in young adult literature. First Lie Wins has received a lot of buzz this year and is listed by GR as one of the 2024 releases so far. Being chosen as a Reese Witherspoon book club pick seemingly helps as well. It follows main character, Evie Porter (alias), who has been given a job by the mysterious Mr. Smith that specifically deals with another character by the name Ryan. Unfortunately, this time around Evie is struggling with keeping her personal feelings separate from the job and may want more with Ryan than she anticipated.
Okay, this book was lowkey confusing af. It wasn't always told in a linear fashion and included flashbacks to Evie's previous jobs. There were so many different scenarios and characters that I often found it hard to keep with who was who. Additionally, I'm not exactly sure what this novel was supposed to be. It wasn't really a thriller, it didn't feel like a mystery, Evie felt like a spy, but I'm not sure if Elston was going for a espionage theme. Honestly, it just felt all over the place. The pacing wasn't good, the character development wasn't good, and the "reveal" of the story was underwhelming and even more confusing. I agree with reviewers who have stated that if you, as an author, have to explain everything via the main character to the readers, you did not do an affective job as a storyteller. By the time I made it to the end of the book, I honestly didn't care either way.
If you loved this book, that's great but it didn't work for me. I won't cross Elston off my list completely, but I don't think this was a strong step into the adult category as an author....more
I read this after reading The Housemaid and did an interesting video comparing the two titles. If you're interested in hearing my thoughts about this I read this after reading The Housemaid and did an interesting video comparing the two titles. If you're interested in hearing my thoughts about this title, be sure to check out my video here: https://youtu.be/J0z_hh289vA?si=5Eeds......more
Ahhh this one wasn't as strong as the first book my friends. I think I anticipated a little too much considering the thrills that were in the first boAhhh this one wasn't as strong as the first book my friends. I think I anticipated a little too much considering the thrills that were in the first book. Although I wasn't as satisfied with this one, I will check out the third book when it releases in a couple of weeks. CW: violence, attempted sexual assault, abuse, death/murder, extramarital affair
The Housemaid's Secret was significantly slower than The Housemaid. Readers are following Millie a little after the events of the first book as she attempts to continue her work as a "maid." There isn't much that I can truly reveal about this book without spoiling the entire plot and giving away significant portions of the first book. One thing that seems to strike a nerve in me as a reader is Millie's naivety. I'm shocked that Millie continues to be bamboozled by people who mean her harm. She has absolutely no street smarts and it's frustrating at times. This one had an interesting twist, but the shock value doesn't hit the same as the first installment. With that being said, I will continue to point out that McFadden is queen of popcorn thrillers and writes in a way that is accessible to a broad range of readers....more
Whew, this did not do it for me. It was the twist that made everything McFadden was attempting to do invalid. CW: grooming, relationship between studeWhew, this did not do it for me. It was the twist that made everything McFadden was attempting to do invalid. CW: grooming, relationship between student & teacher, death, violence.
The Teacher is a strange novel. It follows two teachers, Eve and Nate, who teach at the same high school. Not only is Nate the more popular of the two, but their marriage is slowly declining into nothing. It also focuses in on Addie, a student at the high school, who carries some dark secrets. Between the three of them, readers encountered a pretty f*cked up reading experience.
What Worked: Eh, this is kind of one of those novels where nothing really worked for me. Once again, I can admit that McFadden's writing is easily digested and makes for an accessible reading experience; however, the tragedy of this plot took away from any positives that I experienced reading this book.
What Didn't Work: Well, well, well. After reading The Housemaid this was a hell of a disappointment. It's hard to discuss this one because it inevitably ruins the entire novel. However, what I can say is that these characters are fucked up, the students are treated horribly, there's no damn way Eve didn't know the identity of the shoe salesman, and Nate is a disgusting piece of shit. This book is riddled with plot holes that made absolutely no sense by the time the reader gets to the end of the story.
This goes to show that every novel by an author won't be a hit because this sure as hell was a miss. It won't stop me from reading some of her other stuff, but I must admit this wasn't what I was looking for....more
Okay, friends! I finally gave into the hype and picked up the book that everyone has been talking about non-stop over the last year. It's not the bestOkay, friends! I finally gave into the hype and picked up the book that everyone has been talking about non-stop over the last year. It's not the best written book that I've ever read, BUT it's a book that is easily digestible for the masses and easily hooks the reader in with plenty of twists and turns. While I'm not 100% sold on McFadden yet, I'm definitely willing to continue to work through her back list to get a better idea of her as a writer. CW: violence, physical abuse, verbal abuse, emotional abuse, infidelity.
The Housemaid is not what I expected. Prior to picking it up, I was aware of its popularity, but I never read a synopsis or read/watched a review. This, inevitably, helped me go into the book with little to no expectations.
What Worked: McFadden has an easy style of writing that makes this book a quick read (ngl a part of me - the librarian side - is interested in the Lexile level of this book). It's a difficult book to put down because every single chapter appears to take the reader on a new journey. Just when it appears as though things are simplistic and obvious, McFadden quickly changes everything around in a way that leaves the reader questioning the very essence of each character. While I can't say too much (it feels like every single detail is important in the overall narrative), I can say that this book is WILD and completely and totally unexpected. I figured some things out, but Part 2 had me mindf*cked. And then the ending had me even more blown. And then epilogue made me immediately get book 2. This is the marking of a writer that knows their audience.
What Didn't Work: I can't completely remove the logical side of my brain for any book even one that I'm enjoying, and I must admit parts of this book were bit absurd. There were sections that had me hollering when I knew I had no business laughing and I knew it was not McFadden's intention to make me laugh. It was a stretch to believe that Millie served 10 years in prison because of some of her actions. Granted I think that McFadden tried to bring it together towards the end of the book, but the background didn't match the actions or the lack of intuition.
Overall, this was a good read. This is one that the masses got right and I'm excited to dive more into McFadden's works....more
Nope, this one didn't work for me because it was too predictable and the ending wasn't fulfilling. The closed/locked room scenario is intriguing to meNope, this one didn't work for me because it was too predictable and the ending wasn't fulfilling. The closed/locked room scenario is intriguing to me as a newer thriller reader; however, this wasn't executed well.
The Night of the Storm takes place during the night of Hurricane Harvey and follows main character Jia and her extended family after she was invited to stay at her sister Jima's house during the hurricane. The family receives an unexpected visitor that is followed by death. Jia has to figure out who is responsible to protect her son and herself from meeting the same fate.
What Worked: I appreciated that Nishita didn't shy away from highlighting her Indian background both good and bad. The rich descriptions of food left my mouth watering while her more nuanced conversations about cultural expectations of women in comparison to men really resonated with some of my own cultural experiences. So often I see authors attempt to separate themselves from their backgrounds to write narratives that are more palatable to a broader audience; however, Nishita throws the reader in head first to those experiences.
What Didn't Work: Unfortunately, this book was way too predictable. From the time that the first person died, it was abundantly clear who was responsible for the sequence of events. Even the plot twist at the end wasn't enough to redeem this book as a whole. Nishita also failed to provide readers with well rounded characters that were likeable or easy to root for. I connected with some of Jia's experiences as a single parent, but certain decisions she made in regard to herself and her son were completely and totally illogical. And the pacing was off in several sections. Though it takes me longer to read a book physically, it does not take me several months. My prolonged lack of interest in the narrative caused a delay in my reading. There was so much potential with these characters and the story; however, I think that it was executed poorly.
Overall, this wasn't a new favorite for me, but it was a debut and I'm interested in seeing the ways in which Nishita may grow as an author....more
Mannnn I was so excited to read this one, but it ultimately let me down.
Midnight is an adult thriller that follows main character Olivia who gets the Mannnn I was so excited to read this one, but it ultimately let me down.
Midnight is an adult thriller that follows main character Olivia who gets the opportunity of a lifetime to travel to Antartica on behalf of her art investor boyfriend. After securing a client who unfortunately has an untimely death, he decides to "honor" his artwork (which primarily focuses on Antartica landscapes) by hosting a cruise where there will be an auction for his art. Well, he never makes it to the ship, and they set sell with Olivia having to take the lead on the event. As they set off on the cruise, people begin to die, and Olivia begins to wonder whether she might be next.
What Worked: The descriptions of Antartica were marvelous. Amy McCulloch is a world traveler and spent time in Antartica. Her knowledge of the area and the risks that come with traveling there are described so perfectly and really perked in interest in adding a visit to my bucket list.
What Didn't Work: Outside of the Antartica descriptions, this novel was a HOT ASS MESS. I knew who the killer was about 20% into the book. The pacing was completely off, and it took about 150 pages for anything of consequence to really happen. Olivia is dealing with some pretty significant trauma related to her father and being on ships, but she has the personality of a wet rag. I never really connected to her as a reader, and I couldn't figure out why she decided to put herself in this situation when she's so deathly afraid of being on boats. Also, this book leans heavily into the world of art dealing so if that's not your thing it will bore the hell out of you. I found aspects of it to be intriguing, but then some of it began to feel repetitive as the McCulloch attempts to hold the hand of the reader to remind them of the significance of the death of the artist. This had so much potential especially it's a close environment where people are getting murdered, but it doesn't add anything new or interesting to the genre.
Overall, a disappointing read that had some great potential....more
Whew child. Some of these reviews are doing exactly what Kuang was pointing out through Yellowface. It’s interesting to watch it happen in real time. Whew child. Some of these reviews are doing exactly what Kuang was pointing out through Yellowface. It’s interesting to watch it happen in real time. While I don’t have extensive knowledge of her work, I think what Kuang is doing in this book is actually quite brilliant.
At the most basic of levels, Yellowface is a mash of various genres that follows the passive aggressive “friendship” of Athena and June, two authors in the publishing industry with very different levels of success. Athena has received her big break while June has remained a struggling author. In an absurd (truly absurd if I’m being quite honest haha) turn of events, Athena chokes while engaging in a pancake eating contest with June. After her death, June makes the decision to steal one of her manuscripts and pass it off as her own. What follows next is chaotic descent into the world of publishing and the book community.
What Worked: SO MUCH OF THIS BOOOK WORKED! I’ve seen the countless criticisms of Kuang inserting herself too much into this book as well as the criticisms that indicate that there isn’t much to be gained from reading this book. I wholeheartedly disagree. Oh, my friends, there is much to be gained. Neither of the characters is likeable and that is INTENTIONAL. This isn’t a way to illustrate that everyone in publishing is selfish, but a means to question how much the reader falls into the trap of engaging with the model minority myth. The expectation that Athena is supposed to be likeable is deeply woven in the sociological phenomena that stereotypes many Asian communities as successful, smart, likeable, diligent, docile, etc and the idea that Athena doesn’t fit into that role has made some readers feel uncomfortable whether it is consciously or subconsciously.
Kuang’s evaluation of the publishing industry is layered and forces both publishing and the bookish community to do some reevaluation. What she singlehandedly captures in this book has been the biggest criticism that many of us have been vocal about since 2020. Publishing used the death of George Floyd and the Black Lives Matter movement to claim to want more diversity and has in some ways published more diverse books; however, have we really paid attention to what those stories have centered? Trauma versus joy. So many of these stories have been centered on generational trauma, books that are used to educate and make the White masses feel better about not knowing much about diverse experiences prior to 2020. Marginalized voices in publishing are “permitted” to be a part of the community as long we play the roles that we are supposed to play. Once we begin to infiltrate the industry too much, those same people with “BLM” in their twitter bios, the same people who claim to be liberal do the same damn mental gymnastics June did to excuse her behavior. The system was designed for June to do what she did and the moment that marginalized communities “steal” the shine, it’s okay to push back because as June believes she’s the true minority and oppressed person in all of this. Don’t believe me, you should check out the TikTok made by an author who claims that white writers now get turned down because all agents want are BIPOC writers. Or better yet, just listen to foolishness that was uttered from James Patterson who had the audacity to state the White men are the truly oppressed writers in the industry.
And let’s take this a step further and look at how Kuang illustrated the danger that publishing has ultimately created with it’s use of terms like #ownvoices. Athena wasn’t ever allowed to write outside of trauma. She’s pigeonholed into only writing one thing. And honestly, I’m sure that happens more than we would like to believe. Authors who want to explore something outside of their “assigned” roles either get turned down or the marketing is trash. It delves deeper into the question of who is allowed to tell what story? Was Athena any better of a fit to tell the story of Chinese laborers of WWI than June? Is research enough to tell something outside of one’s lived experience? These are things to think about and something that we are confronted with every day in this community. Think about books like American Dirt and Memoirs of a Geisha.
This book is both absurd and unhinged because so is publishing and the book community. And I’ve been involved in all of it for so many years. Kuang told ya’ll to kiss her ass with this book. She is behaving in the complete opposite manner that is “expected” of her as young, thin, conventionally beautiful Asian woman. And the fact that she owns that shit makes so many people feel uncomfortable. And quite frankly I applaud her for that. BIPOC writers and creators are tired of the expectation that we are supposed to behave, create, write, and provide educational pieces in way that makes others feel comfortable. We’re supposed to applaud White people for the amazing work they’ve done in “allowing” us to enter the spaces and “give” us the opportunity to tell “our stories.” It’s laughable at this point and while ya’ll give Kuang these 1 and 2 star reviews, she’s going to be laughing her pretty, thin, and educated ass all the way to the damn bank....more
Ummm who is this man?!? This is the Riley Sager that I know from my earlier experiences. After reading his latest releases, I was convinced that I wouUmmm who is this man?!? This is the Riley Sager that I know from my earlier experiences. After reading his latest releases, I was convinced that I wouldn’t ever like Riley Sager’s works again. I talked myself into giving him one last try and HE DID NOT DISAPPOINT!
The Only One Left is difficult to describe without spoiling intricate parts of the plot. Taking place in 1983, the story follows home health aide Kit who is assigned to work with Lenora Hope. Rumor is that in 1929 Lenora killed not only on her father, but also her mother and sister. Battling demons of her own, Kit is hesitant to work as Lenora’s aid; however, due to a previous situation she isn’t left with any other options. What follows is a deep dive into the complicated and haunted past of Lenora Hope as Kit attempts to figure out if she’s really responsible for the death of her family.
What Worked: YOOOOOO! Riley Sager killed it with this one! The pacing, the plot…everything really worked well. While reading this book, I noticed a pattern related to my enjoyment of Riley Sager books. If he mixes gothic/paranormal elements in his books, I’m more likely to enjoy them (i.e. Lock Every Door & Home Before Dark). This book is a combination of those themes, but also delves into the relationships that can sometimes exist between caretakers and those that need assistance. I didn’t expect that to be such a major theme to the story, but it comes full circle at the end and really sheds a light on one’s ability to maintain or lose humanity. The plot twists in this were beyond exceptional. I did not expect to have such a physical and emotional reaction to the revelations. Sager got me with this one and usually it’s quite difficult to throw me off with thrillers and mysteries. I must say that he keeps this going until the very end of the book! This was clearly a culmination of great writing, plotting, and character development. Quite frankly, he’s set the bar fairly high with this one and I’m not sure whether subsequent works will be able to take its place in my personal ranking system.
Overall, this is my favorite Riley Sager book to date. I was convinced that I was going to give up on him, but this one changed my mind. Don’t ask anyone for any hints or summaries. Go into this one and enjoy the ride!
Oh wow. This is my first J.T. Ellison book and I honestly just gravitated towards it because of the cover. I was not expecting the story inside. It waOh wow. This is my first J.T. Ellison book and I honestly just gravitated towards it because of the cover. I was not expecting the story inside. It wasn't quite a 5 star read, but Ellison definitely kept me intrigued. CW: infertility, miscarriage
It's One of Us follows the relationship dynamics between Olivia and Park who have been attempting to have a child for an extended period of time. Olivia wants to be a mother, but fertility treatments continue to fail. Things take a very interesting turn when the police visit their home insinuating that they have a DNA match to Park from a local murder investigation. Surprisingly, the DNA doesn't directly belong to Park, but his biological son. Surprised since the couple doesn't have any children, Park and Olivia are convinced that the police have made a mistake. What follows is a world wind of a story of lies, betrayal, murder, and heartbreak.
What Worked: This is a fast pace and engaging read. It took me a while to read it because I decided to make my way through a physical copy. Apparently, I'm a fan of messy characters and J.T. Ellison knows how to craft a messy character and a messy situation. What surprised me the most was how much I appreciated the social commentary that Ellison incorporated into the text. It is worth reading the author's note to get a better grasp on why she made the decision to explore this specific topic. While there isn't much that I can discuss about this book because of spoilers, I can say that if you are sensitive to complex feelings and relationships that develop as a result of infertility and fertility treatments, I would enter this book cautiously. Ellison doesn't shy away from it's impact on the characters. There are moments when Olivia's pain and frustration simply just ooze off the page. I wasn't expecting that and I appreciated that Ellison made me confront the experiences of so many individuals across the world. I also loved that the story was told from multiple perspectives. It really gave me better insight to each character and the complexity of their connections.
What Didn't Work: There wasn't necessarily much that didn't work for me with this one. There were a few characters that I didn't necessarily care for and I will say that the revelation of the murderer is a little on the predictable side. It's clear from one specific perspective and moment. I know that some people won't necessarily enjoy that element. However, it's interesting how Ellison uses the revelation to connect it back to the beginning of the book.
Overall, this was a good read! I enjoyed it and I'm looking forward to checking out more of Ellison's work....more
This was a mess of a book, but in a fun way. It isn't the best domestic thriller that I've read, but it was interesting learning more about the intimaThis was a mess of a book, but in a fun way. It isn't the best domestic thriller that I've read, but it was interesting learning more about the intimate details of this small Irish village. 3.5 Stars
Dirty Laundry follows three women, Lauren, Mishti, and Ciara, as they navigate the ins and outs of a small Irish Village. Ciara who is close friends with Mishti is considered the "queen bee" of the all the moms and absolutely loathes Lauren who's more of an outcast. However, when Ciara reveals information that pushes Mishti towards having a closer relationship with Lauren, she begins to feel as though she's losing control. Eventually, she turns up dead and readers are taken back in time to figure out all of the details of the characters and community that could be responsible for Ciara's untimely death.
What Worked: I love a messy story! And to be quite honest, the foundation of this story is built upon the messiness of each character. I appreciated that Bose took the time and effort to carefully develop the personality of each character. They were well rounded, interesting, and perfectly imperfect. As a result, I was extremely interested in the revelation of the character responsible for the death of Ciara and learned some not so great things about their husbands along the way. Clearly, this is a testament to Bose's skills as a writer. She was able to drag me into this town and get me invested in their drama as if I was a part of the community.
What Didn't Work: Towards the end of the book, it became quite clear who was primarily responsible for the death Ciara. While Bose attempted to throw curveballs to distract readers from the responsible individual, it was pretty obvious. Additionally, Ciara isn't a likeable character. She does horrible things to the other characters and exhibits no remorse. When she does die, I can't say that I actually cared and I'm not sure whether that was Bose's intent or not. By creating such an unlikeable character, I ended up not caring about her death which almost led to me not caring about the book as I got closer to the end. I think it's a hard balance to the balance between keeping readers invested in the story and introducing unlikeable characters and centering the narrative around them.
Overall, this was a solid domestic thriller. I'm interested in checking out what Bose does in the future....more
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