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Kim ~ It’s All About the Thrill's Reviews > Mexican Gothic
Mexican Gothic
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2.5 stars...Yeah I know...this was one of my most anticipated reads of the year. As soon as I found out this would be a BOTM, I grabbed it, I dropped everything I was doing to read it....and well that didn't work out so well.
The premise was amazing. The cover was even more amazing. SO I dug into this book and I waited for it to pick up. I waited, and turned another page and waited....and waited...... Finally I turned to my fellow reviewers at page 200 to see..umm does this pick up? They said yeah wait for it...Okay so it did pick up- at page 250. So the last 50 pages of the book was crammed full of weirdness.
Noemi is living the good life. She is living off daddy's dime and a socialite in Mexico City. Her father makes it clear that she needs to do him a favor and head out to a remote estate that her cousin Catalina is living with her recently acquired husband Virgil. He wants her to check in on her because- well it appears she has lost her mind. She is sending letters home of people living in the walls, claims her husband is poisoning her among other bizarre statements. Sounds intriguing right??? Well I thought so too. I was all in...
Yet when Noemi gets to the estate she is hardly allowed to spend any time with her cousin. She is not allowed to freely roam around or do anything she wants. So why doesn't she just leave? Or take her cousin? Instead the first 250 pages was spent with her mulling around the house and having vivid nightmares. Sure it was creepy but there was no plot. I failed to connect to ANY of the characters because, there just wasn't enough information put forth about them. Trust me, I can take weird. I LOVED Ninth House! I would have given that book 10 stars if Goodreads would let me. That was dark, creepy, weirdness and I loved it.
Personally for me, this book took just too long to take off. When it finally did, it felt like a ton of stuff was jammed into the last 50 pages. It was so bizarre and out there- it just wasn't for me. Don't let my review sway you because there are alot of fantastic reviews out there about this one.
The premise was amazing. The cover was even more amazing. SO I dug into this book and I waited for it to pick up. I waited, and turned another page and waited....and waited...... Finally I turned to my fellow reviewers at page 200 to see..umm does this pick up? They said yeah wait for it...Okay so it did pick up- at page 250. So the last 50 pages of the book was crammed full of weirdness.
Noemi is living the good life. She is living off daddy's dime and a socialite in Mexico City. Her father makes it clear that she needs to do him a favor and head out to a remote estate that her cousin Catalina is living with her recently acquired husband Virgil. He wants her to check in on her because- well it appears she has lost her mind. She is sending letters home of people living in the walls, claims her husband is poisoning her among other bizarre statements. Sounds intriguing right??? Well I thought so too. I was all in...
Yet when Noemi gets to the estate she is hardly allowed to spend any time with her cousin. She is not allowed to freely roam around or do anything she wants. So why doesn't she just leave? Or take her cousin? Instead the first 250 pages was spent with her mulling around the house and having vivid nightmares. Sure it was creepy but there was no plot. I failed to connect to ANY of the characters because, there just wasn't enough information put forth about them. Trust me, I can take weird. I LOVED Ninth House! I would have given that book 10 stars if Goodreads would let me. That was dark, creepy, weirdness and I loved it.
Personally for me, this book took just too long to take off. When it finally did, it felt like a ton of stuff was jammed into the last 50 pages. It was so bizarre and out there- it just wasn't for me. Don't let my review sway you because there are alot of fantastic reviews out there about this one.
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Comments Showing 51-100 of 125 (125 new)
I was wondering about this but I think I'm going to pass. Your honest review has generated a lot of discussion and that's been fun to read! Thank you Kim!
Susan wrote: "I was wondering about this but I think I'm going to pass. Your honest review has generated a lot of discussion and that's been fun to read! Thank you Kim!"Thanks so much Susan! I always hate posting a review that is not so glowing. Yet I feel like we are all here to be honest and give our opinions. Don't let me sway you though, alot of people have loved this one! Thanks!
Oh no... I had high hopes for this too.
The Coycaterpillar wrote: "Oh no... I had high hopes for this too."You might love it! Alot of people have, it just wasn't for me. Fingers crossed that you love it!
Yap! I agree with you, Kim. I passed on this one. I checked it out and did not like it. As it happens often, media frenzy has blown it out of proportions... Great and honest review!
I kept waiting and waiting for something to be spooky and eerie. It was a blah book for me, trying too hard to be scary.
Marialyce wrote: "I kept waiting and waiting for something to be spooky and eerie. It was a blah book for me, trying too hard to be scary."Right?! Ohh running over to check out your review! Looks like we had the same thoughts on this.
Ugh, bummer and hope your next is a winner Kim!!
Holly wrote: "Ugh, bummer and hope your next is a winner Kim!!"Thanks so much Holly! It was indeed a bummer!
Oh nooooo. "Emphysemic tortoise"... 250 pages of mulling around... Do I really want everything crammed into 50 pages. So disappointed. But grateful for your review. Thanks for the save.
Mimi wrote: "Yap! I agree with you, Kim. I passed on this one. I checked it out and did not like it. As it happens often, media frenzy has blown it out of proportions... Great and honest review!"Thank you so much Mimi! I totally agree! It was well hyped..and then the cover..who can resist. At least I am not alone. LOL
Linda wrote: "Oh nooooo. "Emphysemic tortoise"... 250 pages of mulling around... Do I really want everything crammed into 50 pages. So disappointed. But grateful for your review. Thanks for the save."Thanks Linda, I hate to say it but I really think it is true. Just my opinion though, you may love it. People are really split on this book.
Terrific review, Kim! ❤ Hope you love your next one.
Thanks so much Mary Beth! I love my current book!
Oh no! Sorry you hated it. I thought the writing was beautiful, but the plot did get a little crazy!
Whitney wrote: "Oh no! Sorry you hated it. I thought the writing was beautiful, but the plot did get a little crazy!"Thanks so much Whitney! I am going to check out your review right now! Alot of people loved it.
Deanna wrote: "Great honest review!"Thank you so much Deanna! I did want to love it!
Kim. Split opinions like Goldfinch.
Linda wrote: "Kim. Split opinions like Goldfinch."Yes! Very everyone is split on this book for sure!
I think I'll give it a pass. I don't have the patience to wait 250 pages for a book to get good.
Irene wrote: "I think I'll give it a pass. I don't have the patience to wait 250 pages for a book to get good."Right?! Completely agree. I had given up at that point. I am good with waiting until the halfway point but the book was almost done. It still didn't even finish with enough bang to make up for it for me.
I couldn’t agree with your review more!!! I really did want to like it .... just wasn’t for me.
Leigh wrote: "I couldn’t agree with your review more!!! I really did want to like it .... just wasn’t for me."Thanks so much Leigh! I wanted to love it also, I mean I bought the book instead of trying to get an ARC. I was sure I would love it but nope. Glad I am not alone!
Great review. I wonder if you just have to be in the mood for a certain book at a certain time. I had the opposite response and loved this one. I loved the atmosphere most of all. For some reason it sucked me in and unexpectedly at that. I wasn't sure that I would love it. Other books that some have loved, I've been more...meh about. Or absolutely hated...like "You". I despised that book. Funny how different tastes are and when you happen to pick up a book it may not be right for how you are going to feel about it. Loved your review though, even with a differing opinion!
Loveeee this review. I definitely felt similarly
Absolutely Holly! I agree 100% that mood can have an effect on how I view a book! I literally went out and bought Home Before Dark because I was in a stressed out mood when I read it and I really want to give it another chance. Except I don’t think I could ever love this one. It was just too slow for me and the ending just didn’t wow me … although the writing is fantastic and I would like to see more from her! I agree completely though about mood reading!! Thank you 😊Glad you loved it!
Aww thank you so much Madeline!!! I appreciate it❤️
Excellent review! I'm so with you!!! I was sooooo excited to be reading this book but it was a huge let down. I got bored while she was rambling around the house and the ending was all weird and not very believable.
Excellent review! I'm so with you!!! I was sooooo excited to be reading this book but it was a huge let down. I got bored while she was rambling around the house and the ending was all weird and not very believable.
Rachel wrote: "Excellent review! I'm so with you!!! I was sooooo excited to be reading this book but it was a huge let down. I got bored while she was rambling around the house and the ending was all weird and no..."Yes! She just spent most of the time wandering around...doing what?? So here's my thing, if I am going to sit through a long, drawn out slow burn, the ending better be stunning. If the ending would have blown me away, well maybe I could have dealt with it, but no...Thanks Rachel!
You summed up my feelings exactly for this book 😂
🙌 Thanks Meg! Although I wished you liked it more, I am glad I am not alone 🤣🤷♀️
Well rats! So sorry this was such a huge disappointment Kim! I hope your next read is amazing! Fab review. :)
Amazing review Kim. I feel like I know exactly what you're conveying and have experienced that myself. I think I've been I the fence about this one, and now feel more confident about passing.
Susanne wrote: "Well rats! So sorry this was such a huge disappointment Kim! I hope your next read is amazing! Fab review. :)"Rats is exactly right Susanne! Thanks so much. Yep, on to the next!
Kelli wrote: "Amazing review Kim. I feel like I know exactly what you're conveying and have experienced that myself. I think I've been I the fence about this one, and now feel more confident about passing."Thanks so much Kelli! I hate to deter anyone from reading though as there are some glowing reviews out there. Who knows, you might enjoy it.
Yesssssss.... so glad I’m not the only one! I started it 2+ weeks ago, and I’m still struggling to finish it. 😔 Bummer!
Nikki wrote: "Yesssssss.... so glad I’m not the only one! I started it 2+ weeks ago, and I’m still struggling to finish it. 😔 Bummer!"HAHA...I know...it is so nice to not be along on this! I felt the same, all the hype and then.......looking forward to your review Nikki.
Although I loved the book, your review is spot on! the first half of the book was not thrilling but I enjoyed the writing and following the character Neome as she tried to figure out what the heck was going on - but then, bang, it got "thrilling" and totally weird. I enjoyed both aspects❤️
I love your recommendation of Ninth House and will push up the list (it's been sitting for ages gathering dust on my shelf)
tamar wrote: "Although I loved the book, your review is spot on! the first half of the book was not thrilling but I enjoyed the writing and following the character Neome as she tried to figure out what the heck ..."I am so glad you enjoyed it more than me. It just wasn't my thing. It did get some great reviews!
tamar wrote: "I love your recommendation of Ninth House and will push up the list (it's been sitting for ages gathering dust on my shelf)"OMGG I LOVED that books so much! I can't wait to see what you think of it! I literally read every single word in that book and was captivated.
Thank you for your review Kim. I also thought I was the only one who felt this way. I agree with your review and am left with me scratching my head with no real feeling for the book. Did I like it? No. Did I hate it? No. I think you nailed it ... it took too long to get going and then a bunch of stuff was crammed into the last third of the book. I also thought the characters were wooden.
Yess Lealea! So glad I am not alone either! ❤️
Great review! I have this on hold at the library and like you, thought the cover, title, idea seemed amazing. It is always good to be prepared with some of your thoughts so I can go in with a more level eye and not have super high expectations. thank-you!
Jennifer wrote: "Great review! I have this on hold at the library and like you, thought the cover, title, idea seemed amazing. It is always good to be prepared with some of your thoughts so I can go in with a more ..."Thank you! I really hope you love it! I wanted to!
Having just finished this I can't tell you how much I agree with your review. that is exactly how I feel! :)
Yayy Lisa!! I am glad I am not alone!
Oh no, sourdough, reading books sounds like a risky endeavor for you 🤣