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Lit with Leigh's Reviews > Holly
Holly
by
by
Writing: cozy mystery | Plot: had potential | Ending: salvation!!!!!
SYNOPSIS
Holly is back and trying to track down a missing young woman who has most likely been kidnapped by a husband and wife cannibal team.
MY OPINIONS
This is my first Stephen King, so by default, my first exposure to Holly. The reviews for this book are VERY opinionated; you either hated it because of the nonstop covid mentions and political rants or you loved it because you're a King stan and he can do no wrong. No shade.
I am very much in the first camp, and to save myself from getting attacked I want to make it clear: I do not care that the rona and former president cheeto were mentioned. It is sheer number of times this was mentioned that made this insufferable. Here are the numbers:
COVID is mentioned 78 times (every 5.5 pages)
Mask is mentioned 63 times (every 7 pages)
Trump mentioned 14 times (every 31 pages)
Vaxxed mentioned 13 times (every 34 pages)
That's all I'm gonna say about the matter so debate your mama. BTW if you come into my comment section condescendingly telling me that this book was written during COVID/trump time I will just block you. Being rude will never change my mind on a topic.
Moving on... despite the plot having tons of grisly potential, the book gave me cozy mystery vibes. It didn't creep me out in the slightest, and I'm the type of person that will scream at the top of their lungs if someone walks into a room too loudly. And while I don't mind knowing the who/what/where/why/when of the crime, it was boring as hell watching Holly judge everyone while puffing down a pack a day and going in circles before finally solving the crime. If you go with this type of structure, it needs to be entertaining af. Sadly, it was not. TO ME.
However, I definitely want to read another Stephen King. Maybe Carrie? I don't think this is the best representation of his skill level and creativity, so I'm keen to read something that shows what he's really all about.
PROS AND CONS
Pros: I finally read a Stephen King book! the cover is pretty, the premise had lots of potential
Cons: too many mentions of miss rona and politics (see the numbers above), not entertaining, no thrills, too long
SYNOPSIS
Holly is back and trying to track down a missing young woman who has most likely been kidnapped by a husband and wife cannibal team.
MY OPINIONS
This is my first Stephen King, so by default, my first exposure to Holly. The reviews for this book are VERY opinionated; you either hated it because of the nonstop covid mentions and political rants or you loved it because you're a King stan and he can do no wrong. No shade.
I am very much in the first camp, and to save myself from getting attacked I want to make it clear: I do not care that the rona and former president cheeto were mentioned. It is sheer number of times this was mentioned that made this insufferable. Here are the numbers:
COVID is mentioned 78 times (every 5.5 pages)
Mask is mentioned 63 times (every 7 pages)
Trump mentioned 14 times (every 31 pages)
Vaxxed mentioned 13 times (every 34 pages)
That's all I'm gonna say about the matter so debate your mama. BTW if you come into my comment section condescendingly telling me that this book was written during COVID/trump time I will just block you. Being rude will never change my mind on a topic.
Moving on... despite the plot having tons of grisly potential, the book gave me cozy mystery vibes. It didn't creep me out in the slightest, and I'm the type of person that will scream at the top of their lungs if someone walks into a room too loudly. And while I don't mind knowing the who/what/where/why/when of the crime, it was boring as hell watching Holly judge everyone while puffing down a pack a day and going in circles before finally solving the crime. If you go with this type of structure, it needs to be entertaining af. Sadly, it was not. TO ME.
However, I definitely want to read another Stephen King. Maybe Carrie? I don't think this is the best representation of his skill level and creativity, so I'm keen to read something that shows what he's really all about.
PROS AND CONS
Pros: I finally read a Stephen King book! the cover is pretty, the premise had lots of potential
Cons: too many mentions of miss rona and politics (see the numbers above), not entertaining, no thrills, too long
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Reading Progress
September 14, 2023
–
Started Reading
September 14, 2023
– Shelved
September 14, 2023
–
10.47%
"Selected by our lovely Patrons for the book review segment of our Oct. 1 episode. My first King!!!"
page
47
September 16, 2023
–
Finished Reading
Comments Showing 1-50 of 81 (81 new)
message 1:
by
Jan
(new)
Sep 16, 2023 07:05PM
Curiosity won't kill this cat but pins and needles hurt. Looking forward!
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so...........star rating????
I heard there is lots of pandemic stuff throughout this one. Holly is a germaphobe so it's expected but people are mad cause they don't wanna be reminded of COVID. Are you vaxxed? Elbow bump. Wear a mask. And lots about Trump. I haven't even read the book. 😆😆😆
Looking forward to your review Pink, hope you enjoyed it 💕💕💕
Hope you enjoyed it as much as I did. Looking forward to the review either way.
I liked the other Holly books but I think I will skip this one. I disliked the Karin Slaughter book where covid was mentioned every two seconds. "Do you have sanitizer? where is your mask?" Nope
Jan wrote: "Curiosity won't kill this cat but pins and needles hurt. Looking forward!"LOL she's live and a lil tame
Barbara**catching up! wrote: "so...........star rating????"2 but honestly idk how to rate this haha. I wish we had half stars. It was very middle of the road
Shelley's Book Nook wrote: "I heard there is lots of pandemic stuff throughout this one. Holly is a germaphobe so it's expected but people are mad cause they don't wanna be reminded of COVID. Are you vaxxed? Elbow bump. Wear ..."LOL it's not the fact it was mentioned, it was just mentioned TOOOOO many times.
Melissa (Semi-hiatus Very Behind) wrote: "I liked the other Holly books but I think I will skip this one. I disliked the Karin Slaughter book where covid was mentioned every two seconds. "Do you have sanitizer? where is your mask?" Nope"It's the same vibe here so def skip 😂
Fab review. I feel like a middle of the road King fan. I’ve really enjoyed some, and I’ve strongly disliked others. This will be a weird rec, but my personal fav is 11/22/63. I wish he would write more like this one! My fav of his scary books is probably pet Sematary. Scared me senseless. I’ll likely pass on this one as it sounds not to my taste either. Thanks for your honest thoughts!
Yikes! Doesn’t appeal to me with all those mentions either! Terrific review! 💞
He did write it during covid and he hates Trump. But, I'm not planning on reading this one, Leigh. I've only read one King and it disturbed me enough during my formidable years to not one to read another one. That was Pet Sematary. Might not be as grueling as when I read it, but it left an impression on me. Great review!
Great review! Glad I canceled my request for this one. Pet Sematary and Revival are my faves. Green Mile will be my next. I don't like his new stuff, he goes off on a deep end with politics or uses incest for the ick factor. 🤮
Thanks Chelsea. I'll definitely look into it. As long as it's under 500 kgs I'll try it LOL
Jayme thank you :)
Jen CAN true but a lot of books are written during this time and don't mention COVID every 5.5 pages LOL. That's too much for a murder mystery where COVID is not central to the plot.
Kay not incest!!! That's a hard NO for me. Thanks for the heads up lol
Christina girl I wish I was lying ..
I’m seeing lots of mixed reviews on this book! I have never read a Stephen King novel yet, but I don’t think that I’m going to start with this one. Fantastic review!! 💗
I’m so glad I’m not the only one who didn’t love this one! I dnf’d it after 30 pages.
Oh man, I haven’t gotten to this yet but I promise not all of his books are like this!!! He’s gotten a lot more interested in including politics etc in them as of late, but he is a wonderful writer. I would DEF grab Carrie before you write him off…that was my first and it’s solid. If you want drama also, Green Mile…and there are plenty of other good ones that I have a feeling will be a better fit. (And take place wayyy before the Rona 🤣) but thanks for the honesty and the warnings Leigh! Hope your next read is a banger!! 💕
I LOVE the inclusion of those stats- excellently done, and it's enough to tell me I don't need to read this one. I just read The Shining and liked it, but I need to read a few more of his books before I decide whether or not he's just not for me. Wonderfully helpful review!
First, yay for seeing your face and knowing your name! Great review, Leigh! I've only ever read one Stephen King book too lol. We are the rare breed. :)
Rachel it's def divisive!! But regardless I don't think you should start here
Summer if you need a hater, I'm here LOL I honestly would've dnfed if it hadn't been for Patreon
Catherine I believe you!!! That's why I want to read some earlier works of his so I can see how talented he is :) thank youuuuu!
A Mac had to bring the receipts LOL!!! I was astonished when I did the math on the COVID mentions........ Thank you!!!!:)
Yun thank you!!!:) Well don't start with this one LOL
I agree, it got so repetitive. I really loved the institute though, so I guess the newer stuff is hit or miss. So glad he wrote that one before the pandemic! Lol
Fair review, Leigh! If you really want to try another King novel, then I highly recommend The Shining! Creepy as hell!
Oh dear, looks like the wrong King book to begin with. Not that I'm a fan - I've read only one! ╮(. ❛ ᴗ ❛.)╭
I'm a huge King fan and I agree with everything you wrote. I recommend Misery or Carrie is also a good choice.
Oh shoot, I would have started off with something else first. Plus this is your first introduction of Holly, so it wouldn't work for most readers. Thanks for the review!
Had the same experience with Stephen King, I've only read 1 book and DNF'd 2; not the biggest fan of his writing but hopefully one day we can find a King book that interests us hehe
But will you read another Stephen King book?
Rachel LOL I'll investigate that one !
Debbie thank you for the rec :)
Rosh most definitely!
Trisha sounds good!! I'm def leaning toward Carrie
Obsidian hindsight is 20/20 LOL
Dana manifestation lmaoooooooo
Dana U for sure!
Lit with Leigh (formerly GirlWithThePinkSkiMask) wrote: "Obsidian hindsight is 20/20 LOL"LOL oh definitely. I recall last year someone recommending a book to me and they didn't tell me it was the third book in a series! I was like, um thanks? I was confused for most of this!
Covid, mask, Trump, vaxxed. I already don't like this book and I haven't even read it, and won't. Thanks for the heads up, Leigh!
Thanks for your review! I haven’t read a King book yet and am kind of intimidated, but I’ve loved some shows based on the books. The Outsider (HBO) included Holly, and I was very intrigued by her character.
Wow blast from the past, haven't read King in ages and I think I'll just leave it that way - great review Lit!
Congratulations on reading your first Stephen King but sorry it was a dud! I definitely recommend Carrie or really a lot of his earlier stuff, especially Misery! He was definitely not as tame as he is now back in the day…probably because of all the coke 😂
