So I have an issue toward the end of the year I don’t sleep well for a week or two so that I read all the books I had planned. These lasJust Awesome!
So I have an issue toward the end of the year I don’t sleep well for a week or two so that I read all the books I had planned. These last two weeks have been so much fun! This was one of the books I actually wanted to purchase since my review is beyond late. I am so sorry but thank you for writing such an awesome book.I have never read anything like Cult Classic in that it’s one of those storylines that feels like I should have seen it before, so it has this combination of eeriness and comfort that works really well but mostly it’s just so damn funny. If you’ve ever had friends or family that are just too invested in your love life, then you only know a fraction of what Lola (our main character, YES it has all the Lola jokes you might think of and then some! I know that this is way after publication day but Run don’t walk to get this book READ & OWNED!...more
The story starts out suspenseful. A naval vessel gets a distress call from Virginie. Once they reach the boat they see that Jake is injured badly and The story starts out suspenseful. A naval vessel gets a distress call from Virginie. Once they reach the boat they see that Jake is injured badly and Virginie confesses, ”It’s all my fault. I killed them.” From there, Bamford goes back and fills in all of the details up to the point. The entire story flowed well and was a solid 4 stars for me I look forward to reading future works from this author.
I know it’s odd to start with all the good things of books but I want to make it apparent that this book is really good. I think Bamford did a brilliant job of painting what it would be like to sail across the ocean. She was able to use her personal experience of sailing several years and bring that knowledge to life in this book which was a nice touch. I found her writing to be beautiful and loved the vivid depictions of the island Amarante. This gave me such Gilligan Island with a twist vibe it was fantastic. All the characters are creepy yet enjoyable and I will be reading more from this author....more
Have you ever gotten so excited by a book cover that you couldn’t wait to read it? This cover is chef's kiss! It is so freaking creepy IMommy Dearest
Have you ever gotten so excited by a book cover that you couldn’t wait to read it? This cover is chef's kiss! It is so freaking creepy I could barely contain myself! Add the fact that I have over 70 porcelain dolls in my bedroom, this book was a beautiful combination for everything I love.
This book follows two cousins who are separated when they are younger and through a DNA test website are brought back into each other’s lives after over 20 years. What follows is some pretty creepy stuff. This book gives you small glimpses into the cousin's past to show you basically why they are the way they are in the present. I felt the main character Maeve was so strong! I loved when she talked about why she didn't want to have children and embraced the fact that all women do not have to give birth to be valuable, or an asset to society. I think people are allowed to go on their own adventures. Maeve was only a child when she stood up to the "Mothers" who were basically in a cult-like entity where birthing more girls was their mission in life. So yea even with all her "issues" she kept that stuff together and knew what she wanted out of life. She is my favorite kind of protagonist. The way the story ended was nice and not what I was expecting. I really felt it was wrapped up with a creepy little bow at the end.
I typically read at least one or two true crime like stories a year I am glad this was on my arc stack this year even though it was harTrue Crime Time
I typically read at least one or two true crime like stories a year I am glad this was on my arc stack this year even though it was hard to get through. This was very well researched and presented. McGowan focuses on several cases, comparing and contrasting their similarities and differences. She shows how attitudes toward women and their value can have various effects on solving crimes. Bringing in the influence of religion and politics, McGowan explores possibilities and in the end explains that no one knows why and how so many people go missing. I found the topic to be scary and disconcerting. After reading this I was left with a sense of frustration. Dark things happen in so many parts of the world and I honestly understand that, what I have a hard time with is the fact that the way the police is portrayed while we watch TV comes across abusive and lazy. Which makes me wonder if things are getting better or worse.
As you can see this book is extremely tough to read and thought provoking, which makes it worth your time. I can’t make this a 5 star read on the fact that it is a rough subject but I can say it was a solid 3 stars and worth your time ...more
There is a good reason why Megan Goldin is one of my favorite thriller writers. I think that THE ESCAPE ROOM is still one of mNo Rest for the Wicked
There is a good reason why Megan Goldin is one of my favorite thriller writers. I think that THE ESCAPE ROOM is still one of my all-time-favorites books and one that stands out from the rest, but her latest book is not far behind. It only took a few pages into STAY AWAKE to find myself utterly absorbed by the shattered reality that has become Liv’s life..
I love thrillers that rely strongly on the doubt cast on the main protagonist’s mental state. Liv, a traumatized woman who forgets everything that has happened to her as soon as she falls asleep, is a perfect candidate to star in that category of unreliable narrators. With every plot twist, I admired the author for being able to create such an intricate, multi-layered and challenging novel without ever losing credibility. Every time I was briefly concerned that a thread would be left hanging or would stretch credibility too far, I was soon reassured by the background detail that made it all perfectly plausible and tied things up nicely in the end. A highlight for me was the authors ablity to show Liv as she wakes up, completely confused and then start trying to go home or to work, only to realize that she has been asleep longer than she thought and that things have changed. Toward the end she tries to stay awake long enough to untangle all the clues of her current circumstances. The only downfall I had with the story is the constant need to be reminded that Liv is forgetful. I enjoyed this very much and will continue to be a fan of Megan Goldin moving forward. 4 STARS in other words this book is totally # All-Nighter Worthy
What happens when you are a girl who loves books and the world doesn’t let you read? You apologize to the author and to make up for things you buy theWhat happens when you are a girl who loves books and the world doesn’t let you read? You apologize to the author and to make up for things you buy the audiobook so that you can inhale the book in 6 hours give or take. This is a book that keeps you on the edge of your seat. Scarlet is a fairly average teen. She has some great friends, has a boy she is very interested in, and an overprotective mother. She also has a father she has never known, until now. When Scarlet thinks she has a normal life be it with an over bearing mother things are going ok and then the FBI shows up and nothing is ever the same. During their visit Scarlet she learns a great big whopper of a secret. Her father is an infamous serial killer! Jeffery Robert Lake. Now, he’s dying and has said he will only give the names and locations of the victims he hasn’t told anyone about to her. Now the reader knows why her mother is as she is and it makes perfect sense. This is my favorite kind of thriller because You know what to expect but the way it is presented is fresh and fun!
Scarlet is a teen at the end of the day. People expect her to do the right thing, right but how can she when She just found out about her father and on top of that He’s a KILLER. The story has your traditional YA and all the makings of a great thriller. An all around a great read 4 stars all the way!
Lia Setiawan has never really fit in. And when she wins a full ride to the prestigious Draycott Academy on a track scholarship, she's dA Year of Slump
Lia Setiawan has never really fit in. And when she wins a full ride to the prestigious Draycott Academy on a track scholarship, she's determined to make it work. On her first day there she witnesses a girl being forcefully carried away by campus security, while her schoolmates and teachers seem unphased. And as she uncovers the secrets of Draycott, complete with a corrupt teacher, a golden boy who isn't what he seems, and a blackmailer determined to get her thrown out, she's not sure if she can trust anyone...especially when the threats against her take a deadly turn.
So, it is fair to say that I had a tough year with books. Dear Ms. Sutanto my apologize for my super delayed review of your academic thriller. Between doing 30 job interviews to try and function after being home for two years due to covid I was not in the right space to want to read. Having said that I can say that I finished the audiobook in two days and will be reading more from this author in the future.
This was more of a psychological thriller, as you see the pure narcissism of privileged rich kids who honestly do not think that anything will every come of their actions. I enjoyed Lia’s character, even through everything that she got herself into, I found her to be a bit comical. It gave me Gilmore Girls but dark vines which made this so much more fun for me since I am a massive fan. Unlike some readers who say that there might be parts of the story who lagged I didn’t feel that> I am not sure if it’s because I was listening to the audiobook or because this author’s writing style was beautifully interpreted by the narrator. Overall, this will be a 4 Star Read for me. # All-Nighter-Worthy...more
**Many thanks to NetGalley, Del Rey, and Delilah Dawson for a gifted copy of this book.
This book intrigued me based on its cover. I have an addiction**Many thanks to NetGalley, Del Rey, and Delilah Dawson for a gifted copy of this book.
This book intrigued me based on its cover. I have an addiction to anything remotely crime/horror so I thought this would be right up my alley. Sadly, I had a very hard time getting through it even though it was well written. In a post-COVID world, there is a new deadly threat: The Violence. What is it? A disease, spread by mosquito, that takes the infected from 0-60 and leaves them in a blackout-type state where they demolish whatever or whoever stands in their way. Chelsea Martin, mother to teenage daughter Ella and 5-year-old Brooklyn. In the first few chapters, I found myself yelling at the abusive husband and Ella’s boyfriend in equal measure. I was thrilled that a plan was constructed to get rid of the husband for a bit to give the girls a break from the abuse. This book took me about three weeks give or take a day to read even though it was well written. For me this had moments of greatness but because we are still going through the motions of covid that it was much to process. Overall, it did have a storyline that was well written which makes me hopeful for another read by this author. Three stars from me which is really good considering how much of a hard time I had with it. Very interesting concept looking forward to seeing what comes next from this author.
I was on a mission to start my year of reading off with a bang but at the same time I wanted to read something out of my comfort zone. SAmerican Dream
I was on a mission to start my year of reading off with a bang but at the same time I wanted to read something out of my comfort zone. So, when I saw this on NetGalley it checked off a few of my reading requirements for 2022. I wasn’t sure initially if I was going to like Joan is Okay. The writing style very straight forward which is much like Joan out main character. She is a team player at a big hospital in NYC and her big interest and focus is to keep everything running like a well-oiled machine. As I continued reading and learned more about her parents, it was easy to understand what formed Joan into the person she is. There is an underlying dry humor in this book that makes it more relatable. What I loved about this book is that it shows the reader that it is okay to be unapologetically yourself. Without conforming to the want and need to fit into a mold that was set out for you.
Thank you to all parties involved in the decision for my receiving this arc in exchange for my honest review. Overall I enjoyed this book very much four stars from me. I will read more from this author moving forward. ...more
This is the fifth book that I have read in 2022. However, this is the first book in a long time that has left me confused. Which is Dazed and Confused
This is the fifth book that I have read in 2022. However, this is the first book in a long time that has left me confused. Which is good and bad in equal measure. Bad in the sense that for a good 70% I was confused and good because this might be the one book I will want to read again just to see if I can get more out of it. Now before the author and the readers of this review get too upset with me this is a three-star read for me and that is still okay in my book. Let me explain my thought process, When I was approved for this book I was thrilled considering I had planned on buying it so win-win right? Yes at least for me. I just had a very hard time following it until the last 20%
Such a Pretty Smile focuses on two women (Lila and her mother Caroline) at two different points in time. Both are experiencing sights and sounds they can’t quite explain. Both are essentially told to sit down, shut up, and smile pretty by the world around them as they search to find the reason for their experiences. When I first started reading, I thought the daughter was part of a multiple personality disorder. That’s how confused I was. Which would have been a strong concept had I been right. That being said the highlights and strengths of this novel are its creepy factor. . I was drawn into what they were each experiencing, as I tried to puzzle out what was happening. Hints were dropped in the early parts of the story that pointed toward an origin in the distant past. Which made this easy to read in just a few days. Where I struggled is the development of characters. While both women had a voice the splitting chapters made it confusing. While the two main women are well done, the men all annoyed me and the main villain was just a total loss. I will be waiting to see if this turns into a series because it does have that potential. I eagerly await to see what's next for this writer and hope the next one is something I can connect with better. Thank you, NetGalley for my arc. This is a toss-up but if you come across it I suggest giving it a chance....more
I am loving the thrillers I am picking up this year. Three days in and I have picked up two books that are solid four-star reads. After sufSister Dear
I am loving the thrillers I am picking up this year. Three days in and I have picked up two books that are solid four-star reads. After suffering a tragic loss, Alexa finally decides to leave the home of her overprotective father and make her own start. With a new apartment and a job, she loves, Alexa finally feels like she is moving on with her life. When she starts dating a new client, Curt, Alexa slowly starts to find her footing, until her estranged twin sister, Beth, shows up on Alexa’s doorstep. Alexa has promised her father, and her therapist, that she would keep Beth out of her life, but soon Beth is living with Alexa, and Alexa is keeping her sister’s presence secret from everyone. True to form, Beth starts interfering in Alexa’s life in every way, and the twins’ relationship takes a dark turn when Curt ends up dead and Alexa is charged for his murder.
Soon, the dark past of both Alexa and Beth starts to surface, and Alexa realizes she must separate herself from Beth permanently, once and for all. This is a twin sega with a 2022 media twist. What I loved is the duel perspective chapters from both Beth and Alexa’s point of view. I liked how it showed the dynamic of their relationship. The twists and turns are sprinkled in at all the right places making this a fast-paced joy to read. If you read enough thrillers as I do you will expect a few of the twists but some of the others you are not going to see coming at all. This speaks volumes to this author's ability to craft a good story. Both characters are reliable and relatable. The only thing I was sad about is that it was over.
As a debut novel, I have to say this was impressive. The author writes beautifully and kept me engaged the whole way through making me want to find out how the story ends. J.C. Bidonde is officially on my radar as a thriller writer. Four solid stars.
Special thanks to NetGalley and the publisher for a free, electronic ARC of this novel received in exchange for an honest review....more
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