I love Lisa Unger so I was quick to pick up her latest novella, The Doll's House. It was a quick read as you'd expect for a novella, but one I didn't I love Lisa Unger so I was quick to pick up her latest novella, The Doll's House. It was a quick read as you'd expect for a novella, but one I didn't want to end!
Unger set the perfect stage for creepiness: a ridiculously wealthy puppeteer; a home meant for the Jetsons; and GHOSTS?! If this one doesn't have you looking over your shoulder, I'm not sure what will!
I could have had this be a full-length novel. About 90% in I wondered how everything could possibly wrap up. Though I wanted more, Unger did pull it off and I was left pretty satisfied.
The Doll's House is an awesome way to kick off spooky season and I definitely recommend!...more
If you're a fan of action-packed novels Zero Days definitely needs to move to the top of your list. This book had my heart pounding and had everythingIf you're a fan of action-packed novels Zero Days definitely needs to move to the top of your list. This book had my heart pounding and had everything from gaping wounds, hits for hire, people jumping off moving trains, police manhunts, valuable source code, and a few things in between. It was intense, emotive, and fast-paced.
This would translate super well to the big screen and I would love to watch an adaptation. As for books, it wasn't my usual style but I did find it entertaining. Admittedly, at times, it was verbose and could feel a little repetitive. There was also a major suspension of belief as with many man hunt storylines but maybe that's just because I know that I for one would never make it!
I listened to this novel on audio and it was highly entertaining. The narrator was good and definitely added to the theatrics. She was emotive and the acting felt authentic.
Overall, this was fun but just not totally for me. For readers more into action, I think this will exceed expectations.
I absolutely loved this book and it is one of the best depictions of mental illness I have read.... maybe ever!
Maddy was a wonderful protagonist. I loI absolutely loved this book and it is one of the best depictions of mental illness I have read.... maybe ever!
Maddy was a wonderful protagonist. I loved reading her story and learning of her struggles. Her experience with bipolar disorder felt so authentic and genuine and I appreciated the unfiltered honesty Genova pushed forward. I felt for Maddy as she grappled with questioning what was real, what was the bipolar disorder, and how she would navigate this new normal.
More or Less Maddy also raised really strong points about how we treat people with mental illness. I particularly liked Maddy's insight into having bipolar disorder, not being bipolar. Just because you have a disorder, it does not make you that disorder. The analogy to eating a mushroom pizza not making you a mushroom pizza hit home and will stick with me.
I also really loved the comedy aspect of this novel. Recently I've read some books about female comics that didn't quite make the mark for me. I loved learning of Maddy's process, hearing her jokes (the good and bad ones!), and seeing her gain her footing and grow her confidence in a male dominated industry.
This was a quick read and one that was very powerful. It felt well-researched and gave so much insight into the bipolar disorder. There is so much to digest and discuss - it would definitely make a great book club read.
Thank you to THE BUZZ for putting this one on my radar. Highly, highly recommend!...more
The Perfect Sister was a fun mystery that kept me guessing. I wasn't sure who I could trust or what anyone was hiding but everyone felt shady! I reallThe Perfect Sister was a fun mystery that kept me guessing. I wasn't sure who I could trust or what anyone was hiding but everyone felt shady! I really liked that there were so many different viewpoints and that we got to hear from most of the main characters. It was a great way to convey the story and give off red herrings.
The setting was great and I appreciated the details about the Hamptons. I liked being pulled into the world of wealth and power and I thought DeCarolis did a good job of intersecting that extreme with the people who serve and support them.
I listened to this book on audio and appreciated the use of various narrators. The energy and tone were great and kept the story exciting and entertaining.
There were certainly some moments where suspension of belief were necessary, but I liked how everything played out. It was fun and really well done.
Thank you to Ballantine/Bantam for the copy....more
If you loved The Menu (the 2022 film with Anya Taylor-Joy), Guillotine is definitely up your alley. Dark and twisted, this book has just about every tIf you loved The Menu (the 2022 film with Anya Taylor-Joy), Guillotine is definitely up your alley. Dark and twisted, this book has just about every trigger warning possible so if you're squeamish, struggle with gore and violence, or are generally sensitive, just skip it.
This is a super-fast read. At clocking in at just over 200 pages, it was perfect for an afternoon binge or long car ride. I listened to the audio and the narrator was great. The pacing is spectacular, and it is highly entertaining, so the audio format worked well for me.
Slightly predictable but still a wild ride, I definitely recommend.
Every Fall came in with a (graphic and shocking) bang and didn't let up! It was unputdownable and gave me so many emotions!
Douglas did a great job setEvery Fall came in with a (graphic and shocking) bang and didn't let up! It was unputdownable and gave me so many emotions!
Douglas did a great job setting the plot and deepening the emotions. Bree and Jake felt like real people to me and I felt so connected to them. I related to Bree on a mom-to-mom level and it broke my heart reading her struggles and isolation. Her fear of Jake's job and the horrors he brought home with him were hard to read about and I was angry on her behalf for being kept in the dark by her husband.
I kept having mixed reactions to Jake and wanted so badly to root for him but he kept disappointing me over and over! I don't know many police officers but his unit and neighborhood seemed particularly frightening and challenging and I couldn't imagine what they were both going through.
The pacing of this novel is really great and kept me flipping me pages. It's a fairly quick read though some parts were a little graphic and tough to read.
All in all, this was a great book and I'm excited to read more by Douglas.
Thank you to THE PULSE for putting this one on my radar!
The Sequel is the perfect novel for people who love to write or have aspirations to write their own novel. The Sequel is the second book to The Plot aThe Sequel is the perfect novel for people who love to write or have aspirations to write their own novel. The Sequel is the second book to The Plot and while I remember enjoying The Plot and the very basic premise, I recalled almost zero details. Hanff Korelitz was good about providing enough context and detail when necessary to make this moot point. That being said, I do think this works best in tandem and not as a standalone.
The writing in this novel is great. It's a unique premise, building off The Plot and focusing on Anna and life after Jake. I thought much of the book would be focused on her trying to write her own novel and while the plot certainly focuses on her book, the actual writing of it seemed to come easily. I love the dichotomy of Anna's character and how well she played into each role she adopted. It was hard to know her true colors or motivations so I loved when the inner monologues became more prevalent.
For a short book, there were parts that felt verbose. I think this was done intentionally to give the literary effect and it worked. It also took me a bit to get into it. I really started to get invested once The Afterward was written and Anna started her tour.
I listened to this novel on audio and always love Julia Whelan's delivery. She was great in this role and it was an excellent casting choice.
All in all, I thoroughly enjoyed this novel. It was a superb sequel and because I still don't recall a whole lot of details from The Plot, dare I say better than the first book!
Thank you to Celadon and MacMillan Audio for the copy....more
I hadn't read any books by Elliot but have heard great things so I was excited when Bookouture contacted me about a book tour for her latest Not TheirI hadn't read any books by Elliot but have heard great things so I was excited when Bookouture contacted me about a book tour for her latest Not Their Daughter!
Twenty-nine years ago, a newborn baby named Isabelle was taken from her cot by her mother's side. Is Gaby the missing girl?
This was a fun blend of domestic suspense and political drama. I liked the dual settings of Ireland and New York City and Gaby was a great protagonist. Her career as a shock jock was unique and really interesting. I also liked the undercurrents of romance in this otherwise suspenseful and dramatic novel! This book really had it all.
This is a quick read that you won't put down. If you're into family dramas, politics, and using genetic DNA testing to learn about your own history, this one is definitely for you.
The early days of new parenthood are exceptionally hard and Dearest brought me right back to that place of insecurity, sleep deprivation, and feeling The early days of new parenthood are exceptionally hard and Dearest brought me right back to that place of insecurity, sleep deprivation, and feeling utterly overwhelmed. If Walters isn't a mom - and a relatively new one at that - then this book is all the more impressive for how accurately she portrayed the emotions, fear, and burdens of new motherhood and the shift of a new parent's identity.
As a new-ish mom myself, I've focused quite a bit on books discussing the trials and tribulations of motherhood. Dearest felt on point for any mama's suffering from PPD or PPA, sleep deprivation, or going at it without a lot of support. However, it felt maybe TOO on point sometimes and I was ready for the shift once Flora's fraught relationship with her mother became more the focus and the horror elements cropped up.
The writing was really well done and it doesn't surprise me at all that Walters has written several adaptations. The scenes were vivid and without knowing that Walters has written many pilots and tv series, I felt that this book would translate perfectly to the screen.
This novel was in many ways genre bending. It's likely classified as horror but really didn't feel or read as a horror until well into the plot. Much of the book read as a family drama or as a suspense and I appreciated the mix of flavors and genres.
I listened to this novel on audio and enjoyed the narrator. It was well acted but not over-acted, she had a good voice, and the theatrics were well executed.
All in all, this was an enjoyable read and one I definitely recommend. Thank you to Mulholland Books and Hachette Audio for the copy....more
I love Anna Downes and I'm always quick to pick up her books. Red River Road had a unique premise with Katy on a mission to find her missing sister PhI love Anna Downes and I'm always quick to pick up her books. Red River Road had a unique premise with Katy on a mission to find her missing sister Phoebe who disappeared a year prior while trying to make it as a van life travel influencer. The novel bounced around a bit with posts from Phoebe, the present day story with Katy and a grifter Beth, Beth's past, and a mystery narrator. There were subplots, mixed timelines, and overall just a lot going on.
Between all the subplots, various narrators, and fake names, it was easy for me to get lost. There were times I wasn't quite sure who was who or how they fit in though everything did come together without any loose ends. The plot was definitely unique and fairly exciting, but I wanted more of the van travel life and less of the jumping around to other stories.
I listened to this novel on audio and enjoyed the narrator. It kept me interested and the accents were really well executed.
Overall, I enjoyed this book but I don't think it'll be super memorable for me. I'm still eager to pick up more by Downes and excited to see what she comes up with next!
Liane Moriarty is such a versatile author and Here One Moment really took that to the next level for me. The plot and style had vague John Marrs' vibeLiane Moriarty is such a versatile author and Here One Moment really took that to the next level for me. The plot and style had vague John Marrs' vibes for me which I loved - a unique plot that was unreal without being unbelievable, lots of characters, and several viewpoints. It could be challenging keeping them all straight but I did think each one added a nice element to the story. I also appreciated that they weren't really in order, so you never knew where the story was going next.
Cherry was such a complex and interesting character. I liked that her chapters varied in length and detail, often flashed back, and gave us such a well-round picture of her.
I also really liked how the death predictions spiraled. It felt realistic that only a handful of people would take them seriously and also that those handful might let it impact their lives so significantly. I kept waiting for the other shoe to drop with so many of the characters and I felt my anxiety rising toward the end of each chapter as I feared their death got nearer.
We've all read stories where someone learns of their fate but this one still felt very unique. The execution was totally different and I really couldn't decide what to believe which made it fun. If you need a pretty bow tied at the end of a novel, this might not be the best book for you. But if you want your reading experience to open your mind and make you think, I can't recommend enough.
This novel is long - over 500 pages in fact - however, it didn't really feel that way for me. Particularly around 65% I was absolutely hooked and binged the rest in a single sitting.
Liane Moriarty is an auto-read author for me and Here One Moment didn't disappoint though it felt completely different from all her other books I've read thus far. So excited to see what she comes up with next!
Thank you to Crown and NetGalley for the advanced copy....more
How can you not love (to hate!) Paul Strom?! I love that the narcissist himself has returned and is richer and more smug than ever! But has he met hisHow can you not love (to hate!) Paul Strom?! I love that the narcissist himself has returned and is richer and more smug than ever! But has he met his match with his new young bride?
Told in a similar fashion to the best day ever, we walk through one what should be enchanting day through the streets of Paris with the beautiful Mr. and Mrs. Strom. It's a full year into their marriage and several years after the first Mrs. Strom exited the picture. Mr. Strom has "upgraded" and after conning a ridiculous wealthy socialite to leaving her estate to him, he's ready to re-flame the fires with his stunning new wife.
The flashbacks and diary entries kept me guessing and were really well done. There were some twists I wasn't expecting and I loved how everything unfolded and came together. No one and nothing is what it seemed! Except Paul of course!!
I listened to The Second Mrs. Strom on audio and it was well executed. I didn't particularly love the female narrator but she did work pretty well for Mrs. Strom. I listened to The Best Day Ever on audio as well and I think it was a different narrator for Paul but it didn't take anything away and I enjoyed them both.
I'm glad I read the first book in this series but I still would have thoroughly enjoyed it had I not. The plot was enough it's own here that the prior story wasn't entirely relevant and the necessary details were provided without rehashing the whole plot.
This was a fun one and I'm excited to read more by Rouda....more
This was a unique read that had my anxiety flaring and my interest piqued. Clove was such a dynamic character - a devoted mother, a strong feminist, sThis was a unique read that had my anxiety flaring and my interest piqued. Clove was such a dynamic character - a devoted mother, a strong feminist, self-aware, and yet totally consumed by the hauntings of her past.
Flashing back between past and present, we learn of Clove's history and how some of her anxieties have come to be. An abusive father, a mother in jail for killing said father, and a past that doesn't exist to her current family, Clove is deep and mysterious and wildly flawed.
Seeking answers outside of herself for stability and safety, Clove prefers the safe choices - with her husband, her abstinence from alcohol, and her insulated world. She protects her children the best way she knows how which is to pretend her past never existed and do everything exactly opposite the way her mother did. But when her mother contacts her from jail and risks exposing her in order to give herself a fighting chance at freedom, it seems as though Clove will be forced to confront her demons and come clean to her devoted husband. Instead, she further retreats and finds solace in a random woman she rear-ends and then befriends at the local supermarket.
What transpires is a dark look at motherhood and the ramifications of our choices on those we love. Deep and complex, this novel is thought-provoking and at times challenging to read.
Admittedly, it was fairly slow moving and I didn't become fully invested or involved until Jane became a more prominent character and the plot livened up a bit. This was about halfway through. The second person narrative is also a bit jarring and definitely isn’t my favorite. However, the ending was incredibly strong and there were some total surprises so I'm glad I stuck with it and I definitely recommend!
Thank you to Little Brown for the advanced copy. Madwoman is a powerful debut and I'm excited to see what Bieker comes up with next!
Elin Hilderbrand is auto-read/auto-buy author for me so I was super excited to see Natural Selection come through as an Amazon First Read choice.
NaturElin Hilderbrand is auto-read/auto-buy author for me so I was super excited to see Natural Selection come through as an Amazon First Read choice.
Natural Selection is a short story that can be enjoyed in a single sitting. I loved the Galapagos Island setting, the limited number of characters, and the centralized plot. It was a well-formulated short story though my attention waned a bit toward the middle.
Often, short stories leave me wanting a bit more and I did have that here. It wrapped up a little too tidy and I probably could have done without the entire last paragraph. The resolution felt obvious and I had wished there had been more personal growth or revelations during Sophia's journey.
Overall, I enjoyed this story and devoured it in one fell swoop. If you're a Hilderbrand fan and have an hour, I definitely recommend.
Thank you to Amazon First Reads for the copy....more
Chelsey (a_novel_idea11)
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