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bookswithamanda_'s review against another edition
mysterious
tense
medium-paced
- Plot- or character-driven? A mix
- Strong character development? No
- Loveable characters? No
- Diverse cast of characters? No
- Flaws of characters a main focus? It's complicated
4.0
aliveinbooks's review against another edition
4.0
I had a lot of fun reading this! Every time I thought I knew what was going to happen I was thrown off and sent down a fun new rabbit hole. I tore through this book and really enjoyed the story within a story aspect. Definitely a must read and a wolf ride!
bathtubbookworm's review against another edition
adventurous
dark
mysterious
reflective
tense
fast-paced
- Plot- or character-driven? A mix
- Strong character development? Yes
- Loveable characters? No
- Diverse cast of characters? No
- Flaws of characters a main focus? Yes
3.5
🎧🛁 𝚁𝚎𝚟𝚒𝚎𝚠 🛁🎧
Runtime by Catherine Ryan Howard
Narrated by Alana Kerr Collins, Alan Smyth, Gary Furlong, Gerard Doyle, Siobhan Waring, and Alison McKenna
“Opportunities didn’t necessarily come to those who had earned them. They ran up to the people who happened to be in the right time and place, which meant that no matter how badly things were going or what had happened in the past, the very next thing could turn everything around.”
Synopsis: Adele Rafferty is a former child star living in Los Angeles after operating her life in Ireland in the week of a breakdown on set of a TV show she was filming. Out of nowhere an opportunity to be in a new horror movie lands in her lap, and the hush-hush nature will allow her to return home for filming. But once on set, the scares become real, and Adele must decipher what’s happening, and ensure it’s not all in her head.
This is the first of Catherine Ryan Howard books I’ve ever read/listen to and overall I did enjoy it. I think the performances by all of the narrators helped the pacing of this book, where I felt certain parts in the middle may have dragged.
Well I do think that certain parts of the book took a long time to get through, even on 1.5 speed audio, I really enjoyed the underlying themes of the price of fame and the pressures put on actors and actresses to continue to make their next best thing. This pressure is an under stated part of being in show business, as you learned that actors and actresses are never satisfied, always looking to make the next best movie or show or production. Those pressures were depicted very well in this book!
I didn’t see the twist coming at the end but I did feel like the end of the book took a little while to get to its conclusion after you figured it out, and I do believe there were some loose ends not completely tied up. But as a fun horror movie thriller with strong mental health themes, I give Runtime a 7/10 bubble baths!📚🛁
cassies_books_reviews's review against another edition
4.0
Adele became a famous actress while playing on on an Irish soap opera. She soon grew tired of the same role and was going to star in a movie, something happens and she walks away from acting. Now in California hoping to get a foot into acting again she’s struggling and trying to get parts in commercials. When she receives a phone call and offered a chance to star in a new film when the original actress to play the role is no longer available. Adele believes this is her big chance. The new role is a psychological thriller/ horror movie called ‘Final Draft’, and it’s being filmed at a house deep in a forest, miles from anywhere in West Cork. Soon it’s not long before Adele begins to sense something is not quite right. The movie crew doesn’t seem to know what their doing, the director is stand offish and Adele is getting mysterious texts telling her to leave and finding odd clues that also appear to warn her to leave. As she reads more of the script she gets scared and wonders if she will make it out alive. The book alternates between the film script and Adele’s story, I found this so unique! I enjoyed this book!
lattemommyreads's review against another edition
4.0
It does not get any more meta than this book. My head is still spinning.
shannonsbooked's review against another edition
4.0
Huge thank you to Blackstone Publishing, NetGalley & Catherine Ryan Howard for the chance to read this e-arc in exchange for my honest review! :)
I absolutely loved this book and I flew through it in just a few days! I was pulled in immediately and I loved the premise of this book. The creepy, secluded location was described perfectly and I felt panicked right along with Adele when strange things started happening on set. Catherine Ryan Howard did such an amazing job of making you second guess the characters and if they are legitimately who they say they are. I don't want to spoil it or give too much away but the middle part of the book was my favorite! I couldn't put it down and had to find out what happens. I felt like the end was a bit rushed and I was honestly a little underwhelmed by the huge reveal, but overall I really enjoyed this book and will still recommend it to everyone I know who likes thrillers! I can't wait to get a physical copy to keep on my shelf!
4.5 star read for me but rounding it up to 5!
I absolutely loved this book and I flew through it in just a few days! I was pulled in immediately and I loved the premise of this book. The creepy, secluded location was described perfectly and I felt panicked right along with Adele when strange things started happening on set. Catherine Ryan Howard did such an amazing job of making you second guess the characters and if they are legitimately who they say they are. I don't want to spoil it or give too much away but the middle part of the book was my favorite! I couldn't put it down and had to find out what happens. I felt like the end was a bit rushed and I was honestly a little underwhelmed by the huge reveal, but overall I really enjoyed this book and will still recommend it to everyone I know who likes thrillers! I can't wait to get a physical copy to keep on my shelf!
4.5 star read for me but rounding it up to 5!
ahixon1's review against another edition
mysterious
tense
fast-paced
- Plot- or character-driven? Plot
- Strong character development? No
- Loveable characters? No
- Diverse cast of characters? No
- Flaws of characters a main focus? Yes
1.5
Content Warnings
Graphic: Panic attacks/disorders, Gaslighting, and Toxic friendship
Moderate: Sexual harassment
Minor: Violence and Vomit
ashleyyy_mae's review against another edition
adventurous
challenging
dark
emotional
mysterious
tense
fast-paced
- Plot- or character-driven? A mix
- Strong character development? No
- Loveable characters? No
- Diverse cast of characters? No
- Flaws of characters a main focus? It's complicated
3.0
laurenkd89's review against another edition
4.0
CRH brings us another electric, fast-paced, twisty book that hits all the marks of what a psychological thriller should be. You will love this book if you like: a book within a book, stranded/isolated cabin in the middle of nowhere, books where you can't trust what you're reading or what any character says, and a strong female protagonist who you are rooting for the whole time.
Adele is a struggling Irish actress living in LA. She's had a semi-successful past in acting, but she's trying to rebuild her career and reputation after being fired from a production for having a, well, emotional meltdown. She gets a call from an Irish number basically begging her to join a skeleton crew horror movie after the lead unexpectedly dropped out - everything super hush-hush, a quick production, and very good money. She does a few gut-checks on the director and accepts the offer. But as soon as she arrives in Ireland - in a far, far remote cabin with no cell service and no taxis - she gets a feeling that things are not as they seem.
As a reader, you have no idea who to trust or whose story to believe. Every second in the third act is a heart-pounding, shiver-inducing drama played out slowly and carefully - this was a great example of an ending done well. Thank you to Blackstone for the ARC via Netgalley!
Adele is a struggling Irish actress living in LA. She's had a semi-successful past in acting, but she's trying to rebuild her career and reputation after being fired from a production for having a, well, emotional meltdown. She gets a call from an Irish number basically begging her to join a skeleton crew horror movie after the lead unexpectedly dropped out - everything super hush-hush, a quick production, and very good money. She does a few gut-checks on the director and accepts the offer. But as soon as she arrives in Ireland - in a far, far remote cabin with no cell service and no taxis - she gets a feeling that things are not as they seem.
As a reader, you have no idea who to trust or whose story to believe. Every second in the third act is a heart-pounding, shiver-inducing drama played out slowly and carefully - this was a great example of an ending done well. Thank you to Blackstone for the ARC via Netgalley!