Reviews

Dead in Long Beach, California by Venita Blackburn

endointhewild's review

challenging emotional reflective sad medium-paced

• Plot- or character-driven? Character
• Strong character development? It's complicated
• Loveable characters? It's complicated
• Diverse cast of characters? Yes
• Flaws of characters a main focus? It's complicated

lklitup's review

challenging dark medium-paced

• Plot- or character-driven? Plot
• Strong character development? Yes
• Loveable characters? No
• Diverse cast of characters? Yes
• Flaws of characters a main focus? Yes

3.0

There were some mind-blowingly well done parts of this book, and I *think* I liked it, but I’m not really sure.

caelanfortes's review

challenging dark reflective sad medium-paced

• Plot- or character-driven? Character
• Strong character development? No
• Loveable characters? No
• Diverse cast of characters? Yes
• Flaws of characters a main focus? Yes

barnstormingbooks's review against another edition

challenging dark slow-paced

4.0

Thank you NetGalley and Macmillan Audio for the Audio-ARC

This was a ride, or maybe a slow burn that slowly lets the reader in. This book gets some push back for the non-traditional storytelling. If you are a reader that needs a linear story and reliable narrators, then yeah, this book isn’t for you. However, for those that are willing to relax into the neurosis, guilt and occasional indifference of a woman trying to make sense of her brother's untimely death, then here you go. As someone who lost a brother unexpectedly and then tried to make sense of his life, this book resonated with me, I think Coral and I are nothing alike, but I appreciate the meditation on loss and the fragility of life that comes out in this book, 

I would suggest reading instead of listening. While Freeman does an excellent job the jagged story line needs a reader's full attention to really grasp. I found myself having to go back repeatedly to make sense of the book if I was not 100% dedicated in the moment. 

bbecca_marie's review against another edition

2.0

Thank you so much NetGalley and Macmillan Audio for the advanced copy and giving me the chance to review it honestly.

I received Dead in Long Beach, California as an ALC and I found it to be an OK listen. I enjoyed the narrator and the writing style but that’s pretty much all I enjoyed. Unfortunately I requested this book based on the title and cover and not so much on the description. Maybe I just didn’t get it because I did find myself to be confused at times. I honestly just think I had the wrong expend or this book. As always, please take my opinion with a grain of salt. Just because it didn’t work for me, doesn’t mean it won’t work for you. 

Happy reading! 

paralaluna's review against another edition

reflective fast-paced

4.0

jasarahines's review against another edition

adventurous challenging dark emotional tense medium-paced

• Plot- or character-driven? A mix
• Strong character development? Yes
• Loveable characters? Yes
• Diverse cast of characters? Yes
• Flaws of characters a main focus? Yes

3.0

caseyhollandreads's review

challenging dark emotional medium-paced

• Plot- or character-driven? Character
• Strong character development? It's complicated
• Loveable characters? It's complicated
• Diverse cast of characters? Yes
• Flaws of characters a main focus? Yes

4.5

This is a book that I can confidently say is unlike any other I've read--and that is said with the highest of praise. 

bretts_book_stack's review

challenging dark emotional funny mysterious medium-paced

• Plot- or character-driven? Character
• Strong character development? Yes
• Loveable characters? It's complicated
• Diverse cast of characters? Yes
• Flaws of characters a main focus? Yes

3.5

emmrosa's review

fast-paced

3.5