You need to sign in or sign up before continuing.
Take a photo of a barcode or cover
3.48 AVERAGE
3.48 AVERAGE
adventurous
mysterious
tense
medium-paced
I really enjoyed this! Had some great plot twists throughout the book. I love how it was written, definitely a unique read. I don’t want to spoil it for anyone :)
dark
mysterious
tense
medium-paced
Plot or Character Driven:
A mix
Strong character development:
Yes
Loveable characters:
Complicated
Diverse cast of characters:
No
Flaws of characters a main focus:
Yes
mysterious
tense
medium-paced
Plot or Character Driven:
Plot
Strong character development:
Complicated
Loveable characters:
Yes
Diverse cast of characters:
Yes
Flaws of characters a main focus:
Yes
Cross-posted from my blog where there's more information on where I got my copy and links and everything. https://lainahastoomuchsparetime.wordpress.com/2025/01/20/things-ive-read-recently-172-mostly-stuff-i-wasnt-blown-away-by/
I really did not enjoy this very much. The thing is, writers are insufferable. And I’m a writer, so I get to say that. I think fictional writers are even worse than real writers. A lot of this book is someone talking about “the muse” or whatever. And boy I am not romantic like that. That is just not how writing is for me.
Overall, this just didn’t work for me at all. It was just kind of boring. I know I should write a longer review, but I don’t really want to. It just wasn’t very interesting. There’s not a lot of plot and what plot there is isn’t super exciting. I’m just very meh.
Content notes: Some gore and violence, but it’s mostly just talked about. It’s not very graphic most of the time.
I really did not enjoy this very much. The thing is, writers are insufferable. And I’m a writer, so I get to say that. I think fictional writers are even worse than real writers. A lot of this book is someone talking about “the muse” or whatever. And boy I am not romantic like that. That is just not how writing is for me.
Overall, this just didn’t work for me at all. It was just kind of boring. I know I should write a longer review, but I don’t really want to. It just wasn’t very interesting. There’s not a lot of plot and what plot there is isn’t super exciting. I’m just very meh.
Content notes: Some gore and violence, but it’s mostly just talked about. It’s not very graphic most of the time.
dark
mysterious
tense
fast-paced
Plot or Character Driven:
Character
Strong character development:
Yes
Loveable characters:
Yes
Diverse cast of characters:
Complicated
Flaws of characters a main focus:
Yes
adventurous
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
challenging
funny
mysterious
tense
fast-paced
Plot or Character Driven:
Plot
Strong character development:
No
Loveable characters:
Yes
Diverse cast of characters:
Yes
Flaws of characters a main focus:
Yes
This one had a clever story-within-a-story that took me a few chapters to catch on to!! I enjoyed it even if (as most mystery novels are) it wasn't entirely realistic.
The end was a bit rushed for me though. I was invested and then as soon as things got "solved" I was left kind of scratching my head.
The end was a bit rushed for me though. I was invested and then as soon as things got "solved" I was left kind of scratching my head.
dark
emotional
mysterious
tense
medium-paced
Plot or Character Driven:
Plot
Loveable characters:
No
Diverse cast of characters:
No
Overall: I'm glad I listened to the audiobook, it was good! (And probably prevented me from DNFing before the crazy began...) It had its fun moments as well! I wish this book had been shorter, leaving less space for puttering about, awkward "romance" moments, and a lot fewer weird character behaviors. I think that is my main takeaway: the characters didn't character right (with one exception, ew) and there was too much character-ing that ended up hurting the story more than helping it.
Pros: Once it gets going (over a hundred pages in) it gets going! Captain Creep Leo was well-written and I enjoyed his character arc, despite hating him~ Real life creeping in was also a fun touch, I wish it happened more!
Cons: Speaking of hating Captain Creep, reading from his perspective was deeply disgusting. So, good job writing him, but at the same time, ew I did not enjoy that. Very slow start, heavy-handed Australian reminders (I mean email corrections of American terminology (that weren't always accurate...) and Freddie reminding us she's Australian even when we Know, even when it's not relevant), some purple parts that I almost drowned in, but not too too many. A bunch of names were introduced at the very end that had me going, huh? Who? What? Waxing poetic about the art of writing/receiving praise for writing from characters (necessary evil, but omg did it happen too many times.)
IDKHowtoFeels: I know she had to have Captain Creep at the end, but he felt like a last minute thought; also, his actions toward Freddie during the book were more creepy stalker than genuine friend! Why have him kind of crush on Freddie?? That went no where, and the grocery box with no note just to upstage Cain? The same with the cupcakes? Why not have a friendly note? He seems like a villainous presence and at the end my reading buddy (Hi Annie!) and I were second guessing if Book Leo had been committing heinous acts in the background Too many of these characters exhibit stalker-ish behaviors and everybody is just cool with that?? Also, Marigold being able to do anything with no consequences: And one more thing! Did Whit beat his mom up or did she lie for him. Because... it feels like she's lying for him (why is she so convinced she saw Cain?) but the book tells us Whit beat her.
Pros: Once it gets going (over a hundred pages in) it gets going! Captain Creep
Cons: Speaking of hating Captain Creep, reading from his perspective was deeply disgusting. So, good job writing him, but at the same time, ew I did not enjoy that. Very slow start, heavy-handed Australian reminders (I mean email corrections of American terminology (that weren't always accurate...) and Freddie reminding us she's Australian even when we Know, even when it's not relevant), some purple parts that I almost drowned in, but not too too many. A bunch of names were introduced at the very end that had me going, huh? Who? What? Waxing poetic about the art of writing/receiving praise for writing from characters (necessary evil, but omg did it happen too many times.)
IDKHowtoFeels: I know she had to have Captain Creep at the end, but he felt like a last minute thought; also, his actions toward Freddie during the book were more creepy stalker than genuine friend!