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3.15 AVERAGE
3.15 AVERAGE
Where to begin…. Laura is an unemployed, soon-to-be-divorced woman, living in her childhood home with her mother, moping around and being overall depressed. She has no confidence, even to talk on the phone, and has no social life.
Then, Laura receives a book in the mail from someone she’s never met, from an online book review forum. There’s a note inside the book that hints at someone being in trouble. All of a sudden, she gets it in her head to recruit the sender of the book to become a junior detective with her to try and figure out who’s in trouble and how to save them, all the while still complaining how frightened and scared she is. She and her new partner in crime travel to the city where the book was purchased, find the person who donated it and, magically becoming the missing member of Charlie’s Angels with a new-found zest for danger and adrenaline rushes, takes on the bad guys and saves the damsel in distress.
Oh, and she and her soon-to-be ex-husband bond again, after being separated for months without speaking.
This book was a sloooooooow burn, for sure - the first 3/4 or so was just being in the head of a fearful, sheltered, uncertain woman who couldn’t carry a conversation with a stranger to save her life, but then switched spontaneously to someone who’s taking on all the evils of the world! The progression of the events was wholly unbelievable and a little cliche, but I’m a sucker for an HEA, and that’s the reason I finished the book instead of DNFing it halfway through.
This ARC was provided by the publisher, via NetGalley, in exchange for an honest review.
Then, Laura receives a book in the mail from someone she’s never met, from an online book review forum. There’s a note inside the book that hints at someone being in trouble. All of a sudden, she gets it in her head to recruit the sender of the book to become a junior detective with her to try and figure out who’s in trouble and how to save them, all the while still complaining how frightened and scared she is. She and her new partner in crime travel to the city where the book was purchased, find the person who donated it and, magically becoming the missing member of Charlie’s Angels with a new-found zest for danger and adrenaline rushes, takes on the bad guys and saves the damsel in distress.
Oh, and she and her soon-to-be ex-husband bond again, after being separated for months without speaking.
This book was a sloooooooow burn, for sure - the first 3/4 or so was just being in the head of a fearful, sheltered, uncertain woman who couldn’t carry a conversation with a stranger to save her life, but then switched spontaneously to someone who’s taking on all the evils of the world! The progression of the events was wholly unbelievable and a little cliche, but I’m a sucker for an HEA, and that’s the reason I finished the book instead of DNFing it halfway through.
This ARC was provided by the publisher, via NetGalley, in exchange for an honest review.
Where to begin…. Laura is an unemployed, soon-to-be-divorced woman, living in her childhood home with her mother, moping around and being overall depressed. She has no confidence, even to talk on the phone, and has no social life.
Then, Laura receives a book in the mail from someone she’s never met, from an online book review forum. There’s a note inside the book that hints at someone being in trouble. All of a sudden, she gets it in her head to recruit the sender of the book to become a junior detective with her to try and figure out who’s in trouble and how to save them, all the while still complaining how frightened and scared she is. She and her new partner in crime travel to the city where the book was purchased, find the person who donated it and, magically becoming the missing member of Charlie’s Angels with a new-found zest for danger and adrenaline rushes, takes on the bad guys and saves the damsel in distress.
Oh, and she and her soon-to-be ex-husband bond again, after being separated for months without speaking.
This book was a sloooooooow burn, for sure - the first 3/4 or so was just being in the head of a fearful, sheltered, uncertain woman who couldn’t carry a conversation with a stranger to save her life, but then switched spontaneously to someone who’s taking on all the evils of the world! The progression of the events was wholly unbelievable and a little cliche, but I’m a sucker for an HEA, and that’s the reason I finished the book instead of DNFing it halfway through.
Then, Laura receives a book in the mail from someone she’s never met, from an online book review forum. There’s a note inside the book that hints at someone being in trouble. All of a sudden, she gets it in her head to recruit the sender of the book to become a junior detective with her to try and figure out who’s in trouble and how to save them, all the while still complaining how frightened and scared she is. She and her new partner in crime travel to the city where the book was purchased, find the person who donated it and, magically becoming the missing member of Charlie’s Angels with a new-found zest for danger and adrenaline rushes, takes on the bad guys and saves the damsel in distress.
Oh, and she and her soon-to-be ex-husband bond again, after being separated for months without speaking.
This book was a sloooooooow burn, for sure - the first 3/4 or so was just being in the head of a fearful, sheltered, uncertain woman who couldn’t carry a conversation with a stranger to save her life, but then switched spontaneously to someone who’s taking on all the evils of the world! The progression of the events was wholly unbelievable and a little cliche, but I’m a sucker for an HEA, and that’s the reason I finished the book instead of DNFing it halfway through.
The Book Swap
Thank you NetGalley, JE Rowney and BooksGoSocial for letting me read “The Book Swap” in exchange for an honest review.
What better title for a bookworm!
The concept sounded brilliant. A hidden note in a book from a stranger. Anyone could have gotten it. Nobody could have gotten it at all.
I am not too keen on the cover. A woman hugging a book, looking kind of sad and/or miserable. Not my favourite to be honest. What made me pick up this book was definitely the title.
It starts pretty much right away with the juicy stuff. We have Laura, a thirty-something years old woman who turned her life around. Divorced and depressed, she out her life on hold and moved in with her mom, Catherine. I felt rather drawn to Catherine. She seems to be a great, caring mom who does not judge.
Laura loves to read. She is one of these people who get liars in stories. As a member of a book swapping group, she just received a book from an anonymous sender. The joy is short lived. Tucked in the pages is a scrap of paper, asking for help. Not what you expect to find. Laura starts to investigate who the mysterious person in trouble is and what she can do to help them?! She goes in a journey to try to help someone else.
I think the book is as much about finding the person in need as about Laura finding back to herself. Laura does not seem like a woman in her thirties, more like a lost teenager. Her mother is coaxing her out of her shell again, solving the mystery.
It’s my second book by JE Rowney. It’s a very fast and light read. Third persons perspectives. The characters felt flat. There was not much dimension to them. They’re saying the same things and phrases all over again. Not much development there. The story was basic. The concept better than the turnout. I loved the idea though.
Maybe I am just not a fan of the citizen rogue trope… I mean it’s just so stupid what Carley and Laura are doing. Like kids playing detective. Hello you guys, there are laws to be abided by?!?!
Thank you NetGalley, JE Rowney and BooksGoSocial for letting me read “The Book Swap” in exchange for an honest review.
What better title for a bookworm!
The concept sounded brilliant. A hidden note in a book from a stranger. Anyone could have gotten it. Nobody could have gotten it at all.
I am not too keen on the cover. A woman hugging a book, looking kind of sad and/or miserable. Not my favourite to be honest. What made me pick up this book was definitely the title.
It starts pretty much right away with the juicy stuff. We have Laura, a thirty-something years old woman who turned her life around. Divorced and depressed, she out her life on hold and moved in with her mom, Catherine. I felt rather drawn to Catherine. She seems to be a great, caring mom who does not judge.
Laura loves to read. She is one of these people who get liars in stories. As a member of a book swapping group, she just received a book from an anonymous sender. The joy is short lived. Tucked in the pages is a scrap of paper, asking for help. Not what you expect to find. Laura starts to investigate who the mysterious person in trouble is and what she can do to help them?! She goes in a journey to try to help someone else.
I think the book is as much about finding the person in need as about Laura finding back to herself. Laura does not seem like a woman in her thirties, more like a lost teenager. Her mother is coaxing her out of her shell again, solving the mystery.
It’s my second book by JE Rowney. It’s a very fast and light read. Third persons perspectives. The characters felt flat. There was not much dimension to them. They’re saying the same things and phrases all over again. Not much development there. The story was basic. The concept better than the turnout. I loved the idea though.
Maybe I am just not a fan of the citizen rogue trope… I mean it’s just so stupid what Carley and Laura are doing. Like kids playing detective. Hello you guys, there are laws to be abided by?!?!
lighthearted
mysterious
medium-paced
This book was not a thriller.
lighthearted
mysterious
medium-paced
Plot or Character Driven:
Plot
Strong character development:
Yes
Loveable characters:
Complicated
Diverse cast of characters:
No
Flaws of characters a main focus:
Yes
I won a copy of this audiobook from the author (thank you!).
The story is about a woman recently separated from her husband who lives with her mother. She finds a note asking for help in a book she received in an anonymous swap and goes to great lengths to find who wrote the note.
It was a super quick listen and a low stakes-feeling mystery. I’m not sure if it was because of the narrator or if it was just amplified by it, but the plot didn’t quite seem believable. There were also errors in the audio (repeating lines several times). It wasn’t a bad read, but just not spectacular. If you want a quick, low-key mystery, this one fits that bill.
The story is about a woman recently separated from her husband who lives with her mother. She finds a note asking for help in a book she received in an anonymous swap and goes to great lengths to find who wrote the note.
It was a super quick listen and a low stakes-feeling mystery. I’m not sure if it was because of the narrator or if it was just amplified by it, but the plot didn’t quite seem believable. There were also errors in the audio (repeating lines several times). It wasn’t a bad read, but just not spectacular. If you want a quick, low-key mystery, this one fits that bill.
Laura is newly separated. She has moved back in with her mother, Catharine, and has taken a leave of absence from work in order to deal with her marriage falling apart. Laura finds solace in reading books. She receives a book from her book swap group that includes a mysterious note. Now, Laura is on a mission to find and help the person that left the note, and in the process finds herself.
This was my first introduction to this author, and to say I’m disappointed is an understatement. While this is an easy, short read, there was no suspense, the character development was lacking, and it was just all so reptitive. I understand reading these books there has to be some suspension of belief, but this was very farfetched. I was along for the ride up until a certain point (which I won’t mention because I don’t want to spoil the book), and then the book lost me. Laura felt more like a child than an adult and her mother Catharine felt like she was all over the place.
Two stars since I didn’t figure out the who and the why.
This was my first introduction to this author, and to say I’m disappointed is an understatement. While this is an easy, short read, there was no suspense, the character development was lacking, and it was just all so reptitive. I understand reading these books there has to be some suspension of belief, but this was very farfetched. I was along for the ride up until a certain point (which I won’t mention because I don’t want to spoil the book), and then the book lost me. Laura felt more like a child than an adult and her mother Catharine felt like she was all over the place.
Two stars since I didn’t figure out the who and the why.
fast-paced
Plot or Character Driven:
Character
Strong character development:
Yes
Loveable characters:
No
Diverse cast of characters:
No
Flaws of characters a main focus:
Yes
slow-paced
mysterious
medium-paced
Ignore the cover. It is so misleading! I think this book was a cozy trying to be a thriller and anyone looking at the cover is going to think they are in for a solid thriller and be disappointed. This book was not that! Instead, this story does a very good job in that very small area between the two. A woman suffering from depression on the cusp of an unexpected divorce receives a book in the mail from a social media reading group. (Hey! I belong to a few of those!) Inside is a mysterious note. And, like anyone trying to avoid the things they must face, she begins to investigate. Had this been a thriller, things would have gotten quite a bit darker on the path Laura followed. Instead there was an interesting mystery for her to solve as she comes to find peace with herself. I thought the connection with internet book groups was also a fun little addition.
Thanks to NetGalley and BooksGoSocial for a copy of the book. This review is my own opinion.
Thanks to NetGalley and BooksGoSocial for a copy of the book. This review is my own opinion.
adventurous
mysterious
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:
Complicated
This is more cozy mystery than thriller