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3.56 AVERAGE
3.56 AVERAGE
dark
emotional
reflective
sad
fast-paced
Plot or Character Driven:
Character
Strong character development:
Complicated
Loveable characters:
No
Diverse cast of characters:
No
Flaws of characters a main focus:
Yes
dark
mysterious
tense
fast-paced
Quick Christmas thriller novella.
I absolutely did not see the twist revealed in the middle coming so that was a nice surprise.
The ending was a bit lack luster as I had that part figured out but overall it kept me entertained.
I read this one in physical form and the Italics of a good amount of the text made it super hard to focus on the words for me so that may have been why I wasn't wowed. I did not factor that into my star rating, though. Overall, I would recommend if you are looking for a short story or novella for the holiday.
I absolutely did not see the twist revealed in the middle coming so that was a nice surprise.
The ending was a bit lack luster as I had that part figured out but overall it kept me entertained.
I read this one in physical form and the Italics of a good amount of the text made it super hard to focus on the words for me so that may have been why I wasn't wowed. I did not factor that into my star rating, though. Overall, I would recommend if you are looking for a short story or novella for the holiday.
Christmas of 1989: Ashley Smith is an American art student studying in London, where she plans to spend the holiday alone. So when she receives a last-minute invitation from fellow student, Emma Chapman, to spend Christmas at her family’s Cotswold estate, Ashley jumps at the chance for a new adventure. She records every detail of the week in her “dearest diary,” from the sprawling mansion and surrounding quaint village to the festive meals and, mostly, Emma’s beguiling twin brother, Adam. Emma is certain she has landed herself in a sweeping holiday, but when she discovers that Adam is suspected of killing a local girl who happens to have been Emma’s doppelgänger, her dream turn nightmarish.
Over thirty years later, in New York City: Ashley’s diary has resurfaced, and events of that long-ago Christmas in a cozy English village are cast in a new, ghostly light.
What a surprising and satisfying little story this turned out to be! I read it weeks after Christmas thanks to a well-timed Kindle deal that came just when I was in need of a palate cleanser between longer reads, and while the novella does have a Christmas setting, I found the dark tone and disturbing story elements better suited to non-seasonal reading. (In other words, I liked this a lot in January but might have found it too jarring had I read it at Christmas time.) I enjoyed the epistolary format, the throwback setting, and the Dickensian atmosphere. The 100ish page length is just right, and while this would make for a terrible Hallmark movie, it was an excellent page-turner.
My Rating: 4.5 Stars (Rounded to 4 Stars on Goodreads) // Book Format: Kindle
Over thirty years later, in New York City: Ashley’s diary has resurfaced, and events of that long-ago Christmas in a cozy English village are cast in a new, ghostly light.
What a surprising and satisfying little story this turned out to be! I read it weeks after Christmas thanks to a well-timed Kindle deal that came just when I was in need of a palate cleanser between longer reads, and while the novella does have a Christmas setting, I found the dark tone and disturbing story elements better suited to non-seasonal reading. (In other words, I liked this a lot in January but might have found it too jarring had I read it at Christmas time.) I enjoyed the epistolary format, the throwback setting, and the Dickensian atmosphere. The 100ish page length is just right, and while this would make for a terrible Hallmark movie, it was an excellent page-turner.
My Rating: 4.5 Stars (Rounded to 4 Stars on Goodreads) // Book Format: Kindle
A super quick Christmas novella. I enjoyed the setting and mystery of this one. Even though it was short, there were parts that were a bit repetitive, but overall I enjoyed it.
Meh - not super Christmasy, nor was there a real twist or anything? Not sure what the point of this story was.
adventurous
mysterious
relaxing
fast-paced
Plot or Character Driven:
Plot
Strong character development:
No
Loveable characters:
No
A snack of a book. Can be readin two hours: I recommend it on christmas eve when everyones asleep
If saltburn had gone in a much different direction
mysterious
slow-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
Okay, I really loved this little novella! It has everything I want in a Christmas mystery, a gothic English mansion, characters who act mysteriously and seem like they’re keeping secrets, and a sudden change in direction that totally caught me off guard. I really enjoyed it!