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2.88 AVERAGE
2.88 AVERAGE
emotional
mysterious
fast-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:
Complicated
Thanks, St. Martin's Griffin and Libro.FM, for the arc and ALC.
IF I STOPPED HAUNTING YOU by Colby Wilkens sounds like an incredible premise and book I would love, but sadly, it does not live up to the incredibleness that it could have been. There were too many ideas in one bucket and too much repetition. And with wishy-washy characters who didn't make up their mind until it was bizarre moments like Penelope deciding to hook up with Neil before they went ghost hunting because what if they didn't make it. I get that it is like a tropey scary movie thing, but a few chapters prior, she hated him. Maybe I just never believed their relationship?
That's when I DNF'd at 68%. I wasn't sold on everyone there being an author. I wasn't sold on the scary house. I wasn't sold on Pen and Neil's relationship. I just wasn't sold. And it wasn't written well enough to keep me intrigued even though the premise interested me. Good idea, lousy execution.
IF I STOPPED HAUNTING YOU by Colby Wilkens sounds like an incredible premise and book I would love, but sadly, it does not live up to the incredibleness that it could have been. There were too many ideas in one bucket and too much repetition. And with wishy-washy characters who didn't make up their mind until it was bizarre moments like Penelope deciding to hook up with Neil before they went ghost hunting because what if they didn't make it. I get that it is like a tropey scary movie thing, but a few chapters prior, she hated him. Maybe I just never believed their relationship?
That's when I DNF'd at 68%. I wasn't sold on everyone there being an author. I wasn't sold on the scary house. I wasn't sold on Pen and Neil's relationship. I just wasn't sold. And it wasn't written well enough to keep me intrigued even though the premise interested me. Good idea, lousy execution.
mysterious
medium-paced
Plot or Character Driven:
A mix
Loveable characters:
No
I wanted to love this one- I love horror and ghost stories! I love smut! I love BIPOC characters and authors and love some reality thrown in!
This book was fine. With a lighter romance like this, I'm usually done in a few days but this one took me three weeks to get through because It really dragged in places. I almost gave up but glad I didn't as the action in the last quarter was good (though the ending was only meh).
Wilkens did the horror/ thriller parts well. She can paint a creepy atmosphere! The smut was fun. The characters were insufferable. It was hard to believe the MCs were around 30 with the childish ways they carried on. The book could've used a bit more editing to really flow well, not unexpected for a debut.
I loved the fact that the MCs were Native and there was commentary on the struggles they had in the publishing industry, and I particularly connected with Pen’s feelings of being “not enough” as a mixed woman…BUT then I learned about the controversy about the author and it left an icky taste in my mouth. YES, she may have experienced all these feelings herself if she has lived her entire life thinking she is Native. I DO appreciate that she has now updated her information to reflect that she has no known Native ancestry and that she will no longer write Native stories. She did have important commentary to make, I just wished she had gone through the process before writing this book from this perspective.
This book was fine. With a lighter romance like this, I'm usually done in a few days but this one took me three weeks to get through because It really dragged in places. I almost gave up but glad I didn't as the action in the last quarter was good (though the ending was only meh).
Wilkens did the horror/ thriller parts well. She can paint a creepy atmosphere! The smut was fun. The characters were insufferable. It was hard to believe the MCs were around 30 with the childish ways they carried on. The book could've used a bit more editing to really flow well, not unexpected for a debut.
I loved the fact that the MCs were Native and there was commentary on the struggles they had in the publishing industry, and I particularly connected with Pen’s feelings of being “not enough” as a mixed woman…BUT then I learned about the controversy about the author and it left an icky taste in my mouth. YES, she may have experienced all these feelings herself if she has lived her entire life thinking she is Native. I DO appreciate that she has now updated her information to reflect that she has no known Native ancestry and that she will no longer write Native stories. She did have important commentary to make, I just wished she had gone through the process before writing this book from this perspective.
lighthearted
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
I don't normally read romances, but one set in a haunted castle was right up my alley. Neil and Penelope are Native authors--but Neil is categorized as a popular sell-out whereas Penelope categorizes herself as an authentic author...but rarely published. And it doesn't help that Penelope through a book at Neil's head during a conference. Enter a writer's retreat set in a so-called haunted castle. The only thing worse than these two being stuck together...is an actual haunted castle. And they're the only two that can see the ghosts.
In typical romance fashion, they overcome their differences, help the ghost, and have a little heated sex along the way. If you enjoy enemies-to-lovers, heartfelt confessions, and romance set against a backdrop of institutionalized racism, then this book is for you.
In typical romance fashion, they overcome their differences, help the ghost, and have a little heated sex along the way. If you enjoy enemies-to-lovers, heartfelt confessions, and romance set against a backdrop of institutionalized racism, then this book is for you.
hopeful
lighthearted
mysterious
slow-paced
Plot or Character Driven:
Plot
Strong character development:
Complicated
Loveable characters:
No
Diverse cast of characters:
Yes
Flaws of characters a main focus:
Yes
This book wasn't really on my radar but I was looking for a Halloween-themed read and this sounded kind of fun. Horror/Thriller writers go to a haunted mansion for a week in hopes of finding inspiration in their writing.
However, I found this book a bit insufferable. I should have DNF'd. The main character Penelope is so unlikeable. I felt like the author was pushing this narrative of the "right" kind of native POC writers and it felt like she was sitting on this high horse of having morals without really thinking why the protagonist, Neil, might have made some stereotypical choices. The enemies to lovers felt forced. Their feud felt very one-sided and juvenile. It also felt like it stemmed from jealousy and not actually having issues with the person. Neil was a decent hero, but overall he was kind of forgettable. Lastly, I must note, that the author has come to criticism about identifying in a space she might not actually represent. I do not know enough to speak on that, other than it felt very reflective of the main character in the book too.
Read if you like enemies to lovers, featuring POC characters in a paranormal setting.
However, I found this book a bit insufferable. I should have DNF'd. The main character Penelope is so unlikeable. I felt like the author was pushing this narrative of the "right" kind of native POC writers and it felt like she was sitting on this high horse of having morals without really thinking why the protagonist, Neil, might have made some stereotypical choices. The enemies to lovers felt forced. Their feud felt very one-sided and juvenile. It also felt like it stemmed from jealousy and not actually having issues with the person. Neil was a decent hero, but overall he was kind of forgettable. Lastly, I must note, that the author has come to criticism about identifying in a space she might not actually represent. I do not know enough to speak on that, other than it felt very reflective of the main character in the book too.
Read if you like enemies to lovers, featuring POC characters in a paranormal setting.
adventurous
mysterious
fast-paced
Plot or Character Driven:
Plot
Strong character development:
Complicated
Loveable characters:
No
Diverse cast of characters:
Yes
Flaws of characters a main focus:
Complicated
After Penelope Skinner has a very public meltdown with rival writer Neil Storm, ending with her throwing a book at him, she goes into a spiral. Her friend Lazlo pulls her out of it by inviting her to a writing retreat at a haunted Scottish castle with their friend Daniela. Upon arrival at the retreat, Penelope learns Lazlo also invited his friend Neil. Neil and Penelope learn how to work together as they try to solve the mystery of the castle which includes ghosts.
The parts I enjoyed most were the ghost scenes as they were genuinely creepy.
ARC provided by the publisher via NetGalley in exchange for an honest review.
The parts I enjoyed most were the ghost scenes as they were genuinely creepy.
ARC provided by the publisher via NetGalley in exchange for an honest review.
I bought this book before I heard about the author claiming her Native American heritage. There was a non profit that researched into her genealogy and they didn’t find any Native peoples within the last few hundred years. (I have badly summed this up but there are articles out there about this.)
I tried listening to the audiobook with this information in mind but it made me very uncomfortable. Plus, I didn’t really care for the writing. By 22% I wasn’t getting into the book or liking the characters at all.
I tried listening to the audiobook with this information in mind but it made me very uncomfortable. Plus, I didn’t really care for the writing. By 22% I wasn’t getting into the book or liking the characters at all.
It was recently discovered that the author is not actually a Native American despite making it her whole personality.
mysterious
fast-paced
Plot or Character Driven:
Plot
Strong character development:
No
Loveable characters:
No
Diverse cast of characters:
Yes
Flaws of characters a main focus:
Complicated
The combo of horror and romance really doesn't work here, and turns what could be a fairly interesting concept into a jumbled, tonally disjointed mess.
I almost DNFed several times, but kept holding out hope that the story would find it's equilibrium - turns out, it did not.
I almost DNFed several times, but kept holding out hope that the story would find it's equilibrium - turns out, it did not.