a_stylish_bookworm's reviews
1069 reviews

A Talent for Murder by Peter Swanson

medium-paced

5.0

I think this may be my favorite of the series. This one is about Martha who is married to Alan, a traveling salesman and she suspects of him of killing women. As a result, she reached out to Lily for help. Martha and Lily are friends that have lost touch and I love how Lily was introduced to this story. The story has so many layers of twists and turns and I love that Henry is also back in the story. I highly recommend reading the first 2 books to get a feel of Lily. 

I enjoyed the multi cast of narration as well.

Familia by Lauren E. Rico

medium-paced

• Diverse cast of characters? Yes

3.5

This was an interesting read with a little bit of mystery and whole lot of family drama. Gabby takes a DNA test and learns she has a sister in Puerto Rico and takes a trip there to meet Isabella. Gabby goes a rabbit hole of what happened with her and how she ended up being adopted. I enjoyed the multiple POV and the story being told in dual timeline. There's a lot of dark secrets that are revealed and what is I appreciate is that the sisters get to know each other and learn the truth. 

Find Me in California by Kerry Lonsdale

medium-paced

• Loveable characters? Yes

4.0

I always love books with complex family drama. This one had 2 families that had drama - 1. Julia and her mama Rose grandmother and 2. Matt and his grandmother. I like that both were experiencing the same situation in finding a new place for them to live and were raised by their grandmother and yet how they were treated was do differently. 

I like reading the connections between the grandmothers and how the journals of mama Rose revealed what happened. This story is about grieving, forgiveness and loving in. I felt the love the story was really a subplot. 

Thank you @kerrylonsdale @amazonpublishing for a copy of this book.

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Content Warnings

Graphic: Drug use, Alcohol, and Death

All That We Never Were by Alice Kellen, Alice Kellen

sad slow-paced

2.75

I listened to the audiobook and enjoy the narration. I thought the story was fine but it didn't grab my attention. I liked all the characters and it is a sad book with hope. I wanted to read this book before the next one but wasn't vested enough to move on with the series.

Not Here to Make Friends by Jodi McAlister
Did not finish book. Stopped at 30%.

I DNF'd at 30%. Just couldn't get into it. There was too many characters and not enough of the main characters interaction and development. 

Thank you @atriabooks @libro.fm for a copy of this.

A Novel Love Story by Ashley Poston

hopeful medium-paced

• Loveable characters? Yes

3.5

Thank you @berkleyromance @prhaudio for a copy of this book. 

What if you accidentally transported into your favorite book? This is what happens with Eileen when her car breaks down and ends up in Eloration and she meets all the characters in her favorite book. The only new character is Anders, the grumpy, book store owner. It was fun to see Eileen's POV with her familiarity with the people and quirks and trying to figure out what is going on. The story had a bit of a slow start for me and it wasn't until 1/2 way that I was vested. 

I liked Anders and the supporting characters in the story and enjoyed Dorothy Dillingham Blue's narration.

The Nature of Disappearing by Kimi Cunningham Grant

tense medium-paced

3.5

Emlyn is a loner working as a nature guide and wants to leave her past behind. That is until her ex, Tyler, shows up asking for help locating her former BFf, Janessa. Tyler and Emlyn tries to track her down based on Janessa's posts. We also see the past and Tyler and Emlyn's relationship and her friendship with Janessa. The story is a little slow and the author did a great job making you feel isolated in the woods. The last 1/3 of the book when the story is revealed, I was hooked. 

Emily Pike Stewart did a great job with the narration. Thank you @macmillan.audio @minotaur_books for a copy of this.

Finding Mr. Write by Kelley Armstrong

funny hopeful medium-paced

• Strong character development? Yes
• Loveable characters? Yes

3.5

I enjoyed the premise of this story with Daphne publishing a book as a man and then hiring Chris to be Zane Remington. I really enjoyed Daphne and Chris together and their banter and chemistry was great. 

I thought the story brought up some interesting points as it relates to publishing and authors and what they want to share. I am sure with social media, how an author interacts with fans, impacts their sales. 

Chris was a great character he was so thoughtful and I love that he baked. 

Thank you @readforeverpub @netgalley for a copy of this book.

The Undermining of Twyla and Frank by Megan Bannen

slow-paced

• Loveable characters? Yes

3.0

It was great to be back in this fantasy world with seeing characters from the first book. This time we are reading the story of Twyla and Frank who are neighbors and coworkers and are in their 50s. Twyla has been widowed for 10+ years and Frank divorced. There's a lot of subplot with dragons which was fun. I liked Twyla's growth journey and coming to who she wanted to be in her 50s. 

Megan Bannen did a great job with the narration. For me, the story's pacing was a bit slow and I lost interest here and there. Thank you @orbitbooks_us @librofm @netgalley for a copy of this book.

Incidents Around the House by Josh Malerman

dark tense

5.0

Thank you @prhaudio @delreybooks for a copy of this book. 

If you are looking for a creepy book that grabs you from
the start...look no further. Told in the perspective of 8 year old Bela, we learn about not only her family dynamics but also the Other Mommy. The Other Mommy wants to be inside Bela's heart and the story centers on how the family deals with this. As the story unfolds, you learn more about the family dynamics and secrets. 

I highly recommend this on audio, Delanie Nicole Gill, did a superb job with not only Bela's voice but all the others as well. I was so creeped out.