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a_stylish_bookworm's reviews
1073 reviews
The Five Year Lie by Sarina Bowen
I am fan of Bowen's romances and loved her first domestic thriller. I could not put this one down, the premise of the story about receiving a text from someone you loved and is dead is chilling and Ariel's story of figuring out what happened with Drew. I love all the twists and turns and the multiple POV. The reference to Toy Story was fun too. Buzz was such a cute kid and added some light heartiness to the story. I felt the ending was a bit rush and there were some pieces that I wanted more wrapped up. All the 3 narrators did a phenomenal job and kept me engrossed.
medium-paced
- Loveable characters? Yes
4.5
I am fan of Bowen's romances and loved her first domestic thriller. I could not put this one down, the premise of the story about receiving a text from someone you loved and is dead is chilling and Ariel's story of figuring out what happened with Drew. I love all the twists and turns and the multiple POV. The reference to Toy Story was fun too. Buzz was such a cute kid and added some light heartiness to the story. I felt the ending was a bit rush and there were some pieces that I wanted more wrapped up. All the 3 narrators did a phenomenal job and kept me engrossed.
The Midnight Feast by Lucy Foley
Thank you @williammorrowbooks @netgalley for a copy of this book. This book is set in a small beach town in England and it's about the opening of The Manor which is a brand new high end resort. This story is super slow with the set up and you know what happens because the time line jumps around from day before, the day after and the journal entries from the past. I like all the connections with each character and how the story unfolded. It's atmospheric with the isolation and the birds. Everything happens the past 100 pages and that was when it picked up.
dark
slow-paced
3.0
Thank you @williammorrowbooks @netgalley for a copy of this book. This book is set in a small beach town in England and it's about the opening of The Manor which is a brand new high end resort. This story is super slow with the set up and you know what happens because the time line jumps around from day before, the day after and the journal entries from the past. I like all the connections with each character and how the story unfolded. It's atmospheric with the isolation and the birds. Everything happens the past 100 pages and that was when it picked up.
All the Colors of the Dark by Chris Whitaker
Thank you @prhaudio @crownpublishing for a copy of this book.
I had high expectations of this book with loving We Begin at THe End and all the early rave reviews but this one was not for me.
The pacing of the story is really slow and there are a lot of characters. I hate when writers use nicknames and the character name interchangeably because I get confused especially with so many characters.
I did enjoy seeing how Saint and Patch was connected and how they grew up in the span of 20+ years.
Edoardo Ballerini did a good job with the narration but this one was just too slow for me.
slow-paced
2.0
Thank you @prhaudio @crownpublishing for a copy of this book.
I had high expectations of this book with loving We Begin at THe End and all the early rave reviews but this one was not for me.
The pacing of the story is really slow and there are a lot of characters. I hate when writers use nicknames and the character name interchangeably because I get confused especially with so many characters.
I did enjoy seeing how Saint and Patch was connected and how they grew up in the span of 20+ years.
Edoardo Ballerini did a good job with the narration but this one was just too slow for me.
Fated by Sarah Ready
I have enjoyed all of this series so far with each having a different type of magicalism in the story. This one is almost like sliding door with Fiona living as a single mom in Geneva and Becca on a small island with her family. The story is told in both state and her relationships in these places. I liked how Fiona gets to know herself better in both places. All the characters were well developed and I enjoyed how the story ended. The only thing I missed was why Becca/Aaron married and stayed together. I sort of wished we got to see a bit of Becca - she seemed like a self centered person and we really don't know anything about her.
Shakira Shute did a great job with the narration and bringing Fiona to life.
Thank you the publisher for a copy of the book.
medium-paced
- Loveable characters? Yes
3.5
I have enjoyed all of this series so far with each having a different type of magicalism in the story. This one is almost like sliding door with Fiona living as a single mom in Geneva and Becca on a small island with her family. The story is told in both state and her relationships in these places. I liked how Fiona gets to know herself better in both places. All the characters were well developed and I enjoyed how the story ended. The only thing I missed was why Becca/Aaron married and stayed together. I sort of wished we got to see a bit of Becca - she seemed like a self centered person and we really don't know anything about her.
Shakira Shute did a great job with the narration and bringing Fiona to life.
Thank you the publisher for a copy of the book.
One Last Summer by Kate Spencer
If you are feeling burnout, this book is the perfect cure. Clara is a total workaholic and is forced on a sabbatication which timed perfectly with meeting up her friends from summer camp. There she meets up her friends and camp nemesis, Mack. The story centers on Clara and her realizing how askew her priorities were and also figuring out her attraction to Mack. There were a lot of fun moments with camp games. I didn't buy into Mack and Clara's story being they would only spend weeks together during camp and not much time as adults. I did enjoy all the friendships and seeing Clara's growth journey.
Thank you @foreverpub @netgalley for a copy of this book.
funny
hopeful
medium-paced
- Strong character development? Yes
- Loveable characters? Yes
3.25
If you are feeling burnout, this book is the perfect cure. Clara is a total workaholic and is forced on a sabbatication which timed perfectly with meeting up her friends from summer camp. There she meets up her friends and camp nemesis, Mack. The story centers on Clara and her realizing how askew her priorities were and also figuring out her attraction to Mack. There were a lot of fun moments with camp games. I didn't buy into Mack and Clara's story being they would only spend weeks together during camp and not much time as adults. I did enjoy all the friendships and seeing Clara's growth journey.
Thank you @foreverpub @netgalley for a copy of this book.
Honey Cut by Sierra Simone
Holy moly.. this book is so intense and messy. We are right back where the first book takes off and we are in the thick of Isolde, Mark and Tristan's look triangle. The angsty, the tension and the scenes were off the charts. You feel for all of their pain and I love that we get to know Mark a little more.
I thought Isolde and Tristan were so reckless but I love how hard they tried to resist each other. I liked that Embry and Greer made an appearance in this story too. I am not sure how Cass's story will continue if it does in the next story but felt it was left unfinished.
Simone promises a HEA for book 3 and I can't wait for it. This one does live you on a cliff hanger.
Thank you @netgalley @thesierrasimone for a copy of this.
challenging
tense
medium-paced
- Loveable characters? Yes
5.0
Holy moly.. this book is so intense and messy. We are right back where the first book takes off and we are in the thick of Isolde, Mark and Tristan's look triangle. The angsty, the tension and the scenes were off the charts. You feel for all of their pain and I love that we get to know Mark a little more.
I thought Isolde and Tristan were so reckless but I love how hard they tried to resist each other. I liked that Embry and Greer made an appearance in this story too. I am not sure how Cass's story will continue if it does in the next story but felt it was left unfinished.
Simone promises a HEA for book 3 and I can't wait for it. This one does live you on a cliff hanger.
Thank you @netgalley @thesierrasimone for a copy of this.
Content Warnings
Graphic: Sexual content
One Of Our Kind by Nicola Yoon
medium-paced
- Strong character development? No
- Diverse cast of characters? Yes
2.0
Thank you @prhaudio @aaknoopf for a copy of this audiobook. WTF did I just read?! The story is creepy in a way that you something is up with this beautiful Black neighborhood. Unfortunately, the story is predictable and it has so much potential. I didnt love that story says that for Black people to fit into an affluent place, they need to be "white". I really was hoping that Jasmyn would have fought harder to go against this idea to redeem the story.
Nicole Lewis did a good job on the narration and I felt all the creeps of living in Liberty.
Nicole Lewis did a good job on the narration and I felt all the creeps of living in Liberty.
Summer Romance by Annabel Monaghan
Thank you @putnambooks @prhaudio for a copy of this book.
Monaghan has been a favorite of mine since Nora Goes Off Script and this one was no exception. Based on the cover, I expected a very light hearted romance but it's so much more. Ali is going through a lot with dealing with going through a divorce, grief of the death of her mom and taking care of 3 kids. She meets Ethan and they form a friendship with her helping him organize Ethan's family home. I love seeing Ali's journey of healing and rebuilding her life. The story is more women's fiction with a side of romance. Ethan was such a great character being so supportive and true to himself.
Kristen DiMercurio did a fantastic job with the narration. She brought out all of Ali's emotions and made me laugh.
emotional
funny
hopeful
medium-paced
- Strong character development? Yes
- Loveable characters? Yes
5.0
Thank you @putnambooks @prhaudio for a copy of this book.
Monaghan has been a favorite of mine since Nora Goes Off Script and this one was no exception. Based on the cover, I expected a very light hearted romance but it's so much more. Ali is going through a lot with dealing with going through a divorce, grief of the death of her mom and taking care of 3 kids. She meets Ethan and they form a friendship with her helping him organize Ethan's family home. I love seeing Ali's journey of healing and rebuilding her life. The story is more women's fiction with a side of romance. Ethan was such a great character being so supportive and true to himself.
Kristen DiMercurio did a fantastic job with the narration. She brought out all of Ali's emotions and made me laugh.
The Seaside Sisters: A Novel by Pamela Kelley
This is the perfect beach read for the summer. This story is told in 3 POV of Hannah, an author with writer's block, her sister, Sara, who is an under appreciated SAHM and Aunt Maddie who lives in Cape Cod. Each of the ladies have their own issues and we see them working through it. I enjoyed the small town vibe and seeing each character's growth. Spencer was a great character and I love how he was so good to his grandmother. The other men in the story need a slap to the head to wake up. Stephanie Nemeth-Parker did a great job with the narration of the 3 characters. I do wish they used 3 narrators to make the voices more distinct.
Thank you @smpromance @macmillan.audio for a copy of the book.
hopeful
lighthearted
medium-paced
- Loveable characters? Yes
3.0
This is the perfect beach read for the summer. This story is told in 3 POV of Hannah, an author with writer's block, her sister, Sara, who is an under appreciated SAHM and Aunt Maddie who lives in Cape Cod. Each of the ladies have their own issues and we see them working through it. I enjoyed the small town vibe and seeing each character's growth. Spencer was a great character and I love how he was so good to his grandmother. The other men in the story need a slap to the head to wake up. Stephanie Nemeth-Parker did a great job with the narration of the 3 characters. I do wish they used 3 narrators to make the voices more distinct.
Thank you @smpromance @macmillan.audio for a copy of the book.
Margo's Got Money Troubles by Rufi Thorpe
I could not put this book down!! This is a story about Margo and her journey as she navigates becoming a new mother and how to make it. The cast of characters from her mother and father all added so much to the story. There are lots of funny moments and scenes that makes you angry. I love that all the characters were flawed and struggled in their own ways. I was rooting for Margo the whole way and seeing her overcome all the obstacles that came her way.
Elle Fanning did such a great job prorating Margo, I could feel her frustrations and joys through it. Thank you @harperaudio @williammorrow @libro.fm for a copy of the book.
emotional
funny
hopeful
medium-paced
- Strong character development? Yes
- Loveable characters? Yes
5.0
I could not put this book down!! This is a story about Margo and her journey as she navigates becoming a new mother and how to make it. The cast of characters from her mother and father all added so much to the story. There are lots of funny moments and scenes that makes you angry. I love that all the characters were flawed and struggled in their own ways. I was rooting for Margo the whole way and seeing her overcome all the obstacles that came her way.
Elle Fanning did such a great job prorating Margo, I could feel her frustrations and joys through it. Thank you @harperaudio @williammorrow @libro.fm for a copy of the book.