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acouplereadss's reviews
1637 reviews
When the Reckoning Comes by LaTanya McQueen
dark
medium-paced
- Plot- or character-driven? A mix
- Strong character development? Yes
- Loveable characters? It's complicated
- Diverse cast of characters? Yes
- Flaws of characters a main focus? It's complicated
3.0
The Twisted Ones by T. Kingfisher
dark
mysterious
slow-paced
- Plot- or character-driven? A mix
- Strong character development? It's complicated
- Loveable characters? No
- Diverse cast of characters? No
- Flaws of characters a main focus? No
3.0
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A young girl, Mouse, is tasked with cleaning out her late grandmothers house. A task that is daunting because of the hoarding situation. Amongst all the clutter she finds a journal that belonged to her step-grandfather, in which are nonsensical ramblings and strange secrets, including a hidden colony of creatures in the woods. Alone with her dog, Mouse uncovers terrors deep in the woods she wished she never found.
I’m slowly making my way through Kingfisher’s backlist and while most have been hits for me, this one came up short. I couldn’t quite connect with Mouse and the first person narration was too repetitive for me. I also found the buildup was quite slow for me.
I still think this was a good idea and the execution was strong. It wasn’t the book, it was me, 3✨.
A young girl, Mouse, is tasked with cleaning out her late grandmothers house. A task that is daunting because of the hoarding situation. Amongst all the clutter she finds a journal that belonged to her step-grandfather, in which are nonsensical ramblings and strange secrets, including a hidden colony of creatures in the woods. Alone with her dog, Mouse uncovers terrors deep in the woods she wished she never found.
I’m slowly making my way through Kingfisher’s backlist and while most have been hits for me, this one came up short. I couldn’t quite connect with Mouse and the first person narration was too repetitive for me. I also found the buildup was quite slow for me.
I still think this was a good idea and the execution was strong. It wasn’t the book, it was me, 3✨.
Love, Theoretically by Ali Hazelwood
emotional
lighthearted
fast-paced
- Plot- or character-driven? Character
- Strong character development? Yes
- Loveable characters? Yes
- Diverse cast of characters? No
- Flaws of characters a main focus? Yes
4.0
Chlorine by Jade Song
dark
emotional
mysterious
tense
fast-paced
- Plot- or character-driven? Character
- Strong character development? Yes
- Loveable characters? Yes
- Diverse cast of characters? Yes
- Flaws of characters a main focus? Yes
4.0
Visit #ACoupleReadsReviews #ACoupleReadsRecommends #ACoupleReadsHorror on Instagram.
Ren Yu’s entire life is swimming. All she thinks about is swimming and being a swimmer. If she’s the best swimmer, she’ll be scouted and get a scholarship to attend a good school. Her coach will be proud of her. Her parents will love her. Ren’s obsession with swimming goes far beyond human tendencies. Growing up on stories of deep creatures who lure humans to their death, Ren aches to be one with the water.
Meandering through this coming of age title you’ll wonder why it’s shelved under horror. When you get there the payoff is worth the wait. The longer I sit with this book the more my love of it grows. Ren was so raw and real. The coming of age pre teen to teen experiences always make me cringe a bit because of how complicated emotions and hormones are at that age. Nobody gives teenagers enough credit for navigating all the changes of the body and mind. The letters from Ren’s friend didn’t quite work for me though.
As a swimmer myself this brought back many complicated memories of my time in the pool in my teens. I swim because it’s very zen for me now, it’s the only time other than weightlifting where my mind slows down. But back in the day it was a cause of anxiety and stress for me. I was nowhere near the fastest and I hated competing, the pressure was too much and I related to Ren in that aspect. I love when a book brings you back to your own experiences, 4✨.
So glad I could rant to @cozyinthenook about all our swim experiences!
It’s been awhile since I wrote a review so I’ll be making more of an effort to keep on top of them, they do inspire me to pick up the next book. And I definitely need that with my three week slump so far.
Ren Yu’s entire life is swimming. All she thinks about is swimming and being a swimmer. If she’s the best swimmer, she’ll be scouted and get a scholarship to attend a good school. Her coach will be proud of her. Her parents will love her. Ren’s obsession with swimming goes far beyond human tendencies. Growing up on stories of deep creatures who lure humans to their death, Ren aches to be one with the water.
Meandering through this coming of age title you’ll wonder why it’s shelved under horror. When you get there the payoff is worth the wait. The longer I sit with this book the more my love of it grows. Ren was so raw and real. The coming of age pre teen to teen experiences always make me cringe a bit because of how complicated emotions and hormones are at that age. Nobody gives teenagers enough credit for navigating all the changes of the body and mind. The letters from Ren’s friend didn’t quite work for me though.
As a swimmer myself this brought back many complicated memories of my time in the pool in my teens. I swim because it’s very zen for me now, it’s the only time other than weightlifting where my mind slows down. But back in the day it was a cause of anxiety and stress for me. I was nowhere near the fastest and I hated competing, the pressure was too much and I related to Ren in that aspect. I love when a book brings you back to your own experiences, 4✨.
So glad I could rant to @cozyinthenook about all our swim experiences!
It’s been awhile since I wrote a review so I’ll be making more of an effort to keep on top of them, they do inspire me to pick up the next book. And I definitely need that with my three week slump so far.
Woman, Eating by Claire Kohda
dark
slow-paced
- Plot- or character-driven? Character
- Strong character development? No
- Loveable characters? No
- Diverse cast of characters? Yes
- Flaws of characters a main focus? It's complicated
1.0
Your Shadow Half Remains by Sunny Moraine
dark
emotional
mysterious
tense
fast-paced
- Plot- or character-driven? Character
- Strong character development? It's complicated
- Loveable characters? No
- Diverse cast of characters? Yes
- Flaws of characters a main focus? It's complicated
4.5
In a future not so distant from ours, Riley has not seen another persons face for years. Time has lost all meaning and if you want to survive you won’t look into another’s eyes. When a new neighbour moves in, Riley is hesitant - getting to know someone could mean a gruesome death. But Ellis makes her feel safe. Ellis makes her feel seen. Ellis makes her want to look.
I read this in one go on the treadmill at the gym while I was getting my 10K steps and I am sure people saw me wince and stare at the book in disgust at certain points. Honestly, exactly what I wanted from a disturbing little novella.
Off the bat, this book let the feeling of isolation seep into you. I couldn’t shake the unsettled atmosphere, it was very effective. It had that very early days of COVID-19 loneliness seep through the pages. As you keep reading you’re wondering if you’re losing your mind or if the subtle nuances are truly important to the plot.
This queer, dystopian, horror novella was a perfect mix of dread and suspense. Thank you @tornightfire for sending me the ARC, 4.5✨.
#ACoupleReadsReviews #ACoupleReadsHorror #ACoupleReadsRecommends (visit on bookstagram)
I read this in one go on the treadmill at the gym while I was getting my 10K steps and I am sure people saw me wince and stare at the book in disgust at certain points. Honestly, exactly what I wanted from a disturbing little novella.
Off the bat, this book let the feeling of isolation seep into you. I couldn’t shake the unsettled atmosphere, it was very effective. It had that very early days of COVID-19 loneliness seep through the pages. As you keep reading you’re wondering if you’re losing your mind or if the subtle nuances are truly important to the plot.
This queer, dystopian, horror novella was a perfect mix of dread and suspense. Thank you @tornightfire for sending me the ARC, 4.5✨.
#ACoupleReadsReviews #ACoupleReadsHorror #ACoupleReadsRecommends (visit on bookstagram)
You Made a Fool of Death with Your Beauty by Akwaeke Emezi
dark
emotional
sad
fast-paced
- Plot- or character-driven? Character
- Strong character development? Yes
- Loveable characters? Yes
- Diverse cast of characters? Yes
- Flaws of characters a main focus? Yes
4.5
After reading Emezi’s The Death of Vivek Oji I knew I needed to consume their other titles. There’s a depth to their writing in terms of pain I have yet to experience elsewhere. Both books explore themes of grief and loss on another level. I guess I need to feel the deepest feelings and finding books that evoke those feelings is my new goal.
Feyi Adekola just wants to find herself and feel alive again. It’s been a few years since her husband was killed in a car crash and Feyi is struggling with the grief and loneliness but she’s almost a new person. When a steamy encounter sends her life into a whirlwind she has to decide if she can move forward and release her past. But can anyone after losing someone close to them?
This book is messy, gritty and holds nothing back. It made me spiral into my own depths of grief and loss. No wonder it sent me into a book slump. This is how I like my romance books though. Complicated, difficult and complex. Recommend this if you’re looking for a deep feeler with hard themes to stomach, 4.5✨. Another hit recommended by @britreadsbooks and @cozyinthenook!
You Made A Fool of Death With Your Beauty on bookstagram
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Feyi Adekola just wants to find herself and feel alive again. It’s been a few years since her husband was killed in a car crash and Feyi is struggling with the grief and loneliness but she’s almost a new person. When a steamy encounter sends her life into a whirlwind she has to decide if she can move forward and release her past. But can anyone after losing someone close to them?
This book is messy, gritty and holds nothing back. It made me spiral into my own depths of grief and loss. No wonder it sent me into a book slump. This is how I like my romance books though. Complicated, difficult and complex. Recommend this if you’re looking for a deep feeler with hard themes to stomach, 4.5✨. Another hit recommended by @britreadsbooks and @cozyinthenook!
You Made A Fool of Death With Your Beauty on bookstagram
#ACoupleReadsReviews #ACoupleReadsRecommends
Good Girls Don't Die by Christina Henry
dark
mysterious
tense
medium-paced
- Plot- or character-driven? A mix
- Strong character development? Yes
- Loveable characters? No
- Diverse cast of characters? No
- Flaws of characters a main focus? Yes
3.0