an_honest_synopsis's reviews
205 reviews

Everyone Is Watching by Heather Gudenkauf

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dark mysterious tense fast-paced
  • Plot- or character-driven? A mix
  • Strong character development? No
  • Loveable characters? No
  • Diverse cast of characters? No
  • Flaws of characters a main focus? Yes

3.5

𝑯𝒐𝒏𝒆𝒔𝒕 π‘Ίπ’šπ’π’π’‘π’”π’Šπ’”: Five people are nominated to go on a new-style reality tv show to potentially win ten million dollars, if they survive. 

π‘Ήπ’†π’—π’Šπ’†π’˜: I enjoyed the concept of a reality TV-locked room mystery, but I called the "twist" at the 50% mark. Doesn't take away from the fun, I enjoyed being right, but it did make everything feel very over-dramatic. But also, same girl, get your revenge.  

π‘Ήπ’†π’„π’π’Žπ’Žπ’†π’π’…π’‚π’•π’Šπ’π’: Library 

69 Million Things I Hate About You by Kira Archer

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funny lighthearted relaxing medium-paced
  • Plot- or character-driven? A mix
  • Strong character development? No
  • Loveable characters? Yes
  • Diverse cast of characters? No
  • Flaws of characters a main focus? Yes

3.0

𝑯𝒐𝒏𝒆𝒔𝒕 π‘Ίπ’šπ’π’π’‘π’”π’Šπ’”: Kiersten wins the lottery and decides to exact a little revenge on her terrible boss before she goes. Cole knows Kiersten is trying to get fired but he's entertained by her efforts to do so, he wants to see what more she has up her sleeve. They both become HR's worst nightmare. 

π‘Ήπ’†π’—π’Šπ’†π’˜: This was a quick weekend romance read. I think it pokes a little fun at it's source material because it feels a little 50 Shades to me in that Cole and Christian are similar but Cole isn't "50 shades of f*cked up." They talk about how much the other must hate them, while actively making out, so it's a little weird. 

π‘Ήπ’†π’„π’π’Žπ’Žπ’†π’π’…π’‚π’•π’Šπ’π’: If you can take it for what it is it's a fine read.
The Age of Magical Overthinking: Notes on Modern Irrationality by Amanda Montell

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informative medium-paced

3.0

𝑯𝒐𝒏𝒆𝒔𝒕 π‘Ίπ’šπ’π’π’‘π’”π’Šπ’”: Overthinking the act of overthinking while inducing anxiety in someone that overthinks.

π‘Ήπ’†π’—π’Šπ’†π’˜: I'm not sure I needed to read 200 pages about different types of anxieties and ways we as a society overthink as a person who does that. Interestingly, each chapter delves into a different type of "stress" that we all commonly experience, but, it's a bit much to have it broken down on paper. 

π‘Ήπ’†π’„π’π’Žπ’Žπ’†π’π’…π’‚π’•π’Šπ’π’: If you're into psychology you would love this. If you have diagnosed anxiety you might want to think about it. 
Home Is Where the Bodies Are by Jeneva Rose

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dark emotional fast-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? Yes

3.5

π‘Ήπ’‚π’•π’Šπ’π’ˆ: 3.5 

𝑯𝒐𝒏𝒆𝒔𝒕 π‘Ίπ’šπ’π’π’‘π’”π’Šπ’”: Siblings dealing with the secrets their parents buried.
π‘Ήπ’†π’—π’Šπ’†π’˜: On paper, this book spoke to me. Parent dies, siblings return home to deal with that and find some old VHS tapes that uncover a nasty secret. I did find this very predictable at times, but it's a fun fast read. Did notice that Colleen Hover endorsed Rose on the cover and well... 😬.

π‘Ήπ’†π’„π’π’Žπ’Žπ’†π’π’…π’‚π’•π’Šπ’π’: This is 100% a library read. 
Interview with the Vampire by Anne Rice

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adventurous dark emotional tense slow-paced
  • Plot- or character-driven? Character
  • Strong character development? Yes
  • Loveable characters? It's complicated
  • Diverse cast of characters? No
  • Flaws of characters a main focus? Yes

3.5


𝑯𝒐𝒏𝒆𝒔𝒕 π‘Ίπ’šπ’π’π’‘π’”π’Šπ’”: A centuries-old vampire recounts his immortal life.

π‘Ήπ’†π’—π’Šπ’†π’˜: I've seen the movie, multiple times (hello every 90s heartthrob). I'm watching the AMC series, which is fantastic and everyone should watch it. I thought I should finally get around to reading the book and I remembered why I gave up on it so easily in college. So wordy. One paragraph takes up an entire page. Never felt like I was making a dent. 

π‘©π’π’π’Œ 𝒗𝒔 π‘΄π’π’—π’Šπ’†: The movie is mostly true to the book with a few minor edits. There are a couple of scenes that are completely removed from the movie, but I don't feel they would have added to the story. There was one key aspect of their time in Paris that was changed and I'm not entirely sure which version I prefer.

π‘©π’π’π’Œ 𝒗𝒔 𝑻𝑽 π‘Ίπ’‰π’π’˜: There are a lot more liberties in the TV show including race and ages of some of the characters, and Louis' origin story is more authentic to the book. The TV show is in an earlier section of the book ending in Part 1. Pretty sure Season 2 will take place in Paris, so we'll see how that plays out. 

π‘Ήπ’†π’„π’π’Žπ’Žπ’†π’π’…π’‚π’•π’Šπ’π’: If you want to read the book I wouldn't discourage you, but the movie does a good job. 

The Sun Down Motel by Simone St. James

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dark mysterious tense medium-paced
  • Plot- or character-driven? A mix
  • Strong character development? It's complicated
  • Loveable characters? It's complicated
  • Diverse cast of characters? Yes
  • Flaws of characters a main focus? It's complicated

5.0

𝑯𝒐𝒏𝒆𝒔𝒕 π‘Ίπ’šπ’π’π’‘π’”π’Šπ’”: Carly is investigating the disappearance of her aunt Viv by following her footsteps. Viv is investigating a potential serial killer who likes to stay at the Sun Down Motel.
π‘Ήπ’†π’—π’Šπ’†π’˜: I've read St. James books in the past and wasn't a fan of how she' mixes ghost stories with true crime, but this one was done right. I hesitated to read this because I haven't liked previous books, but I also need to tackle my TBR pile for the year. 

π‘»π’‰π’Šπ’π’ˆπ’” 𝑰 π’π’Šπ’Œπ’†π’…:
The ghosts
How the stories overlapped

π‘»π’‰π’Šπ’π’ˆπ’” 𝑰 π’…π’Šπ’”π’π’Šπ’Œπ’†π’…:
Callum - I don't think his character was necessary

π‘Ήπ’†π’„π’π’Žπ’Žπ’†π’π’…π’‚π’•π’Šπ’π’: If you like a good investigative journalist story.
The Reddening by Adam L.G. Nevill

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dark mysterious tense slow-paced

2.0

𝑯𝒐𝒏𝒆𝒔𝒕 π‘Ίπ’šπ’π’π’‘π’”π’Šπ’”: Honestly, IDFK. Old hippies with a cult obsession with some type of ancient society and/or murdering anyone who might even possibly expose their weird red way of living and dismantling people. 

π‘Ήπ’†π’—π’Šπ’†π’˜: I tried. I honestly tried. TikTok has told me this was creepy and atmospheric with an intense sense of impending dread and I just got confused. It's a 300-page book that feels like it's 600 pages. I started speed reading around 30%, upped that pace around 50%, and then completely gave up around 75%. I didn't finish but I got 80% through so it counts. WTF is in the cave?!?! If I lasted the last 10% I might have been able to find out but I didn't care anymore. 

π‘»π’‰π’Šπ’π’ˆπ’” 𝑰 π’π’Šπ’Œπ’†π’…:
Other people's reviews 

π‘»π’‰π’Šπ’π’ˆπ’” 𝑰 π’…π’Šπ’”π’π’Šπ’Œπ’†π’…:
This book

π‘Ήπ’†π’„π’π’Žπ’Žπ’†π’π’…π’‚π’•π’Šπ’π’: It's gonna be a no from me dawg. 

Camp Firwood by Boris Bacic

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adventurous dark emotional tense medium-paced
  • Plot- or character-driven? Character
  • Strong character development? Yes
  • Loveable characters? It's complicated
  • Diverse cast of characters? Yes
  • Flaws of characters a main focus? It's complicated

4.0

𝑯𝒐𝒏𝒆𝒔𝒕 π‘Ίπ’šπ’π’π’‘π’”π’Šπ’”: Shitty teenagers are sent to a "reeducation camp" with a deadly secret. 
π‘Ήπ’†π’—π’Šπ’†π’˜: Another horror banger that's making me rethink my cancelation of Kindle Unlimited. You have a creepy atmosphere, kids going missing, and a little bit of Stanford Prison Experiment thrown in, among other things. The reveal is held off until the bitter end but it pays off. 

π‘»π’‰π’Šπ’π’ˆπ’” 𝑰 π’π’Šπ’Œπ’†π’…:
Premise
Kevin's character growth

π‘»π’‰π’Šπ’π’ˆπ’” 𝑰 π’…π’Šπ’”π’π’Šπ’Œπ’†π’…:
Overly descriptive which makes it 100 pages longer than it needed to be
The very last chapter could have been trimmed to make the ending more impactful

π‘Ήπ’†π’„π’π’Žπ’Žπ’†π’π’…π’‚π’•π’Šπ’π’: If you like mysterious murderous summer camp vibes that is NOT Friday the 13th. This is nothing like Friday the 13th, don't think it is because both take place at a summer camp.  
Ask for Andrea by Noelle W. Ihli

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dark mysterious tense 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? It's complicated

5.0

𝑯𝒐𝒏𝒆𝒔𝒕 π‘Ίπ’šπ’π’π’‘π’”π’Šπ’”: Serial killer James will be stopped by the ghost of his previous victims. 
π‘Ήπ’†π’—π’Šπ’†π’˜: I devoured this book. Even while I was gross and sick last night and dying from what I can only assume were gallstones, I was still reading. I was going to try to finish it in a day but eventually, my stomach got the best of me. 

π‘»π’‰π’Šπ’π’ˆπ’” 𝑰 π’π’Šπ’Œπ’†π’…:
Premise
Multiple POVs from the ghosts 
Speed
Short chapters

π‘»π’‰π’Šπ’π’ˆπ’” 𝑰 π’…π’Šπ’”π’π’Šπ’Œπ’†π’…:
The last 20% dragged a little bit but it was fine.

π‘Ήπ’†π’„π’π’Žπ’Žπ’†π’π’…π’‚π’•π’Šπ’π’: If you like thrillers and revenge stories. Yes. It's available on Kindle Unlimited.  
Anna O by Matthew Blake

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dark mysterious slow-paced
  • Plot- or character-driven? A mix
  • Strong character development? No
  • Loveable characters? No
  • Diverse cast of characters? No
  • Flaws of characters a main focus? Yes

2.5

π‘Ήπ’‚π’•π’Šπ’π’ˆ: 2.5 

𝑯𝒐𝒏𝒆𝒔𝒕 π‘Ίπ’šπ’π’π’‘π’”π’Šπ’”: Anna murders her two best friends and immediately falls into a sleep-like coma. Four years later, Ben is tasked with trying to wake her. 

π‘Ήπ’†π’—π’Šπ’†π’˜: Interesting premise, longest road to accomplish it. I'll read slow-paced books but I  gravitate to medium to fast-paced books, this is the only book I've ever read that I would describe as "steady-state." There's not a lot of give and take, you're just trucking along waiting for anything to be revealed. 

π‘»π’‰π’Šπ’π’ˆπ’” 𝑰 π’π’Šπ’Œπ’†π’…:
Premise - girl murders her two best friends while sleepwalking then never wakes up

π‘»π’‰π’Šπ’π’ˆπ’” 𝑰 π’…π’Šπ’”π’π’Šπ’Œπ’†π’…:
Pace - agonizingly singular pace

π‘Ήπ’†π’„π’π’Žπ’Žπ’†π’π’…π’‚π’•π’Šπ’π’: I'm positive there are similar stories out there that do it better. Pass.