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aspineline's Reviews (413)
informative
slow-paced
⭐️⭐️✨ I have lots of problems with this book. I frankly would have DNF’d if this was not recommended to me in regards to my dad’s health. I slogged through and finished the audiobook.
I did not like the author. There’s no polite way to say this—there were too many examples to count of him coming off like an asshole. He reeked of privilege. His ideas about Medicine 2.0 and preventative medicine were good, but unless you’re a millionaire with tons of resources and time I don’t know how anything he suggests is applicable. How does he propose people manage these ‘Medicine 2.0’ scans, appointments, medicines etc when many people who need these types of interventions can barely receive run of the mill care? There was no room for subtle nuances in this book. Humans are not machines. Text books are not going tell you everything about how to live well. He seemed so out of touch with the actual (American) human experience. He really wanted everyone to know that he was ‘up here’ (insert hand motion) with his saunas, 4:30 am workouts, and insane diets 😒 okay, bro.
This also read like a book for people in the medical field. There was so much biology jargon. It was DRY and LONG. It was not for me or anyone who is not totally flush and looking for a celebrity doctor.
I did not like the author. There’s no polite way to say this—there were too many examples to count of him coming off like an asshole. He reeked of privilege. His ideas about Medicine 2.0 and preventative medicine were good, but unless you’re a millionaire with tons of resources and time I don’t know how anything he suggests is applicable. How does he propose people manage these ‘Medicine 2.0’ scans, appointments, medicines etc when many people who need these types of interventions can barely receive run of the mill care? There was no room for subtle nuances in this book. Humans are not machines. Text books are not going tell you everything about how to live well. He seemed so out of touch with the actual (American) human experience. He really wanted everyone to know that he was ‘up here’ (insert hand motion) with his saunas, 4:30 am workouts, and insane diets 😒 okay, bro.
This also read like a book for people in the medical field. There was so much biology jargon. It was DRY and LONG. It was not for me or anyone who is not totally flush and looking for a celebrity doctor.
mysterious
slow-paced
Plot or Character Driven:
Plot
Strong character development:
No
Loveable characters:
No
Diverse cast of characters:
No
Flaws of characters a main focus:
No
⭐️⭐️✨ Thank you NetGalley for this free ARC in exchange for an honest review! No one is more disappointed than me at this rating. The Quiet Tenant was a great read for me last year, and I had high hopes that Our Last Resort would live up to it. Unfortunately, I found Clémence’s sophomore novel to be a lackluster attempt at a thriller.
The story follows Frida and Gabriel, siblings who grew up in a cult together. They are vacationing at an ultra trendy spa resort in Utah (think White Lotus in a desert). Things seem a bit strained between the two and this is only exacerbated by the murder of an another guest on the property. As details of the murder come to light, more is revealed about Gabriel and Frida’s past, including their childhood in an abusive cult as well as the mysterious death of Gabriel’s late wife. When it comes down to it—how well do these two really know each other?
Looking back at the plot, this should be a compelling story, but it just wasn’t. I was so bored. The writing was bland and I didn’t feel connected to the characters. I couldn’t understand their motivations. Frida kept making annoying decision after annoying decision. If it wasn’t such a short book I probably would have DNF’d, to be honest.
I also had a problem with the pacing in this story. I needed there to be more build up and tension throughout. The beginning and middle were so slow and then the big reveal/resolution took place over 15 pages in the last 5% of the book. I didn’t feel anything I’m looking for when I read a thriller (eg biting my nails, racing heart, frantically turning pages). This was such a departure from The Quiet Tenant. It’s honestly hard to be believe these are written by the same author. Ultimately, this book was not for me.
The story follows Frida and Gabriel, siblings who grew up in a cult together. They are vacationing at an ultra trendy spa resort in Utah (think White Lotus in a desert). Things seem a bit strained between the two and this is only exacerbated by the murder of an another guest on the property. As details of the murder come to light, more is revealed about Gabriel and Frida’s past, including their childhood in an abusive cult as well as the mysterious death of Gabriel’s late wife. When it comes down to it—how well do these two really know each other?
Looking back at the plot, this should be a compelling story, but it just wasn’t. I was so bored. The writing was bland and I didn’t feel connected to the characters. I couldn’t understand their motivations. Frida kept making annoying decision after annoying decision. If it wasn’t such a short book I probably would have DNF’d, to be honest.
I also had a problem with the pacing in this story. I needed there to be more build up and tension throughout. The beginning and middle were so slow and then the big reveal/resolution took place over 15 pages in the last 5% of the book. I didn’t feel anything I’m looking for when I read a thriller (eg biting my nails, racing heart, frantically turning pages). This was such a departure from The Quiet Tenant. It’s honestly hard to be believe these are written by the same author. Ultimately, this book was not for me.
mysterious
fast-paced
Plot or Character Driven:
Plot
Strong character development:
No
Loveable characters:
No
Diverse cast of characters:
No
Flaws of characters a main focus:
Complicated
⭐️⭐️⭐️ This book has been all over my feed, but it didn’t work for me. Heath and Katarina are ice dancing partners who have grown up together. The book details their career triumphs and trials as well as their on again/off again relationship over several decades.
A few things that worked for me: I liked how the author interspersed documentary style passages throughout the story. It reminded me a bit of Daisy Jones 🥰 I also enjoyed learning more about the world of ice dancing. But that’s about it. 😬
What didn’t work for me: Heath and Kat were both so unlikeable. I know this is loosely based on Wuthering Heights (a book I admittedly still need to read) so Fargo probably was trying to stay close to the original characters, but I found them both so annoying. Their hot and cold dynamic and immature relationship back got old very quickly. These are supposed to be professional athletes?? They’re acting like they’re twelve! 🙄 Also, I felt very little connection between them. There was a lot of telling going on here and very little showing. I would have appreciated more build up and focus on the characters rather than such a plot-driven story. Lastly, this is a personal gripe of mine, but this book did not need to be over 400 pages.
Ultimately, I think this book tried to be too many things (a mystery? a love story? a sports romance?) and ended up with a ho-hum novel that was just fine.
A few things that worked for me: I liked how the author interspersed documentary style passages throughout the story. It reminded me a bit of Daisy Jones 🥰 I also enjoyed learning more about the world of ice dancing. But that’s about it. 😬
What didn’t work for me: Heath and Kat were both so unlikeable. I know this is loosely based on Wuthering Heights (a book I admittedly still need to read) so Fargo probably was trying to stay close to the original characters, but I found them both so annoying. Their hot and cold dynamic and immature relationship back got old very quickly. These are supposed to be professional athletes?? They’re acting like they’re twelve! 🙄 Also, I felt very little connection between them. There was a lot of telling going on here and very little showing. I would have appreciated more build up and focus on the characters rather than such a plot-driven story. Lastly, this is a personal gripe of mine, but this book did not need to be over 400 pages.
Ultimately, I think this book tried to be too many things (a mystery? a love story? a sports romance?) and ended up with a ho-hum novel that was just fine.
dark
emotional
hopeful
mysterious
reflective
sad
tense
slow-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
⭐️⭐️⭐️⭐️✨ ‘If only it were possible to shelter in dreams forever. But we have to live.’
Thank you and NetGalley and Harper Collin’s for an ARC in exchange for an honest review! for will yap at anyone about how much I love Ava Reid. She is MASTERFUL at atmospheric writing and A Theory of Dreaming was no exception. I will say—this book is DARK. Much darker (in my opinion) than its predecessor. At its core, our main characters are exploring how to live with trauma. Effy is lost after the events at Hiraeth and is still carrying so much pain regarding her sexual assault and the misogyny she experiences at her university. I did before and continue to feel so seen by how Reid writes Effy. Her discomfort with the attention and staring from men, the desire to make herself small when she feels uncomfortable—it’s haunting and so well written (also makes you feel ragey but I will get off my soap box). Preston is worried about Effy while also coping with rampant xenophobia as the only Argantian student as the conflict between Llyr and Argant intensifies. I will say that I loved protective Preston 😊 but overall—they are both in a dark headspace.
With both characters so lost, the story largely explores the idea of escapism due to the disappointments of the real world. This is what I mean about the book being dark. There are depictions of depression, drug abuse, and suicidal ideation. Everyone is just so sad. It is pretty dreary to read about. Reid is able to take this dark subject matter and really make you think about realities versus dreams and what it means to ‘love….until ruination’. But it is a pretty bleak slog for a pretty large chunk of the book, quite frankly.
Even though the subject matter was grim, I still (mostly) enjoyed myself. There are some really deep and thought provoking concepts explored. I think fans of A Study in Drowning will be satisfied with the second book in the duology and how the story of Effy and Preston comes to a close.
Thank you and NetGalley and Harper Collin’s for an ARC in exchange for an honest review! for will yap at anyone about how much I love Ava Reid. She is MASTERFUL at atmospheric writing and A Theory of Dreaming was no exception. I will say—this book is DARK. Much darker (in my opinion) than its predecessor. At its core, our main characters are exploring how to live with trauma. Effy is lost after the events at Hiraeth and is still carrying so much pain regarding her sexual assault and the misogyny she experiences at her university. I did before and continue to feel so seen by how Reid writes Effy. Her discomfort with the attention and staring from men, the desire to make herself small when she feels uncomfortable—it’s haunting and so well written (also makes you feel ragey but I will get off my soap box). Preston is worried about Effy while also coping with rampant xenophobia as the only Argantian student as the conflict between Llyr and Argant intensifies. I will say that I loved protective Preston 😊 but overall—they are both in a dark headspace.
With both characters so lost, the story largely explores the idea of escapism due to the disappointments of the real world. This is what I mean about the book being dark. There are depictions of depression, drug abuse, and suicidal ideation. Everyone is just so sad. It is pretty dreary to read about. Reid is able to take this dark subject matter and really make you think about realities versus dreams and what it means to ‘love….until ruination’. But it is a pretty bleak slog for a pretty large chunk of the book, quite frankly.
Even though the subject matter was grim, I still (mostly) enjoyed myself. There are some really deep and thought provoking concepts explored. I think fans of A Study in Drowning will be satisfied with the second book in the duology and how the story of Effy and Preston comes to a close.
adventurous
dark
emotional
mysterious
reflective
sad
tense
slow-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
⭐️⭐️⭐️⭐️ ‘Maybe we will choose to burn or starve one day, but until then we get to choose if we’ll add to that destruction or if we will care for each other.’
To be clear, this was not the book I was imagining—-I was looking for a popcorn thriller 🫣 Imagine my surprise when I was rendered nearly speechless after finishing this poignant and tragic mystery with terrifying modern-day applications. Rowan washes ashore on a remote island near Antarctica, the same island where her botanist husband is supposed to be researching. But why is he missing? And what secrets are the family that lives in the island’s lighthouse keeping?
This writing in this book was so descriptive and immersive. From the first page you’re immediately dropped onto the freezing black sand beaches of Shearwater Island. One of my favorite quotes was ‘do you like it here or would you prefer to be in the real world?’ with the response ‘this is real’ 🐳 🦭 🐧 I love an atmospheric book and the setting came across very clearly.
McConaghy kept me guessing until almost the very end of this book. I loved how she never outright confirmed what exactly was going on in the outside world (ie an apocalypse? did climate change ruin most of the earth?). I appreciate her ability to create intrigue, but IMO it took to long for something to happen here. The last 40 pages were so gripping but we had to wade through A LOT to get there. I also could have done without the romantic plotline. And I almost threw my kindle when I read what happened to Rowan at the very end.
So many haunting themes were explored here from the power of nature/climate change to isolation to grief. Wow. I still am not quite sure what to make of this book, but the writing was fantastic.
To be clear, this was not the book I was imagining—-I was looking for a popcorn thriller 🫣 Imagine my surprise when I was rendered nearly speechless after finishing this poignant and tragic mystery with terrifying modern-day applications. Rowan washes ashore on a remote island near Antarctica, the same island where her botanist husband is supposed to be researching. But why is he missing? And what secrets are the family that lives in the island’s lighthouse keeping?
This writing in this book was so descriptive and immersive. From the first page you’re immediately dropped onto the freezing black sand beaches of Shearwater Island. One of my favorite quotes was ‘do you like it here or would you prefer to be in the real world?’ with the response ‘this is real’ 🐳 🦭 🐧 I love an atmospheric book and the setting came across very clearly.
McConaghy kept me guessing until almost the very end of this book. I loved how she never outright confirmed what exactly was going on in the outside world (ie an apocalypse? did climate change ruin most of the earth?). I appreciate her ability to create intrigue, but IMO it took to long for something to happen here. The last 40 pages were so gripping but we had to wade through A LOT to get there. I also could have done without the romantic plotline. And I almost threw my kindle when I read what happened to Rowan at the very end.
So many haunting themes were explored here from the power of nature/climate change to isolation to grief. Wow. I still am not quite sure what to make of this book, but the writing was fantastic.
lighthearted
relaxing
slow-paced
Plot or Character Driven:
A mix
Strong character development:
Complicated
Loveable characters:
Yes
Diverse cast of characters:
Complicated
Flaws of characters a main focus:
Yes
⭐️⭐️⭐️⭐️ ‘A bunch of breadcrumbs dropped like pennies in a fountain, leading me right to her’. First Lovelight Farms, now this….B.K. Borison has cemented herself in with the current romance genre Greats like Emily Henry, Carley Fortune, and Ali Hazelwood. First-Time Caller is a lover letter to Sleepless in Seattle that features Aiden and Lucie, two idiots-in-love who are unexpectedly brought together by Lucie’s daughter, Maya. Tension builds when the two start working together on on Aiden’s radio show, Heartlines. But is romance-adverse Aiden really capable of the love that Lucie is looking for?
The best thing about this book: Aiden. The things I would do for this man. When he dropped the ‘who the fuck made you cry?’ I had to do a lap around the room. He is so jaded at first that I wanted to give him a hug. His hesitancy with love and compartmentalization of his mom’s long-suffering cancer battle brought so much depth to the story. On the other hand, Lucie was kind of….just fine. There was nothing wrong with her, but as a character she was pretty beige. I did like how the author sprinkled in small details showing that the two of them have been circling each other’s orbit for a while, even before Maya’s phone call (ie the invisible string is stringing).
I do think this type of story has been done before. It reminded me a lot of The True Love Experiment by Christina Lauren. And as is my gripe with many romances, there were parts that were pretty cringe, predictable, and cheesy. While it did fall a bit flat at times, I am eager to read the rest of the books in the Heartlines series.
The best thing about this book: Aiden. The things I would do for this man. When he dropped the ‘who the fuck made you cry?’ I had to do a lap around the room. He is so jaded at first that I wanted to give him a hug. His hesitancy with love and compartmentalization of his mom’s long-suffering cancer battle brought so much depth to the story. On the other hand, Lucie was kind of….just fine. There was nothing wrong with her, but as a character she was pretty beige. I did like how the author sprinkled in small details showing that the two of them have been circling each other’s orbit for a while, even before Maya’s phone call (ie the invisible string is stringing).
I do think this type of story has been done before. It reminded me a lot of The True Love Experiment by Christina Lauren. And as is my gripe with many romances, there were parts that were pretty cringe, predictable, and cheesy. While it did fall a bit flat at times, I am eager to read the rest of the books in the Heartlines series.
challenging
hopeful
informative
inspiring
reflective
slow-paced
⭐️⭐️⭐️⭐️⭐️ I read this book with my small group and WOW. I found so much value here There are so many manageable and easy suggestions for how to incorporate faith into the fabric of your family’s day-to-day. Justin manages to convey of tone of being there to support and encourage while avoiding being preachy or holier than though (sometime I think it can be hard to do for faith based writers). I highlighted so many passages in this book and plan to reread it several times, possibly at the beginning of every year. I can’t say enough good things about this book. I would recommend it to anyone who is a Christian and wants to learn more about imparting the love of Jesus and rhythms of Christianity in your home.
funny
lighthearted
medium-paced
Plot or Character Driven:
A mix
Strong character development:
Yes
Loveable characters:
Yes
Diverse cast of characters:
No
Flaws of characters a main focus:
Yes
⭐️⭐️⭐️✨Thank you Netgalley and Atria for this ARC! I binged this book in one sitting and found it to be a short and sweet if not predictable read. Margot is a recently canceled romance writer who escapes to a lodge in Alaska to avoid the public scrutiny. Enter: capable, hot, smart lumberjack Forrest who works at his family’s lodge. Oh, and did I mention he’s a med student who wears Henleys, rolls his sleeves, cooks well, and cares for his ailing father? 🤣 One of the best things about this book is that it leans in to popular ‘tropes’ of romance novels that are we all know and love. It’s totally cliche but in a meta way—the author (and characters) are in on the joke. There are also a few representations of chronic illness in this story along with a touching line plot line regarding caregiving and how it impacts the main characters. A few things were not my favorite, such as the first person writing and a 3rd act breakup, but some of these grievances are due to personal preferences. However, I did think the spice was a bit cringe. At one point Forrest’s erection is compared to ‘the business end of a baseball bat’ 😵💫 and there is a line about ‘a welcome home sign’ when he firsts enters Margot 🫣 I think the author was trying to be funny but it fell a bit flat for me. Overall I think this a very binge-able if silly romance from a new author.
dark
emotional
funny
hopeful
inspiring
medium-paced
Plot or Character Driven:
Character
Strong character development:
Yes
Loveable characters:
Complicated
Diverse cast of characters:
No
Flaws of characters a main focus:
Yes
⭐️⭐️⭐️⭐️✨ ‘What is one thing I can do right now instead?’ What a moving read! I have heard this compared to The Midnight Library but this was far more enjoyable for me. The story follows Phoebe, a 40 year old adjunct professor battling depression who travels to a hotel in Newport, Rhode Island to kill herself. Yes, you read that correctly. There are passages in this story about Phoebe’s loneliness that felt like a punch right to the gut. But, things do not go exactly how Phoebe planned. She meets the other hotel guests (the ‘Wedding People’) and through their interactions learns about the gift of strangers, her identify, and what is important in life. While the themes of this story are deep and dark (trigger warnings for suicidal ideation (obviously), depression, and grief), Espach is able to explore these with poignancy as well as humor. I found myself snorting at times. I really think with the right casting this could be a terrific, moving, and hilarious movie. My one criticism is that there were a lot of crass and seemingly unneeded discussions of sex. I’m not someone who shies away from sex in a book (read: I love smut) but somehow this felt a little misplaced for me. However, overall this was a fantastic read about being known, the boxes we put ourselves into, and the unpredictability of life.
dark
emotional
mysterious
tense
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
⭐️⭐️⭐️⭐️⭐️ Julie Soto is a force to be reckoned with. To be fair I will read anything she writes, but The Thrashers proves that she really has the chops to write for any genre 👑 First of all, thank you to the publishers for an ARC through NetGalley! I completely devoured this YA thriller that drops you right back into high school. If I had to describe the premise in one sentence, it would be ‘a modern take on The OC and the fallout after a classmate’s suicide’. Let’s be real—who doesn’t want to read about wealthy teens behaving badly? The plot gripped me from the start and has so many twists and turns as the mystery is unraveled. Julie Soto always writes tension so well and this book is no exception. She also is able to strike a balance between writing an entertaining story and likable main character while also writing some very haunting and disturbing scenes. She really transports the reader back into the headspace of being a teenager while exploring themes like popularity, bullying, and identity. Also, I know this is a thriller but can we please take a moment for the way Julie Soto writes yearning men? Phewww. 😅 Lastly the ending packs a punch that leaves you so unsettled 💀 Overall, for her first foray into the thriller genre this is masterfully done! I do recommended checking trigger warnings because there are several very heavy issues explored in this story (e.g. suicide, alcoholism, domestic violence, statutory rape, underage drinking/drug use just to name a few).