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183 reviews
The Hacienda by Isabel Cañas
dark
emotional
mysterious
tense
slow-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? Yes
4.0
This book first came to my attention when it was selected as a BOTM book. I kept hearing it compared to Mexican Gothic and Rebecca, which one one hand sounded intriguing, but on the other hand made it seem like it might not be all that original. I actually didn’t get it the month it was picked. I got it months later as an add-on after hearing a few good reviews. I’m so glad I did!
This book is no knock off. While I understand the comparisons, I don’t feel they really do It justice. This is gothic horror set in Post-Independence Mexico. Even though it’s about a long past time, it feels so fresh and in some ways relatable.
One of the biggest strengths is the way this book is so deeply anchored in the time and place. The mentions of cultural beliefs, foods, and traditions really help make this feel deeply set in Mexico. The mentions of the people living through colonialism, the colorism, sexism, misogyny, etc. are all things that were common to that era. There are just so many details that really bring the story to life.
The main two characters, Beatriz, the young, naïve wife of a Ascendado and Andrés, a local priest with unusual powers are both so interesting. Usually, for me, one POV is stronger, but in this case I found both of them enjoyable.
I did find myself wishing that the ending was slightly different. I was able to predict a few key parts of it, but not enough to ruin the story. I think it mostly made sense.
All in all, if you are into gothic horror, you’ll like this book. It has all of the elements for a good spooky read!
This book is no knock off. While I understand the comparisons, I don’t feel they really do It justice. This is gothic horror set in Post-Independence Mexico. Even though it’s about a long past time, it feels so fresh and in some ways relatable.
One of the biggest strengths is the way this book is so deeply anchored in the time and place. The mentions of cultural beliefs, foods, and traditions really help make this feel deeply set in Mexico. The mentions of the people living through colonialism, the colorism, sexism, misogyny, etc. are all things that were common to that era. There are just so many details that really bring the story to life.
The main two characters, Beatriz, the young, naïve wife of a Ascendado and Andrés, a local priest with unusual powers are both so interesting. Usually, for me, one POV is stronger, but in this case I found both of them enjoyable.
I did find myself wishing that the ending was slightly different. I was able to predict a few key parts of it, but not enough to ruin the story. I think it mostly made sense.
All in all, if you are into gothic horror, you’ll like this book. It has all of the elements for a good spooky read!
Content Warnings
Graphic: Animal death, Confinement, Death, Gore, Misogyny, Sexism, Violence, Blood, Murder, Fire/Fire injury, Gaslighting, Colonisation, Classism
Minor: Rape, Abortion
The Night She Disappeared by Lisa Jewell
dark
emotional
mysterious
reflective
sad
tense
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? It's complicated
3.25
Content Warnings
Graphic: Confinement, Death, Kidnapping, Grief, Gaslighting, Abandonment
Girl, Forgotten by Karin Slaughter
challenging
dark
emotional
mysterious
reflective
sad
tense
medium-paced
- Plot- or character-driven? A mix
- Strong character development? Yes
- Loveable characters? It's complicated
- Diverse cast of characters? No
- Flaws of characters a main focus? Yes
4.0
Please, read the trigger warnings before reading this book.
In typical Slaughter fashion, this is a brutal high-octane murder thriller with strong female characters and a wild plot. It is at times incredibly difficult to read, but hard to put down. You’ll find yourself shouting at and cheering on different characters.
Slaughter is known for dark details and unflinching portrayals of the worst of humanity. This book has a lot of that. In my opinion, this story flirts with having a bit too much. I recommend extreme caution to anyone sensitive to rape and sexual assault. (There are further trigger warnings
That said, I really enjoyed the direction she took Andy’s character in. You can tell there’s a lot of growth from the previous book and she is really starting to settle into herself. I also adored her partner on the Marshall’s force. He brought some much needed humor to the story. The villains in this story are also very evil. There is no doubt about who you’re supposed to root for in this one.
All in all, if you like dark reads and are not easily triggered, you may enjoy this one. It is well written and engaging, but not for the faint of heart.
In typical Slaughter fashion, this is a brutal high-octane murder thriller with strong female characters and a wild plot. It is at times incredibly difficult to read, but hard to put down. You’ll find yourself shouting at and cheering on different characters.
Slaughter is known for dark details and unflinching portrayals of the worst of humanity. This book has a lot of that. In my opinion, this story flirts with having a bit too much. I recommend extreme caution to anyone sensitive to rape and sexual assault. (There are further trigger warnings
That said, I really enjoyed the direction she took Andy’s character in. You can tell there’s a lot of growth from the previous book and she is really starting to settle into herself. I also adored her partner on the Marshall’s force. He brought some much needed humor to the story. The villains in this story are also very evil. There is no doubt about who you’re supposed to root for in this one.
All in all, if you like dark reads and are not easily triggered, you may enjoy this one. It is well written and engaging, but not for the faint of heart.
Content Warnings
Graphic: Addiction, Adult/minor relationship, Bullying, Cancer, Child abuse, Child death, Chronic illness, Death, Domestic abuse, Drug abuse, Drug use, Eating disorder, Emotional abuse, Fatphobia, Homophobia, Misogyny, Panic attacks/disorders, Physical abuse, Self harm, Sexism, Sexual assault, Sexual content, Sexual violence, Suicidal thoughts, Terminal illness, Torture, Toxic relationship, Violence, Blood, Vomit, Grief, Medical trauma, Suicide attempt, Murder, Pregnancy, Gaslighting, Toxic friendship, Sexual harassment, Injury/Injury detail
In particular, there is a scene where a rape victim is re-victimized by a horrific doctor. I wanted to provide extra warning for it.
Luminous by Abby Kingston
adventurous
emotional
lighthearted
mysterious
reflective
medium-paced
4.0
Everheart Dean has recently moved from Alaska to Australia. In her new town, she meets several mysterious strangers and life is initially good. When dark things start happening, Everheart starts questioning everything.
This book was a joy to read. There is so much going on and Kingston does a lovely job tying everything together. It moves at a decent pace and I found myself at the edge of my seat to see what happened next.
I look forward to reading the next installment!
This book was a joy to read. There is so much going on and Kingston does a lovely job tying everything together. It moves at a decent pace and I found myself at the edge of my seat to see what happened next.
I look forward to reading the next installment!
Hamnet by Maggie O'Farrell
challenging
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
4.0
Going into Hamnet, I was a bit skeptical. I love historical fiction and literary fiction, but something about it just didn't seem all that appealing to me. Finally, I broke down and decided to give it a try. I'm pretty happy that I did. I don't think this was perfect, but it was a good read.
This story follows Agnes (Anne) as she marries and then settles down with William Shakespeare. They have three children together, one of which dies due to the plague, and eventually becomes the inspiration for Hamlet. While William is in London writing plays, Agnes is grieving and trying to survive. The main focus of the story is really her grief and what she goes through after Hamnet's death.
The writing in this was very lovely. I was surprised at how flowery it was considering the darkness of the content. It was an interesting contrast, but one that I think worked fairly well.
The things that kept this from being a higher rating are as follows:
- The description was overdone at points. Others have mentioned this in great detail, but descriptions always come in sets of three. It wasn't simply good. It was magnificent, beautiful, and lovely. This can work when used sparingly, but it's repeated too much throughout the book.
- Agnes is made into an almost-fae. She's sort of a wilderwoman who is at one with nature, makes herbal remedies, and intuits things before they happen. I suppose it was an attempt to make her standout, but it felt unnecessary. It gave me a bit of Mary Sue vibes initially because she's portrayed as innately better than the other women without much proof.
-Shakespeare is never given a name. I found this to be an odd choice since I'm pretty sure 95% of the people reading this book understand it's about William Shakespeare's wife and children. I don't think it added to the narration by leaving his name out.
All in all, if you like historical fiction and have a particular interest in Shakespeare, you may enjoy this book. Just beware that it isn't written in straightforward narration.
This story follows Agnes (Anne) as she marries and then settles down with William Shakespeare. They have three children together, one of which dies due to the plague, and eventually becomes the inspiration for Hamlet. While William is in London writing plays, Agnes is grieving and trying to survive. The main focus of the story is really her grief and what she goes through after Hamnet's death.
The writing in this was very lovely. I was surprised at how flowery it was considering the darkness of the content. It was an interesting contrast, but one that I think worked fairly well.
The things that kept this from being a higher rating are as follows:
- The description was overdone at points. Others have mentioned this in great detail, but descriptions always come in sets of three. It wasn't simply good. It was magnificent, beautiful, and lovely. This can work when used sparingly, but it's repeated too much throughout the book.
- Agnes is made into an almost-fae. She's sort of a wilderwoman who is at one with nature, makes herbal remedies, and intuits things before they happen. I suppose it was an attempt to make her standout, but it felt unnecessary. It gave me a bit of Mary Sue vibes initially because she's portrayed as innately better than the other women without much proof.
-Shakespeare is never given a name. I found this to be an odd choice since I'm pretty sure 95% of the people reading this book understand it's about William Shakespeare's wife and children. I don't think it added to the narration by leaving his name out.
All in all, if you like historical fiction and have a particular interest in Shakespeare, you may enjoy this book. Just beware that it isn't written in straightforward narration.
Content Warnings
Graphic: Child death, Death, Infidelity, Medical content, Grief, Pregnancy, Abandonment
The Club by Ellery Lloyd
dark
tense
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? Yes
3.0
I love a good thriller and was excited when this start receiving a whole bunch of hype. It was a Reese's Book Club pick and I have really good luck with her choices, so I figured this would likely be good. Sadly, I was mistaken. This was like a lukewarm cup of tea. Not the worst thing, but not what you wanted and definitely not satisfying like a hot cup would be.
The characters ranged from forgettable to downright annoying and/or obnoxious. The majority of the characters are wealthy, privileged famous people and the employees working at "The Club". I thought I would feel some sympathy for the workers dealing with these pretentious jerks...but nope. They were bland and forgettable.
The plot...well...the concept is interesting enough, but not the most original. Everyone's on an island together. People start dying. There is financial ruin, blackmail, sibling rivalry and more! It seems like the recipe for an exciting read. Instead, it's lackluster, predictable, and at times all over the place.
All in all, I wanted to enjoy this, but left it feeling meh.
The characters ranged from forgettable to downright annoying and/or obnoxious. The majority of the characters are wealthy, privileged famous people and the employees working at "The Club". I thought I would feel some sympathy for the workers dealing with these pretentious jerks...but nope. They were bland and forgettable.
The plot...well...the concept is interesting enough, but not the most original. Everyone's on an island together. People start dying. There is financial ruin, blackmail, sibling rivalry and more! It seems like the recipe for an exciting read. Instead, it's lackluster, predictable, and at times all over the place.
All in all, I wanted to enjoy this, but left it feeling meh.
Content Warnings
Graphic: Adult/minor relationship, Alcoholism, Death, Drug use, Misogyny, Murder, Alcohol, Classism
Cilka's Journey by Heather Morris
challenging
dark
emotional
informative
reflective
sad
tense
medium-paced
- Plot- or character-driven? Character
- Strong character development? Yes
- Loveable characters? It's complicated
- Diverse cast of characters? It's complicated
- Flaws of characters a main focus? No
4.0
I read the Tattooist of Auschwitz earlier this year and was impressed with it. Historical Fiction is one of my favorite genres, so when I saw that Heather Morris was writing the story of one of the side characters, Cilka, I knew I had to read it. I'm glad I did.
Cilka's Journey was brutal, more brutal than The Tattooist of Auschwitz if you can believe it. While the Tattooist centers on love and keeping hope alive, Cilka's Journey is more about the absolute depths humans will go to to survive atrocities. It is not at all an easy read, particularly as a woman, but understanding this type of history is necessary.
Possible Spoiler for The Tattooist & Cilka's Journey
Cilka is the victim of extreme sexual abuse and repeated rapes. In Auschwitz, she uses her beauty and wits to form a relationship with two high-ranking Nazis in the camps. She is derided by other prisoners for sleeping with the enemy, but in reality her choice is to be passed around and raped by all of the guards or to allow one or two of them to think she has a special relationship with them....and only have to tolerate one person raping her in trade for her safety and occasional favors for friends. She survives Auschwitz, but then is accused by the Russians of being a whore for the Nazis. She is then transported to a Russian Gulag in Siberia where she is to be punished. Again, she is faced with the choice of being raped by many guards, likely in violent manners or to accept rape by a single guard if she can form a relationship with him. She chooses the later and tricks a guard into falling in love with her. In all of these instances, it is clearly horrific for her, but the choice is black and white....accept violent gang rapes by whatever guard wants to have her or form a relationship with a single evil person and tolerate rape by him to ensure protection for oneself and ones friends. In looking into the historical person named Cilka, there were prisoner accounts that were quite mixed. Many people hated her for what they perceive as the choices she made, but many more talked about how she used her power over the Nazis and Russian guards to get extra food, medicine, and favorable treatment for some of the other prisoners. No one can be judged for the decisions that they have to make in these extraordinarily horrific circumstances and though you may think you'd never willingly sleep with an enemy, victims of rape who protect themselves in this way should not be judged. What Cilka survived is remarkable.
After finishing this book, I felt so many emotions that I don't know if I can adequately survive them. I never considered that there could be a worse thing than surviving a Nazi concentration camp...but this story makes it clear that the end of the Nazis wasn't a neat and tidy end for all of their victims. As with most historical fiction, I learned a bit more about a subject that I thought I was fairly well-versed in.
All in all, this story is one of the hardest I've had to read, but it's also necessary. Sexual violence is unfortunately used over and over again as a tool of war. We must not keep silent about it. We must fight back against it and share these stories of brave, tough women who make it through.
Cilka's Journey was brutal, more brutal than The Tattooist of Auschwitz if you can believe it. While the Tattooist centers on love and keeping hope alive, Cilka's Journey is more about the absolute depths humans will go to to survive atrocities. It is not at all an easy read, particularly as a woman, but understanding this type of history is necessary.
Possible Spoiler for The Tattooist & Cilka's Journey
Cilka is the victim of extreme sexual abuse and repeated rapes. In Auschwitz, she uses her beauty and wits to form a relationship with two high-ranking Nazis in the camps. She is derided by other prisoners for sleeping with the enemy, but in reality her choice is to be passed around and raped by all of the guards or to allow one or two of them to think she has a special relationship with them....and only have to tolerate one person raping her in trade for her safety and occasional favors for friends. She survives Auschwitz, but then is accused by the Russians of being a whore for the Nazis. She is then transported to a Russian Gulag in Siberia where she is to be punished. Again, she is faced with the choice of being raped by many guards, likely in violent manners or to accept rape by a single guard if she can form a relationship with him. She chooses the later and tricks a guard into falling in love with her. In all of these instances, it is clearly horrific for her, but the choice is black and white....accept violent gang rapes by whatever guard wants to have her or form a relationship with a single evil person and tolerate rape by him to ensure protection for oneself and ones friends. In looking into the historical person named Cilka, there were prisoner accounts that were quite mixed. Many people hated her for what they perceive as the choices she made, but many more talked about how she used her power over the Nazis and Russian guards to get extra food, medicine, and favorable treatment for some of the other prisoners. No one can be judged for the decisions that they have to make in these extraordinarily horrific circumstances and though you may think you'd never willingly sleep with an enemy, victims of rape who protect themselves in this way should not be judged. What Cilka survived is remarkable.
After finishing this book, I felt so many emotions that I don't know if I can adequately survive them. I never considered that there could be a worse thing than surviving a Nazi concentration camp...but this story makes it clear that the end of the Nazis wasn't a neat and tidy end for all of their victims. As with most historical fiction, I learned a bit more about a subject that I thought I was fairly well-versed in.
All in all, this story is one of the hardest I've had to read, but it's also necessary. Sexual violence is unfortunately used over and over again as a tool of war. We must not keep silent about it. We must fight back against it and share these stories of brave, tough women who make it through.
Content Warnings
Graphic: Child abuse, Child death, Confinement, Death, Drug use, Emotional abuse, Genocide, Hate crime, Physical abuse, Racial slurs, Rape, Sexual assault, Sexual violence, Slavery, Torture, Toxic relationship, Violence, Police brutality, Antisemitism, Medical content, Grief, Medical trauma, Murder, Pregnancy, War, Injury/Injury detail
Extra Important: I've included every single trigger warning for sexual violence that is possible. Please, take them seriously. This book touches on a lot of horrific things, but is especially heavy on rape and sexual violence. If it is in anyway triggering for you, know that violent rape is actually portrayed on page.
Burying Eva Flores by Jennifer Alsever
dark
emotional
funny
mysterious
reflective
tense
medium-paced
3.5
Eva Flores is a TikTok celebrity and recent transplant to the area. She gets along with everyone except for sullen, introverted artist, Sophia. Their rivalry gets more and more out of hand, but then Eva goes missing and Sophia becomes the prime suspect. The story that unwinds is unusual and unpredictable.
I really liked the main character Sophia. In some ways, she reminds me of myself when I was in high school. She sort of does her own thing and refuses to bend to what is popular. It makes her a good foil to the constantly dancing, bubbly Eva.
As for Eva, I really disliked her throughout most of the story, but I believe that you're not really supposed to like her. She comes across as shallow and extraordinarily petty when she doesn't get her way. The levels she goes to to get revenge against Sophia are insane. I did find bits unrealistic, but I was able to suspend disbelief.
The only real issue that I had with this book is the way in which the story is told. The book alternates between narrative chapters, text messages, emails, and police interviews. The narrative portions also bounce between past and present. This, in my opinion, makes the reading a bit confusing, particularly in the beginning before we really know what's going on. I personally could've done without the emails, text messages, and interviews.
All in all, it was an enjoyable young adult mystery that would certainly be suited to pre-teens and teens. It was fun imagining the life of a social media star and how the world around her would treat her.
Disclaimer: I received a free copy of this from the author in exchange for an honest review. Opinions expressed in this review are my own.
I really liked the main character Sophia. In some ways, she reminds me of myself when I was in high school. She sort of does her own thing and refuses to bend to what is popular. It makes her a good foil to the constantly dancing, bubbly Eva.
As for Eva, I really disliked her throughout most of the story, but I believe that you're not really supposed to like her. She comes across as shallow and extraordinarily petty when she doesn't get her way. The levels she goes to to get revenge against Sophia are insane. I did find bits unrealistic, but I was able to suspend disbelief.
The only real issue that I had with this book is the way in which the story is told. The book alternates between narrative chapters, text messages, emails, and police interviews. The narrative portions also bounce between past and present. This, in my opinion, makes the reading a bit confusing, particularly in the beginning before we really know what's going on. I personally could've done without the emails, text messages, and interviews.
All in all, it was an enjoyable young adult mystery that would certainly be suited to pre-teens and teens. It was fun imagining the life of a social media star and how the world around her would treat her.
Disclaimer: I received a free copy of this from the author in exchange for an honest review. Opinions expressed in this review are my own.
Content Warnings
Graphic: Bullying, Death, Sexual assault, Murder
The Diamond Eye by Kate Quinn
adventurous
challenging
dark
emotional
hopeful
informative
inspiring
reflective
sad
tense
medium-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
4.5
I am quite the lover of historical fiction, but somehow have never read a book by Kate Quinn. I finally decided to remedy this problem by digging into The Diamond Eye. The concept of a bookworm turning into history's deadliest female sniper sounded so promising! Wow, did this book deliver.
One of my favorite things in the historical fiction genre is when an author takes an obscure piece of history and explores it in great detail. This is exactly what this book does. The book centers on Mila, who at the beginning is a young, single mother, dealing with a gaslighting ex, dreaming of getting an education, and trying to figure out how to be the best role-model for her eight year old son. She's still trying to find herself, but decides to become an expert marksmen after her ex accuses her of being incapable of being tough enough to raise a son. When WW2 comes to the Russian front, she finds herself at war and eventually becomes the most deadly female sniper in history. PERIOD. You would think this would make her hard to relate to, but I found her to be so realistic and easy to understand. Her motivations are always clear and her responses to things felt correct.
Minor Spoiler - Will not ruin the ending or entire story, but is a part of the plot progression.
Eventually, Mila is removed from the war front and sent to the USA on a tour of Russian war heroes to drum up support for America to join the European front to the war. I had no idea that this ever happened, but after a quick google search found it to be true...even the part about Mila's friendship with the First Lady. It was infuriating seeing how the American media treated Mila, but also completely realistic. I imagine that even in this day and age, they would be just as intrusive and condescending.
All in all, I think this book was remarkably good. The character is so rich and real. The plot and settings come to life. And best of all, I learned about a piece of history that I was unaware of. I'll be continuing my research into it further because it was so fascinating. I will definitely be reading more of Kate Quinn's writing in the future.
One of my favorite things in the historical fiction genre is when an author takes an obscure piece of history and explores it in great detail. This is exactly what this book does. The book centers on Mila, who at the beginning is a young, single mother, dealing with a gaslighting ex, dreaming of getting an education, and trying to figure out how to be the best role-model for her eight year old son. She's still trying to find herself, but decides to become an expert marksmen after her ex accuses her of being incapable of being tough enough to raise a son. When WW2 comes to the Russian front, she finds herself at war and eventually becomes the most deadly female sniper in history. PERIOD. You would think this would make her hard to relate to, but I found her to be so realistic and easy to understand. Her motivations are always clear and her responses to things felt correct.
Minor Spoiler - Will not ruin the ending or entire story, but is a part of the plot progression.
Eventually, Mila is removed from the war front and sent to the USA on a tour of Russian war heroes to drum up support for America to join the European front to the war. I had no idea that this ever happened, but after a quick google search found it to be true...even the part about Mila's friendship with the First Lady. It was infuriating seeing how the American media treated Mila, but also completely realistic. I imagine that even in this day and age, they would be just as intrusive and condescending.
All in all, I think this book was remarkably good. The character is so rich and real. The plot and settings come to life. And best of all, I learned about a piece of history that I was unaware of. I'll be continuing my research into it further because it was so fascinating. I will definitely be reading more of Kate Quinn's writing in the future.
Content Warnings
Graphic: Adult/minor relationship, Death, Emotional abuse, Gore, Gun violence, Misogyny, Sexism, Violence, Blood, Medical content, Grief, Alcohol, War, Injury/Injury detail
Finlay Donovan Is Killing It by Elle Cosimano
dark
emotional
funny
lighthearted
mysterious
tense
fast-paced
- Plot- or character-driven? Character
- Strong character development? It's complicated
- Loveable characters? It's complicated
- Diverse cast of characters? No
- Flaws of characters a main focus? Yes
3.0
Finlay Donovan is Killing It? Right? Not so much in my opinion. This book is just not for me. I went in hoping for something funny and light, but this was well past over the top, unbelievable almost to the point of existing in a different world, and ultimately required more suspension of disbelief than most science fiction or fantasy. It was just kind of messy, but not in the way I'd hoped.
Finlay is a relatable character initially. She's recently divorced from an unfaithful husband who left her for a younger woman. She's desperately trying to cope with now being a single mother to two very young children and building a career as a writer. When we're introduced to her she's stressed out, exhausted, and just barely scraping through life. She's still reliant on her ex-husband for financial assistance and he lords it over her in the douchiest of ways. I could 100% see Finlay in all of the stressed out, overworked moms that I know and was really rooting for her at the start.
But then we get into the plot and suddenly Finlay becomes wildly unrelatable to me. Without spoiling the plot, let's just say that Finlay makes a series of horrendous choices. She goes from smart, but exhausted to a complete idiot who stumbles her way through bad choice after bad choice and is only saved by those around her. What's worse is there's never really a time when she learns from all of these bad decisions.
I did really enjoy Vero, Finlay's nanny turned sidekick. She was much more rational and kind of seemed like the adult in most situations, but even still makes some very questionable decisions too.
Then there's the plot. It's a murder mystery with humor mixed in...but it's hard to take the bad guys seriously at all because they're just as bumbling as Finlay is. You can't tell me that on one hand the baddie is one of the most infamous crime bosses in a region, but on the other hand he leaves himself open to some of the dumbest resolutions possible. I had such a hard time taking any of it seriously.
The one saving grace of this book is the humor. I did find moments funny. Sometimes I even laughed just because most of the plot was just so silly. That said, I think this would've actually been better had she reigned the slapstick qualities of this back just a bit.
All in all, this book just wasn't my cup of tea. I prefer a bit of subtlety to my humor instead of being beat over the head with it. I also find that if a book is supposed to be set in reality, I need it to have an actual grounding in reality instead of insane decisions for the sake of plot progression. (Clearly, I am in the minority with my feelings toward this book, so make sure you read all of the positive reviews for a balanced take.)
Finlay is a relatable character initially. She's recently divorced from an unfaithful husband who left her for a younger woman. She's desperately trying to cope with now being a single mother to two very young children and building a career as a writer. When we're introduced to her she's stressed out, exhausted, and just barely scraping through life. She's still reliant on her ex-husband for financial assistance and he lords it over her in the douchiest of ways. I could 100% see Finlay in all of the stressed out, overworked moms that I know and was really rooting for her at the start.
But then we get into the plot and suddenly Finlay becomes wildly unrelatable to me. Without spoiling the plot, let's just say that Finlay makes a series of horrendous choices. She goes from smart, but exhausted to a complete idiot who stumbles her way through bad choice after bad choice and is only saved by those around her. What's worse is there's never really a time when she learns from all of these bad decisions.
I did really enjoy Vero, Finlay's nanny turned sidekick. She was much more rational and kind of seemed like the adult in most situations, but even still makes some very questionable decisions too.
Then there's the plot. It's a murder mystery with humor mixed in...but it's hard to take the bad guys seriously at all because they're just as bumbling as Finlay is. You can't tell me that on one hand the baddie is one of the most infamous crime bosses in a region, but on the other hand he leaves himself open to some of the dumbest resolutions possible. I had such a hard time taking any of it seriously.
The one saving grace of this book is the humor. I did find moments funny. Sometimes I even laughed just because most of the plot was just so silly. That said, I think this would've actually been better had she reigned the slapstick qualities of this back just a bit.
All in all, this book just wasn't my cup of tea. I prefer a bit of subtlety to my humor instead of being beat over the head with it. I also find that if a book is supposed to be set in reality, I need it to have an actual grounding in reality instead of insane decisions for the sake of plot progression. (Clearly, I am in the minority with my feelings toward this book, so make sure you read all of the positive reviews for a balanced take.)
Content Warnings
Graphic: Death, Emotional abuse, Gun violence, Infidelity, Toxic relationship, Violence, Blood, Murder, Gaslighting