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beauty_andbooks's reviews
535 reviews
A Good Marriage by Kimberly McCreight
3.0
I always know if a thriller stuck with me or not when I go back to review weeks later. This book just wasn’t for me. I don’t think it’s bad, and if you’re a fan of court room/legal thrillers this one might be a fave of yours. Those types of thrillers are not mine. I didn’t find the twist to be extra-ordinary. I think it was a tidy thriller but nothing to scream about. I don’t think I’d bother reading this author again.
This was a buddy read with Nicole @talklessreadmore on instagram
This was a buddy read with Nicole @talklessreadmore on instagram
The Last Housewife by Ashley Winstead
5.0
The book that got me out of my two month reading slump! Major trigger warnings for this book, which the author kindly places in the beginning of the book. Make sure to look those up.
Going into this book I knew some basic details such as it being a cult based book and very dark. Anything else I had no clue what to expect! If you know my reading habits, I love a very dark book! I’m not triggered by anything so I didn’t feel apprehensive about this book beforehand. The mix of dark sexual themes and general creepiness made me fly through this book. I kept picturing it as a movie too.
At thriller bookclub, we discussed this book thoroughly and I fully appreciated the feelings of my fellow bookclub members. Some felt the cult aspect of the book shouldn’t be marketed as thriller fiction and should only be shared as nonfiction. The damaging stories could diminish the seriousness of cults in our real world. I think that’s a great point! So if you decide to read this book, keep in mind the real cults that are out there and maybe give some time to research them.
Going into this book I knew some basic details such as it being a cult based book and very dark. Anything else I had no clue what to expect! If you know my reading habits, I love a very dark book! I’m not triggered by anything so I didn’t feel apprehensive about this book beforehand. The mix of dark sexual themes and general creepiness made me fly through this book. I kept picturing it as a movie too.
At thriller bookclub, we discussed this book thoroughly and I fully appreciated the feelings of my fellow bookclub members. Some felt the cult aspect of the book shouldn’t be marketed as thriller fiction and should only be shared as nonfiction. The damaging stories could diminish the seriousness of cults in our real world. I think that’s a great point! So if you decide to read this book, keep in mind the real cults that are out there and maybe give some time to research them.
Content Warnings
Graphic: Rape, Sexual assault, Sexual content, Sexual violence, Suicide, Murder
The Sanatorium by Sarah Pearse
3.0
I'm going to start this review by explaining that I read this book in the middle of an intense book slump! So I am not going to harshly judge this book.
While I didn't absolutely love this book, it did give me plenty of spooky vibes, which was appreciated for the fall season. I'm a sucker for cozy and spooky settings, and the snowy mountains in an old sanatorium is the perfect place to get creeped out. I didn't mind the characters and the plot was decent. A lot of it did seem very farfetched though. Not really believable. But if you're wanting a creepy book, this is a good one to start with. A pretty simplistic thriller.
This was a buddy read with @rilee_reads on instagram!
While I didn't absolutely love this book, it did give me plenty of spooky vibes, which was appreciated for the fall season. I'm a sucker for cozy and spooky settings, and the snowy mountains in an old sanatorium is the perfect place to get creeped out. I didn't mind the characters and the plot was decent. A lot of it did seem very farfetched though. Not really believable. But if you're wanting a creepy book, this is a good one to start with. A pretty simplistic thriller.
This was a buddy read with @rilee_reads on instagram!
I'm Glad My Mom Died by Jennette McCurdy
4.0
What a gutwrenching memoir! I give major props to McCurdy for her style of writing and the ability to share such difficult topics in her life. Major trigger warnings, so look those up! This memoir was such an easy and quick read, but that doesn't mean it wasn't written well and with skill. The topics weren't easy, I should say! As someone who didn't know much about Jennette besides maybe seeing a clip here or there of her character on iCarly, I appreciated this in depth look at her career thus far and family struggles. I kept googling information and pictures as I read this memoir, which I think helped add another layer to her life story.
Content Warnings
Graphic: Alcoholism, Cancer, Child abuse, Eating disorder, Death of parent
The It Girl by Ruth Ware
4.0
Ruth Ware is such a comfort author/read for me and so I always look forward to her new books. This was one of my most anticipated this year! I was a little weary of it being a dark academia setting since those types of books aren’t always my favorite. I was pleasantly surprised that I enjoyed the setting of this book though! Ruth Ware is always great at creating these cozy, spooky atmospheres and this book was no different. I read this book with my thriller bookclub and a lot of the other members enjoyed the past timeline in the multiple timeline of this book. I felt differently! I definitely preferred the present timeline since it was set in Scotland. I also liked the crime solving plot of the main character in the present timeline.
I was not able to guess the plot twist and that was a good thing. I think any of the characters in the book could have been the “murderer”. I really had no issues with this book, but I just didn’t fall head over heels with the plot. It reminded me a lot of The Maidens and They Never Learn.
I was not able to guess the plot twist and that was a good thing. I think any of the characters in the book could have been the “murderer”. I really had no issues with this book, but I just didn’t fall head over heels with the plot. It reminded me a lot of The Maidens and They Never Learn.
Upgrade by Blake Crouch
4.0
Did I love this one? No. I wanted and expected so much more from the plot. Did I learn a lot? YES! You could tell Blake Crouch did so much research for this book. That was impressive in itself. I do enjoy the intricate plot points of Crouch's book. They interweave so many details to provide a suspenseful ending to the story. One of my biggest issues when reading this book was that I felt anxious or sad most of the time, being that it's about how humanity is ruining itself. Climate change, pandemics, bad people are all topics that make me so upset and the fact this is an entire book about it made it hard to read.
Nine Lives by Peter Swanson
3.0
I’m writing this review much later after I’ve finished this book, so bare with me. My memory is terrible!
I will say that what I do remember is that for once, I wasn’t able to guess the killer and ending. So that’s great! But I do have some major issues with topics and words the author chose to use. Swanson decided to use two discriminatory words in this book that was absolutely unnecessary for the plot and could have EASILY done without. That really stuck with me and still does months later. It really put a bad taste in my mouth.
Therefore, while I did enjoy the twists and turns of this book, I can’t get over the word choices of the author. Take that as you will when deciding to read this book.
I will say that what I do remember is that for once, I wasn’t able to guess the killer and ending. So that’s great! But I do have some major issues with topics and words the author chose to use. Swanson decided to use two discriminatory words in this book that was absolutely unnecessary for the plot and could have EASILY done without. That really stuck with me and still does months later. It really put a bad taste in my mouth.
Therefore, while I did enjoy the twists and turns of this book, I can’t get over the word choices of the author. Take that as you will when deciding to read this book.
November 9 by Colleen Hoover
4.0
Another CoHo book that I really enjoyed! I think what I keep loving about Hoover's books is the dark and sad themes underlying them. I look for a contemporary romance that has grit and November 9 gave me that. I audibly gasped at the plot twist, and that doesn't happen much in books I read. I will continue to read the backlist of CoHo. November 9 had interesting main characters. I didn't love them and especially felt like the ending was a bit unrealistic. But I also think the book was well done and written and organized in an interesting format.
It Starts with the Egg: How the Science of Egg Quality Can Help You Get Pregnant Naturally, Prevent Miscarriage, and Improve Your Odds in IVF by Rebecca Fett
5.0
This was such a helpful book. I think the majority of the information is more specefic to IVF warriors, but even if you are starting to try naturally (like me), you will find this extremely helpful and as a prep for your fertility. I also have endometriosis and I loved the supplement plans for endo, as well as other incidences in women's health such as PCOS or IVF. I will keep on going back to this book for guidance! A super quick read too. I read it in two hours.
A Good Girl's Guide to Murder by Holly Jackson
4.0
Well guess what?! I guessed the “murderer” again! Why does that always happen to me?
But I will say that this book was still highly enjoyable. I didn’t guess the details of the crime and the intricacies of the main characters investigation had really good plot twists. The author did a great job of weaving all the details. I binged this in one sitting pretty much, which is not a normal thing for me. Easy read with some more serious plot points. Could be seen as New Adult rather than YA. Our bookclub really enjoyed it!
But I will say that this book was still highly enjoyable. I didn’t guess the details of the crime and the intricacies of the main characters investigation had really good plot twists. The author did a great job of weaving all the details. I binged this in one sitting pretty much, which is not a normal thing for me. Easy read with some more serious plot points. Could be seen as New Adult rather than YA. Our bookclub really enjoyed it!
Content Warnings
Graphic: Sexual assault