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bekkasbookclub's reviews
193 reviews
Interesting Facts About Space by Emily Austin
sad
slow-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? Yes
3.0
“It’s actually sort of soothing to think of how massive the universe is, and how I could be snuffed out at any minute. I guess I like tricking my brain into disarming things.” Interesting Facts About Space by Emily Austin
This book is definitely different from what I would consider my “normal” style of reading. Interesting Facts About Space has very little plotline and is very solo character driven. That character being Enid, a quirky, space loving, true crime podcast obsessed, lesbian who is struggling with some anxiety and paranoia that increases as the story progresses. Enid has a very busy inner monologue that at times, was a bit much for me but made her seem more real and relatable. One thing I had a little trouble with grasping was her irrational fear of bald men. Maybe because my husband is bald, I found it a little comical for someone to be afraid of him on that physical aspect alone. I saw someone else say this is a “sad girl” novel, not that I think Enid is sad, but maybe a little bit emo, I don’t know. This wasn’t a bad read for me, but more so a not so memorable one because of the lack of plotline.
Content Warnings
Graphic: Panic attacks/disorders
When I'm Dead by Hannah Morrissey
dark
medium-paced
- Plot- or character-driven? A mix
- Strong character development? No
- Loveable characters? It's complicated
- Diverse cast of characters? No
- Flaws of characters a main focus? Yes
4.0
“You’ll love me more when I’m dead. Chloe’s last words ring in her head like tinnitus.” When I’m Dead by Hannah Morrissey
This is the third book in the Black Harbor series and when it was sent to me as an early copy to review, I didn’t realize I would be jumping into an already established series. However, I feel like I was able to step right in and not miss much from the previous two books. I think Morrissey was able to capture the immense amount of pain of parents who find that their daughter, Chloe has gone missing after discovering that her best friend has been murdered. Rowan, a medical examiner and Alex, a local detective are not only involved in solving the case but are fully immersed because they don’t know if their daughter may have had something to do with her best friend’s death. Rowan and Alex begin to have differing opinions of their daughter and her possible involvement, which begins to tear their marriage apart. Morrissey was able to write in a way that touches on what the parents are experiencing during the time Chloe is missing but also the fact that they didn’t know all that was going on in their child’s life. This made Rowan and Alex more real/relatable in my opinion because most parents don’t know the ins and outs of their child’s life. I felt the book started off slow and picked up its pace as they began to uncover more information. I don’t think the ending was too predictable, but I was able to start putting together the pieces the closer I got to the end. I don’t know how the previous books compare to this one, but I’m definitely willing to check them out.
Thank you St. Martin's Press and NetGalley for my early digital copy to review.
This is the third book in the Black Harbor series and when it was sent to me as an early copy to review, I didn’t realize I would be jumping into an already established series. However, I feel like I was able to step right in and not miss much from the previous two books. I think Morrissey was able to capture the immense amount of pain of parents who find that their daughter, Chloe has gone missing after discovering that her best friend has been murdered. Rowan, a medical examiner and Alex, a local detective are not only involved in solving the case but are fully immersed because they don’t know if their daughter may have had something to do with her best friend’s death. Rowan and Alex begin to have differing opinions of their daughter and her possible involvement, which begins to tear their marriage apart. Morrissey was able to write in a way that touches on what the parents are experiencing during the time Chloe is missing but also the fact that they didn’t know all that was going on in their child’s life. This made Rowan and Alex more real/relatable in my opinion because most parents don’t know the ins and outs of their child’s life. I felt the book started off slow and picked up its pace as they began to uncover more information. I don’t think the ending was too predictable, but I was able to start putting together the pieces the closer I got to the end. I don’t know how the previous books compare to this one, but I’m definitely willing to check them out.
Thank you St. Martin's Press and NetGalley for my early digital copy to review.
Content Warnings
Graphic: Death and Murder
Check & Mate by Ali Hazelwood
4.0
“He told me once that sometimes, with some people, it's not about winning or losing, That with some people, it's just about playing.” Check & Mate by Ali Hazelwood
This was such a cute YA novel! I really liked Mallory and Nolan, despite their young, angsty personalities (which can sometimes be a turn off for me with YA). Their witty banter played out really well, which is probably because Hazelwood is usually writing for adults, and I actually enjoyed all the chess talk. At times, some of the conflict Mallory dealt with seemed trivial but taking on the role as primary breadwinner for her family took some amazing strength. I understand that as the oldest child, she felt the responsibility to take care of her family after her father’s passing, but I wish she had been just a little more selfish and been able to enjoy herself a little more. The third act break up came really late in the storyline to me and the ending felt a little bit rushed to get our HEA. Overall, I really enjoyed this as a YA romance and I think I may need to not write off YA romances completely just yet.
This was such a cute YA novel! I really liked Mallory and Nolan, despite their young, angsty personalities (which can sometimes be a turn off for me with YA). Their witty banter played out really well, which is probably because Hazelwood is usually writing for adults, and I actually enjoyed all the chess talk. At times, some of the conflict Mallory dealt with seemed trivial but taking on the role as primary breadwinner for her family took some amazing strength. I understand that as the oldest child, she felt the responsibility to take care of her family after her father’s passing, but I wish she had been just a little more selfish and been able to enjoy herself a little more. The third act break up came really late in the storyline to me and the ending felt a little bit rushed to get our HEA. Overall, I really enjoyed this as a YA romance and I think I may need to not write off YA romances completely just yet.
Darling Girls by Sally Hepworth
dark
mysterious
sad
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? Yes
4.5
“Unfortunately, every time she came up with a way to make their lives a little more manageable, Miss Fairchild came up with a new way to hurt them.” Darling Girls by Sally Hepworth
Wow and wow, did Sally Hepworth keep me on my toes with this one. While this was much darker than her usual family dramas, her exceptional storytelling is undeniable and the secrets and lies unfold one, after the other as the reader continues throughout the book. The book is told from the perspective of three different foster sisters, both past and present. In the beginning, as you getting to know the characters, it can be a little hard to keep up with who is who, but Hepworth does an amazing job giving each character a detailed background and who they grew up to be after leaving their foster care situation. I found that the chapters involving the past and the girls’ childhood more interesting and the present to be a little slower paced. This did help the reader come out from the darker points of the book. Of course, you can’t have a Hepworth book without the twisted ending, and this one left me with my jaw on the floor. This is more of a fiction novel with mysterious elements, so if you are looking to dip your toes in to more mysteries, this is a good one to start with.
Content Warnings
Graphic: Child abuse and Child death
The Storm We Made by Vanessa Chan
4.25
The Storm We Made shares light on an unknown topic to me, WWII and the affects of a Japanese invaded Malaya, now Malaysia. Malaya has been under British rule for over 100 years, that is until the Japanese come in and preach and “Asia for Asians.” Little do Malayans know that under Japanese rule, things are about to become far worse; taking young men to slave labor camps, young girls becoming comfort women, and the killing of civilians. Our story alternates between two different times, 1935 and on and 1945. Listening to this book, it was a little difficult keep track of who was who because it is told from 4 different POV: Cecily, the sole narrator during 1935 and on, Abel (Cecily’s son), who was taken prisoner to a slave labor camp, Jujube (Cecily’s oldest daughter), a waitress at a tea house, and Jasmine (Cecily’s youngest daughter), who is trapped in the basement being shielded from becoming a comfort woman. However, as the story progressed, it became easier to remember who was who, and what was happening to each person. This story is heartbreaking in so many ways and you feel for each person’s differing situation. As the war is starting to turn, I was eager to see how it played out for our characters. Obviously, I knew Japan was on the losing side of the war but I had no idea what that would mean for our characters. The ending was sad but reflective of real life when it comes to living through a war.
The Next Best Fling by Gabriella Gamez
4.0
“Call me whatever you want…As long as I get to call you mine.” The Next Best Fling by Gabriella Gamez
When I started reading this book, I was automatically drawn to Marcela. Marcela is an enthusiastic youth librarian filled with passion for her job. Theo is a retired pro-football player turned high school coach, who has recently moved back to San Antonio. Their not so ‘one night stand” turns into a fling to help one another get over unrequited feelings they have for someone else. Their relationship isn’t conventional but it’s something more. It’s filled with depth and embracing change in one another. I loved that as their fling progresses, you can see both of their walls come down. However, Marcela was a little infuriating with her second guessing her feelings and thinking Theo could never actually be into her. I’m not a big fan of third act break-ups but I think what Gamez did here worked for this book and it’s what needed to happen for us, the reader, to get the ending we wanted. One a side note, I loved the references to San Antonio/Texas; Whataburger, UTSA but I wished she had more local spots thrown in for Texas readers. Overall, I think this was a great debut and I can’t wait to read the rest of the series!
Thank you Forever for my gifted finished copy and NetGalley for an advanced digital copy to review.
When I started reading this book, I was automatically drawn to Marcela. Marcela is an enthusiastic youth librarian filled with passion for her job. Theo is a retired pro-football player turned high school coach, who has recently moved back to San Antonio. Their not so ‘one night stand” turns into a fling to help one another get over unrequited feelings they have for someone else. Their relationship isn’t conventional but it’s something more. It’s filled with depth and embracing change in one another. I loved that as their fling progresses, you can see both of their walls come down. However, Marcela was a little infuriating with her second guessing her feelings and thinking Theo could never actually be into her. I’m not a big fan of third act break-ups but I think what Gamez did here worked for this book and it’s what needed to happen for us, the reader, to get the ending we wanted. One a side note, I loved the references to San Antonio/Texas; Whataburger, UTSA but I wished she had more local spots thrown in for Texas readers. Overall, I think this was a great debut and I can’t wait to read the rest of the series!
Thank you Forever for my gifted finished copy and NetGalley for an advanced digital copy to review.
The Heiress by Rachel Hawkins
4.5
“You can put miles and mountains between you and home, but eventually home will call you back.” The Heiress by Rachel Hawkins
Domestic thrillers are quickly becoming my go-to for the genre. In The Heiress, we have three main characters: Ruby, the deceased heiress, Cam, her beloved adopted son, and Jules, his wife. In reading, we find more and more about the affairs of the MacTavish family, more specifically: Cam’s aunt and cousins’ hatred for Cam being Ruby’s heir. The multiple POVs, along with multiple timelines is what really makes this book. The reader is immediately captivated by Ruby and the fact that she is a widow four times over. However, her innocence is immediately questioned, and the ride is fantastic. We also come to learn that Cam and Jules are also hiding some secrets and as the truth begins to unfold, you can’t help but read faster and faster. Overall, this was a fantastic book that I couldn't get enough of and one I think any thriller reader will love.
Thank you St. Martin's Press & NetGalley for an early digital copy to review.
Domestic thrillers are quickly becoming my go-to for the genre. In The Heiress, we have three main characters: Ruby, the deceased heiress, Cam, her beloved adopted son, and Jules, his wife. In reading, we find more and more about the affairs of the MacTavish family, more specifically: Cam’s aunt and cousins’ hatred for Cam being Ruby’s heir. The multiple POVs, along with multiple timelines is what really makes this book. The reader is immediately captivated by Ruby and the fact that she is a widow four times over. However, her innocence is immediately questioned, and the ride is fantastic. We also come to learn that Cam and Jules are also hiding some secrets and as the truth begins to unfold, you can’t help but read faster and faster. Overall, this was a fantastic book that I couldn't get enough of and one I think any thriller reader will love.
Thank you St. Martin's Press & NetGalley for an early digital copy to review.
Love You, Mean It by Jilly Gagnon
funny
lighthearted
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
4.25
Ellie is trying to save her family deli when she learns that a big box Italian superstore is coming to Milborough. Theo is trying to prove to his father that he is capable of more within the family business. This was such a fun rom com! I loved that it blended two of my favorite 90s romantic comedies “While You Were Sleeping” and “You’ve Got Mail.” The amnesia that Theo experiences after getting hit in the head while on a job site is short lived, but the lie of Theo and Ellie being “engaged” is when all the fun happens. The combination of enemies to lovers and fake dating tropes worked really well and the pace of the book was fast and light-hearted. With enemies to lovers, I love getting to see when one character starts falling for the other. However, Ellie’s continued resistance was a little off putting to me, especially when, as the reader, you could tell how much Theo was falling for Ellie. I’m also not a big fan of a third act break up, but in this case, I felt that it was actually necessary for them to be able to make their way back to one another. I would definitely recommend this if you are a fan on 90s rom coms and want a little bit of steam
Thank you, Dell/Random House, and NetGalley for my advanced digital copy to review.
Thank you, Dell/Random House, and NetGalley for my advanced digital copy to review.
The Fearless Organization: Creating Psychological Safety in the Workplace for Learning, Innovation, and Growth by Amy C. Edmondson
slow-paced
2.5
This was a book I had to read for work. Now, it’s not my typical cup of tea but I can see why it was required reading. This is definitely a book that works better listening to, rather than reading. I also didn’t realize it was a TED talk and could have probably got most of the important information from that 🤦🏻♀️
Come & Get It by Kiley Reid
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? Yes
3.75
It had been so long since I read Such a Fun Age (during the pandemic), that I was really excited about reading Come and Get It. This book follows three women at the University of Arkansas: Millie, a campus living RA, Agatha, a visiting professor, and Kennedy, a transfer student. This book is highly character driven, in the sense that a lot happens but nothing significant happens until just before the book is over. While this could seem a bit off putting, Reid does such a great job creating each character and putting you in their shoes as the story unfolds. While you are reading and waiting for a “big climax” in the plot to happen, when it does, it does not seem all that big. Don’t get me wrong, a lot is going on all at once, but maybe I was just expecting something more. After enjoying Such a Fun Age so much, I think I was just expecting something similar. I will say this is still a solid book by the author and will definitely read whatever she writes next. However, if you are more of a plot based reader and not a character driven reader, this one may not be for you.