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bookishvicky's reviews
125 reviews
Icebreaker by A.L. Graziadei
3.0
What is pacing? AFTG but hockey kinda. Not bad, I liked the banter, but way too much happening. Solid read. Go Sabres.
Suburban Hell by Maureen Kilmer
slow-paced
- Plot- or character-driven? Character
- Strong character development? It's complicated
- Loveable characters? Yes
- Diverse cast of characters? No
- Flaws of characters a main focus? Yes
2.75
I really wanted to like this book, but it felt too much like trying to be SOUTHERN BOOK CLUB’S GUIDE TO SLAYING VAMPIRES with the dial turned up. Way too many minute details, slow pacing, characters that didn’t leave an impact, and too many tropes for this to be scary (the child predicting the demon, exorcisms, etc.)
I also thought we barely saw any horror or the demon itself, as the plot flipped flopped on “we gotta expel this demon” to “troubles of a suburban housewife”. I do like the message it was trying to send about the importance of community and friendship among mothers and women in general nowadays, but it just fell flat for me.
I also thought we barely saw any horror or the demon itself, as the plot flipped flopped on “we gotta expel this demon” to “troubles of a suburban housewife”. I do like the message it was trying to send about the importance of community and friendship among mothers and women in general nowadays, but it just fell flat for me.
So Thirsty by Rachel Harrison
emotional
hopeful
reflective
medium-paced
- Plot- or character-driven? A mix
- Strong character development? Yes
- Loveable characters? Yes
- Diverse cast of characters? It's complicated
- Flaws of characters a main focus? Yes
4.25
“I want it. I want to savor it to the last drop. The delicious mess of it. All of it. Everything. Forever.”
While I didn’t love this book as much as I did Black Sheep, I still finished it in like 2 sittings. A beautifully written, fast-paced story about learning to live while not technically being alive. The characters were real, the emotions raw, and the conflict and tension were handled expertly.
I’m over the moon this ended on a happy note— I was getting serious “Thirsty” by MT Anderson vibes from this, and I’m happy these characters got the good they deserved out of lives that dealt them shitty hands. Vampire and girl friendships— literally what could be better?
While I didn’t love this book as much as I did Black Sheep, I still finished it in like 2 sittings. A beautifully written, fast-paced story about learning to live while not technically being alive. The characters were real, the emotions raw, and the conflict and tension were handled expertly.
I’m over the moon this ended on a happy note— I was getting serious “Thirsty” by MT Anderson vibes from this, and I’m happy these characters got the good they deserved out of lives that dealt them shitty hands. Vampire and girl friendships— literally what could be better?
Content Warnings
Graphic: Car accident, Blood, Cannibalism, Infidelity, Sexism, Murder, and Death
Do Your Worst by Rosie Danan
3.5
Above average contemporary romance- VERY spicy, good dialogue, good pacing, somewhat confusing dual POVs, but the couple was cute and I liked how the curse was broken.
Payback's a Witch by Lana Harper
4.0
Cute! Nothing special but I did enjoy this one, very cozy, like a hallmark Halloween movie. Wish there was more romance and lore into the magic system and town history. Will probably pick up the next book in the series!
Love and Other Conspiracies by Mallory Marlowe
emotional
funny
reflective
medium-paced
- Plot- or character-driven? Character
- Strong character development? No
- Loveable characters? Yes
- Diverse cast of characters? No
- Flaws of characters a main focus? Yes
3.25
Thank you to NetGalley for an advanced reader’s copy of this book in exchange for a fair review!
“You should know that of all the ridiculous conspiracy theories and monsters I believe in? I believe in you the most.”
The best way to describe this is “Buzzfeed Unsolved but make it a romance,” and I don’t mean that in a bad way. The banter between Hayden and Hallie was adorable, and I loved the interludes of their show transcripts.
I can’t say any character really stuck with me— while Hayden is a fun character, a lot of the theories he was spouting were ones any surface level cryptid hunter could tell you— but I’m sure to those new to this world, his stuff was truly crazy and novel, so I’ll let it slide.
My one big complaint however was the outdated memes and millennial lingo in this book. Like I know they work at BuzzFeed, but using the #Xisoverparty hashtag or the “ayy lmao” alien meme felt very dated.
Other than that, a cute book! The concept was executed as I’d expected and I did enjoy this one a lot.
“You should know that of all the ridiculous conspiracy theories and monsters I believe in? I believe in you the most.”
The best way to describe this is “Buzzfeed Unsolved but make it a romance,” and I don’t mean that in a bad way. The banter between Hayden and Hallie was adorable, and I loved the interludes of their show transcripts.
I can’t say any character really stuck with me— while Hayden is a fun character, a lot of the theories he was spouting were ones any surface level cryptid hunter could tell you— but I’m sure to those new to this world, his stuff was truly crazy and novel, so I’ll let it slide.
My one big complaint however was the outdated memes and millennial lingo in this book. Like I know they work at BuzzFeed, but using the #Xisoverparty hashtag or the “ayy lmao” alien meme felt very dated.
Other than that, a cute book! The concept was executed as I’d expected and I did enjoy this one a lot.
Annie LeBlanc Is Not Dead Yet by Molly Morris
3.0
Thank you to NetGalley for an advanced copy of this book in exchange for a review.
I wish we could know more about this town and the Welcome Back! I feel like we got so little of how it works, why it’s a thing, what’s so special about Lennon. It made it feel more like Annie was just back for a summer vacation than back from the dead with how little people seemed to care.
The plot was fine, I found Wilson to be a little selfish at times though. She jumped to conclusions a lot and didn’t see Annie as a person, more like this object she wants back.
The romance was cute, wish it was more throughout rather than rushed at the last minute. This book just has some pacing issues, and needs some sort of lore drop for the town.
I wish we could know more about this town and the Welcome Back! I feel like we got so little of how it works, why it’s a thing, what’s so special about Lennon. It made it feel more like Annie was just back for a summer vacation than back from the dead with how little people seemed to care.
The plot was fine, I found Wilson to be a little selfish at times though. She jumped to conclusions a lot and didn’t see Annie as a person, more like this object she wants back.
The romance was cute, wish it was more throughout rather than rushed at the last minute. This book just has some pacing issues, and needs some sort of lore drop for the town.
Morbidly Yours by Ivy Fairbanks
inspiring
lighthearted
reflective
sad
medium-paced
- Plot- or character-driven? Character
- Strong character development? Yes
- Loveable characters? Yes
- Diverse cast of characters? Yes
- Flaws of characters a main focus? Yes
3.25
Thank you so much to NetGalley and Putnam Books for an advanced copy of this book!
Rating: 3 stars
Pub Date: Aug 20 2024
Morbidly Yours is a TikTok sensation being republished by Putnam Books; so while this isn’t exactly a new book, I just wanted to preface that in case there were any distinct edits from this version and the independent publication.
I wanted to love this book, I really did. An Irish undertaker is right up my alley, and Callum was an interesting character, but Lark was a little annoying to me. Her introduction to Callum felt downright rude, and I found myself wanting Callum’s POV more than hers. Their romance was just okay, nothing huge but definitely not dry.
Another complaint I have is with the “antagonist” of this novel, the asshole animator at Lark’s job. I get his role in the story but a lot of his actions and dialogue felt unrealistic. I also found Maeve to be an interesting character, but she fell victim to the classic mentor ending, which I found to be too cliche.
The prose and dialogue in thai book was lovely:
“‘But all we can control is how we choose to move through life. With honesty. With Bravery. With Love…’”
And on top of that, the banter between the love interests was pretty entertaining, and— I’m not one to usually say this– the spice was spicing. Well-written, passionate, and they never felt too long or out of place.
Finally, I think this book handles grief well. Lark’s behavior and beliefs, being a widow, were handled well. Her not immediately marrying Callum out of respect for Reese for example was nice, as I was afraid they’d just rush into the marriage of convenience trope.
Overall, a solid read. Not anything I’d swoon over but definitely has some great moments.