brittmariereads_'s reviews
98 reviews

The Woman I Befriended by Sara Kate

tense medium-paced

• Plot- or character-driven? Character
• Strong character development? No
• Loveable characters? No
• Diverse cast of characters? No
• Flaws of characters a main focus? Yes

2.0

While the story was enticing, the writing was choppy and the main character was extremely annoying. I wanted to like this so much more than I did.

Laces by Tempi Lark

dark emotional sad tense fast-paced

• Plot- or character-driven? A mix
• Strong character development? No
• Loveable characters? No
• Diverse cast of characters? It's complicated
• Flaws of characters a main focus? It's complicated

2.0

This book was such a tease. It’s short and there is absolutely no spice. I had to reread various parts of the book because I didn’t know what was going on and thought I missed something. The twist at the end was enough to make me want to read the second installment, so I will out of curiosity.

The Chateau by Jaclyn Goldis

adventurous dark emotional mysterious sad tense fast-paced

• Plot- or character-driven? Plot
• Strong character development? No
• Loveable characters? Yes
• Diverse cast of characters? It's complicated
• Flaws of characters a main focus? No

5.0

Another great thriller for 2023! I had my suspicions, most of them partially right but not fully right. Jaclyn Goldie did a wonderful job weaving in details that seemed realistic but that also blew the story out of the water. The last chapter held a twist I somehow didn’t guess and has me BEGGING for more.

The Butterfly Circle by Mary Carroll Leoson

adventurous dark emotional mysterious sad 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? No

4.25

I chose this book because I enjoy the time period it’s set in. The sisterhood between characters and paranormal activity were a bonus.

The story follows four teen girls who are sent to a home for unwed mothers by their families. The girls believe that they will stay in the home until they give birth, and then each has a different plan for after. Of course, this is not how anything happens. It quickly becomes clear that the girls babies are disappearing, even those whose mothers wanted to keep them. As the girls continue to investigate and Eliza’s ability continues to give her insight of the homes history, events happen that separate some of them. In the end, some of them find themselves running from the head of house, Ms. Trill, in a desperate attempt to save themselves and their babies.

Trigger warnings: abuse, child loss

Disclaimer: I was given an ARC of this book by @booksirens and am writing this review of my own volition. I was not compensated in any way for my review.

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Content Warnings

Graphic: Child death, Emotional abuse, and Physical abuse

I Almost Do by Evangeline Williams

adventurous emotional hopeful fast-paced

• Plot- or character-driven? Character
• Strong character development? Yes
• Loveable characters? Yes
• Diverse cast of characters? It's complicated
• Flaws of characters a main focus? Yes

4.0

A sweet age gap romance with just a little bit of spice. I found James to be overbearing, but that’s not surprising given the background situation, and he did have some GREAT character development. Clarissa was very naive, but also feisty and fought for her man and herself. I love it when characters work on themselves. 👏🏻

DISCLAIMER: I was given this book by @booksirens as an ARC and am writing this review voluntarily.

Cross-posted to @goodreads, @the.storygraph, Amazon, Instagram, & BookSirens

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Content Warnings

Moderate: Death of parent

Minor: Domestic abuse and Child abuse

The Fae Princes by Nikki St. Crowe

adventurous emotional tense fast-paced

• Plot- or character-driven? A mix
• Loveable characters? Yes
• Diverse cast of characters? It's complicated
• Flaws of characters a main focus? Yes

3.5

The Haunting of Alejandra by V. Castro

challenging dark emotional hopeful sad tense fast-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? It's complicated

5.0

What a way to kick off my May reads. The Haunting of Alejandra is a beautifully written book surrounding the legend of La Llorona. Generations of Alejandra’s family have been haunted by a creature they believed to be La Llorana. Castro allows us to read the stories of each woman, while simultaneously telling us the story of Alejandra and her fight to break her family’s curse. This story gives us themes of adoption, identity, colonization, systemic oppression, and adoption; it gives us a taste of folklore and a look into the many different ways women love their children through their own struggles.

As a side note, I would put this book off for later if you are currently struggling with postpartum anxiety/depression. Some of the events and thoughts in the book may be triggering.

DISCLAIMER: I was given an ARC of this book by @netgalley. No other compensation was given for this review and I have written the review of my own volition.

Cross-posted to NetGalley, goodreads, the storygraph, and Amazon.

These deadly words by Nichole Heydenburg

adventurous dark emotional mysterious sad tense fast-paced

• Plot- or character-driven? A mix
• Strong character development? No
• Loveable characters? No
• Diverse cast of characters? No
• Flaws of characters a main focus? No

4.0

Weird to say it about such a deadly book, but what a fun book! I was able to guess what was going on pretty early on, but the details about how it was happening were intriguing. The characters were a bit annoying due to immaturity, but given that they are recent high school grads I would say that’s pretty realistic. This book would be a great addition to a high school teacher’s classroom library, for kids who like thrillers, supernaturals, and mysteries.

I received an ARC of this book from BookSires for free and wrote this review voluntarily.

Good as Dead by Susan Walter

sad tense slow-paced

• Plot- or character-driven? A mix
• Strong character development? It's complicated
• Loveable characters? No
• Diverse cast of characters? It's complicated
• Flaws of characters a main focus? Yes

3.5

This book was agonizingly slow. It is definitely more suited to fans of slow-burn suspense novels and not thrillers. I did enjoy it and the ending, however, it did seem a little too neatly wrapped up. I would have enjoyed a messier ending for this one.

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Content Warnings

Graphic: Death of parent

Dirty Laundry by Disha Bose

emotional mysterious 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

4.0

It is SO EASY to hate Ciara. I really couldn’t stand her. She was self-centered, manipulative, and fake. She alludes to being an abused woman to her “best friend”, but she isn’t. There is very little that is redeeming about her at all and you have to look really hard to see it.

The other characters aren’t any easier to love. Lauren is jealous and insecure, Sean is an (old) playboy, the O’Briens never left elementary/middle school, Party is just indifferent. The only character I really liked at all was Mishti and she was very much a product of her strict upbringing. I wanted a great ending for her so badly.

There IS character development in there, for pretty much everyone but Ciara and Parth.

Overall, this book held my attention and I enjoyed it. It just wasn’t quite what I was expecting - I thought it was going to lean more thriller. 

Thank you to @netgalley, the publisher, and the author for the ARC.

Disclaimer: I was given an ARC of this book in return for my honest review.

Cross-posted to @goodreads, @the.storygraph, @amazon , and @instagram