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chaptersofchase's Reviews (1.12k)
slow-paced
Letโs talk about Vampires๐งโโ๏ธ
Thank you, PRH Audio, for the gifted copy of So Thirsty {partner}
Genre: Horror
Format: ๐ง๐
Pub Date: 9.10.2024
Pages: 304
Star Rating: โโโ
โMaybe loneliness makes monsters of us all.โ
I wanted to love this one, but there was no plot, the characters were all meh, the vampire vibes were not there, and it ended abruptly. I was so disappointed because I have been looking forward to reading a vampire-featured Rachel Harrison book for a while now.
The one aspect I liked was how I related to the FMC. Relating to an FMC who turns into a vampire is strange, but I did. As someone who is 35 years old, her observations about being a woman in todayโs world were spot on how I felt. It was a reminder that wonder and excitement arenโt just limited to your 20s but can happen at any age. But I always expect Harrison to hit that nail on the head with her characters.
Audiobook Review: โโโโ
So Thirsty was narrated by Brittany Presley, who, per usual, did a phenomenal job bringing the book and characters to life.
Read if you enjoy:
๐ฏโโ๏ธ Female friendships
โ ๏ธ Toxic relationships
๐ Identity questions
๐ฉธ Moderate gore
I look forward to reading more from Rachel Harrison โ I canโt wait to see what โcreatureโ she takes on next!
_
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emotional
hopeful
tense
medium-paced
Plot or Character Driven:
A mix
Strong character development:
Yes
Loveable characters:
Yes
Diverse cast of characters:
Yes
FIVE ๐น STARS
Thank you, William Morrow Books, for the gifted copy of The Briar Club {partner}
Genre: Historical Fiction
Time: 1950
Format: ๐ง๐
Pub Date: 7.9.2024
Pages: 432
Star Rating: โโโโโ
"It's the weak ones who cause the most damage. Nothing wreaks havoc like a weak manโthey never learn, so they just go blithely on, leaving pain and wreckage behind them."
I loved the book's layoutโinstead of Quinn presenting us with five characters to try and figure out who was who, we're treated to sections devoted to one character at a time. You get to know them all so well that when they're finally all together in the "present" chapters, it's easy to understand how their personalities impact the story.
I loved the female friendship component. Quinn did an incredible job of bringing all of them together in solidarity over food (the recipes!), music, and news, thus creating a family inside the walls of the Briar Club.
Speaking of walls โ another book where the house walls have a personality and pure perfection. I love a book where the house walls seem to talk and care about each character. You know that feeling if you've ever lived in an old home.
Finally, the added mystery to the story just brought everything together. It kept me interested because as we learned about each character, we were left wondering if that person would end up dead at the end of the book.
Audiobook Review: โโโโโ
I chose to read the physical book as well as the audiobook, which was narrated by the immensely talented Saskia Maarleveld, who has narrated most of Kate Quinn's books. She's a phenomenal narrator, and I highly recommend the audiobook (plus, there's a bonus interview with Maarleveld and Quinn at the end).
Read if you enjoy:
๐ Mystery
๐ช๐ผ Female empowerment
๐ซถ๐ผ Friendships
๐ฒ Added recipes
I highly recommend adding The Briar Club to your reading list!
_
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Content Warnings
Graphic: Domestic abuse
Moderate: War
slow-paced
โStaying sane is a trick.โ
Thank you, Mariner Books, for the gifted copy of The Blue Hour {partner}
Genre: Mystery
Format: ๐ง๐
Pub Date: 10.10.2024
Pages: 320
Star Rating: โโโ
I enjoyed so many elements of The Blue Hour, but ultimately, quite a few werenโt for me.
For starters, it was difficult to find my footing with the book. I went in expecting a thriller or fast-paced mystery, but I was met with a very slow-burn story. What really brought it down for me is that the mixed-media format (journal and letters) interrupted the pacing of the story and ultimately added nothing of interest to the story itself. I also thought that the characters were all insufferable and that it was hard to find any redeeming qualities in any of them.
I enjoyed a unique concept that created just the right amount of uneaseโan artistโs work featuring a human bone. Sign me up to figure that one out! The Blue Hour was also perfectly atmospheric, and the whole concept of living alone on an island thatโs cut off from society during low tide was perfectly creepy!
Read if you enjoy:
๐ซฃ Atmospheric settings
๐ Slow burn
๐ Mixed media (journal/letters)
๐ Locked room mystery
I recommend reading The Blue Hour if youโre looking for an atmospheric, slow-burn mystery to keep you company this fall.
-
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adventurous
emotional
funny
mysterious
medium-paced
Plot or Character Driven:
A mix
Strong character development:
Yes
Loveable characters:
Yes
Diverse cast of characters:
Yes
If you write it, Mister Osman, I'll buy it! ๐ค
Thank you, Viking & Pamela Dorman, for the gifted copy of my most anticipated read for 2025 - We Solve Murders {partner}
Genre: Mystery
Format: ๐ง๐
Pub Date: 9.17.2024
Pages: 400
Star Rating: โโโโโ
"This beautiful, brave woman scared of dying, and this silly, cowardly man afraid of living."
I thought it would be near impossible to top my love for my friends with the Thursday Murder Club, but I've found a new crew in We Solve Murders to keep me company until I can return to Coopers Chase.
The dynamic between Amy and Steve was so fun, and I wish I had a FIL to travel around the world solving mysteries with. But that would probably also mean I need a Rosie D'Antonio to fund those travels.
This book has it all: international travel, murder, mystery, wit, and a whole lot of heart. I'm always surprised when Osman can bring me to tears in a cozy mystery, but it always happens, making my heart grow 10 times bigger.
Now, before you say anything, I know a whole of characters are nestled within the 400 pages of this book, but what I have learned from Osman's books is that the best way to keep track of everyone is with a piece of paper and a pencil. I wrote down all the characters' names to keep them straight (message me for a non-spoiler cheat sheet). The best part is that many of those characters will appear again in future novels. I also wouldn't be surprised if, somewhere down the line, there was a bit of a TMC X WSM crossover ๐
Read if you enjoy:
๐ Crime-solving
๐ซถ๐ผ Elements of Found family
โ๏ธ Globetrotting
๐๐ผ Perfectly time humor
๐ A cast of characters to love
I honestly cannot wait to see where We Solve Murders goes next! Also, don't forget to read the author's note at the end of this book for a fun announcement for Thursday Murder Club fans.
_
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mysterious
tense
fast-paced
Plot or Character Driven:
Plot
Recommendation: Don't read this one at night! ๐
Thank you, PRH Audio, for the gifted audiobook of Someone In the Attic! {partner}
Genre: Mystery/Thriller
Format: ๐ง๐
Pub Date: 8.20.2024
Pages: 368
Star Rating: โโโโ
"I'm not afraid of being alone in the dark... I'm afraid that I'm not alone."
This quote ๐๐ผ gave me goosebumps.
When I have suspicions about the "twist" of a book, it either causes me to lose interest OR keeps me interested as I read along for the author to reveal how everything plays out. With Someone in the Attic, I predicted who the culprit would be fairly early on as I thought it was obvious. But, I quickly backtracked and started to doubt myself and my observations. Without giving anything away, I think this was a brilliant path to take the reader on because it showed how women are always taught to be kind and accepting to strangers or those offering to help so that they don't come across as rude/abrasive. When what we should be doing is trusting our gut instinct telling us something doesn't feel right. Someone in the Attic is the perfect example of the FMC not trusting herself and wishing she had.
Andrea Mara did a marvelous job with the story, and I'm eager to read her other titles.
Audiobook Review: โโโโโ
Something about listening to Someone in the Attic made the story exceptionally creepy. I typically listen to my audiobooks with the noise canceling feature on (except while walking outside), but I had to turn that feature off as I felt like something (or someone) was going to creep up behind me. Someone in the Attic was narrated by Jessica Regan (who has also narrated A Killer in the Family). I thought she did a fantastic job adding suspense to her narration (I also didn't hate her narration of the kid's voices).
Read if you enjoy:
๐ซฃ Ominous atmospheres
๐ Short chapters
โฎ๏ธ Flashbacks
๐คณ๐ผ Social media elements
๐คฏ Cliffhanger chapters
I recommend reading Someone in the Attic if you enjoyed reading Nightwatching.
_
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slow-paced
Plot or Character Driven:
A mix
Strong character development:
Complicated
Loveable characters:
Complicated
Family Drama x Romance
Thank you, Simon and Schuster, for the gifted copy of The Night We Lost Him {partner}
Genre: Fiction
Format: ๐ง๐
Pub Date: 9.17.2024
Pages: 320
Star Rating: โโโ
"Liam Noone's death is ruled accidental, but his daughter Nora is skeptical. Her stepbrother Sam shows up, and soon Nora finds herself pulled into uncovering her father's illusive past."
I always struggle with the sophomore novel after a big hit. The Last Thing He Told Me is one of my favorite books, and I flew through it โ but for some reason, The Night We Lost Him wasn't the same for me.
I anticipated a story that would keep me eagerly flipping pages, but I found a prolonged story that sometimes gravitated more towards a romance or a family drama than a mystery. Don't get me wrong, it was interesting, and I liked how it was told with glimpses of their father's past, but it didn't do enough to keep my attention. I wish I had read this through the audiobook narrator (Julian Whelan narrated it, by the way), as I think it would've been narrated in a way that kept me interested.
The most enjoyable part of the story was seeing the estranged siblings come together while figuring out what happened to their father. As I mentioned before, we, as the reader, were privy to their father's past and how his relationships impacted his future and, ultimately, his death.
Read if you enjoy:
๐
Complex family dynamics
โ๐ผ Dual timeline
๐ Slow burn
๐ฃ๏ธ Character-driven novels
I recommend reading The Night We Lost Him if you're looking for more of a family saga than a domestic mystery.
_
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funny
inspiring
lighthearted
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:
Yes
Looking for the perfect book to cozy up with the season? Here you go!
Thank you, Atria Books, for the gifted copy of this book! {partner}
Genre: Magical Realism
Format: ๐ง๐
Pub Date: 10.1.2024
Pages: 336
Star Rating: โโโโโ
I savored every bit of this fun debut novel about triplet witches coming into their own while navigating strong family bonds. It was a reminder that sometimes, being independent and unique is the only way to create strong relationships.
Yes, this book is full of magical realism and fantasyโbut I didnโt find it to be over the top, as most of it focuses on reading tea leaves. The areas that did focus more on the magical side of the sisters didnโt feel over the top, so I think it would even be a fun read for some of my non-fantasy-loving friends. It absolutely sets the mood for fall!
While I loved all three sisters, my favorite character from The Crescent Moon Tearoom had to be the enchanted house. I loved the parental role the house took on for Violet, Beatrix, and Ann because they didnโt have parents to guide them through this new phase of their lives.
Read if you enjoy:
๐ฅฐ Cozy stories
๐ Enchanted homes
๐ฎ Fortune telling
๐ค Fun character growth
I canโt wait to see what Stacy Sivinski writes next!
_
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Four Weekends & a Funeral
Thank you, PRH Audio, for the gifted copy of Four Weekends and a Funeral {partner}
Genre: Romance
Format: ๐ง๐
Pub Date: 8.6.2024
Pages: 368
Star Rating: โโโ.5
โA tender, laugh-out-loud debut romance about a woman who ends up in over her head after a little white lie.โ
This whole book was a love letter to the Midwest. The author did a phenomenal job of describing the area where the characters live and all the things that make it unique.
While I didnโt love the love story at the center of Four Weekends and a Funeral, I did love the message about learning to love yourself and your body for all that it has done and can do and not doing things just because you *think* thatโs what youโre supposed to be doing. I paid more attention to the characters on an individual basis and loved the arc of their characterโs story. They felt like genuine people that I would like to know and love.
Audiobook Review: โโโโโ
Four Weekends and a Funeral is narrated by the incredibly talented Karissa Backer. There is really nothing else to say about it because she is phenomenal, and I will listen to anything she narrates.
Read if you enjoy:
๐ฆ Forced proximity
๐ฉ๐ฝโ๐ฌ Women in STEM
๐ฌ Complicated family dynamic stories
๐ฉโโค๏ธโ๐โ๐จ Unique meet cutes
๐ช Doors cracked open
I recommend Four Weekends and a Funeral if you want a light and easy read to add to your fall TBR.
___
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dark
slow-paced
Well, I read book one, so of course I had to continue the Ruinous Love trilogy ๐ค
Genre: Dark Romance
Format: ๐ง๐
Pub Date: 6.4.2024
Pages: 416
Star Rating: โโโโ
"Sometimes, you need to carve the things you've lost right into your skin so you remember what you left behind."
The chemistry between the characters of Butcher & Blackbird was felt immediately, but it took me a while to buy into the chemistry between Lachlan and Lark. Something was there, but it didn't have that same wow effect I felt with the first book. However, after the 40% mark, I really started to believe the characters belonged together. One of my favorite romance tropes is he falls first, and boy, did Lachlan fall first.
Another thing that felt different in Leather & Lark is that there wasn't quite as much violence. Don't get me wrong, I definitely skipped the whole pizza thing at the beginning because I let Butcher & Blackbird ruin cookies & cream, but I am NOT letting it take pizza, too. I can't imagine what the author will add to book three ๐ So the lack of violence/torture was actually a nice reprieve for me because the first book did test my tolerance levels. That said, I highly recommend reading the triggers because there are many of them.
Also, the bonus chapter ๐
Audiobook Review: โโโ.5
Just like Butcher & Blackbird, Leather & Lark was narrated in tandem, and it really adds to the storyline's ๐ฅต I thought that Samantha Brentmoor and Eric Nolan did a fantastic job narrating this book. My only complaint is that I did not like how many times she laughed through the narration. For some reason, it really took away from the narration style.
Read if you enjoy:
๐ฅ Slow burn
โ๐ผ Dual POV romance
๐คฉ Grumpy x sunshine
๐ซถ๐ผ He falls first
๐ Marriage of convenience
I recommend reading Leather & Lark if, like me, you've been sucked into the dark romance universe.
---
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slow-paced
Prime Time Romance
Thank you, The Dial Press, for the gifted copy of Prime Time Romance by Kate Robb {partner}
Genre: Romance
Trope: Magical Realism
Format: ๐ง๐
Pub Date: 9.3.2024
Pages: 336
Star Rating: โโโ
Two of my favorite nostalgic shows are Pleasantville and Dawson's, and while I loved the movie, Prime Time Romance is the second book I've read this summer that attempted to give Pleasantville vibes but didn't meet my standards.
Of course, I did love the small setting and the "resetting" of character destinies, but the added Dawson Creek vibes just threw everything off-kilter. It felt like the author was trying to fit everything into the Pacey/Joey/Dawson bubble, but it didn't work for me. It may have been that I didn't buy into the chemistry between Brynn and Josh. There was something about them that didn't work - I would have been happier had the ending been different and our FMC embraced life on her own.
Overall, it was an enjoyable read that entertained me and reminded me of some of my favorite 90s TV shows. I look forward to reading Kate Robb's next novel!
Read if you enjoy:
๐๏ธ Small town
โ๐ผ Dual POV
๐ซถ๐ผ 90s nostalgia
๐บ Dawson's Creek/Pleasantville
I recommend reading Prime Time Romance if you're in the mood for a little 90s nostalgia, but don't mind the storyline veering closely to your favorite Capeside town.
____
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