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chaptersofchase's Reviews (1.12k)
dark
tense
medium-paced
Plot or Character Driven:
A mix
Strong character development:
Complicated
Loveable characters:
Complicated
Wanderers ๐ถ๐ฝ๐ถ๐ผโโ๏ธ๐ถ๐ฝโโ๏ธ
Genre: Science Fiction
Trope: Dystopian
Format: ๐ง
Audiobook Narration: โโโโโ
Pub Date: 7.2.2019
Star Rating: โโโ.5
Let me start by saying that when I ordered this book, I didnโt look at how many pages it was. When it arrived, I thought, โOh dear, what have I gotten myself into?โ because Wanderers is 845 pages!! So, instead of reading, I decided to listen to the 35-hour audiobook __ If you havenโt had a chance to read Wanderers yet, I highly recommend it as it kept me entertained and motivated to stay busy with projects.
I was fully invested in the story from the start - Iโve always loved dystopian books/shows (even if they make me incredibly anxious). Still, Wanderers was even more interesting as the author gave us scientific background on other outbreaks. At one point, I had to stop to see when the book was published (2019) because it was so eerily familiar to the start of the pandemic weโre just coming out of. Truthfully, Iโm blown away by the amount of research the author, Chuck Wendig, had to do before writing this.
At some point in the book, the story takes a more graphic turn (please be aware that there are many triggers throughout the book). This graphic turn seemed more in place with the authorโs other book Iโve read (Book of Accidents - horror). While I was still invested in the story and characters, I had to skip entire sections as they became too much.
Overall, The Wanderers is perfect for the dystopian book lovers. I will eventually read the next book in this saga, Wayward.
Genre: Science Fiction
Trope: Dystopian
Format: ๐ง
Audiobook Narration: โโโโโ
Pub Date: 7.2.2019
Star Rating: โโโ.5
Let me start by saying that when I ordered this book, I didnโt look at how many pages it was. When it arrived, I thought, โOh dear, what have I gotten myself into?โ because Wanderers is 845 pages!! So, instead of reading, I decided to listen to the 35-hour audiobook __ If you havenโt had a chance to read Wanderers yet, I highly recommend it as it kept me entertained and motivated to stay busy with projects.
I was fully invested in the story from the start - Iโve always loved dystopian books/shows (even if they make me incredibly anxious). Still, Wanderers was even more interesting as the author gave us scientific background on other outbreaks. At one point, I had to stop to see when the book was published (2019) because it was so eerily familiar to the start of the pandemic weโre just coming out of. Truthfully, Iโm blown away by the amount of research the author, Chuck Wendig, had to do before writing this.
At some point in the book, the story takes a more graphic turn (please be aware that there are many triggers throughout the book). This graphic turn seemed more in place with the authorโs other book Iโve read (Book of Accidents - horror). While I was still invested in the story and characters, I had to skip entire sections as they became too much.
Overall, The Wanderers is perfect for the dystopian book lovers. I will eventually read the next book in this saga, Wayward.
Content Warnings
Graphic: Rape, Sexual violence, Suicidal thoughts, Torture, Violence, Religious bigotry, Pandemic/Epidemic
dark
tense
fast-paced
Plot or Character Driven:
A mix
Strong character development:
Complicated
Loveable characters:
Complicated
You ๐
Genre: Thriller
Format: ๐ง
Audiobook Narration: โโโโโ
Pub Date: 8.28.2018
Star Rating: โโโโ
You is the type of book that needs a content rating.
I decided to listen to You while working in the yard, and I kept having to turn around to make sure some weirdo wasnโt coming up behind me. The audiobook narrated did a phenomenal job of using the perfect inflection for specific situations, which added to the overall creepy vibe of the book.
Admittedly, I did watch the show before reading the book (it never happens), so I had an idea of what to expect. But, simultaneously, hearing the graphic details was way more disturbing. Some pages had me feeling like I needed to shower, as the content was so gross.
And yetโฆ and yet, I kept listening and holding my breath for Joe to be caught. Because I wanted him to be caught? Right? Riiiight? I donโt know how I feel about this book. But, if you havenโt read it, go into it and know that Joe does some truly heinous things. I'm still undecided on whether or not I'll continue the series.
Genre: Thriller
Format: ๐ง
Audiobook Narration: โโโโโ
Pub Date: 8.28.2018
Star Rating: โโโโ
You is the type of book that needs a content rating.
I decided to listen to You while working in the yard, and I kept having to turn around to make sure some weirdo wasnโt coming up behind me. The audiobook narrated did a phenomenal job of using the perfect inflection for specific situations, which added to the overall creepy vibe of the book.
Admittedly, I did watch the show before reading the book (it never happens), so I had an idea of what to expect. But, simultaneously, hearing the graphic details was way more disturbing. Some pages had me feeling like I needed to shower, as the content was so gross.
And yetโฆ and yet, I kept listening and holding my breath for Joe to be caught. Because I wanted him to be caught? Right? Riiiight? I donโt know how I feel about this book. But, if you havenโt read it, go into it and know that Joe does some truly heinous things. I'm still undecided on whether or not I'll continue the series.
slow-paced
Plot or Character Driven:
Plot
Strong character development:
Complicated
Loveable characters:
Complicated
Diverse cast of characters:
Yes
Lone Women โจ
Genre: Mashup
Format: ๐ง
Audiobook Narration: โโโโ
Pub Date:
Star Rating: โโโ.5
Lone Women is probably unlike any book that I've read before. It combined historical fiction, horror, science fiction, supernatural, and Western. I didn't dislike the combination; it was just new to me.
I was pulled in initially and stayed interested in the story until at least the 45% mark. From that point on, the book's pacing felt off; almost like a magician who revealed his secret too early - I was no longer interested in what the book had to say because what had been keeping my interest was uncovered, and it wasn't anything remarkable.
So, unfortunately, this was not the book for me. I suggest trying it out for yourself, but remember to keep a very open mind! But, as always, not every book is for every person, and I'm not here to gatekeeper anyone from Lone Women.
Genre: Mashup
Format: ๐ง
Audiobook Narration: โโโโ
Pub Date:
Star Rating: โโโ.5
Lone Women is probably unlike any book that I've read before. It combined historical fiction, horror, science fiction, supernatural, and Western. I didn't dislike the combination; it was just new to me.
I was pulled in initially and stayed interested in the story until at least the 45% mark. From that point on, the book's pacing felt off; almost like a magician who revealed his secret too early - I was no longer interested in what the book had to say because what had been keeping my interest was uncovered, and it wasn't anything remarkable.
So, unfortunately, this was not the book for me. I suggest trying it out for yourself, but remember to keep a very open mind! But, as always, not every book is for every person, and I'm not here to gatekeeper anyone from Lone Women.
slow-paced
Plot or Character Driven:
A mix
Strong character development:
Yes
Loveable characters:
No
Someone Else's Shoes
Genre: Fiction
Format: ๐ง
Audiobook narration: โโโโ
Pub Date: 2.7.2023
Star Rating: โโโ
Genre: Fiction
Format: ๐ง
Audiobook narration: โโโโ
Pub Date: 2.7.2023
Star Rating: โโโ
"If you cannot change your situation, then you have no choice. You can only change how you think about it."
Someone Else's Shoes is the first book from JoJo Moyes that I've read since The Giver of Stars, and boy, was it a letdown. I tried to love this one, and I did, but it fell completely flat and didn't live up to the writing style that I fell in love with previously.
For starters, this book needed some serious editing. It needed to be about 200 pages shorter. Several pages were filled with uninteresting details that didn't add to the story. What started as a funny, light story that gave me Mary Kay Andrews vibes quickly became tedious and repetitive.
For being such a character-driven story, I can't say that I loved any of the characters. Sure, there were times that I cheered them on or worried about what they were getting themselves into, but they became forgettable once that moment had passed.
I hope the next book from JoJo Moyes has some of that flair and lovable characters that I immensely enjoyed in The Giver of Stars. But not every book is for every person. I am certainly in the minority with my thoughts on this book, as it currently has over 4-stars on Goodreads. So, take my review with a grain of salt and try it yourself.
emotional
funny
medium-paced
Plot or Character Driven:
A mix
Strong character development:
Yes
Flaws of characters a main focus:
Yes
Happy Place ๐
Genre: Romance
Trope: Second Chance
Format: ๐ง
Audiobook Narration: โโโโโ
Pub Date: 4.25.2023
Star Rating: โโโโ
Genre: Romance
Trope: Second Chance
Format: ๐ง
Audiobook Narration: โโโโโ
Pub Date: 4.25.2023
Star Rating: โโโโ
"Love means constantly saying you're sorry and then doing better."
Happy Place is not my favorite from Emily Henry, but it was still an enjoyable read (and listen, thanks to Julia Whalen). This title is marketed as a romance book with the trope being second chance, but the book had a different feel. Instead, it seemed like it was about a group of friends trying to find their place in the world and the mistakes they made while trying to do so.
I enjoyed the banter between characters and thought that Wyn was prime book boyfriend material, but the other side stories made the book better for me. For some reason, the whole context of saying goodbye to a place where they had all grown and learned to love struck me the most. I am such a sucker for found family and will always gravitate toward that in a book.
Happy Place was a fun picture of The Proposal and New Girl!
dark
mysterious
tense
fast-paced
Plot or Character Driven:
A mix
Strong character development:
Yes
Thank you, Dutton Books, for the gifted copy of The Only One Left {partner}
Genre: Thriller
Trope: Locked Room
Format: ๐
Pub Date: 6.20.2023
Star Rating: โโโโ.5
Genre: Thriller
Trope: Locked Room
Format: ๐
Pub Date: 6.20.2023
Star Rating: โโโโ.5
โAt Hopeโs End, the past is always the present.โ
Shew! The Only One Left was my last shot at Sager after feeling fully let down by his previous two books, but luckily this was just the book I needed him to write.
The Only One Left gave me all the Lizzie Borden vibes and had no shortage of twists to keep me guessing. There was also the addition of the unreliable narrator, which took me by surprise (which is hard to do these days). My only complaint is that the ending got messy with all the character revelations.
Typically in Sagerโs books, the female protagonist spends the better part of the book in a drug or alcohol-fueled state, trying to convince those around her to take her seriously. But, In The Only One Left, the MC, Kit, kept her wits about her and stood up for herself for what was right. She was an enjoyable character to spend time with and a fully believable addition to the story - she was someone to root for. I have my fingers crossed that Sager will continue this trend with his future titles.
๐๏ธ Deteriorating mansion setting
๐ฃ๏ธ Unreliable character/narrator
๐ Twist after twist
๐ฌ A bit of a messy ending
โฐ 80โs setting
๐๐ผ Loved the โepilogueโ
โ attempted suicide
I recommend reading The Only One Left if you enjoy a creepy setting with a twisted cast of characters!
_
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Content Warnings
Moderate: Suicide attempt
adventurous
emotional
tense
fast-paced
Plot or Character Driven:
Plot
Strong character development:
Yes
Loveable characters:
Yes
FIVE STARS ๐คฉ
Thank you, TJ Newman, for my gifted copy of Drowning!
Genre: Suspense
Format: ๐
Pub Date: 5.20.2023
Star Rating: โโโโโ
Thank you, TJ Newman, for my gifted copy of Drowning!
Genre: Suspense
Format: ๐
Pub Date: 5.20.2023
Star Rating: โโโโโ
"The end result would be the same. That was all life was. Shifting the balance every day to make room for joy and grace in whatever circumstances you've got before time runs out."
TJ Newman has become an auto-buy author for me. She has such pure talent for creating raw, emotional stories that keep you hooked from the first page until the end.
My review will not do this book justice, but I need you to trust me when I say that Drowning is an absolute MUST-read. It's not a thriller or a mystery; it's a rollercoaster ride of events and emotions โ a pure adrenaline rush of story.
When I read the synopsis of Drowning, I thought, 'noooo way.' I am terrified of flying, I have extreme claustrophobia, and I am also afraid of large bodies of water (I have a lot going on, okay?), so everything about Drowning sounded like a nightmare waiting to happen. But the nightmares didn't come. Instead, I grew so attached to the characters in this book that I spent the last 10% crying.
๐๐ผ Truly phenomenal writing
๐๐ผ Perfect pacing
๐ Bingeable read
๐ฅน Characters to fall in love with
๐ฅ Needs to be made into a movie
๐ข Rollercoaster ride of events and emotions
I was on the edge of my seat for the entire book, feeling like I couldn't read fast enough to find out what would happen. So, friends, I need you to pre-order Drowning, ask your library for it, do whatever but make sure that you read Drowning when it publishes on May 30. It is THE book to get you out of a reading slump.
_
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adventurous
emotional
funny
hopeful
reflective
sad
medium-paced
Plot or Character Driven:
A mix
Strong character development:
Yes
Loveable characters:
Yes
Diverse cast of characters:
Yes
Thank you, Tor Books, for the gifted copy of In the Lives of Puppets {partner}
Genre: Fantasy
Format: ๐ง
Audiobook Narration: โโโโโ
Pub Date: 4.25.2023
Star Rating: โโโโ
Genre: Fantasy
Format: ๐ง
Audiobook Narration: โโโโโ
Pub Date: 4.25.2023
Star Rating: โโโโ
โThere must be no greater feeling in the world than to know that this isnโt forever.โ
In The Lives of Puppets, I fell in love with a hilariously inappropriate robot named Nurse Ratchet and a scared yet protective vacuum called Rambo. How does TJ Klune develop these characters and bring them to light in such unique stories?
I listened to In the Lives of Puppets instead of reading it because I loved Daniel Henningโs narration of The House in the Cerulean Sea. Henning may be one of the most gifted audiobook narrators I have encountered; he gave every character their own voice, including any voice eccentricities they mightโve had. It helped to bring the story to life and be fully immersed in the reading experience.
For this book to be in the โfantasyโ genre, it took on some very real and important topics. I donโt want to give anything away, but the underlying themes took my breath away.
๐ซถ๐ผ Found family
๐ค Unique characters
๐ง Audiobook is a MUST
๐ณ๏ธโ๐ Queer representation
๐ Pinocchio retelling with a little bit of Wizard of Oz
I encourage you to read In the Lives of Puppets if you read and enjoyed any of TJ Kluneโs other books.
_
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emotional
inspiring
fast-paced
Plot or Character Driven:
Character
Strong character development:
Yes
Loveable characters:
Yes
Flaws of characters a main focus:
Yes
The Connellyโs of County Down || Thank you, Celadon Books, for the gifted book! {partner}
Genre: Fiction
Trope: Family Drama
Format: ๐
Pub Date: 8.1.2023
Star Rating: โโโโโ
The Connellyโs of County Down was such an easy 5-star read. But, Iโm not surprised because I felt the same way about her debut, We Are the Brennans.
Tracey Lange has a talent for creating complex characters who feel so real that they could be any of us who carry a little extra baggage from our past. I loved Taraโs character. Her devotion to her family is unmatched, and I canโt imagine being able to make the sacrifice that she did. I cheered her on from the first page because I knew she was one of the good ones.
For a shorter book (288 pages), The Connellyโs of County Down packed a lot into its pages. There were themes of mental illness, family secrets, sacrifice, and finding love in the most unexpected places. Because of all of this, I flew through pages. I had every intention of reading it slowly and savoring each page. Nope, I finished this book in no time. Itโs safe to say itโs one I would happily read again.
๐ Short chapters
๐ Completely bingeable
๐๐ผ Perfect for a book club
๐ซถ๐ผ Character-driven
๐ญ Family drama
*For all of you who loved We Are the Brennans, keep an eye out for an ode to Langeโs debut novel in Connellyโs Of County Down ๐
_
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Genre: Fiction
Trope: Family Drama
Format: ๐
Pub Date: 8.1.2023
Star Rating: โโโโโ
The Connellyโs of County Down was such an easy 5-star read. But, Iโm not surprised because I felt the same way about her debut, We Are the Brennans.
Tracey Lange has a talent for creating complex characters who feel so real that they could be any of us who carry a little extra baggage from our past. I loved Taraโs character. Her devotion to her family is unmatched, and I canโt imagine being able to make the sacrifice that she did. I cheered her on from the first page because I knew she was one of the good ones.
For a shorter book (288 pages), The Connellyโs of County Down packed a lot into its pages. There were themes of mental illness, family secrets, sacrifice, and finding love in the most unexpected places. Because of all of this, I flew through pages. I had every intention of reading it slowly and savoring each page. Nope, I finished this book in no time. Itโs safe to say itโs one I would happily read again.
๐ Short chapters
๐ Completely bingeable
๐๐ผ Perfect for a book club
๐ซถ๐ผ Character-driven
๐ญ Family drama
*For all of you who loved We Are the Brennans, keep an eye out for an ode to Langeโs debut novel in Connellyโs Of County Down ๐
_
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funny
slow-paced
Plot or Character Driven:
A mix
Strong character development:
Yes
Loveable characters:
Complicated
Thank you, Random House, for the gifted copy of Romantic Comedy {partner}
Genre: Fiction
Trope: Romance
Format: ๐
Pub Date: 4.4.2023
Star Rating: โโโโ
Since Romantic Comedy is broken into three different sections, I'm going to share my opinions on each section ๐๐ผ
Part 1: โโโ
This section was exhausting to read. At first, I was wholly invested in the story and loved learning what was going on and the inside scoop into what I imagine it's like to be on SNL. But, about 25% into this section, I lost all interest. I grew tired of hearing the repetitive nature of the characters' lives and just how poorly they treated themselves.
Part 2: โโโโโ
Absolutely the BEST! I didn't want the section to end. It was fun, sweet and took me right back to the first stages of getting to know someone. The email chain between Sally and Noah showed such pure character development, allowing me to fall in love with Noah's character. His honest and sincere nature felt genuine throughout the book, but there was something about this section that I adored.
Part 3: โโโโ
The first 50% of this section drug on for me and *shocking* included the miscommunication trope ๐คช But, by the end of the section, I was enjoying Sally and Noah, their growth individually and as a couple. It gave me all the warm fuzzy feelings I hoped the book would end with.
I can't say that Romantic Comedy was the book for me, but it was entertaining. I recommend reading this if you enjoyed 30 Rock and You've Got Mail.
_
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Genre: Fiction
Trope: Romance
Format: ๐
Pub Date: 4.4.2023
Star Rating: โโโโ
Since Romantic Comedy is broken into three different sections, I'm going to share my opinions on each section ๐๐ผ
Part 1: โโโ
This section was exhausting to read. At first, I was wholly invested in the story and loved learning what was going on and the inside scoop into what I imagine it's like to be on SNL. But, about 25% into this section, I lost all interest. I grew tired of hearing the repetitive nature of the characters' lives and just how poorly they treated themselves.
Part 2: โโโโโ
Absolutely the BEST! I didn't want the section to end. It was fun, sweet and took me right back to the first stages of getting to know someone. The email chain between Sally and Noah showed such pure character development, allowing me to fall in love with Noah's character. His honest and sincere nature felt genuine throughout the book, but there was something about this section that I adored.
Part 3: โโโโ
The first 50% of this section drug on for me and *shocking* included the miscommunication trope ๐คช But, by the end of the section, I was enjoying Sally and Noah, their growth individually and as a couple. It gave me all the warm fuzzy feelings I hoped the book would end with.
I can't say that Romantic Comedy was the book for me, but it was entertaining. I recommend reading this if you enjoyed 30 Rock and You've Got Mail.
_
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