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chaptersofchase's Reviews (1.12k)
funny
slow-paced
Plot or Character Driven:
Character
Strong character development:
No
Loveable characters:
No
Diverse cast of characters:
No
Flaws of characters a main focus:
Complicated
Thank you, Wednesday Books, for the gifted copy of You Have a Match {partner}
Genre: Young Adult
Format: π§
Pub Date: 1.12.2021
Star Rating: βββ
Genre: Young Adult
Format: π§
Pub Date: 1.12.2021
Star Rating: βββ
βI feel strangely invincible, like the moments happening right now donβt count for anything, but somehow count for everything at once.β
For all those times that I donβt read the summary of a book but go off of reviews, there is always that one time that I mentally kick myself. For me, that was this book. I had no idea it was a young adult book, and while I enjoy the genre, I donβt love YA romance titles. In the long run, this wasnβt exactly a romance but more of an exploration of what it means to find a family (and family secrets).
I wanted to love this book, and I did. Iβve always enjoyed the summer camp setting. But there was just something about You Have a Match that I couldnβt quite enjoy.
Everything was so well placed and perfectly choreographed, which didnβt make it remotely believable. It felt like the story wanted too many different things - was it a romance? Was it a coming of age? Was it a story about finding a sister? Parent secrets? What exactly was the story trying to be?
While it did have its humorous moments that had me giggling because it took me back to my teenage years, the βprofoundβ moments were hard to take seriously.
ποΈ Summer camp setting
π€« Secret sister
π§π½ Young Adult
π€·π½ββοΈ More about family than a romance
I recommend reading You Have a Match if YA Fiction is your cup of tea!
-
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mysterious
medium-paced
Plot or Character Driven:
A mix
Strong character development:
Yes
Loveable characters:
Complicated
Diverse cast of characters:
Complicated
Flaws of characters a main focus:
Yes
Thank you, Dutton Books, for the gifted copy of Magnolia Palace πΈ {partner}
Genre: Historical Fiction
Setting: New York, 1916 and 1966
Format: π§
Pub Date: 1.25.2022
Star Rating: ββββ
Genre: Historical Fiction
Setting: New York, 1916 and 1966
Format: π§
Pub Date: 1.25.2022
Star Rating: ββββ
βThe rich think theyβre protected, that they have magical powers, when theyβre only mortals, like the rest of us. Bodies break down and betray you. People you love die. Children die.β
Well, folks, I finally got around to reading the Magnolia Palace after it sat on my shelf for a year. I donβt want to admit how often I looked at the stunning book and didnβt pick it up. But Iβm so glad I finally read it (well listened to) because it was a delight!
I always love Davisβ books as she has a captivating way of bringing history to life through endearing characters, familiar places, and always a hint of mystery. The more I think about it, the more I realize that the historical fiction + mystery mash-up may be my favorite trope.
My only two criticisms about Magnolia Palace are that I did not love Veronicaβs character. She lacked the characteristics of the strong female protagonist I could see her being, and I also disagreed with her choices (even if she did try to make up for her actions). The other issue is that the ending felt rushed and too easy. There were a lot of moving pieces that seemed to just come together in an unrealistic way.
If you choose to read Magnolia Palace, which you should, I encourage you to read the Authorβs Note at the end. It brought the whole story together and shed some light on a woman from history that was neglected and forgotten.
βπΌDual timeline (1916 + 1966)
π Family drama with lots of secrets
π― Frick Mansion setting
π Historical Fiction + Mystery genre mash-up
I recommend reading Magnolia Palace if you enjoyed reading any of Fiona Davisβ other books or are looking for a bit of history and mystery combination from your next read.
_
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emotional
funny
fast-paced
β¨ REVIEW: Spare by Prince Harry. Thank you, Random House, for the gifted copy of this book. {partner}
Genre: Non-Fiction
Format: π§
Pub Date: 1.10.2023
Star Rating: βββββ
Genre: Non-Fiction
Format: π§
Pub Date: 1.10.2023
Star Rating: βββββ
"No one had an answer for a boy seeking external pain to match his internal."
ππΌthis quote sums up so many things about Spare.
As soon as I saw that Prince Harry was publishing a book about his life AND would be narrating the audio, I knew I had to listen. I'm so glad I could hear him tell his story in his voice.
It was a beautifully written and deeply personal look into the life of one of the former senior members of the royal family. While Harry does discuss what led to his inevitable split from his family, it's not the sole focus. It's more about his life in and out of the public eye.
Harry is a human being. He has made mistakes, as we all have, and boy, am I glad my 20-year-old self didn't have her mistakes featured on the front page of magazines, newspapers, and talk shows. Harry made mistakes and was left to face them alone without any real support. The chapters of him discussing his mother's death brought me to tears because I could hear, in his voice, that he still carries so much of that with him to this day.
Spare also made me realize how deeply toxic the royal family's relationship is with the press. I actually can't quite wrap my mind around all the ways that they are intertwined.
I have always liked Harry, but reading his book made me deeply appreciate him and his courage to stand up for himself, his wife, and his children. He wants his children to have a better life than he did.
π€·π½ββοΈ Don't have to be a Royal obsessed to read
π Felt deeply personal
π₯Ί Made me laugh and cry on several occasions
π§ Audiobook is a MUST
π Epilogue about saying goodbye to Queen Elizabeth
I decided for 2023 that I will read one non-fiction a month β give me your recommendations below!
______
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Content Warnings
Moderate: Drug use
mysterious
slow-paced
Plot or Character Driven:
A mix
Strong character development:
Complicated
Loveable characters:
No
Thank you, Dutton Books, for the gifted copy of The House in the Pines {partner}
Genre: Mystery
Trope: Unexplained Death
Format: π§
Pub Date: 1.3.2023
Star Rating: βββ
Genre: Mystery
Trope: Unexplained Death
Format: π§
Pub Date: 1.3.2023
Star Rating: βββ
"Get a good night's sleep because when you wake, this house will be gone."
I started reading The House in the Pines in 2022, but I wasn't feeling the story then, so I put it away until closer to publishing. After debating which format to read the book, I settled on audio through Libro.FM.
While I enjoyed the audiobook, I struggled when the storyline flipped between past and present without any warning, so I had to constantly back up 15-30 seconds to ensure I had the time frame right before continuing. Which caused my concentration to be interrupted, and that always bothers me.
While the first 1/4 of the book was a little slow, I was utterly immersed in the middle 1/2 of the book. I was eager to find out what had happened to Maya's best friend and if Maya had just imagined the whole ordeal. However, when all was said and done, the last 1/4 of the book completely lost me.
I also don't understand the importance of Maya's dad's story/book to The House in the Pines. This side story added little to the book as a whole, and I believe it should've been cut from the book.
π£οΈ Unreliable narrator
π€·π½ββοΈ Unsatisfactory ending
π Slow-burn mystery
π Meeting of past and present
π€― Twists I didn't see coming
The House in the Pines is a January 2023 Reeses Book Club Pick! I recommend adding it to your reading list if you enjoy the unreliable narrator trope with a touch of magic.
______
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Content Warnings
Moderate: Alcoholism, Drug abuse
mysterious
medium-paced
Plot or Character Driven:
A mix
Loveable characters:
Complicated
Flaws of characters a main focus:
Yes
Thank you, Flatiron Books, for the gifted copy of What Lies in the Woods {partner}
Genre: Mystery/Thriller
Format: π
Pub Date: 1.17.2023
Star Rating: ββββ
Genre: Mystery/Thriller
Format: π
Pub Date: 1.17.2023
Star Rating: ββββ
"There were women who seemed made to disappear into the cracks, and those whose vanishing had turned communities upside down, and all of them were just as thoroughly gone."
What Lies in the Woods by Kate Alice Marshall was at the top of my 2023 reading list, AND it ended up being my first read of 2023 because I couldn't help myself. I started reading it while on my NYE getaway to a cabin in the mountains, and the setting + this book made for the most atmospheric read. Marshall formulated her book with just enough mystery that it kept me on my toes.
While I had my suspicions as to the direction of the story, Marshall supplied more than a few characters that helped to muddy the water, making me unsure. As the book got closer to concluding, my initial thoughts turned out to be true. My twist predictions turning out to be true is not a negative because the path from A-Z was entertaining and kept me curious!
The only issue that I did have was with the ending. It was too over the top for my liking. There's a fine line between answering key plot questions and everything being tied into a nice bow. It was too perfect of an ending.
π΅π½ββοΈ Serial Killer?
π€« Small town full of secrets
π Adult thriller debut
π©π½ Convincing protagonist
π Slow burn but does pick up at the 30% mark
I recommend reading What Lies in the Woods if you enjoyed reading Last to Vanish by Megan Miranda or Local Woman Missing by Mary Kubica.
______
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mysterious
medium-paced
Plot or Character Driven:
A mix
Thank you, St Martins Press, for the gifted copy of The Villa {partner}
Genre: Mystery
Format: π
Pages: 288
Pub Date: 1.3.2023
Star Rating: ββββ
Genre: Mystery
Format: π
Pages: 288
Pub Date: 1.3.2023
Star Rating: ββββ
"All the drugs and the women and the men, all the wild, dark rumors, all of that is both a distraction from and an offshoot of what this man can do."
The Villa was one of my last reads of 2022 - I was trying to save it for the start of the new year, but I couldn't do it because I always enjoy Rachel Hawkins's books. I'm reasonably sure I devoured The Villa in less than 24 hours because it was -17 outside, and why wouldn't I want to get lost in an Italian Villa?
I love Hawkins's vivid descriptions of the Villa's past and present - they brought the whole thing to life and transported me into the book.
I went into the book with little idea as to what to expect; the only thing I saw is that, to one reader, it felt more like historical fiction. It blended historical fiction, mystery, and domestic suspense. The book was more about unraveling the secret from the past while mixing in a bit of domestic tension into the modern-day perspective.
Overall, it was an enjoyable read, and I kept trying to guess at the different twists and turns that might come from the story. While I could imagine one of them, I was thoroughly surprised by the other. I felt like I was helping the MC, Emily, discover the long-hidden secrets of the Villa as she discovered clue after clue.
βπΌ Dual Perspective (40 years apart, same Villa)
π Slower in the middle
π€¬ Chess is just the worst
π Historical Fiction + Mystery + Domestic Suspense
π€© Started & ended with the same line
I recommend reading The Villa if you enjoyed reading The Wife Upstairs by Rachel Hawkins.
______
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dark
mysterious
tense
fast-paced
Thank you, Park Row Books, for the gifted copy of The Social Climber {partner}
Genre: Fiction
Format: π
Pages: 320
Pub Date: 1.3.2023
Star Rating: ββββ.5
"You're either kind, or you're not. You're born with it, or you die without it."
If you're seriously considering reading The Social Climbers (and you should), I suggest straying away from most reviews. I read this title a few weeks before publishing, and I went into it without reading any reviews or other details β I relied solely on the synopsis, and it paid off. But I know that a review might help you add this to your 2023 reading list.
Typically I'm not too fond of stories about the entitled 1%, but The Social Climber kept my attention, and although the main character had an unsettling personality, I strangely liked her. The author, Amanda Pellegrino, crafted this book so that I constantly found myself reading "just one more chapter" because I couldn't put it down.
Slow-burn stories aren't my typical cup of tea, but The Social Climber unfolded so carefully and intentionally that I never found myself bored. I was fascinated as I knew something about the story was not quite right...
The ending was full of so many "didn't see this coming" moments. And I loved it! It felt like the fog had lifted, and I was seeing everything clearly.
βπΌ Alternating timelines
π Unsettling but likable MC
π The whole book is a "one more chapter" vibe
π§ Mysterious undertone
π€― Those reveals
β Anorexia, bulimia, compulsive Exercise, and fat shaming are very present in this book. It goes along with the story, but I think it was a tad over the top (why I knocked 1/2 star off).
I recommend reading The Social Climber if you're looking for a compulsive read that will leave you guessing.
______
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Genre: Fiction
Format: π
Pages: 320
Pub Date: 1.3.2023
Star Rating: ββββ.5
"You're either kind, or you're not. You're born with it, or you die without it."
If you're seriously considering reading The Social Climbers (and you should), I suggest straying away from most reviews. I read this title a few weeks before publishing, and I went into it without reading any reviews or other details β I relied solely on the synopsis, and it paid off. But I know that a review might help you add this to your 2023 reading list.
Typically I'm not too fond of stories about the entitled 1%, but The Social Climber kept my attention, and although the main character had an unsettling personality, I strangely liked her. The author, Amanda Pellegrino, crafted this book so that I constantly found myself reading "just one more chapter" because I couldn't put it down.
Slow-burn stories aren't my typical cup of tea, but The Social Climber unfolded so carefully and intentionally that I never found myself bored. I was fascinated as I knew something about the story was not quite right...
The ending was full of so many "didn't see this coming" moments. And I loved it! It felt like the fog had lifted, and I was seeing everything clearly.
βπΌ Alternating timelines
π Unsettling but likable MC
π The whole book is a "one more chapter" vibe
π§ Mysterious undertone
π€― Those reveals
β Anorexia, bulimia, compulsive Exercise, and fat shaming are very present in this book. It goes along with the story, but I think it was a tad over the top (why I knocked 1/2 star off).
I recommend reading The Social Climber if you're looking for a compulsive read that will leave you guessing.
______
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Content Warnings
Graphic: Eating disorder