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chaptersofchase's Reviews (1.12k)
emotional
inspiring
fast-paced
Thank you, Scribner Books, for the gifted copy of A Quiet Life {partner}
Genre: Fiction
Format: π
Pub Date: 11.29.2022
Star Rating: βββββ
Genre: Fiction
Format: π
Pub Date: 11.29.2022
Star Rating: βββββ
"Be someone's cardinal."
Last year, I loved reading A Little Hope by Ethan Joella- it was just what I needed, and it's hard to believe it was Joella's debut novel. Then somehow, he's done it again with A Quiet Life. At the first mention of a cardinal, I knew this was the book I needed to read.
A Quiet Life was simultaneously stunning and heartbreaking β a true testament to the writer (and person) that Ethan Joella is.
The last time I loved a cast of characters this much was while reading the Thursday Murder Club series. It's rare for me to be unable to pick a favorite character, but I really treasured every single character in A Quiet Life. They were all unique, funny, compassionate, and learning to cope with their seemingly insurmountable grief in their own ways. I knew their stories would intersect at some point, and when they did, I cried out of sheer joy at the lengths they were willing to go to for strangers. It was beautiful.
A Quiet Life packs a lot into its 304 pages, but it never felt overwhelming or unnecessary. I wish there had been more because I didn't want it to end.
π₯° Found Family
π₯Ί About the fragility of life
π Intersection of character's lives
π A story you won't want to end
I recommend reading A Quiet Life if you enjoyed reading All the Lonely People.
______
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dark
mysterious
slow-paced
Plot or Character Driven:
Plot
Strong character development:
Complicated
Loveable characters:
No
Flaws of characters a main focus:
Yes
Thank you, Celadon Books, for the gifted copy of Locust Lane {partner}
Genre: Slow Burn Mystery
Format: π
Pub Date: 1.17.2023
Star Rating: βββ
Genre: Slow Burn Mystery
Format: π
Pub Date: 1.17.2023
Star Rating: βββ
"Relationships are negotiations. Don't judge them unless you're at the table when the deal is done."
Locust Lane is your typical wealthy families-misbehaving-mystery. Yes, it is a mystery. No, it is absolutely not a thriller.
This book is told from the POV of five characters (I had to make a character map to keep them straight); all of them are parents or step-parents. So, we never actually have a chance to hear from the kids involved with the murder.
I was invested in the first 20% of Locust Lane, but the remaining portion of the book felt like it took forever to get through. It's one of those books I did not necessarily like, but I also wanted to know how it ended. I didn't predict the ending; I had suspicions but didn't figure it out. So, that's good, at least.
The ending was lousy. I know the author was trying to make a statement regarding the wealthy vs. blue-collar, but I did not care for the book's conclusion, and it truly made me drop my rating from 3.5 to 3 stars.
βπΌ Five POVs
π° Affluent families behaving badly
π π½ββοΈ Despised the ending
π Slow burn
β In the very first chapter, there is a scene involving a dog being hit by a car and a few other things happening. The dog does not die, but I never felt that the dog's involvement was pertinent to the story. There are also references to rape-themed pornography and sexual assault.
I recommend reading Locust Lane if you enjoy Liane Moriarity's books.
______
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Content Warnings
Moderate: Sexual assault
emotional
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
Thank you, Grand Central Publishing and Libro.FM, for the gifted copy of Meredith, Alone {partner}
Genre: Fiction
Format: π§
Pub Date: 10.18.2022
Star Rating: ββββ.5
Genre: Fiction
Format: π§
Pub Date: 10.18.2022
Star Rating: ββββ.5
βFor better or for worse, life can change in a matter of seconds; people take their first and last breaths, cars crash, and planes plunge into oceans. The healing process after decades of hurt can begin with a simple gesture or a question, are you alright.β
Meredith, Alone is one of those books that will stay with me for a long time. I loved Meredith, her eccentricities, her truthfulness, and all the steps she took to care of herself. I commend the author, Claire Alexander, for taking such care to portray Meredith in the way that she did.
Not only did the author do a spectacular job with Meredith's character, but she also showed what a support system could and should look like for someone in Meredith's shoes. The book also showed that therapy isn't scary (it's not, trust me) and that finding a professional to talk to can be helpful. None of Meredith's friends put pressure on her to change or "get over" what happened, but it was more about being there for her and encouraging Meredith to keep trying.
Throughout the book, I celebrated Meredith's steps forward and even her steps backward (because it's not always easy). Everything about Meredith, Alone felt realistic, and I highly recommend reading this book (or listening to it).
π‘ Agoraphobia
π₯° What a support system should look like
π₯Ί Heavy read
ππΌ Realistic
π§ Loved the audiobook & audiobook narrator
As I mentioned, Meredith, Alone is a very heavy book - it circles around rape, sexual assault, parental abuse/neglect/abandonment, cancer, and pregnancy loss. If you have any questions or concerns, please DM me.
I recommend reading Meredith, Alone if you enjoyed reading All the Lonely People by Mike Gayle.
______
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Content Warnings
Graphic: Rape, Sexual assault
Moderate: Cancer
emotional
fast-paced
Plot or Character Driven:
Character
Loveable characters:
Yes
Thank you, Atria Books, for the gifted copy of It Starts with Us π {partner}
Genre: Romance
Trope: Second Chance
Format: π
Pub Date: 10.18.2022
Star Rating: βββββ
Genre: Romance
Trope: Second Chance
Format: π
Pub Date: 10.18.2022
Star Rating: βββββ
βI can draw a seedling with two dirty branches. Yours and mine. Weβll be on our own brand-new, tiny family tree β one that starts with us.β
I will keep this review short and sweet because what hasnβt been said about It Ends With Us, and It Starts With Us? These books have been all over Instagram and TikTok lately, and if Iβm entirely honest with myself, I was skeptical about this second book. But, dang it, I needed it. I didnβt realize how much I needed it until Iβd finished the last page.
The only issue I have with this book is Ryleβs sister and brother-in-law. In my opinion, they stepped in WAY too late. There is no excuse for abuse (mental, physical, or emotional). If you have a family member or a friend who is abusive to their spouse, kids, or whoever, you need to step in and make it your business. It is not okay. Okay, end rant.
Back to things that make me happy about this book, and one of them is Atlas. He reminds me so much of my husband, and I think thatβs why I love him.
Oh, and for all you CoHo fans out there β It Starts With Us is not your typical book from the author. When Colleen Hoover said she didnβt want to retraumatize Lily in this book, she meant it.
______
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dark
medium-paced
Plot or Character Driven:
A mix
Strong character development:
Complicated
Loveable characters:
Complicated
Thank you, Berkley Publishing, for the gifted copy of Sign Here {partner}
Genre: Horror
Format: π
Pub Date: 10.25.2022
Star Rating: βββ
Iβm not entirely sure what I expected from Sign Here, but it is one of the more unique stories Iβve read in recent memory. Not only is it unique, but itβs reasonably unsettling as well. I had a hard time reading it as it was initially my βbefore bedβ book, but then it gave me nightmares, so it became my βduring the dayβ book. It wasnβt scary or thrilling by any means; it was just profoundly unsettling for me to read.
The characters were all morally grey (why they ended up in hell, I guess), but I didnβt hate them. Well, thatβs not true; there were three in particular that I didnβt like.
As for the ending? It was a letdown for me. I thought it was a strange way to conclude the book, and it didnβt fit with the previous 90% of the story. I canβt pinpoint exactly what didnβt work for me, just that it fell flat. It might be because I thought Iβd had the book all worked out until that point, and then it went in the opposite direction.
π Dark Humor
π Not your typical hellscape; think Office vibes
π Slow in a few areas
ππΌ Some fun reveals
βπΌ Two stories in one
π« Ending fell flat
Iβd love to compare Sign Here to another book that Iβve read so you could see if it would be for you, but as I said previously, itβs a unique story. I suggest checking it out or adding it to your Spooky Season 2023 Reading List!
______
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Genre: Horror
Format: π
Pub Date: 10.25.2022
Star Rating: βββ
Iβm not entirely sure what I expected from Sign Here, but it is one of the more unique stories Iβve read in recent memory. Not only is it unique, but itβs reasonably unsettling as well. I had a hard time reading it as it was initially my βbefore bedβ book, but then it gave me nightmares, so it became my βduring the dayβ book. It wasnβt scary or thrilling by any means; it was just profoundly unsettling for me to read.
The characters were all morally grey (why they ended up in hell, I guess), but I didnβt hate them. Well, thatβs not true; there were three in particular that I didnβt like.
As for the ending? It was a letdown for me. I thought it was a strange way to conclude the book, and it didnβt fit with the previous 90% of the story. I canβt pinpoint exactly what didnβt work for me, just that it fell flat. It might be because I thought Iβd had the book all worked out until that point, and then it went in the opposite direction.
π Dark Humor
π Not your typical hellscape; think Office vibes
π Slow in a few areas
ππΌ Some fun reveals
βπΌ Two stories in one
π« Ending fell flat
Iβd love to compare Sign Here to another book that Iβve read so you could see if it would be for you, but as I said previously, itβs a unique story. I suggest checking it out or adding it to your Spooky Season 2023 Reading List!
______
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adventurous
emotional
medium-paced
Plot or Character Driven:
Plot
Strong character development:
Yes
Loveable characters:
Yes
Diverse cast of characters:
N/A
Flaws of characters a main focus:
Yes
The Lincoln Highway
Genre: Historical Fiction
Time: 1954
Format: π§
Pub Date: 10.5.2021
Star Rating: ββββ
Genre: Historical Fiction
Time: 1954
Format: π§
Pub Date: 10.5.2021
Star Rating: ββββ
"For what is kindness but the performance of an act that is both beneficial to another and unrequired?"
The Lincoln Highway is told over ten days in 1954, readers follow along with two brothers (Emmett and Billy) as they attempt to make a fresh start by driving west. But, before they can start, they encounter two friends (Duchess and Woolly) who lead their plans astray.
I enjoyed how The Lincoln Highway was written - it gave me that older story vibe. For some reason, I kept thinking of O Brother, Where Art Thou? because of the side stories that take place throughout the book.
I didn't anticipate liking the characters as much as I did, but they all felt genuine and well-rounded. I loved the exchanges between Emmett and Billy (the brothers) and felt that Billy's character brought so much to the book. I also liked Duchess and Woolly for the unpredictability they added to the novel - the two were merely the product of their surroundings. It's because of Duchess and Woolly's characters I gave this four stars instead of five; I didn't care for their outcomes- I felt like the two boys deserved a better ending.
π₯ Multiple POVs
π§ Audiobook (no quotation marks π« )
π₯° Believable and endearing characters
ππΌ Minor characters that leave a mark
π°οΈ Occurs over a 10-day time
π A Read with Jenna book club pick
β - Suicide
I recommend reading The Lincoln Highway if you enjoyed reading This Tender Land.
______
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Content Warnings
Moderate: Suicide
challenging
dark
emotional
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
Demon Copperhead Review
Genre: Fiction
Trope: Coming-of-Age, retelling
Format: π§
Pub Date: 10.18.2022
Star Rating: βββββ
Genre: Fiction
Trope: Coming-of-Age, retelling
Format: π§
Pub Date: 10.18.2022
Star Rating: βββββ
"The wonder is that you could start life with nothing, end with nothing, and lose so much in between."
When I saw that Oprah's Book Club picked Demon Copperhead to read, I knew that I would have to read it and then Libro.FM offered it as an ALC pick, so I started listening while waiting for my book to arrive. Once I received my book, I kept listening because the audiobook narrator, Charlie Thurston, brought this story to life, and I was hooked on his narration.
Demon Copperhead is meant to be a David Copperfield retelling, but I truthfully didn't realize that until after I'd finished the book. This novel was more of a coming-of-age story set in the backdrop of Southern Appalachia, which is not far from where I live now. I have family and several lifelong friends who grew up there.
This book struck me as the entirety of the story took place before Damon was even an adult. Due to everything he was exposed to and endured, I thought he was older. How could someone go through all that he did and not even be an adult? But don't worry, this book isn't just full of sadness; I often found myself laughing and being reminded that Damon was a child. I found joy in his moments of joy and laughed along with his boyish antics.
I've seen a few reviews that have stated that the depiction of the characters in Demon Copperhead is stereotypical and not at all what Kentucky is like. I'm afraid I have to disagree with them - no, not all of Kentucky is the way, but some areas certainly are. As a native Kentuckian who grew up in the country, I have encountered the people depicted in this book. Now, that's not to say there aren't some embellishments sprinkled throughout, but Demon Copperhead is spot on for some areas of Southern Appalachia. I have seen it with my own eyes, I've worked with people in these areas, and they are very real. These faults do not make them bad people; they are just a product of where they grew up.
Anyways enough of that; if you haven't yet added Demon Copperhead to your reading list, I highly recommend doing so and if you like audiobooks, give it a listen.
______
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Content Warnings
Graphic: Drug abuse, Drug use
dark
mysterious
slow-paced
Plot or Character Driven:
A mix
Loveable characters:
No
Thank you, Atria Books, for the gifted copy of The Cloisters {partner}
Genre: Mystery
Trope: Dark Academia
Format: π
Pub Date: 11.1.2022
Star Rating: βββ
Genre: Mystery
Trope: Dark Academia
Format: π
Pub Date: 11.1.2022
Star Rating: βββ
"It was then I realized how thin the light is that separates what we know as fate and what we think of as choice - just an interpretation. Nothing more."
Y'all, I realllllly wanted to love The Cloisters, I can't begin to tell you how excited I was when this dropped on my front step, but it just didn't do anything for me. The first 30% was interesting; it had me questioning the characters' motives and interests in the world of divination.
Here are a few of the things that didn't work for me:
There were several occasions when I felt like I was reading straight from a textbook - the writing style needed to fit what I'd become accustomed to from the author, but it didn't. The book was all over the place. Yes, the different storylines within the novel came together in the end, making a little more sense (not much), but aspects of the story were unnecessary and caused the book to drag. Because of this, I kept finding reasons to be distracted from the book and uninterested in resuming reading.
π½ Dark Academia, New York City setting
π€© Gorgeous cover
π Repetitive
π€·π½ββοΈ Almost had a YA vibe?
β¨ Debut novel
ππΌ Unlikable characters
Please take my review with a grain of salt as I am only one review (and reviews for this book have been all over the place), and I certainly don't want to prevent anyone from picking this one up to read. The Cloisters is the author's debut novel, and I am interested in what she writes next because she has a lot of potential.
______
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emotional
funny
inspiring
lighthearted
reflective
sad
fast-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
Thank you, Ecco Books, for the gifted copy of Now is Not the Time to Panic {partner}
Genre: Fiction
Trope: Coming of Age
Format: π§
Pub Date: 11.8.2022
Star Rating: βββββ
Genre: Fiction
Trope: Coming of Age
Format: π§
Pub Date: 11.8.2022
Star Rating: βββββ
"The edge is a shantytown filled with gold seekers, we are the new fugitives, and the law is skinny with hunger for us."
Now is Not the Time to Panic is a one-of-a-kind book, and I feel like it will hold a special place in my heart for several reasons. I encourage you to read the author's note - it brought the whole story together for me.
NINTTTP is a quirky but heart-warming look at what it feels like to find something that makes you feel exceptional in a world where you feel like you don't belong. Frankie and Zeke are two kids trying to figure out where they fit in the world, and I fell in love with them.
The entire book is full of authentic characters experiencing real feelings. But don't let the fact that this is 246 pages make you think that this will be a light read β there are themes of loneliness, forgiveness, family dysfunction, divorce, and mental illness scattered throughout the book. It left me choked up in several places as I could identify with what the characters were experiencing.
π Set during the '90s in Kentucky/Tennessee (felt like home)
π Love the author sense of humor
β¨ One-of-a-kind story
βοΈRead that author's note
β€οΈβπ©Ή All about finding a way to leave your mark on the world
Usually, I'll suggest you "read this if you enjoyed this," but Now is Not the Time to Panic is such a unique story that I can't compare it to anything else.
______
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dark
mysterious
tense
medium-paced
Plot or Character Driven:
A mix
Strong character development:
Yes
Loveable characters:
Complicated
Diverse cast of characters:
Yes
Flaws of characters a main focus:
Yes
Thank you, Penguin Teen and Razorbill Books, for the gifted copy of Dark and Shallow Lies {partner}
Genre: YA Mystery
Format: π
Pub Date: 9.7.2021
Star Rating: ββββ
βWhen the secrets we hide in our pockets arenβt our own, the weight of them can still be enough to drown us.β
Well, hello, Ginny Myers Sain; itβs lovely to meet you ππΌ I canβt wait to read more of your books!
Over the last year, Iβve sworn off YA mysteries because they feel so cheesy and predictable. But, when Dark and Shallow Lies landed on my porch, I decided to give the genre one more chance and started reading. Sain proved me wrong and has me reinvested in the YA genre (or maybe Iβll only read her books π€ͺ). But in all sincerity, Dark and Shallow Lies didnβt feel like what Iβd typically find in this genre β the characters are young, but thatβs about all the βyoungβ part of the book.
I felt a sense of foreboding from the first page, and it didnβt leave me until I had finished the book. Everything about Dark and Shallow Lies was perfectly atmospheric and told in striking detail that I felt I was right there in La Cachette, Louisana.
One of my favorite elements of Dark and Shallow Lies were the glimpses into Greyβs visions. The author couldβve spent chapters laying out these visions to her readers, but we were given snippets, small paragraphs, and not a ton of context. I never put all the pieces together, and the ending left me completely surprised.
π€© Atmospheric with vivid details
πΆ Louisiana setting
π Perfect book for this time of year
π₯³ Brilliant debut (I canβt wait to read more from Sain)
π€ Character development that felt natural
π Kept me interested until the last page
π§π½ Not your typical YA
I recommend reading Dark and Shallow Lies if you enjoyed reading The Wicked Deep or We Were Liars.
______
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Genre: YA Mystery
Format: π
Pub Date: 9.7.2021
Star Rating: ββββ
βWhen the secrets we hide in our pockets arenβt our own, the weight of them can still be enough to drown us.β
Well, hello, Ginny Myers Sain; itβs lovely to meet you ππΌ I canβt wait to read more of your books!
Over the last year, Iβve sworn off YA mysteries because they feel so cheesy and predictable. But, when Dark and Shallow Lies landed on my porch, I decided to give the genre one more chance and started reading. Sain proved me wrong and has me reinvested in the YA genre (or maybe Iβll only read her books π€ͺ). But in all sincerity, Dark and Shallow Lies didnβt feel like what Iβd typically find in this genre β the characters are young, but thatβs about all the βyoungβ part of the book.
I felt a sense of foreboding from the first page, and it didnβt leave me until I had finished the book. Everything about Dark and Shallow Lies was perfectly atmospheric and told in striking detail that I felt I was right there in La Cachette, Louisana.
One of my favorite elements of Dark and Shallow Lies were the glimpses into Greyβs visions. The author couldβve spent chapters laying out these visions to her readers, but we were given snippets, small paragraphs, and not a ton of context. I never put all the pieces together, and the ending left me completely surprised.
π€© Atmospheric with vivid details
πΆ Louisiana setting
π Perfect book for this time of year
π₯³ Brilliant debut (I canβt wait to read more from Sain)
π€ Character development that felt natural
π Kept me interested until the last page
π§π½ Not your typical YA
I recommend reading Dark and Shallow Lies if you enjoyed reading The Wicked Deep or We Were Liars.
______
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