chaptersofchase's Reviews (1.12k)

Imposter

Bradeigh Godfrey

3.0

mysterious slow-paced

Plot or Character Driven: A mix

Strong character development: Complicated

Loveable characters: No

Diverse cast of characters: No

Flaws of characters a main focus: Yes

Thank you, Blackstone Publishing, for the gifted e-copy of Imposter. {partner}

Genre: Mystery
Format: 📖
Pub Date: 9.13.2022
Star Rating: ☆☆☆

"A memory is a story we tell ourselves; it's not what happened, it's how we feel about what happened."

Let me begin by saying that I am certainly in the minority with my review of Imposter. That seems to be the trend for me and thrillers this year — I expect it to be one thing and get something completely different. Maybe I have too high of an expectation?

Unfortunately, Imposter was not for me. I found the story to be predictable from start to finish. I even predicted the big reveal towards the end of the book. I didn't love any of the characters and found them one-dimensional and a tiny bit boring. The chapters lacked the magnetism I am constantly searching for in this genre. Several repetitive pieces throughout the book weren't essential and truthfully irritated me by the time I got to the end.

The scene involving Lillian and the baby monitor was the only part of this book that made me nervous. But everything else just felt moderately bland.

The main character is supposed to be this well-educated and remarkable woman, but I wasn't left with any feelings of awe. She seemed to me to be a bit naive and unlikeable. Creating a weaker-willed woman is the constant go-to for many authors in this genre, and I desperately need something different.

🙄 Predictable ending
🐌 Slow pace
👩🏽‍⚕️ Author's medical expertise added exciting elements to the book
🔁 Repetitive

Again, I know I am an outlier regarding my feelings on this book. So, please take my review with a grain of salt and read one of the many 4-5 star reviews of Imposter. I may not have enjoyed reading this one, but it won't stop me from picking up Godfrey's next book!

Notes on an Execution

Danya Kukafka

5.0

dark medium-paced

Plot or Character Driven: Character

Strong character development: Complicated

Loveable characters: Complicated

Diverse cast of characters: Yes

Flaws of characters a main focus: Yes

Thank you, William Morrow, for the gifted copy of Notes on an Execution {partner}

Genre: Fiction
Format: 🎧
Pub Date: 1.25.22
Star Rating: ☆☆☆☆☆

"No one is all bad. No one is all good. We live as equals in the murky gray between."

I started Notes on an Execution in January (it was going to be my first read of 2022), but I couldn't get into it. I decided to set the book down and swore to return to it when I could be in a different frame of mind. However, after reading several raving reviews throughout the last eight months, I decided it was finally time to pick it up and start reading.

Notes on an Execution is one of those books that I can't say I enjoyed due to the dark content, but wow, was it incredible.

As the reader, we're privy to all the 'before' moments, and then we learn of the crime and see the 'after' as well. Not only are we witnesses to the women's deaths, but we are also given a glimpse into the lives of the people who knew Ansel at his best and worst moments.

🤯 dark, disturbing, and insightful
🥺 leaves you with a heavy heart
⏮️ flashback chapters
❓ asks a lot of difficult questions

❌ graphic death of animals & women, child abuse, domestic violence

I wasn't sure how the author would choose to end Notes on an Execution, but I have to say it was flawless. I was stunned at the intricate story Kukafka wrote - it gave insight into so many elements of these crimes, but also into Ansel's mind.

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Content Warnings

The Very Secret Society of Irregular Witches

Sangu Mandanna

4.5

emotional funny hopeful lighthearted medium-paced

Plot or Character Driven: A mix

Strong character development: Yes

Loveable characters: Yes

Diverse cast of characters: Yes

Thank you, Berkley Publishing, for the gifted copy of The Very Secret Society of Irregular Witches. {partner}

Genre: Fantasy
Trope: Romance (grumpy/sunshine & found family
Format: 📖🎧
Pub Date: 8.23.2022
Star Rating: ☆☆☆☆.5

“Niceness is all about what we do when other people are looking. Kindness, on the other hand, runs deep. Kindness is what happens when no one’s looking.”

I sometimes feel that witchy romance books can toe the line of being overly cheesy. I’ve read a few, and they have just felt straight from a hallmark movie (which isn’t bad, just not what I wanted). The Very Secret Society of Irregular Witches is EXACTLY what I was looking to read this season.

It’s full of heartfelt moments, laugh-out-loud moments, and a little steamy open-door romance. It didn’t feel overwhelmingly like a romance, but when it was, it was a lot of fun and sweet; the relationship between Mika and Jamie felt natural. The whole book was one big breath of fresh air for the witchy romance trope, and I recommend adding it to your Spooky Season reading list.

🧙🏼‍♀️Delightfully witchy
🥰 About learning to be loved & loving in return
🤗 Triple Hug
👌🏼 That ending

I recommend reading The Very Secret Society of Irregular Witches if you enjoyed reading The House in the Cerulean Sea.

______
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The Kitchen Front

Jennifer Ryan

4.0

emotional inspiring medium-paced

Plot or Character Driven: A mix

Strong character development: Yes

Loveable characters: Complicated

Flaws of characters a main focus: Yes

Thank you, Random House, for the gifted copy of The Kitchen Front 👩🏽‍🍳{partner}

Genre: Historical Fiction
Trope: WWII
Format: 🎧
Pub Date: 2.23.2021
Star Rating: ☆☆☆☆

"The most painful part of living is the fact that little by little, our family and friends leave us, and then, in the end, it is our turn. We all have to say goodbye to everything we've ever known."

Here's to checking another book on my backlist! And if you ask me why it took me so long to read The Kitchen Front…well 🤷🏽‍♀️ The story follows four women on their quest to win a wartime cooking show. It's full of wartime rationing recipes, and they all sounded delicious (minus the whale meat and sardine rolls 🤢).

Once I figured out each character's backstory, I was able to invest myself into their stories and enjoyed watching all of their friendships grow. In my opinion, the character who showed the most growth was Zelda.

The only complaint I have is that I did feel that some aspects of the story were rushed - which says a lot since the book comes in at just over 408 pages. In my opinion, this is often the case when you have more than one main character. What do you think?

There were several "easy" directions that the author could've taken The Kitchen Front to add more drama, but I applaud her for not doing so. Sometimes a book's "easy" drama is not what makes it entertaining.

4️⃣ main characters
💪🏼 Lots of character growth
👩🏽‍🍳 Based on a real-life show during the war
📝 Recipes are included throughout the book

I recommend reading The Kitchen Front if you enjoy books based on real-life events with added historical fiction flare.

______
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Content Warnings

Mad Honey

Jennifer Finney Boylan, Jodi Picoult

5.0

emotional informative reflective 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

Thank you, Random House and Ballantine Books, for the gifted copy of Mad Honey. {partner}

Genre: Fiction
Format: 📖
Pub Date: 10.4.2022
Star Rating: ☆☆☆☆☆

"How similar does someone have to be to you before you remember to see them, first, as a human?"

So, Mad Honey is going into my 2022 Book of the Year stack. It's stayed with me days after finishing. I wish I could put into words the profound impact that reading this story has had on me. But, I genuinely can't even begin to describe how poignant this book was to read.

Mad Honey is one of those books that is nearly impossible for me to review without giving any of the key plot points of the book away. I had a general understanding of the book, but I didn't do any additional reading on it - I've found that this helps me not to have expectations for the story and where I *think* it should go. With Mad Honey, I wholeheartedly encourage you to do the same.

The first chapter was a little slow, but it ended with a bang, and, for me, the story took off from that point. But, it wasn't until that 50% mark that I was sincerely invested in this book. I learned a lot from reading Mad Honey and I think there are many people who could stand to pick this one up and read it.

🤐The less you know, the better
🎭 Family drama
👩🏽‍⚖️ Courtroom
✌🏼 Two perspectives, dual timelines (moving backward & forwards)

❌ self harm, suicide attempts, domestic violence

I could write pages about Mad Honey, and I've spent a lot of time discussing it with my husband. So, if you've had a chance to read this, I would love to chat with you!

______
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Content Warnings

The Bullet That Missed

Richard Osman

5.0

adventurous emotional funny hopeful inspiring lighthearted mysterious reflective 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: Complicated

Thank you, Viking Books, for the gifted copy of The Bullet That Missed {partner}

Genre: Mystery
Format: 📖
Pub Date: 9.20.2022
Star Rating: ☆☆☆☆☆

"As the years go by, you will find that people need someone who is bright and kind more than they need someone who knows how to dance and has got the right haircut."

The Bullet That Missed may be my favorite so far. Just when I thought the story was going one way, it shifted and went in another direction; this uncertainty in the storyline kept me hooked and reading.

Inside the pages of this book are some of the most clever, heartwarming, and fun group of people. They make life an adventure, and I am always eager to see what shenanigans they get into with each book. Even amongst the story's drama, I felt I was privy to such insightful wisdom.

"A couple of maters, a glass of whisky, a game of snooker. Everything else is ego and greed. It's taken me a long time to work that out."

It took me a few days to read The Bullet that Missed, and the reason is that I tried to read it as slowly as I possibly could. I wanted it all out because I knew it would be another year before I was back with the whole crew.

When I finally finished reading this book, I may have been a little teary-eyed because I felt like I was already missing my friends. I have become so attached to the characters that it's almost impossible to pick just one favorite.

📖 A little something for everyone inside
➡️ Series needs to be read in order
🥰 Bogdan has my whole heart, but, again, I love them all
🤩 Some of the absolute BEST character development
🥹 Closed the last page and felt like I was saying goodbye to my friends

In short, you need to read The Bullet That Missed (but make sure you read the series in order) Also, Richard Osman needs to get that fourth book published soon; in the meantime, I may need to give the Thursday Murder Club series a re-read

______
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The Perfect Family

Robyn Harding

3.0

mysterious fast-paced

Plot or Character Driven: A mix

Strong character development: Complicated

Loveable characters: No

Flaws of characters a main focus: Yes

Thank you, Gallery Books, for the gifted copy of The Perfect Family. {partner}

Genre: Mystery
Format: 🎧
Pub Date: 8.19.2021
Star Rating: ☆☆☆

“Boys will be boys; people said as if being a cruel, destructive monster was a rite of passage.”

The Perfect Family was such a quick read! I chose to listen to it on audio, finishing it in under two days. I can’t say that I enjoyed reading this book, but I found it interesting. So, let’s look at what worked and didn’t work for me.

I don’t think I’ve read a book containing all unlikable characters. But, The Perfect Family is full of unlikeable characters with many secrets. Everyone has secrets, but wow, did the Adler family have them.

The author did a great job casting suspicion over each member of the Adler family - it wasn’t until some of the twists were revealed that I could appreciate what had occurred throughout the book.

However, it is hard for me to believe that the police wouldn’t intervene at some point and offer some type of help after a family is continually harassed and threatened. I think they would have to step in and offered some support or security at some point.

And finally, Thomas Adler was an absolute scum bag. He dared to be hateful and angry with his wife about the secrets she kept after Viv forgave him for his transgressions. Just no. He would be out the door.

🫣 ALL morally grey characters (do not expect to like any of them)
🙅🏽‍♀️ The husband is the worst of them all
🔎 Suspicious of every member of the Adler family
🤷🏽‍♀️ More mystery than it is a thriller
❓ Ambiguous end - will there be more?

I recommend reading The Perfect Family if you enjoyed reading The Golden Couple or The Couple at Number 9.
______
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Crave

Tracy Wolff

3.0

dark mysterious slow-paced

Plot or Character Driven: A mix

Loveable characters: Yes

Crave 🧛

Genre: Young Adult
Trope: Fantasy
Format: 🎧
Pub Date: 4.7.2020
Star Rating: ☆☆☆

“There’s not much to be afraid of when you’ve already lost everything that matters.”

Well, this book took me right back to my Twilight-loving days. It even gave me a bit of a Vampire Diaries (currently rewatching) feel but in a young adult manner. I can see why it was such a hit with people who enjoy reading Vampire type books.

Only a few things didn’t work for me throughout the story:
1. The main character kept saying AF (which is where my old lady shows because I know that term is popular
2. Two characters who have known each other for maybe two weeks, and by the end of the book, they see that they’re soul-mates (again, 👵🏼showing)
3. The MC continued to be injured (I started to feel sorry for her because she was just stuck in her room)
4. It took FOREVER for anything to happen in the book (around page 300).

But I did enjoy reading Crave, and I plan on continuing the series. I loved how the author described the atmosphere around the castle - it made me feel like I was right there with the characters experiencing all the strange things happening around them. I also enjoyed almost all the characters, which never happens for me.

🤩 Vampire Diaries meets Twilight (modern HS drama)
☺️ Likable characters
🐌 Slow pace
🎧 Excellent audiobook narration

I recommend reading Crave if you enjoyed reading Twilight or watching Legacies!

______
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The Club

Ellery Lloyd

2.5

mysterious slow-paced

Plot or Character Driven: A mix

Strong character development: No

Loveable characters: No

The Club 🏝

Genre: Mystery
Trope: Locked Room
Format: 🎧
Pub Date: March 1, 2022
Star Rating: ☆☆.5

“We all have versions of ourselves we can bear to look at, versions we prepare for the world’s consumption, that we hope will make ourselves loved, allow us to be forgiven. Versions of our real selves that allow us to live with the things we have done.”

Unfortunately, this was just not the book for me. I had too many issues with the plot lines, the writing style, and the characters. To begin with, it took me too long to get into this story - I was listening to the audiobook, and it may have been the 60% mark before I had figured out who was who.

There were four different character point-of-views, making it almost impossible for me to decipher what was happening. Each character had a complicated backstory, but in some way, they all seemed similar. This makes me wonder, just how many POVs are too many? It just didn’t work for me.

Because the story's pacing was so slow, the chapter cliffhangers didn’t propel me to keep reading (as they usually do); instead, they annoyed me.

🗣 Four POVs
🤑 Rich people doing terrible things to others
🫣 Pacing felt off
🤷🏽‍♀️ Revelations were just meh

❌- Statutory Rape, grooming, alcohol and drug abuse

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The Kiss Curse

Erin Sterling

3.5

funny medium-paced

Plot or Character Driven: A mix

Loveable characters: Complicated

Diverse cast of characters: Yes

Thank you, Avon Books, for the gifted copy of The Kiss Curse ✨ {partner}

Genre: Fantasy/Romance
Trope: Enemies to lovers
Format: 🎧
Pub Date: 9.20.2022
Star Rating: ☆☆☆.5

For those who enjoyed reading Erin Sterling's The Ex Hex last fall, she has a new installment in the series that you can add to your spooky season reading list. Or, as I like to think of it, Hallmark Spooky Season.

I was transported back to the same fun town I enjoyed reading about last year in The Ex Hex. The Kiss Curse is full of fun banter, steamy sex scenes, and a talking cat (on the audiobook, the cat's voice is both hilarious and terrifying).

It took me a little while to figure out that Llewellyn Penhallow, Esquire, and Wells were all the same person. I'm all for nicknames, but they can be slightly confusing in books (especially audiobooks).

🐈‍⬛ Talking Cat (Sir Purrcival)
💌 Gave me a little 'You've Got Mail' vibes
😵‍💫 Too many nicknames
🔥 Steamy

Overall, this was a charming story, and I'm glad it played out the way it did. I look forward to reading the next installment in this series — but who will it be about this time?

______
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