chaptersofchase's Reviews (1.12k)

emotional hopeful inspiring 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: Complicated

Thank you, Kensington Books, for the gifted copy of The Secret Life of Albert Entwistle. {partner}

Genre: Fiction
Format: 🎧
Pub Date: 5.24.2022
Star Rating: ☆☆☆☆☆


I decided to listen to this book through Libro.FM as I’d read glowing reviews for the book/narrator. I had no idea that Albert Entwistle would make me cry, no sob, on several occasions. His story broke my heart, and then slowly began to piece it together again. I loved the character growth that Albert and the other characters experienced throughout this book. It was sincerely a delight to read.

But, as I mentioned, this story had me crying several times. Some tears were shed out of pure happiness for such a lovable man, but others were shed because the story was heartbreaking. I followed along as Albert shared with me the secrets that had haunted him for the last fifty years of his life, the memories that he didn’t want to surface, and all the times that he never danced in public but instead with his sweet companion, Gracie. Unfortunately, Albert’s story is all too real for many of those within the LGBTQ community.

The Secret Life of Albert Entwistle filled me with so much hope and love; it brought a very bright spot to my day, and I’m grateful to Matt Cain for creating all of these lovable characters. Also, please read ‘conversations that inspired Albert Entwistle’ at the back of this book — thank you again to Matt for sharing these real-life stories with us.

🤩 Character Development
🥺 Perfect story if you’re in the mood for a good cry
💜 Circles around love & loss
📣 A character to cheer on from the first page
❗️Please read ‘conversations that inspired Albert Entwistle’ at the back of this story


Please note that there is some reasonably heavy content within these pages, and I know it can trigger some. If you want more information, please DM me.

The Secret Life of Albert Entwistle is the perfect read for those who enjoyed reading All the Lonely People.



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Expand filter menu Content Warnings
dark emotional mysterious slow-paced
Plot or Character Driven: A mix
Strong character development: Complicated
Loveable characters: No
Diverse cast of characters: Complicated

Thank you, Park Row Books, for the gifted copy of Don't Wait Up {partner}

Genre: Mystery
Format: 📖
Pub Date: 1.17.2023
Star Rating: ☆☆☆.5


This is probably the earliest I have EVER read a book. Don't Wait Up won't be publishing until January 2023, but I love Mary Kubica books, and I was looking for something to read while in the pool. That being said, I have to take the *current* book with a grain of salt because edits are still being made.

The writing felt unnatural and repetitive, and the dialogue seemed forced in the book's earlier pages, but I think changes will be made before galleys, and final copies are published. So, I may go back and reread this one closer to the publishing date and then adjust my rating. There were also aspects to the book that I found to be completely unnecessary (and uncomfortable) to read. So we'll see if any changes are made to this version that I read. I still love Kubica's writing and will continue to read everything she writes.

I enjoyed Don't Wait Up and found its idea intriguing. I had my suspicions about the involvement of certain characters in what happened, but it was a story full of surprising twists and turns. Some scenes were so shocking that they made me gasp because they were so violent and unpredictable. Also, I can't say that I loved the characters. In my opinion, they were all untrustworthy and caused me to question everything they said (or, in some cases, thought). This uncertainty added to the mysteriousness of the story and made it hard to put down.

✌🏼Dual Perspective
😱 Shocking & violent scene
💨 Quick read
🤪 Dysfunctional characters


I recommend you read Don't Wait Up if you enjoyed reading The Golden Couple or The Therapist.



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Expand filter menu Content Warnings
mysterious fast-paced
Plot or Character Driven: A mix
Strong character development: Complicated
Loveable characters: No
Diverse cast of characters: Yes
Flaws of characters a main focus: Yes

Book Review 🔪

Genre: Mystery
Format: 🎧
Pub Date: 8.3.2021
Star Rating: ☆☆☆


“Sometimes, you didn’t have to lift a finger to get exactly what you wanted. Sometimes, all you had to do was sit back and do nothing.”

I was hoping this book would be the one to bring me out of my thriller rut, but it wasn’t for me. I didn’t care for any of the characters - they were all fake, judgmental, immature, and incredibly selfish, making them hard to like.

In My Dreams I Hold a Knife flips between past and present, and, at times, I thought the college-age kids showed more maturity than the grown adults. The character’s behavior was truly atrocious. If I returned to my sorority house and found my college friends behaving this way, I would leave and never look back.

Unfortunately, I called the plot twist(s) from very early on (maybe chapter 2 or 3), and while it was interesting to see how the author brought the reader to that point, I also rolled my eyes more times than I care to admit. I felt like most of the book was the characters standing around revealing awful secrets about one another in hopes of finding the real killer.

Don’t get me wrong, IMDIHK was an easy, quick read (I finished it in one day while deep cleaning my house); it just wasn’t what I thought it would be.

🤔 More of YA mystery vibes
🙅🏽‍♀️ Lots of unlikeable characters
💨 Quick read
🙄 Predictable ending
⏳ Past & Present
👍🏼 Audiobook

As always, this is just my opinion of the book. I have a lot of friends who read and loved this one, and I hope that you add it to your reading list and that you enjoy it! I look forward to reading the next Ashley Winstead book (The Last Housewife) when it publishes in August 2023.



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Expand filter menu Content Warnings
adventurous challenging dark sad tense medium-paced
Plot or Character Driven: A mix
Strong character development: Yes
Loveable characters: Yes
Diverse cast of characters: Yes

Another 5☆ from Kate Quinn 💎

Genre: Historical Fiction
Trope: 1937 - 1942
Format: 🎧
Pub Date: 3.29.2022
Star Rating: ☆☆☆☆☆

“Snipers must make themselves calm in order to succeed, and that is why women are good at sharpshooting. Because there is not a woman alive who has not learned how to eat rage in order to appear calm.”

I haven’t read a Kate Quinn book since I finished The Huntress in 2019. But, after finishing Diamond Eye, I have bumped Rose Code to the very top of my reading list. Because, let’s face it, Kate Quinn is a sensational author who always manages to ensnare me in her story, making me forget where I am. The amount of research she puts into her books, ensuring that she represents the people, time, and area to her best ability, is mind-blowing.

Diamond Eye is almost 500 pages, but it is a quick read. I decided to listen to the audio of this book, and I’m so glad I did. It made the experience of reading this book feel so real. The narrator was outstanding, and I loved hearing the proper way to pronounce specific terms.

Diamond Eye was about women in war and how their experience was just as hellacious. There are a few love stories intertwined, but at the heart of the story, it was Mila, her bravery and tenacious spirit. I cheered Mila on from the very first page. I also loved the added relationship between Mila and First Lady Eleanor Roosevelt (and it was based on a true story).

👩🏽‍💼Women in war
💯 Audiobook
🤐 “Official” & “Unofficial” Memoir
💞 Love stories intertwined
❗️ Read that author’s note


I recommend you read the Diamond Eye if you’ve enjoyed any of Kate Quinn’s previous books or if you enjoyed reading The Forest of Vanishing Stars by Kristin Harmel.


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dark mysterious tense fast-paced
Plot or Character Driven: A mix
Loveable characters: Complicated

Things We Do in the Dark

Genre: Mystery
Format: 📖
Pub Date: 7.19.2022
Star Rating: ☆☆☆☆☆

"While you can reinvent yourself, you can't outrun yourself. As a woman once reminded her a long time ago, the common denominator in all the terrible things that have happened to you is you."

Jennifer Hillier is an auto0buy author for me. She always will be, and she can do no wrong. 

While Things We Do in the Dark wasn't as terrifying as Jar of Hearts — it was still excellent and kept me hooked. I had to stop myself from flying through the story as I so badly wanted to do. But, I made myself read 50 pages and stop, then repeat later in the day. 

It was fascinating to reading along as Hillier revealed all of the details of Paris's past; it was a slow burn for the mystery lover. Drew was a great addition to the story, and his determination to discover the truth was unmistakable. It gave me all of the true-crime podcast feels, but I didn't have trouble sleeping at night since it was fiction  🙈 


There were a couple of twists throughout the story, and I did predict one, but I loved how Hillier led the reader to the reveal. Exactly the book I needed! It was perfection.

🗣 Multiple Perspective
⏳ Past & Present
🔎 True Crime Feel
😬 Suspenseful & Mysterious


There are several triggers throughout the book, and I applaud Hillier for listing them at the beginning. I wish more authors would do this — they aren't spoilers; some people are impacted by certain content.

❌ - child abuse, sexual violence, suicide, and addiction.

I recommend adding this to your reading list. It was unputdownable and the perfect book to read while lounging in the backyard or by the pool.



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Expand filter menu Content Warnings
slow-paced
Plot or Character Driven: A mix
Loveable characters: No
Diverse cast of characters: No
Flaws of characters a main focus: Yes


Thank you, St Martin's Press, for the gifted copy of Can't Look Away {partner}

Genre: Fiction
Format: 📖🎧
Pub Date: 6.14.2022
Star Rating: ☆☆☆

"I'll never know, and neither will you of the life you don't choose."

Y'all, I was in desperate need of a thriller. But this was not a thriller, not even close, in my opinion. Can't Look Away was more of a twisted love story? I don't know; the potential was there, and maybe if I hadn't gone into thinking it was a thriller, I would feel differently.

I was surprised by one aspect of the book, but I predicted the ending quickly once that twist was revealed. So, it felt like a letdown.

I didn't care for the women in the book; they were gossipy, unsupportive, and manipulative. At one point in the story, two women gossip about another woman's infertility struggles. I know this was meant to make the character unlikeable, but it did so much more than that; it made me lose interest in the book.

Speaking of infertility, Can't Look Away is packed with references to miscarriages, and there is one fairly graphic depiction of a character having a miscarriage. So, please, go into this book and tread lightly if it is something that might impact you.

Also, please remember to take my review with a grain of salt. This is only one opinion of the book and I know other people have enjoyed it, so I encourage you to pick up a copy of Can't Look Away and it give it a try. I loved Carola Lovering's last book, Too Good To Be True, so I look forward to reading what she writes next.

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Expand filter menu Content Warnings
mysterious slow-paced
Loveable characters: No

Thank you, St Martin's Press, for the gifted copy of My Wife is Missing by DJ Palmer {partner}

Genre: Mystery
Format: 📖
Pub Date: 5.10.2022
Star Rating: ☆☆.5


It's always disappointing when I pick up a book I've been looking forward to reading and then dislike it fairly early on. I was in the mood for a good mystery, and I'd read some promising reviews for My Wife is Missing, but it just fell flat for me—flatter than a pancake flat. I probably should've DNF it, but I was hopeful the storyline would pick up towards the end.

I wouldn't say I liked either of the characters; I thought they were both unreliable, but not in an ohh, this is exciting way. Besides unpredictable characters, I also felt like any conversation throughout the story was disjointed and forced; some of them felt overly cheesy. I've also discovered that I'm a bit tired of the 'crazy wife' scenario that often plagues so many thriller/mystery novels — I need more than that.

⁉️  Unreliable narrators - who is telling the truth?
🙄 Unlikeable narrators
✌🏼 Dual Narrative
⏳ Before & After
🐌 Slow


As always, this is my opinion of My Wife is Missing, and I'm sure there are a lot of people out there who have enjoyed reading this book, so please don't let me be the one to stop you from giving it a read. I hope you end up enjoying it!

______

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emotional funny lighthearted medium-paced
Plot or Character Driven: Character
Strong character development: Yes
Loveable characters: Complicated
Diverse cast of characters: Yes
Flaws of characters a main focus: Yes

Rivals Review 👑

Genre: Young Adult
Trope: Romance
Format: 📖
Pub Date: 5.31.2022
Star Rating: ☆☆☆☆☆

"Change happens one generation at a time. HOPEFULLY, if I go through hardship, future generations won't have to."

I have been dying to get my hands on this book since Majesty (book two) ended, and as soon as my copy arrived, I sat down and began reading. But then I had to stop because I, apparently, forgot everything that happened in books one and two 🤦🏽‍♀️ I did some digging and found a summary and felt like I could start reading again. There are many characters to get used to and to remember, but after 50ish pages, I was back into the swing of it! Rivals does pick up right when book two ends, so there's no missed time.

I adored this book. It was full of drama (it would make an excellent TV series), but the book's heart was a whole lot more than who was in a relationship with whom. Yes, the story does have some romance to it, but it's also about the complex nature of female friendships and how quickly a rival can become an ally (if we stop letting society get in our way).

Several current political issues were interlaced within the story, which made it feel much more relatable. I've always thought the concept of these books (if America had never become a Democracy) to be fascinating.

🎬 Would make an excellent TV series
😵‍💫 Lots of characters to get used to
👏🏼 Picks up right as book II ends
❤️ Daphne + Jefferson 4 life
👯‍♀️ Romance but also about female friendships


And, in true fashion for this series, Rivals ended in a cliffhanger (it's a doozy), and now I am itching to get my hands on book four (publishing in 2023).

I recommend you read Rivals if you enjoyed the other two books in this series or if you enjoyed reading Royal We. But, please remember that the American Royal series MUST be read in order, or you will have no idea what's going on.



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dark mysterious fast-paced
Plot or Character Driven: A mix
Strong character development: Complicated
Loveable characters: No
Diverse cast of characters: No

Thank you, Booksparks, for the gifted copy of The Counselors {partner} #src2022

Genre: Young Adult
Trope: Mystery
Format: 📖
Pub Date: 5.31.2022
Star Rating: ☆☆☆

“Eight magical weeks at Camp Alpine Lake. Nothing exists outside this place. Not even the past.”

Let me begin by saying that I do enjoy reading Young Adult titles. A few have been incredible and either kept me on the edge of my seat or moved me to tears. However, some YA titles do not work for me, and this was one of them.

Little things throughout the book irked me and made it hard for me to enjoy. Maybe it’s because I wasn’t raised this way, but I had a tough time picturing these kids (because that’s what they are) getting dressed up for a night out and walking into a bar to get openly drunk. Let alone a camp (run by adults), allowing their counselors to load up into a bus and allowing said bus driver to drop them off at a bar. Then there were chapters involving the MC walking into the county clerk’s office in the middle of the night, using an ID badge that she took of a dead guy. Is there no security in this place?

I will say that I did enjoy the short chapters and dual timelines — it kept me interested and telling myself ‘just one more chapter’ until I had finished the book.

✌🏼 Dual Timeline
🏕 Summer Camp
🤏🏼Short Chapters
🔍 Mysterious death


As always, this is just my opinion, and I know there are a lot of people who enjoyed this book. So, take my opinion with a grain of salt.

______

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dark sad medium-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, Harper Books, for the gifted copy of When We Were Bright & Beautiful {partner}

Genre: Fiction
Format: 🎧
Pub Date: 8.2.2022
Star Rating: ☆☆☆.5


"Secrets never die; they're self-sustaining organisms."

In complete honesty, I'm still not sure how I feel about this book. Did I read it in one day? Yes. Why? Because I had to know what I was reading and where the story would go. Did I enjoy it? Yes..No. I really don't know. I do know that I think it falls somewhere between a 3.5-4 star and, in my opinion, here is why 👇🏼

I loathed these characters - they were entitled, overbearing, spoiled, and overwhelmingly obnoxious. They did nothing to change my opinion of the 1% of American society, nor did I feel sympathy for them.

I struggled on several occasions with knowing where I was in the story — was this a past memory? Or was it something currently happening? This caused me to reread paragraphs or, in some cases, an entire chapter as I was hoping for more clarification on what I had read.

Now, for the part causing wishy-washy feelings on When We Were Bright and Beautiful. At the halfway mark, I had settled on knowing precisely the direction of the story and felt comfortable in my prediction. But then the screen was lifted, and the author revealed what was happening behind the scenes, and I felt such a mixture of emotions - shock, confusion, disgust.. just to name a few. I realized that the author had hinted at this reveal early on, but I hadn't picked up on it, making me jump from a 3-star to a 4-star. But, I'm still torn on my final thoughts (why  I settled for 3.5).

😒 Highly unlikeable characters
⁉️ Confusion between past & present
🤑 Lifestyles of the rich & powerful
🤯 Shocking twist
😵‍💫 Difficult to process

I usually try to lay out triggers for a book, but I think if I list them all, it will give away the book's twist. However, I will say (and it doesn't give anything away) that this story does deal heavily with rape. If you want to know the other triggers, please feel free to DM me so we can discuss them.


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Expand filter menu Content Warnings