chaptersofchase's Reviews (1.12k)

The Change

Kirsten Miller

5.0

adventurous challenging dark emotional mysterious tense fast-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

The Change by Kirsten Miller

Genre: Magical Realism
Format: 📖
Pub Date: 5.3.2022
Star Rating: ☆☆☆☆☆

"One day, your life will grow quiet, and that's when you'll be able to hear them again. Like my auntie used to say, the gift arrives after the curse ends."

If it weren't for GMA Book Club selecting this as their May book pick, I would've picked up The Change solely because of the cover and then certainly because of the synopsis. I couldn't get enough of this story and the characters. It was full of surprising twists, heartfelt insight, and magic. But those characters? I want to be friends with them so they can teach me their ways; especially grumpy Harriett, who was a force to be reckoned with.

The entire story was so incredibly unique. I applaud the author for branding out and writing about this particular subject because it's about time women realize their lives don't end when they're 30, married, and with kids. We have a whole lifetime of adventure left.

I loved the mystery aspect of the story. I had my suspicions from fairly early on about the story's direction. Still, I loved reading along as Harriett, Nessa, and Jo became friends, determined to discover what happened to all the missing girls. It was enjoyable to read along as each woman came into her own.

Yes, the book is long (480 pages), but I thought it was necessary. A lot happens within those pages, and it is crucial to the story. The Change deals with heavy topics (murder, rape, sexual assault, sexual harassment, sex trafficking); if you have any concerns about reading this book, please DM me, and we can chat.

I wholeheartedly recommend picking up The Change and giving it a read. As I said, it's a very unique concept, and I applaud Kirsten Miller for branching out.

What was your last five-star?

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Content Warnings

Every Summer After

Carley Fortune

5.0

emotional hopeful reflective sad medium-paced

Plot or Character Driven: A mix

Strong character development: Yes

Loveable characters: Yes

Book Review || Thank you, Berkley Publishing, for the gifted book! {partner}

Genre: Romance
Trope: Second Chance
Format: 📖
Pub Date: 5.10.2022
Star Rating: ☆☆☆☆☆

"I lean in to give him a hug, and it feels like coming home and saying goodbye and four thousand days of longing."

This book gave me ALL of the feels. This is how coming-of-age romance stories should be written - it was beautiful, heartbreaking, and just over everything that I hoped it would be.

Why do I love these books that center around first love? I think it's a reminder of a feeling that you only get to experience once in your life. As you get older, you'll have those feelings with each new relationship, but there's nothing quite like experiencing it all for the first time. If an author can put together all of the looks, touches, etc., and make them come alive, that's the mark of an exceptional writer.

There were oodles of beautiful moments captured within the pages of Every Summer After. I sat down to read at one point, and before I knew it, I'd read 200 pages because I just got lost in the book. I would be brushing away a tear one moment and then feel my face grow hot as I read through the steamier pages. I genuinely did not want the story to end.

💛 First-Love, Summer romance
🥰 All of the feelings
😢 First heartbreak reminders
💯 A must-read

I recommend you read Every Summer After if you enjoyed reading Love and Other Words. The two books definitely have that same first-love vibe, but in my opinion, they're entirely different stories.

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The Lies I Tell

Julie Clark

4.0

dark mysterious medium-paced

Plot or Character Driven: A mix

Strong character development: Yes

Loveable characters: Complicated

Book Review ✨ || Thank you, Sourcebooks Landmark, for the gifted book {partner}

Genre: Mystery
Format: 📖
Pub Date: 6.21.2022
Star Rating: ☆☆☆☆

The Lies I Tell makes for the perfect summer read! It’s full of mystery, intrigue, and one woman determined to destroy several lives. But, don’t worry, these lives aren’t those of upstanding citizens - they’re from those who have lied and manipulated their way to their fortune.

It was entertaining to read as Meg laid out her plan and tried to avoid being discovered. She was a force to be reckoned with, and I cheered her on throughout the entire book. I would have loved to have more chapters detailing her thought-out plans of destruction.

I did enjoy the other perspective from Kat Roberts as she tried to figure out Meg’s game. Unfortunately, Kat is out to get Meg as she blames her for what happened all those years ago. Throughout the book, Kat showed the most character growth. At first, I was a little frustrated by her nativity towards life and her fiancé, but her character grew on me as more was revealed about Kat’s past.

🤓 Bad guys getting what they deserve
🔎 Perfect for the true-crime lover
✌🏼 Dual narrative
💯 Loved the ending

❌ - Sexual assault, rape (not descriptive), gaslighting, addiction

I recommend reading The Lies I Tell if you enjoyed reading You Are Not Alone by Greer Hendricks & Sarah Pekkanen.

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Content Warnings

Fool Me Once

Ashley Winstead

3.5

funny medium-paced

Plot or Character Driven: A mix

Strong character development: Complicated

Loveable characters: Complicated

Book Review || Thank you, Graydon Books and HTP Books, for the gifted copy of Fool Me Once! {partner}

Genre: Romance
Trope: Second Chance
Format: 📖🎧
Pub Date: 4.5.2022
Star Rating: ☆☆☆.5

"My God, she's Sad Crawler and Fountain Oops"

I have to admit, I did start this book and then decided not to finish it, only to have lots of FOMO and decide to pick it back up again to give it another chance. I will admit that I enjoyed the story way more than I thought I would. Did I love the MC? Meh, not necessarily. However, I loved the book's message and found myself rolling with laughter during particular scenes and then fanning myself during the steamier moments.

I have seen mixed reviews about Fool Me Once, and I can see why that would be the case. As I mentioned earlier, the main character, Lee Stone, is tough to love. She seems overly self-absorbed, which, ultimately, makes her completely unaware of everything around her. I had difficulty picturing her in the role that she found herself working and an even harder time thinking of Stoner running for office, but to each their own. Also, I think she should've done a lot more graveling to Ben when asking for forgiveness.

I did love the environmental aspect of this book. I'm a fan of authors who go out of their way to write a book and include the importance of being mindful of our planet. Because, after all, we only have one.

🎧 Audiobook was great
😂 Funny moments
🔥 Some very steamy scenes
🫤 MC that was a little meh
🌎 Environmental and Political Issues

I recommend you read Fool Me Once if you enjoyed reading A Lot Like Adios or the Ex Hex.

______
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The Couple At No. 9

Claire Douglas

4.0

mysterious medium-paced

Thank you, Harper Perennial and Harper Audio, for the gifted copy of this book and gifted audiobook through Libro.FM! {partner}

Genre: Mystery
Format: 🎧
Pub Date: 8.2.2022
Star Rating: ☆☆☆☆

“But, before she can grasp hold of it, it floats away, like the seeds of a dandelion on the breeze, out of reach."

Well, this book was a complete surprise!

I had been in the mood for a mystery, but every book I picked up fell flat for me. I decided to start reading The Couple at Number 9 on my Kindle (before bed), and it piqued my interest, so I picked up the physical copy the following day. Before I knew it, I was taking my dog on a 4-mile walk just so I could sneak in a few extra minutes of the audiobook!

I loved how Claire Douglas told this story - it was definitely mysterious, and I also enjoyed the dual timeline aspect of the story. It gave me a grander sense of 'putting together pieces of the puzzle' as each chapter provided a new piece to work with.

At first, I wasn't sure why the author included the pregnancy aspect in the book, but it turned out to be a nice way to tie in the relationship between the characters (mother/daughter).

I had a feeling as to which direction The Couple at number 9 was going and loved reading as the author wove her story together seamlessly. I thought the book was close to being finished, but I had 100 pages left. I started to worry that I would lose interest, but nope! I was drawn right back in. The extra twist definitely threw me off!

4️⃣ Told from the perspective of Saffy, Lorna, Theo, and Rose
🎧 Excellent audiobook
🧩 Putting together a puzzle of clues
✌🏼 Dual timeline
🔎 Several mysteries wrapped into one

❌ - sexual assault, rape

I recommend checking out the audiobook if you need a little motivation to get things done or take that long walk around your neighborhood! You can use my code 'BookendListens' to start your audiobook membership with Libro.FM!

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Content Warnings

Notes on Your Sudden Disappearance

Alison Espach

5.0

emotional slow-paced

Plot or Character Driven: A mix

Loveable characters: Yes

Flaws of characters a main focus: Complicated

Thank you, Henry Holt, for the gifted book! {partner}

Genre: Fiction
Trope: Coming-of-Age
Format: 📖
Pub Date: 5.17.2022
Star Rating: ☆☆☆☆☆

"All of a sudden, you want an answer for every question you never thought to ask them."

What a beautiful coming-of-age story!

There was something so cathartic about reading this book. It was filled with sadness, loss, and grief, but it was also full of everything that a teenager growing up in the 90s would experience. It took me back to my childhood, and I saw a lot of myself in Sally and Kathy.

While the story had a slower beginning, it really fit with the story's tone. Eventually, I was drawn in and couldn't put the book down. I felt like the entire novel was one long letter to Kathy after her death. You know that Kathy dies, but you aren't told how. Then slowly, in a countdown that only the reader is aware of, you wait for the inevitable moment when you know that no one will be the same again.

Alison Espach did a spectacular job of showing how grief can impact a family - it's a reminder that there is no right or wrong way to mourn the death of someone. In one part, Sally talks about not wanting to leave the funeral home because that's where Kathy is, and I related so much to this feeling. You don't want to just leave them there, alone. The book was full of several moments just like this, and although they were tough to read, they gave me a deeper connection to the characters.

📝 Felt like a letter written to her sister
🥺 Intimate look at grief within a family
👧🏽 Very relatable to growing up in the 90s

❌ - attempted suicide

I couldn't get enough of Espach's writing and how she could articulate so many emotions in such vivid detail. I felt like I was brought in on the most intimate and delicate moments of someone's life.

And the ending? Well, that was absolutely perfect.

Make sure you add this to your reading list when it publishes on May 17th!

____
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Content Warnings

The Christie Affair

Nina de Gramont

3.5

emotional mysterious sad medium-paced

Plot or Character Driven: A mix

Book Review || St Martin Press {partner}

Genre: Historical Fiction
Time: 1918-1926
Format: 🎧
Pub Date: 2.1.2022
Star Rating: ☆☆☆.5

“The age of disappearing women. It had been going on forever. Thousands of us vanished, with not a single police officer searching. Not a word from the newspapers. Only our long absences and quiet returns. If we ever returned at all.”

I started reading The Christie Affair back in March, but I wasn’t quite into the story, so I waited a while and downloaded the audiobook from my local library. The audiobook was precisely what I needed to listen to at the time, and I thoroughly enjoyed the narrators.

While I wasn’t a fan of Nan at first (given that she was the other woman), I eventually grew to be fond of her after learning about the trauma that she endured during her past. She had undoubtedly suffered and was continuing to mourn the completely unimaginable loss of her daughter.

I may have gone into this book without reading the synopsis, so it took me a bit to understand that The Christie Affair really wouldn’t include anything from Agatha Christie’s viewpoint. Instead, the entire story was told from Nan’s perspective, even for events she wasn’t present for.

What transpired during this book may or may not have occurred during those eleven days that Agatha Christie disappeared, but it definitely made for an intriguing story.

👩🏽 Told from the perspective of Nan O’Dea
⏳ Time jump from 1918 to 1926
✍🏼 Features Agatha Christie
🔎 A bit of mystery

❌- Rape, Child loss

What book did you have trouble reading but ended up loving the audiobook?

______

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Content Warnings

Always the Last to Know

Kristan Higgins

4.0

emotional hopeful sad 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

Book Review ✨ || Berkley Books {partner}

Genre: Fiction
Format: 🎧
Pub Date: 9.9.2020
Star Rating: ☆☆☆☆

“Love didn’t have to be romantic to encircle you in its arms. It didn’t have to make your heart race or your toes curl. Love could be just this, the sound of laughter on a warm night, the absolute comfort of being exactly who you were with the person who knew you inside and out.”

Always the Last to Know marks my third Kristan Higgins book, and I genuinely believe she is an underrepresented author in the bookstagram world. Last year I read Pack Up the Moon, and it ended up being one of my favorite books of 2021. I seriously don’t think I’ve ever cried that hard over a story.

While I can’t say that Always the Last to Know had me shedding buckers of tears, it was still a profoundly moving look into the Frost family and how everything seemingly falls apart for them one day after the patriarch of the family has a stroke.

I may not have been fond of Sadie Frost, but I did appreciate the growth that her character experienced throughout the book. And while discussing characters I didn’t care for, John Frost is one that gave me pause. I disagree with his decisions regarding his marriage to Barb, but reading the chapters after he had his stroke truly broke my heart. I can’t imagine being aware of what happened, the secrets discovered, and not being able to articulate an apology.

I enjoyed the intricate relationships created in this book and how slowly the author revealed all of the ways that a family could break without the crack being obvious. Higgins has a beautiful way of creating stories about love and loss but still gives you a little hope.

If you haven’t had a chance to read anything from Kristan Higgins, please add her to your reading list. My favorite is Pack Up the Moon, but I also enjoyed Life and Other Inconveniences.

Which author would you love to see featured more on Instagram and why?

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The Newcomer

Mary Kay Andrews

4.0

emotional hopeful mysterious medium-paced

Summer Begins with MKA ☀️

Genre: Fiction
Sub-Genre: Romance
Format: 🎧
Pub Date: 5.4.2021
Star Rating: ☆☆☆☆

I know I can't be alone when I say that I definitely thought this would be a fluffy beach read. I did not expect it to take a turn and turn into more of a murder mystery! Are all of MKA stories his way? If so, I need to read more of her books asap.

I chose to listen to The Newcomer on audio as I had lots of plans for working in the yard all weekend and wanted something to listen to. I swear this story kept me motivated and moving as I didn't want to stop listening. I may have flown through the audio in 48 hours (which is relatively quick). The only negative is I did not care for the voice used during the child's narration 🙉 But I think kids' voices are challenging to replicate and not sound whiney.

I enjoyed the book's mystery aspect. I also loved the sprinkle of romance between Letty and the cute police detective, Joe; it was an excellent way to bring some light into the story.

There is one point to the story that I think MKA could've conveniently taken a different route with, and I applaud her for not doing what other authors likely would've done to add drama to the story.

🕵🏽‍♀️ A murder mystery in a beach read
👩‍❤️‍💋‍👨 A sprinkle of romance
🌊 Small seaside community (Treasure Island)
🎧 Good on audiobook
🥰 Unique characters that you can't help but love

I recommend reading The Newcomer if you enjoyed reading Big Summer or Two Truths and a Lie.

What do you think makes the perfect beach read?

______
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Fake

Erica Katz

3.5

medium-paced

Book Review || Thank you, Harper Books, for the gifted copy of Fake {partner}

Genre: Fiction
Format: 🎧
Pub Date: 2.22.2022
Star Rating: ☆☆☆.5

"Can you spot the difference?"

In March, I read Erica Katz's last book, The Boys Club, and loved the story she crafted about the 1%. When reading Fake's synopsis, I was hopeful Katz would be telling a similar story with the same writing style that pulled me into her previous book.

I always love books about the art world, yet I find that I don't read that many of them. Which is a good and a bad thing. It makes me appreciate the stories I read more as they haven't inundated my TBR.

While I enjoyed Fake, I didn't love it nearly as much as TBC. I think it may have been that I found the naivety of Emma Caan to be a bit disappointing. I knew that something was amiss from very early on, and halfway through, I had figured out what would happen. But, it was interesting to see how Katz drew the author to the final cumulation of events.

I enjoyed reading as the author took the reader along for the ride on the inside world of art collection and at what extreme measures (and prices) people will go to collect one-of-a-kind artwork. Personally, I think paying 32 million for a painting is a tiiiiiiiiny bit extreme.. to each their own.

🖼 Captivating look into the art world
🙄 Nativity of the MC
🎧 Enjoyable audiobook narration
⏺ Interview style chapters throughout
💰 Story featuring lifestyle of the 1%

The author has a talent for making you simultaneously wish that you could be a part of the upper elite of the world while also being grateful that I live modestly and have a set group of people I can always count on. I look forward to reading her next novel!

Do you collect anything (besides books)? I have developed quite a collection of houseplants, but that's about it!

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