chaptersofchase's Reviews (1.12k)

The Resting Place

Camilla Sten

3.5

dark mysterious tense medium-paced

Plot or Character Driven: A mix

Strong character development: Complicated

Loveable characters: No

Diverse cast of characters: N/A

Flaws of characters a main focus: Complicated

Book Review || In your opinion, what makes a good mystery, thriller, or horror novel? Thank you, Minotaur Books, for the gifted copy of The Resting Place.

Genre: Mystery/Thriller
Trope: Isolated Locales
Format: 🎧
Pub Date: 3.29.2022
Star Rating: ☆☆☆.5

"When I look at my hands, I can still see the blood, even though I scrubbed them red and raw with antiseptic soap in the bare white bathroom."

I read several excellent reviews of Camilla Sten's novel, The Lost Village, so I grabbed a copy of her newest novel, hoping it would satisfy my need for a good thriller. But I was left feeling meh.

While The Resting Place was exciting as it kept me guessing until the reveal at the end of the book, I needed a bit more substance. It boils down to that I struggle with novels that center around a protagonist that suffers from prosopagnosia (face blindness) because, in my opinion, it's a difficult concept to write about without it feeling like the same thing. And unfortunately, it felt like the same thing that I've encountered in other similar novels.

I did enjoy the creepiness of their surroundings and how I really could not figure out who was responsible for Eleanor's grandmother's death. I also liked how the chapters flipped back into the past, exposing me to more secrets from the troubled family.

✌🏼 Dual timeline
🏚 Ominous house, hidden rooms
❔Prosopagnosia
💨 Quick ending
🤫 Family secrets

❌ - a graphic depiction of suicide, miscarriage

I recommend reading Resting Place if you enjoyed reading Rock, Paper, Scissors from Alice Feeney.

______
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Content Warnings

Our Little World

Karen Winn

3.5

dark reflective slow-paced

Plot or Character Driven: A mix

Strong character development: Complicated

Loveable characters: Complicated

Diverse cast of characters: N/A

Flaws of characters a main focus: Yes

Thank you, Dutton Books, for the gifted copy of Our Little World 🏡

Genre: Fiction
Trope: Coming of Age
Format: 📖
Pub Date: 5.3.2022
Star Rating: ☆☆☆.5

"How had I not realized this by now? The impact of small things. Small-very-big things. Each-in-the-moment decision leading to the next. Like rungs on a ladder."

I've gone back and forth on how to write this review because while I do think that it was a fascinating book, it failed to live up to the expectation/direction that I anticipated the story to go. Maybe that's my fault, I read the synopsis and didn't read many reviews, but I had the impression that there would be more of a mystery to Our Little World. There is some mystery as a child goes missing, and the two Kocsis sisters spend time debating what happened to Sally. But, it was not the focus of the book.

I also struggled with the tedious nature of the book and the dialogue between the sisters. While it is briefly addressed in the book, I had trouble that these girls acted like women and not children. The way they communicated with one another would've led me to believe that they were in their late teens (not in seventh grade). Maybe I'm looking into it too much, but it got under my skin a few times.

Our Little World is a coming-of-age novel involving a tragic event that inevitably shapes the sister's lives. It was a deep look into their lives and the cracks in their family following Sally's disappearance. It was a beautifully written debut, and I will be reading the next book that Winn writes.

⏮ 80's nostalgia
👯‍♀️ Sister bonds
👧🏼 Missing child
📖 Coming of age (with very little mystery)
🤍 Debut novel

❌ - missing child - I've had several people message me about the graphic nature of Sally's disappearance. While it is unsettling, I never felt like Winn went into a lot of detail about what happened to her. I don't want to give anything away, so DM me, and I'll explain if you're looking for more detailed information.

What's your favorite coming-of-age novel?

______
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Content Warnings

Island Time

Georgia Clark

3.0

adventurous lighthearted slow-paced

Thank you, Atria Books, for the gifted copy of Island Time {partner}

Genre: Romance
Trope: Forced Proximity
Format: 📖
Pub Date: 6.14.2022
Star Rating: ☆☆☆

"What is good for the land comes first; if you have plenty, you must share, and if it's not yours, you shall not take."

The run-down on this book is that two families are on vacation together, and on their first night on the island, there is a volcanic eruption that causes them to be stranded on the island for six weeks. I thought this sounded like an excellent plot idea and was looking forward to getting lost on the island with the characters.

It would've made sense for them to be effectively shut off from the outside world for those six weeks. But instead, they still had all of their amenities. The characters had access to their laptops and cellphones and continued to communicate with the outside world (including working from the island). It didn't make sense to me, and that's where the book started to lose me.

I didn't find the characters that lovable; they had their moments, but they seemed overly entitled. At one point, Amelia is trying to save a stranded turtle and needs to call for help, and then the next, she is thinking about the party she is throwing later that night and who she has invited. It just left a sour taste in my mouth.

However, one of the first things that drew me in was the vivid descriptions of the island, the trees, and the wildlife. The author has a deep appreciation for the environment and caring for our world. I felt like the undertone of the book was to show respect for the land and animals as they were here before us. I learned a lot about the wildlife in that area and the Indigenous clans of Australia.

🕳 Plot holes
🥸 Strange relationships between the characters
🏝 Beautiful descriptions of the island
🫣 Unlikeable characters
✂️ Too long

Okay, now, please know that this review is my opinion. Every book is not meant for every person, so I sincerely hope you still read this and that you love it!

What recent book didn't live up to your expectations?

______

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Darling Girl

Liz Michalski

5.0

adventurous dark emotional mysterious 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: Complicated

An absolute ✨ MUST ✨read! Thank you, Dutton Books, for the gifted copy of Darling Girl by Liz Michalski {partner}

Genre: Fantasy
Trope: Retelling
Format: 📖
Pub Date: 5.3.2022
Star Rating: ☆☆☆☆☆

"I want to experience life, really live it, before I die. I want strange new countries and whatever comes with them, whether it be late-night flying lessons, pirates, or fairies. I want the moon and the silver stars and midnight sky all to myself, when everyone is asleep. I have no husband now, no small children, so perhaps it is my turn at last."

I need everyone to read this book so that you can appreciate the magic that Liz Michalski created, and then we can talk about the story, the characters, and all of the little details that were woven within the book. I don't know if I will ever be able to look at Peter Pan the same way again.

I was genuinely mesmerized by Darling Girl. I wanted to read it, but I didn't want it to end. I'd put the book down and instantly start thinking about the story again. It was a dark book, and Peter Pan is certainly not the good guy — the characters all take on a different persona than the original tale. The reader is given a different look into them — they're dirty, addicted, and very flawed. They are no longer the Lost Boys of Neverland. But, the world that Michalski created was magnificent.

I know I keep talking about the author's small details, but they were exquisite. From the 'damaged' Christopher Cooke, the small feather tattoos on a back/shoulder, the mentions of green and silver colors, and sparkly wings adorning a performer at a party. It was simply perfection.

📖 A dark retelling of Peter Pan
👩‍👧‍👦 The lengths a parent will go to keep a child safe
✨ Beautiful details
😍 Christopher Cooke
🕵🏽‍♀️ An air of mystery

❌ - drug use, rape

I can't think of another story that is similar to this, it was pure magic, and I hope you add it to your reading list.

PS. I beg all Hollywood Gods to snatch this up and turn it into a movie.

I need all of your dark retelling recommendations! 👇🏼

______
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Content Warnings

I'll Be You

Janelle Brown

3.5

mysterious slow-paced

Plot or Character Driven: Character

Strong character development: Complicated

Loveable characters: Complicated

Thank you, Random House, for the gifted copy of I'll Be You {partner}

Genre: Fiction
Format: 📖
Pub Date: 4.26.2022
Star Rating: ☆☆☆.5

"It's so easy for good intentions to get undone by unspoken sentiments; a history of small bumps piling up until you have an insurmountable mountain of issues."

I'll Be You is a darker look into the lives of identical twins who found fame in Hollywood — I got all the Mary Kate & Ashley Olsen vibes from this story. Unfortunately, I think many people will go into this book with the expectation that it's a thriller/mystery, but, in my opinion, it is neither. It falls into the literary fiction category. It's always tricky with books that fall out of the genre they're advertised as being in - I think it impacts the book's overall rating. Do you agree?

A lot of I'll Be You circled around the history of Ellie and Sam. What their childhood was like on set and, at one point, their lives went in different directions, and Sam fell into her addiction. At the heart of the story is two sisters struggling to find their place in the world after being thrust into the spotlight early. Their parents did not help the situation, and I was frequently annoyed with their mother and her "new age" beliefs, costing their daughters their happiness and confidence. I wanted Sam to find her peace and for Ellie to find herself — it had me thinking about the price many young adult stars pay for their 15 minutes of fame.

👯‍♀️ Identical Twins
🎬 Hollywood
⏳ Slower pace
🕵🏽‍♀️ Mysterious Disappearance
✌🏼 Part One & Part Two

❌ - infertility, drug dependency

I recommend you read I'll Be You if you enjoyed reading The Favorite Sister or The Good Sister.

Do you have any siblings? If so, are you all close? I have a brother and a sister — I wish we all lived near one another because I think we'd be a lot closer than we currently are.

______

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Content Warnings

The Favor

Nora Murphy

3.0

dark mysterious tense slow-paced

Plot or Character Driven: Plot

Strong character development: Complicated

Book Review 📝 Thank you, Minotaur Books, for the gifted copy of The Favor.

Genre: Mystery
Trope: Domestic Suspense
Format: 📖
Pub Date: 5.31.2022
Star Rating: ☆☆☆

“Leaving would be dangerous. Staying could be worse.”

First and foremost, let me preface this review by saying intimate partner violence is far more prevalent in our society than we really know. It is often silent. It may not be evident, as some scars are invisible. Leaving a relationship where domestic abuse is prevalent is treacherous, and, on average, it takes 7 attempts before a survivor permanently leaves their abusive partner. It is a process.

Nora Murphy did an outstanding job showing the different ways that abuse can occur inside a home. I am all for survivors taking back their lives; unfortunately, The Favor was not for me. It was good, but it will not stay with me long. I think I struggle with domestic suspense as it so often centers around gaslighting.

This book was not for me, but that doesn’t mean you should not read The Favor. Remember, just because I didn’t love something doesn’t mean you will/should feel the same 😘

3️⃣ perspectives
🚂 Strangers on the Train vibe
✨ All that glitters is not gold

❌ - Domestic Abuse, Gaslighting, Alcoholism, Miscarriage, Infertility

I recommend you read The Favor if you enjoyed The Wife Between Us or You Are Not Alone.

What’s your favorite domestic suspense/thriller novel?

______
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Content Warnings

Lessons in Chemistry

Bonnie Garmus

5.0

emotional funny hopeful inspiring 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, Bonnie Garmus, for creating a strong female protagonist, and thank you to all of my Bookstagram friends who told me I needed to read Lessons in Chemistry!

Genre: Fiction
Sub-Genre: Historical Fiction
Format: 📖
Pub Date: 3.31.2022
Star Rating: ☆☆☆☆☆

"When you wake up tomorrow, make this pledge. No more holding yourself back. No more subscribing to others' opinions of what you can and cannot achieve. And no more allowing anyone to pigeonhole you into useless categories of sex, race, economic status, and religion. Do not allow your talents to lie dormant, ladies."

I'm not going to lie; I thought this was just another romance story I was not in the mood for. But, I was so very wrong. I've seen comparisons of Lessons in Chemistry to Eleanor Oliphant (which I didn't like) and Marvelous Mrs. Maisel (which I loved), and I can see the connection. The writing style/dialogue was delightful to follow that I tuned everything out and just read along with Elizabeth, Mad, and Six-Thirty.

Speaking of Six-Thirty…I loved his character and looked forward to his anecdotes and thoughts on what his "creature" was doing. He really added something so pure to the story. Do not worry; nothing happens to him ♥️

There were a plethora of issues at the heart of this story, and sadly, many of the problems are ones that women face today, especially women in STEAM. I could not wrap my mind around Elizabeth's being so talented, but everyone kept trying to put her in a box and tell her what to do. It was truly baffling to me. I thought of my grandmother, trying to start her career during this same era.

🐕 Six-Thirty
👩🏽‍🔬 STEAM Representation
👏🏼 Not a romance
💪🏼 Strong Female Protagonist
👯‍♀️ Women Supporting Women

❌- Rape, Suicide, Domestic Violence, Sexual Assault/Harassment. Please don't let these deter you from reading the book — DM me if you need more information.

I loved so many aspects of this book and found myself crying (woman wanting to be a heart surgeon), feeling intense anger (towards everyone at the lab), and laughing hysterically (canned soup). If you haven't read Lessons in Chemistry, please make it a priority!

______

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Content Warnings

Memphis

Tara M. Stringfellow

5.0

challenging dark emotional reflective fast-paced

Plot or Character Driven: A mix

Strong character development: Yes

Loveable characters: Yes

Diverse cast of characters: Yes

Here's another March read that struck me right in the heart. 💙 Thank you, The Dial Press, for the gifted book! {partner}

Genre: Fiction
Trope: Historical
Format: 📖
Pub Date: 4.5.2022
Star Rating: ☆☆☆☆☆

"Perhaps I should have known all along. Perhaps this was always in us: this gift. Maybe each of us had always carried it around, unknowingly, like a lost coin in a deep pocket."

Memphis follows four black women from the same family as they navigate through the complicated history of our country; the deaths of Emmett Till, Martin Luther King, Echol Cole, and Robert Walker, the 16th Street Baptist Church Burning, WWII, and 9/11. There is so much history packed into this 245-page debut that I had to take several moments to reflect on Stringfellow's writing.

There are some difficult incidents to process throughout the book — ones that I did not see coming and made me feel sick to my stomach. (See triggers below)

While I did feel some attachment to Joan, Miriam, and August, something about Hazel drew me in. She was my favorite character in the story, and I could have read an entire book dedicated to her life. Her love for her husband and their deep appreciation for one another moved me to tears on several occasions. When it came time to say goodbye to Hazel's character, I honestly wasn't ready. Hazel had such a fierceness about her; horrendous things happened to her during her lifetime, but she still remained strong for her family.

👩🏾Multiple Perspectives (Joan, Miriam, August, and Hazel)
🗓 Multiple Timelines (1937 - 2003)
🌳 Family Tree provided
❤️ Stanley
✨Debut novel

❌- Domestic violence, war, rape of a child, child abuse, 9/11 details

Memphis is also an April Read with Jenna pick! #readwithjenna

Tell me a recent fictional character that you became attached to 👇🏼

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Content Warnings

Take My Hand

Dolen Perkins-Valdez

5.0

challenging dark hopeful inspiring sad 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: No

Take My Hand 🧡 Thank you, Berkley Publishing, for the gifted book. {partner}

Genre: Historical Fiction
Time: 1973 & 2016
Format: 📖
Pub Date: 4.12.2022
Star Rating: ☆☆☆☆☆

"They were more than illiterate farmers, more than victims who'd been duped by the federal government. They were a family, who, given other opportunities, could have accomplished much more."

When I began reading Take My Hand, I was in a reading slump. I wasn't finding anything that made me feel something other than meh. I knew Take My Hand was being published soon, so I decided to pick it up and see if the story would take hold.

Within 33 pages, I knew I had found a book that would make me feel something. I could instantly tell it would be a complex story, and I would likely need to read something light afterward. But that's the type of story that I needed.

Knowing that Take My Hand is based on a true story made the events of this novel all that more horrific to me. I was appalled, heartbroken, and outraged at the treatment women, specifically, those of color, received throughout this book. Mass sterilizations? It sounded like something out of The Handmaid's Tale - my mind could not wrap around something so inherently reprehensible.

For the last 200 pages, I felt like I was walking a tight rope of bitterness and hope. I was all over the place with my emotions. Reading as Civil said goodbye to the two girls who had helped shape her, knowing (as the reader) that she would not see them again for 40 years, was unimaginable. The ending was a perfectly illustrated example of the power of friends who turn into family and redeeming love.

I recommend you read Take My Hand if you enjoyed reading Memphis or The Nature of Fragile Things.

Do you enjoy reading historical fiction books based on a true story? If so, what have been some of your favorites?

______
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Olga Dies Dreaming

Xochitl Gonzalez

4.0

emotional funny hopeful inspiring medium-paced

Back-Listed Book ✅

Genre: Fiction
Format: 🎧
Pub Date: 1.4.2022
Star Rating: ☆☆☆☆

"You must remember, mijo, even people who were once your sails can become your anchors."

Let me just say that any book that hooks me by talking about fancy napkins at a wedding is guaranteed to be a good one!

Olga Dies Dreaming was full of humor, heartfelt moments, and a bit of drama. I loved the detailed look at Olga's family and their history. With her brother in politics, her mother a fugitive, her dad a drug addict, and her grandmother's redeeming love — Olga most certainly had her hands full.

I laughed too hard at Olga's first morning-after encounter with Mateo, wondering what she saw in him. Then I fell in love with his character as he opened the door to his home and the secrets he guarded so closely.

But don't let the humor from early on fool you. A lot happens in this book, and one scene, in particular, really broke my heart for Olga. I loved watching the progression of the characters as they matured and developed during the story.

🗣 Multiple Perspectives
📝 Letter's from her mother
😬 Lots of family drama
😔 Heavy subject matter with humor mixed in

❌ - Drug Usage, HIV, Rape, Parental Abandonment

What is the last backlisted book you read and loved?

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Content Warnings

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