chronicreader96's reviews
369 reviews

Pursuit by James Kaine, James Kaine

dark tense fast-paced

3.0

I have never read a book like this before, it reminded me very much of slasher horror movies and made a nice change from my usual reads.

Pursuit follows Ava and Jeremy, a young couple who have just got married. But, on their way back home they encounter a motorcyclist- the Rider. What does he want? Can they escape him? 

Although I didn’t find this particularly scary, I did appreciate the Slasher feel to the novel. Some may find it a little gory but I didn’t mind it. Unfortunately, I found the book a little repetitive and lengthy. I was craving a fast pace and more tension. It just turned into a repeated cat and mouse chase, with exactly the same characters, just in different locations.  I felt like I was reading the same scene over and over. There also seemed to be a lack of backstory to the Rider, I couldn’t completely follow the motivation. I think it was meant to have a level of mystery but I just felt it lacked depth. 

I also really struggled to connect to any of the characters. I did love seeing some representation of chronic health issues and the impact they can have on people’s lives though! I also found that some of the scenes in this book really tugged on my heart strings! There was definitely some great and emotional writing woven throughout the last section of the book. Although, that also felt a little repetitive at times. Overall, I felt this was a great read for October and would definitely try more books by this author.

I would recommend this book to fans of slashers and gory horror novels. I want to thank Voracious Readers Only, Book Sirens and James Kaine for sending me a copy of this book so I can give my personal thoughts. 

Cackle by Rachel Harrison

dark mysterious tense fast-paced

• Plot- or character-driven? A mix
• Strong character development? Yes
• Loveable characters? Yes
• Diverse cast of characters? No
• Flaws of characters a main focus? Yes

4.25

This is exactly the kind of book I really crave in the autumn. 

Cackle follows Annie who has recently broken up with her long time boyfriend and moved to a new town where she meets Sophie. But, all is not as it seems with her new friend. Can Annie ever get over her ex-boyfriend? Is she safe?

I haven’t read a witchy book in so long, this really hit the spot for me. This is an absolutely perfect book for October/Halloween but would be enjoyable at any time of year. I loved the creepy horror moments that were woven throughout. But despite these horror flashes, this was quite an easy and light read with an important message hidden amongst the pages; a message of self acceptance and love. I really liked the positive spin that was added to topics that are usually handled with suspicion and mistrust in books like this. It really added a different perspective. 

I can’t believe I’m going to say this, but my favourite character in this was Ralph the spider. I’m usually terrified of spiders but Ralph had a charm and sweetness that had me giddy with glee. I found myself noting every single passage involving Ralph so that I could return to his cuteness whenever I feel like it! I’m still not sure how I feel about real spiders, but I certainly have a deep love for Ralph now! I feel I may read this book again during future Halloweens because I thoroughly enjoyed it.

I would recommend Cackle to anyone who likes a Halloween/witchy read. I want to thank Netgalley, Titan Books and Rachel Harrison for sending me a copy of this book so I can give my personal thoughts.

Em & Me by Beth Morrey

funny hopeful inspiring lighthearted 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

3.5

Em & Me follows single mother Delphine as she works to find a place in the world for herself and her daughter, Em. But the past and present collide, making it hard for her to keep things together. Will her previous mistakes come back to haunt her?

I absolutely loved the author’s debut and was so excited that they had brought out another book! This gave me the exact same emotional punch that I loved so much in the first book. Towards the end of the book I found myself feeling a little teary. I love how Beth is able to pull on my heartstrings with her books. I also loved the diversity of cultures within this novel. I truly felt like I was tasting new dishes and experiencing new places. It all felt so vivid, I just wanted to jump into the book and join Delphine. 

My biggest gripe with this book is that consent, and not being able to give it, is completely glossed over. It is such an incredibly important topic and the way it was handled made me feel really uncomfortable. It almost felt like the victim was not only blaming themselves, but being blamed by others too, and that was deemed to be fine. It just did not sit well with me and made me knock off some stars. That being said, I loved the message that you can go for what you want no matter what your age. Delphine’s fight to get the best life for herself and her daughter made me feel so empowered. I really resonated with the message that it’s never too late to achieve your dreams. I felt myself cheering Delphine on! 

I would recommend this book to fans of easy reads with an emotional background. 

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Content Warnings

Minor: Pedophilia, Rape, and Sexual assault

The Butcher and the Wren by Alaina Urquhart

dark mysterious tense fast-paced

• Plot- or character-driven? Plot
• Strong character development? No
• Loveable characters? No
• Diverse cast of characters? No
• Flaws of characters a main focus? Yes

3.5

Rounded down from around 3.5 stars ⭐️

The Butcher and The Wren follows Wren, a forensic pathologist on the hunt for a serial killer ‘The Butcher’. Can she track them down before it’s too late, or will they get to her first?

I absolutely loved the start of this book, one particular scene actually sent chills down my spine and arms! I was completely sucked in. I loved being inside the mind of the serial killer during their chapters. The darkness absolutely thrilled me, I just wanted to get into their mind more! Unfortunately, the other characters lacked depth for me. I didn’t connect enough to Wren and found her smug attitude annoying. I also became a little frustrated by things that happened with Wren that just would not happen in real life, due to ethics. Alaina’s expertise in true crime and autopsies definitely shines through and I loved this. But that means the ethical issues were completely ignored in order to push the story along. 

I absolutely loved the short chapters which helped to keep the pace up. I also really enjoyed the twist which I did not see coming. It took me a while to wrap my head around it because it completely blindsided me! However, after the twist I felt things slipping a little. The ending felt really abrupt and came out of nowhere. It is clear it was setting up for a sequel but I was left feeling a little unsatisfied. That being said, I loved the sprinkling of true crime facts throughout and will definitely be reading the sequel if there is one! I think this was an impressive debut that shows a lot of promise!

I would recommend this book to fans of thrillers and true crime if you don’t mind an incomplete ending. I want to thank Tandem Collective UK, Michael Joseph Books and Alaina Urquhart for sending a copy of this book so I could give my personal thoughts. 

Carrie Soto Is Back by Taylor Jenkins Reid

emotional hopeful lighthearted 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? Yes

5.0

I think this is my favourite Taylor Jenkins Reid book so far, my love for her writing just grows with every novel that I read.

Carrie Soto is back follows the legendary tennis player, Carrie, as she returns to the tennis world in an attempt to save her record. But, after being retired for years has she got what it takes to make the come back she is aiming for?

What a book this was! TJR manages to create such incredible and strong female leads in her books. I fall in love with the personal and unique power that every single one of them has. Carrie has a determination and motivation that I found incredibly inspiring. I loved the message of trying your best, having fun whilst doing it and excepting that it may not turn out like you hoped, but that is fine. 

The tennis scenes in this sent me right back to my teen years when I used to play. Although you don’t need any knowledge of tennis to be able to follow what is happening. My only criticism was that the book frequently moved to Spanish without any translation. Luckily, I was reading on my kindle so I could translate it easily but this would be tricky with a physical book. Overall, this was a book that I did not want to put down, but it had a beautiful simplicity to it as well. At one point, I became incredibly emotional and actually couldn’t read on, it hit a raw spot for me but was handled so well. 

I recommend this book to any fans of Taylor Jenkins Reid or those who love a strong female lead in their books! I want to thank Netgalley, Random House UK, Cornerstone and Taylor Jenkins Reid for sending me a copy of this book so I could give my personal thoughts. 

The Obelisk Gate by N.K. Jemisin

adventurous challenging dark mysterious tense 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

5.0

Wow, the second book in this trilogy has reminded me just why I loved the first book so much. 

The Obelisk Gate returns to Essun’s life, she has found a safe place to wait out the season. But, there are people from her past wanting things from her, and her daughter is still missing. 

Jemisin’s world building and characterisation is flawless. I find myself completely swept up in the world, lost to reality around me. The world building and plot is quite complex. I do have to focus a lot when I am reading and had to look up a recap of the first book before picking this one up. If anyone has the time, and wants to read this trilogy, I recommend reading them together so that you can follow the complex plot in an easier way. That being said, once I remembered who everyone was, and what was going on, I fell completely back in love with this series.

One part of this book made me feel quite emotional. I ended up pausing to read the passage over and over again, it was so beautiful. I am left with a. million questions, and don’t fully know what went on towards the end of this book. However, I do feel a deep sense of calm within me. These books truly give the reader the ability to join another world, away from this one. Jemisin is a wonderful writer who has created an incredibly rich world that I cannot wait to return to.

I recommend this series to fans of fantasy, it is quite complex at times, but still suitable for newbies to the genre (like myself!).

One of the Girls by Lucy Clarke

dark mysterious tense medium-paced

• Plot- or character-driven? A mix
• Strong character development? Yes
• Loveable characters? It's complicated
• Diverse cast of characters? Yes
• Flaws of characters a main focus? Yes

4.0

This was such a tense and twisty read, I thoroughly enjoyed it! 

One of the Girls follows a group of women on a hen weekend for Lexi. But there are many hidden secrets among the women, will they all make it home safely?

I absolutely loved the Greek setting for this book, I really felt like I was swept away. It added a summery and tense atmosphere to the book that I lapped up. The short chapters kept the tension high and the pace fast, I felt like I was flying through the book. I loved the clear shifts between multiple points of view. Once I was able to decipher who each character was, it added so much depth. I loved seeing the thoughts of each character and developing a real understanding of their personalities.

I did not see the twists coming and felt like I was on a rollercoaster! Just as I thought things would settle another twist was thrown into the mix. I loved the slow uncovering of the truth as secrets were aired. I also thoroughly enjoyed the ending, it felt like a great way to wrap this story up. I listened to the audiobook of this novel and really liked the narrator. I will definitely be reading more by Lucy Clarke from now on! 

I recommend this novel to fans of twisty thrillers set in beautiful places. I want to thank Tandem Collective, Xigxag and Lucy Clarke for the opportunity to listen to the audiobook of this novel and give my personal thoughts. 

Forbidden Birth by William Rubin

dark mysterious tense medium-paced

• Plot- or character-driven? Plot
• Strong character development? Yes
• Loveable characters? It's complicated
• Diverse cast of characters? No
• Flaws of characters a main focus? Yes

3.5

Rounded down from around 3.5 stars ⭐️ 

Forbidden Birth follows Detective Ravello, on the hunt for a serial killer who is targeting pregnant women. What does he want with them? How many more people will he kill before the detective can catch up with him?

I absolutely loved the short chapters in this book, it really helped to keep the pace up. That being said, I did feel the book was a little bit too long overall. I loved the serial killer character, they had a darkness and complexity which I found myself lapping up. I also grew quite the soft spot for Ravello, it left me wanting to know what happens to him and his loved ones. The rest of the characters all felt a little one dimensional, and I often found myself getting confused by who was who. 

Towards the end it did get a little bit outlandish, which I know some people struggle with. But in this instance, I actually really enjoyed it. It reminded me of the James Bond novels in many ways. I didn’t see some of the twists coming and was left shocked and desperate to turn the pages to see what would happen next. I definitely feel that this started to veer towards sci-fi at the end. It is very clear how knowledgeable the author is about medicine. Although at times I found myself losing focus a little when the terminology got quite detailed. However, the author always explained things so that the reader didn’t get lost. Overall, this was an enjoyable read that left me wanting to try more of the series.

I recommend this book to fans of medical thrillers, as long as you don’t mind some outlandish and sci-fi themes. I want to thank Voracious Readers Only and William Rubin for sending me a copy of this book so I can give my personal thoughts.

The Family Remains by Lisa Jewell

dark mysterious tense medium-paced

• Plot- or character-driven? Plot
• Strong character development? Yes
• Loveable characters? No
• Diverse cast of characters? Yes
• Flaws of characters a main focus? Yes

3.75

The Family Remains returns to the lives of the characters from The Family Upstairs. A body has been found washed up in the Thames and in a house in Antibes. Will the detectives be able to unravel the mystery and find out what really happened all those years ago?

I absolutely loved The Family Upstairs, unfortunately this sequel didn’t have quite the same tension and atmosphere that I loved so much in the first book. The pacing felt slower, more of a police procedural than an edge of your seat thriller. It became a little repetitive after a while, I just wanted everything to hurry up. That being said, it was always going to be difficult to live up to the first book for me! 

I love Jewell’s ability to create such incredibly complex characters. Henry is one of the most interesting characters I’ve ever come across. I love taking a dive into his psychology and really enjoyed the depth this book gave to his character. I still have absolutely no idea how I feel about him, and that is fine by me. I also found myself getting a little emotional near the end, I really liked how Jewell wrapped this up, although it may not be to everyone’s tastes. I also loved that some incredibly important issues were tackled in this book, but they were handled with sensitivity. There was a real sense of female empowerment which warmed my heart. I definitely can’t wait to read more by this author, even if I didn’t love this one quite as much as the first book.

I would recommend this to fans of police procedurals or anyone who enjoyed the first book (although you don’t need to have read the first one to follow the storyline in this sequel). I want to thank Najma Finlay, Penguin Random House and Lisa Jewell for allowing me to read a copy of this book in exchange for my personal thoughts. 

Once Upon a Broken Heart by Stephanie Garber

lighthearted relaxing medium-paced

• Plot- or character-driven? Plot
• Strong character development? Yes
• Loveable characters? Yes
• Diverse cast of characters? No
• Flaws of characters a main focus? No

5.0

This was definitely a case of right book at the right time for me, I absolutely loved it! 

Once Upon a Broken Heart follows Evangeline, forced to make a deal with the Prince of Hearts for true love. However, she quickly learns that bargaining with a Fate is not a good idea. What does he really want from her? 

I want to preface my review by highlighting that the writing style felt very young. I would say that it was on the much younger side of YA. Almost a stopgap between Middle Grade and YA fiction. I absolutely loved it, I found it so quick and easy to read, I didn’t need to think very hard. But I know that this writing style won’t suit everyone’s tastes. I also loved the enchanting world that Garber created. I was swept away by magic, miniature dragons that can make delicious treats and true love. 

I feel so confused now that I’ve finished reading because I still have no idea what’s actually going on and who can be trusted. 

Garber was able to completely blindside me with one twist which I always love. I also adored how the different truths and layers were slowly peeled back, showing quite a complex plot and characters. Each unfurling layer brought new revelations and questions. I just could not get enough and cannot wait to read more by Garber now!

I would recommend this books to fans of YA fantasy novels, as long as you don’t mind it being on the younger side.