debbilynn42's reviews
642 reviews

The Housemaid by Freida McFadden

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

3.75

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The Marigold Cottages Murder Collective by Jo Nichols

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

4.25

This was a fun ensemble cast mystery as we follow the residents of Marigold Cottages as they navigate life and the aftermath of a Murder on their property. With the many different resident POVs, plus the Detective, it can take a while to settle into the dynamics of this eclectic group of people. In the end though, we see them pull together to support not only their beloved landlady, Mrs B, but also integrating their lives together into a community. Both mysterious and heartfelt, this was a nice cozy mystery to unravel along with them.

Thanks to Minotaur Books and NetGalley for the ARC for my review.
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Sweet Obsession by Katee Robert

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adventurous emotional 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

3.25

Unfortunately, neither the romance nor the Olympus politics plot captured my attention nor did either carry the book. I think if Icarus and Poseidon's dynamics played out over more elapsed time it might have worked for me, but instead it felt like insta-love without us having enough time to develop Poseidon's character. I'll still finish out the series since I've come this far, but the overarching plot is already feeling overly drawn out.

Thanks to Sourcebooks Casablanca and NetGalley for the ARC for my review.
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Under the Whispering Door by TJ Klune

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emotional funny hopeful reflective sad medium-paced
  • Plot- or character-driven? Character
  • Strong character development? Yes
  • Loveable characters? Yes
  • Diverse cast of characters? Yes
  • Flaws of characters a main focus? Yes

5.0

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The Business Trip by Jessie Garcia

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Did not finish book. Stopped at 2%.
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Wild Scottish Love by Tricia O'Malley

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funny 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? It's complicated

4.0

Under the Neon Lights by Arriel Vinson

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emotional lighthearted reflective sad medium-paced
  • Plot- or character-driven? A mix
  • Strong character development? No
  • Loveable characters? Yes
  • Diverse cast of characters? Yes
  • Flaws of characters a main focus? Yes

4.0

This was a powerful story of finding and maintaining a sense of community even when facing unwanted changes from the perspective of a teenager. 

I found the format of the novel in verse to take some getting used to, especially trying to keep track of the conversations and dialogue. 

Thanks to Penguin Group and NetGalley for the ARC for my review. 
This Is Where We Die by Cindy R.X. He

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

4.25

The story starts slow, but the tension builds until the final page. I found the characters appropriately written for their age and circumstances, and the story did keep me engaged throughout.

I was both grateful and bummed by the content warnings at the beginning. I probably wouldn't have requested this book if I'd known of these subjects, but in the end they weren't as prominent as I'd feared they could have been. Unfortunately some were also spoilers for the story twists ahead, especially as people were eliminated but some of those plot points hadn't come up yet, so it made the ending more predictable. 

In the end, a better read than anticipated, but still not the perfect book for me.

Thanks to Sourcebooks Fire and NetGalley for the ARC for my early review.
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Dead Girls Don't Talk by Sandra J. Paul

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reflective sad slow-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

2.75

I chose to read Syl's POV then Viola's POV, though it was an interesting option to read their parts in either order. Personally I found there to be too much repetition between the two POVs and not enough individual characterization. I would have appreciated more individual experiences for each girl to round out their motivations and decisions instead of repeating back the same scenes with barely any added internal character. 

I found the scenes between Steve and Viola to sound more like a choppy interview rather than natural dialogue. It seemed too structured and their questions and answers alternating took me out of the narrative. The conversation between Annie and Syl flowed better and I was more immersed in their discussion. 

Because of the amount of repetition between the two POVs, I found the second recounting of events (for me, from Viola's POV) to be unnecessary which is a bummer because I wanted to love the dual POVs. I wonder if I'd feel the same way if I'd switched the sequence and did Syl second? 

Overall, I found the book anticlimactic and dull without a surprising twist or lasting story to recall back to. This wasn't a book for me.

Thanks to Skyscape and NetGalley for the ARC of this edition for my review.
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How to Kill Men and Get Away With It by Katy Brent

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challenging dark medium-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

3.0

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