djmysteryflavor's reviews
429 reviews

Done and Dusted by Lyla Sage

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emotional funny lighthearted fast-paced

3.75

It’s not really a secret that I enjoy a cowboy romance so it’s probably not a surprise that I read Done and Dusted. And I did enjoy it, especially the characters themselves. I liked the differing personalities and the representation of someone living with ADHD and trauma. I especially love Teddy, Emmy’s bff, because she had some dialogue that made me cackle. The chemistry between Emmy and Luke was fun and steamy, however, I do feel like it was SO FAST. There wasn’t as much of a build up to the romance as I expected based on the initial introduction to Emmy and Luke’s relationship and I definitely missed that as I was reading. Still, I did have a good time reading it and I’ll likely read more of this series so that I can get to Teddy’s book. 
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The Snowball Effect by Haley Cass

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funny hopeful lighthearted fast-paced

4.75

The Snowball Effect is not the first novel I’ve read by Haley Cass and likely won’t be the last. There’s something about Cass’s writing that I just really enjoy every time I pick up one of her books. Her books are like sitting in the sun on a Sunday afternoon. They’re bright and warm and you don’t really want them to end. This one in particular hit on some tropes that are favorites of mine; frenemies to lovers with a fake dating aspect. The balance of Regan’s very outgoing and chaotic personality with Emma’s more subdued and precise personality had me locked in on this book because there’s nothing I love more than a distinctly differing couple. Plus, the process of acquaintance to friends to romance was a good time. I will note that while you can read this without reading Those Who Wait, it doesn’t hurt to read it as well since it’s also another solid sapphic romance by Cass. Definite recommend! 
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Triple Sec by TJ Alexander

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funny hopeful fast-paced

4.5

This was a really fun book about poly relationships through the lens of someone who has trouble believing that love still exists. Mel is a bartender obsessed with cultivating cocktail recipes. After a heartbreaking divorce, she doesn’t really believe in love can happen for her again. Triple Sec explores how Mel finds not just love again but also the ability to trust in herself to make her dreams come true. I really enjoyed the differing personalities of each of the characters and how they interacted with one another. I also felt that the writing was delightfully sweet and funny. I especially loved that there was a nonbinary character in this story. The one thing I will say is that I honestly felt like we need a bit more of the relationships at the end. It feels like it just, well, ends and I really wanted more. Otherwise, I liked this a lot and do recommend it.
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Stillhouse Lake by Rachel Caine

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dark tense medium-paced

3.75

I did like this book about the ex-wife of a serial killer trying to make a life in the aftermath of his arrest. I found the concept pretty interesting, actually, because the author puts the reader with the protagonist as she deals with paranoia, protecting her children, and constant PTSD in regards to her ex-husband. That being said, I did find some of the writing a wee bit repetitive and a disconnected. Additionally, it was a little predictable. There’s a few red herrings but I kind of figured out from an early point who the big bad was going to be in context of this novel and the ending I saw coming as well. However, it is a good setup for a sequel, which I do know exists. Really, though, I think it’s a solid thriller and the perspective of the main character’s particular circumstances makes the book. 
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Curvy Girl Summer by Danielle Allen

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funny lighthearted fast-paced

3.75

 This book is about a woman in search of love but more so in search of the strength to live her life for herself rather than her family. It takes a while for Aaliyah, our protagonist, to get to that point, though, which is understandable when her goal is to find a date for her birthday in a short-ish period of time. Still, I found the dates to be obviously set in place as stepping stones for her to further her conversations with Ahmad, a bartender turned friend that she meets in the beginning of the book, and fair enough. Sometimes you need the path to be set up in a specific way to build to your conclusion. Nonetheless, I felt they were a little tedious. I wanted to just have the interactions with Aaliyah and Ahmad, if I’m honest. They were funny and full of chemistry and I enjoyed their banter. But the burn is slooooow. And the miscommunication of it all made me nuts. If that hadn’t been a factor, this would have been a four for me. 
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Red Dragon by Thomas Harris

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dark emotional tense fast-paced

4.0

I’m a big fan of the film version of Silence of the Lambs so I wanted to actually read the novels in which Hannibal Lecter was introduced. Red Dragon introduces us to the investigator who captured Dr. Lecter but barely survived that capture, Will Graham. Now, Will is not exactly excited to come out of retirement but when an old friend asks for his help in solving a case that’s a bit unusual, he grudgingly does. I found this novel to be interesting only because there are multiple perspectives present. If it was just Will’s, I’m not sure that I would have enjoyed it as much. I will also say that the way this is written is supposed to cause unease, so go into it with caution. Additionally, I did find the author’s writing to be a bit clunky. The dialogue, especially, felt stilted which took some getting used to as I read. Overall, though, an interesting horror/thriller that I feel could have been better. 
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An Island Princess Starts a Scandal by Adriana Herrera

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funny hopeful medium-paced

3.75

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Clown in a Cornfield by Adam Cesare

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dark tense fast-paced

4.0

 First off, this book is labelled as a young adult book but I’ll be honest I think it’s really more for 17+ because it’s definitely equivalent to a rated R movie based on how freaking gnarly the gore is. That being said, I did have a fun time reading this book. I felt like this book was if you put Scream into the Footloose town. The whole setting of middle of nowhere farmland where corn reigns king was a correct choice for the vibe that this book was going for as well.  It was a touch predictable but not completely and I did find myself surprised near the end by a few things. As I said, though, it’s rather violent and gory so go into the book with that in mind. If you like a slasher and just want to have a good time with it, I say give this a shot but don’t take it too seriously. Teen slashers are supposed to have a little corniness to them after all. (Ha, see what I did there?) 
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She Memes Well by Quinta Brunson

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funny hopeful inspiring fast-paced

5.0

 What a funny and honest book. I can’t even explain to you just how genuinely funny Quinta Brunson’s writing is throughout these essays. They’re filled with stories about about what made her into the person she is now. Granted, there are moments of seriousness and of conversations that need to be had more in our world, but she writes them with such a genuine honesty. It’s also interesting for me to read about someone who is my age and who experienced the same bits of internet history as memes and YouTube began to really take off in the 2000’s. Plus, let’s just be real, Quinta is hilarious and I just adore her humor. Definitely a big recommend from me. 
The Remedy: Queer and Trans Voices on Health and Health Care by Zena Sharman

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informative inspiring reflective medium-paced

4.5

I really liked the way this book was put together. The essays were all different but thorough and all reflected some personal experience in dealing with health care as an individual within the LGBTQIA+ community. As a member myself, I found that there were many points that I identified with in terms of the worries that cross my mind and how those concerns relate to health care. There are also a few poems, a full comic, and several Q and A sessions with people who have developed resources for the LGBTQIA+ community to help them get the health care they need. There are some instances where the terminology, in terms of the health care field, got away from me a bit and I had to take a moment to look them up which isn't a big deal but should be noted. Still, I feel like I learned so much and I also got to read so many stories from people like me which makes me feel that our community can be heard and strive for better in getting the care we need. 
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