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ellieb_reads's Reviews (186)
emotional
hopeful
fast-paced
Plot or Character Driven:
A mix
This book is a testament to how compulsively readable TJR is—because Carrie is one of more unlikeable main characters I’ve ever read and I still couldn’t stop reading. 100 pages in, I was convinced I’d never root for her! I did eventually, lots of tears in the last 50 or so pages even though I guessed exactly how it would all play out. But even with an insufferable narrator and a kind of predictable plot, I really enjoyed the ride. I don’t know tennis very well, but the written descriptions of the matches emulated the tension and suspense of a live match in a way that kept me engaged. I also loved Carrie’s dynamic with her dad and their back and forth in English and Spanish. Not my favorite TJR (almost unfair to read this one fresh off of Atmosphere), but I’d still happily recommend it!
Soft DNF - this is a slow read and I don’t have time to finish it before it’s due back at the library. But may try again when I have more time!
mysterious
tense
medium-paced
Plot or Character Driven:
A mix
So confused by the low ratings on this one because I quite liked it! I think Michallon’s debut last year was such a home run that maybe reviews are a little overly critical because of the comparison. But whatever the case, I found this to be a good, slow burn thriller. I really love Michallon’s writing, which tends to be more atmospheric and internal than traditional popcorn thrillers. There were several mysteries in one book here, and while I enjoyed this for the most part, it was tough to stay equally engaged with each of them. The cult mystery/backstory was definitely my favorite, give me more thrillers about cults please! But I felt a little bored by one of the storylines and wished it had ramped up the suspense a bit more. Not quite as good as The Quiet Tenant, but a solid read for me!
emotional
informative
sad
A very tough listen, but a critical dispelling of the myth that white women were simply bystanders in the history of slavery in the US. This wasn’t a misconception I held personally, but I still learned a lot about the intersection of gender and property laws and how they enabled white women to be active agents in the enslavement of Black people. The chapter on wet nurses was particularly horrifying. I believe this was the author’s dissertation, and it is verrrrrry dense and academic. I also struggled with the audiobook narrator’s choice to use different voices for first-person accounts, which is a lot of the book. But this was clearly incredibly well-researched and an important perspective of US history.
emotional
mysterious
slow-paced
Plot or Character Driven:
Character
This had some truly stunning prose, and I think that’s the main reason I enjoyed this book as much as I did. We don’t get a terribly deep look at the characters, and the plot is pretty basic and a hair too slow for me. But the writing was so gorgeous that I hardly noticed until the book was finished and I just went “huh.” I did enjoy the not-so-big reveal, and I thought one character was a bit more well-developed than the others. I also loved that Valerie’s story was told through letters to her mom. What actually happened in the book wasn’t terribly memorable, but I’ll still seek out more from Gaige in the future for her imagery alone.
mysterious
tense
fast-paced
Plot or Character Driven:
Plot
Well, that’s 1 for 3 on Sager’s last few books for me. Sager is known for his twists, but this was just too much. I honestly rolled my eyes after the final “reveal.” Is it really a good twist if I’m too confused by the previous four twists to understand it? The first half of the book was pretty good. I enjoyed learning each co-conspirator’s background and how they got roped into the plot that killed Anna’s family. I think the book would have been much more interesting if it had focused on Anna identifying these people and gathering the evidence to take them down, her connection with Seamus, and her aunt’s training. But alas, we instead got a very mediocre Murder on the Orient Express wannabe that just didn’t deliver.
dark
tense
fast-paced
Plot or Character Driven:
A mix
This is my third S.A. Cosby, and it definitely delivered the dark, brutal, nail-biting thriller that I’ve come to expect from his books. This one had some particularly gruesome scenes that almost made me put this one down and deem it too scary. But I just had to know what would happen! And the ending did not disappoint—not exactly what I was expecting, but it seriously packed a punch. The main characters are so complex, and the family business being a crematory added such a spooky layer to everything. There were certain subplots I didn’t love/didn’t think were needed, and I do think this was too violent for me personally. But as always, Cosby’s incredible storytelling and character development made this an excellent (albeit nightmare-inducing) read.
emotional
funny
hopeful
medium-paced
Plot or Character Driven:
A mix
Conceptually, this was 10/10. I absolutely love the premise, especially the magical realism, which Poston always does so well. But this was a flop for me. I did not connect with the main character (backstory was not strong enough to explain her dumb choices in the romance). I really struggled with the dialogue (a truly absurd amount of “I…I blah blah blah” sentences, stoppp). The pacing of the book felt totally off (way too much build up, not enough payoff). I liked the love interest and the subplot with Joni’s mom, but a lot of the drama felt superficial and manufactured. I loved Seven Year Slip SO MUCH, but Poston’s last two just haven’t worked for me. I’ll try one more though, because I do think this was a great idea for a rom-com that, for my taste, needed a stronger edit.
dark
tense
medium-paced
Plot or Character Driven:
A mix
This was a strange one, but I think in a good way? The villain is one of the narrators, and damn he gave me the creeps. He’s one of the most sinister, unsettling antagonists I’ve ever read, and I was impressed by the construction of his sociopathic character. Ash and Martha felt a little flat to me, and I think the story suffered from the shifting timelines, locations, and identities. It was initially hard to follow who was where and when. There was also no real mystery here. The reveals were obvious by necessity because the villain is narrating, and any “twists” were pretty predictable. But even when I knew what was going to happen, it still felt suspenseful enough, and the ending was totally satisfying. Moral of the story: don’t give hot guys your money, ladies.
emotional
funny
lighthearted
medium-paced
Plot or Character Driven:
Character
Finally getting around to the first two books in Emily Henry’s catalogue, and omgggg. I read this in less than 24 hours. I couldn’t stop! I think Sexy Evil Gus is my new favorite of the EmHen book boyfriends, and I liked that January was a soft, emotional, heart-on-her-sleeve kind of character. Loved the setting, and the rivals to lovers just really worked for me. I also think this is her funniest book, I laughed out loud multiple times. Dropping half a star for the “reveal” in the tent scene because I preferred the version of their history as it was introduced. But I totally ate this up, and to be honest I’m a little sad it’s over. On to PWMOV!