fcharih's reviews
6 reviews

Haute démolition by Jean-Philippe Baril Guérard

dark reflective sad medium-paced

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

4.25

Excellente lecture! J'ai beaucoup apprécié l'authenticité et la candeur avec laquelle Baril-Guérard traite de sujets comme l'estime de soi, la rancune, la vengeance, la dépendence, etc.

Un Animal Sauvage by Joël Dicker

mysterious tense 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? No

3.75

The Paris Apartment by Lucy Foley

adventurous dark mysterious tense slow-paced

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

3.5

I thought The Paris Apartment's premise and settings were very interesting: a spooky apartment building in Paris with people who are not what they seem and where a young man goes missing without leaving a trace. As a French speaker myself, I appreciated the numerous references to French expressions sprinkled across the book. On the other hand, I thought the pace was just a bit too slow for me, and thought that the ending did not make up for it. In spite of the slow pace and some not-so-realistic elements (

How Mimi correctly guesses Ben's computer's password

), I thought this was a fun read.

The Kind Worth Killing by Peter Swanson

dark mysterious tense fast-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? No

4.5

This novel was very enjoyable. Full of twists and turns spread throughout.

The Silent Patient by Alex Michaelides

mysterious medium-paced

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

3.75

I read this book because it is often rated as one of the books with the most surprising plot twists. While I personally was not moved by it, I thought the story was interesting and an interesting study on the themes of trust, deception and revenge. The chapters were short and reading the book felt effortless. Fun read.

Greenwich Park by Katherine Faulkner

dark mysterious slow-paced

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

3.5

This was an interesting novel that presents a reflection on the theme of friendship, and how it is difficult to break out of a toxic one. I feel like the pace was a bit too uneven for my taste, with a reveal that was a bit too sudden and too densely packed within two chapters or so at the end. Still, it was an enjoyable read and quite impressive for a debut.