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finalgirlkate's reviews
232 reviews
Slender Man by
dark
mysterious
sad
tense
fast-paced
- Plot- or character-driven? Character
- Strong character development? It's complicated
- Loveable characters? No
- Diverse cast of characters? No
- Flaws of characters a main focus? No
5.0
I love that this story uses Slenderman's origin as a creepypasta, and expands on that in different ways. Creepypasta horror (or internet horror? not sure if there is a real term for this yet) is becoming one of my favorite horror genres. I really enjoyed the mixed media, and how this story leans into the different technology that let the original creepypasta spread. I also appreciated that he cryptid is kept relatively vague, the horror comes from Matt's mind more than the supernatural entity the book is named after.
I love the commentary on how things can take on a life of their own - SM started as a story to win a contest, but has grown into an entire phenomena. And how that story can grow and branch out, and be interpreted in several different ways, and serve as inspiration for other stories.
I really liked the ending. It's kept sort of vague, you don't get specific details; but there is enough there to feel like the story actually ended. The last section of texts broke my heart just a little bit, and I LOVE when a horror book can make me feel sad and scared.
I love the commentary on how things can take on a life of their own - SM started as a story to win a contest, but has grown into an entire phenomena. And how that story can grow and branch out, and be interpreted in several different ways, and serve as inspiration for other stories.
I really liked the ending. It's kept sort of vague, you don't get specific details; but there is enough there to feel like the story actually ended. The last section of texts broke my heart just a little bit, and I LOVE when a horror book can make me feel sad and scared.
It Starts with Us by Colleen Hoover
emotional
hopeful
fast-paced
- Plot- or character-driven? Plot
- Strong character development? No
- Loveable characters? Yes
- Diverse cast of characters? No
- Flaws of characters a main focus? No
3.0
This one is fine - it's just fan-service for those who loved It Ends With Us, and it reads like it.
You should read this one directly after It Ends With Us, if possible, because this book cannot stand on it's own. Its a sequel, but even then it really doesn't have a plot of it's own, or any sort of character development. It feels more like it's an extended epilogue.
There is so much repeated in this book from It Ends With Us - they just reuse a lot of the journal entries so that Atlas can finally read them. I read the books a couple years apart, so I needed the refresher, but it really adds to the feeling that this book was padded out so that it could be a full length novel. Again, can't really stand as it's own story.
It's nice to have a real ending to the story, but you're not really missing anything if you don't pick this one up.
You should read this one directly after It Ends With Us, if possible, because this book cannot stand on it's own. Its a sequel, but even then it really doesn't have a plot of it's own, or any sort of character development. It feels more like it's an extended epilogue.
There is so much repeated in this book from It Ends With Us - they just reuse a lot of the journal entries so that Atlas can finally read them. I read the books a couple years apart, so I needed the refresher, but it really adds to the feeling that this book was padded out so that it could be a full length novel. Again, can't really stand as it's own story.
It's nice to have a real ending to the story, but you're not really missing anything if you don't pick this one up.
The Bromance Book Club by Lyssa Kay Adams
emotional
funny
medium-paced
- Plot- or character-driven? Character
- Strong character development? Yes
- Loveable characters? Yes
- Diverse cast of characters? No
- Flaws of characters a main focus? It's complicated
4.0
I enjoyed this one - it was funnier than I expected, and spicier too. I really enjoy second chance romances, especially between a couple that technically haven't broken up yet.
The premise is pretty funny for a romcom - a group of grown men reading romance books to understand their partners better is a cute idea. I love that they read these old regency romances as well, instead of a modern day rom com, that made the little snippets of the book they're reading distinct from the main story, and adds some interest as well.
Gavin definitely got the most growth, and Thea's growth was a little lacking. I thought the ending with her dad was a little shoe-horned in, I don't think that story really got the attention it should've throughout most of the book. I do appreciate that the third-act breakup was minimal. The ending even had me tearing up a bit, so I had to give this a good review.
Definitely interested in reading more in this series!
The premise is pretty funny for a romcom - a group of grown men reading romance books to understand their partners better is a cute idea. I love that they read these old regency romances as well, instead of a modern day rom com, that made the little snippets of the book they're reading distinct from the main story, and adds some interest as well.
Gavin definitely got the most growth, and Thea's growth was a little lacking. I thought the ending with her dad was a little shoe-horned in, I don't think that story really got the attention it should've throughout most of the book. I do appreciate that the third-act breakup was minimal. The ending even had me tearing up a bit, so I had to give this a good review.
Definitely interested in reading more in this series!
The Outsider by Stephen King
dark
slow-paced
- Plot- or character-driven? Plot
- Strong character development? It's complicated
- Loveable characters? No
- Diverse cast of characters? No
- Flaws of characters a main focus? No
2.0
This was my first Stephen King, so I didn't know what to expect going in. I think he may not be the author for me, because I was disappointed with this one. This book is too long, in my opinion. It felt like the story was dragging on so that random information about side characters could be included.
The mystery in the first half is definitely the most interesting part, but that gets solved with a few hundred pages left. And the way it's "solved" annoyed me - the investigator randomly knows a movie where this exact scenario is happening, and that's it? I know it's supernatural so they couldn't really do much in that regard, but it just felt very anti-climatic.
I wasn't very invested in any of the investigator's story lines because I just hated all of them. They did their job incorrectly, and then everything that happens afterwards is their fault, but then we're supposed to feel bad when they're feeling guilty afterwards? Maybe it's my own personal opinions about the justice system seeping in, but I can't feel bad for a cop who fumbled so badly, that someone died as a result.
Also, the amount of times "spunk" is brought up in the first half is SO weird.
The mystery in the first half is definitely the most interesting part, but that gets solved with a few hundred pages left. And the way it's "solved" annoyed me - the investigator randomly knows a movie where this exact scenario is happening, and that's it? I know it's supernatural so they couldn't really do much in that regard, but it just felt very anti-climatic.
I wasn't very invested in any of the investigator's story lines because I just hated all of them. They did their job incorrectly, and then everything that happens afterwards is their fault, but then we're supposed to feel bad when they're feeling guilty afterwards? Maybe it's my own personal opinions about the justice system seeping in, but I can't feel bad for a cop who fumbled so badly, that someone died as a result.
Also, the amount of times "spunk" is brought up in the first half is SO weird.
Wait for It by Jenn McKinlay
Did not finish book.
Did not finish book.
I hated the male MC so much. Every thought he had in his POV was either about how much he hated women, how badly he wanted to bang the female MC, or how he was such a successful businessman (and his business was gentrification). The female MC wasn't great either, although she was much less annoying to listen to.
Dead Eleven by Jimmy Juliano
emotional
mysterious
tense
slow-paced
- Plot- or character-driven? Character
- Strong character development? Yes
- Loveable characters? Yes
- Diverse cast of characters? No
- Flaws of characters a main focus? No
4.25
The Wife Before by Shanora Williams
fast-paced
- Plot- or character-driven? Character
- Strong character development? No
- Loveable characters? No
- Diverse cast of characters? Yes
- Flaws of characters a main focus? No
1.0
The first half of the book was SO boring, even with it being very fast-paced. The last third was truly bad.
I doc'd an entire star for Melanie romanticizing her rape as a teenager. There was no reason for that, and to imply that she was the seducer in that relationship??? WHY
I doc'd an entire star for Melanie romanticizing her rape as a teenager. There was no reason for that, and to imply that she was the seducer in that relationship??? WHY
Love and Other Words by Christina Lauren
medium-paced
- Plot- or character-driven? Character
- Strong character development? No
- Loveable characters? No
- Diverse cast of characters? No
- Flaws of characters a main focus? No
2.0
The story is enjoyable enough, but the ending was so bad. The third act break-up was criminal. And the reveal of Macy's dad plotline felt like it was forced in at the last minute.
The Shadows by Alex North
dark
mysterious
slow-paced
- Plot- or character-driven? A mix
- Strong character development? Yes
- Loveable characters? No
- Diverse cast of characters? No
- Flaws of characters a main focus? Yes
3.25
Good atmosphere, and I liked the mystery. I couldn't get that invested in any of the characters, so none of the twists or reveals really had any 'punch' for me. I wish we had gotten a little more in the character's feelings and inner thoughts.