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garlinds's reviews
124 reviews
Our Little Secret by Kiersten Modglin
dark
emotional
mysterious
tense
fast-paced
3.5
Not everything is as it seems in the perfect little town called Cason Glen. There are gossiping adults, unruly teenagers, unsolved murders, and missing people galore.
This story is told by multiple narrators, all unreliable at best, as the webs they've spun begin to unravel. Modglin had me asking questions from the beginning and masterfully trailed me along until the very end. The twist of the last chapter was chilling and something I did not see coming. Ultimately, this is a story about the lengths to which we will go to protect those that we love. And how quickly we will turn on them as well, given the right circumstances.
Thank you NetGalley and OrangeSky Audio for my audiobook.
This story is told by multiple narrators, all unreliable at best, as the webs they've spun begin to unravel. Modglin had me asking questions from the beginning and masterfully trailed me along until the very end. The twist of the last chapter was chilling and something I did not see coming. Ultimately, this is a story about the lengths to which we will go to protect those that we love. And how quickly we will turn on them as well, given the right circumstances.
Thank you NetGalley and OrangeSky Audio for my audiobook.
Content Warnings
Graphic: Adult/minor relationship, Blood, Sexual violence, Murder, Infidelity, and Gun violence
Moderate: Toxic friendship, Toxic relationship, and Grief
Minor: Car accident and Pregnancy
Adventure Dogs: The Dog-Approved Guide to Having Fun (with Humans) by Lauren Watt
adventurous
funny
inspiring
lighthearted
5.0
To put it simply, I loved this book. It's filled with great imagery and is a joy to read. It left me excited to explore the world with my two dogs.
Just yesterday I was thinking about all of the experiences my oldest dog and I have shared over the last seven years, and how boring our lives have been in comparison since the beginning of the pandemic. This book gave me some ideas that I can implement in our daily life, sometimes without even leaving our own backyard. It even reminded me that I am overdue for a stop at the Dog Chapel in St. Johnsbury, VT. A place that we drive by regularly but have never made the time to stop at.
I like to live by the motto "never leave the dogs behind" and this book has inspired me with so many new ways to experience life with them.
Thank you to NetGalley and Chronicle Books for the advance copy!
Just yesterday I was thinking about all of the experiences my oldest dog and I have shared over the last seven years, and how boring our lives have been in comparison since the beginning of the pandemic. This book gave me some ideas that I can implement in our daily life, sometimes without even leaving our own backyard. It even reminded me that I am overdue for a stop at the Dog Chapel in St. Johnsbury, VT. A place that we drive by regularly but have never made the time to stop at.
I like to live by the motto "never leave the dogs behind" and this book has inspired me with so many new ways to experience life with them.
Thank you to NetGalley and Chronicle Books for the advance copy!
True Loaf by L. Austen Johnson
adventurous
lighthearted
mysterious
fast-paced
- Plot- or character-driven? Plot
- Strong character development? No
- Loveable characters? It's complicated
- Diverse cast of characters? No
- Flaws of characters a main focus? Yes
3.0
As soon as I saw the cover, I knew I had to hear this story.
Using a modern setting the author weaves together a story inspired by Balkan Folklore. The protagonist, a baker named Riley, is given an unusual request by a strange man, sending her on a quest for an ingredient. During her journey chaos ensues.
Listening to this audiobook, I was reminded of stories that my grandmother would tell me when I was a child. "True Loaf" reminded me of both Little Red Riding Hood and Hansel and Gretel, while being a story entirely its own. While I found this story to be charming, I wasn't really satisfied with the ending and I was left wanting more. It follows a classic folklore algorithm to a tee, which I believe was the author's intention, however, I want a lot more capable heroine and a lot less damsel in distress.
The bonus content on the audiobook did provide the author's thoughts and input for the story, which made me appreciate it more.
Thank you to NetGalley and the publisher for a free copy of the audiobook.
Using a modern setting the author weaves together a story inspired by Balkan Folklore. The protagonist, a baker named Riley, is given an unusual request by a strange man, sending her on a quest for an ingredient. During her journey chaos ensues.
Listening to this audiobook, I was reminded of stories that my grandmother would tell me when I was a child. "True Loaf" reminded me of both Little Red Riding Hood and Hansel and Gretel, while being a story entirely its own. While I found this story to be charming, I wasn't really satisfied with the ending and I was left wanting more. It follows a classic folklore algorithm to a tee, which I believe was the author's intention, however, I want a lot more capable heroine and a lot less damsel in distress.
The bonus content on the audiobook did provide the author's thoughts and input for the story, which made me appreciate it more.
Thank you to NetGalley and the publisher for a free copy of the audiobook.
Content Warnings
Graphic: Blood and Violence
Moderate: Stalking
Fable by Adrienne Young
adventurous
dark
tense
fast-paced
- Plot- or character-driven? Character
- Strong character development? Yes
- Loveable characters? Yes
- Diverse cast of characters? No
- Flaws of characters a main focus? Yes
4.75
Content Warnings
Graphic: Death of parent, Murder, and Torture
Ruin and Rising by Leigh Bardugo
adventurous
emotional
slow-paced
- Plot- or character-driven? Plot
- Strong character development? It's complicated
- Loveable characters? Yes
- Diverse cast of characters? No
- Flaws of characters a main focus? Yes
3.5
All's Well by Mona Awad
dark
emotional
mysterious
tense
fast-paced
- Plot- or character-driven? Character
- Strong character development? Yes
- Loveable characters? It's complicated
- Diverse cast of characters? No
- Flaws of characters a main focus? Yes
4.0
Red, White & Royal Blue by Casey McQuiston
funny
hopeful
lighthearted
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? Yes
4.5
The Chosen and the Beautiful by Nghi Vo
adventurous
dark
mysterious
reflective
medium-paced
- Plot- or character-driven? Character
- Strong character development? Yes
- Loveable characters? It's complicated
- Diverse cast of characters? Yes
- Flaws of characters a main focus? Yes
4.0
The Chosen and the Beautiful is a captivating retelling of a classic, told from the perspective of Jordan Baker, who is rewritten as a queer Asian woman who was adopted by an American family as a young child. Nghi Vo weaves a magical narrative that tackles issues of race and class, while also depicting sexuality in a refreshing way.
I read The Great Gatsby in 2013 and I must admit I barely remembered a thing from it. In hindsight, I do wish that I was more familiar with the source material for this book so that I could have picked up on more nuances. I think that the comparison would have elevated my reading experience. From what I do remember Vo developed the story in ways that Fitzgerald missed the mark.
I'll be thinking about The Chosen and the Beautiful for years to come, and I hope to do a reread of both this and The Great Gatsby in the near future.
I was lucky to receive an advanced audiobook from NetGalley and Tor.com.
I read The Great Gatsby in 2013 and I must admit I barely remembered a thing from it. In hindsight, I do wish that I was more familiar with the source material for this book so that I could have picked up on more nuances. I think that the comparison would have elevated my reading experience. From what I do remember Vo developed the story in ways that Fitzgerald missed the mark.
I'll be thinking about The Chosen and the Beautiful for years to come, and I hope to do a reread of both this and The Great Gatsby in the near future.
I was lucky to receive an advanced audiobook from NetGalley and Tor.com.
March: Book Two by John Lewis, Andrew Aydin
dark
emotional
hopeful
informative
inspiring
reflective
sad
tense
fast-paced
5.0