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holdenwunders_'s reviews
336 reviews
The Last One at the Wedding by Jason Rekulak
2.5
Ugh. I was enamored with Hidden Pictures and this was definitely one of my most anticipated books of the year and I wasn’t into it. I despised the main character. I know the whole main character “Otto” esc bitter, annoying father who has a heart of gold at the end is a thing now but I just cannot get on board. I appreciated the twist of who the antagonist was but the entire time I wanted it to be Frank. He’s so nosey, seemingly anti woman, and hates the little girl who is essentially abused and homeless. I know these things were “rectified” with him taking her in and loving her in the end but I HATED HIM.
Typically I’m fine with an unlikeable main character but everyone made him seem so likeable so the dissonance pissed me off the entire time. The premise was alright but everything execution wise made me want the book to be over already. Le sad.
Typically I’m fine with an unlikeable main character but everyone made him seem so likeable so the dissonance pissed me off the entire time. The premise was alright but everything execution wise made me want the book to be over already. Le sad.
The Peculiar Garden of Harriet Hunt by Chelsea Iversen
3.5
The Peculiar Garden of Harriet Hunt reminds me so much of Cinderella, and not the Disney version. With supernatural aspects, grounded magic, dark abuses, and keeping to an inner strength this book hones into it all.
There’s a lot I love about this book from the themes and the green witch aspects and the dark undertones but I also wasn’t blown away at the same time. But what more can you ask for? It was a good reading experience and that’s exactly what you expect from any book you give your time to.
There’s a lot I love about this book from the themes and the green witch aspects and the dark undertones but I also wasn’t blown away at the same time. But what more can you ask for? It was a good reading experience and that’s exactly what you expect from any book you give your time to.
Graveyard Shift by M.L. Rio
adventurous
challenging
dark
mysterious
medium-paced
- Plot- or character-driven? A mix
3.5
As someone who jumped on the cult of M.L. Rio, I was super excited going into this and while there were setbacks there were a lot of things that were well done here.
I am never dismayed or put off from a novella, which it seems like a lot of readers are which is sad but not unexpected, think Edgar Allen Poe people! Not all stories need to be long or full novels and that’s okay. It’s actually a testament when an authour can determine the correct length needed for their story to thrive. Too much/too little time can make or break any piece of art so I quite enjoyed how quick of a read this was. I do recommend reading it in one go though. There are quite a few characters and it does switch POVs so it’s essential knowing who each character is.
The writing, as always, is beautiful and well done and nothing less than what I’d expect from Rio. As for things I didn’t love, was the multiple points of view. Hannah is clearly the standout of the book and I wish that was reflected through her single perspective. It would’ve made things less confusing in keeping track of the many characters with so little time and she was the main attraction anyway, inherent to the plot. The other characters, while important, and had interesting perspectives felt lackluster in comparison to her.
The last thing that put me off of this book (please note I did NOT take away any stars for this) was the printing of the book. This was a highly anticipated novella for me (and many others) and I was so excited to pick up a physical copy but seeing it put me off so much that I got it through the library instead. The green colour in particular was so different in person that it felt more pukey than the matte acid I thought it was going to be. Making this a paperback was also disappointing in conjunction with their other design choices. Perhaps I was expecting something as hard hitting like T. Kingfisher’s What Moves the Dead, but all the choices felt like the publishers were throwing this away because it was short and it hurt to see. The pages were deckle edged which I typically love but with it being in a “paperback” form the pages stuck out from the actual cover and made it look so cheap. I’m not sure if I’m alone here but it felt a disservice to the book and beautifully designed cover that the final product felt inherently cheap in comparison.
Reading this as an insomniac added to the energy this novella was committed to and overall a good experience this spooky season. But it does seem that everyone is waiting with bated breath for her next full novel while discounting a great piece of writing. Please remember not everything, books especially, should be churned out of a machine. It is an art form and I will gladly wait a decade for another book from someone as talented as M.L. Rio.
I am never dismayed or put off from a novella, which it seems like a lot of readers are which is sad but not unexpected, think Edgar Allen Poe people! Not all stories need to be long or full novels and that’s okay. It’s actually a testament when an authour can determine the correct length needed for their story to thrive. Too much/too little time can make or break any piece of art so I quite enjoyed how quick of a read this was. I do recommend reading it in one go though. There are quite a few characters and it does switch POVs so it’s essential knowing who each character is.
The writing, as always, is beautiful and well done and nothing less than what I’d expect from Rio. As for things I didn’t love, was the multiple points of view. Hannah is clearly the standout of the book and I wish that was reflected through her single perspective. It would’ve made things less confusing in keeping track of the many characters with so little time and she was the main attraction anyway, inherent to the plot. The other characters, while important, and had interesting perspectives felt lackluster in comparison to her.
The last thing that put me off of this book (please note I did NOT take away any stars for this) was the printing of the book. This was a highly anticipated novella for me (and many others) and I was so excited to pick up a physical copy but seeing it put me off so much that I got it through the library instead. The green colour in particular was so different in person that it felt more pukey than the matte acid I thought it was going to be. Making this a paperback was also disappointing in conjunction with their other design choices. Perhaps I was expecting something as hard hitting like T. Kingfisher’s What Moves the Dead, but all the choices felt like the publishers were throwing this away because it was short and it hurt to see. The pages were deckle edged which I typically love but with it being in a “paperback” form the pages stuck out from the actual cover and made it look so cheap. I’m not sure if I’m alone here but it felt a disservice to the book and beautifully designed cover that the final product felt inherently cheap in comparison.
Reading this as an insomniac added to the energy this novella was committed to and overall a good experience this spooky season. But it does seem that everyone is waiting with bated breath for her next full novel while discounting a great piece of writing. Please remember not everything, books especially, should be churned out of a machine. It is an art form and I will gladly wait a decade for another book from someone as talented as M.L. Rio.
Brain on Fire: My Month of Madness by Susannah Cahalan
challenging
informative
inspiring
mysterious
reflective
relaxing
sad
tense
fast-paced
4.0
This Book Will Bury Me by Ashley Winstead
adventurous
challenging
dark
emotional
mysterious
reflective
sad
tense
medium-paced
- Plot- or character-driven? A mix
- Strong character development? Yes
- Loveable characters? Yes
- Diverse cast of characters? Yes
- Flaws of characters a main focus? It's complicated
5.0
RUN, don’t walk to preorder this new book by Ashley Winstead!! Seriously, I’m sounding the alarms, raising the flags, calling all thriller lovers because This Book Will Bury Me goes down as one of the best thrillers I’ve ever read. It is always such a privilege to read a book that effortlessly guides you through a story and lets you fully bask in the glories the genre has to offer.
In the same vein as the show A Murder at the End of the World, our perspective is from a sleuth neck deep in the true crime community. Winstead points a microscope at the humanity of those who participate, from the “vultures” with their rubbernecking to the Michelle McNamara’s, even giving them a four sided archetype to choose from. Are you doing it for the heroics? The justice? The curiousity? And with a cast of found family, Winstead explores these questions while also still firmly rooted in the thrilling aspect of thrillers.
I’m astounded by the amount of depth that is portrayed here while also still being incredibly gruesome in description. The juxtaposition of stylistic techniques and draws from other genres creates a masterpiece of storytelling. This is the kind of book that has me continuously reading the genre, the diamonds that I know I’ll eventually run into if I read enough. And don’t get me wrong, most thrillers are fun and enjoyable. But the grief, despair, anxiety, and shock I experienced here is only something I can get from a true five star book.
Ashley Winstead has been hit or miss for me in the past but I’m SO grateful for this ARC because this was completely unexpected. I was relatively excited going in and even more excited coming out on the other end. I cannot get over how beautifully written this was and it would excel anywhere regardless of genre. As a trigger warning, this book does get incredibly graphic so please be aware of that going in.
In the same vein as the show A Murder at the End of the World, our perspective is from a sleuth neck deep in the true crime community. Winstead points a microscope at the humanity of those who participate, from the “vultures” with their rubbernecking to the Michelle McNamara’s, even giving them a four sided archetype to choose from. Are you doing it for the heroics? The justice? The curiousity? And with a cast of found family, Winstead explores these questions while also still firmly rooted in the thrilling aspect of thrillers.
I’m astounded by the amount of depth that is portrayed here while also still being incredibly gruesome in description. The juxtaposition of stylistic techniques and draws from other genres creates a masterpiece of storytelling. This is the kind of book that has me continuously reading the genre, the diamonds that I know I’ll eventually run into if I read enough. And don’t get me wrong, most thrillers are fun and enjoyable. But the grief, despair, anxiety, and shock I experienced here is only something I can get from a true five star book.
Ashley Winstead has been hit or miss for me in the past but I’m SO grateful for this ARC because this was completely unexpected. I was relatively excited going in and even more excited coming out on the other end. I cannot get over how beautifully written this was and it would excel anywhere regardless of genre. As a trigger warning, this book does get incredibly graphic so please be aware of that going in.
Content Warnings
Graphic: Misogyny, Violence, Murder, Injury/Injury detail
Famous Last Words by Gillian McAllister
adventurous
emotional
hopeful
mysterious
tense
medium-paced
- Plot- or character-driven? A mix
- Strong character development? No
3.5
Gillian McAllister is a lovely choice if you’re in the need of a solid thriller that will keep you enraptured the entire time. I’m never disappointed by her writing but am also not blown entirely away either.
Oftentimes, as a massive thriller lover, I’ve found there are few middling authours. I typically find a thriller is either the absolute best thing or the absolute worst experience and while McAllister fits neither of those, it’s actually a blessing to the genre.
She has a slew of topics that capture your attention which is exactly what you want from this genre. But with a sleeve full of tropes, they are littered throughout as well that can keep a twist far from twisty. Does that mean it’s bad? Absolutely not. I’d rather a trope be used than a twist so out of pocket that I have to suspend my belief by doing backflips when reading and I wholeheartedly thank her for that.
The premise of this book is interesting and I found myself really excited to find out more about the disappeared “criminal” husband but also found a couple characters lackluster. Luckily the main character captured my attention and she didn’t do any “dumb” main character thing that forced the plot forward. With some obvious tropes and characters throughout, there was plenty of interesting plot and storytelling that it didn’t take away from itself at all. This is perfect if you love the genre and just want to *gasp* have fun while reading!
Oftentimes, as a massive thriller lover, I’ve found there are few middling authours. I typically find a thriller is either the absolute best thing or the absolute worst experience and while McAllister fits neither of those, it’s actually a blessing to the genre.
She has a slew of topics that capture your attention which is exactly what you want from this genre. But with a sleeve full of tropes, they are littered throughout as well that can keep a twist far from twisty. Does that mean it’s bad? Absolutely not. I’d rather a trope be used than a twist so out of pocket that I have to suspend my belief by doing backflips when reading and I wholeheartedly thank her for that.
The premise of this book is interesting and I found myself really excited to find out more about the disappeared “criminal” husband but also found a couple characters lackluster. Luckily the main character captured my attention and she didn’t do any “dumb” main character thing that forced the plot forward. With some obvious tropes and characters throughout, there was plenty of interesting plot and storytelling that it didn’t take away from itself at all. This is perfect if you love the genre and just want to *gasp* have fun while reading!