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jcpreads's reviews
115 reviews
How to Destroy your Husband by Jess Kitching
tense
medium-paced
- Plot- or character-driven? A mix
- Strong character development? It's complicated
- Loveable characters? It's complicated
- Diverse cast of characters? No
- Flaws of characters a main focus? Yes
4.0
This was a great read - the writing style stood out to me the most. I found myself enjoying lots of quotes while reading.
It read as more of a domestic drama than a thriller, in my opinion. The pacing was pretty decent throughout - although I do feel that the ending was wrapped up really quickly out of the blue. I also expected a bit more out of the ending than was given.
Overall, it was an enjoyable read. I would recommend to any drama or thriller reader, specifically someone looking for a lighter thriller/drama that keeps your interest peaked throughout.
It read as more of a domestic drama than a thriller, in my opinion. The pacing was pretty decent throughout - although I do feel that the ending was wrapped up really quickly out of the blue. I also expected a bit more out of the ending than was given.
Overall, it was an enjoyable read. I would recommend to any drama or thriller reader, specifically someone looking for a lighter thriller/drama that keeps your interest peaked throughout.
Tell Me Lies by Carola Lovering
Fair warning: this is not a romance novel - this book covers the backstory of a toxic relationship, destructive behaviors, and everything in between.
This book was not what I expected and I can’t say if that’s because of my own doing or if it’s just portrayed to be something it’s not.
This is my second book by Carola Lovering. It didn’t blow me away - but it kept me reading. Some parts of this were hard to read mainly because of my own personal experiences. It was frustrating to be on the outside looking in of a relationship like this. I found myself frustrated and irritating with the characters pretty much from cover to cover.
I found some parts to be highly repetitive- circling the same story but at different points in the timeline. I also felt it was dragged out a bit. More back story than anything else - I would have liked to see more of Lucy’s current POV.
Overall, I enjoyed the read despite being frustrated. It was harder to get through since this isn’t my typical type of read but I would definitely recommend to someone who enjoys romance type reads who isn’t looking for a traditional romance.
emotional
sad
slow-paced
- Plot- or character-driven? Character
- Strong character development? It's complicated
- Loveable characters? It's complicated
- Diverse cast of characters? No
- Flaws of characters a main focus? Yes
3.75
Fair warning: this is not a romance novel - this book covers the backstory of a toxic relationship, destructive behaviors, and everything in between.
This book was not what I expected and I can’t say if that’s because of my own doing or if it’s just portrayed to be something it’s not.
This is my second book by Carola Lovering. It didn’t blow me away - but it kept me reading. Some parts of this were hard to read mainly because of my own personal experiences. It was frustrating to be on the outside looking in of a relationship like this. I found myself frustrated and irritating with the characters pretty much from cover to cover.
I found some parts to be highly repetitive- circling the same story but at different points in the timeline. I also felt it was dragged out a bit. More back story than anything else - I would have liked to see more of Lucy’s current POV.
Overall, I enjoyed the read despite being frustrated. It was harder to get through since this isn’t my typical type of read but I would definitely recommend to someone who enjoys romance type reads who isn’t looking for a traditional romance.
And Then I Met Margaret by Rob White
inspiring
lighthearted
reflective
medium-paced
5.0
This book came to me unexpectedly during a dark time in life. To say I needed this read would be an understatement. The stories throughout were so unbelievably relatable it was easy to fly through this book - not to mention the amount of life lessons including throughout. Highly recommend.
When She Returned by Lucinda Berry
dark
mysterious
medium-paced
- Plot- or character-driven? A mix
- Strong character development? Yes
- Loveable characters? Yes
- Diverse cast of characters? No
- Flaws of characters a main focus? Yes
4.0
Let me start by saying that Lucinda Berry is an auto-buy author for me so it didn't take much for me to commit to reading this one. Add in the <b>cult</b> factor and it was a no brainer.
For the majority of the book, I enjoyed the pacing. I was intrigued and ready for more from cover to cover. HOWEVER! I do feel that the ending was a <i>bit</i> rushed. BUT ONLY A BIT!
At 90% through, I had no idea where this plot was going and could not fathom how Berry was going to be able to wrap this up. I definitely was not expecting the ending although I can definitely see how some would have predicted the plot twist - but not me.
Overall, a really great read whether you're a thriller lover or not. Would recommend to pretty much anyone.
For the majority of the book, I enjoyed the pacing. I was intrigued and ready for more from cover to cover. HOWEVER! I do feel that the ending was a <i>bit</i> rushed. BUT ONLY A BIT!
At 90% through, I had no idea where this plot was going and could not fathom how Berry was going to be able to wrap this up. I definitely was not expecting the ending although I can definitely see how some would have predicted the plot twist - but not me.
Overall, a really great read whether you're a thriller lover or not. Would recommend to pretty much anyone.
My Summer Darlings by May Cobb
challenging
medium-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
3.0
This one…..I’m just not sure how I feel about this one.
I’ve read The Hunting Wives and enjoyed it. I like Cobb’s housewives/soap opera vibe and expected similar with this book which was delivered.
A little more than halfway through, I was really questioning if this book was worth finishing. I didn’t think it was a bad book and I enjoyed the writing but I HATED the characters. All of them. They just seemed to be such fake and pathetic humans and I just didn’t feel myself rooting for any of them.
I even took to Booksta to see if it was worth finishing and I got mixed responses but several people did say it got better and everything really happened at the end so I decided to stick it out. I’m glad I did because the ending was the thrilling aspect I had so desperately been yearning for through the first 70% of the book.
I’m glad I finished, and this book ended up getting a higher rating from me BECAUSE I finished. BUT, I just really wish it had more thrilling aspects throughout the entire duration of the storyline instead of them all just being thrown in at the end.
I would recommend this book to someone looking for a lighter thriller with lots of gossipy aspects mixed in.
I’ve read The Hunting Wives and enjoyed it. I like Cobb’s housewives/soap opera vibe and expected similar with this book which was delivered.
A little more than halfway through, I was really questioning if this book was worth finishing. I didn’t think it was a bad book and I enjoyed the writing but I HATED the characters. All of them. They just seemed to be such fake and pathetic humans and I just didn’t feel myself rooting for any of them.
I even took to Booksta to see if it was worth finishing and I got mixed responses but several people did say it got better and everything really happened at the end so I decided to stick it out. I’m glad I did because the ending was the thrilling aspect I had so desperately been yearning for through the first 70% of the book.
I’m glad I finished, and this book ended up getting a higher rating from me BECAUSE I finished. BUT, I just really wish it had more thrilling aspects throughout the entire duration of the storyline instead of them all just being thrown in at the end.
I would recommend this book to someone looking for a lighter thriller with lots of gossipy aspects mixed in.
A Serial Killer's Daughter: My Story of Faith, Love, and Overcoming by Kerri Rawson
emotional
reflective
slow-paced
3.0
Every Last Secret by A.R. Torre
mysterious
tense
medium-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? It's complicated
4.0
The Perfect Child by Lucinda Berry
dark
emotional
sad
tense
fast-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
4.5
READ IF YOU LIKE:
- short chapters
- alternating POV's
- dark & twisty reads
- nature vs. nurture
MY THOUGHTS:
I have to start by saying that I really enjoyed this book despite how dark and twist it was at times. This book is written with alternating point of views of Hannah, Christopher, and Piper (Janie's social worker).
Characters within this book were both unlikable and likable - I found myself getting most frustrated/irritated with Christopher. He was far too easily manipulated/roped in to Janie's tactics and took an extremely long time to come around to the fact that she was just not nice.
If had to describe this read with two words they would be: disturbing and captivating. I could not put this one down, it was that addicting to read. I really enjoyed (but also really empathized with) Hannah's character's (un)development - I mean, she completed unraveled as the story went on and I really felt for her.
This book covers lots of bases such as, but not limited to, the exploration of childhood trauma, mental health, parenthood as a whole, and nature vs. nurture.
While I did really enjoy this book, I didn't love the ending. Mainly because there wasn't one? It seemed to build and build and build to just abruptly end with zero closure which left me a little unsettled especially given how heavy of a read this was at times.
However, I would still highly recommend it to any psychological thriller lover.
- short chapters
- alternating POV's
- dark & twisty reads
- nature vs. nurture
MY THOUGHTS:
I have to start by saying that I really enjoyed this book despite how dark and twist it was at times. This book is written with alternating point of views of Hannah, Christopher, and Piper (Janie's social worker).
Characters within this book were both unlikable and likable - I found myself getting most frustrated/irritated with Christopher. He was far too easily manipulated/roped in to Janie's tactics and took an extremely long time to come around to the fact that she was just not nice.
If had to describe this read with two words they would be: disturbing and captivating. I could not put this one down, it was that addicting to read. I really enjoyed (but also really empathized with) Hannah's character's (un)development - I mean, she completed unraveled as the story went on and I really felt for her.
This book covers lots of bases such as, but not limited to, the exploration of childhood trauma, mental health, parenthood as a whole, and nature vs. nurture.
While I did really enjoy this book, I didn't love the ending. Mainly because there wasn't one? It seemed to build and build and build to just abruptly end with zero closure which left me a little unsettled especially given how heavy of a read this was at times.
However, I would still highly recommend it to any psychological thriller lover.
Content Warnings
Graphic: Animal cruelty, Animal death, Child abuse, and Abandonment
Moderate: Medical content and Medical trauma
Minor: Confinement
The Broken Girls by Simone St. James
dark
emotional
mysterious
medium-paced
- Plot- or character-driven? A mix
- Strong character development? Yes
- Loveable characters? Yes
- Diverse cast of characters? No
- Flaws of characters a main focus? It's complicated
4.25
Can someone please explain to me how Simone St. James does it? Because I cannot wrap my head around it.
SSJ is a genius and has easily become one of my all time favorite authors.
The Broken Girls was an incredible read (like everything else I've read by SSJ). It's one of those books that you never want to end.
I'm a sucker for alternating timelines and SSJ never disappoints in that area. Like most of her books, it contained the normal paranormal elements but they weren't overbearing. While I enjoy the paranormal, it's not something I would go out of my way to read about unless it's a book written by Simone St. James.
As always, the suspense and thrill are there throughout the entirety of the novel, but so are the heartwarming and wholesome moments as well.
Bonus points for a perfectly depicted New England setting!
SSJ is a genius and has easily become one of my all time favorite authors.
The Broken Girls was an incredible read (like everything else I've read by SSJ). It's one of those books that you never want to end.
I'm a sucker for alternating timelines and SSJ never disappoints in that area. Like most of her books, it contained the normal paranormal elements but they weren't overbearing. While I enjoy the paranormal, it's not something I would go out of my way to read about unless it's a book written by Simone St. James.
As always, the suspense and thrill are there throughout the entirety of the novel, but so are the heartwarming and wholesome moments as well.
Bonus points for a perfectly depicted New England setting!