jdieterle13's reviews
425 reviews

Behind Closed Doors by B.A. Paris

5.0

Behind Closed Doors was my first B.A. Paris novel and boy, it was a doozy!

It Ends with Us by Colleen Hoover

5.0

I started It Ends With Us today without reading the back cover to jog my memory about the premise of the book. I thought I was going to be reading a fun romance novel but instead I read about the serious subject of domestic violence. •
I couldn’t put the book down. I finished it in 6 hours. I was captivated by the characters. I was torn for the decision Lily had to make. I have no idea what I would have done in that situation. I flew through the pages and was so internally conflicted. By the time I got to the authors note at the end, my emotions were everywhere. It’s wild to read a fiction book knowing that it’s not fiction for a great number of people, it’s real life. •
Colleen Hoover’s writing and plot was once again 5 stars

All These Beautiful Strangers by Elizabeth Klehfoth

3.0

The A’s: a secret and exclusive group of students within Knollwood Prep high school that think they are above the rules and above everyone else. When Charlie gets a bid to this elite group, she is thrilled. She has no problem doing the tasks they require of her to officially join the group. But when she starts to uncover the truth about her mother’s disappearance, she begins to question what she believes and the company she keeps. •
I really enjoyed this novel set at a boarding school. While the ending wasn’t a shock, the delivery of it was a nice spin. This was a quick read that kept my attention but I wasn’t blown away by it.

The Last Flight by Julie Clark

4.0

I finished this book just in time to pack for my flight tomorrow ✈️ The Last Flight is a story of two women who need to escape their lives and the fierce female friendships that help them do just that. Claire is running from an abusive relationship with a powerful man while Eva has her own demons she wants to escape. Both have women in their life that define friendship. They don’t put conditions on the friendship and they help them and expect nothing in return. •
I loved the writing and that the lives of these women intersected. It wasn’t the typical thriller but was a fresh take on a page turning novel that features notes of women empowerment and the #metoo movement. I did not see the ending coming ⭐️⭐️⭐️⭐️

My Sister, the Serial Killer by Oyinkan Braithwaite

5.0

I had a layover today, slept on both planes, and still managed to start AND finish My Sister, The Serial Killer before we landed at our destination

The Breakdown by B.A. Paris

4.0

What a wild ride. This was a slow burn for 2/3 of the book but I couldn’t read the last 1/3 fast enough!
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Cass was the last person to see her friend alive. She can’t get the images out of her head but she is forgetting everything else, so much so that she sees a doctor for early onset dementia. Her mom was diagnosed at a young age, and it seems like every day, Cass’ memory gets worse and worse. She is terrified that the murderer is still at large and equally terrified of her memory. Her husband and friend are supportive but Cass is spiraling fast. Who killed her friend? And is she next?
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I loved Behind Closed Doors and this book left me with the same feeling

The Hate U Give by Angie Thomas

5.0

The Hate U Give is an honest and realistic story of the oppression and injustices that people of color face every day. This is a 5 star, well written, eye opening novel that should 100% be required reading in schools. @thefrenchbookdog and I did a buddy read and we both wish we would have read it sooner ✨

Baby Teeth by Zoje Stage

2.0

I really wanted to love this book. I saw many mixed reviews but thought the plot sounded intriguing. While it focused on the important topic of pediatric mental health issues, it was dark, grim, and had a sinister ending instead of a happy one.
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I understand a book with this plot would be very difficult to write. However, I just did not enjoy it at all. I had to force myself to finish it (solely because I have never DNF’d a book before)!
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The story is about a family in Sewickley, PA whose daughter, Hanna, is non-verbal. Her mom stays home with her while her dad works long hours. She is a sweet angel for him but tries to harm her mother whenever she gets the chance.
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I wish I loved this book. Unfortunately, I will not be recommending it to many people. If anyone loved this book- please tell me why!
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Warnings: selective mutism, sociopath tendencies, pediatric mental health

The Switch by Beth O'Leary

4.0

What a wonderful novel When I saw this was classified as Women's Fiction, I wasn't sure what to expect. The Switch turned out to be a story of wisdom that can only come with age, grieving after losing a loved one, family being there for each other, unexpected romantic relationships, and wonderful intergenerational friendships. I think this would have been a wonderful book to read a physical copy but I am so glad I heard the audio format. The narrators were wonderful, especially the grandmother. I would have never read her portions of the book hearing the authentic wise and aged voice only grandparents possess. Listening to The Switch really felt like I was being told a true story!

Wild at Heart by K.A. Tucker

4.0

I loved the first book of this series and became so drawn to not only the romance but the history of Alaska, portrayal of unconventional families, and the growth of the characters.
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This book was harder for me to get into. I even found myself annoyed with some of the characters. Around the half way point I began to see the story line of Calla and Roy unfold as well as the drama with Marie. I was hooked again. I thoroughly enjoy Tucker’s writing and the depth of relativity simple story lines.
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When I finished the book, I was disappointed there was no epilogue. But then... I remembered that there is a third book coming out