jeannette_r's reviews
65 reviews

Where Did You Go? by Jeneane O'Riley

adventurous challenging dark emotional funny sad fast-paced

• Plot- or character-driven? A mix
• Strong character development? Yes
• Loveable characters? Yes
• Diverse cast of characters? N/A
• Flaws of characters a main focus? N/A

4.5

*light spoilers* 

I love this series. 
This third book may have been my favorite. I loved the banter between Eli and Mendax, I was literally laughing out loud. I will never look at tea the same ever again. And the ending has wrecked me. 

10 Marchfield Square by Nicola Whyte

adventurous mysterious medium-paced

• Plot- or character-driven? Plot
• Strong character development? N/A
• Loveable characters? N/A
• Diverse cast of characters? N/A
• Flaws of characters a main focus? N/A

4.75

10 Marchfield Square by Nicola Whyte was an intriguingly entertaining read! The novel follows two tenants, previously strangers to one another, of a small, privately gated neighborhood in London who were convinced by their wealthy landlady to investigate a murder in their otherwise seemingly safe haven of a community. 

The characters are easy to follow and readers are sure to stay on their toes but not get lost in the details of the mystery as the author does a great job of closing loops as the story wraps up. 

I received this ARC from @booksareawesomeco , Parker, CO (thank you!). Release date: April 1st 2025.

Onyx Storm by Rebecca Yarros

adventurous funny fast-paced

• Plot- or character-driven? A mix
• Strong character development? It's complicated
• Loveable characters? Yes
• Diverse cast of characters? It's complicated
• Flaws of characters a main focus? Yes

3.75

*soft spoiler*
I wanted to love this book but I just didn't 😭 the action was so repetitive and the storyline did not progress much at all. I feel like there was a goal of more world building in this book but that the author was holding back on plot progression (compared to the first two books). I still enjoyed the read, don't get me wrong. Xaden losing control was seriously the best part but I feel like the bit of Andarna's kind was so rushed and just thrown in there to fill some pages. 
This book definitely leaves more unanswered questions than answered ones, so I'll still be picking up the next book! 

Bad Nature by Ariel Courage

dark emotional reflective slow-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? Yes

4.0

Wow, I can't stand Hester but I also couldn't stop following her revenge road trip across the US, filled with several detours and flash backs to her past, as she makes her way across the country to kill her father. Bad Nature by Ariel Courage is so well written and researched, I found myself pausing for some quick Google searches on unfamiliar topics. 

This novel follows Hester, a well accomplished corporate attorney who receives news of her terminal illness so she decides to set off on a road trip from New York to California to fulfill her dream of killing her own father. Along the way she picks up an environmental activist hitchhiking his way from one superfund site to the next. Slowly, Hester makes her way closer to her final destination while her health rapidly declines. 

I received this ARC from @booksareawesomeco , Parker, CO (thank you!). 

The Queen of Nothing by Holly Black

adventurous hopeful lighthearted 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

4.0

Spark of the Everflame by Penn Cole

adventurous fast-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? No

5.0

We Would Never by Tova Mirvis

emotional mysterious sad slow-paced

• Plot- or character-driven? Character
• Strong character development? No
• Loveable characters? No
• Diverse cast of characters? N/A
• Flaws of characters a main focus? Yes

3.5

We Would Never by Tova Mirvis tells a story of complicated family dynamics as they navigate through their daughters recent divorce and the seemingly sudden death of her soon-to-be ex-husband. 

The book is a slow start as the third person narrative, jumping between unexplained timelines, is burdensome to follow. Personally, there were times I felt like reading this book was a chore and the author was trying to meet a page minimum. Besides the obvious murder that takes place, the book does not present much as a 'thriller'. 

I found some of the interactions between characters to be refreshing, while others bordered on annoying. I would recommend this book to anyone who enjoys reading mysteries, but who doesn't mind not being on the edge of their seat the entire time. 

I received this ARC from @booksareawesomeco , Parker, CO (thank you!). 

The Wicked King by Holly Black

adventurous tense medium-paced

• Plot- or character-driven? A mix
• Strong character development? Yes
• Loveable characters? It's complicated
• Diverse cast of characters? It's complicated
• Flaws of characters a main focus? N/A

4.0

Quicksilver by Callie Hart

adventurous challenging emotional mysterious tense fast-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

The Really Dead Wives of New Jersey: A Novel by Astrid Dahl
Did not finish book. Stopped at 30%.

Maybe it's the reality TV setting that just isn't my speed or the amount of characters, all with the same personalities, so quickly introduced, but either way, I'm sorry to say that The Really Dead Wives of New Jersey by Astrid Dahl is a book I avoided picking back up. 

From what I did read, the author is going for a mystery-thriller on the set of a popular TV reality show, with talking head scenes sprinkled throughout for some character development. However, the third person POV chapters make it difficult to follow the storyline as it is not clear which characters are being followed. 

I really try my best to finish books and not add to my DNF pile, but unfortunately, the lack of substance in this novel is putting me into a reading slump. I'll definitely try it again and modify this review if my thoughts change! 

I received this ARC from Books Are Awesome! Parker, CO.