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joyceheinen's reviews
117 reviews
Horror Movie by Paul Tremblay
challenging
dark
reflective
tense
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
4.5
Paul Tremblay returns with a terrifying novel about the making of a movie and its effects on all who are involved.
We follow the story from the perspective of “The Thin Kid”. This is the name of the character that the further unnamed main character played in the original film from 1993. He was part of a film called “Horror Movie” that was never fully released, only three scenes made it to the audience. And the film has a large cult following. Now, 30 years later, the film is being rebooted and The Thin Kid is asked to be a part of it again. He is the only still living member of the cast and crew.
The story moves between then and now and the character speaks directly to the reader. Despite repeated warnings not to trust him, he leaves us readers spellbound by explaining the details of the original film and the current reboot. We also read the original screenplay and the filming of the scenes. The result: an exciting story with disturbing revelations.
It’s really difficult to fully explain what I read, but is a immersive reading experience. It was my first go at Paul Tremblay and I am totally in awe of his writing. I can’t wait to read more of his work. He totally broke me. His main character is sympathetic, but also sinister. The story build and twists itself until you get completely caught up in it. And when you hit the truly horrific part, you can’t turn back. And I loved the ending. Fucked up, but loved it.
Not for everyone, but I was told that it goes for all of Paul Tremblay’s books. I listened to the audiobook, which I can highly recommend. What a ride, still need to recover.
We follow the story from the perspective of “The Thin Kid”. This is the name of the character that the further unnamed main character played in the original film from 1993. He was part of a film called “Horror Movie” that was never fully released, only three scenes made it to the audience. And the film has a large cult following. Now, 30 years later, the film is being rebooted and The Thin Kid is asked to be a part of it again. He is the only still living member of the cast and crew.
The story moves between then and now and the character speaks directly to the reader. Despite repeated warnings not to trust him, he leaves us readers spellbound by explaining the details of the original film and the current reboot. We also read the original screenplay and the filming of the scenes. The result: an exciting story with disturbing revelations.
It’s really difficult to fully explain what I read, but is a immersive reading experience. It was my first go at Paul Tremblay and I am totally in awe of his writing. I can’t wait to read more of his work. He totally broke me. His main character is sympathetic, but also sinister. The story build and twists itself until you get completely caught up in it. And when you hit the truly horrific part, you can’t turn back. And I loved the ending. Fucked up, but loved it.
Not for everyone, but I was told that it goes for all of Paul Tremblay’s books. I listened to the audiobook, which I can highly recommend. What a ride, still need to recover.
Every Vow You Break by Peter Swanson
dark
mysterious
tense
fast-paced
- Plot- or character-driven? Plot
- Strong character development? No
- Loveable characters? No
- Diverse cast of characters? No
- Flaws of characters a main focus? Yes
2.0
Abigail is about to get married to Bruce, a self-made millionaire. On her bachelorette party, in a very drunk mood, she sleeps with a stranger. He never gets his real name, but she calls him Scottie, while he calls her Madeline. Abigail intends to leave that one-night stand and the handsome stranger behind her, when a couple of days before she is about to get married, she received an e-mail from “Scottie”, telling her he believes they are meant to be. Abigail responds, thanking him for the compliment, but she is sure she will marry Bruce.
When Abigail and Bruce are on their honeymoon, “Scottie” is there too. Is he stalking her? And should she tell Bruce about him, before it turns for the worst? With that, strange things start happening on the island they are vacationing on.
I have read a few books by Peter Swanson and I’ve like them and loved a few as well. Swanson has a large backlist and I want to eventually read them all. “Every Vow You Break” unfortunately won’t end up on my favorites list. I did not like this book.
First of all, the characters. I didn’t like a single one of them. And I can deal with unlikeable characters. But not with characters that make dumb decisions, have strange motives and are simple impossible to relate to. Abigail cheated on her husband and I jut can’t root for someone like her, even though that’s what we are meant to do. Okay, she doesn’t deserve what eventually happens, but still.
I also never understood the relationship she has with Bruce. Other then the few sex scenes in the book, they show no form of love for each other. People around Abigail ask her if she is marrying him for this money, but I can’t really think of another reason either.
The book has some predictable twist, but also a really strong one. It was a good twist in the sense of, I didn’t see it coming. The whole twist itself was strange. I didn’t see the reason why the people involved did what they did, leading up to these events. The motives felt weird.
The one element I did really enjoy was the setting. I’m a sucker for a secluded location, where there is no cell phone reception and you’re cut-off from the rest of the world. That worked.
If I would ever recommend a Peter Swanson, this is not going to be the one. I’m sure there are many people who did love it, but I did not.
When Abigail and Bruce are on their honeymoon, “Scottie” is there too. Is he stalking her? And should she tell Bruce about him, before it turns for the worst? With that, strange things start happening on the island they are vacationing on.
I have read a few books by Peter Swanson and I’ve like them and loved a few as well. Swanson has a large backlist and I want to eventually read them all. “Every Vow You Break” unfortunately won’t end up on my favorites list. I did not like this book.
First of all, the characters. I didn’t like a single one of them. And I can deal with unlikeable characters. But not with characters that make dumb decisions, have strange motives and are simple impossible to relate to. Abigail cheated on her husband and I jut can’t root for someone like her, even though that’s what we are meant to do. Okay, she doesn’t deserve what eventually happens, but still.
I also never understood the relationship she has with Bruce. Other then the few sex scenes in the book, they show no form of love for each other. People around Abigail ask her if she is marrying him for this money, but I can’t really think of another reason either.
The book has some predictable twist, but also a really strong one. It was a good twist in the sense of, I didn’t see it coming. The whole twist itself was strange. I didn’t see the reason why the people involved did what they did, leading up to these events. The motives felt weird.
The one element I did really enjoy was the setting. I’m a sucker for a secluded location, where there is no cell phone reception and you’re cut-off from the rest of the world. That worked.
If I would ever recommend a Peter Swanson, this is not going to be the one. I’m sure there are many people who did love it, but I did not.
The Mysterious Case of the Alperton Angels by Janice Hallett
mysterious
fast-paced
- Plot- or character-driven? Plot
- Strong character development? No
- Loveable characters? It's complicated
- Diverse cast of characters? Yes
- Flaws of characters a main focus? No
5.0
A safe. Within that safe is research material of true crime events. You have to read the documents and make a decision: destroy them or deliver them to the police. The documents are about the Alperton Angels, a well-known cult that made a teenage girl believe her baby was the anti-Christ. Almost twenty years after the fact, crime author Amanda Bailey wants to write a book about the Angels. Because the Alperton baby has turned eighteen, they can finally be interviewed. If Amanda can find her. She believes she could have the scoop of the year if she manages to track down the baby. But her rival Oliver Menzies is just as smart and also after the story.
I was so impressed by Janice Hallett’s first book, “The Appeal”. I loved everything about it, but mainly enjoyed it because of the unique style (written for the most part in e-mails). Earlier this year I read “The Twyford Code” which I also liked, but this time the format didn’t really work for me (audio files transcribed to written text). For “The Mysterious Case of the Alperton Angels” Hallett decided to do it all in mixed media form. From text messages to e-mails, and parts from movie scripts to chapters of the book Amanda is writing. And I loved it!
The starting point is that you, the reader, have come in the possession of a key to a safe that contains all the documents Amanda had while working on the Alperton Angels story. A cult that was infamous for eventually dying in a mass suicide, with only a few survivors to tell the tell. Telling you more about the plot would be a shame. The less you know, the better.
Prepare for a wild ride of conspiracies, corruption, systematic failure in social care and personal vendetta with unexpected consequences. Even though you can predict some of the twists, you will never guess them all. And the ending especially.
There are many characters and several interweaving and connected plot points, so it will take you some time to put all the pieces of the puzzle together. But that’s the fun thing about this book. And again, just like her other books, the story and mystery is so well-crafted. Hallett’s writing is so clever. And I loved the ending, even though it gives you a bitter after taste. Maybe that’s why I like it so much.
Fans of mystery novels will definitely enjoy this. I know I did.
I was so impressed by Janice Hallett’s first book, “The Appeal”. I loved everything about it, but mainly enjoyed it because of the unique style (written for the most part in e-mails). Earlier this year I read “The Twyford Code” which I also liked, but this time the format didn’t really work for me (audio files transcribed to written text). For “The Mysterious Case of the Alperton Angels” Hallett decided to do it all in mixed media form. From text messages to e-mails, and parts from movie scripts to chapters of the book Amanda is writing. And I loved it!
The starting point is that you, the reader, have come in the possession of a key to a safe that contains all the documents Amanda had while working on the Alperton Angels story. A cult that was infamous for eventually dying in a mass suicide, with only a few survivors to tell the tell. Telling you more about the plot would be a shame. The less you know, the better.
Prepare for a wild ride of conspiracies, corruption, systematic failure in social care and personal vendetta with unexpected consequences. Even though you can predict some of the twists, you will never guess them all. And the ending especially.
There are many characters and several interweaving and connected plot points, so it will take you some time to put all the pieces of the puzzle together. But that’s the fun thing about this book. And again, just like her other books, the story and mystery is so well-crafted. Hallett’s writing is so clever. And I loved the ending, even though it gives you a bitter after taste. Maybe that’s why I like it so much.
Fans of mystery novels will definitely enjoy this. I know I did.
Fairy Tale by Stephen King
adventurous
dark
lighthearted
mysterious
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? No
4.0
We meet Charlie Reade, our main character and the narrator of the story. He is a nineteen-year-old kid who one day helps the elderly Mr. Bowditch. Because Mr. Bowditch has broken his leg, Charlie decides to take care of him and he becomes friends with him and Mr. Bowditch’s dog Radar. Charlie discovers a shed in Mr. Bowditch’s yard, which is always locked and there are strange sound coming from the inside of it. When Mr. Bowditch dies, he leaves Charlie his dog, his house and his money. But also a cassette tape, on which Mr. Bowditch tells Charlei what is in the shed and the instructions he should explore it.
I immediately liked Charlie. I’m glad he was the main character. He is a kind, smart, selfless kid and I enjoyed reading from his perspective. Stephen King did a great job with this character. Also with Mr. Bowditch and even with the dog Radar. What King also did, and has always been one of his best qualities, is setting a scene and describing everything. It’s always so easy to form a picture in your head while reading a Stephen King novel. He created an interesting, magical, scary world in “Fairy Tale”. It's a fantasy novel at most and it’s not King’s preferred genre. But it’s excellently done.
The story is full of characters and there is a lot of world-building. There is a lot of social and political commentary, as known from King’s other books. And the book had some surprising lightheartedness to it. It didn’t feel heavy, even though “Fairy Tale” also deals with themes like grief, addiction and death.
I really enjoyed “Fairy Tale”. It’s a wonderfully imaginative, adventurous book. The only critique is that it was a tad too long and there were some parts in the book that dragged a bit or felt repetitive. I would definitely recommend this to people, if they want to start reading Stephen King.
Oranges Are Not the Only Fruit by Jeanette Winterson
Did not finish book. Stopped at 13%.
Did not finish book. Stopped at 13%.
Really not getting into this book. The religious content is just not for me.
Mexican Gothic by Silvia Moreno-Garcia
dark
mysterious
tense
medium-paced
- Plot- or character-driven? Plot
- Strong character development? Yes
- Loveable characters? It's complicated
- Diverse cast of characters? Yes
- Flaws of characters a main focus? No
3.0
“Mexican Gothic” is a mix of a traditional folklore and feminine bravado and has an aftertaste. With this story, author Silvia Moreno-Garcia won the GoodReads choice award for best horror novel.
The story is set in 1950s Mexico. It’s a classic haunted house story with all the elements to go with it. An old mansion, a troubled family, secrets and mystery. Noemi Taboada receives a disturbing letter from her cousin Catalina, who lives in this mansion called High Place, with her new husband. She writes she is being poisoned, she hears whispers in the night and believes the house is haunted. Only Noemi can save her, so she sets ou for High Place to find out what is going on.
I always love a creepy, gothic setting. This book isn’t very innovative within the gothic genre; it follows the well-known paths. Which makes it a tad predictable. But Moreno-Garcia does something with the plot, by putting in some nice twists on a classic genre.
The atmosphere is very present, you constantly have this eerie, ominous feel. Which is mostly because of the great scene setting in the book. You can picture the mansion very easily. I love a story with a strange family that has secrets, this was very well done.
I do believe the book went on a tad too long. There was this really exciting part in the book, that felt action-packed. After that, you still have a big chunk of the book to go. This part feels a bit dragging and that last part could’ve been a bit shorter.
Even though the book never really gets scary, the details are sometimes a bit gruesome and gory. “Mexican Gothic” is a classic haunted house story that colors within the lines, but adds some new elements. The atmosphere is the best part of the book. Although the story is not quite balanced and that last part dragged on a but too long, I did enjoy “Mexican Gothic”. Anyone who likes a nice gothic horror story has the potential to enjoy this.
The story is set in 1950s Mexico. It’s a classic haunted house story with all the elements to go with it. An old mansion, a troubled family, secrets and mystery. Noemi Taboada receives a disturbing letter from her cousin Catalina, who lives in this mansion called High Place, with her new husband. She writes she is being poisoned, she hears whispers in the night and believes the house is haunted. Only Noemi can save her, so she sets ou for High Place to find out what is going on.
I always love a creepy, gothic setting. This book isn’t very innovative within the gothic genre; it follows the well-known paths. Which makes it a tad predictable. But Moreno-Garcia does something with the plot, by putting in some nice twists on a classic genre.
The atmosphere is very present, you constantly have this eerie, ominous feel. Which is mostly because of the great scene setting in the book. You can picture the mansion very easily. I love a story with a strange family that has secrets, this was very well done.
I do believe the book went on a tad too long. There was this really exciting part in the book, that felt action-packed. After that, you still have a big chunk of the book to go. This part feels a bit dragging and that last part could’ve been a bit shorter.
Even though the book never really gets scary, the details are sometimes a bit gruesome and gory. “Mexican Gothic” is a classic haunted house story that colors within the lines, but adds some new elements. The atmosphere is the best part of the book. Although the story is not quite balanced and that last part dragged on a but too long, I did enjoy “Mexican Gothic”. Anyone who likes a nice gothic horror story has the potential to enjoy this.
I Don't Need Therapy by Toni Lodge
emotional
funny
inspiring
lighthearted
reflective
fast-paced
5.0
Toni Lodge is known as one half of the “Toni & Ryan” podcast, one of the funniest podcasts I’ve ever listened to. In her book “I Need Therapy (and Other Lies I’ve Told Myself)” she talks about all the lies she has told herself during her life, for the small things and the big things.
Toni Lodge is one of the funniest women I follow online. Together with Ryan Jon, she talks about everyday stuff, which makes all their topics relatable. I don’t read a lot of non-fiction books, but couldn’t wait to dive into Lodge’s memoir.
Lodge talks about all the lies she has told herself throughout the years. Everyone tells a little white lie every ones in a while, but sometimes you do it for the bug stuff too. And like the podcasts she has, a lot of the things she talks about are very relatable.
Lodge is very open about everything that happened in her life. From her massive “Twilight” obsession, to her mental health issues, and that time is her thing making her always be way too early to every location and her meeting with the Dalai Lama. How she talks about her mother, who passed away way too soon, and how she choose to not be a parent.
Lodge tells her life’s story exactly like we know her from the podcast. The book made me smile and laugh out loud, but also touched me and made me cry (also out loud). I could relate to many things in the book and it felt like a friend telling me about her life. Especially the part about deciding not to become a parent really stuck with me. How, many people still think it’s an odd choice, to not follow the route that is deemed to be more traditional one by society. I struggle with this myself and I felt like Lodge understood this exactly.
“I Don’t Need Therapy (and Other Lies I’ve Told Myself)” is inspiring, heartwarming and funny, a book I recommend to everyone who loves listening to the “Toni & Ryan” podcast.
Toni Lodge is one of the funniest women I follow online. Together with Ryan Jon, she talks about everyday stuff, which makes all their topics relatable. I don’t read a lot of non-fiction books, but couldn’t wait to dive into Lodge’s memoir.
Lodge talks about all the lies she has told herself throughout the years. Everyone tells a little white lie every ones in a while, but sometimes you do it for the bug stuff too. And like the podcasts she has, a lot of the things she talks about are very relatable.
Lodge is very open about everything that happened in her life. From her massive “Twilight” obsession, to her mental health issues, and that time is her thing making her always be way too early to every location and her meeting with the Dalai Lama. How she talks about her mother, who passed away way too soon, and how she choose to not be a parent.
Lodge tells her life’s story exactly like we know her from the podcast. The book made me smile and laugh out loud, but also touched me and made me cry (also out loud). I could relate to many things in the book and it felt like a friend telling me about her life. Especially the part about deciding not to become a parent really stuck with me. How, many people still think it’s an odd choice, to not follow the route that is deemed to be more traditional one by society. I struggle with this myself and I felt like Lodge understood this exactly.
“I Don’t Need Therapy (and Other Lies I’ve Told Myself)” is inspiring, heartwarming and funny, a book I recommend to everyone who loves listening to the “Toni & Ryan” podcast.
Legends & Lattes by Travis Baldree
funny
hopeful
lighthearted
relaxing
fast-paced
- Plot- or character-driven? Character
- Strong character development? Yes
- Loveable characters? Yes
- Diverse cast of characters? Yes
- Flaws of characters a main focus? No
5.0
I’m not much of a fantasy reader, but I have enjoyed a bunch. I think the cozy fantasy is right up my alley.
Viv is an orc who is done with the adventurous life and wants to settle somewhere and start new. Something different from fighting battles and pursuing quests. She want something more quiet and something she give her heart and soul to. When she reaches the town of Thune, she finds the perfect place to do this. Viv has the idea of starting her own coffee shop, but no one has any idea of what coffee is.
The plot is fairly simple. It’s a fantasy book with low stakes. And as cozy as the story sounds, that’s really how it feels the entire time. It’s such a wholesome story. You just want to visit Viv’s coffeeshop. And The characters are all great to ready about. Not just Viv, but also her partner Tandri. They form this beautiful friendship. And then there is Thimble, the mouse who bakes the best pastries. And I was salivating every single time they described one of his new baked goods. He doesn’t say much, but I loved Thimble. I always enjoy the found family trope, and “Legends & Lattes” captures this so well. It’s the characters that made me love this book so much and you can’t help but smile.
Travis Baldree’s writing is really beautiful. It’s really easy to picture the characters and locations in your head while reading the book. It’s all so vivid.
Going in skeptical, coming out with a huge smile on my face. What a great read. “Legends & Lattes” is such a fun book, even if you’re not much of a fantasy reader like me.
Viv is an orc who is done with the adventurous life and wants to settle somewhere and start new. Something different from fighting battles and pursuing quests. She want something more quiet and something she give her heart and soul to. When she reaches the town of Thune, she finds the perfect place to do this. Viv has the idea of starting her own coffee shop, but no one has any idea of what coffee is.
The plot is fairly simple. It’s a fantasy book with low stakes. And as cozy as the story sounds, that’s really how it feels the entire time. It’s such a wholesome story. You just want to visit Viv’s coffeeshop. And The characters are all great to ready about. Not just Viv, but also her partner Tandri. They form this beautiful friendship. And then there is Thimble, the mouse who bakes the best pastries. And I was salivating every single time they described one of his new baked goods. He doesn’t say much, but I loved Thimble. I always enjoy the found family trope, and “Legends & Lattes” captures this so well. It’s the characters that made me love this book so much and you can’t help but smile.
Travis Baldree’s writing is really beautiful. It’s really easy to picture the characters and locations in your head while reading the book. It’s all so vivid.
Going in skeptical, coming out with a huge smile on my face. What a great read. “Legends & Lattes” is such a fun book, even if you’re not much of a fantasy reader like me.
Lakewood by Megan Giddings
dark
mysterious
tense
medium-paced
- Plot- or character-driven? A mix
- Strong character development? Yes
- Loveable characters? It's complicated
- Diverse cast of characters? Yes
- Flaws of characters a main focus? No
4.0
After Lena’s grandmother has passed, she realizes that her mother’s illness is worsening. They are also dealing with a huge family debt. Lena is forced to quit school and a find a job to support her family. In an add, she reads about Lakewood. A secluded town. There is a jo that pays highly and provides a place to live. All Lena has to do is participate in a series of medical tests. When it sounds too good to be true, it most often is.
Even though Lena knows she is a part of medical research, she has no clue what to expect. And it doesn’t take long for her to see that something is very wrong in Lakewood. Why are (almost) all of the participants people of color, while the observers are all white? What are these tests for and why can’t they talk about it with their families? When at first the tests are pretty innocent, they quickly turn into something more dark, painful and terrifying.
“Lakewood” is provocative and thrilling. A breathtaking novel that takes un unflinching look at the moral dilemmas faced by many working-glass families and the horror imposed on Black people in the name of science.
It’s a disconcerting, surrealistic story. Very though-provoking and creepy. It’s so horrific because it feels so realistic. I felt the ending was a bit rushed for my liking, but overall I really loved “Lakewood”.
Even though Lena knows she is a part of medical research, she has no clue what to expect. And it doesn’t take long for her to see that something is very wrong in Lakewood. Why are (almost) all of the participants people of color, while the observers are all white? What are these tests for and why can’t they talk about it with their families? When at first the tests are pretty innocent, they quickly turn into something more dark, painful and terrifying.
“Lakewood” is provocative and thrilling. A breathtaking novel that takes un unflinching look at the moral dilemmas faced by many working-glass families and the horror imposed on Black people in the name of science.
It’s a disconcerting, surrealistic story. Very though-provoking and creepy. It’s so horrific because it feels so realistic. I felt the ending was a bit rushed for my liking, but overall I really loved “Lakewood”.
The Housemaid's Secret by Freida McFadden
dark
mysterious
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
3.5
This is the sequel to “The Housemaid”. In “The Housemaid’s Secret” we follow Millie again. And again, she is looking for a job. It does not take place immediately after the first book. Millie eventually finds a job as cleaning the penthouse of the Garricks. A house that doesn’t really need any cleaning, because it looks spotless. But it’s paying well and it’s easy money. And Millie can combine it with her school. Douglas Garrick is her boss, she speaks to him and he gives out the orders. He seems like a nice guy. But she never saw Wendy Garrick yet, Douglas’ wife. He says she’s ill and needs to be left alone in the guest bedroom.
WARNING! THIS REVIEW MAY CONTAIN SPOILERS!
The set-up of the book is very similar to the first one. Millie getting a new job in housekeeping, at first everything is perfect, but then she suspects something is very wrong. Even the narration is very similar, as in the perspective switches at the half-way point. This came as a surprise in the first book, not so much here. I kind of expected it to happen. And the intentions of this second person were also very similar.
Freida McFadden’s writing is very accessible, especially if you’re new to thrillers and you have just started exploring the genre. The book has very short chapters, a simple writing style and it’s in general a quick, entertaining read. It’s hard to put it down.
I do think, if I hadn’t read the first book, this one would have surprised me more. Because so many elements were the same. “The Housemaid’s Secret” still did have some twists here and there that did surprise me, but overall it was a lot more predictable.
I did have a good time reading it, it was a real page-turner. Do I think this book deserved to win the GoodReads choice award for best mystery/ thriller? No. But if you have liked Freida McFadden books before, you will probably enjoy this one as well.
WARNING! THIS REVIEW MAY CONTAIN SPOILERS!
The set-up of the book is very similar to the first one. Millie getting a new job in housekeeping, at first everything is perfect, but then she suspects something is very wrong. Even the narration is very similar, as in the perspective switches at the half-way point. This came as a surprise in the first book, not so much here. I kind of expected it to happen. And the intentions of this second person were also very similar.
Freida McFadden’s writing is very accessible, especially if you’re new to thrillers and you have just started exploring the genre. The book has very short chapters, a simple writing style and it’s in general a quick, entertaining read. It’s hard to put it down.
I do think, if I hadn’t read the first book, this one would have surprised me more. Because so many elements were the same. “The Housemaid’s Secret” still did have some twists here and there that did surprise me, but overall it was a lot more predictable.
I did have a good time reading it, it was a real page-turner. Do I think this book deserved to win the GoodReads choice award for best mystery/ thriller? No. But if you have liked Freida McFadden books before, you will probably enjoy this one as well.