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justinkhchen's reviews
511 reviews
The Novelist by Jordan Castro
funny
lighthearted
reflective
4.0
A surprisingly engaging stream of consciousness journey about (not) writing a novel, The Novelist follows the protagonist inability to work on his novel, distractions ranging from external sources (email / social media), bodily requirements (never have I imagined musing on wiping after number two could make for such engrossing read), to something more psychological and intangible.
As a creative person myself, I'm impressed at the way Jordan Castro so effortlessly articulates these in-between moments: the sense of being at the cusp of something great but still formless, frantically seeking references / precedents for reassurance in our instincts, and the eventual existential crisis at our own incompetence for a thing that have yet to come to fruition. I particularly appreciate all the sidetracked scenes (process of making coffee, spiraling about organic versus inorganic food), as they come across quite relatable and offer a nice dose of levity. The narrative did lose me at a few spots (there's a 'rant' segment that I found to be a little philosophically indulgent), and I'm sure I missed quite a few literary subtexts along the way (only after the fact did I become aware of the connection to Tao Lin's work).
All in all, this is a nice change of pace from the plot-focused fiction I've been reading lately!
As a creative person myself, I'm impressed at the way Jordan Castro so effortlessly articulates these in-between moments: the sense of being at the cusp of something great but still formless, frantically seeking references / precedents for reassurance in our instincts, and the eventual existential crisis at our own incompetence for a thing that have yet to come to fruition. I particularly appreciate all the sidetracked scenes (process of making coffee, spiraling about organic versus inorganic food), as they come across quite relatable and offer a nice dose of levity. The narrative did lose me at a few spots (there's a 'rant' segment that I found to be a little philosophically indulgent), and I'm sure I missed quite a few literary subtexts along the way (only after the fact did I become aware of the connection to Tao Lin's work).
All in all, this is a nice change of pace from the plot-focused fiction I've been reading lately!
Listen for the Lie by Amy Tintera
funny
lighthearted
fast-paced
4.25
A whodunit in a podcast world, Listen for the Lie is almost purposely-written for audible production, because I found a lot of my enjoyment stemmed from its flashy audiobook production, featuring multiple narrators, sound effects, and a complete sonic branding for its fabricated podcast. And in the midst of it all, the mystery also delivered, with compelling characters and clever misdirection — even if the final outcome was less than suprising.
Going into it expecting a typical mystery thriller (based on its marketing and premise), I did not anticipate the amount of time the novel subverted my expectation: the story's immediate tone was a lot more chilled and kooky, with the larger-than-life characters seemed more fitting in a cozy mystery. Then a romance-novel-quality tension was escalating between certain characters (there was even some steam!). And just when I was ready to categorize this novel a 'cozy mystery romance', it became shades dark (subject matter-wise), and grim.
Listen for the Lie was pure entertainment — I even stayed up late just to get to the end! if I were to read it physically, the tonal shifts might be annoyingly jarring, but in audio the production itself helped in blending the genre-bending details into a coherent whole. No groundbreaking twist or literary masterpiece here, but rather a well-assembled mystery with a good dose of humor and romance.
**The Book Troop Book Club June 2024 Selection**
Going into it expecting a typical mystery thriller (based on its marketing and premise), I did not anticipate the amount of time the novel subverted my expectation: the story's immediate tone was a lot more chilled and kooky, with the larger-than-life characters seemed more fitting in a cozy mystery. Then a romance-novel-quality tension was escalating between certain characters (there was even some steam!). And just when I was ready to categorize this novel a 'cozy mystery romance', it became shades dark (subject matter-wise), and grim.
Listen for the Lie was pure entertainment — I even stayed up late just to get to the end! if I were to read it physically, the tonal shifts might be annoyingly jarring, but in audio the production itself helped in blending the genre-bending details into a coherent whole. No groundbreaking twist or literary masterpiece here, but rather a well-assembled mystery with a good dose of humor and romance.
**The Book Troop Book Club June 2024 Selection**
Man from Primrose Lane by James Renner
emotional
mysterious
4.25
A slightly bloated sci-fi thriller head trip, but impressive nevertheless, I picked up The Man from Primrose Lane based on a very casual recommendation, plus my immediate intrigue towards the curious title; had I done a bit more research (literally by looking at its GR tags), I would've been more mentally prepped with where the narrative ended up. If you're a fan of Blake Crouch (particularly Dark Matter and Recursion), as well as The Other Side of Night by Adam Hamdy, this one will be right up your alley.
(The novel was at one point being developed as a film adaptation with Bradley Cooper starring—that would've been SO good!)
I particularly love the exploration on obsession, how it eats away at one's normality, and the blurred morality of intent behind such act (the obsession of a stalker towards its victim versus the obsession of a husband at finding his wife's murderer — are they one and the same?). With well-articulated heavy emotions (depression, grief, etc.), I was thoroughly invested in the character journey throughout the first 2/3 of The Man from Primrose Lane, and this was in addition to the central mystery that was piling up nicely with ghastly visuals and perplexing clues.
In retrospect, I appreciate the more outlandish direction of the final 1/3, but in the moment I was thrown off by the speculative sci-fi details, and found them to be unnecessarily wordy and impacting pacing. There were also plot details where the author had tipped over the logic he set up from intricate to convoluted, to the point it was difficult keeping track of who, what, and when.
Even with flaws (some inflated due to my ignorance), The Man from Primrose Lane is passionately written (almost to a manic degree), and I really enjoy its stylish execution (DO NOT do the audiobook with this title — James Renner often switches scene mid character dialog —which on paper I find to be quite a creative accomplishment, but has to be confusing by ears). Not one of my top recommendation for stories featuring this trope, but it's close.
(The novel was at one point being developed as a film adaptation with Bradley Cooper starring—that would've been SO good!)
I particularly love the exploration on obsession, how it eats away at one's normality, and the blurred morality of intent behind such act (the obsession of a stalker towards its victim versus the obsession of a husband at finding his wife's murderer — are they one and the same?). With well-articulated heavy emotions (depression, grief, etc.), I was thoroughly invested in the character journey throughout the first 2/3 of The Man from Primrose Lane, and this was in addition to the central mystery that was piling up nicely with ghastly visuals and perplexing clues.
In retrospect, I appreciate the more outlandish direction of the final 1/3, but in the moment I was thrown off by the speculative sci-fi details, and found them to be unnecessarily wordy and impacting pacing. There were also plot details where the author had tipped over the logic he set up from intricate to convoluted, to the point it was difficult keeping track of who, what, and when.
Even with flaws (some inflated due to my ignorance), The Man from Primrose Lane is passionately written (almost to a manic degree), and I really enjoy its stylish execution (DO NOT do the audiobook with this title — James Renner often switches scene mid character dialog —which on paper I find to be quite a creative accomplishment, but has to be confusing by ears). Not one of my top recommendation for stories featuring this trope, but it's close.
Darling Girls by Sally Hepworth
fast-paced
3.5
An ideal wine mom mystery, Darling Girls is a stress-free reading experience with broad appeal; even with its narrative touching upon subject matters such as domestic violence or drug abuse, it is always through the gentrified lens of glossy entertainment, rather than depicting the frank, ugly reality.
The 'thrills' are mostly derived from information being intentionally withheld, rather than action taking place in its plot (characters did very little other than conversing among each others in different environments), but overall I was entertained by most of its maneuvers (except for one instance where a concealed identity was pretty obvious early on), and the fiery personalities / bonding of the three sisters (which really came to life via its audiobook). The pivotal villain was unfortunately cartoonish and garishly depicted, lacking any compelling nuances (which, could be an intentional choice to lessen the true brutality of their action).
Darling Girls is a fine choice if you're seeking a surface level thrill, with sensationalized melodrama that is involving without graphic violence or gore on page. Even though personally speaking this is overall too low-stake and action-less for my usual preference, the short chapters and lively narration elevates the experience overall.
**This ARC was provided by the publisher via NetGalley in exchange for an honest review. Much appreciated!**
The 'thrills' are mostly derived from information being intentionally withheld, rather than action taking place in its plot (characters did very little other than conversing among each others in different environments), but overall I was entertained by most of its maneuvers (except for one instance where a concealed identity was pretty obvious early on), and the fiery personalities / bonding of the three sisters (which really came to life via its audiobook). The pivotal villain was unfortunately cartoonish and garishly depicted, lacking any compelling nuances (which, could be an intentional choice to lessen the true brutality of their action).
Darling Girls is a fine choice if you're seeking a surface level thrill, with sensationalized melodrama that is involving without graphic violence or gore on page. Even though personally speaking this is overall too low-stake and action-less for my usual preference, the short chapters and lively narration elevates the experience overall.
**This ARC was provided by the publisher via NetGalley in exchange for an honest review. Much appreciated!**
Candy Cain Kills by Brian McAuley
fast-paced
4.25
Campy b-horror slasher done right, Candy Cain Kills is a lot of fun when one's in the mood for a themed violent romp with nonstop creative kills. The novella length is perfect at keeping the action moving, and Brian McAuley manged to squeeze in a lot of character development by constantly switching POVs — the cast has way more personality and backstory than I expected (some of the demises tugged at my heartstrings). The villain is also creatively conceived; not only is there a slight twist near the end, it is also set up for more potential rampage down the road. Overall, Candy Cain Kills is not only very on-theme, but also jammed-packed with retro slasher goodies — exactly what I was seeking!
The New Couple in 5B by Lisa Unger
mysterious
medium-paced
3.5
Lisa Unger might be my new go-to author for fun, popcorn mystery thrillers, Secluded Cabin Sleeps Six was a novel when asked which thriller tropes it wanted, it replied 'yes' (and I enjoyed its chaos nevertheless). The New Couple in 5B is fortunately more tightly constructed, taking a restrained approach in term of location (centering around the apartment building) and the size of the ensemble cast.
It is easy to be critical of the plot, especially towards its last act, where it decidedly takes a less ambitious, domestic conflict route, rather than leaning into the lineage and energy of a place as it was hinting at in the beginning. Still, it does contain all the elements I enjoy reading about (building with history, an author protagonist, questionable neighbors, New York theater scene...), Lisa Unger's writing is effortlessly consumable without missing on style, and the consistent pacing keeps one checked-in (even though certain perspective in hindsight does feel very filler-y). Yes the characters are basic and vanilla, but they are also unchallenging and familiar, and I can slip into their stereotypical psyche like worn gloves.
Comparing apples-to-apples, this tale of 'a couple moving into a too-good-to-be-true apartment' is nothing next to Nestlings by Nat Cassidy, which boasts bespoke characters, vivid imagery, and a compelling underlying theme. The New Couple in 5B is just surface level fun, and I'm all for it.
It is easy to be critical of the plot, especially towards its last act, where it decidedly takes a less ambitious, domestic conflict route, rather than leaning into the lineage and energy of a place as it was hinting at in the beginning. Still, it does contain all the elements I enjoy reading about (building with history, an author protagonist, questionable neighbors, New York theater scene...), Lisa Unger's writing is effortlessly consumable without missing on style, and the consistent pacing keeps one checked-in (even though certain perspective in hindsight does feel very filler-y). Yes the characters are basic and vanilla, but they are also unchallenging and familiar, and I can slip into their stereotypical psyche like worn gloves.
Comparing apples-to-apples, this tale of 'a couple moving into a too-good-to-be-true apartment' is nothing next to Nestlings by Nat Cassidy, which boasts bespoke characters, vivid imagery, and a compelling underlying theme. The New Couple in 5B is just surface level fun, and I'm all for it.
The Midnight Feast by Lucy Foley
medium-paced
3.75
The thrilling last act made up for the dragged-out buildup, The Midnight Feast started off on shaky ground; while I enjoyed the luxury resort setting, and all the thriller must-haves (multiple POVs, multiple timelines, etc.), I found the character voices a little monotonous, and being constantly irritated by a particular writing choice. But in the end it did win me over with a satisfying closure, and the page-turning adrenaline I was seeking in a fun summer read.
The characters were intentionally unlikable—even the ones who turned out to be sympathetic were kept pretty aloof in order to spread suspicion. While this was a valid strategy to generate suspense, in execution Lucy Foley may have withheld some empathetic details for far too long, to the point I was not emotionally invested in the happenings, thereby dampening my desire to return to the novel.
Sadly The Midnight Feast also contained one of my pet peeve in fiction writing—using unrealistically detailed 'diary entries' as a storytelling device. These entries contained publication-worthy prose, documented every critical moment / dialog per verbatim—and supposedly written by a teenager. Intermixed between chapters, these poorly disguised flashbacks were the least successful aspect; would've preferred just a straightforward first-person or third-person point of view to get the information across.
To my (surprised) delight, the second half of the novel (particularly the last 30%) really ramped up on the action and reveal, and the connections mostly justified the glacier pace beforehand. Even though it wasn't difficult to detect plot holes aplenty (there was definitely a more civilized way to resolve the novel's central conflict), the melodramatic, unhinged chaos created enough dopamine-filled distraction that I was more than willing to disregard the lack of realism.
All in all, The Midnight Feast ended on a high, but preceded by a pretty uneven thriller experience. One's satisfaction will greatly depend on how one rate the payoff, but personally this is a step-up from The Paris Apartment, with better atmosphere, more well-rounded lore, and a better spread of character archetypes. Even though this hasn't quite made me a Lucy Foley convert, but it is moving in the right direction.
**This ARC was provided by the publisher via NetGalley in exchange for an honest review. Much appreciated!**
The characters were intentionally unlikable—even the ones who turned out to be sympathetic were kept pretty aloof in order to spread suspicion. While this was a valid strategy to generate suspense, in execution Lucy Foley may have withheld some empathetic details for far too long, to the point I was not emotionally invested in the happenings, thereby dampening my desire to return to the novel.
Sadly The Midnight Feast also contained one of my pet peeve in fiction writing—using unrealistically detailed 'diary entries' as a storytelling device. These entries contained publication-worthy prose, documented every critical moment / dialog per verbatim—and supposedly written by a teenager. Intermixed between chapters, these poorly disguised flashbacks were the least successful aspect; would've preferred just a straightforward first-person or third-person point of view to get the information across.
To my (surprised) delight, the second half of the novel (particularly the last 30%) really ramped up on the action and reveal, and the connections mostly justified the glacier pace beforehand. Even though it wasn't difficult to detect plot holes aplenty (there was definitely a more civilized way to resolve the novel's central conflict), the melodramatic, unhinged chaos created enough dopamine-filled distraction that I was more than willing to disregard the lack of realism.
All in all, The Midnight Feast ended on a high, but preceded by a pretty uneven thriller experience. One's satisfaction will greatly depend on how one rate the payoff, but personally this is a step-up from The Paris Apartment, with better atmosphere, more well-rounded lore, and a better spread of character archetypes. Even though this hasn't quite made me a Lucy Foley convert, but it is moving in the right direction.
**This ARC was provided by the publisher via NetGalley in exchange for an honest review. Much appreciated!**
An Earl to Remember by Stacy Reid
3.0
A decent, serviceable historical romance, but not much else, there are a lot of appealing elements in An Earl to Remember, but they never elevate beyond lukewarm pleasantries towards something more heartfelt or impactful: the references to movie Overboard, the comedic scenes with the amnesiac earl, the steam (possibly the most stimulating aspect of this novel), as well as details about the heroine's relationship with her family and her passion (I would never complain when a book dive deep into food and cuisine). Yet the sum of its part feels a little 'safe' and expected, therefore leaving me rather unfulfilled at the end—I did not hate the experience, but I also feel like I would not have missed out on anything have I not picked it up.
**This ARC was provided by the publisher via NetGalley in exchange for an honest review. Much appreciated!**
**This ARC was provided by the publisher via NetGalley in exchange for an honest review. Much appreciated!**
Diavola by Jennifer Thorne
funny
lighthearted
mysterious
medium-paced
4.25
Delightfully evolved into something unexpected, judging by its creepy cover, I was expecting Diavola to be dark and atmospheric — a 'serious' horror novel. So as the story progressed, I was taken aback (in a good way) by the gradual emergence of its manic humor. If you don't want comedy in your horror, this will likely throw you off, but the combo totally subverted my expectation and worked.
Kudos to Jennifer Marie Thorne for creating this cast of memorable characters: the protagonist is flawed but completely relatable (such a Millennial!) — we also happened to share a similar profession; the bit regarding hot dog killed me in its absurdity and accuracy. And the family members surrounding her are fully rendered as people I love to hate (I wouldn't have mind one bit if the novel gave them even worse outcome by the end).
Diavola ended up delivering what I wanted, and more — the European haunted house vibe was spot on, the addition of an over-the-top dysfunctional family drama, and the almost 'buddy comedy' feel towards the end really made this a great summer horror read. I listened to the excellently narrated audiobook, which further added to the immersion.
**The Book Troop Book Club May 2024 Selection**
Kudos to Jennifer Marie Thorne for creating this cast of memorable characters: the protagonist is flawed but completely relatable (such a Millennial!) — we also happened to share a similar profession; the bit regarding hot dog killed me in its absurdity and accuracy. And the family members surrounding her are fully rendered as people I love to hate (I wouldn't have mind one bit if the novel gave them even worse outcome by the end).
Diavola ended up delivering what I wanted, and more — the European haunted house vibe was spot on, the addition of an over-the-top dysfunctional family drama, and the almost 'buddy comedy' feel towards the end really made this a great summer horror read. I listened to the excellently narrated audiobook, which further added to the immersion.
**The Book Troop Book Club May 2024 Selection**
The Eyes Are the Best Part by Monika Kim
dark
emotional
tense
fast-paced
- Plot- or character-driven? Character
- Strong character development? Yes
- Loveable characters? It's complicated
4.0
Female Rage: The Novel, The Eyes Are the Best Part is a ferociously told, surrealist story centering around the female experience of a Korean-American collage student. As an Asian first-gen immigrant myself, I greatly resonated with Monika Kim's depiction of the breakdown of a nuclear family in a foreign land, as well as various forms of racism in America.
Even though it is marketed primarily as horror, the first half of the novel reads more like a brutally candid character study with a dash of the macabre. I've seen The Eyes Are the Best Part's marketing material mentioning Michelle Zauner's Crying in H-Mart, and that is actually a very spot-on reference point for this portion of the narrative. The horror and violence does amp up drastically in its later half, offering numerous instances of nightmare-inducing visual (I will not be seeing eyeball the same way after this).
The one critique I have is regarding its conclusion, which feels a bit like the author simply ran out of steam — various plot details are explained away in quick succession with great amount of convenience, and I would've preferred to have what was suggested in its open-endedness actually depicted on page.
Despite the slight premature ending, as a whole The Eyes Are the Best Part hits home emotionally, I sympathize with the rage and pain of its female protagonist, and they are expressed with blood-dripping style and gusto. Maeve Fly by CJ Leede comes to mind as a comparable (but also vastly different) reading experience.
Even though it is marketed primarily as horror, the first half of the novel reads more like a brutally candid character study with a dash of the macabre. I've seen The Eyes Are the Best Part's marketing material mentioning Michelle Zauner's Crying in H-Mart, and that is actually a very spot-on reference point for this portion of the narrative. The horror and violence does amp up drastically in its later half, offering numerous instances of nightmare-inducing visual (I will not be seeing eyeball the same way after this).
The one critique I have is regarding its conclusion, which feels a bit like the author simply ran out of steam — various plot details are explained away in quick succession with great amount of convenience, and I would've preferred to have what was suggested in its open-endedness actually depicted on page.
Despite the slight premature ending, as a whole The Eyes Are the Best Part hits home emotionally, I sympathize with the rage and pain of its female protagonist, and they are expressed with blood-dripping style and gusto. Maeve Fly by CJ Leede comes to mind as a comparable (but also vastly different) reading experience.