kats_got_your_bookstagram's reviews
516 reviews

All the Colors of the Dark by Chris Whitaker

challenging emotional mysterious medium-paced

• Plot- or character-driven? Character
• Strong character development? Yes
• Loveable characters? Yes
• Diverse cast of characters? Yes
• Flaws of characters a main focus? Yes

5.0

This book was just so incredibly written that I've had to stop and process this book once it ended! This book took me on an emotional rollercoaster that followed the lives of two friends over the next several decades after a horrific crime changed their lives forever.

I fell in love with Patch and Saint's characters and loved watching them grow up and deal with their own struggles yet always be there for each other. I really felt for Patch as he dealt with the aftermath of his kidnapping and his attempts to find the girl that helped save his life! Saint's life also didn't follow the path she expected but found her calling in helping others by becoming a police officer.

There were so many twists and turns in this book that with every reveal I wasn't sure who to trust anymore by the end. As the revaluations and certain characters come out my suspicions about who could be the serial killer kept changing and was still shocked by the ending.

I listened to the audiobook and really enjoyed the narration! The short chapters were also a nice touch and made the book feel shorter than it was.

The Lost House by Melissa Larsen

mysterious slow-paced

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

2.0

I had a lot of high hopes for this book since it was taking a true crime podcast point of view of a cold case in Iceland. But in the end, the podcast storyline became a side story the personal struggles of the main character, Agnes. Agnes's story was kind of boring to me and just dragged out! The twist was ok but kind of saw it coming. 

I listened to the audiobook and the narration was well done.

Beautiful Ugly by Alice Feeney

mysterious medium-paced

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

5.0

Wow, this book was incredible twisty I was on the edge of my seat the whole time trying to figure out what was going on! The book felt like a great mixture of The Wicker Man and Secret Window. 

I found the set up of the book to be very interesting and lent itself to a great thriller. Most of the book is from Grady's point of view as he struggles with the disappearance of his wife and trying to write another successful book. There was also sprinkles of Abby's point of view leading up to her disappearance. This style of book had me wondering what exactly was going on until the final reveal!

I listened to the audiobook and did enjoy that there were two narrators one for Grady and one for Abby. 

From Here to the Great Unknown by Lisa Marie Presley, Riley Keough

emotional informative slow-paced

3.0

Going into this book I didn't remember or know much about Lisa Marie Presley expect that she was the daughter of Elvis. This memoir was interesting at some parts but felt random in others. It was for sure an interesting listen. 

I listened to the audiobook and it was nothing like I've listened to before. Some parts were tapes of Lisa talking about her own life preparing to write a memoir. Other parts were narrated by Riley Keough (Lisa's daughter) and her view of what was happening in her mother's life over time. Finally there was Julia Roberts sprinkled in there narrating Lisa's story. With all these different narrators popping up, usually all in the same chapter, the story felt all over the place. 

One in a Millennial: On Friendship, Feelings, Fangirls, and Fitting In by Kate Kennedy

emotional informative reflective medium-paced

4.0

This book was like going down memory lame of my childhood! Kate Kennedy did an amazing job recapping the high and lows of pop culture in the late 90s and early 2000s. While many parts of this book really connected to my experiences growing up in that time period others did not apply at all but was still interesting to read. 

While I enjoyed this book, at the same time, I wasn't sure if this was supposed to be a book about pop culture history or a personal memoir. There were definitely some parts that dragged while others I wish there had been more. There was also sections that seemed to be extremely political while others didn't even touch on some important current events of the time. 

I listened to the audiobook and enjoyed that the book was read by the author, Kate Kennedy. It was well performed but it also helps that she has a podcast.

Some Like it Scot by Pepper Basham

adventurous emotional hopeful lighthearted reflective 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? Yes

5.0

Pepper Basham has done it again and given readers a beautiful story of self discovery and learning to deal with grief! This story has given me so much wanderlust that I might need to go book my trip to Scotland now!

I really enjoyed the grumpyxsunshine relationship between Katie and Graeme! I found all the misadventures that Katie finds herself in and Graeme needing to rescue her from hilarious! I also found how they bounded over their faith and the struggles of grief was so well written that I was crying right along with them.

I loved these two characters so much that I hope its not the last we see of them!

Mindhunter: Inside the FBI's Elite Serial Crime Unit by John Douglas

inspiring medium-paced

5.0

This abridged audiobook is a must listen for all true crime fans! John Douglas is a superstar in the crime world for his profiling and assistance of the capture of many high profile killers. This book only covers a few of his biggest cases but still was a wonderful read! 

This was read by John Douglas and I loved hearing his story from him!

The Night We Lost Him by Laura Dave

emotional mysterious sad medium-paced

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

5.0

This book was an emotional rollercoaster that I was not prepared for! I thought I was going to be reading a murder mystery but ended up with a beautiful book about grief and true love. 

This book follows Nora and her estranged brother Sam who team up to look into their father's untimely death. There were so many twists and turns in this book that I was completely shocked by the ending.

I listened to the audiobook and the performance by Julia Whelan was amazing as always!

She Doesn't Have A Clue by Jenny Elder Moke

mysterious medium-paced

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

4.0

If you are a fan of Finlay Donovan is Killing It and Knives Out then this murder mystery is for you! This book had so many twists and turn that I did not see the killer reveal coming!

I found Kate's character to be super quirky but her constant need to use her fictional sleuth as a crutch to solve the mystery got a little annoying towards the end! I really enjoyed chemistry that Kate has with Jake's character brought to Kate's life. The witty banter and spicy scenes were excellent! While I did enjoy these two characters I wish there had been better communication between the two since they are adults.

This book takes place at a wedding but sometimes I was very confused on how all the characters were actually connected especially when it came to understand the inheritance that a few characters were fighting over. 

I listened to the audiobook and thought the performance by Sarah Mollo-Christensen was well done!

Is She Really Going Out with Him? by Sophie Cousens

lighthearted medium-paced

• Plot- or character-driven? Character
• Strong character development? Yes
• Loveable characters? Yes
• Diverse cast of characters? Yes
• Flaws of characters a main focus? Yes

5.0

This was such a wonderful story of self discovery and finding love again after heartbreak. This enemies to lover, workplace, single parent romance was so well written that I could not stop reading!

I loved the journey that Anna takes getting back into the dating game after her divorce with the help of her kids. I liked that she took on this task by using her job as a journalist as reason to get out of her comfort zone and try different types of men than she would have. 

I loved the banter between Will and Anna and the workplace competition they had until ultimately figuring out their feelings. I do wish we had gotten more from Will including is POV and more about his backstory. 

I listened to the audiobook and enjoyed the narration by Kerry Gilbert.