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kendallreadsitall's reviews
313 reviews
The Girl in 6E by A.R. Torre
dark
mysterious
tense
medium-paced
- Plot- or character-driven? A mix
- Strong character development? Yes
- Loveable characters? Yes
- Flaws of characters a main focus? Yes
4.0
This was my first A.R. Torre book, and I can confidently say that it will not be my last!
The Girl in 6E is the first book to a three part erotic thriller series featuring our FMC, Deanna Madden, a murderous cam girl who has locked herself in total isolation to avoid acting on her dark thoughts.
I went into this one blind, as I tend to always do, and was definitely taken aback by the level of sexually explicit details within this book. But that’s my fault for not warning myself ahead of time 😂 without the very descriptive cam sessions that Deanna partakes in nearly all day and night, this is an absolutely wild read that has several different thrilling storylines to follow.
This book was truly so good. I thought the story was unique, fast paced, had interesting characters, and with several looming mysteries that had my full attention. I’m already looking forward to reading the next two in the series! The audiobook was narrated by Jorjeana Marie, who did an excellent job within every aspect of this book. Playing a cam girl who had to deliver sultry vibes on top of some disturbing scenes couldn’t have been easy, but she was phenomenal!
The Girl in 6E is the first book to a three part erotic thriller series featuring our FMC, Deanna Madden, a murderous cam girl who has locked herself in total isolation to avoid acting on her dark thoughts.
I went into this one blind, as I tend to always do, and was definitely taken aback by the level of sexually explicit details within this book. But that’s my fault for not warning myself ahead of time 😂 without the very descriptive cam sessions that Deanna partakes in nearly all day and night, this is an absolutely wild read that has several different thrilling storylines to follow.
This book was truly so good. I thought the story was unique, fast paced, had interesting characters, and with several looming mysteries that had my full attention. I’m already looking forward to reading the next two in the series! The audiobook was narrated by Jorjeana Marie, who did an excellent job within every aspect of this book. Playing a cam girl who had to deliver sultry vibes on top of some disturbing scenes couldn’t have been easy, but she was phenomenal!
You Will Never Be Me by Jesse Q. Sutanto
medium-paced
4.0
Do you like twists? How about suspense? What about some juicy momfluencer drama?! If so, You Will Never Be Me is the book for you! This was my first read by Suntanto, and I can absolutely say that it won’t be my last. She was a master at creating a juicy and robust plot with successful twist after successful twist, and that is exactly what I am looking for in a thriller!
We follow momfluencers Meredith and Aspen, who went from BFF’s to total enemies after Aspen got a bigger following and a bigger ego. What unfolds will have your jaw DROPPED with a story of obsession, the toxicity of influencers, social media fakeness, and the effect that it has on them, their family, and the people who surround them.
The audiobook was narrated by Eunice Wong, who captured the creepy, obsessive nature of this story effortlessly.
I definitely recommend this to all of my thriller/suspense friends! I had never heard of this book before I randomly found it on Spotify audiobooks, but I am sure glad I did!
We follow momfluencers Meredith and Aspen, who went from BFF’s to total enemies after Aspen got a bigger following and a bigger ego. What unfolds will have your jaw DROPPED with a story of obsession, the toxicity of influencers, social media fakeness, and the effect that it has on them, their family, and the people who surround them.
The audiobook was narrated by Eunice Wong, who captured the creepy, obsessive nature of this story effortlessly.
I definitely recommend this to all of my thriller/suspense friends! I had never heard of this book before I randomly found it on Spotify audiobooks, but I am sure glad I did!
These Violent Delights by Micah Nemerever
dark
emotional
reflective
sad
slow-paced
- Plot- or character-driven? Character
- Loveable characters? No
- Diverse cast of characters? No
- Flaws of characters a main focus? Yes
3.0
How can I eloquently explain that this was one of the most exquisitely written books I’ve ever read, but at the same time, I simply did not enjoy it. The writing, wow. So precise, so poetic, so absolutely stunning in every sense of the word. But boy, was it dense, and sometimes hard to follow/connect with. I kind of felt catfished by the prologue tbh. That was the most exciting part of the book somehow. And in a 460 page book, I struggled to get through this one.
When first hearing about this book, I saw someone say that this gave them Saltburn energy, which I can undoubtedly confirm. The relationship with Paul and Julian from start to finish, the collegiate atmosphere, rich parents, and 70’s era (even though Saltburn wasn’t set in the 70’s, it gave a retro vibe) all sent me back to watching that film where I fell in love with Barry Keoghan and Jacob Elordi. However, Saltburn was a more successful film to me that was far more enjoyable.
All of that is to say, and I want to emphasize, this is a really good, unbelievably well written book about love, obsession, acceptance, and grief. Nemerever painted a miserable portrait of what it was like to be gay in the 70’s and having to hide your true self and relationship. In fact, misery is a great word for this entire book. Every character was so intensely unhappy in a way that worked for how this story played out. Unfortunately, this one wasn’t for me, but I can absolutely understand why many readers liked and will like this novel.
When first hearing about this book, I saw someone say that this gave them Saltburn energy, which I can undoubtedly confirm. The relationship with Paul and Julian from start to finish, the collegiate atmosphere, rich parents, and 70’s era (even though Saltburn wasn’t set in the 70’s, it gave a retro vibe) all sent me back to watching that film where I fell in love with Barry Keoghan and Jacob Elordi. However, Saltburn was a more successful film to me that was far more enjoyable.
All of that is to say, and I want to emphasize, this is a really good, unbelievably well written book about love, obsession, acceptance, and grief. Nemerever painted a miserable portrait of what it was like to be gay in the 70’s and having to hide your true self and relationship. In fact, misery is a great word for this entire book. Every character was so intensely unhappy in a way that worked for how this story played out. Unfortunately, this one wasn’t for me, but I can absolutely understand why many readers liked and will like this novel.
Tender Is the Flesh by Agustina Bazterrica
challenging
dark
emotional
mysterious
reflective
sad
tense
medium-paced
5.0
This was quite the read. An incredibly bleak, visceral, thought provoking book that takes place in a dystopian nightmare universe that I never want to be part of. Bazterrica was able to write in such a morose way that was so matter of fact that it made this book even more spine chilling. This is truly a literary horror masterpiece, and even with the rather nasty subject matter, I loved every second. It goes to show that a talented writer can make anything readable, and that was absolutely achieved in this novel.
Additionally, with how incredible this was written, I can only imagine experiencing this in Spanish, as it was intended. The translation by Sarah Moses was flawlessly done.
I’m going to skip the synopsis here and recommend that you take a look at this book for yourself. With trigger warnings for animal abuse/death, gore, and rape, this book is not for everyone. Proceed with caution!
Additionally, with how incredible this was written, I can only imagine experiencing this in Spanish, as it was intended. The translation by Sarah Moses was flawlessly done.
I’m going to skip the synopsis here and recommend that you take a look at this book for yourself. With trigger warnings for animal abuse/death, gore, and rape, this book is not for everyone. Proceed with caution!
Content Warnings
Moderate: Animal cruelty, Animal death, Gore, Rape
Do Not Disturb by Alessandra Torre, A.R. Torre
dark
tense
medium-paced
4.0
I couldn’t wait to start Do Not Disturb, the sequel to The Girl in 6E, and it did not disappoint! Another thrill ride alongside cam girl, Deanna Madden. Deanna’s world is less locked up in her apartment, as she has found new reasons to leave, testing her urges while attempting to lead a more “normal” life.
I don’t want to give too much away for those who haven’t read The Girl in 6E (what are you waiting for, go for it!!), but this continues to be an erotic thriller, tying a lot of explicit sexual descriptions, due to the nature of D’s job, with thrilling, and sometimes a bit gory, details of the journey that she is forced into when one of her clients becomes a serious problem.
The audiobook was narrated again by Jorjeana Marie, who I cannot compliment enough on performance. Definitely a series that is great to do on audio, but make sure you’ve got a strong connection to your headphones, because some of the imagery created in this story is not for all ears 👀
I definitely recommend this series to those who love smut and/or thrillers! I feel like readers of The Ruinous Love Trilogy would enjoy this as well!
I don’t want to give too much away for those who haven’t read The Girl in 6E (what are you waiting for, go for it!!), but this continues to be an erotic thriller, tying a lot of explicit sexual descriptions, due to the nature of D’s job, with thrilling, and sometimes a bit gory, details of the journey that she is forced into when one of her clients becomes a serious problem.
The audiobook was narrated again by Jorjeana Marie, who I cannot compliment enough on performance. Definitely a series that is great to do on audio, but make sure you’ve got a strong connection to your headphones, because some of the imagery created in this story is not for all ears 👀
I definitely recommend this series to those who love smut and/or thrillers! I feel like readers of The Ruinous Love Trilogy would enjoy this as well!
Bury Your Gays by Chuck Tingle
dark
funny
mysterious
tense
medium-paced
4.0
Bury Your Gays was such a fun rollercoaster ride of a book. We followed Misha, closeted screenwriter, who is known for his horror stories involving lgbtq characters. After being told that he must change the season ending of one of his hit shows by his boss, Jack, he starts being “haunted” by the characters of his past.
I loved this book! It was paced well, had a great main character who you couldn’t help but root for, and a unique plot that I thoroughly enjoyed. This was more gory than expected, which was welcomed, and had some laugh out loud funny moments that I thought were successfully sprinkled throughout. This book was more than just its face value as well with themes of nonconformity, being true to yourself, and standing up for what you believe in. Tingle was able to create such an excellent overall horror book that had a powerful message on top of it, which I appreciated!
My only tiny, tiny complaint was wanting more character development for Zeke and Tara because I loved these characters but craved more of them. Otherwise, I completely enjoyed reading Bury Your Gays and has me excited for more Chuck Tingle Reads!
I loved this book! It was paced well, had a great main character who you couldn’t help but root for, and a unique plot that I thoroughly enjoyed. This was more gory than expected, which was welcomed, and had some laugh out loud funny moments that I thought were successfully sprinkled throughout. This book was more than just its face value as well with themes of nonconformity, being true to yourself, and standing up for what you believe in. Tingle was able to create such an excellent overall horror book that had a powerful message on top of it, which I appreciated!
My only tiny, tiny complaint was wanting more character development for Zeke and Tara because I loved these characters but craved more of them. Otherwise, I completely enjoyed reading Bury Your Gays and has me excited for more Chuck Tingle Reads!
Such Lovely Skin by Tatiana Schlote-Bonne
adventurous
dark
emotional
mysterious
reflective
sad
tense
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
4.0
Such Lovely Skin is a thrilling, fast paced YA horror read where our FMC, Viv, a horror Twitch streamer, gets thrown into an absolute nightmare after revealing her deepest, darkest secret in a new game. Not only is this book absolutely nail biting and intense as Viv navigates this bizarrely creepy hell she’d been put into, it also touches on important topics such as grief, guilt, and identity.
The author noted that the horror movie, The Ring, was a huge influence with this novel which I totally got. The Ring was the first horror movie I’d seen (far too young in 2nd grade, by the way 😂 where the heck were my parents?!), and I loved seeing elements of that movie in this book. The movie, It Follows, also came to mind while I made my way through this book! This was such a unique story that was executed excellently, which has me excited to see more from this author after such a successful debut! I highly recommend this to all horror or thriller readers!
Thank you to @pagestreetpublishing, @pagestreetya, and @thebuffwriter for this advanced copy! This book has me so, so excited to see what Page Street’s new imprint, @pagestreethorror, has in the works!
The author noted that the horror movie, The Ring, was a huge influence with this novel which I totally got. The Ring was the first horror movie I’d seen (far too young in 2nd grade, by the way 😂 where the heck were my parents?!), and I loved seeing elements of that movie in this book. The movie, It Follows, also came to mind while I made my way through this book! This was such a unique story that was executed excellently, which has me excited to see more from this author after such a successful debut! I highly recommend this to all horror or thriller readers!
Thank you to @pagestreetpublishing, @pagestreetya, and @thebuffwriter for this advanced copy! This book has me so, so excited to see what Page Street’s new imprint, @pagestreethorror, has in the works!
Panic Playhouse by Remy Oliver
dark
tense
- Plot- or character-driven? Character
4.0
Panic Playhouse is an extremely brutal, tortuous read. From start to finish, my body was tense, my stomach was churning, and my face filled with expressions of pure horror, shock, and disgust. Panic Playhouse opened a new fear of never wanting to upset someone ever again for as long as I live 😅
What a wild ride this reading experience was! I finished this one in just an afternoon with some necessary brain breaks before I dove back into this unsettling extreme horror novella. Long story short, I “enjoyed” my time reading this and thought the writing was very well done. I thought the interconnection between all of the POVs rounded the story out perfectly, and Oliver was able to fit so much into just a short 140ish pages without it feeling forced.
This one is not for everyone, that’s for sure! But if you’re not easily triggered and enjoy extreme horror, pick this one up!
What a wild ride this reading experience was! I finished this one in just an afternoon with some necessary brain breaks before I dove back into this unsettling extreme horror novella. Long story short, I “enjoyed” my time reading this and thought the writing was very well done. I thought the interconnection between all of the POVs rounded the story out perfectly, and Oliver was able to fit so much into just a short 140ish pages without it feeling forced.
This one is not for everyone, that’s for sure! But if you’re not easily triggered and enjoy extreme horror, pick this one up!
Content Warnings
Graphic: Body horror, Child abuse, Child death, Gore, Rape, Torture, Violence, Murder
Horrorstör by Grady Hendrix
adventurous
dark
funny
mysterious
tense
medium-paced
- Plot- or character-driven? A mix
5.0
This may be one of, if not the most, original and unique stories I’ve ever read. I knew I wanted to read the physical copy of this because of the catalogue quality of the book shape and illustrations within, which I totally think adds so much to this book.
This was such a fantastic reading experience from start to finish. I truly had no idea where this book was going to go, all I knew was some weird happenings were going on in an IKEA-esque store called Orsk. We follow 5 store employees as they embark on a mission to see why furniture keeps getting damaged on an overnight stake out. And let’s just say, things get absolutely NUTS.
Totally recommend this book, especially in the physical version, for all of my horror friends! It’s funny, it’s exciting, it’s a lil gory, it’s unsettling - it’s just GOOD.
This was such a fantastic reading experience from start to finish. I truly had no idea where this book was going to go, all I knew was some weird happenings were going on in an IKEA-esque store called Orsk. We follow 5 store employees as they embark on a mission to see why furniture keeps getting damaged on an overnight stake out. And let’s just say, things get absolutely NUTS.
Totally recommend this book, especially in the physical version, for all of my horror friends! It’s funny, it’s exciting, it’s a lil gory, it’s unsettling - it’s just GOOD.