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mackenzierm's reviews
1612 reviews
Friends, Lovers, and the Big Terrible Thing by Matthew Perry
challenging
dark
emotional
sad
2.5
FRIENDS, LOVERS, AND THE BIG TERRIBLE THING is Matthew Perry’s memoir, sharing his story from childhood to fame to addiction and recovery.
This is the first nonfiction book I’ve read in a long time and I think it’s likely the first memoir I’ve ever read. I decided I wanted to branch out and give a new-to-me genre a try. I loved Matthew Perry in Friends most notably and thought it would be interesting to learn more about his personal story. All of this said, I don’t think memoirs are for me… at least not for now. I also want to apologize in advance if this review comes off as judgmental, its not my intention and I’ve been grappling very hard with how to write this review as kind and compassionately as possible, while still being honest about my thoughts.
FRIENDS, LOVERS, AND THE BIG TERRIBLE THING is a very eye-opening account of Matthew Perry’s struggles through mental health and addiction amidst fame and fortune. These all add up to a very difficult and isolating existence.
I think what I struggled most with was the real and raw representation and depiction of Matthew’s experiences and how his experiences affected his outlook. It also altered my outlook on him as a person, because it really separated my knowledge of him as Chandler Bing versus his true self, behind the actor. I found it hard to listen to the audiobook when much of the overarching themes felt like a shift of blame on to others rather than his learning of how to take responsibility for his own actions.
Mental health and addiction are two very difficult things to experience, and I love that Matthew felt he could share his story; share the real, raw, gritty, and honest depictions of his life experiences. It’s truly a vulnerable piece of him.
His memoir is well-written, with an excellent audiobook narration done in his own voice.
Close Your Eyes by Teresa Driscoll
4.0
Matthew Hill, a private investigator, has his world turned upside down when he receives a call from his wife stating that their daughter is missing. Many years ago, Matthew had left the police force after a woman blamed him for her son’s death and made threats towards him and his family. As the clock continues to tick during the investigation, Matthew and Sally must reckon with their greatest fear.
CLOSE YOUR EYES is a solid psychological thriller with interesting characters and a multiple POV narration, with one POV being in another timeline.
I was invested from early on to figure out what exactly had happened. This book’s format leads you to know the whodunnit before the police/characters know, so it was fun to see how they’d eventually put together the missing pieces and hope that they’d figure it all out before it’s too late.
I was surprised by the extended epilogue as it contained some twists that I wasn’t expecting at all.
CLOSE YOUR EYES is a solid psychological thriller with interesting characters and a multiple POV narration, with one POV being in another timeline.
I was invested from early on to figure out what exactly had happened. This book’s format leads you to know the whodunnit before the police/characters know, so it was fun to see how they’d eventually put together the missing pieces and hope that they’d figure it all out before it’s too late.
I was surprised by the extended epilogue as it contained some twists that I wasn’t expecting at all.
The Boyfriend by Freida McFadden
4.0
Sydney Shaw has terrible luck with dating. She’s seen it all – men who lie in their dating profile, who stick her with the dinner bill, and worst of all, men who can’t shut up about their mothers. But she’s finally hit the jackpot – a new boyfriend is utterly perfect; he’s charming, handsome, and works as a doctor at a local hospital. A young woman is brutally murdered, the latest in a string of murders across the coast, confounding the police. The primary suspect? A mystery man who dates his victims before he kills them.
THE BOYFRIEND is the third book I’ve read by Freida McFadden and it was truly a fun one. I loved the premise and setting – it’s set in NYC and features the realities of the difficult dating scene with lots of incompatible matches and experiences that you can only laugh about once they’re over.
I also loved the characters, the dark and crafty plot all wrapped up with a dual timeline storytelling. The characters are interesting and each are suspect in their own ways. The plot is compelling and kept me guessing with its multitude of twists and turns. I always thought I had it all figured out and kept having the rug pulled out from beneath me. It’s fast-paced and easily bingeable with the perfect amount of suspense.
The ending was well done and left me speechless in the best kind of way. Another hit in my books 👏🏻
THE BOYFRIEND is the third book I’ve read by Freida McFadden and it was truly a fun one. I loved the premise and setting – it’s set in NYC and features the realities of the difficult dating scene with lots of incompatible matches and experiences that you can only laugh about once they’re over.
I also loved the characters, the dark and crafty plot all wrapped up with a dual timeline storytelling. The characters are interesting and each are suspect in their own ways. The plot is compelling and kept me guessing with its multitude of twists and turns. I always thought I had it all figured out and kept having the rug pulled out from beneath me. It’s fast-paced and easily bingeable with the perfect amount of suspense.
The ending was well done and left me speechless in the best kind of way. Another hit in my books 👏🏻
Assistant to the Villain by Hannah Nicole Maehrer
3.0
Evie needs a job to be able to support her ailing family. So when she receives a job offer from Rennedawn’s most infamous Villain, she accepts. Just as she’s getting used to the scary parts of her job and trying to tamp down the crush she has on her terrifying boss, it seems there’s unrest occurring in Rennedawn with someon wanting to take down the Villain and his entire empire.
ASSISTANT TO THE VILLAIN is a quick and easy read. I’ve been seeing it all over Bookstagram and kept seeing a copy available to borrow on Libby so decided to jump in and see what all the hype’s about. Unfortunately, I’m still not sure what the hype’s all about and will not be picking up the rest of this series.
The setting and world-building are unique and fun. I was quickly drawn in within the first few chapters. The characters are cute but are lacking growth and depth – although, I would expect that this will continue to develop in the remainder of the series. The romance is very surface level, and I wasn’t overly enamored by it. My favorite part of the book centered around the mystery of who was trying to take down the Villain and his empire. The cozy mystery vibes were great and I enjoyed the plot twist at the end.
ASSISTANT TO THE VILLAIN is a quick and easy read. I’ve been seeing it all over Bookstagram and kept seeing a copy available to borrow on Libby so decided to jump in and see what all the hype’s about. Unfortunately, I’m still not sure what the hype’s all about and will not be picking up the rest of this series.
The setting and world-building are unique and fun. I was quickly drawn in within the first few chapters. The characters are cute but are lacking growth and depth – although, I would expect that this will continue to develop in the remainder of the series. The romance is very surface level, and I wasn’t overly enamored by it. My favorite part of the book centered around the mystery of who was trying to take down the Villain and his empire. The cozy mystery vibes were great and I enjoyed the plot twist at the end.
I Did Something Bad by Pyae Moe Thet War
4.0
Khin is a freelance journalist who has been assigned by Vogue to get a scoop on Tyler Tun, a Hollywood movie star who has returned home to Myanmar to shoot a film. She’s determined to succeed because an explosive exclusive could grant her a position at Vogue Singapore and a ticket out of the city that feels too small since her divorce. Unfortunately, Tyler is very good at keeping his private life private and doesn’t show any sign of letting Khin in. One night on set, a strange man follows Khin into the surrounding park and threatens her, leaving Tyler to step up and things escalating quickly. Khin knows she can’t go to the police but needs to find out why this man was targeting her specifically. As Tyler and Khin try to hide their secret and find out more about her attacker, they grow closer, and Tyler begins to open up.
The premise of I DID SOMETHING BAD is unique and interesting. Khin is a freelance journalist who has been offered an opportunity to write an exclusive on a Hollywood movie star with the possibility of a permanent position at Vogue Singapore. I thought it was really cool to have the story set in Myanmar – a place I don’t think I’ve ever visited within the pages of a novel (or in real life either).
The novel is narrated in Khin’s POV. I liked both main characters: Khin and Tyler. They’re characters that are easy to love and are relatable. Their connection was well done with some chemistry and good banter. The romance is what I’d call a very slow burn that really culminates at the end of the book. I adored the idea of an article that reads like a love letter, and I loved that this was shared within the text. Such a beautiful and romantic touch.
There is a touch on the idea of a mystery, but I wouldn’t really call it that as it is very misleading to do so.
I really enjoyed the supporting characters, each adding a little something to the story through their relationships with the main characters.
The ending is really cute and makes a great resolution to this story.
I would like to thank Netgalley and the publisher, St. Martin’s Griffin, of this advanced digital copy for the opportunity to read this novel in exchange for an honest review! All opinions expressed are my own.
The premise of I DID SOMETHING BAD is unique and interesting. Khin is a freelance journalist who has been offered an opportunity to write an exclusive on a Hollywood movie star with the possibility of a permanent position at Vogue Singapore. I thought it was really cool to have the story set in Myanmar – a place I don’t think I’ve ever visited within the pages of a novel (or in real life either).
The novel is narrated in Khin’s POV. I liked both main characters: Khin and Tyler. They’re characters that are easy to love and are relatable. Their connection was well done with some chemistry and good banter. The romance is what I’d call a very slow burn that really culminates at the end of the book. I adored the idea of an article that reads like a love letter, and I loved that this was shared within the text. Such a beautiful and romantic touch.
There is a touch on the idea of a mystery, but I wouldn’t really call it that as it is very misleading to do so.
I really enjoyed the supporting characters, each adding a little something to the story through their relationships with the main characters.
The ending is really cute and makes a great resolution to this story.
I would like to thank Netgalley and the publisher, St. Martin’s Griffin, of this advanced digital copy for the opportunity to read this novel in exchange for an honest review! All opinions expressed are my own.
Cat Got Your Tongue? by A.H. Monroe
3.0
Elma prides herself on being cool, calm, and collected. But when put in the same vicinity as Armin, her best friend’s brother, her skin itches. He’s arrogant, ruthless, and successful. Elma never thought she’d need Armin for anything, but one night during a trip to Istanbul changes everything and now with her past coming to haunt her, she needs Armin’s help.
CAT GOT YOUR TONGUE? has a great premise and I adore enemies to lovers romances so was excited to get started with Armin and Elma’s story. It’s told in dual POV, alternating between Armin and Elma’s perspectives. Both main characters are Bosnian, which was a first for me, and I absolutely adored the inclusion of phrases in Bosnian which added an extra dimension!
I did find the first bit of the book difficult to get into though. I can’t pinpoint exactly what bothered me about the writing style, but I found the sentences to be stilted and choppy. I did get used to it as the book progressed though.
The romance that builds between Armin and Elma is really sweet with spice that is well written and fun. The banter that is shared between the two is sassy, which is my favorite! I found both characters to lack dimension though – they’re both purported to have these heavy backstories throughout the novel but it’s not really discussed what happened until near the end of the book. I think this information would have better served the character development to have been revealed earlier on. That said, the mental health aspect was a nice addition and done with care.
I would like to thank SunnyBabePR and the author of this advanced digital copy for the opportunity to read this novel in exchange for an honest review! All opinions expressed are my own.
CAT GOT YOUR TONGUE? has a great premise and I adore enemies to lovers romances so was excited to get started with Armin and Elma’s story. It’s told in dual POV, alternating between Armin and Elma’s perspectives. Both main characters are Bosnian, which was a first for me, and I absolutely adored the inclusion of phrases in Bosnian which added an extra dimension!
I did find the first bit of the book difficult to get into though. I can’t pinpoint exactly what bothered me about the writing style, but I found the sentences to be stilted and choppy. I did get used to it as the book progressed though.
The romance that builds between Armin and Elma is really sweet with spice that is well written and fun. The banter that is shared between the two is sassy, which is my favorite! I found both characters to lack dimension though – they’re both purported to have these heavy backstories throughout the novel but it’s not really discussed what happened until near the end of the book. I think this information would have better served the character development to have been revealed earlier on. That said, the mental health aspect was a nice addition and done with care.
I would like to thank SunnyBabePR and the author of this advanced digital copy for the opportunity to read this novel in exchange for an honest review! All opinions expressed are my own.
The Christmas Orphans Club by Becca Freeman
4.0
Since college, Hannah and Finn have spent every Christmas together because neither has anywhere else to go. Hannah’s parents died and Finn’s disowned him when he came out. As each Christmas passes, their offbeat traditional adventures grow more outrageous. Their found family solidifies while living in New York City with Priya and Theo added to their group. Now, Finn announces he’s moving to L.A., making this Christmas to possibly be their last. This Christmas brings about many changes…but are these changes exactly what they need?
THE CHRISTMAS ORPHANS CLUB is such a cute story with strong holiday vibes and the best found family. It’s set in NYC – a setting that sounds truly magical during the holidays.
The novel is narrated in dual POV, alternating between Finn and Hannah’s perspectives, with the audiobook featuring two narrators. It’s told over the course of five Christmases and tells the story and evolution of Hannah and Finn’s friendship, as well as their friend group which includes Theo and Priya, who’ve named themselves The Christmas Orphans Club.
THE CHRISTMAS ORPHANS CLUB is a really unique and well written story. It features characters that you can’t help but love. I love that Hannah and Finn were so supportive of each other, even during the tough times. This is such a beautiful and heartwarming testament to the strength of friendships and how friendships change as we grow.
THE CHRISTMAS ORPHANS CLUB is such a cute story with strong holiday vibes and the best found family. It’s set in NYC – a setting that sounds truly magical during the holidays.
The novel is narrated in dual POV, alternating between Finn and Hannah’s perspectives, with the audiobook featuring two narrators. It’s told over the course of five Christmases and tells the story and evolution of Hannah and Finn’s friendship, as well as their friend group which includes Theo and Priya, who’ve named themselves The Christmas Orphans Club.
THE CHRISTMAS ORPHANS CLUB is a really unique and well written story. It features characters that you can’t help but love. I love that Hannah and Finn were so supportive of each other, even during the tough times. This is such a beautiful and heartwarming testament to the strength of friendships and how friendships change as we grow.
Three Holidays and a Wedding by Uzma Jalaluddin, Marissa Stapley
4.0
Maryam and Anna are both flying to Toronto over the holidays – Maryam for her sister’s impromptu wedding, and Anna to meet her boyfriend’s family for the first time. Neither expects that severe turbulence on the flight will lead them to reveal their deepest hopes and fears to the other. Luckily, they’ll never see each other again. Unluckily, Saif, Maryam’s longtime crush is sitting two rows behind them and hears everything. An emergency landing finds Anna, Maryam, Saif, and Maryam’s sister’s bridal party snowbound in Snow Falls. It’s a quirky and picture-perfect town where, as luck would have it, Anna’s actor crush is filming a holiday romance. Despite being snowbound, both women come to realize there’s no better place they’d rather be.
THREE HOLIDAYS AND A WEDDING is such a cute read. It’s set in the year 2000 (correct me if I’m wrong) when three holidays overlapped: Christmas, Ramadan, and Hanukkah. The story is set in Snow Falls, a cute and quirky small town within Ottawa, that’s filled with holiday cheer and inclusivity. The atmosphere is warm and cozy despite the snowstorm.
I really loved the blend of three cultures discussed here, their holiday traditions, and the general warmth and happiness that comes with holiday gatherings. It was really well done.
The story alternates between Anna and Maryam’s perspectives which was great – I loved seeing both of their character’s evolve as they find happiness. All of the characters encountered are likable, relatable, and well written. The romances were so sweet, each showcasing kindness, empathy, acceptance, and love.
It’s a magical and heartwarming holiday read encompassing three holidays!
THREE HOLIDAYS AND A WEDDING is such a cute read. It’s set in the year 2000 (correct me if I’m wrong) when three holidays overlapped: Christmas, Ramadan, and Hanukkah. The story is set in Snow Falls, a cute and quirky small town within Ottawa, that’s filled with holiday cheer and inclusivity. The atmosphere is warm and cozy despite the snowstorm.
I really loved the blend of three cultures discussed here, their holiday traditions, and the general warmth and happiness that comes with holiday gatherings. It was really well done.
The story alternates between Anna and Maryam’s perspectives which was great – I loved seeing both of their character’s evolve as they find happiness. All of the characters encountered are likable, relatable, and well written. The romances were so sweet, each showcasing kindness, empathy, acceptance, and love.
It’s a magical and heartwarming holiday read encompassing three holidays!
The Holiday Switch by Tif Marcelo
4.0
Lila lives in the small town of Holly, New York, where snow is plentiful, the mood is cozy, and she’s working at a local inn with a gift shop. She’s more than ready for her last winter break in high school and hoping to pick up hours during the holidays to better her financial situation for university in the upcoming fall. Her holiday plans come to a halt when her boss hires her nephew, Teddy, who Lila can’t stop butting heads with. But when they accidentally switch phones, they both realize they’ve been hiding things from each other.
THE HOLIDAY SWITCH is a cute and fluffy read filled with holiday cheer, activities, secrets, and a touch of romance. This novel is set in the small town of Holly which is one of the towns with the most holiday festivity and as a result is a tourist attraction.
Lila is the sole narrator of this story and I really adored her character. She’s such a sweet teen who is navigating some upcoming big life changes as her final year of high school hits the midway point. I felt that her character was well written, and she is so conscientious. Teddy is our MMC and he’s honestly adorable too. The relationship they share is angsty as they butt heads in the workplace, but I enjoyed seeing their bond further as the story progressed. The romance is cute and clean.
The holiday themed activities sounded like a lot of fun. I enjoyed seeing Teddy and Lila come clean about the secrets they’d been hiding, but didn’t love how some of their secrets came out. All in all, a cute and light read to kick off the holiday season!
THE HOLIDAY SWITCH is a cute and fluffy read filled with holiday cheer, activities, secrets, and a touch of romance. This novel is set in the small town of Holly which is one of the towns with the most holiday festivity and as a result is a tourist attraction.
Lila is the sole narrator of this story and I really adored her character. She’s such a sweet teen who is navigating some upcoming big life changes as her final year of high school hits the midway point. I felt that her character was well written, and she is so conscientious. Teddy is our MMC and he’s honestly adorable too. The relationship they share is angsty as they butt heads in the workplace, but I enjoyed seeing their bond further as the story progressed. The romance is cute and clean.
The holiday themed activities sounded like a lot of fun. I enjoyed seeing Teddy and Lila come clean about the secrets they’d been hiding, but didn’t love how some of their secrets came out. All in all, a cute and light read to kick off the holiday season!
Find Me : The Poison Ivy Series Book One by E.A. Wilde, E.A. Wilde
4.0
Evi’s life has always been dictated by others, leading her on a path that seeks her own independence. She just never anticipated how dangerous it could be. Evi’s life is quickly unraveling into a nightmare. A deal that was supposed to help her get back on track is pulling her into a self-destructive cycle. Amidst a haze of sex, drugs, and bad decisions, Evi unexpectedly finds a man whose touch lights a fire within her and she can’t get out of her head. While Evi teeters on the edge of complete self-destruction and losing herself further, this man is there offering salvation and hope.
FIND ME is an utterly gripping story that I truly enjoyed reading. The author shares trigger warnings that I do advise you to take seriously. It’s a heavy read at times and a dark romance.
Let me start by saying that I absolutely adored the dedication to this novel and knew that it promised a good time to come.
FIND ME is narrated in Evi’s POV solely. She is a woman who has led a life of privilege, but also a life where none of her choices were really her own, weighed down by the expectations of her family. As she takes steps to find her own independence and make her own choices… well she gets herself into a world of trouble. Her luck and life spiral, leaving her very isolated and crashing quickly towards rock bottom. Her character is very interesting, flawed, and unstable. I loved her and her journey regardless and was really hoping and rooting for some good to come her way.
Jax is one of my favorite MMCs that I’ve read recently. His characterization strikes a fine balance between caring, doting, and protective with some really hot alpha male, bad boy vibes.
I loved the chemistry and spicy scenes that the main characters share - all very well written. As a special note, I absolutely loved Ryan, and I would adore it if there would be a book about him 😍.
I had a bad feeling growing as the novel was coming to a close and was rightly served with an ending that left me speechless and needing more. I’ll definitely be picking up book 2 ASAP.
I would like to thank SunnyBabePR and the author of this advanced digital copy for the opportunity to read this novel in exchange for an honest review! All opinions expressed are my own.
FIND ME is an utterly gripping story that I truly enjoyed reading. The author shares trigger warnings that I do advise you to take seriously. It’s a heavy read at times and a dark romance.
Let me start by saying that I absolutely adored the dedication to this novel and knew that it promised a good time to come.
FIND ME is narrated in Evi’s POV solely. She is a woman who has led a life of privilege, but also a life where none of her choices were really her own, weighed down by the expectations of her family. As she takes steps to find her own independence and make her own choices… well she gets herself into a world of trouble. Her luck and life spiral, leaving her very isolated and crashing quickly towards rock bottom. Her character is very interesting, flawed, and unstable. I loved her and her journey regardless and was really hoping and rooting for some good to come her way.
Jax is one of my favorite MMCs that I’ve read recently. His characterization strikes a fine balance between caring, doting, and protective with some really hot alpha male, bad boy vibes.
I loved the chemistry and spicy scenes that the main characters share - all very well written. As a special note, I absolutely loved Ryan, and I would adore it if there would be a book about him 😍.
I had a bad feeling growing as the novel was coming to a close and was rightly served with an ending that left me speechless and needing more. I’ll definitely be picking up book 2 ASAP.
I would like to thank SunnyBabePR and the author of this advanced digital copy for the opportunity to read this novel in exchange for an honest review! All opinions expressed are my own.