marekcornett's reviews
759 reviews

Lenny Marks Gets Away With Murder by Kerryn Mayne

dark emotional funny hopeful mysterious reflective sad tense 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

4.5

This was such an interesting story with a main character I couldn't quite track down. We follow Lenny Marks through her current day "trying to get a life" and flashbacks from times that made her who she is today. Repressed memories make for an unreliable narrator at times, but I found myself cheering for Lenny the whole way. The suspense was well-paced, and the story was very well crafted. 

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Content Warnings

Graphic: Child abuse and Child death

The Paradise Problem by Christina Lauren

emotional funny hopeful fast-paced

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

4.0

I could see this book playing out as a film. It’s like if Succession had a Rom/Comm plot. The story is fun and a little bit mysterious, the relationship between the MMC and FMC was exciting, and the spicy parts were spicy. Really solid read!

A Novel Love Story by Ashley Poston

hopeful lighthearted mysterious fast-paced

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

2.0

This is coming from someone who loves, loves, loves magical realism. And I couldn’t shut up about or stop recommended The Seven Year Slip. But… ugh I really disliked this book.

Loved the premise. Woman loves a book series, goes on a solo vacation and somehow ends up in the fictional town, meeting all the characters she’s loved. Cute, right?

Somehow, it missed the mark entirely. It really felt like Poston was trying to do too much. There was a story within a story, and we had to learn about the original novel through the retelling of the narrator. So we’re learning about the characters in the series and trying to figure out who to care about and who’s not integral to the story. So then I think, “maybe the end will save this.” All the sudden it’s romance platitudes and sugary sweet narrative that gave me the ick. 

Some people will love this one, but it absolutely wasn’t my cup of tea (and from every which way, it should have been). 

The God of the Woods by Liz Moore

challenging dark emotional mysterious sad 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

5.0

Wow. This book is truly beautiful, heartbreaking, and intriguing. Told from multiple perspectives with multiple timelines, the author does a really great job of character development so it’s easy to follow the cast of many characters. You will hear a LOT about this book this summer. 

Thanks to Riverhead Books & NetGalley for the advanced copy! 

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Content Warnings

Graphic: Child death

Margo's Got Money Troubles by Rufi Thorpe

emotional funny hopeful informative inspiring lighthearted fast-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

5.0

Witty, moving and teaching me about a something I know nothing about = the perfect combo! Loved this story! 

The Guncle Abroad by Steven Rowley

emotional funny hopeful lighthearted fast-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

2.5

I loved, like GUSHED over, the first book in this series. But this one was a miss for me. The magic between Patrick and his niece & nephew just wasn't there. The "problem" they were trying to solve was thin. And the personality conflict between Patrick and his soon-to-be sister-in-law was kind of ridiculous. I've read nothing but praise on this book, so maybe it's going to be a hit for you. 

Lula Dean's Little Library of Banned Books by Kirsten Miller

funny hopeful informative inspiring fast-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? Yes

5.0

Absolutely loved this! If you’re on the side of “banned books” keep people oppressed, then this book is certainly for you. 

Lula Dean is the leader of the committee who removes “bad” books like Are You There, God? It’s Me, Margaret and Diary of Anne Frank from the school and public libraries in Troy, Georgia. When she provides a Little Free Library of books she encourages people to read instead, things go awry & the go awry quickly. I found myself cheering for the townsfolk as they took down the long-standing beliefs the town held on to. The characters felt alive on the page. 

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Content Warnings

Graphic: Racism and Xenophobia

Moderate: Suicide

One Perfect Couple by Ruth Ware

dark mysterious sad tense medium-paced

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

4.0

Like typical Ruth Ware books, this one had me on the edge of my seat from page 1. Lord of the Flies meets reality tv is the best way I can describe it! Expect lots of carnage throughout the book, and there was a twist I didn’t see coming. 

Real Americans by Rachel Khong

informative mysterious reflective sad 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

3.5

I keep trying to read and enjoy long-term family sagas, and I just never love them. In this book, we follow a family through three generations—a grandmother, her daughter and her grandson. The author explores facets of Chinese culture and Chinese-American culture, and that was fascinating. However, it felt like the pace went between absolutely sprinting through scenes/portions of life and then languishing in scenes that were unimportant to the story. It felt disjointed to me. A lot of people will absolutely love this one, but it wasn’t one of my top reads.

The Pelican Tide by Sharon J. Wishnow

emotional funny hopeful inspiring reflective fast-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

5.0

This is in the running for my top book of 2024, and I think you should absolutely read it. Even better, grab it for your book club. There's so much to discuss! 

We follow Chef Josie Babineaux, her family and the townsfolk of Grand Isle, Louisiana. The story that is woven through is absolutely beautiful, and it has you cheering until the very end for everyone including the town's Brown Pelican, Gumbo. I loved every page.