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mariah_readssometimes's reviews
380 reviews
Weyward by Emilia Hart
challenging
dark
emotional
reflective
sad
tense
4.5
This book is dark. There is a lot of violence against women. Not all will like it. However, I personally felt that it was key to how they all became very strong and overcame their oppressor.
Usually books with multiple points of view loose my interest. I thought they all linked together quite nicely, and I was excited to read all 3 of the women's perspectives. All three characters were likeable and at least partway relatable.
I also loved the writing. You were put into the cottage. You also felt the twinge of the nature around them. It was beautiful.
I did not give it a full 5 stars because of it being so dark, it is exhausting to read (yet very important) and also the pacing was tough in the beginning. I was worried I'd give up-though very glad I didn't.
Usually books with multiple points of view loose my interest. I thought they all linked together quite nicely, and I was excited to read all 3 of the women's perspectives. All three characters were likeable and at least partway relatable.
I also loved the writing. You were put into the cottage. You also felt the twinge of the nature around them. It was beautiful.
I did not give it a full 5 stars because of it being so dark, it is exhausting to read (yet very important) and also the pacing was tough in the beginning. I was worried I'd give up-though very glad I didn't.
Kiss Her Once For Me by Alison Cochrun
5.0
What an incredible cozy winter romance.
I find Ellie to be a very relatable character, with a (maybe too) relatable family dynamic. I was cheering for her happiness and success the whole book.
The characters are all very down to earth and very easy to also cheer for (except the one, you know who).
Things I love about this book: it's very inclusive, you fall in love with the whole family as Ellie does, it's very open about mental health and trauma, the love is a believable love, it is a romance but isn't smutty which is very refreshing.
I find Ellie to be a very relatable character, with a (maybe too) relatable family dynamic. I was cheering for her happiness and success the whole book.
The characters are all very down to earth and very easy to also cheer for (except the one, you know who).
Things I love about this book: it's very inclusive, you fall in love with the whole family as Ellie does, it's very open about mental health and trauma, the love is a believable love, it is a romance but isn't smutty which is very refreshing.
The Exodus Killer by Max Ember
dark
mysterious
tense
3.5
I received an ARC copy of this book by BookSirens, and I am leaving this honest review voluntarily.
This was kind of like watching an episode of supernatural, but in book format and with more of a Stephen King background. It was such an enjoyable read. I loved the brothers. Their characters were relatable and lovable, and of course, we love a good bit of teenage angst. I also like that we dabbled in small romantic moments, so the story wasn't all doom and gloom.
The things I didn't like as much was that the pacing throughout the book was inconsistent - not bad, just inconsistent. The beginning dragged on, the middle went quick, and the ending slowed down a bit, too. I also half predicted the twist. I didn't predict it to the extent that it was, so it was still a shock, but I just wish it came more out of the blue.
The ending wasn't what I wanted, but it wrapped up the story well and in a way that I didn't even think was possible.
Overall, it was a great read. Thank you for letting me take this adventure!
This was kind of like watching an episode of supernatural, but in book format and with more of a Stephen King background. It was such an enjoyable read. I loved the brothers. Their characters were relatable and lovable, and of course, we love a good bit of teenage angst. I also like that we dabbled in small romantic moments, so the story wasn't all doom and gloom.
The things I didn't like as much was that the pacing throughout the book was inconsistent - not bad, just inconsistent. The beginning dragged on, the middle went quick, and the ending slowed down a bit, too. I also half predicted the twist. I didn't predict it to the extent that it was, so it was still a shock, but I just wish it came more out of the blue.
The ending wasn't what I wanted, but it wrapped up the story well and in a way that I didn't even think was possible.
Overall, it was a great read. Thank you for letting me take this adventure!
The Unmaking of June Farrow: A Novel by Adrienne Young
5.0
This book was not what I thought it would be, but it was a story that I didn't know I wanted. There's time travel, there's romance, there's murder mystery, it's just a jumble of bits that really fit together well.
I thought the characters were just the right amount of complex and likeable. I was able to keep reading because I just really wanted to know everything about everyone.
The pacing felt right. Slow in the beginning to build up, and then really picked up after ~*things*~ happen. Very easy read if you have the time to read it.
Overall was really happy with this book.
I thought the characters were just the right amount of complex and likeable. I was able to keep reading because I just really wanted to know everything about everyone.
The pacing felt right. Slow in the beginning to build up, and then really picked up after ~*things*~ happen. Very easy read if you have the time to read it.
Overall was really happy with this book.
Incidents Around the House by Josh Malerman
dark
emotional
tense
fast-paced
- Plot- or character-driven? Character
- Strong character development? It's complicated
- Loveable characters? It's complicated
- Diverse cast of characters? No
- Flaws of characters a main focus? Yes
4.0
The premise of this story is pretty basic. Demon stalking who it wants to possess. What really got me while reading was that it's told through a child's perspective. For some reason, that makes it creepier. It's a fairly quick read. I believe it took me around 3-3.5 total hours.
Other Mommy is definitely a nightmare, and the secrets that unfold while the family is trying to figure out how to "get rid" of her are heartbreaking. I was reading in a hotel lobby and had to hold back some tears.
Unfortunately, I felt there was a lot of buildup for a kind of meh ending (it brought closure but felt too quick).
Overall, it's a good story.
Other Mommy is definitely a nightmare, and the secrets that unfold while the family is trying to figure out how to "get rid" of her are heartbreaking. I was reading in a hotel lobby and had to hold back some tears.
Unfortunately, I felt there was a lot of buildup for a kind of meh ending (it brought closure but felt too quick).
Overall, it's a good story.