michelles_book_nook's reviews
245 reviews

5.0

The Fellowship of the Ring by J.R.R. Tolkien

adventurous emotional 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? It's complicated

5.0

⚠️ CW: war, murder, death and fatphobia ⚠️ If you love fantasy books that take you on a great adventure then this one is for you! In a quiet village in the Shire, young Frodo is about to receive a gift that will change his life forever. Thought to be lost centuries ago, it is the One Ring, an object of terrifying power once used by the Dark Lord to enslave Middle Earth. Now darkness is rising and Frodo must travel deep into the Dark Lord’s realm to the one place the Ring can be destroyed. The journey will test Frodo’s courage, his friendships and his heart. And as the ring corrupts all who bear it, can Frodo destroy it or will it destroy him? This book encompasses the perfect start to the perilous adventure to Mount Doom for Frodo and his group of travellers. It is slower paced than The Hobbit but builds so well and it's filled with great character development and so much world building and lore. I just love it so much. It will never cease to amaze me how much I love Tolkien's writing and no matter how many times I've read this series I never get tired of it. Overall, if you love fantasy reads then I highly recommend checking out this great classic series!

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The Hobbit by J.R.R. Tolkien

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adventurous emotional funny hopeful fast-paced

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

5.0

⚠️ CW: war, violence, death and fatphobia ⚠️ If you've never delved into the world Middle Earth and you love a good fantasy then there is no better classic to read than anything by Tolkien. Bilbo Baggins is the last person you'd expect to go on an adventure. He enjoys a quiet, unambitious life, rarely travelling further than his pantry. Until one day a wizard arrives on his doorstep. Accompanied by a band of dwarves, Gandalf, the wizard asks Bilbo to join him on a quest to raid the treasure of the great dragon Smaug. But to reach Smaug's lair under the Lonely Mountain, the adventurers will have to travel into the wild, braving trolls and goblins, ancient magic and fiendish evil. This book, and anything written by Tolkien, will always be a masterpiece in my opinion. From his immense world building, to his incredible character development, to his overall story telling. I love everything about his books. This one is such a great adventure, and even though it is a re-read for me I still couldn't help staying up late and binging it like I did the very first time I read it because it's just so enthralling. Also I love that it has some really powerful undertones and messages. Overall, if you're a fantasy lover then I highly recommend this book.

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Cultish: The Language of Fanaticism by Amanda Montell

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informative reflective medium-paced

5.0

⚠️ CW: gaslighting, sexual assault, rape, abuse, violence, suicide, murder ⚠️ If you're looking for a mind blowing non-fic read then this one is for you! What makes 'cults' so intriguing and frightening? What makes them powerful? The reason why so many of us binge Manson documentaries by the dozen and fall down rabbit holes researching suburban moms gone QAnon is because we’re looking for a satisfying explanation for what causes people to join, and more importantly, stay in these extreme groups. We secretly want to know: could it happen to me? Amanda Montell’s argument is that, on some level, it already has. Our culture tends to provide pretty flimsy answers to questions of cult influence, mostly having to do with vague talk of brainwashing. However, Montell argues that the key to manufacturing intense ideology, community and us vs them attitudes all comes down to language. In both positive ways and shadowy ones, cultish language is something we hear and are influenced by every single day. Montell exposes the verbal elements that make a wide spectrum of communities 'cultish', revealing how they affect followers of groups as notorious as Heaven’s Gate, but also how they pervade our modern start-ups such Peloton leaderboards and Instagram feeds. This addicting take on the curious social science of power and belief will make you hear the fanatical language of 'cultish' everywhere. This book was so incredibly mind blowing and interesting that I could not put it down! It has easily become one of my favourite non-fiction reads. Overall, I absolutely loved this one and I highly recommend that everyone reads this book!

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The Drowning Isle by Simon McCleave

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challenging emotional mysterious tense 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? It's complicated

5.0

⚠️ CW: drug use, paedophilia, alcoholism, domestic abuse, murder, parental death and suicide ⚠️ If you love crime fiction reads then I highly recommend checking out Simon McCleave! When a teenage boy goes missing on a camping trip with his friends, the close-knit community of Anglesey is shaken. DI Laura Hart is brought in to lead the murder investigation and instantly feels the pressure, not least because her colleague’s son was the last to see the missing boy alive. Laura’s investigations force her to delve into the tangled web of relationships and personal lives of her own neighbours. The trail leads her to uncover a religious cult called The Fair Men, who locals say have a dark history and still hold their ceremonies on the island where the boys were camping. Amongst all the mysteries and lies, Laura is sure about one thing, the island will not give up the truth easily. This was such a great read that had me staying up late just to finish reading because I could not put it down and I was absolutely hooked until the very end when I was hit with the jaw dropping twist and finale. I've loved this series from the beginning and this one definitely didn't disappoint. I love how Simon McCleave weaves the current case of the book with the updates of DI Laura Hart's life and history regarding her deceased husband and past life in Manchester. Overall, I highly recommend this book and cannot wait for the next one!

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The Menendez Murders: The Shocking Untold Story of the Menendez Family and the Killings that Stunned the Nation by Robert Rand

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challenging dark emotional informative medium-paced

5.0

⚠️ CW: murder, child abuse, domestic abuse, suicidal ideations, homophobia, sexual abuse, paedophilia, rape and incest ⚠️ If you like true crime and psychology then this book is definitely for you, but please be warned it's very dark and heavy! The Menendez saga has captivated the public since 1989. The killing of José and Kitty Menendez didn’t make the cover of People magazine until the arrest of their sons 7 months later, and the case developed an intense cult following. When the first Menendez trial began in July 1993, the public was convinced that Lyle and Erik were a pair of greedy rich kids who had killed their devoted parents, but the real story remained buried beneath years of dark secrets. Journalist Robert Rand, who originally reported on the case, has followed the Menendez murders from the beginning and has continued investigating for 28 years. Rand is the only reporter who covered the original investigation as well as both trials. With access to the Menendez family and their history, Rand has uncovered extraordinary details that would have changed the fate of the brothers’ first-degree murder conviction and sentencing to life without parole. Rand shares these never before revealed findings, including a deeply disturbing history of child abuse and sexual molestation in the Menendez family going back generations. This case has always fascinated me because its always made me question my ethics when it comes to the justice system and this book really showcased every aspect, even down to the horrific realities that the Menendez brothers faced. I think everyone will always have their own opinions about this case, but no matter where you lie on their convictions and what happened I think this book is an incredible read. Overall, I highly recommend this book and I think it become one of my top 5 favourite true crime reads!

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A Soul for a Soul by Carol Wyer

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mysterious 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? It's complicated

5.0

⚠️ CW: murder, rape, spiking and mentions of sex trafficking ⚠️ If you love gripping and suspenseful crime fiction then this book is for you! DCI Kate Young never meant to shoot Superintendent John Dickson at the reservoir that night. But now Kate has photographic evidence that someone else knows her terrible secret. Tormented by guilt and the voices of the dead, Kate is desperate to unmask the rest of the corrupt officers before her own sins catch up with her. When DI Harriet Khatri, awaiting trial for the murder of Kate’s mentor, claims she was framed by Dickson’s syndicate, Kate reluctantly agrees to help in the hope of finding answers. Meanwhile, DI Emma Donaldson finds herself on the hunt for a double murderer, a man who incapacitates his victims with a powerful narcotic called Devil’s Breath. Desperate to measure up to her role model boss, Emma finds herself hurled into the deep end in more ways than one. While Kate’s grip on reality wavers and the syndicate closes in, and with the mystery killer taking a special interest in Emma, could this be the case that defeats them both? This book had me hooked until the very last page and left my brain reeling with all of the jaw dropping twists and turns. This is one of those reads where you just think you've figured things out and then yet another genius twist is thrown into the mix. I've always loved Carol Wyer's writing style but the final chapter was perfection for me (iykyk). The only reason I dropped it down a star is because even though the pacing was very climactic, in parts it did feel a little slow and the ending did feel somewhat rushed but not to a point that it hugely impacted me enjoying the read. Overall, I highly recommend this book, and the series as a whole!

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Betty by Tiffany McDaniel

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challenging dark emotional inspiring reflective sad 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? It's complicated

5.0

⚠️ CW: racism, violence, bullying, homophobia, murder, mental health, suicide, abortion, incest, rape, sexual abuse, paedophilia and child death ⚠️ If you're looking for a beautifully devastating and complex coming of age story then this one is for you! Born in a bathtub in 1954 to a white mother and a Cherokee father, Betty is the sixth of eight siblings. The world they inhabit in the rural town of Breathed, Ohio, is one of poverty and loss, of lush landscapes and blazing stars. Despite the hardships she encounters, Betty is resilient. Her curiosity about the natural world, her fierce love for her sisters and her father's brilliant stories are kindling for the fire of her own imagination. And in the face of everything she witnesses, including the horrors of her family's past and present, she discovers an escape in writing. This book was everything I hoped for and more. It is so tragic, but also so beautiful and I don't really know how to explain what I mean by that right now but if you've read this you'll understand. Betty is the most incredible character who will stay with me for a very long time. A lot of the themes running through this book really hit hard for me and I definitely needed some tissues to get through it, but the resilience Betty built through her own will and the teachings from her father about life in general and her Cherokee ancestry were just so incredibly powerful. To put it simply I adored this book and it may easily be my favourite of the year. Overall, I highly recommend this book but please check the CW's before diving in.

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What We Did In The Storm by Tina Baker

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adventurous mysterious tense medium-paced

Plot- or character-driven? A mix
Strong character development? It's complicated
Loveable characters? It's complicated
Diverse cast of characters? Yes
Flaws of characters a main focus? It's complicated

4.0

⚠️ CW: domestic abuse, alcoholism, eating disorder, sexual violence, murder and mentions of incest, abortion and suicidal ideations ⚠️ If you love books with isolated settings that are filled with suspense then this one is for you! On the beautiful and windswept island of Tresco, two worlds live side by side. The wealthy visitors come by helicopter to stay at their lavish time-share properties, whilst the estate staff travel by boat and work all hours to keep them happy and to keep the money flowing in. But while the blue skies and savage waves make the island seem a wild paradise, under the surface the inhabitants are concealing more than they dare reveal. The truths about their marriages, their love affairs, and what they do in the darkness while their neighbours are sleeping. As black clouds come rolling in and a storm hits the island, truths and rumours begin to tumble out, wreaking terrible damage. In the midst of the storm, two women are attacked and one goes missing. The secrets of this fragile community can no longer be hidden if it hopes to survive. The islanders must finally reveal what they did in the storm, no matter the cost. This book had me absolutely hooked from the very beginning and kept me up way past my bedtime reading it because I just couldn't put it down. I've always wanted to visit Tresco since I first learned of its existence in my early teens, and Tina Baker's incredibly atmospheric writing made me feel like I was really on the island. This book has such a complex and intricately woven plot that is so hard to review without giving spoilers but I absolutely loved every chapter, especially the ending and how it all wrapped up so well. Overall, I highly recommend this book and if you haven't already dived into Tina Baker's books then I highly recommend checking out her out!

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People to Follow by Olivia Worley

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adventurous mysterious tense medium-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? Yes

3.0

⚠️ CW: murder, sexual assault and grooming ⚠️ If you're a fan of reality TV then this one is for you! They're used to being followed, but not like this. Ten social media stars think they're about to join the cast of a hot new reality show. But the production crew never shows up, and the influencers find themselves stranded on a deserted Caribbean island with no contact with the outside world, except for messages from the mysterious 'Sponsor', who is threatening to expose their darkest secrets. When one of them winds up dead, things start to get more real than they ever bargained for. And with the body count rising, the influencers must figure out who is trying to get them cancelled before their number one follower strikes again. This book had a really good hook and delivered the thrilling storyline that I wanted. Unfortunately though I just didn't seem to like any of the characters which dropped down my rating. Also with so many characters I did struggle to keep track at certain points but I think that's more of a me problem than a problem with the book. Despite this I did find it really interesting though and it kept me guessing until the end as to who the 'sponsor' could be. Overall, I really enjoyed this one and recommend it if you're looking for a thrilling remote island getaway.

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michelles_book_nook's reviews 245 reviews

michelles_book_nook's reviews
245 reviews