mkusmits's reviews
8 reviews

Suicide Notes from Beautiful Girls by Lynn Weingarten

dark mysterious sad tense fast-paced

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

2.75

My Thoughts on Suicide Notes from Beautiful Girls (Spoilers Ahead!)

Who doesn’t love a good suicide/murder mystery? When I picked up this book, I expected a typical teen suicide story, kind of like 13 Reasons Why. But wow—I was way off.

The story follows best friends June and Delia, who had a major falling out after a drunken night where things got messy between June’s boyfriend and Delia. Fast forward a year, and Delia is found dead—supposedly a suicide. But June is convinced there’s more to the story. And she’s right… just not in the way she expected. Turns out, Delia faked her death and was plotting to take down her stepfather for alleged abuse.

This book was wild, to say the least. Delia had this almost cult-like following, but underneath it all, she was in love with June. By the time I got to the ending, I had so many more questions than answers. It kept me hooked, but at the same time, I feel like I would’ve been totally fine never reading it. I still don’t know how I feel about it—intriguing but also kind of frustrating. 

Daisy Jones & The Six by Taylor Jenkins Reid

emotional inspiring reflective slow-paced

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

2.75

Taylor Jenkins Reid is a super popular author, and Daisy Jones & The Six was no exception. Everyone raved about it, it got turned into a Prime Video series, and the hype was real. Naturally, I had high expectations—but honestly? This book just didn’t do it for me.

It’s set in the ‘70s, so of course, it’s full of sex, drugs, and rock ’n’ roll. But the characters? Ugh. They were all kind of a mess—cheating on their partners, battling addictions, and just generally being awful to each other. Billy, the main guy, drove me nuts. He was honestly kind of a jerk, and his wife, Camila, put up with way too much. By the end, I realized she was the real MVP, but even she had her moments.

Then there’s Daisy. She was supposed to be this free-spirited rock goddess, but she just felt immature and selfish. Her attitude was basically “my way or the highway,” and while that can sometimes be admirable, here it just made her annoying. Billy and Daisy were a total disaster together, and I wish their manager, Teddy, had pushed harder to get her into rehab. The rest of the band? They deserved better than constantly tiptoeing around all the drama. By the time the book wrapped up, I was just relieved everyone got clean and moved on.

At the end of the day, this book wasn’t for me. The writing style didn’t click, the pacing was slow, and I seriously dreaded picking it up. I almost DNF’d but powered through, hoping it would get better—it didn’t. I really wish I had the same amazing experience as other readers, but it just fell flat. That said, I’ll still check out the TV show, and maybe I’ll give the audiobook a shot since the interview format might work better that way. 

Rock Paper Scissors by Alice Feeney

mysterious tense 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? Yes

4.5

This was my first time reading anything by Alice Feeney, and I went into it not knowing much about the plot. I usually don’t read the back of books—I just go off the vibe of the cover. What drew me to this one was the bright red lettering against a snowy background. There’s just something about a wintery book that always pulls me in. At first, the story started off slow, but I enjoyed the main characters, especially learning about Adam and his face blindness. The letters from his wife, incorporating traditional anniversary gifts, were a nice touch. And the twist? I truly didn’t see it coming. HOWEVER, I hated the plot itself. It felt like it could have been handled differently, and the constant back-and-forth of “Did you hear that?” or “Did you see that?” got on my nerves. I just wanted to get to the good part. The first three-quarters of the book dragged, but the final section had me completely hooked—I couldn’t put it down. I ended up giving this book a 4.5 because the writing was incredibly detailed—I could vividly picture the setting, the emotions, and even Bob. It also kept me engaged, and I loved the twist, even if I wished the storyline had been different. Overall, I’d recommend this book to others! 

Maybe Not by Colleen Hoover

medium-paced

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

1.0

I found the first book in this series disappointing, but I decided to give the second one a chance, hoping it would have more depth now that the setup was out of the way. Unfortunately, that wasn’t the case. Instead of continuing the original story, this book shifted to a different character’s perspective, focusing on his feelings and his growing love for his roommate—while still recycling parts of the first book’s plot. The POV change felt unnecessary and frustrating, making it hard to stay engaged. Once again, this book just didn’t work for me. 

Maybe Someday by Colleen Hoover

challenging slow-paced

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

1.75

Honestly, I have a love-hate relationship with Colleen Hoover—some of her books are fantastic, while others fall flat. This one had potential, especially with the representation of a deaf main character, which I appreciated. However, beyond that, it didn’t stand out. The female lead came across as a hypocrite, and the amount of cheating was frustrating. She left her ex for that reason, only to turn around and do the same thing—what the heck? Overall, this book just didn’t work for me. 

We'll Always Have Summer by Jenny Han

lighthearted 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

I always pick up the next book in the series when a new season drops on Prime. This series is a cute teenage romance—light, engaging, and always leaving me wanting more. Yes, it’s geared toward teens, but it also works as a great palate cleanser from my usual reads. I was both surprised and not surprised by who she ends up with—let’s be honest, it was always going to be the love of her life! It would be interesting to have a book told entirely from the boys’ perspective without Belly’s thoughts. Now, I’m just hoping this new season will be the best one yet! 

Every Summer After by Carley Fortune

• Plot- or character-driven? Character
• Strong character development? Yes
• Loveable characters? Yes
• Diverse cast of characters? Yes
• Flaws of characters a main focus? Yes

4.5

This book reminded me of The Summer I Turned Pretty series, offering a light and engaging read. However, I appreciated the added depth and more mature themes suited for an adult audience. The push-and-pull of the main characters kept me hooked, constantly wondering whether she would end up with him or walk away. It kept me intrigued and eager to keep turning the pages. I just hope the second book in the series lives up to the first! 

Love in the Time of Serial Killers by Alicia Thompson

2.25

 I picked up this book solely because of its stunning cover, not knowing what to expect. Unfortunately, even with low expectations, I was still disappointed. The plot was predictable—everyone knew she would end up with him, but a twist could have added some excitement. The only redeeming quality? The cover.