Scan barcode
mstall_'s reviews
247 reviews
The Family Remains by Lisa Jewell
adventurous
dark
mysterious
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
4.0
Graveyard Shift by M.L. Rio
mysterious
fast-paced
- Plot- or character-driven? Plot
- Strong character development? No
- Loveable characters? Yes
- Diverse cast of characters? Yes
- Flaws of characters a main focus? No
3.75
A Discovery of Witches by Deborah Harkness
adventurous
mysterious
slow-paced
- Plot- or character-driven? A mix
- Strong character development? No
- Loveable characters? It's complicated
- Diverse cast of characters? No
- Flaws of characters a main focus? Yes
3.75
The Family Upstairs by Lisa Jewell
mysterious
tense
medium-paced
- Plot- or character-driven? Plot
- 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
I have seriously been missing out on Lisa Jewell! The Family Upstairs is the second book of hers I've read in the last two weeks and it was just as gripping and consuming as None Of This Is True!
The Family Upstairs is a dual-ish POV story that follows Libby, a young woman who was orphaned as a child, and a mysterious narrator who you're not sure if you can trust. The story also follows a woman named Lucy who is related to the mysterious narrator in some capacity. Libby, orphaned young, finds out she was left a multi-million dollar home in London on her 25th birthday. As she begins to explore the dilapidated home, she begins to uncover the truth about her family 25 years earlier. Lucy, on the other hand, is homeless with two young children and struggling to scrape enough money together each day for food and shelter. When she learns that Libby has turned 25, she will do anything to get back to London to meet her.
I thoroughly enjoyed this story and I thought the twists and turns were perfect. Jewell does a great job at keeping tension high, even when uncovering significant plot points or big reveals. At no point did I think "ah, ok I know where this is headed" and get bored. This book kept me entertained on a 6 hour flight which is hard for any type of media to do! The best part of The Family Upstairs is that is ends on a huge cliffhanger and there is a second book that I am starting immediately.
The Family Upstairs is a dual-ish POV story that follows Libby, a young woman who was orphaned as a child, and a mysterious narrator who you're not sure if you can trust. The story also follows a woman named Lucy who is related to the mysterious narrator in some capacity. Libby, orphaned young, finds out she was left a multi-million dollar home in London on her 25th birthday. As she begins to explore the dilapidated home, she begins to uncover the truth about her family 25 years earlier. Lucy, on the other hand, is homeless with two young children and struggling to scrape enough money together each day for food and shelter. When she learns that Libby has turned 25, she will do anything to get back to London to meet her.
I thoroughly enjoyed this story and I thought the twists and turns were perfect. Jewell does a great job at keeping tension high, even when uncovering significant plot points or big reveals. At no point did I think "ah, ok I know where this is headed" and get bored. This book kept me entertained on a 6 hour flight which is hard for any type of media to do! The best part of The Family Upstairs is that is ends on a huge cliffhanger and there is a second book that I am starting immediately.
None of This is True by Lisa Jewell
dark
mysterious
fast-paced
- Plot- or character-driven? Plot
- Strong character development? It's complicated
- Loveable characters? No
- Diverse cast of characters? No
- Flaws of characters a main focus? It's complicated
3.75
Alix Summed has it all: a doting (and rich!) husband, two great kids, a beautiful house and a successful podcast. When she goes out to celebrate her 45th birthday, she has no idea that her life will be changed forever.
Josie Fair hates her life. She has an abusive husband who married her when he was 45 and she was 16. Her mother? A narcissist. Her children? One is a recluse and one is a delinquent. When she stumbles into successful podcaster Alix Summer on the night of Josie’s 45th birthday, Josie has an idea that could change her life forever. As she brings Alix deeper and deeper into her web, Josie feels like true control over her life is just around the corner.
This book was thrilling, gripping and so fun. If you like thrillers with an unreliable narrator, you’ll love None of This is True. Lisa Jewell does a great job building a shared reality and truth and then ripping it away from not only the characters but the readers as well. I personally prefer thrillers written in the third person and she does an excellent job of writing third person in a way that is truly gripping.
This was my first Lisa Jewell book and I will be reading many more!
Josie Fair hates her life. She has an abusive husband who married her when he was 45 and she was 16. Her mother? A narcissist. Her children? One is a recluse and one is a delinquent. When she stumbles into successful podcaster Alix Summer on the night of Josie’s 45th birthday, Josie has an idea that could change her life forever. As she brings Alix deeper and deeper into her web, Josie feels like true control over her life is just around the corner.
This book was thrilling, gripping and so fun. If you like thrillers with an unreliable narrator, you’ll love None of This is True. Lisa Jewell does a great job building a shared reality and truth and then ripping it away from not only the characters but the readers as well. I personally prefer thrillers written in the third person and she does an excellent job of writing third person in a way that is truly gripping.
This was my first Lisa Jewell book and I will be reading many more!
The Village Library Demon-Hunting Society by C.M. Waggoner
adventurous
lighthearted
medium-paced
- Plot- or character-driven? Plot
- Strong character development? It's complicated
- Loveable characters? Yes
- Diverse cast of characters? No
- Flaws of characters a main focus? No
4.0
One word to describe this book: CUTE.
Sherry Pinkwhistle is a middle aged librarian in small town Willow Sap, NY. She loves her community, her job and helping the local sheriff solve murders. But something strange begins to happen when Sherry starts to sense something is off, but as soon as she almost identifies the feeling it’s gone. When her beloved cat turns out to be possessed with the spirit of a dead Englishman, Sherry knows without doubt that something is afoot in Willow Sap and it’s up to her to figure out what that might be.
I loved this book — this book is cozy supernatural at its finest. The characters are well developed and the concept felt refreshingly new and unique. I am really sad this is a stand alone story — I wish Sherry and the gang were going to be a series!
If you like paranormal stories but do not like the scary stuff- this is the book for you. Perfect for a snow day with a hot cup of tea or coffee.
Sherry Pinkwhistle is a middle aged librarian in small town Willow Sap, NY. She loves her community, her job and helping the local sheriff solve murders. But something strange begins to happen when Sherry starts to sense something is off, but as soon as she almost identifies the feeling it’s gone. When her beloved cat turns out to be possessed with the spirit of a dead Englishman, Sherry knows without doubt that something is afoot in Willow Sap and it’s up to her to figure out what that might be.
I loved this book — this book is cozy supernatural at its finest. The characters are well developed and the concept felt refreshingly new and unique. I am really sad this is a stand alone story — I wish Sherry and the gang were going to be a series!
If you like paranormal stories but do not like the scary stuff- this is the book for you. Perfect for a snow day with a hot cup of tea or coffee.
Slaying You by Michelle Gagnon
adventurous
funny
medium-paced
- Plot- or character-driven? Plot
- Strong character development? Yes
- Loveable characters? Yes
- Diverse cast of characters? Yes
- Flaws of characters a main focus? Yes
3.75
Slaying You by Michelle Gagnon is the second book in her Amber Jamison novel series. Slaying You picks up about a year after the first book Killing Me ends. Amber is now in a relationship, she's finished college and is starting grad school soon. Back in Vegas Dot is getting married and Amber is invited to the wedding. Amber is hopeful that her return to Vegas will be champagne, dancing, and spending time with her friends -- no murders please! Unfortunately, women start disappearing shortly after they arrive and Amber, Dot, Grace and the rest of the gang are back on the case to figure out who is hurting women in Las Vegas, once again.
Killing Me and Slaying You are fun, fast paced thriller novels with not too much gore and a lot of lightheartedness despite the story material. Gagnon does a fantastic job writing diverse characters and there is a ton of LGBTQIA+ representation in these books which I think adds so much to the story. It's refreshing to have queer main characters in the thriller genre! The writing is witty and the character's had very distinct dialogues/language which I feel can be hard to do. Gagnon's character's feel like old friends, and I hope there are more books to come in this series.
Thank you to NetGalley and Putnam Books for the advanced read copy in exchange for my honest review.
Killing Me and Slaying You are fun, fast paced thriller novels with not too much gore and a lot of lightheartedness despite the story material. Gagnon does a fantastic job writing diverse characters and there is a ton of LGBTQIA+ representation in these books which I think adds so much to the story. It's refreshing to have queer main characters in the thriller genre! The writing is witty and the character's had very distinct dialogues/language which I feel can be hard to do. Gagnon's character's feel like old friends, and I hope there are more books to come in this series.
Thank you to NetGalley and Putnam Books for the advanced read copy in exchange for my honest review.
Killer Potential by Hannah Deitch
Did not finish book. Stopped at 5%.
Did not finish book. Stopped at 5%.
Really fucking annoying that the second main character DOESN'T SPEAK???? gtfo.