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muffinamy's reviews
70 reviews
Powerless by Lauren Roberts
adventurous
emotional
funny
tense
medium-paced
- Plot- or character-driven? A mix
- Strong character development? Yes
- Loveable characters? Yes
- Diverse cast of characters? No
- Flaws of characters a main focus? Yes
2.5
This book was a solid 1 star until the very end. Lauren Robert’s somehow managed to catch my attention and make me care about Kai and Paedyn and what could possibly happen following the ending, even though for the first 95% of the book I couldn’t bare either of them and wished for the downfall of both of them.
MY MAIN ISSUE is how much this book wanted to be the hunger games. The interviews, the underdog girl who’s strong willed and subverts all of our expectations, the trials to the death? When Paedyn pulled out a bow and arrow my eyes almost rolled to the back of my brain. Have some originality, I beg you.
I do also have issue with Kai being constantly referred to as the future enforcer. Like what do u mean? Isn’t he already the enforcer? He’s already murdering people and is set to win the stupid trials to prove himself worthy to the people but I don’t understand why he has to prove himself in some silly little games when he’s already out killing ordinary’s. Isn’t that proof enough ?? Idk.
ALSO HOOOOOW did Paedyn mistake Kai for the king who murdered her dad. She spends the ENTIRE BOOK saying how alike the King looks to Kit, Kai’s brother, and it is never mentioned that Kai looks like the king. How does that happen? STUPID.
I also hate dual narration in romance novels. Snore.
Only thing I can say is when Paedyn’s bff (I genuinely cannot remember her name she was so irrelevant) died I was absolutely certain we’d have a resurrection, so I had 0 feelings towards the entire shindig, since no one ever kills anyone off anymore. Was shocked she actually died. If *insert name* had been involved in the plot for more than 3 seconds I may have felt sad about it. Regardless, nice one Lauren Robert’s, you subverted my expectations.
MY MAIN ISSUE is how much this book wanted to be the hunger games. The interviews, the underdog girl who’s strong willed and subverts all of our expectations, the trials to the death? When Paedyn pulled out a bow and arrow my eyes almost rolled to the back of my brain. Have some originality, I beg you.
I do also have issue with Kai being constantly referred to as the future enforcer. Like what do u mean? Isn’t he already the enforcer? He’s already murdering people and is set to win the stupid trials to prove himself worthy to the people but I don’t understand why he has to prove himself in some silly little games when he’s already out killing ordinary’s. Isn’t that proof enough ?? Idk.
ALSO HOOOOOW did Paedyn
I also hate dual narration in romance novels. Snore.
Only thing I can say is when
Project Hail Mary by Andy Weir
adventurous
dark
emotional
funny
hopeful
informative
inspiring
sad
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
What a truly heartfelt, phenomenal book. Ryland Grace is a witty, easy to like, humorous narrator. Rocky, quite possibly one of my favourite characters of any book I’ve ever read. What an endearing, beautiful story of friendship between 2 so different, with such a heart wrenchingly perfect ending. My only complaint is that they stopped doing the jazz hands way too early, I found their silly little way of communicating at the start so precious I was near tears every time the ‘jazz hands’ was mentioned. So cute.
If I could recommend anything, please listen to the audiobook version of this book. It’s such an experience.
Amaze !
If I could recommend anything, please listen to the audiobook version of this book. It’s such an experience.
Amaze !
The Promise You Made by A.J. McDine
mysterious
medium-paced
- Plot- or character-driven? Plot
- Strong character development? No
- Loveable characters? No
- Diverse cast of characters? No
- Flaws of characters a main focus? Yes
2.25
The book was alright for the most part, though I knew Eloise was the big bad from the introduction. Pretty predictable plot in that regard.
I wish the Theo storyline was more embarked upon. It felt like the author kept forgetting she included that part and had to keep jamming a little bit of plot in there to remind us he’s still in there and still being held hostage, while Rose spent the entire rest of her time without a second thought about the man she has tied up in a bunker. That wound me up a bit. What do you mean you keep forgetting about him? How could he not be at the forefront of ur thoughts 24/7???? U literally kidnapped a man. Also Theo implied that Eloise was crazy and abusive and I wish we could’ve delved into that more. We went through an entire description of Theo being worse than scum bc of what he was doing to Eloise, but when we find out she was lying and actually it was the other way around it was totally glossed over.
Finally, the ending was stupid. I thought Rose was really quite annoying throughout the book with her creepy obsession over her best friend that we were meant to think is cute and nice bc she’s a closeted gay. Her standing and letting Dan die would’ve been way more satisfying if she had an actual reason for wanting him dead (ie he was hitting Juliet ? Or Eloise ?? Him trying to r*pe her seemed like a last minute add in to justify why Rose thought murdering this man was an acceptable thing to do. But idk having an actual reason like Dan hitting Juliet and her letting him die to protect her best friend could’ve explained why she got so super involved about Eloise and Theo, agreeing to literally bury a corpse for a little girl she’s never had any interest in knowing or loving, and why she’s so invested in her helpline charity after so long etc.) rather than ‘oh ur dating my bestie and i fancy her so now ur gona die’. Super immature and unlikeable character moment, which is annoying since we’re meant to root for her.
The worst part about the book was the stupid implication of her murdering her work buddy at the end just bc she doesn’t rly get on with her. Like girl is PSYCHO. I genuinely think if that one ridiculous paragraph was left off the end I would’ve given this book 3 stars. She’s just SO stupid ??? bc Eloise reported that she was involved in her father’s death, standing by while he had an asthma attack. Yeh it was ruled out but it can still be used as evidence ?!? Ur really telling me she hasn’t considered that being involved in yet another standing by and letting someone die from an asthma attack incident isn’t going to raise some red flags ????? Especially since she’s allergic to bird dust of all things, they’re gona catch on honey. And then ur gona go down for both murders and Eloise wins. Good job for doing such a bad job! Moronic. Especially considering I had absolutely no reason at all to dislike Nora and be happy that there’s a potential Rose could bin her off. Girl was just doing her job, u got the promotion, she got grief for being the last person that lassie spoke to before she killed herself, and I think she was mentioned all of 5 times, implied to be the bad guy, then we find out she did nothing wrong ?? Why am I meant to be ok with her being potentially killed ?? Idk I know it was just added for the sake of a final shock value but I don’t get it . I’m for sure on her side, she ain’t do nothing to deserve to die ??? Bad book
I wish the Theo storyline was more embarked upon. It felt like the author kept forgetting she included that part and had to keep jamming a little bit of plot in there to remind us he’s still in there and still being held hostage, while Rose spent the entire rest of her time without a second thought about the man she has tied up in a bunker. That wound me up a bit. What do you mean you keep forgetting about him? How could he not be at the forefront of ur thoughts 24/7???? U literally kidnapped a man. Also Theo implied that Eloise was crazy and abusive and I wish we could’ve delved into that more. We went through an entire description of Theo being worse than scum bc of what he was doing to Eloise, but when we find out she was lying and actually it was the other way around it was totally glossed over.
Finally, the ending was stupid. I thought Rose was really quite annoying throughout the book with her creepy obsession over her best friend that we were meant to think is cute and nice bc she’s a closeted gay. Her
The worst part about the book was the stupid implication of her murdering her work buddy at the end just bc she doesn’t rly get on with her. Like girl is PSYCHO. I genuinely think if that one ridiculous paragraph was left off the end I would’ve given this book 3 stars. She’s just SO stupid ??? bc Eloise reported that she was involved in her father’s death, standing by while he had an asthma attack. Yeh it was ruled out but it can still be used as evidence ?!? Ur really telling me she hasn’t considered that being involved in yet another standing by and letting someone die from an asthma attack incident isn’t going to raise some red flags ????? Especially since she’s allergic to bird dust of all things, they’re gona catch on honey. And then ur gona go down for both murders and Eloise wins. Good job for doing such a bad job! Moronic. Especially considering I had absolutely no reason at all to dislike Nora and be happy that there’s a potential Rose could bin her off. Girl was just doing her job, u got the promotion, she got grief for being the last person that lassie spoke to before she killed herself, and I think she was mentioned all of 5 times, implied to be the bad guy, then we find out she did nothing wrong ?? Why am I meant to be ok with her being potentially killed ?? Idk I know it was just added for the sake of a final shock value but I don’t get it . I’m for sure on her side, she ain’t do nothing to deserve to die ??? Bad book
Do Not Disturb by Freida McFadden
dark
mysterious
tense
medium-paced
- Plot- or character-driven? Plot
- Strong character development? No
- Loveable characters? No
- Diverse cast of characters? No
- Flaws of characters a main focus? Yes
1.5
I think this book sealed the deal on me desperately not liking Frieda’s writing style. I’ve read one of her other books and didn’t enjoy it, but this came up for free on audible so I thought I’d give her another chance, and I wish I hadn’t.
I love unreliable narrators as much as the next person, but I’m sorry, I hate it when authors totally switch up the way someone’s acting and pretend that makes them an unreliable narrator. We had absolutely 0 incline that Claudia was the big bad, she said she ‘fought’ for custody of her sister when her parents died, she pitied her when she blamed herself, she literally quoted that she was worried about her. To suddenly have her be all ‘I hated my sister and I was forced to drop out of school to look after her’ after it was pretty cut and dry that’s NOT the case, idk, I feel like it’s taking unreliable narrator to a new ridiculous level. Especially since Quinn seemed to love her and never possibly suspected anything else? I don’t buy it. This isn’t unreliable narration, this is simply lying for the sake of negating the reader from guessing what’s going on.
Another issue I had was the in all and end all of the book was that Claudia had a mental illness and stopped taking her meds, which essentially made her insane. I don’t like that. Frieda spent the whole book making quite irresponsible remarks on mental illness, but that took it too far in my opinion.
Finally, Frieda’s writing style gives year 9 English exam. How many times do I need to be told that Quinn was ‘just a sitting duck’ ?? I counted atleast 4, was that necessary??? And having Rosie reiterate the entire plot of the story to the reader at the end as if I hadn’t just read the stupid book? It’s giving elementary/VERY young adult, but handling the topics it does it clearly can’t be for such a young target audience. I found myself rolling my eyes over and over at the constant repetition.
I certainly won’t bother with Frieda’s books again.
I love unreliable narrators as much as the next person, but I’m sorry, I hate it when authors totally switch up the way someone’s acting and pretend that makes them an unreliable narrator. We had absolutely 0 incline that Claudia was the big bad, she said she ‘fought’ for custody of her sister when her parents died, she pitied her when she blamed herself, she literally quoted that she was worried about her. To suddenly have her be all ‘I hated my sister and I was forced to drop out of school to look after her’ after it was pretty cut and dry that’s NOT the case, idk, I feel like it’s taking unreliable narrator to a new ridiculous level. Especially since Quinn seemed to love her and never possibly suspected anything else? I don’t buy it. This isn’t unreliable narration, this is simply lying for the sake of negating the reader from guessing what’s going on.
Another issue I had was the in all and end all of the book was that Claudia had a mental illness and stopped taking her meds, which essentially made her insane. I don’t like that. Frieda spent the whole book making quite irresponsible remarks on mental illness, but that took it too far in my opinion.
Finally, Frieda’s writing style gives year 9 English exam. How many times do I need to be told that Quinn was ‘just a sitting duck’ ?? I counted atleast 4, was that necessary??? And having Rosie reiterate the entire plot of the story to the reader at the end as if I hadn’t just read the stupid book? It’s giving elementary/VERY young adult, but handling the topics it does it clearly can’t be for such a young target audience. I found myself rolling my eyes over and over at the constant repetition.
I certainly won’t bother with Frieda’s books again.
The Broken Ones by Sarah A. Denzil
medium-paced
- Plot- or character-driven? A mix
- Strong character development? No
- Loveable characters? No
- Diverse cast of characters? No
- Flaws of characters a main focus? Yes
1.0
This was not for me.
The concept had me intrigued enough. I love an unreliable narrator, and I had Sophie down for that from the second Chloe, the little school girl, was introduced. I thought for SURE that was relevant and that ‘Becca’ was Sophie’s alter - ego (much like ‘Jessie’ was Chloe’s alter - ego) and we were inside of the messed up brain of Sophie who doesn’t realise she’s morphed into the embodiment of her imaginary ‘shadow’ friend from her childhood. Honestly, pretty disappointed that wasn’t the case, because the ending in comparison was rubbish.
The entire realisation of what was happening to Sophie; who Becca was; who ‘shadow’ was; who was stalking them, entirely relied on Maureen, the mother, just totally forgetting she had Alzheimer’s, and being so truly lucid that she could recall every moment of the planning and execution of the illegal selling of her daughter. Now, I was never on board with her lying about her Alzheimer’s, since no person would intentionally soil themselves , require someone to bathe them and have around the clock care all for an act. So how in gods green did she suddenly have the capacity to tell her daughter the entire plan and execution of getting rid of her sister when earlier in the book she was wandering round the garden jangling keys in her face to keep herself entertained?? Did the author just momentarily forget she had really clung onto this character being almost entirely unable to care for themselves bc of the rapidity of the onset of her Alzheimer’s???? Idk I don’t get it.
I’m also really confused about the end?? I presumed since she wasn’t entirely certain on recognising the blonde lady and being complimented on her ‘perfect’ accent that the implication is this is Becca, and she’s going to New York to live with Sophie. But why wasn’t this just made explicit ?? Why is it written as if it’s from Sophie’s point of view, and it’s Sophie pretending to be Becca ignoring her friends and evading the police ?? I just feel like the author tried to make it mysterious but it just made me even more upset about this stupid book and the time I’d wasted reading it. Adding red herrings of an unreliable narrator in the epilogue is stupid. Stop trying to confuse me in the final chapter, I wanted some kind of resolution but yet I’m sat questioning whether my understanding of the ending is right or if it’s trying to imply Sophie killed Becca as well as her mother ???? I don’t know. Bad book.
The concept had me intrigued enough. I love an unreliable narrator, and I had Sophie down for that from the second Chloe, the little school girl, was introduced. I thought for SURE that was relevant and that ‘Becca’ was Sophie’s alter - ego (much like ‘Jessie’ was Chloe’s alter - ego) and we were inside of the messed up brain of Sophie who doesn’t realise she’s morphed into the embodiment of her imaginary ‘shadow’ friend from her childhood. Honestly, pretty disappointed that wasn’t the case, because the ending in comparison was rubbish.
The entire realisation of what was happening to Sophie; who Becca was; who ‘shadow’ was; who was stalking them, entirely relied on Maureen, the mother, just totally forgetting she had Alzheimer’s, and being so truly lucid that she could recall every moment of the planning and execution of the illegal selling of her daughter. Now, I was never on board with her lying about her Alzheimer’s, since no person would intentionally soil themselves , require someone to bathe them and have around the clock care all for an act. So how in gods green did she suddenly have the capacity to tell her daughter the entire plan and execution of getting rid of her sister when earlier in the book she was wandering round the garden jangling keys in her face to keep herself entertained?? Did the author just momentarily forget she had really clung onto this character being almost entirely unable to care for themselves bc of the rapidity of the onset of her Alzheimer’s???? Idk I don’t get it.
I’m also really confused about the end?? I presumed since she wasn’t entirely certain on recognising the blonde lady and being complimented on her ‘perfect’ accent that the implication is this is Becca, and she’s going to New York to live with Sophie. But why wasn’t this just made explicit ?? Why is it written as if it’s from Sophie’s point of view, and it’s Sophie pretending to be Becca ignoring her friends and evading the police ?? I just feel like the author tried to make it mysterious but it just made me even more upset about this stupid book and the time I’d wasted reading it. Adding red herrings of an unreliable narrator in the epilogue is stupid. Stop trying to confuse me in the final chapter, I wanted some kind of resolution but yet I’m sat questioning whether my understanding of the ending is right or if it’s trying to imply Sophie killed Becca as well as her mother ???? I don’t know. Bad book.
In the Blood by Ruth Mancini
dark
sad
tense
medium-paced
- Plot- or character-driven? Plot
- Strong character development? No
- Loveable characters? No
- Diverse cast of characters? No
- Flaws of characters a main focus? Yes
3.0
This book was pretty good… right up until it wasn’t. The end totally lost me unfortunately. It was pretty predictable, Alex was made out to be a sketchy piece of ass from the very first introduction, I did not trust him at ALL.
But what got me was how the mother acted in court? What the heck was that. And she wasn’t careful, a lot of the evidence relied on that police officer mishearing the age prediction that nurse gave, which the mum had nothing to do with?? Idk I’m confused. I also thought Alex’s exit was a bit odd, but all in all his entire character was a bit ridiculous so I wasn’t all too bothered.
A fine book.
But what got me was how the mother acted in court? What the heck was that. And she wasn’t careful, a lot of the evidence relied on that police officer mishearing the age prediction that nurse gave, which the mum had nothing to do with?? Idk I’m confused. I also thought Alex’s exit was a bit odd, but all in all his entire character was a bit ridiculous so I wasn’t all too bothered.
A fine book.
Harry Potter and the Sorcerer's Stone by J.K. Rowling
funny
inspiring
lighthearted
mysterious
medium-paced
- Plot- or character-driven? Plot
- Strong character development? Yes
- Loveable characters? Yes
- Diverse cast of characters? No
- Flaws of characters a main focus? No
4.0
The Housemaid by Freida McFadden
tense
medium-paced
- Plot- or character-driven? A mix
- Strong character development? No
- Loveable characters? No
- Diverse cast of characters? No
- Flaws of characters a main focus? Yes
2.0
This book missed every single mark for me. I love thrillers and it’s lucky this book has an intriguing enough storyline to encourage me to finish it. The writing is POOR. Everything is repeated far too many times. After the 4th time being reminded that Millie had been ‘in prison for 10 years’, that Andrew is her ‘boss’s boss’s boss’, that her room is very small, I had had my fair share of enough.
The plot was fine, the reveal was fine, the characters were fine.
What was not fine? The STUPID EPILOGUE.
Millie is at an interview to be a housemaid after the fallout of her previous job, to be informed by the interviewer that Nina highly recommended her, and revealing she is begging beaten by her husband. The implication is that Millie helped Nina out of her abusive situation, so will help this new lady out of hers. WHAT? So Nina just signed Millie up to be some hitman nanny without even consulting her?? Oh yeah I had this housemaid who murdered my husband for me, here are her deets im sure she’ll do it for u too!! ??? Not only is it so outlandish and ridiculous, but it would literally not work. The only reason Millie got away with murdering Andrew was the coincidence of his previous DV victim ex fiancées father being the policeman who investigated, as he helped Nina to cover it up as an accidental death. How in the world is that going to happen again? And she wasn’t exactly given the opportunity to say no was she???
Idk I know there’s another book and I probably have to read it for the stupid epilogue to come into effect and make sense but I’m so mad at it that I genuinely refuse to. I don’t care what rubbish they get up to, Nina was wrong to do that and whatever they do shouldn’t work. Fight with the wall if u disagree bc I don’t care.
I was satisfied with a mediocre 3.5 star book until the epilogue, which plummeted my opinion and score down to a 2. Don’t bother, first and last book I’ll be reading by this author.
The plot was fine, the reveal was fine, the characters were fine.
What was not fine? The STUPID EPILOGUE.
Idk I know there’s another book and I probably have to read it for the stupid epilogue to come into effect and make sense but I’m so mad at it that I genuinely refuse to. I don’t care what rubbish they get up to, Nina was wrong to do that and whatever they do shouldn’t work. Fight with the wall if u disagree bc I don’t care.
I was satisfied with a mediocre 3.5 star book until the epilogue, which plummeted my opinion and score down to a 2. Don’t bother, first and last book I’ll be reading by this author.
These Silent Woods by Kimi Cunningham Grant
emotional
hopeful
mysterious
sad
medium-paced
- Plot- or character-driven? A mix
- Strong character development? Yes
- Loveable characters? Yes
- Diverse cast of characters? No
- Flaws of characters a main focus? Yes
4.25
This book is beautiful
Catching Fire by Suzanne Collins
adventurous
challenging
dark
emotional
funny
hopeful
inspiring
sad
tense
fast-paced
- Plot- or character-driven? Plot
- Strong character development? Yes
- Loveable characters? Yes
- Diverse cast of characters? Yes
- Flaws of characters a main focus? No
4.75
One of my favourite books of all time. What a beautifully tragic story.