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notesbynnenna's Reviews (513)
3.5 stars
I love when a book surprises me and this one definitely did. The main character, Jenna Gray, is running away from a tragic accident. She moves to a remote seaside town, and starts to try to rebuild her life. She can’t run away forever though, and soon enough, her past starts to catch up with her.
This book was definitely engaging. There’s a lot of tension, as the author explores feelings of grief, guilt, and shame. The author was really skilled at capturing these emotions and making these characters feel really believable
People cope with grief differently. Jenna’s decision to leave it all behind and attempt to start fresh made sense to me. This book made me think about how the people we love can hurt us, how we learn to live with that hurt, and begin to believe we deserve it.it
As I write this review, I’m still thinking about how this book caught me off guard. It was a great thriller and put Mackintosh on my list of ones to watch.
I love when a book surprises me and this one definitely did. The main character, Jenna Gray, is running away from a tragic accident. She moves to a remote seaside town, and starts to try to rebuild her life. She can’t run away forever though, and soon enough, her past starts to catch up with her.
This book was definitely engaging. There’s a lot of tension, as the author explores feelings of grief, guilt, and shame. The author was really skilled at capturing these emotions and making these characters feel really believable
People cope with grief differently. Jenna’s decision to leave it all behind and attempt to start fresh made sense to me. This book made me think about how the people we love can hurt us, how we learn to live with that hurt, and begin to believe we deserve it.it
As I write this review, I’m still thinking about how this book caught me off guard. It was a great thriller and put Mackintosh on my list of ones to watch.
3.5 stars
What a strange book. I think I liked it? No, I did like it, clearly, because I rated it 3.5 stars. The thing I liked most about it was the writing. It’s descriptive in a way that really captures the settings and emotions, but it doesn’t go overboard and become overly descriptive.
The story follows Rachel Child, and goes back to her teenage years, and then continues with her adult life. It really is a character study of Rachel. She doesn’t know who her father is, and the book explores what it’s like to grow up without a firm sense of identity. Rachel’s relationship with her mother is fraught and the book explores the notion that you can love someone deeply and hate them as well.
This one has a bit of a wacky plot though, and it’s a complicated blend of literary fiction, thriller, mystery, and more. There are definitely some things that happen that stretch the imagination. I paused a few times while I was reading to think, “What is this book???”
Is it a book I’d read again? I’m not sure (not that I reread that many books). But, I am glad that I read it and was able to experience Lehane’s writing. I would definitely read another one of his books.
What a strange book. I think I liked it? No, I did like it, clearly, because I rated it 3.5 stars. The thing I liked most about it was the writing. It’s descriptive in a way that really captures the settings and emotions, but it doesn’t go overboard and become overly descriptive.
The story follows Rachel Child, and goes back to her teenage years, and then continues with her adult life. It really is a character study of Rachel. She doesn’t know who her father is, and the book explores what it’s like to grow up without a firm sense of identity. Rachel’s relationship with her mother is fraught and the book explores the notion that you can love someone deeply and hate them as well.
This one has a bit of a wacky plot though, and it’s a complicated blend of literary fiction, thriller, mystery, and more. There are definitely some things that happen that stretch the imagination. I paused a few times while I was reading to think, “What is this book???”
Is it a book I’d read again? I’m not sure (not that I reread that many books). But, I am glad that I read it and was able to experience Lehane’s writing. I would definitely read another one of his books.
Tbh, I’m not even sure I fully understand what happened in this book. I think my mouth actually dropped open at the last couple pages.
But let’s back up a bit, and talk about Lousie, David, and Adele. Louise is a single mom, who meets David in a bar one day. She’s thrilled to meet a nice, attractive man that she actually gets along with, and they end up kissing at the bar. Soon after though, she find out that not only is David her new boss, he’s also married to Adele. David and Adele seem like the ultimate couple, except something is slightly off.
This one was pretty twisted, which I like. At any given time, it was hard to know who was actually telling the truth. I immediately disliked David because 1. he’s cheating on this wife, and 2. he’s so controlling of her. And I wanted Louise to find love, because it seemed like she worked really hard to take care of her son, which I’m sure is not easy as a single parent. Adele was a difficult nut to crack and it’s hard to tell what to make of her until her backstory is revealed.
The timeline in this book jumps around quite a bit, which was confusing at first. And again, I still have no idea what that ending was about (I mean, I think I understood, but does the author really expect us to believe it?!?), but it was an entertaining ride nonetheless.
But let’s back up a bit, and talk about Lousie, David, and Adele. Louise is a single mom, who meets David in a bar one day. She’s thrilled to meet a nice, attractive man that she actually gets along with, and they end up kissing at the bar. Soon after though, she find out that not only is David her new boss, he’s also married to Adele. David and Adele seem like the ultimate couple, except something is slightly off.
This one was pretty twisted, which I like. At any given time, it was hard to know who was actually telling the truth. I immediately disliked David because 1. he’s cheating on this wife, and 2. he’s so controlling of her. And I wanted Louise to find love, because it seemed like she worked really hard to take care of her son, which I’m sure is not easy as a single parent. Adele was a difficult nut to crack and it’s hard to tell what to make of her until her backstory is revealed.
The timeline in this book jumps around quite a bit, which was confusing at first. And again, I still have no idea what that ending was about (I mean, I think I understood, but does the author really expect us to believe it?!?), but it was an entertaining ride nonetheless.
Julie was kidnapped when she was 13 years old. Her family searched for her everywhere and held out a small nugget of hope that she’d return one day. And she does return eight years later. As you can imagine, her family is shocked and they’re not sure how to treat this person who disappeared as a young girl and returned as a woman.
My general feeling after finishing this book was meh. The writing was ok, the characters were flat, and the story lacked urgency. I can’t imagine what it’d be like to think someone was dead and gone, and then have them pop up on your doorstep eight years later. Of course you’d wish that you could see them again, but how do you cope when that wish comes true?
There are religious undertones in here that the author tried to weave into the story, but to me, they didn’t quite fit. Some disturbing events take place in this novel, but they didn’t have much impact on me since I wasn’t invested in the story. I finished this book because I am very bad at DNFing, but I wouldn’t recommend it.
My general feeling after finishing this book was meh. The writing was ok, the characters were flat, and the story lacked urgency. I can’t imagine what it’d be like to think someone was dead and gone, and then have them pop up on your doorstep eight years later. Of course you’d wish that you could see them again, but how do you cope when that wish comes true?
There are religious undertones in here that the author tried to weave into the story, but to me, they didn’t quite fit. Some disturbing events take place in this novel, but they didn’t have much impact on me since I wasn’t invested in the story. I finished this book because I am very bad at DNFing, but I wouldn’t recommend it.
3.5 stars
This follows two women who live in the same house in London at different times. It’s not just any house though. One Folgate Street is an architectural innovation, a home that responds to its owner and comes with its own set of rules. As their lives cross paths, all sorts of lies start to come to light.
I loved having the house as such a prominent setting. It makes you consider what makes a house a home and what possessions you actually need in life. The writing kept me hooked throughout and I really wanted to know what happened to these characters.
The ending felt a bit muddled as a few things were revealed at once, but overall, I enjoyed this thriller.
This follows two women who live in the same house in London at different times. It’s not just any house though. One Folgate Street is an architectural innovation, a home that responds to its owner and comes with its own set of rules. As their lives cross paths, all sorts of lies start to come to light.
I loved having the house as such a prominent setting. It makes you consider what makes a house a home and what possessions you actually need in life. The writing kept me hooked throughout and I really wanted to know what happened to these characters.
The ending felt a bit muddled as a few things were revealed at once, but overall, I enjoyed this thriller.
A young woman visits Hercules Poirot because she thinks she may have committed a murder, but she’s not quite sure. Like me, you might be thinking at this point, how do you not know whether or not you’ve committed murder?! Poirot decides to investigate her case to determine if there was a murder, and if so, who the victim was.
This was not my favorite Agatha Christie novel. I don’t know if it was particularly strong in this book, or if I’m just more aware now, but I was very sensitive to the sexist comments made by Poirot. They really annoyed me and brought me out of the story.
Aside from that, the mystery was intriguing. I definitely did not have it figured it out before the truth was revealed. I still love Agatha Christie, but I found this book disappointing.
This was not my favorite Agatha Christie novel. I don’t know if it was particularly strong in this book, or if I’m just more aware now, but I was very sensitive to the sexist comments made by Poirot. They really annoyed me and brought me out of the story.
Aside from that, the mystery was intriguing. I definitely did not have it figured it out before the truth was revealed. I still love Agatha Christie, but I found this book disappointing.
I can see this book making an excellent movie (and I believe that I read somewhere that the film/TV rights have already been optioned). It’s told in alternating chapters from the perspective of two women. There’s Marina, the journalist in New York City, and Annabel, a former art buyer, who’s married to a private banker in Geneva. One day, Annabel’s husband dies under mysterious circumstances. Meanwhile, Marina gets involved with a story that could be the biggest one of her career.
This is marketed as a “high-stakes thriller,” but for me, the stakes didn’t feel as high as I think they were meant to. I did feel some of the tension, but I also thought it could have been dialed up a couple notches.
I found our main characters to both be a bit lacking in personality. I know that they were both beautiful and smart, but not much beyond that. I did like that they both kept digging to find the truth, even as it became more and more dangerous.
I thought the story was a bit rushed at times, when a character’s feelings seemed to change drastically from one page to the next. However, it kept me engaged and turning the pages to find out what happened next. Overall, I enjoyed this read and I’ll definitely be keeping an eye out for the adaptation.
This is marketed as a “high-stakes thriller,” but for me, the stakes didn’t feel as high as I think they were meant to. I did feel some of the tension, but I also thought it could have been dialed up a couple notches.
I found our main characters to both be a bit lacking in personality. I know that they were both beautiful and smart, but not much beyond that. I did like that they both kept digging to find the truth, even as it became more and more dangerous.
I thought the story was a bit rushed at times, when a character’s feelings seemed to change drastically from one page to the next. However, it kept me engaged and turning the pages to find out what happened next. Overall, I enjoyed this read and I’ll definitely be keeping an eye out for the adaptation.
1.5 stars
After I finished One Day in December, I was in the mood for more holiday reads. I went to Target while I was back home in CA, and there was a section of Christmas books calling my name. I thought this had a pretty inviting cover, but what really got me was the following note: “From the writer of the hit movie, A Christmas Prince.” Ding ding ding! I was sold. I was hoping this would be like a heartwarming Christmas movie, but in book form.
Haley, the main character, is a brand strategist at an ad agency and she’s rather lacking in Christmas spirit. She wants to win a big Christmas campaign for the agency, so her boss sends her to Christmas camp so that she can remember the true meaning of Christmas.
Sadly, this was wayyyyyy too cheesy for me. I thought Haley was a really flat character and that the writing was repetitive. I didn’t feel like there was any drama or tension or anything to make me feel like these were real people with real problems. What I’ve learned from this reading experience is that I much prefer watching a cheesy movie, over reading a cheesy book.
After I finished One Day in December, I was in the mood for more holiday reads. I went to Target while I was back home in CA, and there was a section of Christmas books calling my name. I thought this had a pretty inviting cover, but what really got me was the following note: “From the writer of the hit movie, A Christmas Prince.” Ding ding ding! I was sold. I was hoping this would be like a heartwarming Christmas movie, but in book form.
Haley, the main character, is a brand strategist at an ad agency and she’s rather lacking in Christmas spirit. She wants to win a big Christmas campaign for the agency, so her boss sends her to Christmas camp so that she can remember the true meaning of Christmas.
Sadly, this was wayyyyyy too cheesy for me. I thought Haley was a really flat character and that the writing was repetitive. I didn’t feel like there was any drama or tension or anything to make me feel like these were real people with real problems. What I’ve learned from this reading experience is that I much prefer watching a cheesy movie, over reading a cheesy book.
3.5 stars
I remember this being a popular read a few years ago, but I didn’t remember what it was about, so I went into this book blind, as I like to do with thrillers.
Ani has the perfect job, the perfect fiancée, and the perfect life. She’s left her troubled life behind and worked hard to achieve all that she has. However, the past never stays in the past; it’s inescapable.
This was a pretty dark read, which I liked. Ani is rough around the edges, as much as she tries to pretend she’s not. It’s pretty interesting to have a main character that’s not likable and not trying to be.
This book jumps between the past and the present, which I found a bit confusing to keep track of. There was also a large cast of characters, most of whom were on the periphery, so I had a little difficulty keeping them straight.
With Ani’s background, the author explores class differences. There’s the middle class, who are trying to keep up with the Jones’ and pretend they’re wealthy. As Ani grows up, she’s constantly seeking approval and trying to fit in with the cool, rich, popular crowd.
This book discusses the masks that people hide behind and ponders on whether it’s possible to truly reinvent yourself. The author really kept the tension up throughout because I definitely wanted to find out what exactly Ani was running away from in her past. I don’t think this book would be for everyone because of some difficult subject matter, but I thought it was a good read.
I remember this being a popular read a few years ago, but I didn’t remember what it was about, so I went into this book blind, as I like to do with thrillers.
Ani has the perfect job, the perfect fiancée, and the perfect life. She’s left her troubled life behind and worked hard to achieve all that she has. However, the past never stays in the past; it’s inescapable.
This was a pretty dark read, which I liked. Ani is rough around the edges, as much as she tries to pretend she’s not. It’s pretty interesting to have a main character that’s not likable and not trying to be.
This book jumps between the past and the present, which I found a bit confusing to keep track of. There was also a large cast of characters, most of whom were on the periphery, so I had a little difficulty keeping them straight.
With Ani’s background, the author explores class differences. There’s the middle class, who are trying to keep up with the Jones’ and pretend they’re wealthy. As Ani grows up, she’s constantly seeking approval and trying to fit in with the cool, rich, popular crowd.
This book discusses the masks that people hide behind and ponders on whether it’s possible to truly reinvent yourself. The author really kept the tension up throughout because I definitely wanted to find out what exactly Ani was running away from in her past. I don’t think this book would be for everyone because of some difficult subject matter, but I thought it was a good read.
I liked this one a lot less than Luckiest Girl Alive. This book focuses on several women that are on a reality tv show. As you can imagine, these women are pretty cutthroat and every single one of them is lying about something. From the very beginning, we know that one of the women has died, but the questions are why and how?
I couldn’t tell if this was trying to be more of a mystery or a thriller, and I don’t think it hit the mark for either one. The characters in this book are motivated by greed, ambition, fame, and the allure or appearance of success. They are all miserable and trying so hard to hold on to the limelight.
It felt like the author was trying to say something about successful women, and if it’s possible for a woman to be successful without her success coming at the expense of another woman. But her message got lost between the despicable characters and twisted plot.
I think this premise had the potential to be juicy and entertaining, but instead, it fell flat for me. I didn’t enjoy these characters and thought the plot was pretty convoluted. All in all, it was a disappointment after reading Luckiest Girl Alive.
I couldn’t tell if this was trying to be more of a mystery or a thriller, and I don’t think it hit the mark for either one. The characters in this book are motivated by greed, ambition, fame, and the allure or appearance of success. They are all miserable and trying so hard to hold on to the limelight.
It felt like the author was trying to say something about successful women, and if it’s possible for a woman to be successful without her success coming at the expense of another woman. But her message got lost between the despicable characters and twisted plot.
I think this premise had the potential to be juicy and entertaining, but instead, it fell flat for me. I didn’t enjoy these characters and thought the plot was pretty convoluted. All in all, it was a disappointment after reading Luckiest Girl Alive.