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novelgossip's reviews
1244 reviews
Message Deleted by K.L. Slater
There’s one thing I always know before I start a book from the author, I’m guaranteed a unique premise! The idea of a text message being the catalyst for a world of mess was intriguing to me and a deleted message is just the tip of the iceberg for poor Saffy. This was both well written and incredibly well plotted, there are several threads here that the author managed to tie together in such clever ways in the end, definitely not in any ways I would’ve ever thought to. As the story unfolds I found myself really invested and I appreciated how the past really played a role in the present timelines happenings. Another winner from one of my fave domestic thriller authors!
4.0
There’s one thing I always know before I start a book from the author, I’m guaranteed a unique premise! The idea of a text message being the catalyst for a world of mess was intriguing to me and a deleted message is just the tip of the iceberg for poor Saffy. This was both well written and incredibly well plotted, there are several threads here that the author managed to tie together in such clever ways in the end, definitely not in any ways I would’ve ever thought to. As the story unfolds I found myself really invested and I appreciated how the past really played a role in the present timelines happenings. Another winner from one of my fave domestic thriller authors!
Jane and Dan at the End of the World by Colleen Oakley
I really liked the setup here, it started out so strong and I immediately liked Jane and appreciated her sense of humor. It doesn’t take a lot of time for the action to start and I was fully invested in what would happen next at the restaurant. I was ok with the kookiness and the sometimes silly plot at first but as the book progressed, it went a little too far at times for me. I really wanted to love this as much as I’ve loved some of the authors other books but it was middle of the road for me. The ending fell flat and after such a quirky buildup I think I wanted a more explosive ending. Not my fave from the author but also not a bad read, just a little too out there for me.
3.5
I really liked the setup here, it started out so strong and I immediately liked Jane and appreciated her sense of humor. It doesn’t take a lot of time for the action to start and I was fully invested in what would happen next at the restaurant. I was ok with the kookiness and the sometimes silly plot at first but as the book progressed, it went a little too far at times for me. I really wanted to love this as much as I’ve loved some of the authors other books but it was middle of the road for me. The ending fell flat and after such a quirky buildup I think I wanted a more explosive ending. Not my fave from the author but also not a bad read, just a little too out there for me.
First Wife's Shadow by Adele Parks
4.0
This is another slow burn domestic suspense by an author that I know will deliver, you just have to be patient to get to the good stuff. She tends to lay the groundwork in a methodical manner which can take some time in the beginning. Once you get to the action things do pick up in a major way and that’s when I became fully invested. The premise here was good, you have Emma ignoring several red flags about her new boyfriend, Matthew and you think it will go in one direction, but I was pleasantly surprised it veered off course slightly. In the second half there are tons of reveals and turns and I was never quite sure what would happen next. If you like slow burn thrillers, unlikable characters, surprising twists and dramatic endings try this!
We Are Made of Stars by Rochelle B. Weinstein
4.0
I love a story with a large cast of characters and I also love foodie fiction and this had both, a total win for me! Despite so many characters each one had a distinct voice and was very well developed, some I loved some not so much but they all felt authentic and well drawn. The inn itself sounded so quaint and charming and the food descriptions made me wanna head there asap, everything sounded incredible. This is quite the mix of genres, there’s something for everyone and my favorite part was the mystery element as you realized just about everyone is protecting a secret. There were so many shocking surprises, I love a juicy secret, so this was a blast! Try this if you like family drama, sordid secrets and excellent writing ⭐️⭐️⭐️⭐️
Wild Side by Elsie Silver
4.0
I knew this would be sad going into it but I had no idea how emotional it would really be, things were tense and heavy from the start and it takes awhile to see some lightness but you get there eventually. It also took me a long time to warm up to Rhys but that’s because I was instantly connected to Tabitha and was overly protective of her. Again, he won me over in the end but he did make me mad 😂 I swear only this author could get me to like a pro wrestler, that’s so not usually my thing but she made it work here. If you like marriage of convenience, grief stories, a slow burn, classic Elsie banter and found family this was a great addition to a strong series.
The Drummer's Heart: Special Edition by Penelope Ward
4.0
I was so curious about what went wrong in Atticus and Nicole’s relationship after the first book and was curious how their second chance would play out because it seemed like there was a lot of pain there. I was right, they have been through some heavy stuff together and were so broken I wasn’t sure how they would ever mend fences. But this was a second chance done so incredibly well, I was rooting for them so hard and their HEA was hard fought. Angelina as Nicole was the perfect choice, there is something about her voice that has this raw vulnerability that just gets my heart. Sebastian is always fantastic as well and this was no exception. This series is great, such emotional and sexy listens!
The Rocker's Muse by Penelope Ward
4.0
This was such an emotional and angsty listen, it definitely got me in the feelings several times. I loved that Emily and Tristan’s relationship was a slow burn, they started off as friends and took their time before they went further and it totally made sense for their situation. Both narrators were amazing and really captured the chemistry between these two, but they also nailed the emotional component and that couldn’t have been easy as there was sooo much emotion and a few surprises. Next time you want a rockstar romance with a ton of depth try this!
Wild Dark Shore by Charlotte McConaghy
5.0
This was such a haunting read and not like anything else I’ve read before. Between the atmospheric setting, the unforgettable characters and a compelling mystery this was absolutely fantastic. It starts out on the slower side but picks up in the end with some crazy intense twists and turns. The multicast narrators were all amazing and brought this emotional story to life.
I Would Die for You: A Novel by Sandie Jones
I’ve read all of the authors books and this was by far my least favorite. I should’ve DNF it but I kept thinking it would get better and if anything it got worse. It actually seemed like a completely different author, even the style was a huge departure and the lack of character development as well as the lack of tension and excitement left me beyond underwhelmed. There was nothing thrilling or surprising here and the ending was a letdown too so overall a huge miss for me.
2.0
I’ve read all of the authors books and this was by far my least favorite. I should’ve DNF it but I kept thinking it would get better and if anything it got worse. It actually seemed like a completely different author, even the style was a huge departure and the lack of character development as well as the lack of tension and excitement left me beyond underwhelmed. There was nothing thrilling or surprising here and the ending was a letdown too so overall a huge miss for me.
Claire, Darling by Callie Kazumi
4.0
The premise of this one intrigued me, I was just as desperate as Claire was to find out what Noah’s deal was. It was pretty obvious early on where this was headed but somehow it still worked for me. I think it worked for me because the pacing was pretty fast and the narrator was super engaging, so a winning combo for a quick listen.