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Hide by Kiersten White
2.0
Read Completed 10/21/24 | 2 stars
MINOR SPOILERS further down
This really wasn't good. It doesn't have a good rating, but I did like Kiersten White's storytelling style in MISTER MAGIC (even if I didn't love the ending) and I was hoping to latch on to something like that here, but nope. This just didn't work for me in any way at all.
<b>Firstly, there were too many characters.</b> Right off the bat, I didn't care about any of them. Mackenzie is really the main character here, but in third person and getting WAY too many POVs, I didn't get to know her enough and she wasn't developed enough as a real personality for me to connect. As for every single other character, I couldn't have cared less. We spent so little time with them that I was immediately drifting and losing focus.
<b>I was really hoping to connect with the writing style, but it really came off as rushed and almost like it was a YA novel, but not even a good YA novel.</b> HIDE kind of had vibes like THE HUNGER GAMES meets SQUID GAME in the beginning, but I liked the human elements in those series much more. Kiersten White DOES come from a young adult background, but this just didn't feel adult in any way, really. The characters were underdeveloped and immature and I felt like it spelled too much out for the reader. The plot was practically non-existent and we spent most of the time just running around. It was more action-driven and yet there was too much time showing how the characters were just all over the place with each other than actually feeling suspense.
<b>Nothing happened.</b> Sure, action-driven books don't have a lot of plot but I wasn't even feeling the suspense here. Another issue I have with a lot of horror novels is that half the time, the author never EXPLAINS why things are happening. So there is a horror / supernatural element here, and I was expecting a 50 / 50 shot of the horror element being humans killing each other, or a monster killing people. BUT WHY was the monster there? Where did it come from? There was kind of a why that it fed on specific people but also WHY was that thing?
<b>I don't like using a diary as a way to tell the most important part of the story.</b> The most interesting parts were tucked away in short, clipped diary entries. Like wait, I actually want to know what's going on here. No one gets to actually experience this or talk about it. The characters just get to find out the most important things from a book.
Really none of this book worked for me. I could probably rate it lower, and maybe thinking on it I'll change my mind, but it feels mean to rate it lower than 2 stars... I just didn't enjoy any single part of this. If this hadn't been this short, I wouldn't have finished it, but it was a quick read.
MINOR SPOILERS further down
This really wasn't good. It doesn't have a good rating, but I did like Kiersten White's storytelling style in MISTER MAGIC (even if I didn't love the ending) and I was hoping to latch on to something like that here, but nope. This just didn't work for me in any way at all.
<b>Firstly, there were too many characters.</b> Right off the bat, I didn't care about any of them. Mackenzie is really the main character here, but in third person and getting WAY too many POVs, I didn't get to know her enough and she wasn't developed enough as a real personality for me to connect. As for every single other character, I couldn't have cared less. We spent so little time with them that I was immediately drifting and losing focus.
<b>I was really hoping to connect with the writing style, but it really came off as rushed and almost like it was a YA novel, but not even a good YA novel.</b> HIDE kind of had vibes like THE HUNGER GAMES meets SQUID GAME in the beginning, but I liked the human elements in those series much more. Kiersten White DOES come from a young adult background, but this just didn't feel adult in any way, really. The characters were underdeveloped and immature and I felt like it spelled too much out for the reader. The plot was practically non-existent and we spent most of the time just running around. It was more action-driven and yet there was too much time showing how the characters were just all over the place with each other than actually feeling suspense.
<b>Nothing happened.</b> Sure, action-driven books don't have a lot of plot but I wasn't even feeling the suspense here. Another issue I have with a lot of horror novels is that half the time, the author never EXPLAINS why things are happening. So there is a horror / supernatural element here, and I was expecting a 50 / 50 shot of the horror element being humans killing each other, or a monster killing people. BUT WHY was the monster there? Where did it come from? There was kind of a why that it fed on specific people but also WHY was that thing?
<b>I don't like using a diary as a way to tell the most important part of the story.</b> The most interesting parts were tucked away in short, clipped diary entries. Like wait, I actually want to know what's going on here. No one gets to actually experience this or talk about it. The characters just get to find out the most important things from a book.
Really none of this book worked for me. I could probably rate it lower, and maybe thinking on it I'll change my mind, but it feels mean to rate it lower than 2 stars... I just didn't enjoy any single part of this. If this hadn't been this short, I wouldn't have finished it, but it was a quick read.
What Happened to Nina? by Dervla McTiernan
4.0
Read Completed 10/12/24 | 4 stars
I avoided this book for a long time despite its good reviews because of the cover. So please, begging someone to give this an update because this isn't doing the book any justice. I could go into detail but I'll leave it at that because I actually liked the book and let's talk about that instead!
I really didn't know what to expect going in, but the audiobook had a full cast narration with several POVs from many different characters, and it worked really well for this! I'm happy they went with different narrators for each one because it really worked out well and added to the audiobook production value. I really liked connecting with each one too. We get an intro from Nina and then the rest of the book is told from the perspectives of Nina's parents, Simon's parents, the police officer on the case, and a small part with Nina's sister.
I was a little nervous when halfway through the book, we got a major reveal. I thought it was going to make the rest of the book boring, but it was far from it! There was still so much of this story left to tell and the tension was high. I thought the author did a great job of including all of that emotion, and the audiobook narrators really brought that to the performance as well.
While I think the 5 star reviews maybe overhyped it a little bit, I kept my expectations reasonable and I'm really happy I enjoyed it. I think it's a solid read.
I avoided this book for a long time despite its good reviews because of the cover. So please, begging someone to give this an update because this isn't doing the book any justice. I could go into detail but I'll leave it at that because I actually liked the book and let's talk about that instead!
I really didn't know what to expect going in, but the audiobook had a full cast narration with several POVs from many different characters, and it worked really well for this! I'm happy they went with different narrators for each one because it really worked out well and added to the audiobook production value. I really liked connecting with each one too. We get an intro from Nina and then the rest of the book is told from the perspectives of Nina's parents, Simon's parents, the police officer on the case, and a small part with Nina's sister.
I was a little nervous when halfway through the book, we got a major reveal. I thought it was going to make the rest of the book boring, but it was far from it! There was still so much of this story left to tell and the tension was high. I thought the author did a great job of including all of that emotion, and the audiobook narrators really brought that to the performance as well.
While I think the 5 star reviews maybe overhyped it a little bit, I kept my expectations reasonable and I'm really happy I enjoyed it. I think it's a solid read.
The House Hunt by C.M. Ewan
3.5
Read Completed 10/14/24 | 3.5 stars
THE HOUSE HUNT was a fun read! I didn't end up loving it and it turned a little more popcorn-y at the end, but the beginning definitely kept my interest. It was fun to have some theories while the book progressed and guess what might have been going on! I was happy that there was a twist that surprised me, even though I kind of guessed part of it. I definitely didn't see part of it coming and it's one of my favorite twists too.
The ending took a little longer than I would have liked. Once the finale action started going, everything took a little too long and I started to lose interest with all of the fast-paced things that were just back-to-back. I felt like some of it got a little too over-the-top and it lost me in the end.
I'm glad I read it and had a good time! I wish I had liked the end a bit more, though.
THE HOUSE HUNT was a fun read! I didn't end up loving it and it turned a little more popcorn-y at the end, but the beginning definitely kept my interest. It was fun to have some theories while the book progressed and guess what might have been going on! I was happy that there was a twist that surprised me, even though I kind of guessed part of it. I definitely didn't see part of it coming and it's one of my favorite twists too.
The ending took a little longer than I would have liked. Once the finale action started going, everything took a little too long and I started to lose interest with all of the fast-paced things that were just back-to-back. I felt like some of it got a little too over-the-top and it lost me in the end.
I'm glad I read it and had a good time! I wish I had liked the end a bit more, though.
No Exit by Taylor Adams
3.75
Read Completed 5/14/24 | 3.5 - 3.75 stars, rounded up
This was a really fun, high octane thriller read that read like a horror/slasher once things got going. I liked that this was fast-paced and addicting to read! I flew through this, reading as hardcover while on vacation when I haven’t read a physical book in ages.
I did have a lot of things that pulled me out of the book, though. The author had a lot of inaccuracies that either had me looking things up to see if it’s even true/possible or rolling my eyes because I knew it wasn’t. I also could have done without some of the more distasteful and offensive things in the book. It’s weird and unnecessary to include random slurs and child abuse just for the sake of making bad characters. The baddies were already creepy and gross and it really didn’t need to be a part of the book.
This was definitely a popcorn thriller, leading readers on a wild, intense, and brutal journey. I actually had a lot of fun reading it and while it’s not mind-blowing, I love those books where I can just race through them, just enjoying the experience!
This was a really fun, high octane thriller read that read like a horror/slasher once things got going. I liked that this was fast-paced and addicting to read! I flew through this, reading as hardcover while on vacation when I haven’t read a physical book in ages.
I did have a lot of things that pulled me out of the book, though. The author had a lot of inaccuracies that either had me looking things up to see if it’s even true/possible or rolling my eyes because I knew it wasn’t. I also could have done without some of the more distasteful and offensive things in the book. It’s weird and unnecessary to include random slurs and child abuse just for the sake of making bad characters. The baddies were already creepy and gross and it really didn’t need to be a part of the book.
This was definitely a popcorn thriller, leading readers on a wild, intense, and brutal journey. I actually had a lot of fun reading it and while it’s not mind-blowing, I love those books where I can just race through them, just enjoying the experience!
So Thirsty by Rachel Harrison
dark
lighthearted
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
3.25
Read Completed 10/10/24 | 3.25 stars
Mainly, I just think I'm not the audience for Rachel Harrison's books, or very specifically, not for this one. SO THIRSTY read much more contemporary than horror, though it did have some horror moments for sure, full of vampire violence and thrilling moments. But the heart of the story, really, is about Sloane finally breaking through the monotony of her life, settling for things instead of going after what she really wants and really living. She's been staying with a husband who cheats on her, unhappy with her life, feeling old at 36 and completely unfulfilled but not interested in changing the status quo. Naomi is her wild and care-free friend who joins her for her 36th birthday party at a weekend away that her husband arranged and they meet a group of vampires (which obviously they don't know at the time), and things progress from there.
I feel like Sloane is very representative of women everywhere who shouldn't have to settle, and need to go off and seize what they want from life, SO THIRSTY, obviously a play on Sloane's new found thirst to be fulfilled by life in every way as well as her new found physical thirst as a vampire. My issue was that I didn't connect with Sloane. I did like her growth throughout the book, but I just wanted a little bit more, from everything really.
The vampire part of the book was really fun, but the plot and the character development just wasn't enough. The vampire crew were mostly just caricatures and didn't really have deeper personalities, especially for undead beings that are over 500 years old. Or if they did, we didn't really see them. The plot really took a long time to take off. This isn't a long book, and we didn't get to the really vampire-y things until like 40%. I was less interested in Sloane trudging along on a personal journey and more interested in the actual plot. I wanted to see them happen side-by-side.
The friendship also really bothered me. I feel like, especially by the end, we were supposed to be happy about this friendship, but I thought it was pretty unhealthy. Sloane chooses Naomi over her husband and gives up her old life to save Naomi and to basically commit to her forever, but they're really not the best to each other. I'm sure that's all friendships at times, but I just didn't even feel like they really treated each other well. They were constantly fighting and going behind each other's backs. Naomi encouraged Sloane to come out of her shell, hook up, lose control a bit, but then when Sloane starts cavorting with one of the vampires, Naomi gives her shit for pairing off with him. WELL??? You told her to! They were all still in a group together, so it's not like she left her there. (They also fight about this too, that Sloane gave up her entire life for Naomi.) Naomi can't get her thirst under control and Sloane cleans up several of her messes, and she still doesn't appreciate it. It just didn't seem like a balanced, healthy, supportive friendship and I feel like I was supposed to be happy them, but I wasn't.
I did like some of the read and it was just super easy to breeze through. I'm disappointed in the lack of plot -- at least SOME more development with plot and side characters would have been great. It got an extra quarter of a star because it was so easy to fly through, but the ending felt unfinished and rushed. A big old EH feeling for me.
Mainly, I just think I'm not the audience for Rachel Harrison's books, or very specifically, not for this one. SO THIRSTY read much more contemporary than horror, though it did have some horror moments for sure, full of vampire violence and thrilling moments. But the heart of the story, really, is about Sloane finally breaking through the monotony of her life, settling for things instead of going after what she really wants and really living. She's been staying with a husband who cheats on her, unhappy with her life, feeling old at 36 and completely unfulfilled but not interested in changing the status quo. Naomi is her wild and care-free friend who joins her for her 36th birthday party at a weekend away that her husband arranged and they meet a group of vampires (which obviously they don't know at the time), and things progress from there.
I feel like Sloane is very representative of women everywhere who shouldn't have to settle, and need to go off and seize what they want from life, SO THIRSTY, obviously a play on Sloane's new found thirst to be fulfilled by life in every way as well as her new found physical thirst as a vampire. My issue was that I didn't connect with Sloane. I did like her growth throughout the book, but I just wanted a little bit more, from everything really.
The vampire part of the book was really fun, but the plot and the character development just wasn't enough. The vampire crew were mostly just caricatures and didn't really have deeper personalities, especially for undead beings that are over 500 years old. Or if they did, we didn't really see them. The plot really took a long time to take off. This isn't a long book, and we didn't get to the really vampire-y things until like 40%. I was less interested in Sloane trudging along on a personal journey and more interested in the actual plot. I wanted to see them happen side-by-side.
The friendship also really bothered me. I feel like, especially by the end, we were supposed to be happy about this friendship, but I thought it was pretty unhealthy. Sloane chooses Naomi over her husband and gives up her old life to save Naomi and to basically commit to her forever, but they're really not the best to each other. I'm sure that's all friendships at times, but I just didn't even feel like they really treated each other well. They were constantly fighting and going behind each other's backs. Naomi encouraged Sloane to come out of her shell, hook up, lose control a bit, but then when Sloane starts cavorting with one of the vampires, Naomi gives her shit for pairing off with him. WELL??? You told her to! They were all still in a group together, so it's not like she left her there. (They also fight about this too, that Sloane gave up her entire life for Naomi.) Naomi can't get her thirst under control and Sloane cleans up several of her messes, and she still doesn't appreciate it. It just didn't seem like a balanced, healthy, supportive friendship and I feel like I was supposed to be happy them, but I wasn't.
I did like some of the read and it was just super easy to breeze through. I'm disappointed in the lack of plot -- at least SOME more development with plot and side characters would have been great. It got an extra quarter of a star because it was so easy to fly through, but the ending felt unfinished and rushed. A big old EH feeling for me.
The Five Year Lie by Sarina Bowen
4.0
Read Completed 10/9/24 | 4 stars
THE FIVE YEAR LIE was a fun read for me! It was a little different than some of the thrillers I've read, just in tone, but I appreciated a little break. Sarina Bowen is best known for her romances but I haven't read any of them yet -- and I really appreciated her writing style in this thriller! It isn't a romantic thriller but it also does have just a little bit of romance peppered in, fitting well with the story, being a mix of domestic and corporate thriller.
There was a little lull in the middle for me and I was worried the book was losing steam, but things really picked up again and I really enjoyed the ending. I appreciated the character development, which I guess shouldn't surprise me from a romance author since romances are sometimes pure character. I loved getting to know Ariel, and her son Buzz was adorable. I often don't like kids in thrillers, but Buzz was a great addition and the writing kept him cute and relatable.
I wasn't AS interested in the actual plot for a while in the middle once we started uncovering more clues and answers, but the story came back around to keep it interesting. There were a few minor characters tossed in which were important to the story, but it took it away from the main focus for me for just a bit.
I'm happy I had fun with this one because I wasn't really sure what to expect. This turned out to be a solid read for me.
THE FIVE YEAR LIE was a fun read for me! It was a little different than some of the thrillers I've read, just in tone, but I appreciated a little break. Sarina Bowen is best known for her romances but I haven't read any of them yet -- and I really appreciated her writing style in this thriller! It isn't a romantic thriller but it also does have just a little bit of romance peppered in, fitting well with the story, being a mix of domestic and corporate thriller.
There was a little lull in the middle for me and I was worried the book was losing steam, but things really picked up again and I really enjoyed the ending. I appreciated the character development, which I guess shouldn't surprise me from a romance author since romances are sometimes pure character. I loved getting to know Ariel, and her son Buzz was adorable. I often don't like kids in thrillers, but Buzz was a great addition and the writing kept him cute and relatable.
I wasn't AS interested in the actual plot for a while in the middle once we started uncovering more clues and answers, but the story came back around to keep it interesting. There were a few minor characters tossed in which were important to the story, but it took it away from the main focus for me for just a bit.
I'm happy I had fun with this one because I wasn't really sure what to expect. This turned out to be a solid read for me.
I Did Something Bad by Pyae Moe Thet War
3.5
Read Completed 10/6/24 | 3.5 stars
Thank you to the publisher, Macmillan audio, and Netgalley for access to this audiobook review copy. Receiving this copy did not affect my reading experience or review in any way.
I picked up I DID SOMETHING BAD for its self-proclaimed mix of romance, action, and suspense. It was deemed a rom-com so I imagined it being more funny and silly, but this was actually more of a serious tone and not a laugh-out-loud comedy story. I did enjoy the book, for the most part, but I feel like it set me up for something that it really didn't quite deliver.
I liked the chemistry between Khin and Tyler, but it was overshadowed by them literally committing a murder (which I didn't realize was *quite* happening from the blurb). Without that extra push of funny, the two vibes just didn't really go together. It seemed like the romance was fighting with the concept that these two just murdered a guy... I feel like the author was trying to give the two genres/concepts equal space and they just fought each other.
I really did like the individual leads and the author did a great job with the secondary characters as well. I enjoyed the appearances from Khin's best friends as well as Tyler's best friend, who is an actress and leading with him in their current movie. It also had a How to Lose a Guy in 10 Days feel where there's a lead female journalist who writes important, meaningful pieces who is now trying to get a job at Vogue and then in the end, the article she ends up writing about him is more love letter than objective interview. Which again is all well and fine, but it would have clicked more if it had been more comedic.
The ending kind of broke the book a bit for me, which I was honestly already waffling on. While I was doing well with the read, I did get bored in spots where nothing was really going on. There were some chunks where the romance wasn't progressing nor was anything with the murder investigation. There were some incredibly pushy cops, but nothing was still moving forward.In the end, as much as we want to see our protagonists "get away with it", it really didn't feel right that they "got away with it". It was self defense, and that's what they kept maintaining, but in the end, the coroner actually determined that he died of a heart attack?! Uhh no. Nah. That's just not right.
I did like a lot Pyae Moe Thet War's writing here and I'd try another book from this author! I think this one had a little too much going on and a lot of things suffered. I liked what it was going for but a lot of it just didn't land for me.
Thank you to the publisher, Macmillan audio, and Netgalley for access to this audiobook review copy. Receiving this copy did not affect my reading experience or review in any way.
I picked up I DID SOMETHING BAD for its self-proclaimed mix of romance, action, and suspense. It was deemed a rom-com so I imagined it being more funny and silly, but this was actually more of a serious tone and not a laugh-out-loud comedy story. I did enjoy the book, for the most part, but I feel like it set me up for something that it really didn't quite deliver.
I liked the chemistry between Khin and Tyler, but it was overshadowed by them literally committing a murder (which I didn't realize was *quite* happening from the blurb). Without that extra push of funny, the two vibes just didn't really go together. It seemed like the romance was fighting with the concept that these two just murdered a guy... I feel like the author was trying to give the two genres/concepts equal space and they just fought each other.
I really did like the individual leads and the author did a great job with the secondary characters as well. I enjoyed the appearances from Khin's best friends as well as Tyler's best friend, who is an actress and leading with him in their current movie. It also had a How to Lose a Guy in 10 Days feel where there's a lead female journalist who writes important, meaningful pieces who is now trying to get a job at Vogue and then in the end, the article she ends up writing about him is more love letter than objective interview. Which again is all well and fine, but it would have clicked more if it had been more comedic.
The ending kind of broke the book a bit for me, which I was honestly already waffling on. While I was doing well with the read, I did get bored in spots where nothing was really going on. There were some chunks where the romance wasn't progressing nor was anything with the murder investigation. There were some incredibly pushy cops, but nothing was still moving forward.
I did like a lot Pyae Moe Thet War's writing here and I'd try another book from this author! I think this one had a little too much going on and a lot of things suffered. I liked what it was going for but a lot of it just didn't land for me.
The Last One at the Wedding by Jason Rekulak
3.25
<b>Read Completed 10/3/24 |</b> 3.25 stars
<I>Thank you to Macmillan audio and Netgalley for the audiobook review copy! This did not affect my reading experience or review in any way.</I>
I had mixed feelings about this book throughout my whole read, but it was very easily readable. It started off as a 4 star read, jumped to a 3 star, then a 3.5 star, and then ended up at 3.25 stars. THE LAST ONE AT THE WEDDING was an easy read, but nothing really stood out to me, and a lot of it felt a little underdeveloped. I think this can be a fun popcorn read, but it just wasn't a favorite of mine.
I really liked the story of "rubbing elbows with the rich" but from the father's POV. I liked Frank as the narrator and I liked that he was neither the rich guy nor the one being wooed by the rich people. I really liked that he was a UPS truck driver and genuinely just an average, normal guy. He's been estranged from his daughter Maggie for three years and is very happy to be invited to her wedding, but red flags fly as he spends more and more time with Maggie and the new in-law family to-be.
Mostly, I just felt like a lot of things were underdeveloped. It's hard to talk about it all without sharing spoilers, but nearly all of the characters weren't very details or deep. I feel like we didn't really get to know anyone, but especially Maggie. There are some stories about her past that give us some insight, finally including the incident that caused the three year rift, but it just didn't really connect. I feel like there still wasn't a lot of explanation about why she makes the decisions she makes and we're just kind of told to accept it.
A big part of the story -- in content, but not necessarily plot -- is that Frank's sister, who helped raise Maggie after her mother died, comes to the wedding as well and she brings her new foster daughter Abigail. Abigail came from a rough background -- she doesn't know how to behave in social situations, came to Frank's sister (and the wedding) with head lice, and consistently becomes an uncomfortable situation for Frank as he's trying to barely keep up with the new part of the family. I don't have an issue with Abigail being a part of the story and her behavior is totally understandable, especially after the trauma she's been through, but I just didn't really enjoy her part in the story. Sometimes I just don't enjoy kids being a big part of an adult thriller and this just happened to be one of those cases.
The ending had some high-stakes moments but it was kind of too little too late, and even then, some things just didn't really feel like they jived with the rest of the book. I just felt like a lot of these plot points and twists were still stuck in the outline phase and we didn't really get the meat and potatoes that fleshed out that whole story.
The very end got a little more exciting and that was when I thought I might end up rating this 3.5 stars, but then we lost the momentum again and it kept going and going. Then I lost interest and steam and the book just kind of... ended and I didn't get why.
AUDIOBOOK THOUGHTS: John Pirhalla was the narrator for this book and I really enjoyed his narration! I wouldn't say he's a new favorite but I did like his voice and narration style. My only complaint was that most of his women sounded pretty similar and his voices weren't *super* varied, but I did have a good time listening to him and I really liked his tone of voice.
<I>Thank you to Macmillan audio and Netgalley for the audiobook review copy! This did not affect my reading experience or review in any way.</I>
I had mixed feelings about this book throughout my whole read, but it was very easily readable. It started off as a 4 star read, jumped to a 3 star, then a 3.5 star, and then ended up at 3.25 stars. THE LAST ONE AT THE WEDDING was an easy read, but nothing really stood out to me, and a lot of it felt a little underdeveloped. I think this can be a fun popcorn read, but it just wasn't a favorite of mine.
I really liked the story of "rubbing elbows with the rich" but from the father's POV. I liked Frank as the narrator and I liked that he was neither the rich guy nor the one being wooed by the rich people. I really liked that he was a UPS truck driver and genuinely just an average, normal guy. He's been estranged from his daughter Maggie for three years and is very happy to be invited to her wedding, but red flags fly as he spends more and more time with Maggie and the new in-law family to-be.
Mostly, I just felt like a lot of things were underdeveloped. It's hard to talk about it all without sharing spoilers, but nearly all of the characters weren't very details or deep. I feel like we didn't really get to know anyone, but especially Maggie. There are some stories about her past that give us some insight, finally including the incident that caused the three year rift, but it just didn't really connect. I feel like there still wasn't a lot of explanation about why she makes the decisions she makes and we're just kind of told to accept it.
A big part of the story -- in content, but not necessarily plot -- is that Frank's sister, who helped raise Maggie after her mother died, comes to the wedding as well and she brings her new foster daughter Abigail. Abigail came from a rough background -- she doesn't know how to behave in social situations, came to Frank's sister (and the wedding) with head lice, and consistently becomes an uncomfortable situation for Frank as he's trying to barely keep up with the new part of the family. I don't have an issue with Abigail being a part of the story and her behavior is totally understandable, especially after the trauma she's been through, but I just didn't really enjoy her part in the story. Sometimes I just don't enjoy kids being a big part of an adult thriller and this just happened to be one of those cases.
The ending had some high-stakes moments but it was kind of too little too late, and even then, some things just didn't really feel like they jived with the rest of the book. I just felt like a lot of these plot points and twists were still stuck in the outline phase and we didn't really get the meat and potatoes that fleshed out that whole story.
The very end got a little more exciting and that was when I thought I might end up rating this 3.5 stars, but then we lost the momentum again and it kept going and going. Then I lost interest and steam and the book just kind of... ended and I didn't get why.
AUDIOBOOK THOUGHTS: John Pirhalla was the narrator for this book and I really enjoyed his narration! I wouldn't say he's a new favorite but I did like his voice and narration style. My only complaint was that most of his women sounded pretty similar and his voices weren't *super* varied, but I did have a good time listening to him and I really liked his tone of voice.
The Undertaking of Hart and Mercy by Megan Bannen
3.25
<b>Read Completed 10/1/24 |</b> 3.25 stars
This was okay! I've seen a lot of amazing ratings for it, but I think I tend to have a hard time with "cozy fantasy" or this was kind of a fantasy romcom in a way, because I just want more world-building and that's not really the point.
The main focus here is the romance, but I really just wanted more development in a little bit of everything. I really liked the concept of sort of a mix-and-match fantasy world. It's a fictional world that doesn't exist here on Earth or in reality, but there are also some glaringly obvious things that do exist and glaringly obvious things that don't exist... but there was just something that didn't really make me believe that both things could exist in the same world. Somehow I just wasn't sold on it. I also really would have liked juuust a touch more about the worlds. There are old gods and new gods but I didn't really know a lot about either of them. I get that the romance is the focus here, but I'm consistently underwhelmed when we have these cozy / romcom fantasy books and I don't get enough world-building.
I actually didn't like Mercy. Hart was fine, and more enjoyable than Mercy for some reason though I can't really tell you at this point why I didn't like her. I felt like she wanted so many things and never spoke up for herself (until finally she did) and she took others down with her, which was so unnecessary. I also had a hard time that this was hate-to-love and there wasn't enough wooing or swooning for me to make that leap as quickly as they did to the love side. The letters were supposed to be that bridge but those were also fairly underwhelming and not really romantic. They were largely friends through the letters but I just didn't feel that swelling romantic vibe.
This was still very readable and a fun concept. I likely won't continue on with the next book unless I'm looking for a book by an author I've already read. I think I *personally* would have liked this more if this was undertaking in the real world or fantasy without the undertaking. It felt like one too many things, somehow. Maybe because I just really felt like everything was a little underbaked.
This was okay! I've seen a lot of amazing ratings for it, but I think I tend to have a hard time with "cozy fantasy" or this was kind of a fantasy romcom in a way, because I just want more world-building and that's not really the point.
The main focus here is the romance, but I really just wanted more development in a little bit of everything. I really liked the concept of sort of a mix-and-match fantasy world. It's a fictional world that doesn't exist here on Earth or in reality, but there are also some glaringly obvious things that do exist and glaringly obvious things that don't exist... but there was just something that didn't really make me believe that both things could exist in the same world. Somehow I just wasn't sold on it. I also really would have liked juuust a touch more about the worlds. There are old gods and new gods but I didn't really know a lot about either of them. I get that the romance is the focus here, but I'm consistently underwhelmed when we have these cozy / romcom fantasy books and I don't get enough world-building.
I actually didn't like Mercy. Hart was fine, and more enjoyable than Mercy for some reason though I can't really tell you at this point why I didn't like her. I felt like she wanted so many things and never spoke up for herself (until finally she did) and she took others down with her, which was so unnecessary. I also had a hard time that this was hate-to-love and there wasn't enough wooing or swooning for me to make that leap as quickly as they did to the love side. The letters were supposed to be that bridge but those were also fairly underwhelming and not really romantic. They were largely friends through the letters but I just didn't feel that swelling romantic vibe.
This was still very readable and a fun concept. I likely won't continue on with the next book unless I'm looking for a book by an author I've already read. I think I *personally* would have liked this more if this was undertaking in the real world or fantasy without the undertaking. It felt like one too many things, somehow. Maybe because I just really felt like everything was a little underbaked.
The Hitchcock Hotel by Stephanie Wrobel
3.0
<b>Read Completed 10/1/24 |</b> 3 stars
A big old EH.
This had a lot of promise but the whole purpose of the book was just... EH. MEH. I wasn't into it. I was hoping for more chills and suspense and dread, but this was still just another popcorn thriller.
The ending was pretty silly and just didn't really make sense. I mean, going over-the-top, sure it made SENSE. It wasn't confusing or obscure, but it was just a lot of stupid reasons for doing a lot of serious things.
I absolutely hated the addition of a cancer diagnosis because it literally had nothing to do with anything. Neither did the pregnancy. There were just things thrown in to add more shock value and raise the stakes, but it really didn't even add anything to the story.
All of the characters were not likable, though I think that's the point for half of them. Overall, this just wasn't my vibe and wasn't what I was hoping for here. I think this can be a really enjoyable book for some, but it just wasn't for me. I gave it a shot!
A big old EH.
This had a lot of promise but the whole purpose of the book was just... EH. MEH. I wasn't into it. I was hoping for more chills and suspense and dread, but this was still just another popcorn thriller.
The ending was pretty silly and just didn't really make sense. I mean, going over-the-top, sure it made SENSE. It wasn't confusing or obscure, but it was just a lot of stupid reasons for doing a lot of serious things.
I absolutely hated the addition of a cancer diagnosis because it literally had nothing to do with anything. Neither did the pregnancy. There were just things thrown in to add more shock value and raise the stakes, but it really didn't even add anything to the story.
All of the characters were not likable, though I think that's the point for half of them. Overall, this just wasn't my vibe and wasn't what I was hoping for here. I think this can be a really enjoyable book for some, but it just wasn't for me. I gave it a shot!