patsy's reviews
201 reviews

The Garden Party by B. P. Walter

dark mysterious tense medium-paced

• Plot- or character-driven? Character
• Strong character development? Yes
• Loveable characters? No
• Diverse cast of characters? No
• Flaws of characters a main focus? Yes

4.0

Loved this, would have been 5⭐️ except I wasn’t keen on the ending. 

A good solid read, told in multiple POVs by a host of unlikeable characters with dark secrets. 

The Haters by Robyn Harding

adventurous challenging emotional mysterious medium-paced

• Plot- or character-driven? Character
• Strong character development? No
• Loveable characters? No
• Diverse cast of characters? No
• Flaws of characters a main focus? Yes

3.0

This book started off with great potential, but by half way it started dragging and feeling repetitive. Far too many characters and red herrings thrown about. The pacing felt very off, to the point I wasn’t reaching for it so felt it took me a long time to finish.  The main character was annoying too 😣
The ending felt rushed and unsatisfactory. 
The plus points, the chapters were short, it started strong with a good premise, just lacked the execution. Shame as I really enjoyed The Drowning Woman. 

All the Colors of the Dark by Chris Whitaker

adventurous challenging dark mysterious sad slow-paced

• Plot- or character-driven? Character
• Strong character development? Yes
• Loveable characters? No
• Flaws of characters a main focus? Yes

2.0

I’m not sure if I read the same book as everyone else going of their glowing reviews because I didn’t like this book at all 🤷🏼‍♀️ it was too long and far too wordy. I don’t mind descriptions but here even the descriptions were descripted 🤦🏼‍♀️

The only thing going for this book is the small chapters, there was just far to many of them. 

Earth by John Boyne

challenging dark emotional sad tense medium-paced

• Plot- or character-driven? Character
• Strong character development? Yes
• Loveable characters? No
• Diverse cast of characters? No
• Flaws of characters a main focus? Yes

4.0

Hard to review. Enjoyed it. 

How to Age Disgracefully by Clare Pooley

adventurous emotional funny inspiring lighthearted mysterious relaxing medium-paced

• Plot- or character-driven? Character
• Strong character development? Yes
• Loveable characters? Yes
• Diverse cast of characters? Yes
• Flaws of characters a main focus? Yes

4.0

I loved this one 😍 multigenerational, multiple POVs and a dog called Maggie Thatcher 😀
An easy reading, feel good book with lots of laughs along the way 

Our Holiday by Louise Candlish

mysterious slow-paced

• Plot- or character-driven? Character
• Strong character development? Yes
• Loveable characters? No
• Diverse cast of characters? No
• Flaws of characters a main focus? Yes

4.0

I enjoyed this, it was a slow burn with a whole host of unlikeable characters, mostly rich and entitled, even the locals were annoying 😐
I wouldn’t class it as a thriller, more a family drama.

Cross Bones by Tracy Whitwell

adventurous challenging dark emotional funny informative lighthearted mysterious sad tense 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? Yes

5.0

I absolutely love this series of books. They give you all the feels, I’ve laughed and cried. Any book that can make me 😭 deserves 5⭐️ as I have a swinging brick for a heart 😀

What Have You Done? by Shari Lapena

adventurous challenging dark emotional mysterious sad tense fast-paced

• Plot- or character-driven? A mix
• Strong character development? Yes
• Loveable characters? No
• Diverse cast of characters? No
• Flaws of characters a main focus? Yes

3.5

3.5⭐️
A good solid thriller, Lapena rarely lets you down. Nice short chapters that had to racing through.  A good small town mystery. 
There were a few problems for me though. Far too many characters 🤦🏼‍♀️ I did get them all in place eventually but 🤯
It felt a touch repetitive in the middle then the end felt really rushed and incomplete. 

Way Back by Sara Cox

funny inspiring lighthearted sad slow-paced

• Plot- or character-driven? Character
• Strong character development? No
• Diverse cast of characters? No
• Flaws of characters a main focus? Yes

2.0

Slow and predictable. Nothing happened and I didn’t like Josie. 

If You Tell a Lie by Lucinda Berry

adventurous challenging dark mysterious slow-paced

• Plot- or character-driven? Character
• Strong character development? No
• Loveable characters? No
• Diverse cast of characters? No
• Flaws of characters a main focus? Yes

2.0

Lucinda Berry is a hit or miss author for me, unfortunately this was a miss. 
The story was told in multiple POVs which I usually like but here all the characters were so underdeveloped that I didn’t know who was who unless I checked, which isn’t ideal. 
The storyline was unbelievable, maybe it’s because I’m not rich or American 🤷🏼‍♀️ anyways, ridiculous storyline and awful ending. 
This is on KU so I recommend borrowing it and not buying it.