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plannedandplanted's reviews
117 reviews
The Silent Patient by Alex Michaelides
3.0
This is a book about betrayal. I gave it 3 stars instead of 2 because I absolutely felt betrayed by the end of the story, an actual visceral reaction that I’ve not really experienced from a book before.
That being said, there are a lot of questions and loose ends that weren’t really contained. There are a few red herring characters who, by the end, don’t seem to have any purpose other than being red herrings. They seem shady, but their motives for the shadiness aren’t ever really explained or thought through beyond how they can mislead the reader. It felt like Michaelides violated Chekhov’s gun a bit.
I dunno, the whole thing just feels too far-fetched by the end.
That being said, there are a lot of questions and loose ends that weren’t really contained. There are a few red herring characters who, by the end, don’t seem to have any purpose other than being red herrings. They seem shady, but their motives for the shadiness aren’t ever really explained or thought through beyond how they can mislead the reader. It felt like Michaelides violated Chekhov’s gun a bit.
I dunno, the whole thing just feels too far-fetched by the end.
Lakewood by Megan Giddings
2.0
While this novel skirts some interesting themes, such as medical racism, the effects of sociology-economic status on bodily autonomy, government secrecy etc., the overall story was too discombobulated and choppy to explore any of these themes with depth.
I finished the book feeling confused about a lot of things. There didn’t seem to be any rhyme or reason to any of the experiments beyond “oooh evil government ooooooh racism,” and not closure or conclusion as to how exactly Lena’s mother and grandmother fit into the scheme.
There were also just too many plot holes. Like, why would scientists drag her through their “top secret” labs ASSUMING she can’t remember things because she’s acting high? That felt very careless. Honestly the whole thing just didn’t make sense, and I kept holding out resolve that things would be explained more at the end, but they weren’t.
I finished the book feeling confused about a lot of things. There didn’t seem to be any rhyme or reason to any of the experiments beyond “oooh evil government ooooooh racism,” and not closure or conclusion as to how exactly Lena’s mother and grandmother fit into the scheme.
There were also just too many plot holes. Like, why would scientists drag her through their “top secret” labs ASSUMING she can’t remember things because she’s acting high? That felt very careless. Honestly the whole thing just didn’t make sense, and I kept holding out resolve that things would be explained more at the end, but they weren’t.
High Achiever: The Incredible True Story of One Addict's Double Life by Tiffany Jenkins
3.0
3.5 stars total.
I’m very thankful that Tiffany shared her story with us. Most people in this day and age know someone suffering from substance abuse/addiction, and this book definitely helps you understand and empathize their motivations.
I could have done without some of the Orange-Is-The-New-Black-esque jail drama that comprises the first 3rd of the story. It wasn’t very interesting to me and it was hard to get into. I feel like some of that space could have been better spent describing some other aspects of Tiffany’s addiction journey more in depth, things that are only briefly mentioned such as: how she first became addicted, her first experience with rehab, and the beginnings of her relationship with Eliot. These are all aspects that I feel could have rounded out her story even further. All in all it was still worth the read, and I’d recommend it to anyone who deals with addiction in their life, either directly or through another.
I’m very thankful that Tiffany shared her story with us. Most people in this day and age know someone suffering from substance abuse/addiction, and this book definitely helps you understand and empathize their motivations.
I could have done without some of the Orange-Is-The-New-Black-esque jail drama that comprises the first 3rd of the story. It wasn’t very interesting to me and it was hard to get into. I feel like some of that space could have been better spent describing some other aspects of Tiffany’s addiction journey more in depth, things that are only briefly mentioned such as: how she first became addicted, her first experience with rehab, and the beginnings of her relationship with Eliot. These are all aspects that I feel could have rounded out her story even further. All in all it was still worth the read, and I’d recommend it to anyone who deals with addiction in their life, either directly or through another.
Beach Read by Emily Henry
4.0
I really enjoyed this. There aren’t many books that make me laugh out loud and also shed a tear or two, but this one did. The banter between January and Gus is pretty engaging and hilarious throughout. I also felt that their characters were well-rounded, and portrayed the emotional complexities of adult relationships (as well as adulthood in general) so well.
Their relationship, while clearly still scripted and a bit fantastical, felt more real than a lot of relationships portrayed by media. They banter sometimes, they sit in silence sometimes, they argue sometimes, they talk about serious things sometimes. It felt more dimensional and developed than the typical romance couple, for sure, although I don’t really feel like this was a romance. Way too meta and self-aware for that.
Their relationship, while clearly still scripted and a bit fantastical, felt more real than a lot of relationships portrayed by media. They banter sometimes, they sit in silence sometimes, they argue sometimes, they talk about serious things sometimes. It felt more dimensional and developed than the typical romance couple, for sure, although I don’t really feel like this was a romance. Way too meta and self-aware for that.