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reading_under_covers's reviews
1554 reviews
An Unwanted Guest by Shari Lapena
4.5
My favorite of Shari’s work so far!
This is a locked room mystery set at a fancy, old-fashioned hotel during a snow storm - literally couldn’t check any more of my boxes!
This is a locked room mystery set at a fancy, old-fashioned hotel during a snow storm - literally couldn’t check any more of my boxes!
Nowhere by Allison Gunn
Did not finish book. Stopped at 51%.
Did not finish book. Stopped at 51%.
The characters all felt very one-dimensional and many of the side characters were only defined by their stereotypes.
It’s hard for me to feel empathy for any of our protagonists because they lowkey suckkk 😬
Also, very much not into characters that only argue with one another, causing more problems than they even started with.
It’s hard for me to feel empathy for any of our protagonists because they lowkey suckkk 😬
Also, very much not into characters that only argue with one another, causing more problems than they even started with.
Vera Wong's Unsolicited Advice for Murderers by Jesse Q. Sutanto
4.0
This was SO fun! It reminded me a lot of the Dial A for Auntie books, but from a reversed perspective!
Jesse does cozy mysteries like no other!
Jesse does cozy mysteries like no other!
Tell Me What You Did by Carter Wilson
4.0
This was a wild, fast-paced thriller with a unique premise!
It had some fun interactive moments and the short chapters made it very easy to just keep reading “one more chapter”!
It had some fun interactive moments and the short chapters made it very easy to just keep reading “one more chapter”!
Blood on Her Tongue by Johanna van Veen
4.5
"She's hungry. Oh, I've never know a hunger like hers!"
Johanna van Veen is back with another fantastic gothic horror tale in BLOOD ON HER TONGUE 🙇♀️
The story follows twin sisters Lucy and Sarah in the late 1800s after Sarah's run-in with the bog woman and her spiraling health and sanity that follows 👀 the vibes were eerie (there's a bog, a large estate, and sooo much blood!) and the men were trash!
I read a little chunk of this on public transit and could literally feel my face transforming into this 🥴, so if you're squeamish, take caution - but my goodness, what a tale to get lost in!
This is ultimately a book rooted in feminism and there's no time like the present for some girl power!
Highly recommend this one to you gothic fans!
Thanks to Poisoned Pen Press for the ARC for review - out March 25.
Johanna van Veen is back with another fantastic gothic horror tale in BLOOD ON HER TONGUE 🙇♀️
The story follows twin sisters Lucy and Sarah in the late 1800s after Sarah's run-in with the bog woman and her spiraling health and sanity that follows 👀 the vibes were eerie (there's a bog, a large estate, and sooo much blood!) and the men were trash!
I read a little chunk of this on public transit and could literally feel my face transforming into this 🥴, so if you're squeamish, take caution - but my goodness, what a tale to get lost in!
This is ultimately a book rooted in feminism and there's no time like the present for some girl power!
Highly recommend this one to you gothic fans!
Thanks to Poisoned Pen Press for the ARC for review - out March 25.
Content Warnings
Graphic: Child death, Infidelity, Blood, Murder
The Other People by C.B. Everett
2.5
"I escaped from that house, came straight here, and...and all the others...all the others are dead."
Ten strangers wake up inside an old house. They have no recollection of how they got there, but are told they have twelve hours to find a missing girl in order to flee the house. Not only is it a race against the clock, but there's also a killer on the loose that seems to want them all dead.
THE OTHER PEOPLE by C.B. Everett is definitely a story that should be gone into as blind as possible (the above synopsis is all you need!).
This book rotated POVs, which is always a fave of mine, and really leaned into the murder mystery of it all (heavy heavy on the murder, which I didn't have an issue with).
However, I found this book to be very heavy-handed with the stereotypes, making it hard for me to enjoy most of the characters as they were portrayed in often uncomfortable ways. Also, there was one POV character "The Beast" that basically holds the reader's hand throughout the story and explains everything that's happening - as a reader, I don't enjoy it when the author seems to imply I'm incapable of reading comprehension 😬
The fourth wall breaking in those chapters was fun, though! And the twist really turned it around for me in terms of "wow" factor in the story.
Overall, this book just didn't fully work out for me even if the binge factor was definitely there!
Thanks to NetGalley and Atria Books for the copy for review!
Ten strangers wake up inside an old house. They have no recollection of how they got there, but are told they have twelve hours to find a missing girl in order to flee the house. Not only is it a race against the clock, but there's also a killer on the loose that seems to want them all dead.
THE OTHER PEOPLE by C.B. Everett is definitely a story that should be gone into as blind as possible (the above synopsis is all you need!).
This book rotated POVs, which is always a fave of mine, and really leaned into the murder mystery of it all (heavy heavy on the murder, which I didn't have an issue with).
However, I found this book to be very heavy-handed with the stereotypes, making it hard for me to enjoy most of the characters as they were portrayed in often uncomfortable ways. Also, there was one POV character "The Beast" that basically holds the reader's hand throughout the story and explains everything that's happening - as a reader, I don't enjoy it when the author seems to imply I'm incapable of reading comprehension 😬
The fourth wall breaking in those chapters was fun, though! And the twist really turned it around for me in terms of "wow" factor in the story.
Overall, this book just didn't fully work out for me even if the binge factor was definitely there!
Thanks to NetGalley and Atria Books for the copy for review!
Broken Country by Clare Leslie Hall
4.5
I listened to this book on audio (narrated by Hattie Morahan, who did a phenomenal job), and absolutely flew through it!
It's historical, romantic, and mysterious and just a really strong look at the whirlwind that is a first love. (anyone else get Huntzberger family vibes a la Gilmore Girls?!)
It was also extremely riddled with grief, which really allowed me to feel so much empathy for all of the characters.
I already see myself re-listening to this one in the future!
It's historical, romantic, and mysterious and just a really strong look at the whirlwind that is a first love. (anyone else get Huntzberger family vibes a la Gilmore Girls?!)
It was also extremely riddled with grief, which really allowed me to feel so much empathy for all of the characters.
I already see myself re-listening to this one in the future!
Content Warnings
Graphic: Animal death, Child death, Infidelity, Grief
Pomona Afton Can So Solve a Murder: A Novel by Bellamy Rose
4.0
"The slipper squelched into blood as I stared down onto the bed, at (her) bloody face, her lips frozen into a silent scream."
POMONA AFTON CAN SO SOLVE A MURDER is Bellamy Rose's debut, and this cozy mystery was so much fun!
The vibes of this book were giving Schitt's Creek and Only Murders in the Building (and that one episode of The Suite Life of Zack and Cody - shoutout @kayreadwhat!), which made for an absurd ride.
The New York setting was *chef's kiss* and I loved loved loved Gabe and Andrea (lowkey a lot of the other characters annoyed me, including our main girl Pomona 😬)
This was, overall, such a cute story with some endearing moments, and a lovely murder mystery to top it all off. Definitely hoping we get a sequel!
Thanks to Atria & Emily Bestler Books for the free copy for review! This one is out March 18!
POMONA AFTON CAN SO SOLVE A MURDER is Bellamy Rose's debut, and this cozy mystery was so much fun!
The vibes of this book were giving Schitt's Creek and Only Murders in the Building (and that one episode of The Suite Life of Zack and Cody - shoutout @kayreadwhat!), which made for an absurd ride.
The New York setting was *chef's kiss* and I loved loved loved Gabe and Andrea (lowkey a lot of the other characters annoyed me, including our main girl Pomona 😬)
This was, overall, such a cute story with some endearing moments, and a lovely murder mystery to top it all off. Definitely hoping we get a sequel!
Thanks to Atria & Emily Bestler Books for the free copy for review! This one is out March 18!
The Buffalo Hunter Hunter by Stephen Graham Jones
3.0
le sigh.
I really wanted to love this book, but still being relatively new to SGJ’s work (TEENAGE SLASHER has been my first and only prior to this one), I think I’m coming to terms with the fact that his writing style might just not be for me.
This one has gotten some amazing rave reviews so far, so don’t let me be the one to turn you away!
I really wanted to love this book, but still being relatively new to SGJ’s work (TEENAGE SLASHER has been my first and only prior to this one), I think I’m coming to terms with the fact that his writing style might just not be for me.
This one has gotten some amazing rave reviews so far, so don’t let me be the one to turn you away!