rpweber15's reviews
273 reviews

The Book Club Hotel by Sarah Morgan

3.5

The characters are caricatures of extreme stereotypes, the writing is predictable and incredibly repetitive, and there isn’t much of a plot other than the very convenient things that happen to keep the women at the Book Club Hotel. There is also very little to do with books or book clubs. In spite of all those things, and the fact that this isn’t my typical genre, I still thoroughly enjoyed my read. Must be the holiday season playing tricks on me.

The Christmas Guest by Peter Swanson

4.0

Peter Swanson is a smart mystery/thriller writer and I enjoy how he surprises me. This novella got me good in a little bit of a twist that I didn’t see coming. The gothic ambience was perfect for the story and it really did feel like the diary entries in the first part of the book were written by a college-aged young women, which is impressive since the author is far from that. I definitely enjoyed this tale of Christmas murder that I read in one sitting before bed!

The Christmas Bookshop by Jenny Colgan

4.0

Though not my normal jam, I quite enjoyed this holiday tale set at a bookshop in Scotland…where I apparently want to live now. There was a decent balance of saccharine and sass in this book. It was the perfect cozy story with which to start December. I might even read the sequel!

The Second Life of Mirielle West by Amanda Skenandore

4.0

A couple of my friends and I do a little book club via zoom since we're on different coasts. One of my friends had picked up a blind date with a book that said something along the lines of "my book club couldn't stop talking about this" so she opened it on camera with us and we decided to buddy read it. As an epidemiologist, the parts of the book focused on Hansen's Disease (leprosy) were really interesting, but I also really liked the story. The characters, though not always likeable, were compelling and you'll find yourself really rooting for them. It's a fast read, not complicated and fairly predictable, but enjoyable nonetheless. If you're a fan of historical fiction, this is a good one to pick up!

Hidden Pictures by Jason Rekulak

2.0

REALLY? Sigh. I need to stop reading thrillers that are recommended on TikTok because they almost always turn out to be terrible. The writing in this one is juvenile, the plot is absurd, and how the author treated a young addict in recovery is abhorrent. There is also fleeting fat-phobia, a complete lack of understanding around mental health, and some weird vibes about a lot of other small things that add up to a lot of ick. I’m giving it two stars because it kept me interested enough throughout the book, despite the ridiculous plot. I’m sure there are people who will love this book. I am not one of them.

Carol by Darin Kennedy, Darin Kennedy

4.25

A Christmas Carol has never been one of my favorite stories of Christmas, mostly because it's overdone, predictable, and often saccharine. My friend wanted to read this YA retelling for our buddy read and I thought, "Maybe a YA perspective will be a fresh look at a tired story." Lo and behold, it was. I don't know how a middle-aged man wrote teenage girls so accurately, but he did. The story is still (mostly) predictable but I really enjoyed it! There are some very heavy topics covered in this book (mostly grief) and I think it's most appropriate for high school aged teens (and adults, obviously). The characters are incredibly real and complicated; Carol, our troubled teen was pretty unlikable and yet, I felt a lot of empathy for her. I had to request my library carry this book...and they ordered like 8 copies, which is awesome...so I hope more people discover this retelling!

Shady Hollow by Juneau Black

3.5

This cozy murder mystery where all the characters are woodland creatures was cute. Nothing shocking or surprising about the story or writing…it was just cute. I prefer my books to have a little more oomph to them, and suspect cozy mysteries are not for me, but it was a cute little interlude to my normal selections! Have I mentioned it’s cute?

Behind Closed Doors by B.A. Paris

0.5

This was a page turner that I couldn’t put down, not because it was a great book, but because I just had to see how it would end. The characters are flat and unidimensional. The story has so many unbelievable plot points that are incredibly annoying. And the resolution was so abrupt, almost as if the author got tired of her own story and just wanted it to end. I’m glad this was a fast read. I’m even more glad that it’s over.

The Benefits of Being an Octopus by Ann Braden

5.0

Absolutely loved this book. I haven’t read many middle grade or YA books as an adult but this one really spoke to me. It tackles so many issues facing kids these days in such a simple but effective way without being manipulative!

Infected by Scott Sigler

5.0

I read this when it came out, cementing my place as a Sigler Junkie. Nobody does sci-fi horror like Sigler. Nobody. All I have to hear are the two words ‘chicken scissors’ and I’m immediately transported to the hellscape of Triangles. Bravo, Scott!