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sand_between_pages's Reviews (734)
dark
mysterious
slow-paced
Plot or Character Driven:
Plot
Strong character development:
Complicated
Loveable characters:
No
Diverse cast of characters:
No
Flaws of characters a main focus:
Yes
Believe me when I say, no one is sadder than myself and giving the new St James two stars ðŸ˜ðŸ˜.
.
From the start, this book just didn’t work for me. It is slow, anticlimactic, jumbled, contrived, and nonsensical. While the creepy parts brought the chill factor, they were few and far between, and they weren’t compelling enough to carry the story. I had so many questions at the end - so many things felt illogical and unexplained…
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Having loved The Sun Down Motel and Broken Girls, I know Simone can write a BA ghost story. But sadly, all I wanted during this book was for it to be done ðŸ˜ðŸ¥º.
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From the start, this book just didn’t work for me. It is slow, anticlimactic, jumbled, contrived, and nonsensical. While the creepy parts brought the chill factor, they were few and far between, and they weren’t compelling enough to carry the story. I had so many questions at the end - so many things felt illogical and unexplained…
.
Having loved The Sun Down Motel and Broken Girls, I know Simone can write a BA ghost story. But sadly, all I wanted during this book was for it to be done ðŸ˜ðŸ¥º.
funny
lighthearted
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
I say: WORTH THE HYPE!
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Read The Love Hypothesis if you enjoy:
- Swooning
- Autumn
- Broodish, handsome professors
- Pumpkin Spice Lattes
- Witty banter
- Representation
- Strong and supportive female relationships
- Tall, dark, and handsome hotties (mentioned this already but worth mentioning again)
- Light, feel-good fun
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The Love Hypothesis is exactly what I needed right now. A funny page-turner with a compelling story and a sweet ending. I'd love to see this made into a movie and had a lot of fun, whilst reading, imagining who I would cast as Adam, Olive, Malcolm, Ahn, and Holden.
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Thank you so much to Berkley Romance for the free copy, this is one I'll be rec'ing to any and all!
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Read The Love Hypothesis if you enjoy:
- Swooning
- Autumn
- Broodish, handsome professors
- Pumpkin Spice Lattes
- Witty banter
- Representation
- Strong and supportive female relationships
- Tall, dark, and handsome hotties (mentioned this already but worth mentioning again)
- Light, feel-good fun
.
The Love Hypothesis is exactly what I needed right now. A funny page-turner with a compelling story and a sweet ending. I'd love to see this made into a movie and had a lot of fun, whilst reading, imagining who I would cast as Adam, Olive, Malcolm, Ahn, and Holden.
.
Thank you so much to Berkley Romance for the free copy, this is one I'll be rec'ing to any and all!
emotional
hopeful
inspiring
slow-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
dark
mysterious
tense
fast-paced
Plot or Character Driven:
Character
Strong character development:
Yes
Loveable characters:
Complicated
Diverse cast of characters:
No
Flaws of characters a main focus:
Yes
My dreams are quite a bit less violent than Jessica Miller's ;).
.
I really enjoyed this psychological thriller by Ashley Winstead. In My Dreams I Hold a Knife gave me And Then There Were None by Agatha Christie vibes mixed with One of Us is Lying by Karen McManus vibes. Winstead gives us a really good whodunnit element (I was guessing til the end) - who in the tight knit group of friends, the "East House 7" killed Heather Shelby? We also get a lot of back and forth between then and now, messing with our minds in psychological cray cray ness! The East House 7 are such a tight knit group of friends, but slowly the story gives us glimpses of trouble brewing within the group, secrets and lies, and how some personalities will do whatever it takes to be the best.
.
This is a super fun thriller and I am really happy to have read it - I think it lives up to its hype. I want to thank all of Booksta - this is certainly a Bookstagram Made Me book!
.
I really enjoyed this psychological thriller by Ashley Winstead. In My Dreams I Hold a Knife gave me And Then There Were None by Agatha Christie vibes mixed with One of Us is Lying by Karen McManus vibes. Winstead gives us a really good whodunnit element (I was guessing til the end) - who in the tight knit group of friends, the "East House 7" killed Heather Shelby? We also get a lot of back and forth between then and now, messing with our minds in psychological cray cray ness! The East House 7 are such a tight knit group of friends, but slowly the story gives us glimpses of trouble brewing within the group, secrets and lies, and how some personalities will do whatever it takes to be the best.
.
This is a super fun thriller and I am really happy to have read it - I think it lives up to its hype. I want to thank all of Booksta - this is certainly a Bookstagram Made Me book!
emotional
fast-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
Why oh why have I been sleeping on Helen Hoang? This book is an absolute delight! (Thank you to Berkley for the copy, and to LibroFM for the ALC!)
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Halfway through this read I added all of Hoang's other books to my cart. Yep, I need to read them all, sooner rather than later :)! I've said it many times before, but I am very picky about romance and thus, always sort of hesitant to read the genre. But pretty instantly, I found myself enjoying The Heart Principle! It is well-written, it has awesome representation, and I felt a deep connection and appreciation for the main characters. Quan and Anna have a fan in me, and I was shipping them and rooting for them so hard throughout the story!
.
I like when romance novels are more emo then rom-com, and there are a lot of emotional parts in The Heart Principle. I find that a compelling storyline only further connects me to the characters, so I appreciated that in this story. There is more than just romance, there are a lot of aspects of life that are explored throughout the story which I feel gave the book a lot of depth.
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This is a steamy steamerson book - door is open folks! I made sure to have the audio going when it was ONLY me in the room. ;) There are also some triggers: death, convalescence and bullying.
.
Absolutely read this book! I am excited to read the other books in this series!
.
Halfway through this read I added all of Hoang's other books to my cart. Yep, I need to read them all, sooner rather than later :)! I've said it many times before, but I am very picky about romance and thus, always sort of hesitant to read the genre. But pretty instantly, I found myself enjoying The Heart Principle! It is well-written, it has awesome representation, and I felt a deep connection and appreciation for the main characters. Quan and Anna have a fan in me, and I was shipping them and rooting for them so hard throughout the story!
.
I like when romance novels are more emo then rom-com, and there are a lot of emotional parts in The Heart Principle. I find that a compelling storyline only further connects me to the characters, so I appreciated that in this story. There is more than just romance, there are a lot of aspects of life that are explored throughout the story which I feel gave the book a lot of depth.
.
This is a steamy steamerson book - door is open folks! I made sure to have the audio going when it was ONLY me in the room. ;) There are also some triggers: death, convalescence and bullying.
.
Absolutely read this book! I am excited to read the other books in this series!
mysterious
slow-paced
Plot or Character Driven:
Character
Strong character development:
Yes
Loveable characters:
Complicated
Diverse cast of characters:
Yes
Flaws of characters a main focus:
Yes
Thank you to Macmillan Audio for this ALC.
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The 17 hours that I spent listening to this book are 17 hours I will never, ever see again. Do I regret this audiobook? Yes. Yes I definitely do. Moriarty man, first Nine Perfect Strangers and now this?
.
I waited every minute of every hour, for SOMETHING, ANYTHING to happen. And it never did. It never did. Sure, there was the signature Moriarty humor that I enjoyed and had a good chuckle. There were a few revelations that resonated with me. The characters were somewhat compelling. But ultimately, this felt like seventeen hours of nada lotta.
.
The end confused me. First, why an hour and a half more after the main "plot" was revealed? Was that necessary? And the COVID content felt entirely random and tacked on to the end with little to no purpose. I know there is supposedly a twist and the very, very end - but at that point I had no interest and could barely coax myself into listening closely enough to understand.
.
This is one I cannot rec to anyone tbh. :(
.
The 17 hours that I spent listening to this book are 17 hours I will never, ever see again. Do I regret this audiobook? Yes. Yes I definitely do. Moriarty man, first Nine Perfect Strangers and now this?
.
I waited every minute of every hour, for SOMETHING, ANYTHING to happen. And it never did. It never did. Sure, there was the signature Moriarty humor that I enjoyed and had a good chuckle. There were a few revelations that resonated with me. The characters were somewhat compelling. But ultimately, this felt like seventeen hours of nada lotta.
.
The end confused me. First, why an hour and a half more after the main "plot" was revealed? Was that necessary? And the COVID content felt entirely random and tacked on to the end with little to no purpose. I know there is supposedly a twist and the very, very end - but at that point I had no interest and could barely coax myself into listening closely enough to understand.
.
This is one I cannot rec to anyone tbh. :(
emotional
mysterious
sad
fast-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
Hamnet! This book is so good! I was immediately captivated and, at no point, did I want to put this book down. It is so beautifully written, emotional, raw, and incredibly interesting, and it is a book I will recommend to all.
.
In case you're unfamiliar with the premise, Hamnet is about William Shakespeare, his life behind the playwright scene, his family, and the death of his young son, Hamnet. It seems pretty obvious that this event in Shakespeare's life led to one of his most enigmatic plays, Hamlet.
.
What I wasn't expecting from this book, and what I really enjoyed, was the dose of magical realism. While this is mostly historical fiction, there is a healthy amount of mysticism and wonder that really captivated me. I was so endeared to the character Agnes (Shakespeare's wife), and the writing was so well-done I felt like I could feel her emotions - her happiness upon having a child, the pain of losing a child - it all really gripped me.
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Additionally, I found it so interesting that Maggie O'Farrell never once mentions the names William, or Shakespeare, and never together. Shakespeare is always referred to as "he" or "her husband" or "his father" etc. I am so curious as to why this is? I suspect that since Shakespeare is so incredibly popular and essentially a household name, that the author wanted to put the focus on the other characters in the story, namely Agnes, Susanna, Judith, and Hamnet - Shakespeare's family.
.
I also found in interesting reading about the bubonic plague and how it spread in the late 1500s. Getting a glimpse of English life in this time period was informative and compelling. Folks, this is a must read in my opinion!
.
In case you're unfamiliar with the premise, Hamnet is about William Shakespeare, his life behind the playwright scene, his family, and the death of his young son, Hamnet. It seems pretty obvious that this event in Shakespeare's life led to one of his most enigmatic plays, Hamlet.
.
What I wasn't expecting from this book, and what I really enjoyed, was the dose of magical realism. While this is mostly historical fiction, there is a healthy amount of mysticism and wonder that really captivated me. I was so endeared to the character Agnes (Shakespeare's wife), and the writing was so well-done I felt like I could feel her emotions - her happiness upon having a child, the pain of losing a child - it all really gripped me.
.
Additionally, I found it so interesting that Maggie O'Farrell never once mentions the names William, or Shakespeare, and never together. Shakespeare is always referred to as "he" or "her husband" or "his father" etc. I am so curious as to why this is? I suspect that since Shakespeare is so incredibly popular and essentially a household name, that the author wanted to put the focus on the other characters in the story, namely Agnes, Susanna, Judith, and Hamnet - Shakespeare's family.
.
I also found in interesting reading about the bubonic plague and how it spread in the late 1500s. Getting a glimpse of English life in this time period was informative and compelling. Folks, this is a must read in my opinion!
emotional
lighthearted
fast-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
BUT WILL THERE BE A SEQUEL??? *she asks while she cries in the corner* (please let there be a sequel I am not okay)
.
I did not expect this to slay me as it did, but that ending absolutely slayed me. I AM SLAYED!
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Why did I like it? It's different. The book focuses on the romance between Solene - an almost-40 year old mom to a teenager, and Hayes, a 20 year old global superstar and lead singer of the world's most famous boy band. That right there is enough to intrigue me. I adored Solene. I found her interesting, mature, beautiful, strong, and just basically a kick ass female. I also loved Hayes and the maturity he demonstrated throughout the novel. Obviously, when dating a global star, problems will arise. But add in that Solene is twice his age and that her daughter is in love with him, and where on earth is this story going to go?
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Folks, this one is capital S STEAMY. The door is WAY open. Robinne Lee does a wonderful job investing the reader in Hayes and Solene's relationship, taking us on sexual romp around the globe, giving us an in-depth look into the emotions of Solene, the process of falling in love, and the torment that accompanies loving someone you can't really have. I loved all the cities we get to visit in the story, the descriptions of beautiful landscapes, art, and spaces, and the wisdom Solene's inner voice provided throughout.
.
This is a compulsive read that you will not want to put down. I truly enjoyed it, and thus, I rec it highly!
.
I did not expect this to slay me as it did, but that ending absolutely slayed me. I AM SLAYED!
.
Why did I like it? It's different. The book focuses on the romance between Solene - an almost-40 year old mom to a teenager, and Hayes, a 20 year old global superstar and lead singer of the world's most famous boy band. That right there is enough to intrigue me. I adored Solene. I found her interesting, mature, beautiful, strong, and just basically a kick ass female. I also loved Hayes and the maturity he demonstrated throughout the novel. Obviously, when dating a global star, problems will arise. But add in that Solene is twice his age and that her daughter is in love with him, and where on earth is this story going to go?
.
Folks, this one is capital S STEAMY. The door is WAY open. Robinne Lee does a wonderful job investing the reader in Hayes and Solene's relationship, taking us on sexual romp around the globe, giving us an in-depth look into the emotions of Solene, the process of falling in love, and the torment that accompanies loving someone you can't really have. I loved all the cities we get to visit in the story, the descriptions of beautiful landscapes, art, and spaces, and the wisdom Solene's inner voice provided throughout.
.
This is a compulsive read that you will not want to put down. I truly enjoyed it, and thus, I rec it highly!
funny
fast-paced
Plot or Character Driven:
Plot
Strong character development:
Complicated
Loveable characters:
Yes
Diverse cast of characters:
No
Flaws of characters a main focus:
Yes
dark
mysterious
tense
fast-paced
Plot or Character Driven:
A mix
Strong character development:
Yes
Loveable characters:
No
Diverse cast of characters:
Yes
Flaws of characters a main focus:
Yes
3.5/5 - WHAT AN ENDING!
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This was a really, really fun thriller. While not groundbreaking, I was entertained from start to finish and found the writing to be sound and atmospheric. And the end is dynamite, so that's all I really want in a thriller - pages turning, good writing, and a grand ol' ending.
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The psychological twists in We Were Never Here will have your head spinning, trying to keep up with what exactly is happening. This would be another good Spooky Szn book, because there were parts that were legit creepy.
.
Kristen and Emily have been BFFs for a decade and as they move into their late 20's, the start taking annual trips together. However, these trips aren't all sunshine and beach and booze, something goes terribly, terribly wrong. It occurred to me several times while reading that this is like the evil version of People We Meet on Vacation (lol).
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This book is fun entertainment and I def rec it if you want a page-turner with a creepy vibe.
.
This was a really, really fun thriller. While not groundbreaking, I was entertained from start to finish and found the writing to be sound and atmospheric. And the end is dynamite, so that's all I really want in a thriller - pages turning, good writing, and a grand ol' ending.
.
The psychological twists in We Were Never Here will have your head spinning, trying to keep up with what exactly is happening. This would be another good Spooky Szn book, because there were parts that were legit creepy.
.
Kristen and Emily have been BFFs for a decade and as they move into their late 20's, the start taking annual trips together. However, these trips aren't all sunshine and beach and booze, something goes terribly, terribly wrong. It occurred to me several times while reading that this is like the evil version of People We Meet on Vacation (lol).
.
This book is fun entertainment and I def rec it if you want a page-turner with a creepy vibe.