spaceonthebookcase's reviews
1080 reviews

A Killing Cold by Kate Alice Marshall

4.5

When Theodora Scott, or Theo as she goes by, meets Connor Dalton at college she has no idea what the future will hold. In truth, Theo doesn't remember a lot about her past either. When Connor brings her home to meet his family during Christmas as his new finance, things go from weird to creepy. This psychological thriller will keep you on your toes as family secrets and past guilts come to a head in A Killing Cold by Kate Alice Marshall.

This is my first Kate Alice Marshall, but now I have a backlist of books to add to my tbr. I really enjoyed the unreliable narration with the slow revealing of secrets along the way. The ending, while frustrating, was satisfying and realistic which is something I look for in thrillers. 

Thank you Flatiron Books for the gifted ARC. 

***50 States Challenge: California, Washington

It's Getting Hot in Here by Jane Costello

2.0

Lisa is a 40 something year old woman who works in producing reality TV, has been divorced twice, is helping her friend through a cancer diagnosis and is the mom of two preteen/teen sons. While I looked forward to a romance focused on an older FMC, the reality is, if you didn't tell me she was in her 40's I would have guessed 20's. 

The character development for Lisa is all over the place, as was the pacing of the novel. From a slow start, which I think is moreso because author Jane Costello tried doing too much, to a rushed ending; the book had potential but needed less stuff. 

The romance between Lisa and Zach felt forced from the jump and I just couldn't wrap my head around them ending up together. Also the constant use of her last name "Darling" was grating. 

While some may be able to relate to Lisa, as an almost 40 year old I struggled to connect and just waited for it to be over. 

Thank you to Zibby Books for the gifted copy. 

***Read Across the World: England

Boudicca by P.C. Cast

2.25

Admittedly I didn't know much about the Iceni tribe or the conquests of Queen Boudicca. For that I am thankful to have picked up this book because it inspired me to do some of my own research into who she was, how she is represented in Britain and the symbol she has become. As an American, we could use some Boudicca's right now. 

However the structure and the writing of this book was not well executed and switching to the audiobook format helped slightly because narrator Ell Potter nailed the accent. With clunky dialogue and the overuse of certain words, like Queen, I felt this book was entirely too long. It's like P.C. Cast had a desired word count she wanted to hit and elongated everything to fit that standard. The fact that the word Queen was used more time than there are pages was a bone of contention but also a lot of the graveling by her guard was just overdone. 

Another bone of contention was the modern feminism that got spliced into the personality of Boudicca. Also the use of the word rape was used more than once, but that wouldn't have existed in her time. P.C. Cast alternated between rape and brutalized when brutalized should have been standard. 

The romance was neither here nor there for me, I think I would have preferred the book without the bedroom scenes. 

In total, the subject matter of the book was interesting but the execution was not well done. 

Thank you to William Morrow for the gifted copy & Librofm for the gifted ALC.

***Read Across the Globe: England

People Pleaser by Jinger Vuolo, Jinger Duggar

2.0

Having loosely followed the Duggar family since the early days of fame, I am well versed in how uneducated the children of the family are because their parents prioritized religious propaganda over science backed curriculum. This book showcases that in both writing structure and the overuse of phrases and words. 

If you're a natural people pleaser (like me) and feel the need to use religion/God to talk you into why people pleasing is actually sinful so you should stop, the this book will be for you. For me, I rolled my eyes a lot. It sadly realizes that Jinger broke free from one cult (IBLP) and into another one (her husband). 

It's not the worst book, but it's not one I'd recommend. Thank you to Simon Audio for the gifted ALC.

***50 States Challenge: California

All the Blues in the Sky by Renée Watson

5.0

Wow! At only 182 pages I started and finished All the Blues in the Sky by Renee Watson in a single sitting. Inspired by the grief and loss after the COVID pandemic and the loss of her mother, All the Blues in the Sky follows the grief journey of Sage after she tragically lost her best friend in a drunk driving incident. From navigating her own feelings of guilt, finding new friendships and a safe space to talk, to digging into grief group and almost losing it, to a budding young romance; All the Blues in the Sky is a series of beautifully and poignantly well written prose and verses. When I finished the book I audibly said, "That was an amazing book," and I don't typically do that. While this book is written for middle grade, it truly is a book for all ages. Renee Watson is a talent! 

Thank you Bloomsbury Books for the gifted ARC to review. 

***50 States Challenge: New York 

A Babymouse Flip Book: THRILLS! (Queen of the World + Our Hero): (A Graphic Novel) by Jennifer L. Holm

5.0

Two books in one, A Babymouse Flip Book tells the story of Babymouse as a Queen and a Hero. From goofy antics, to themes of friendship and accepting who you are; I really thought both stories were great for their intended audience. The illustrations are really well done too. 

Thank you Random House Kids for the gifted copy. 

The Really Dead Wives of New Jersey by Astrid Dahl

2.0

After reading the synopsis I was really excited for this book as the premise sounded like something I'd like, however, the book failed to execute in a lot of areas. The overuse of names in each scene was overbearing. There were too many storylines packed into the plot and it took until I was half way through the book to really understand who was who and how they were related. The behind the scenes aspect of the reality show was a good though, but I don't think the author was comfortable writing in third person because it never quite flowed or clicked. This was one was miss for me.

Thank you Simon Books for the gifted copy.

****50 States Challenge: New Jersey

Dr. Seuss Graphic Novel: Green Eggs and Ham Take a Hike: A Green Eggs and Ham Story by James Kochalka

5.0

Sam-I-Am shows up to his friend's house wanting to go on a hike. Mr. Plot has to be pulled away from his video game and despite having mixed feelings, finds that he is braver than he thought he was. A great chapter book for younger grades, this graphic novel is certain to delight. The illustrations were well done and the story easy to follow. 

On a side note, books like these often bridge the gap for our dyslexic students who are ready for chapter books but can't quite handle pages full of text. I really hope Random House Kids continues to expand their chapter graphic novel books. 

Thank you Random House Kids for the gifted copy. 

The Worry Monster: Calming Anxiety with Mindfulness by Dr. Catherine Cook-Cottone

5.0

The Worry Monster is filled with anxiety about his upcoming field trip and using seven mindfulness techniques he is able to calm himself down. These mindfulness tricks, even though this book is aimed at young readers, are often used by my teenage daughter when she is felling overwhelmed. I like that each area ends with a question to engage young readers and the reinforcement that it's okay to have big feelings, but it's equally important to know how to calm those "what if" thoughts. This is a book every child and classroom should have. 

Thank you Random House Kids for the gifted copy. 

Many Things At Once by Veera Hiranandani

5.0

What does it mean to be everything at once? For the FMC it means being part Indian and part American, part Hindu and part Jewish. Our families are made up of a lot different combinations, but for younger children who are trying to discover who they are, it can be frustrating and confusing. Drawing from her own life as a child, author Veera Hiranandai does an excellent job at weaving those delicate emotions with such a rich history and background. Truly loved the book!

Thank you Random House Kids for the gifted copy. 

***50 States Challenge: New York