staceen's reviews
57 reviews

Erasure by Percival Everett

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challenging funny medium-paced
  • Plot- or character-driven? Plot
  • Loveable characters? It's complicated
  • Diverse cast of characters? Yes
  • Flaws of characters a main focus? It's complicated

4.0

I wanted to read this before seeing American Fiction. It's given me a lot to think about, and I do feel like some of it is too smart for me, but overall I really enjoyed it. I can't recommend the audiobook enough. 
The Villa by Rachel Hawkins

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dark mysterious tense medium-paced
  • Loveable characters? It's complicated
  • Diverse cast of characters? No

5.0

It took me a minute to get into the 70s plot, but once I did, I flew through this book. A fun thriller that I thought was really different. I was a little surprised by some of the author's choices, but not mad. 
For example, Matt actually wasn't poisoning Em, Chess was telling the truth about only sleeping with him once, and are we not going to address the fact that Chess stole Em's book and wanted to take credit with her agent? I did love Mari's last secret at the very end.
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Hello Stranger by Katherine Center

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emotional funny hopeful relaxing medium-paced
  • Loveable characters? Yes

5.0

I loved The Bodyguard and I loved this as well! As a fellow brain surgery recipient, I actually felt that those topics were handled really well. I typically hate the misunderstanding trope in romance, but this one was clever and self-aware, even if I was screaming at my book during some parts. Predictable, adorable, and heartfelt, this was a standout for me. 
Just Another Missing Person by Gillian McAllister

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dark emotional mysterious fast-paced
  • Plot- or character-driven? Plot
  • Loveable characters? Yes
  • Diverse cast of characters? No

4.5

I looooved Wrong Place, Wrong Time so when this started a little slow, I prepared myself for a solid 3-star read. Detective Julia is working the case of a missing woman when a masked man threatens to reveal Julia’s daughter’s crime if she doesn’t pin the woman’s murder on a local man. The twist paid off, I stayed up til 1am to finish. Gillian McAllister does it again! I can’t wait to read the rest of her catalog. 
The Reunion by Kayla Olson

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hopeful lighthearted medium-paced

3.0

A grown-up star of a teen TV drama reunites with the one who got away when the show films a reunion. This was OK, the writing was good but Liv was the only character who was remotely fleshed out. The stakes weren’t ever that high and the conflict was meh. 
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I Have Some Questions for You by Rebecca Makkai

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challenging dark emotional mysterious reflective medium-paced
  • Plot- or character-driven? Character
  • Loveable characters? No
  • Flaws of characters a main focus? Yes

4.0

This took me ages to read due to a big reading slump. I liked it. A podcaster returns to her former boarding school to investigate a classmate’s murder years before.
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The Woman in Me by Britney Spears

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challenging dark emotional hopeful sad medium-paced

5.0

Although it was incredibly sad, it was wonderful to hear Britney’s side of the story. Obviously ghost written to within an inch of it’s life, but still very candid. The only way to read this book is to listen to the brilliant Michelle Williams read the audiobook.
Georgie, All Along by Kate Clayborn

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emotional funny hopeful lighthearted
  • Plot- or character-driven? Character
  • Loveable characters? Yes

4.0

Georgie comes back to her small Virginia hometown to crash with her parents and figure things out when she finds herself with an unexpected roommate in grouchy reformed-bad boy Levi. I thought this was really cute, I liked all the characters and I love when a rom-com has a great female friendship. The pacing felt a bit off, like, they got together too early, and it was a little slow in the beginning. 
What Have We Done by Alex Finlay

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adventurous dark emotional tense fast-paced
  • Plot- or character-driven? Plot
  • Strong character development? No
  • Loveable characters? No
  • Flaws of characters a main focus? Yes

3.0

An action thriller about a group of adult foster children with a secret who are reunited when someone is trying to kill them. There was nothing wrong with this book but I just didn’t really enjoy the experience of reading it. I wanted the entire book to be from Jenna’s POV, although that wouldn’t have worked with the story. There were so many story choices I (the critic with no talent for writing, who has never published several successful books like this author ha) would have made differently. 
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Most Hated by Kara Alloway

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dark lighthearted medium-paced
  • Plot- or character-driven? Plot
  • Strong character development? No
  • Loveable characters? It's complicated
  • Diverse cast of characters? No
  • Flaws of characters a main focus? Yes

3.0

A fun, if a little dark, quick read for fans of Real Housewives and other reality shows. Switches narrators between a few women and a producer on a show, shining light on the sketchiness behind the scenes. Overall, I liked it, but none of the characters had much dimension. The narrators were “good” and the other stars were not. I didn’t realize until I’d finished that it was written by a former Housewife of Toronto. 
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