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stacyrenee's reviews
279 reviews
Safe and Sound by Laura McHugh, Laura McHugh
challenging
dark
emotional
mysterious
sad
tense
medium-paced
- Plot- or character-driven? A mix
3.75
Adult
Mystery
Thriller
Set in Beaumont, Missouri
Something terrible happened to Amelia and Kylee’s cousin Grace, who disappeared while babysitting the young sisters. Six years later, they’re determined to find out what happened to their cousin.
Small ‘dead-end’ town setting.
CW: child molestation/SA
Mystery
Thriller
Set in Beaumont, Missouri
Something terrible happened to Amelia and Kylee’s cousin Grace, who disappeared while babysitting the young sisters. Six years later, they’re determined to find out what happened to their cousin.
Small ‘dead-end’ town setting.
CW: child molestation/SA
Tress of the Emerald Sea by Brandon Sanderson
adventurous
hopeful
medium-paced
- Plot- or character-driven? A mix
- Strong character development? Yes
- Loveable characters? Yes
4.5
YA fantasy
Pirates! A planet with 12 moons. MC lives on an island she can’t leave and has a thing for cups. She ends up finding a way to leave so she can rescue her love interest but ends up in a found family situation.
Very entertaining. Great world building.
I didn’t love the Princess Bride-style narration much but the overall story was fun. Loved the character growth.
Pirates! A planet with 12 moons. MC lives on an island she can’t leave and has a thing for cups. She ends up finding a way to leave so she can rescue her love interest but ends up in a found family situation.
Very entertaining. Great world building.
I didn’t love the Princess Bride-style narration much but the overall story was fun. Loved the character growth.
The Retreat by Sarah Pearse
challenging
dark
mysterious
tense
slow-paced
2.5
Adult
Contemporary
Mystery Thriller
Sequel to The Sanatorium
I've been trying to finish more book series lately but I lost interest in this one. It's probably my slump but I already can't remember much about this other than that it's another vacation setting with a dark past where Detective Elin needs to solve a murder mystery.
Contemporary
Mystery Thriller
Sequel to The Sanatorium
I've been trying to finish more book series lately but I lost interest in this one. It's probably my slump but I already can't remember much about this other than that it's another vacation setting with a dark past where Detective Elin needs to solve a murder mystery.
Murder Road by Simone St. James
challenging
dark
tense
medium-paced
- Plot- or character-driven? Plot
4.0
Adult
Paranormal horror
mystery thriller
A newlywed couple is headed to their honeymoon location when they come across a young woman on the side of the road with stab wounds. They take her to a local hospital where they end up as the main subjects and must do the work to help find the real killer, but this particular road ends up having a history of murder and as the story goes, if you see the Lost Girl, you'll be the next to die.
I always love the paranormal twists in St. James' stories!
Paranormal horror
mystery thriller
A newlywed couple is headed to their honeymoon location when they come across a young woman on the side of the road with stab wounds. They take her to a local hospital where they end up as the main subjects and must do the work to help find the real killer, but this particular road ends up having a history of murder and as the story goes, if you see the Lost Girl, you'll be the next to die.
I always love the paranormal twists in St. James' stories!
Authority by Jeff VanderMeer
challenging
dark
mysterious
tense
slow-paced
3.0
Adult
science fiction
Horror
I wasn’t as invested in this one as I was Annihilation but it helped me understand the changes in the film better.
science fiction
Horror
I wasn’t as invested in this one as I was Annihilation but it helped me understand the changes in the film better.
If the Tide Turns by Rachel Rueckert
adventurous
emotional
hopeful
fast-paced
- Plot- or character-driven? A mix
- Strong character development? Yes
- Loveable characters? Yes
5.0
Adult
Historical fiction
w/ romance
Set during the Golden Age of Pirates and the end of the Salem Witch Trials.
Maria (Muh-rye-uh) Brown decided to learn to swim before being sentenced to marriage to an older man that her father has chosen for her but she quickly falls for the young man named Sam Bellamy that teaches her to swim.
Sam Bellamy decided to sail off to make his fortune in scavenging for the crown but quickly falls into pirating where, as history tells, made him the richest pirate in history.
Interchanging POVs detail Black Sam Bellamy’s pirating and Maria’s hardships.
Happy ending!
I flew through this! It’s well-written, intriguing, and is more history and action / adventure than romance, which is my jam. I also loved that it is based on the real pirate, Black Sam Bellamy!
This is the author’s debut novel.
Historical fiction
w/ romance
Set during the Golden Age of Pirates and the end of the Salem Witch Trials.
Maria (Muh-rye-uh) Brown decided to learn to swim before being sentenced to marriage to an older man that her father has chosen for her but she quickly falls for the young man named Sam Bellamy that teaches her to swim.
Sam Bellamy decided to sail off to make his fortune in scavenging for the crown but quickly falls into pirating where, as history tells, made him the richest pirate in history.
Interchanging POVs detail Black Sam Bellamy’s pirating and Maria’s hardships.
Happy ending!
I flew through this! It’s well-written, intriguing, and is more history and action / adventure than romance, which is my jam. I also loved that it is based on the real pirate, Black Sam Bellamy!
This is the author’s debut novel.
The Last Heir to Blackwood Library by Hester Fox
dark
mysterious
tense
medium-paced
4.5
Adult
Historical fiction
Set around WWI in England
Ivy inherits Blackwood Abbey but there’s a secret (and a secret library) that will turn Ivy’s world in its head.
Historical fiction
Set around WWI in England
Ivy inherits Blackwood Abbey but there’s a secret (and a secret library) that will turn Ivy’s world in its head.
Violet Bent Backwards Over the Grass by Lana Del Rey
inspiring
lighthearted
reflective
fast-paced
5.0
Adult
Poetry
Beautiful, contemporary, whimsical
Poetry
Beautiful, contemporary, whimsical
The World Ends in April by Stacy McAnulty
challenging
emotional
tense
medium-paced
- Plot- or character-driven? Character
- Strong character development? Yes
4.0
Middle grade
Contemporary
MC’s grandfather is a doomsday prepper and drills her and her brothers every so often so when she sees a professor claim that an asteroid is going to hit Esrth, she takes it very seriously, as does her best friend, Mack, who urges her to start an ‘End of the World / Nature Club’ to prep their classmates for the possibility of TEOTWAWKI.
Lots of friendship dilemma, end-of-the-world anxiety, etc. Great character growth at the end.
Contemporary
MC’s grandfather is a doomsday prepper and drills her and her brothers every so often so when she sees a professor claim that an asteroid is going to hit Esrth, she takes it very seriously, as does her best friend, Mack, who urges her to start an ‘End of the World / Nature Club’ to prep their classmates for the possibility of TEOTWAWKI.
Lots of friendship dilemma, end-of-the-world anxiety, etc. Great character growth at the end.
Fish in a Tree by Lynda Mullaly Hunt
challenging
emotional
hopeful
inspiring
medium-paced
- Plot- or character-driven? Character
- Strong character development? Yes
- Flaws of characters a main focus? Yes
4.0
Middle-grade
Realistic Fiction / contemporary
Fish In A Tree by Lynda Mullany Hunt is a middle grade realistic fiction novel about a girl named Ally who has trouble reading and writing. Thankfully, she ends up with the right teacher to help her realize her potential.
This is a beautiful story about a child who struggles with a learning disability and has a positive, growth mindset message. It’s a must-read for teachers, parents, and students alike!
Realistic Fiction / contemporary
Fish In A Tree by Lynda Mullany Hunt is a middle grade realistic fiction novel about a girl named Ally who has trouble reading and writing. Thankfully, she ends up with the right teacher to help her realize her potential.
This is a beautiful story about a child who struggles with a learning disability and has a positive, growth mindset message. It’s a must-read for teachers, parents, and students alike!