stuvonbon's reviews
270 reviews

I'll Be Gone in the Dark: One Woman's Obsessive Search for the Golden State Killer by Michelle McNamara

challenging dark emotional informative slow-paced

4.5

The hunt for the Golden State Killer is truly fascinating. Michelle McNamara was such a talented writer. True crime is a tricky subject- you want to engage your reader while doing justice to the victims affected, and McNamara did just that. Though I know nothing about the geography of California, McNamara’s explanations and descriptions of the variety of locations were vivid and detailed. I couldn’t stop reading (listening), even though the details were horrific and terrifying. I felt like I was sitting there with her, staring at her glowing laptop screen in the middle of the night. 

The worst part of the book is the reality that McNamara was unable to see justice brought and the GSK caught and arrested. I firmly believe her dedication to this case helped shed the necessary light on the crimes committed, leading to the eventual arrest. Thank you, Michelle, for your hard work.  

Bright Young Women by Jessica Knoll

challenging emotional mysterious tense slow-paced

• Plot- or character-driven? A mix
• Strong character development? Yes
• Loveable characters? Yes
• Diverse cast of characters? No
• Flaws of characters a main focus? No

5.0

Okay, so I didn’t realize that this book was based on true events! And I definitely didn’t realize until the last like… 15 minutes of the audio that I KNEW about these events! While the story-telling was a little slow, it helped that I was listening to the audiobook. I adore Sutton Foster, so that made the story even better! 

Pamela, Ruth, and Tina were such strong women and inspiring characters to me. I connected to each of them throughout the story, to the point like I felt I knew them and their struggles personally. I enjoyed the metacognitive moments and internal conflicts throughout. I would absolutely recommend this book, but I wouldn’t label it as a thriller or a mystery - just a fictional narrative inspired by reality. 

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Content Warnings

Graphic: Sexual violence, Murder, Violence, Rape, Sexual assault, and Lesbophobia

The Mysterious Case of the Alperton Angels by Janice Hallett

dark mysterious fast-paced

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

4.5

This story had everything I love! Cults! Murder! Mystery! The story was told through a series of messages, emails, and recorded transcripts. The mystery was completely wacky and confusing, but I couldn’t put it down. I got lost with some of the names, likely because I was reading too quickly at times. The end had several crazy twists that I was absolutely NOT expecting! I want to re-read now that I have all the answers, so I can see the red herrings and purposeful deceptions! I would absolutely recommend this book to anyone who loves mystery and is looking for something fresh!

None of This Is True by Lisa Jewell

dark emotional mysterious fast-paced

• Plot- or character-driven? A mix
• Strong character development? No
• Loveable characters? No
• Diverse cast of characters? No
• Flaws of characters a main focus? Yes

4.0

This was a twisty one! JF is a creepy, creepy gal. Obviously, we knew something was going to be off with her from the get-go, but I didn’t really anticipate all the things! Alix was likable enough, but her lack of communication with her husband and children irked me. I would have liked to know more about Erin and Roxy, and I would have been interested in knowing more about Walter. I couldn’t decide if I was supposed to like his character- what was true and what wasn’t? Especially some of the reveals at the resolution. At the end of the day, he groomed a child! And that’s super icky. 

I really enjoyed the way this story was told; it switched perspectives and there were narratives paired with interviews and other alternative forms of writing. This kept me interested for sure! I was hesitant to read this story because I hadn’t been the biggest fan of The Family Upstairs. After finishing, I’m definitely going to keep an eye out from more from this author!

A Court of Wings and Ruin by Sarah J. Maas

adventurous slow-paced

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

3.5

I liked the plot of the story, but it just felt very long. Fantasy is challenging for me, and while I think SJM is a strong writer, I just don’t feel like this is the series for me. I love the description and detail in the setting, but the story just felt long winded. I would’ve appreciated a faster pace.

The Villa by Rachel Hawkins

dark mysterious medium-paced

• Plot- or character-driven? A mix
• Strong character development? No
• Loveable characters? No
• Diverse cast of characters? No
• Flaws of characters a main focus? Yes

2.5

I loved the idea of this story; it was described as a thriller version of Daisy Jones and the Six. And, it started out the way. Maybe it is because I listened to this as an audiobook, but I found the love triangle (rectangle?) with Lara and Mari and the 1970s group to be really confusing. I couldn’t seem to keep track of who was a musician, who was a writer, who was dating whom, who had hooked up with whom, etc. Because
of this, I had a tough time getting into that part. For Chess and Emily’s storyline, I really enjoyed it for the first half. However, when secrets were revealed and ulterior motives proven, I just… I couldn’t get behind it. If a friend of mine did to me what Chess did to Emily, it would be unforgivable. I just can’t imagine. I found that aspect to be more discolors than the ending itself with Emily’s husband. This ending made me feel like how I felt after finishing “The Silent Patient”… all that reading for an ultimate WTF moment! Maybe I just couldn’t connect with any characters. Maybe I read it too fast. 

Also, the red herrings were stupid. Like. They were so on the nose! When I realized they were irrelevant, or at least not meant to be explained, it was just like. Frustrating. 

The Collected Regrets of Clover by Mikki Brammer

challenging emotional hopeful inspiring lighthearted medium-paced

• Plot- or character-driven? Character
• Strong character development? Yes
• Loveable characters? Yes
• Diverse cast of characters? No
• Flaws of characters a main focus? Yes

5.0

This book made me smile quite a bit. Clover was a wonderful character, and I enjoyed watching her grow and change throughout the story. Characters like Sebastian, Claudia, Sylvia, and many others were intriguing as individuals as well as in their relationships to Clover. I would have liked to have learned more about Clover’s backstory, but ultimately, I didn’t need it to enjoy the book. Definitely something I’d recommend - especially to readers who enjoyed similar characters like Molly the Maid, Elinor Oliphant, etc. 

The Hating Game by Sally Thorne

funny lighthearted medium-paced

• Plot- or character-driven? Character
• Strong character development? No
• Loveable characters? Yes
• Diverse cast of characters? No
• Flaws of characters a main focus? Yes

3.5

The Hating Game was exactly what I needed. After reading a particularly heavy piece of literary fiction, I wanted something light and simple. This book was exactly that. It was predictable, the characters followed a stereotypical trope, but they were like-able and interesting enough to keep me reading. Is this book the next literary masterpiece, maybe not. But it was a perfectly solid piece of romantic fiction that re-sparked my dimming interest in reading this month. 

The Measure by Nikki Erlick
Did not finish book. Stopped at 31%.

I want to finish this at some point! It’s just a biiiit too heavy for me right now. 

Long Bright River by Liz Moore

dark emotional mysterious reflective medium-paced

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

4.5

I am so glad I selected this book. As a lover of mystery, this story was flawless. The answers weren’t obvious, and there were plenty of red herrings. Each character has a strong personality, and everyone was equally lovable and frustrating. My only qualm with the story was that I wanted a flashier ending with more “after” information. However, the character development was strong enough that I can imagine possible scenarios for future fake chapters. 

Overall, this story was moving and emotional; it humanized a group of people who are often forgotten or disregarded. The story called attention to many systemic problems with the police force and the power officers can have over others. I absolutely recommend this!