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thebarandthebookcase's reviews
279 reviews
A Cosmology of Monsters by Shaun Hamill
5.0
This is a beautiful, haunting, and thought-provoking horror novel about a family haunted by supernatural forces. If you like horror, literary thrillers, coming-of-age stories, family sagas, or just a good yarn, bump this to the top of your TBR.
Shaun Hamill nailed it with his debut - I was floored the entire time I was reading it. I loved it so much, it has actually given me inspiration to take a stab at writing fiction. I plan to recommend this to anyone and everyone I know, especially around Halloween (a large part of the story centers around the family’s business of running a haunted house, and it’s brilliant). I could gush about this chilling tale for hours, but I won’t spoil any plot points - just pick up a copy ASAP.
Shaun Hamill nailed it with his debut - I was floored the entire time I was reading it. I loved it so much, it has actually given me inspiration to take a stab at writing fiction. I plan to recommend this to anyone and everyone I know, especially around Halloween (a large part of the story centers around the family’s business of running a haunted house, and it’s brilliant). I could gush about this chilling tale for hours, but I won’t spoil any plot points - just pick up a copy ASAP.
Recursion by Blake Crouch
5.0
I won’t give too much away with the synopsis, but here’s an intro: What if you made a machine that allowed you to relive any of your memories? Would you jump in, or would you leave those memories to exist in fog, even though the machine could be a solution to Alzheimer’s? Even further, what if that machine falls into the wrong hands, and it’s discovered that the machine is actually altering the past? How would you even begin to rectify your well-intentioned yet disastrous mistake?
This book is a clever little brain-bender that will make you think on many levels. It reads like you’re watching a movie, with furious pacing and insane “set-pieces.” However, Blake Crouch does an outstanding job of infusing emotion and heartbreak in this intense sci-fi thriller. He similarly nailed it with Dark Matter, another favorite of mine from a few years ago. If you like action-packed novels or are looking for something to get you out of your reading slump, this is seriously the book for you. Trust me.
This book is a clever little brain-bender that will make you think on many levels. It reads like you’re watching a movie, with furious pacing and insane “set-pieces.” However, Blake Crouch does an outstanding job of infusing emotion and heartbreak in this intense sci-fi thriller. He similarly nailed it with Dark Matter, another favorite of mine from a few years ago. If you like action-packed novels or are looking for something to get you out of your reading slump, this is seriously the book for you. Trust me.
Red at the Bone by Jacqueline Woodson
5.0
I am in awe over this book. Woodson tells the story of a teenage pregnancy and the effect it has on two families. This novel is poetic and moving, with each word meticulously placed. I truly can’t believe how much Woodson was able to pack into this little book (it’s only 196 pages, and those pages are small!). I can’t wait to see how many awards she’ll rake in for this one.
Red, White & Royal Blue by Casey McQuiston
5.0
I’m so happy this book exists. Rom coms are not something I’d typically pick up, but this one was political and queer, so I gave it a shot. I am so glad that I did! This book is hilarious, hot, and hopelessly romantic, and as a result I was very here for it.
The book follows Alex, the smart-ass son of the first female president, and Henry, the prince across the pond. What starts as a rivalry between them turns into a forced friendship to preserve the image of U.S./British relations. The friendship quickly blooms into something more, forcing Alex and Henry to consider the political and familial consequences of their relationship. This book is such a joy to read - I need more Alex and Henry!
The book follows Alex, the smart-ass son of the first female president, and Henry, the prince across the pond. What starts as a rivalry between them turns into a forced friendship to preserve the image of U.S./British relations. The friendship quickly blooms into something more, forcing Alex and Henry to consider the political and familial consequences of their relationship. This book is such a joy to read - I need more Alex and Henry!
Baby Teeth by Zoje Stage
4.0
What if your young, mute child was trying to kill you? Like, full premeditation, ready to murder you when the time is right? Zoje Stage asks this terrifying question in her debut novel.
The story follows a mother, Suzette, and her daughter, Hanna, through alternating perspectives. Hanna is a mute child who is completely enamored with her father, and has no desire to share his attention and affections with Suzette. Despite Hanna not vocalizing her hatred for her mother, she absolutely shows it, cleverly making sure her father doesn’t see her torment of Suzette. All the while, Suzette is trying to figure out the disconnect between her and Hanna and determine the reasons of Hanna’s muteness and distance from her. However, as Hanna’s behavior becomes increasingly methodical and violent, Suzette realizes that Hanna doesn’t just dislike her. Hanna wants Suzette gone, for good.
This book fully disturbed me and had me glued to the pages the entire time. I had no idea where the book was going to go, as each encounter between Hanna and Suzette became increasingly horrific. It was fascinating reading from Hanna’s perspective to see the inner workings of her mind, simultaneously unveiling her startling intelligence in the methods she uses to try to off her mom and get away with it. This is peak family drama and just a pure blast to read. I think this book is a bit underrated, and it might be because it has been frequently categorized as horror. I view this one as more of a domestic thriller, and while not necessarily horror, it is absolutely unsettling. Highly recommended.
The story follows a mother, Suzette, and her daughter, Hanna, through alternating perspectives. Hanna is a mute child who is completely enamored with her father, and has no desire to share his attention and affections with Suzette. Despite Hanna not vocalizing her hatred for her mother, she absolutely shows it, cleverly making sure her father doesn’t see her torment of Suzette. All the while, Suzette is trying to figure out the disconnect between her and Hanna and determine the reasons of Hanna’s muteness and distance from her. However, as Hanna’s behavior becomes increasingly methodical and violent, Suzette realizes that Hanna doesn’t just dislike her. Hanna wants Suzette gone, for good.
This book fully disturbed me and had me glued to the pages the entire time. I had no idea where the book was going to go, as each encounter between Hanna and Suzette became increasingly horrific. It was fascinating reading from Hanna’s perspective to see the inner workings of her mind, simultaneously unveiling her startling intelligence in the methods she uses to try to off her mom and get away with it. This is peak family drama and just a pure blast to read. I think this book is a bit underrated, and it might be because it has been frequently categorized as horror. I view this one as more of a domestic thriller, and while not necessarily horror, it is absolutely unsettling. Highly recommended.
Fleishman Is in Trouble by Taffy Brodesser-Akner
4.0
I’m super into dissections of marriage, yet most of what I had previously read in the area was scholarly (thanks, law school!). Taffy Brodesser-Akner, acclaimed profiler for The NYT Magazine, brilliantly grapples with marriage and divorce in her first stab at fiction.
The novel follows a recently-divorced man reckoning with the implications of being newly single in an era in which dating most frequently occurs through apps. When his ex-wife goes missing, he is forced to grapple with the reality of his marriage to figure out what happened to her.
This was a blast to read. I cackled multiple times throughout, yet also felt for these characters immensely. While the synopsis might hint at a thriller, don’t be misled. This is a deep, complex book with much to say about marriage, divorce, gender, and class. While the narrative didn’t completely work for me, such as through the use of the first-person perspective being a bit jarring at times, I think this is an absolute must-read.
The novel follows a recently-divorced man reckoning with the implications of being newly single in an era in which dating most frequently occurs through apps. When his ex-wife goes missing, he is forced to grapple with the reality of his marriage to figure out what happened to her.
This was a blast to read. I cackled multiple times throughout, yet also felt for these characters immensely. While the synopsis might hint at a thriller, don’t be misled. This is a deep, complex book with much to say about marriage, divorce, gender, and class. While the narrative didn’t completely work for me, such as through the use of the first-person perspective being a bit jarring at times, I think this is an absolute must-read.
The Secret History by Donna Tartt
5.0
This is the book that reinvigorated my love for reading. I have always been a bookworm - I remember when I was a kid I would never leave the house without a R.L. Stine book in my hand. Law school kind of dulled my reading habits as I didn’t really have the headspace or time to read for fun. However, The Secret History completely changed that.
I read this one about two years ago after a trip to Portland. I visited Powell’s City of Books for the first time and found a used copy (if you haven’t been Powell’s, go book your flight!). I started reading on my flight home and could not put it down. When I finished, I ran to reddit and created a discussion thread, something I had never done before. I found that this one is widely acclaimed, for good reason!
Here’s a mini-synopsis: The novel follows six college students studying Greek classics together at a small and elite college in Vermont. Their studies become all-consuming, resulting in the group to killing one of their members by pushing him off of a cliff. This isn’t a spoiler - the murder is revealed in the first sentence of the novel. The reader then figures out why the murder occurred and its consequences.
I wish I wrote this book. It’s simply perfect in my eyes. The story is told beautifully and there’s really not a day that goes by where I don’t think about it. Every book I read is inevitably and unjustifiably compared to it, as I am eagerly awaiting another novel that will rock me like this one did. I don’t know if I’ll find one, but I’m content with that. I admittedly haven’t read Donna Tartt’s other two novels. I’m weirdly nervous to read them as my expectations are HIGH. They’re sitting on my shelf, so I will tackle them very soon!
I read this one about two years ago after a trip to Portland. I visited Powell’s City of Books for the first time and found a used copy (if you haven’t been Powell’s, go book your flight!). I started reading on my flight home and could not put it down. When I finished, I ran to reddit and created a discussion thread, something I had never done before. I found that this one is widely acclaimed, for good reason!
Here’s a mini-synopsis: The novel follows six college students studying Greek classics together at a small and elite college in Vermont. Their studies become all-consuming, resulting in the group to killing one of their members by pushing him off of a cliff. This isn’t a spoiler - the murder is revealed in the first sentence of the novel. The reader then figures out why the murder occurred and its consequences.
I wish I wrote this book. It’s simply perfect in my eyes. The story is told beautifully and there’s really not a day that goes by where I don’t think about it. Every book I read is inevitably and unjustifiably compared to it, as I am eagerly awaiting another novel that will rock me like this one did. I don’t know if I’ll find one, but I’m content with that. I admittedly haven’t read Donna Tartt’s other two novels. I’m weirdly nervous to read them as my expectations are HIGH. They’re sitting on my shelf, so I will tackle them very soon!