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thepaperbackplanner's reviews
335 reviews
The Ministry of Time by Kaliane Bradley
5.0
Thanks to Avid Reader Press and NetGalley for access to this ARC in exchange for an honest review!
I'm glad to have ended 2023 with a great read! I'm also glad I sat with it for a minute before writing a review, because time has tipped the scales from 4 to 5 stars. I was completely taken with the main characters, the sense of found family that emerged, and the underlying mystery. I loved the way Gore's flashbacks were stitched throughout the modern story. And the mixing of genres — from sci-fi to romance to spy thriller — really worked for me. I was left unable to stop thinking about these characters, their triumphs and their flaws, and the varying paths their futures could take long after I finished reading. Check this out if you like time-travel stories (or fanfic about Steve/Bucky getting used to modern times OK BYEEEE)!
I'm glad to have ended 2023 with a great read! I'm also glad I sat with it for a minute before writing a review, because time has tipped the scales from 4 to 5 stars. I was completely taken with the main characters, the sense of found family that emerged, and the underlying mystery. I loved the way Gore's flashbacks were stitched throughout the modern story. And the mixing of genres — from sci-fi to romance to spy thriller — really worked for me. I was left unable to stop thinking about these characters, their triumphs and their flaws, and the varying paths their futures could take long after I finished reading. Check this out if you like time-travel stories (or fanfic about Steve/Bucky getting used to modern times OK BYEEEE)!
How to Sell a Haunted House by Grady Hendrix
3.5
When Louise finds out her parents have died, she dreads going home. She doesn't want to leave her daughter with her ex and fly to Charleston. She doesn't want to deal with her family home, stuffed to the rafters with her father's academic papers and her mother's puppets and dolls. Most of all, she doesn't want to deal with her brother, Mark, who never left their hometown, gets fired from one job after another, and resents her success. Unfortunately, she'll need his help to get the house ready for sale because it'll take more than some new paint on the walls to get this place on the market. But some houses don't want to be sold, and their home has other plans for both of them...
Liked:
-creepy puppets
-some over-the-top violent fights against the bad guys
-unreliable narrators
-PERFECT creepy puppet voice, critical for making "KAKAWEWE!" scary!
-The "reappearance of bad guy scene" actually gave me goosebumps
Didn't like:
-pronunciation of "Louise" like "Luis"
-grouping chapters by stages of grief — good idea but not executed super well within the chapters
-took way too long to get scary
-I usually prefer deep dives into stories, but I felt this could have been maybe two hours shorter
Liked:
-creepy puppets
-some over-the-top violent fights against the bad guys
-unreliable narrators
-PERFECT creepy puppet voice, critical for making "KAKAWEWE!" scary!
-The "reappearance of bad guy scene" actually gave me goosebumps
Didn't like:
-pronunciation of "Louise" like "Luis"
-grouping chapters by stages of grief — good idea but not executed super well within the chapters
-took way too long to get scary
-I usually prefer deep dives into stories, but I felt this could have been maybe two hours shorter
The Sleepwalkers by Scarlett Thomas
4.0
Thanks to Simon Books and NetGalley for access to this ARC in exhcange for an honest revew!
WHITE LOTUS is exactly the kind of story about fucked up white people I love to watch over a long weekend, so the comparison in this novel's summary had me hooked. The mixed-media storytelling completely engaged me, like each letter or note was a puzzle piece I needed to place. The characters were reprehensible almost across the board, but damn did I need to know what they did and what happened to them. If you're OK with the CWs and in need of a summer thriller, add this to your TBR!
WHITE LOTUS is exactly the kind of story about fucked up white people I love to watch over a long weekend, so the comparison in this novel's summary had me hooked. The mixed-media storytelling completely engaged me, like each letter or note was a puzzle piece I needed to place. The characters were reprehensible almost across the board, but damn did I need to know what they did and what happened to them. If you're OK with the CWs and in need of a summer thriller, add this to your TBR!
The Prospects by KT Hoffman
5.0
Thanks to The Dial Press and NetGalley for this ARC in exchange for an honest review!
I read this in one day and when I finished it, I hugged my ipad to my chest and made this face: 🥹 I loved Gene's story. It was so full of heart — of love for himself, his teammates, the game of baseball. I have a lot of great memories of watching baseball as a kid, especially from a hot tub on the screened-in porch in the humid Missouri summer with my grandad nearby. I thought of those memories throughout this read, loving how the novel helped me entwine them with my queer adulthood. I could say much more but I'll end simply: You should read this.
I read this in one day and when I finished it, I hugged my ipad to my chest and made this face: 🥹 I loved Gene's story. It was so full of heart — of love for himself, his teammates, the game of baseball. I have a lot of great memories of watching baseball as a kid, especially from a hot tub on the screened-in porch in the humid Missouri summer with my grandad nearby. I thought of those memories throughout this read, loving how the novel helped me entwine them with my queer adulthood. I could say much more but I'll end simply: You should read this.
The Hunting Party by Lucy Foley
4.0
The audiobook version of this novel automatically gets an extra star because I would listen to Moira Quirk read my junk mail. She was perfect as Miranda. The other narrators made for a well-rounded cast and compelling listening. The story itself was fairly predictable, though I didn't spot every single twist approaching. I liked this more than DAISY DARKER, perhaps because I had more fun disliking many of the terrible characters here? Hopefully I'll have a nice time with Foley's other works in the future, too!
The Last Word by Taylor Adams
2.0
I listened to the bulk of this audiobook during a weekend when I was home alone with our dogs and I did not have nightmares. If you know me, you know I'm a huge baby about being home alone, so this should indicate my feelings about this book, lol. The pacing felt off to me, speeding along in the first few chapters before dragging through the middle, then absolutely flying through the final twists. I also didn't love that some of the main conflict involves exploiting a person's mental illness and portraying them as dangerous because of it. This wasn't for me... but I'm not taking any chances with a one-star review!
The Writing Retreat by Julia Bartz
3.0
This wintery thriller was pretty OK. The writing retreat setting drew me in, and while I found the two main protagonists(?) rather irritating, the others kept me interested. The major tone shift that ushers in the novel's final act was quite a shock, even if I saw parts of the twist coming. I'm not sure I found the resolution very satisfying, but the very, very end? Fucked up in just the right way. Overall, it was a good background listen for chores.
Thirst by Marina Yuszczuk
4.0
Thanks to Dutton Books and NetGalley for access to this ARC in exchange for an honest review!
I really enjoyed the first half of this novel, the time we spent with our vampire main character. Her story, filled with tragedy, is lush and compelling. I began to check out when we got to the present and our other main character's struggle as her mother succumbs to a terminal illness, perhaps because I simply do not wish to consider that topic for too long. But the ending reeled me back in as the women entered one another's orbit. While the final pages came at me fast, I enjoyed the story's resolution. Check this one out when it releases in March!
I really enjoyed the first half of this novel, the time we spent with our vampire main character. Her story, filled with tragedy, is lush and compelling. I began to check out when we got to the present and our other main character's struggle as her mother succumbs to a terminal illness, perhaps because I simply do not wish to consider that topic for too long. But the ending reeled me back in as the women entered one another's orbit. While the final pages came at me fast, I enjoyed the story's resolution. Check this one out when it releases in March!
Here for the Wrong Reasons by Lydia Wang, Annabel Paulsen
4.0
Thank you to NetGalley and Alcove Press for this ARC in exchange for an honest review!
What a fun read! I've been an on-and-off fan of The Bachelor for several years, so when I saw this arc was available, I had to request it. And I'm glad I did! As a lifelong horse girl, obviously I loved Krystin, and Lauren grew on me with every page. My dream season of Bachelor/ette would be an all-queer season, so Krystin and Lauren's love story is one I wish the producers had the guts to allow for in reality. The lead in the novel's fictional show was perfectly written — I didn't know shit about him or even care until the end, when he became a little more real. Come for the love, stay for the Bachelor winks and nods.
What a fun read! I've been an on-and-off fan of The Bachelor for several years, so when I saw this arc was available, I had to request it. And I'm glad I did! As a lifelong horse girl, obviously I loved Krystin, and Lauren grew on me with every page. My dream season of Bachelor/ette would be an all-queer season, so Krystin and Lauren's love story is one I wish the producers had the guts to allow for in reality. The lead in the novel's fictional show was perfectly written — I didn't know shit about him or even care until the end, when he became a little more real. Come for the love, stay for the Bachelor winks and nods.
Here in Avalon by Tara Isabella Burton
4.0
Thanks to Simon Books and NetGalley for access to this digital arc in exchange for an honest review! #SimonBooksBuddy
Tara Isabella Burton is back with another enchanting tale of an exclusive group, the people within it, and the people enthralled by it. I enjoyed the writing in this novel a bit more than in THE WORLD CANNOT GIVE, which is likely due in part to it being Burton's third novel, and partly due to my reading preferences as I get older and further from school. Here, the late 20s/early 30s women who act as our main characters, Rose and Cecilia, are both dynamic and relatable in their own ways. I wish we'd been able to spend more time with the Avalon, learning more about its history and players, but I suppose its air of mystery must prevail.
Tara Isabella Burton is back with another enchanting tale of an exclusive group, the people within it, and the people enthralled by it. I enjoyed the writing in this novel a bit more than in THE WORLD CANNOT GIVE, which is likely due in part to it being Burton's third novel, and partly due to my reading preferences as I get older and further from school. Here, the late 20s/early 30s women who act as our main characters, Rose and Cecilia, are both dynamic and relatable in their own ways. I wish we'd been able to spend more time with the Avalon, learning more about its history and players, but I suppose its air of mystery must prevail.