The debut novel a "True Crime Junkie" podcaster and it shows. It's amazing how easy this main character journalist has it in her investigation and how the small town gossipy nature proves no hindrance at all.

Apparently if you don't know how to properly wrap up a story, you can just stop writing and call it an "open ending"

Maybe I've read too many of these things but I guessed the entire thing at 54%.

Glad there was no forced romance between the journalist and the cop, but the ending left their relationship unresolved.

This Lie Will Kill You by Chelsea Pitcher

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dark mysterious tense medium-paced

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

2.25

More like 2.5 stars. It had a lot of promise as a premise but there was no suspense. Every prediction I had came true. Every. Single. One. That's just....not good. I should have been surprised at least once.

I'll make the rest of this sound coherent later, but here are the notes I made while reading:

Really really creepy. I got freaked. - 27%

Ruby and Shane's first meeting is so unbelievable it took me out of the story. Like teenagers don't stare at each other for that long and there is no way two teenagers would start dancing to somebody's ringtone. It's kind of like what universe is that weird thing about ruby touching the stars. Like people don't talk like that.

Ew. What the fuck.
"They're my absolute favorite. How'd you know."
"The universe told me."

Parker is so fucking gross. But he's also a caricature of a psycho manipulative boyfriend

"A grain of sand in a land of pyramids and gods. You just have to wait for the wind." NO ONE TALKS LIKE THIS.

Weird poetry. So annoying.

Ughhh. The universe, the universe. Magic. Magic.

Why does everyone love Ruby so much??

Parker continues to be cartoonish.

Brett's secret is like nothing. I legit thought this was common knowledge.

Ew Parker's so gross for what he did to Brett

This isn't Wuthering Heights motherfucker.

Oh my goodness. Just shut the fuck up. Please.

To Hell with the Hustle: Reclaiming Your Life in an Overworked, Overspent, and Overconnected World by Jefferson Bethke

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Did not finish book. Stopped at 14%.

This book might have been groundbreaking and revolutionary in its thought processes when it as written or even when it was published, but for years later the discussion had widened, depended, and evolved to the point where the content here feels out of date.

This could have been avoided with more research, more thorough and accurate analysis of the research that was included, and, ironically, goals for each chapter. (It's ironic because the first chapter discusses the author's aversion to goal setting and preference for "formations" which are basically just vision casting.)

Additionally, for a Biblical book, there was very little citations of or specific examples from the Bible. Instead it was broad statements about Christianity and Jesus' character that we should just accept. He didn't share how he'd come to these conclusions though which would have strengthened his argument.

Nothing More to Tell by Karen M. McManus

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adventurous mysterious fast-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? Yes

3.5

The book was fun and enjoyable and it was never boring, but it was a typical McManus murder mystery. Once you've read one of her books, you know the style of her writing and storytelling and this fell into the same pattern. There wasn't much unique or shocking about the book. It was a fun teen murder mystery.

I didn't really care for the fact that all of her novels are tied into the same world. The references to <i>One of Us is Lying </i> and <i>Two Can Keep a Secret</i> were unnecessary to the plot or characterization and were purely fan service, which I guess, does reward more reluctant Teen readers or encourage them to read more from the world. Admittedly, I am not the demographic.

I DO love the way she writes teens. Her books are grounded in the current moment and each teen has a real voice and realistic reactions to situations. I've never had a student read one of her books and roll their eyes. Even my struggling readers are able to follow along and make more in depth inferences about plot, motivation, and characterization because of the way she writes.

I would recommend this for anyone looking for a beach read or to any of my students, but don't expect the same kind of shock and awe as with other mysteries.

Jesus Over Everything: Uncomplicating the Daily Struggle to Put Jesus First by Lisa Whittle

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Did not finish book. Stopped at 56%.

The book became way more about the author just talking about herself and working through some things than helping others grow as Christians.

House of Hollow by Krystal Sutherland

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adventurous dark mysterious fast-paced