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woahshereads's reviews
129 reviews
The Woman in Me by Britney Spears
4.0
This was one of the better written Memoir’s I have read but in terms of depth, it was very surface level. I didn’t hate that fact but I wish we could have went deeper into certain feelings and situations she wrote about. I did appreciate how for the most part this was told in a chronological approach. There were a few flashbacks but it didn’t read like it was jumping all over the place and I was able to follow her upbringing thoroughly.
I also quite enjoyed the writing style Britney told her story in. I will agree that in some instances it read like a diary but I also felt like that was very authentic of her to do it in that way & it also felt like a genuine telling on her behalf. Overall, I enjoyed this book & I adore Britney. I am glad she has persevered through everything & has come out on the other side able and willing to tell her story in her own narrative.
I also quite enjoyed the writing style Britney told her story in. I will agree that in some instances it read like a diary but I also felt like that was very authentic of her to do it in that way & it also felt like a genuine telling on her behalf. Overall, I enjoyed this book & I adore Britney. I am glad she has persevered through everything & has come out on the other side able and willing to tell her story in her own narrative.
Keeper of Enchanted Rooms by Charlie N. Holmberg
5.0
Charlie N. Holmberg does it again!! I realllly enjoyed this book. This is the second book I have read by Charlie, the first being The Hanging City - which I also gave a 5-Star review too & boy has this one been on my list for ages. I am so happy I finally got around to reading this one.
Keeper of Enchanted Room is listed as a Historical Fantasy Novel & I was intrigued by what exactly that would look like - well it did not disappoint. I loved the telling of a historical component and background in a fantasy realm where the focus is on an organization that maintains and keeps up with magical houses & beings in a world where it [magic] seems to dissipate every year & generation. I thought this was such a unique perspective that we don’t read about or even think of too often but it was so playful and fun to read at the same time. I genuinely love historical fictions AND fantasy so this was the perfect blend for me. I felt so cozy reading this book and it was captivating enough to keep me turning that page. I think it was the perfect length with the perfect amount of mystery to keep me engaged. I also loved the characters so much & was so excited to see there were two more books in this series?! I love a good slow burn character development story so I am, again, intrigued to see where this storyline takes us.
Can’t wait to read more Charlie N. Holmberg books - I love her effortless writing style and can we take a moment for the book cover art?! All of her books are GORGEOUS & visionary! I really appreciate how each one is catered to the plot but together you can see the vision of the overarching story. I can’t wait to get my hands on physical copies for my book shelf!
The only thing I want to add is that there are some sensitive topics discussed in this story, although briefly, it was a surprise I didn’t see coming. If there isn’t a trigger warning already I would suggest there be one. I read the Kindle Unlimited version and I usually skip right ahead to the first chapter so I am unsure if there is one listed already.
Keeper of Enchanted Room is listed as a Historical Fantasy Novel & I was intrigued by what exactly that would look like - well it did not disappoint. I loved the telling of a historical component and background in a fantasy realm where the focus is on an organization that maintains and keeps up with magical houses & beings in a world where it [magic] seems to dissipate every year & generation. I thought this was such a unique perspective that we don’t read about or even think of too often but it was so playful and fun to read at the same time. I genuinely love historical fictions AND fantasy so this was the perfect blend for me. I felt so cozy reading this book and it was captivating enough to keep me turning that page. I think it was the perfect length with the perfect amount of mystery to keep me engaged. I also loved the characters so much & was so excited to see there were two more books in this series?! I love a good slow burn character development story so I am, again, intrigued to see where this storyline takes us.
Can’t wait to read more Charlie N. Holmberg books - I love her effortless writing style and can we take a moment for the book cover art?! All of her books are GORGEOUS & visionary! I really appreciate how each one is catered to the plot but together you can see the vision of the overarching story. I can’t wait to get my hands on physical copies for my book shelf!
The only thing I want to add is that there are some sensitive topics discussed in this story, although briefly, it was a surprise I didn’t see coming. If there isn’t a trigger warning already I would suggest there be one. I read the Kindle Unlimited version and I usually skip right ahead to the first chapter so I am unsure if there is one listed already.
House of Earth and Blood by Sarah J. Maas
3.5
GUYS?! NEVER did I think I would be giving an SJM book less than 4 stars but House of Earth & Blood is a solid 3.5 ⭐️ for me & I’m starting to think I just had too high of expectations going into it but…
Who said this was your favorite SJM book/series?! I think you’re lying to me.. If this is what I should be expecting for the book 2 & 3 I AM NERVOUS. Every fault I have with this book deals with Bryce and her character.
This writing felt so JUVENILE compared to ACOTAR & TOG & that’s saying something. This might also be the worst world building and female MC writing of hers yet. I was LOST when trying to visualize and imagine crescent City. Bryce is also pretty boring the majority of the book - her introduction is so surface level and I found it hard to emotionally connect with her.
There’s so much in this book that I am having a hard time getting over starting with how SJM presented Bryce to us. She is introduced to us as a party brat but then we’re supposed to get over it & pretend we all knew it was a facade she puts on for literally everyone in her entire life?! Like do we even know who Bryce really is? ** Spoiler alert: not until the last 10% of the book. Second, the world building compared to ACOTAR & TOG is next to none. Third, Danika dying in chapter 5 feels a lot like Sam dying in Chapter 8 of TOG. Except, we actually care about Cealana and Sam at that point. This entire book I was confused as to whether I am supposed to like certain characters or not? I couldn’t decipher the difference between playful sarcastic banter and someone just being an asshole - and that feels SO DIFFERENT and confusing to me because we know SJM can write that way & write it well.
An Angel’s most embarrassing nightmare and punishment is the loss of their wings but DON’T YOU WORRY, they grow back in mere weeks….
The horn being Bryce’s tattoo was surprising but in a disappointing way. I was expecting it to have something to do with Danika’s sword which would have been more interesting. I get SJM was trying to be clever here but it just didn’t work for me in this particular situation. Now Bryce’s starlight? We finally get to see her be the badass woman she is and just exactly the length she will go to save those who matter most to her & it felt so good to finally see that side of her. I hope it continues throughout the series because I could use more of this Bryce than the fake clumsy party girl persona she puts on.
This is a weird situation where I loved the Male MC’s more than Bryce - Maybe I am just expecting more from SJM in that regard but Bryce just fell flat for me for almost this entire book whereas I found all the Male MC’s (even some of the side male characters) more interesting than Bryce. Hunt, Ruhn, Aidas for crying out loud?! Yep would love to know more about them. Jesiba was even intriguing enough & I think we’re supposed to hate her but Bryce? I was just bored.
Like really Bryce agreed at one point to Fury that she “wouldn’t do something stupid, she would do something smart” & you’re telling me the only plan she could come up with was to go so far into debt she would never surface from it or become a slave to the worst person possible herself?! HOW is that NOT stupid?! I can’t…
RIP Lehabah, she did not deserve to die & we needed more time with her!!
Taking a break from SJM at the moment but will continue to read CC: House of Sky & Breath & don’t you even think I didn’t already pre-order CC: House of Flame & Shadow 🤣 I love SJM and am a STAN of her work but was thoroughly surprised by my lack of enthusiasm for this book. I hope this feeling doesn’t last & there are redeeming moments yet to come for me!!
Who said this was your favorite SJM book/series?! I think you’re lying to me.. If this is what I should be expecting for the book 2 & 3 I AM NERVOUS. Every fault I have with this book deals with Bryce and her character.
This writing felt so JUVENILE compared to ACOTAR & TOG & that’s saying something. This might also be the worst world building and female MC writing of hers yet. I was LOST when trying to visualize and imagine crescent City. Bryce is also pretty boring the majority of the book - her introduction is so surface level and I found it hard to emotionally connect with her.
There’s so much in this book that I am having a hard time getting over starting with how SJM presented Bryce to us. She is introduced to us as a party brat but then we’re supposed to get over it & pretend we all knew it was a facade she puts on for literally everyone in her entire life?! Like do we even know who Bryce really is? ** Spoiler alert: not until the last 10% of the book. Second, the world building compared to ACOTAR & TOG is next to none. Third, Danika dying in chapter 5 feels a lot like Sam dying in Chapter 8 of TOG. Except, we actually care about Cealana and Sam at that point. This entire book I was confused as to whether I am supposed to like certain characters or not? I couldn’t decipher the difference between playful sarcastic banter and someone just being an asshole - and that feels SO DIFFERENT and confusing to me because we know SJM can write that way & write it well.
An Angel’s most embarrassing nightmare and punishment is the loss of their wings but DON’T YOU WORRY, they grow back in mere weeks….
The horn being Bryce’s tattoo was surprising but in a disappointing way. I was expecting it to have something to do with Danika’s sword which would have been more interesting. I get SJM was trying to be clever here but it just didn’t work for me in this particular situation. Now Bryce’s starlight? We finally get to see her be the badass woman she is and just exactly the length she will go to save those who matter most to her & it felt so good to finally see that side of her. I hope it continues throughout the series because I could use more of this Bryce than the fake clumsy party girl persona she puts on.
This is a weird situation where I loved the Male MC’s more than Bryce - Maybe I am just expecting more from SJM in that regard but Bryce just fell flat for me for almost this entire book whereas I found all the Male MC’s (even some of the side male characters) more interesting than Bryce. Hunt, Ruhn, Aidas for crying out loud?! Yep would love to know more about them. Jesiba was even intriguing enough & I think we’re supposed to hate her but Bryce? I was just bored.
Like really Bryce agreed at one point to Fury that she “wouldn’t do something stupid, she would do something smart” & you’re telling me the only plan she could come up with was to go so far into debt she would never surface from it or become a slave to the worst person possible herself?! HOW is that NOT stupid?! I can’t…
RIP Lehabah, she did not deserve to die & we needed more time with her!!
Taking a break from SJM at the moment but will continue to read CC: House of Sky & Breath & don’t you even think I didn’t already pre-order CC: House of Flame & Shadow 🤣 I love SJM and am a STAN of her work but was thoroughly surprised by my lack of enthusiasm for this book. I hope this feeling doesn’t last & there are redeeming moments yet to come for me!!
Mother of Death & Dawn by Carissa Broadbent
4.5
4.5 ⭐️ I have so many thoughts.
First of all, this book was LONG & second, this was the most that has happened in all three books so I see why it was so long. It almost felt like some of the writing or story development could have happened in the first two books. It also felt like book one’s entire purpose (or Tisaanah’s entire purpose) was lost in the end? It felt like the book started off on one path & then forked into a different path as a side glance & then after that path came to end we just never went back to the OG finish line & that entire storyline happened in the background? That is my one and only major complaint. I think I said in book 2 that some parts dragged on whereas the war/battle chapters were over so quickly in comparison which I would say continues to be true in book 3. However, I have ZERO complaints about how this book ended. I loved the characters but in particular I felt for Aefe so hard. I know Carissa feels she gave Aefe justice to her ending but man IDK how to feel about that one!!
Overall, I enjoyed this trilogy. I can’t wait to read the Ashen Son prequel & continue to get glimpses into this world. I love Carissa’s writing, it is so captivating and interesting! The covers and book themselves are also gorgeous so catch me buying the physical copies ASAP!
First of all, this book was LONG & second, this was the most that has happened in all three books so I see why it was so long. It almost felt like some of the writing or story development could have happened in the first two books. It also felt like book one’s entire purpose (or Tisaanah’s entire purpose) was lost in the end? It felt like the book started off on one path & then forked into a different path as a side glance & then after that path came to end we just never went back to the OG finish line & that entire storyline happened in the background? That is my one and only major complaint. I think I said in book 2 that some parts dragged on whereas the war/battle chapters were over so quickly in comparison which I would say continues to be true in book 3. However, I have ZERO complaints about how this book ended. I loved the characters but in particular I felt for Aefe so hard. I know Carissa feels she gave Aefe justice to her ending but man IDK how to feel about that one!!
Overall, I enjoyed this trilogy. I can’t wait to read the Ashen Son prequel & continue to get glimpses into this world. I love Carissa’s writing, it is so captivating and interesting! The covers and book themselves are also gorgeous so catch me buying the physical copies ASAP!
Daughter of No Worlds by Carissa Broadbent
4.0
4 ⭐️ I so badly wanted to LOVE this book but in the end there just wasn’t enough to do it for me.
For starters, Carissa I love you but the first half of this book is so slow & painful to get through. I felt like some parts were so dragged out and uneventful yet other parts where I felt some interest and spark were over in mere sentences! I understand we are getting to know these characters and the world but it felt like SO MUCH information was being crammed into a book about one character that we brushed over some other very crucial information that could have helped set the tone for this series & help readers connect to the plot.
Aside from that, the second half of the book I almost felt the complete opposite. So many things come to light and begin to make sense. These characters start to face some serious hurdles/decisions & the relationships they all start to form with one another is so beautiful (let alone the slow burn between the two MCs).
Tisaanah begins to truly trust herself and grow into the badass woman that she is & I love watching her character grow. Max (could we have possibly thought of a more interesting and unique name?) feels like your older brother’s best friend that you have had a crush on for years but then years later down the road something clicks and a bond is created that can never be broken.. does that make sense? The protection this sweet soulful man has over Tisaanah is so fun to read - I can’t wait to see their relationship develop further. Nura can fuck off and Reshaye? I have a feeling we’re going to end up liking this odd creature in the end…
Carissa - thank you for writing such beautiful stories so well and I can’t wait to continue reading Tisaanah’s!
For starters, Carissa I love you but the first half of this book is so slow & painful to get through. I felt like some parts were so dragged out and uneventful yet other parts where I felt some interest and spark were over in mere sentences! I understand we are getting to know these characters and the world but it felt like SO MUCH information was being crammed into a book about one character that we brushed over some other very crucial information that could have helped set the tone for this series & help readers connect to the plot.
Aside from that, the second half of the book I almost felt the complete opposite. So many things come to light and begin to make sense. These characters start to face some serious hurdles/decisions & the relationships they all start to form with one another is so beautiful (let alone the slow burn between the two MCs).
Tisaanah begins to truly trust herself and grow into the badass woman that she is & I love watching her character grow. Max (could we have possibly thought of a more interesting and unique name?) feels like your older brother’s best friend that you have had a crush on for years but then years later down the road something clicks and a bond is created that can never be broken.. does that make sense? The protection this sweet soulful man has over Tisaanah is so fun to read - I can’t wait to see their relationship develop further. Nura can fuck off and Reshaye? I have a feeling we’re going to end up liking this odd creature in the end…
Carissa - thank you for writing such beautiful stories so well and I can’t wait to continue reading Tisaanah’s!
The Coworker by Freida McFadden
2.5
2.5 ⭐️ DISCLAIMER: I did listen to the audio version of the book in which I did not think the narrator did the book justice. Each POV was read in a monotoned voice with little expression or interest & thus I found myself disengaging with the plot. Nevertheless, I persevered through it.
Overall, I enjoyed this book & the twists and turns at the end. I was surprised to see that Dawn was alive and well but I was not surprised in the least that she had help from Caleb. It was so obvious that the new and shiny perfect boyfriend of the mean coworker had to be involved somehow. I will say I didn’t see the “Mia/Amelia” situation unfolding the way it did either. However, there was always something a little off by her emails..
Now for the troublesome parts of this book…Dawn is penned to be an antisocial and awkward person who has a profound love for sea turtles which in turn makes her the unlikeable character of this story. Dawn is clearly autistic & seems to have grown up in an unloving if not emotionally abusive household - although absolutely none of this is stated by the author. This made me feel so incredibly icky & uncomfortable to read, I don’t know how someone could have written this and thought “yeah, this sounds okay”. Dawn was consistently bullied throughout her life & experienced a traumatic loss at an early age, she never got the help she needed & yet we thought it was okay to right her to be murdered and bullied further by the hot coworker who is fucking her boss and stealing money?! LET ALONE, we end the book with the two of these people seemingly coming to an agreement to never expose one another’s secrets and just move on? I can’t.. Natalie is only furthering the abuse and continuing to take advantage of Dawn.
I know this isn’t a real story but the entire play out of Dawn’s character doesn’t sit well with me. There are plenty of other ways to write a character as being unlikeable - even with keeping their background of being bullied - without giving them a developmental disorder & not addressing it at all..Poor judgment and I know Freida can do better.
Overall, I enjoyed this book & the twists and turns at the end. I was surprised to see that Dawn was alive and well but I was not surprised in the least that she had help from Caleb. It was so obvious that the new and shiny perfect boyfriend of the mean coworker had to be involved somehow. I will say I didn’t see the “Mia/Amelia” situation unfolding the way it did either. However, there was always something a little off by her emails..
Now for the troublesome parts of this book…Dawn is penned to be an antisocial and awkward person who has a profound love for sea turtles which in turn makes her the unlikeable character of this story. Dawn is clearly autistic & seems to have grown up in an unloving if not emotionally abusive household - although absolutely none of this is stated by the author. This made me feel so incredibly icky & uncomfortable to read, I don’t know how someone could have written this and thought “yeah, this sounds okay”. Dawn was consistently bullied throughout her life & experienced a traumatic loss at an early age, she never got the help she needed & yet we thought it was okay to right her to be murdered and bullied further by the hot coworker who is fucking her boss and stealing money?! LET ALONE, we end the book with the two of these people seemingly coming to an agreement to never expose one another’s secrets and just move on? I can’t.. Natalie is only furthering the abuse and continuing to take advantage of Dawn.
I know this isn’t a real story but the entire play out of Dawn’s character doesn’t sit well with me. There are plenty of other ways to write a character as being unlikeable - even with keeping their background of being bullied - without giving them a developmental disorder & not addressing it at all..Poor judgment and I know Freida can do better.
These Silent Woods by Kimi Cunningham Grant
2.5
I didn’t love this book but nor did I hate it. It was SO SLOW up to about the 70% mark for me.
This book started out great. The world building and atmosphere really came through to me and it was easy for me to imagine the world Cooper and Finch lived in. It was captivating right from the beginning and I was hooked trying to figure out who these characters were & what Cooper’s history was. I especially loved the eeriness behind “Scotland”. The entire book, up to the end, I was trying to figure out what this guys deal was & why did he always seem to be spying on this young family & show up at the most random times. Surely, there had to be a purpose for his visits & lack of communication with Cooper.
But then, after the first few chapters I felt the storyline just plateaued. It was steady, nothing was really happening. It was tense at times with Finch seeming to press her dad about the outside world. But beyond what felt like surface level “leave it at that” arguments one can have with an 7/8 year old, I didn’t’t feel like Finch’s curiosity was as apparent as the synopsis made it seem. I felt that the storyline jumping didn’t help the writing progress & it didn’t keep me engaged. I was expecting cliff hanger chapters that would keep me turning the pages but I struggled to keep wanted to pick this book back up.
In the end, the one big terrible thing that Cooper was said to have done to get Finch back was very underwhelming. The entire story you are trying to figure out what it could have been and once I got to that part, I was left wondering “Okay, but what else? That’s it?”. The relationship/romance part of this book felt thrown in there and rushed. I almost wish she wasn’t introduced into the very END of the book.. It just didn’t feel like an Authentic relationship for me. The Christianity undertones I also felt like came out of nowhere? I mean it definitely helped build Scotland’s mysterious character but in the end I guess I just didn’t realize this is what the message of the book was about (& that is on me).
Ultimately, this wasn’t for me. I can see why other are readers are LOVING this book & overall if I did know more about this book going in I probably would have had differente expectations while reading. But, going in blind, I wasn’t thrilled (I also wouldn’t categorize this as a “thriller”).
This book started out great. The world building and atmosphere really came through to me and it was easy for me to imagine the world Cooper and Finch lived in. It was captivating right from the beginning and I was hooked trying to figure out who these characters were & what Cooper’s history was. I especially loved the eeriness behind “Scotland”. The entire book, up to the end, I was trying to figure out what this guys deal was & why did he always seem to be spying on this young family & show up at the most random times. Surely, there had to be a purpose for his visits & lack of communication with Cooper.
But then, after the first few chapters I felt the storyline just plateaued. It was steady, nothing was really happening. It was tense at times with Finch seeming to press her dad about the outside world. But beyond what felt like surface level “leave it at that” arguments one can have with an 7/8 year old, I didn’t’t feel like Finch’s curiosity was as apparent as the synopsis made it seem. I felt that the storyline jumping didn’t help the writing progress & it didn’t keep me engaged. I was expecting cliff hanger chapters that would keep me turning the pages but I struggled to keep wanted to pick this book back up.
In the end, the one big terrible thing that Cooper was said to have done to get Finch back was very underwhelming. The entire story you are trying to figure out what it could have been and once I got to that part, I was left wondering “Okay, but what else? That’s it?”. The relationship/romance part of this book felt thrown in there and rushed. I almost wish she wasn’t introduced into the very END of the book.. It just didn’t feel like an Authentic relationship for me. The Christianity undertones I also felt like came out of nowhere? I mean it definitely helped build Scotland’s mysterious character but in the end I guess I just didn’t realize this is what the message of the book was about (& that is on me).
Ultimately, this wasn’t for me. I can see why other are readers are LOVING this book & overall if I did know more about this book going in I probably would have had differente expectations while reading. But, going in blind, I wasn’t thrilled (I also wouldn’t categorize this as a “thriller”).
A Flicker in the Dark by Stacy Willingham
2.0
I think there are far better serial killer books out there that I don’t know I would recommend this one for readers seeking out this genre. However, I did enjoy that this book came from the view of the convicted serial killers daughter and was set 12 years after the initial killings - this created a unique perspective and was an alluring way to attract interest. I also thought the author did a great job with the details of her life growing up and where these characters are now. It was really easy to imagine & bring the words into view.
But unfortunately, I felt that the storytelling was slow and boring for what I was expecting. As anticipated, Chloe Davis has not yet healed from her childhood trauma of being the daughter of a notorious serial killer. Yet she herself is a drugged up psychologist who is seems to be paranoid still that her past will creep up to her and those around her will begin to unravel her complicated past. Although she wants no one to know of her past, she moved no less than an hour away from her childhood home, she hasn’t changed her name or appearance, she was engaged to a man who is quite literally the opposite of her & she gives an interview that exposes her more than anything else. The details just don’t add up here.
Continuing with details, I felt as if there were too many “fluffier” details to fill the space that often left the story as seemingly repetitive & again boring. It became obvious that her dad was not the actual killer 12 years ago but I will admit I struggled to convince myself it was her brother or fiancé over one another. I knew it had to be one of them but the twist and mysterious story in that regard was well done. I just felt that up until the near end of the book, the writing wasn’t enough to keep me engaged.
But unfortunately, I felt that the storytelling was slow and boring for what I was expecting. As anticipated, Chloe Davis has not yet healed from her childhood trauma of being the daughter of a notorious serial killer. Yet she herself is a drugged up psychologist who is seems to be paranoid still that her past will creep up to her and those around her will begin to unravel her complicated past. Although she wants no one to know of her past, she moved no less than an hour away from her childhood home, she hasn’t changed her name or appearance, she was engaged to a man who is quite literally the opposite of her & she gives an interview that exposes her more than anything else. The details just don’t add up here.
Continuing with details, I felt as if there were too many “fluffier” details to fill the space that often left the story as seemingly repetitive & again boring. It became obvious that her dad was not the actual killer 12 years ago but I will admit I struggled to convince myself it was her brother or fiancé over one another. I knew it had to be one of them but the twist and mysterious story in that regard was well done. I just felt that up until the near end of the book, the writing wasn’t enough to keep me engaged.
The Paris Apartment by Lucy Foley
2.0
Once again, I feel as if Lucey Foley’s writing falls flat. I just finished The Guest List (also rated 2 ⭐️) & I had higher hopes going into this one but yet again I found myself disappointed. I think my main problem with her writing is that her stories start right in the middle of the “mystery” itself so there is no built up tension or wonder going into the reading. You don’t get a chance to connect with any of the characters and as a result, you don’t care who did it or what happens to them. About 53% of the way through I had to ask myself if I really cared to finish it & I as I am not one to DNF - I powered through. But it was a struggle.
For this book, I found myself not caring so much for Ben or Jess & honestly most if not all of the other characters. The book was melodramatic with a slight anticipation for “what happens next” but, spoiler alert, nothing ever does. Jess does nothing to aid the search for her missing brother aside from asking her rude “neighbors” a single consistent question “when did you last seem him?” & she never probes any further because she doesn’t want to overstep? Call attention to herself?! HELLO YOUR BROTHER IS MYSTERIOUSLY MISSING, THERE IS BLOOD AND BLEACH IN HIS APARTMENT AND ALL OF HIS NEIGHBORS ARE BEING VAGUE ASSHOLES?! Yeah, seems likely.
So after nothing happens for about 80% of the book, the neighbors suddenly start to feel uneasy about her presence after she’s done nothing to reveal the truth and nothing to suggest she knows what happened to her brother which results in an ending so quick and abrupt and, just as I felt for The Guest List, was underwhelming & not surprising or shocking at all; especially for something often advertised as a mystery/thriller & highly praised on BookTok.
Overall, I don’t think Lucey Foley is the mystery author for me moving forward.
For this book, I found myself not caring so much for Ben or Jess & honestly most if not all of the other characters. The book was melodramatic with a slight anticipation for “what happens next” but, spoiler alert, nothing ever does. Jess does nothing to aid the search for her missing brother aside from asking her rude “neighbors” a single consistent question “when did you last seem him?” & she never probes any further because she doesn’t want to overstep? Call attention to herself?! HELLO YOUR BROTHER IS MYSTERIOUSLY MISSING, THERE IS BLOOD AND BLEACH IN HIS APARTMENT AND ALL OF HIS NEIGHBORS ARE BEING VAGUE ASSHOLES?! Yeah, seems likely.
So after nothing happens for about 80% of the book, the neighbors suddenly start to feel uneasy about her presence after she’s done nothing to reveal the truth and nothing to suggest she knows what happened to her brother which results in an ending so quick and abrupt and, just as I felt for The Guest List, was underwhelming & not surprising or shocking at all; especially for something often advertised as a mystery/thriller & highly praised on BookTok.
Overall, I don’t think Lucey Foley is the mystery author for me moving forward.