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booksamongstfriends's reviews
738 reviews
The Night House by Jo Nesbø
3.0
I’ve never been a fan of the “it was in my head” trope, and The Night House didn’t completely pull it off for me.
BOOK THOUGHTS
BOOK THOUGHTS
The Last to Vanish by Megan Miranda
3.0
This was almost a four star read for me! The Last to Vanish sets the scene in what is both eerie and familiar. A small town in the woods where mountains, tress, and trails are in abundance, but disappearances go unexplained. You know the kind of town where everyone knows each other, has only one of everything, and multiple people that work 2-3 different jobs to keep the town afloat? Yeah, that’s the vibe.
We are initially following Abigail, who works at the local inn. Abigail is not native to the town. Albeit she’s been there for quite a while, yet still feels a sense of otherness. The disappearances in this now notorious travel destination don’t help this feeling. Her curiosity itches at her but she doesn’t want to rock the boat of the small community she calls home. But this last disappearance of Landon West, a journalist, might kick up the kind of dust that can’t be settled.
Abigail finds herself more involved than she planned after meeting Landon’s brother, Trey. She feels his pain and hesitancy when he shows up at the inn with secrets of his own and looking for answers. Though this book is slow in the beginning, it delivers in atmosphere and monopolizing on its setting! Miranda paints a vivid picture of Cutter’s Pass, a place that feels equal parts secluded, homey, and menacing. It’s a slow burning tension that builds as Abigail becomes embroiled with solving Landon’s disappearance, discovering evidence, and bringing into question all that she knows. The book definitely picks up as more things coming to light around the disappearances, the inhabitants, and Abigail.
While I was initially along for the ride, I landed on 3 stars instead of 4. The story takes its time establishing the town’s eerie vibe, which, while effective, makes the first half feel sluggish. It’s not until the latter half that the plot starts to pick up to reveal twists and secrets. Sadly the reveals weren’t enough of a payoff for me. I was happy to see this eventual increase in pace, but I just didn’t feel as shocked as I would’ve preferred.
With that being said, I also had the audiobook for this read and enjoyed the narration. This was a decent read, but one I’m okay with reading once. I know others will enjoy it and I would pick up more from this author.
We are initially following Abigail, who works at the local inn. Abigail is not native to the town. Albeit she’s been there for quite a while, yet still feels a sense of otherness. The disappearances in this now notorious travel destination don’t help this feeling. Her curiosity itches at her but she doesn’t want to rock the boat of the small community she calls home. But this last disappearance of Landon West, a journalist, might kick up the kind of dust that can’t be settled.
Abigail finds herself more involved than she planned after meeting Landon’s brother, Trey. She feels his pain and hesitancy when he shows up at the inn with secrets of his own and looking for answers. Though this book is slow in the beginning, it delivers in atmosphere and monopolizing on its setting! Miranda paints a vivid picture of Cutter’s Pass, a place that feels equal parts secluded, homey, and menacing. It’s a slow burning tension that builds as Abigail becomes embroiled with solving Landon’s disappearance, discovering evidence, and bringing into question all that she knows. The book definitely picks up as more things coming to light around the disappearances, the inhabitants, and Abigail.
While I was initially along for the ride, I landed on 3 stars instead of 4. The story takes its time establishing the town’s eerie vibe, which, while effective, makes the first half feel sluggish. It’s not until the latter half that the plot starts to pick up to reveal twists and secrets. Sadly the reveals weren’t enough of a payoff for me. I was happy to see this eventual increase in pace, but I just didn’t feel as shocked as I would’ve preferred.
With that being said, I also had the audiobook for this read and enjoyed the narration. This was a decent read, but one I’m okay with reading once. I know others will enjoy it and I would pick up more from this author.
The Specimen by Jaima Fixsen
4.0
This book may be slower than what many readers enjoy, but I found it compelling.
MY THOUGHTS
MY THOUGHTS
Sleep Tight by J.H. Markert
3.0
This one left me conflicted. I had such high hopes when I borrowed the audiobook from Libby, and while the premise intrigued me, the execution fell short of the gripping horror-thriller I hoped for. It’s not a bad book by any means, but the story felt uneven in ways that were hard to overlook.
Let’s start with the pacing. The book opens strong, introducing us to Tess, our protagonist. We know Tess to be the daughter of the arresting officer that put away Mr. Silence years ago. Though now a detective herself, she struggles to piece together her connection to killings of the past to help solve these present day crimes. The killer from Tess’s past is now finally being executed, and another killer rises up in his place. Both Tess and her therapist husband are thrown into a chaotic hunt for answers and this new killer who goes by the name The Outcast. Not only is The Outcast behind the death of Tess’s parents, but has also kidnapped Tess‘s daughter along with another child. So you can envision this immediate sense of pressure and urgency to get things solved. But after this intriguing setup, the middle section drags considerably. The tension fizzles as the focus shifts to an overload of characters and side plots, many of which felt unnecessary. I’ll admit, I nodded off while listening, and when I woke up and rewinded, I realized I didn’t miss anything—not a great sign for a thriller.
Advertised as a horror novel, Sleep Tight leans more heavily into crime thriller territory with some supernatural elements sprinkled in. Imagine a mix of Criminal Minds, Found, SVU, and Evil. We have a strange lady living in the old serial killers house, a lone survivor with multiple personalities, a lead detective whose memory could be the key to finding her daughter, addiction, paranormal aspects, vigilantism, and yes, even more. it sounds like a entertaining read right? While ambitious, this blending of genres often felt overstuffed. Some plot points—especially regarding Tess’s daughter’s kidnapping—strained credibility, and the paranormal aspects felt underdeveloped, leaving me wishing the author had either committed fully to the supernatural or omitted it altogether.
Overall, I can say that I liked this book, and I definitely enjoyed reading it more than I disliked it. There were definitely moments of genuine intrigue and creativity, and I admire Markert’s ambition in putting together a multilayered story. The ending even ties up most of the loose ends, offering some sense of closure. While it didn’t deliver the spine-chilling horror I’d anticipated, I’m curious to read more from this authors and see how Markert’s stories unfold in other reads.
Let’s start with the pacing. The book opens strong, introducing us to Tess, our protagonist. We know Tess to be the daughter of the arresting officer that put away Mr. Silence years ago. Though now a detective herself, she struggles to piece together her connection to killings of the past to help solve these present day crimes. The killer from Tess’s past is now finally being executed, and another killer rises up in his place. Both Tess and her therapist husband are thrown into a chaotic hunt for answers and this new killer who goes by the name The Outcast. Not only is The Outcast behind the death of Tess’s parents, but has also kidnapped Tess‘s daughter along with another child. So you can envision this immediate sense of pressure and urgency to get things solved. But after this intriguing setup, the middle section drags considerably. The tension fizzles as the focus shifts to an overload of characters and side plots, many of which felt unnecessary. I’ll admit, I nodded off while listening, and when I woke up and rewinded, I realized I didn’t miss anything—not a great sign for a thriller.
Advertised as a horror novel, Sleep Tight leans more heavily into crime thriller territory with some supernatural elements sprinkled in. Imagine a mix of Criminal Minds, Found, SVU, and Evil. We have a strange lady living in the old serial killers house, a lone survivor with multiple personalities, a lead detective whose memory could be the key to finding her daughter, addiction, paranormal aspects, vigilantism, and yes, even more. it sounds like a entertaining read right? While ambitious, this blending of genres often felt overstuffed. Some plot points—especially regarding Tess’s daughter’s kidnapping—strained credibility, and the paranormal aspects felt underdeveloped, leaving me wishing the author had either committed fully to the supernatural or omitted it altogether.
Overall, I can say that I liked this book, and I definitely enjoyed reading it more than I disliked it. There were definitely moments of genuine intrigue and creativity, and I admire Markert’s ambition in putting together a multilayered story. The ending even ties up most of the loose ends, offering some sense of closure. While it didn’t deliver the spine-chilling horror I’d anticipated, I’m curious to read more from this authors and see how Markert’s stories unfold in other reads.
Yellow Wife by Sadeqa Johnson
3.0
3.5. The more I sit with this book, the more my feelings shift back and forth. Initially, I gave it four stars because I couldn't deny that the writing was good. It’s a read that breezes by while being both saddening and cruel. Yellow Wife also provides insight to the experiences of mixed women during slavery and the unlimited ways one can be held captive. But after much thought, I've settled on 3.5 stars—and here's why:
I’m not someone who typically enjoys loosely fictionalized perspectives of slavery. Especially those based around real people and the very raw and true traumatic experiences of that time. Without a doubt, the subject is critically important, and I recognize that many readers are only exposed to these topics through fictional experiences. Though this particular story is about a woman who experienced so much in enslavement and in her freedom! While I do respect the authors attempt; there’s just so many nonfiction accounts that honor these histories without veering into dramatization, which is something I kept returning to while reading Yellow Wife.
The novel fictionalizes the story of Mary Lumpkin through Phoebe. As a Virginian familiar with Mary Lumpkin's story—a tragic yet profound piece of Virginia's history—I found this definitely affected my rating. The author placed focus on the varying dark aspects of her life, but left me feeling that the depth and nuance of her resilience were overshadowed. It came across as attempt to raise the question of how Phoebe, a captured woman, felt about her oppressor and abuser in a light that didn’t feel appropriate. In addition, Phoebe’s character often came across as naive and reckless. I figured this played into the innocence of the character and a reminder that she, like Mary, was a child when forced to be a parent. It simultaneously ignored the sad reality that black girls of this time were abused into womanhood and therefore Phoebe would’ve been deeply aware of her decisions and the costs of them.
Moreover, the book's ending felt rushed. It’s not that I was surprised by how things unfolded—especially knowing the real history—but I was left feeling like the story deserved more resolution. Being fictionalized I think it would’ve been more interesting creating a full story for Phoebe and her children outside of enslavement. This could’ve opened even more conversation around colorism and passing at that time. Additionally, this book is one that initiates conversations about complicity, survival, and sacrifice. Yet I never felt these threads got the development they warranted. Early parts reminded me of *They Were Her Property* in its exploration of how white women upheld slavery—a fascinating angle that I wish had been more thoroughly explored here. As well as wrapping an ending that leaves out the large successes of the real life person for which Phoebe is inspired.
I’m not someone who typically enjoys loosely fictionalized perspectives of slavery. Especially those based around real people and the very raw and true traumatic experiences of that time. Without a doubt, the subject is critically important, and I recognize that many readers are only exposed to these topics through fictional experiences. Though this particular story is about a woman who experienced so much in enslavement and in her freedom! While I do respect the authors attempt; there’s just so many nonfiction accounts that honor these histories without veering into dramatization, which is something I kept returning to while reading Yellow Wife.
The novel fictionalizes the story of Mary Lumpkin through Phoebe. As a Virginian familiar with Mary Lumpkin's story—a tragic yet profound piece of Virginia's history—I found this definitely affected my rating. The author placed focus on the varying dark aspects of her life, but left me feeling that the depth and nuance of her resilience were overshadowed. It came across as attempt to raise the question of how Phoebe, a captured woman, felt about her oppressor and abuser in a light that didn’t feel appropriate. In addition, Phoebe’s character often came across as naive and reckless. I figured this played into the innocence of the character and a reminder that she, like Mary, was a child when forced to be a parent. It simultaneously ignored the sad reality that black girls of this time were abused into womanhood and therefore Phoebe would’ve been deeply aware of her decisions and the costs of them.
Moreover, the book's ending felt rushed. It’s not that I was surprised by how things unfolded—especially knowing the real history—but I was left feeling like the story deserved more resolution. Being fictionalized I think it would’ve been more interesting creating a full story for Phoebe and her children outside of enslavement. This could’ve opened even more conversation around colorism and passing at that time. Additionally, this book is one that initiates conversations about complicity, survival, and sacrifice. Yet I never felt these threads got the development they warranted. Early parts reminded me of *They Were Her Property* in its exploration of how white women upheld slavery—a fascinating angle that I wish had been more thoroughly explored here. As well as wrapping an ending that leaves out the large successes of the real life person for which Phoebe is inspired.