booksaremysoulmates's reviews
269 reviews

Any One of Us by Martyn Ford

Go to review page

emotional mysterious sad tense fast-paced

3.25

I recieved this book from netgalley but as always my review will be honest. I really liked the writing of this book as well as the characters. The plot of the book was good too but somehow it was lacking some more depth in the characters for me. It‘s a basic crime book that I always enjoy, but again I felt like I needed a bit more character depth for the plot to make more sense. Also the ending felt a little rushed for me personally. Other than that I really enjoyed the book and will definitely check out more from this author. It was a real quick read and one that was really easy to follow. 

Description:

Her old schoolfriends are dead. She might be next.
When Ruby hears from her best friend Elizabeth that two of their old classmates have been murdered, Ruby is more certain than ever that leaving her hometown was the right decision. But after Elizabeth suddenly stops responding to texts, and Ruby hears a third classmate has been killed, she knows in her heart what has happened. Elizabeth is dead too.
Missbrook Bay is a place haunted by memories Ruby wanted to forget, and people she never wanted to see again, but Ruby has no choice but to go back to investigate. While staying with her ex-boyfriend, she notices a pattern in their full school year photo—the killer seems to be working through victims in a specific order. And after her ex’s house is broken into, Ruby realises nowhere and no one is safe.
There are still many faces left in that photo. Any one of them could be the next victim—and any one of them could be the killer. And with each death, the killer is getting closer to Ruby.
Lapvona by Ottessa Moshfegh

Go to review page

slow-paced
  • Plot- or character-driven? Character
  • Strong character development? No
  • Loveable characters? No
  • Diverse cast of characters? No
  • Flaws of characters a main focus? Yes

1.0

I remember seeing this cover on TikTok a few times but I honestly never knew what it was about. But then I received a copy of the book from NetGalley and decided to give it a go.
First let’s talk about the authors writing before I touch on the plot of the book. Well the writing was quite all over the place for me, I don’t know how to really feel about it. I personally didn’t like that it switched POVs the whole time and that confused me a little if I am honest. Now to the plot….this book was different I guess. First of all, there are SO many triggers in the book so please check the trigger warnings before picking it up. I just didn’t like the story at all. Sure it might have a deeper meaning but that it got lost on me, might be my fault though. It’s weird, grotesque and just not good to me. This wasn’t my cup of tea and I am glad I finally finished it.

Description:

In a village in a medieval fiefdom buffeted by natural disasters, a motherless shepherd boy finds himself the unlikely pivot in a power struggle that puts all manner of faith to a savage test, in a spellbinding novel that represents Ottessa Moshfegh's most exciting leap yet Little Marek, the abused and delusional son of the village shepherd, never knew his mother; his father told him she died in childbirth. One of life's few consolations for Marek is his enduring bond with the blind village midwife, Ina, who suckled him when he was a baby, as she did for many of the village's children. Ina's gifts extend beyond childcare: she possesses a unique ability to communicate with the natural world. Her gift often brings her the transmission of sacred knowledge on levels far beyond those available to other villagers, however religious they might be. For some people, Ina's home in the woods outside the village is a place to fear and to avoid, a godless place. Among their number is Father Barnabas, the town priest and lackey for the depraved lord and governor, Villiam, whose hilltop manor contains a secret embarrassment of riches. The people's desperate need to believe that there are powers that be who have their best interests at heart is put to a cruel test by Villiam and the priest, especially in this year of record drought and famine. But when fate brings Marek into violent proximity to the lord's family, new and occult forces upset the old order. By year's end, the veil between blindness and sight, life and death, the natural world and the spirit world will prove to be very thin indeed.
Single Dads Club by Therese Beharrie

Go to review page

funny hopeful inspiring lighthearted reflective relaxing medium-paced
  • Plot- or character-driven? Character
  • Strong character development? Yes
  • Loveable characters? Yes
  • Diverse cast of characters? Yes
  • Flaws of characters a main focus? Yes

4.0

First of all let‘s talk about how much I enjoyed the authors writing. It was so easy to follow and made the book a quick and adorable read. It‘s a dual POV from both main characters in the book and honestly I think that was the perfect choice for this story in particular.
Finally a romance book where the couple isn‘t toxic even in the slightest. I enjoyed reading about their romance, their fears and all that. It‘s a romance book but it also talks about fatherhood, lack of good parents growing up, family issues and even more. I recommend it to everyone who loves a good, cute and quick romance. 

Description:

Rowan Quinn knows fatherhood is a role he doesn’t want to take on—until he unexpectedly finds himself a single dad. He uproots his perfectly constructed life to move to a tight-knit coastal community in South Africa where, with the help of his grandmother, Rowan has a shot at giving his son the family he never had.
Once footloose and fancy-free, former heiress Delilah Huntington is now a waitress in Sugarbush Bay determined to build a better life and a better self. So when she meets introverted Rowan, she makes it her personal mission to induct him into the town’s circle of single dads to give him the support he needs.
The more Delilah lends her help to an out-of-his-depth Rowan, the more Rowan begins to realize that family is what you make it…and, just maybe, Delilah could be part of his.
Das Paket by Sebastian Fitzek

Go to review page

challenging dark emotional informative mysterious reflective sad tense fast-paced
  • Plot- or character-driven? A mix
  • Strong character development? Yes
  • Loveable characters? It's complicated
  • Diverse cast of characters? No
  • Flaws of characters a main focus? Yes

5.0

Another Fitzek book finished for me. I can always repeat myself with each new Fitzek review that he is a genius writer. First of all the plots are always immaculate in every detail. His plot twists are absolutely perfect, that you never know what is coming next. I never really am able to guess what will happen next in the novel which is exactly what I want and need from a good psychological thriller. This book of his was no exception because it was just a genius as all his other books. I feel like this might be in my top 3 Fitzek books of all time. I really enjoyed the plot and the main character Emma was so likeable that I really rooted for her all the way and wanted to find out what happened to her and what is going on. Also I loved the part where he talked about mental illnesses and how sadly the majority of people still don‘t get that these are an illness just like someone with a broken bone to whom you can not just say „just use your leg again, it‘s not that serious.‘‘ These are topics that should be talked about and I‘m glad that he uses his psychological thrillers to also touch on those subjects. Like always, I am such a huge fan of his work and highly recommend his books to everyone.

Description:

Emma’s the one that got away.
The only survivor of a killer known in the tabloids as ‘the hairdresser’ – because of the trophies he takes from his victims.
Or she thinks she was.
The police aren’t convinced. Nor is her husband. She never even saw her tormentor properly, but now she recognises him in every man.
Questioning her sanity, she gives up her job as a doctor in the local hospital and retreats from the world. It is better to stay at home. Quiet. Anonymous. Safe. No one can hurt her here.
And all she did was take a parcel for a neighbour.
She has no idea what she’s let into her home.
Ex Hex by Erin Sterling

Go to review page

lighthearted medium-paced
  • Plot- or character-driven? A mix
  • Strong character development? N/A
  • Loveable characters? Yes
  • Diverse cast of characters? No
  • Flaws of characters a main focus? N/A

2.5

I saw this book quite a few times on booktok and was excited to receive a copy of it in exchange of an honest review. Even though I knew the book and heard the title quite a lot, I still went it completely blind. The only thing I really knew was that it was a romance book and that‘s it. Anyway, I personally enjoyed the writing style of this book. It was really easy to read and quite a quick read as well. The story had quite the potential since I love a good book that also includes magic but sadly I didn‘t like it as much as I thought I might. For me it read more like a YA book even though there was a little spice. It felt too rushed at some parts especially the ending felt a little out of the blue and rushed. It wasn‘t necessary bad but it also wasn‘t good, at least not for me. I still enjoyed reading it but it was lacking a little more story and again like I said, the ending was too rushed for my taste. Nonetheless the writing of Erin Sterling was good and I will probably read another book of hers but this one just wasn‘t what I needed it to be.

Description: 

Nine years ago, Vivienne Jones nursed her broken heart like any young witch would: vodka, weepy music, bubble baths…and a curse on the horrible boyfriend. Sure, Vivi knows she shouldn’t use her magic this way, but with only an “orchard hayride” scented candle on hand, she isn’t worried it will cause him anything more than a bad hair day or two.
That is until Rhys Penhallow, descendent of the town’s ancestors, breaker of hearts, and annoyingly just as gorgeous as he always was, returns to Graves Glen, Georgia. What should be a quick trip to recharge the town’s ley lines and make an appearance at the annual fall festival turns disastrously wrong. With one calamity after another striking Rhys, Vivi realizes her silly little Ex Hex may not have been so harmless after all.
Suddenly, Graves Glen is under attack from murderous wind-up toys, a pissed off ghost, and a talking cat with some interesting things to say. Vivi and Rhys have to ignore their off the charts chemistry to work together to save the town and find a way to break the break-up curse before it’s too late.
The Shadow of Perseus by Claire Heywood

Go to review page

adventurous emotional reflective sad medium-paced
  • Plot- or character-driven? A mix
  • Strong character development? Yes
  • Loveable characters? It's complicated
  • Diverse cast of characters? N/A
  • Flaws of characters a main focus? Yes

3.75

Finished another greek mythology retelling by Claire Heywood. This time it is the retelling of the story of Perseus but being told in the POV of the three important women in his life, his mother Danae, Medusa and his wife Andromeda. I liked that we got the story from the POV of the women because the story from Perseus POV would probably sound completely different. Personally I can not say how accurate it is to the actual myth since I‘m not that educated on them, especially on the story of Perseus so I won‘t keep that in mind for my review.
I really enjoy the writing of Claire, because it is so easy to follow and still sounds a little poetic at times. I liked reading this story, but I felt like at some parts the story was kind of rushed and could‘ve used a little more pages, thoughts of the women in Persues‘s life but nonetheless it was a good book and I‘d recommend it to anyone that likes a greek mythology retelling.

Description: 

Danae: Banished from her homeland thanks to a prophecy foretelling that her unborn child will one day cause the death of her father, the king of Argos, Danae finds herself stranded, pregnant, and alone in a remote fishing village. It’s a harsh new world for a young woman who grew up as a coddled princess, and forging a new life for herself and for her young son Perseus will be the hardest thing she’s ever done.

Medusa: As a member of a reclusive band of women who live deep in the woods, known as the Gorgons, Medusa has eschewed all contact with the outside world. That is, until the day she finds an injured boy named Perseus in the forest.

Andromeda: When a harsh sandstorm threatens to destroy her nomadic desert tribe’s way of life, Andromeda knows that a sacrifice will be required to appease the gods and end the storm. But when a forceful young Perseus interferes, Andromeda’s life is set on an entirely new path.
 
As Perseus becomes increasingly obsessed with the promise of his own destiny, his heroic journey casts a shadow of violence and destruction across all three women’s lives. But even as he tries to silence them, the women may find that reclaiming their voices is their only hope for lifting themselves into a better future.
Das Joshua-Profil by Sebastian Fitzek

Go to review page

adventurous challenging dark emotional mysterious reflective sad tense fast-paced
  • Plot- or character-driven? A mix
  • Strong character development? It's complicated
  • Loveable characters? It's complicated
  • Diverse cast of characters? No
  • Flaws of characters a main focus? Yes

4.75

I read another Fitzek book and honestly I always go in blind into his books and I feel like this is the best way to read them. Even though I suggest everyone to at least read the trigger warnings for each book because his books mention a lot of triggering subjects. 
Like always I love Fitzek‘s writing style a lot, I also loved that we had a few different POV‘s in this book. That really helped to keep the suspense but also make you understand each character a little more, even though I personally believe that this was the best way to really keep the suspense on a good level throughout the whole book. This didn‘t have as many plot twists as his books usually have but the ones that it had were perfectly placed in the story. Again another good book by Fitzek that I recommend everyone to read if you can handle the triggers in this book.

Description:

The failed writer Max is a law-abiding, dutiful citizen – unlike his brother Cosmo, who is detained in a closed psychological institute. But Max has never done anything illegal in his life. Until now.
In only a few days he will commit one of the most terrible and heinous crimes humans are capable of, he just does not know it yet. But some know about it and want to kill him before it is too late …
A Love to Last a Lifetime by Clare Swatman

Go to review page

emotional lighthearted reflective medium-paced
  • Plot- or character-driven? A mix
  • Strong character development? Yes
  • Loveable characters? It's complicated
  • Diverse cast of characters? No
  • Flaws of characters a main focus? It's complicated

4.25

First of all thanks to NetGalley for providing me with this book for review purposes. 
The first thing I want to say is that I love that it switches from the present to the past, this tool in writing makes so much sense to me, especially for this story. Other than that, Clare‘s writing is so easy to follow and I love that she ties each chapter together with a song if you feel like listening to those while also reading the chapters, personally I have my own playlist for when I read so I didn‘t BUT it‘s still nice to be provided with a soundtrack for the book. I have to say that at times in the book I was frustrated with Erin who is the MC of the book. I just don‘t like some of the choices she made at all but who am I to judge right? 
I loved that this was a romance story but somehow also touched on so many other topics like friends, family, taking care of yourself and so much more. It‘s such a good quick read and I actually enjoyed it a lot more than I thought I would.

Description:

The one that she wants...


Adam Bowers; handsome, funny and with the charm of a rock star, from the moment she laid eyes on him, teenage Erin was smitten. But first loves don’t always last, and after a whirlwind romance, Erin and Adam go their separate ways. Yet, Erin never lets go of the feeling that Adam may have been her soul mate...

The one that she needs...


Greg fell in love with Erin in their first week at university. Solid, trustworthy and hopelessly devoted to Erin, he knows he's better for her than the feckless Adam, who is forever leaving Erin broken-hearted, before winning her back with his charm. As far as Greg is concerned, it’s easy to promise the world, but it’s harder to love someone for a lifetime.

The one that got away...


Years later Greg and Erin are married, and although life hasn’t always been easy, Greg’s love for Erin has never dimmed. But when Adam comes back, in desperate need of Erin's help, everything changes.  Erin starts to wonder whether fate is trying to tell her something…
Will Erin risk it all for the man she had thought was ‘The One’?
The Color of Family by Jerry McGill

Go to review page

medium-paced
  • Plot- or character-driven? Character
  • Strong character development? N/A
  • Loveable characters? N/A
  • Diverse cast of characters? Yes
  • Flaws of characters a main focus? Yes

2.0

Fifty-Fifty by Steve Cavanagh

Go to review page

adventurous challenging dark emotional informative mysterious reflective sad tense fast-paced
  • Plot- or character-driven? A mix
  • Strong character development? Yes
  • Loveable characters? Yes
  • Diverse cast of characters? N/A
  • Flaws of characters a main focus? Yes

5.0

Finished the next book in the Eddie Flynn series, let‘s talk about it.
Fifty-Fifty is probably my favorite book in the whole series now, it is so well written and the plot twists in the series are everything. Again I am amazed at how Cavanagh describes the court process in the us, which is so weird to me considering that a jury of people with NO training whatsoever decide the fate of conviction. We do not have that in germany so reading about how it works is so interesting to me but somehow I am glad that we don‘t have the jury system in our courts to be honest. Anyway, the book is amazingly written and again I really like the MC Eddie Flynn a lot. I don‘t want to give too much of the plot away but let me tell you that this one was top notch. I loved the whole plot of the book and just couldn‘t put it down. I highly recommend this one, but again please check the trigger warnings for this book since it is a crime thriller which talks about a lot of triggering topics.

Description: 

TWO SISTERS ON TRIAL FOR MURDER. THEY ACCUSE EACH OTHER.
WHO DO YOU BELIEVE?

'911 what's your emergency?'

'My dad's dead. My sister Sofia killed him. She's still in the house. Please send help.'

'My dad's dead. My sister Alexandra killed him. She's still in the house. Please send help.'

One of them is a liar and a killer.

But which one?