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bybrookenelson's reviews
171 reviews
The Selection by Kiera Cass
4.0
This is officially the best romance book I've ever read. Perhaps that's because I've never read a romance book before. Regardless, it's still a cute story, and it just might have changed my opinion on the genre.
LINK TO MY FULL PODCAST REVIEW HERE.
My Blog | My YA Thriller Books | Instagram | YouTube | Twitter | Linktree
LINK TO MY FULL PODCAST REVIEW HERE.
My Blog | My YA Thriller Books | Instagram | YouTube | Twitter | Linktree
Dracula by Bram Stoker
4.0
I've got severely mixed feelings on this one, friends. But, in the end, it's a yes.
While I love Dracula and the concept of Dracula and the movies I've seen retelling the story, its original form drags a bit. It had me in the beginning, completely. I was immersed. I was engrossed. I was in love with this story and totally understood why it is deemed a classic and why it has remained popular through the years.
That being said, I can only read to the same vampire scene, women are upset, somebody faints, somebody almost dies, repeat so many times in one book. Toward the 70% point, I was struggling to get through it. It honestly felt like I was rereading the same passage again and again.
Don't let me persuade you against reading it though. It is, in my opinion, worth the read. Just be patient, and be prepared for an ending that you certainly are not expecting.
My Website | My YA Thriller Books | My Bookish Podcast | My Linktree | IG | TWTR
While I love Dracula and the concept of Dracula and the movies I've seen retelling the story, its original form drags a bit. It had me in the beginning, completely. I was immersed. I was engrossed. I was in love with this story and totally understood why it is deemed a classic and why it has remained popular through the years.
That being said, I can only read to the same vampire scene, women are upset, somebody faints, somebody almost dies, repeat so many times in one book. Toward the 70% point, I was struggling to get through it. It honestly felt like I was rereading the same passage again and again.
Don't let me persuade you against reading it though. It is, in my opinion, worth the read. Just be patient, and be prepared for an ending that you certainly are not expecting.
My Website | My YA Thriller Books | My Bookish Podcast | My Linktree | IG | TWTR
The Song of Achilles by Madeline Miller
4.0
I have so many thoughts floating around my mind regarding this book, yet somehow, every time I sit down to write them out, my mind goes blank. Suffice to say, I loved this story, so let's give it a try.
I'm not really sure anyway if I can put into words the exact feelings I got from these characters and this plot. It's a story I know, not particularly well but I've heard it in bits and pieces, generalized in mythological book after book as a mere moment in time, a backdrop to a more important story.
But this book. This brings it back to the spotlight where it belongs. Not just the Trojan War, but the story of Achilles in particular. And it brings to light a story I have thus far heard very little of: the story of Patroclus.
To be perfectly honest, Patroclus makes the book worth reading. His POV is what makes this a beautiful tale and an unforgettable one. His kind spirit and honesty and his view of the world and the people within it are shining star of this book.
Achilles, on the other hand... meh, I'll take him or leave him. I didn't care for him so much once the story wore on, and I got to the point eventually where I was rooting for Patroclus to get out of there and live his best life on his own, with his female, non-toxic bestie, but alas, we all (or most of us) know how this story ends. And I, unfortunately, cannot always have what I want. (Cue the tears.)
That said, I think the writing of Achilles truly encompasses the spirit of Greek mythology and the typical male Greek hero. Which is not in itself a bad thing. (It was the other bad things that made me wince.)
I did, however, truly enjoy The Song of Achilles for the most part, and this is in no way meant to be me bashing it. (See the four star rating? I'm no hater. I'm a fan!) I just do not understand the love for Achilles himself. He is rather unflattering and ultimately somewhat unlikable for me. The book on the other hand: super likable, super lovely, and not quite what I expected and that makes me happy.
If you made it this far... phew! You're a trooper! Thanks for hanging in there and reading my little rants. You're wonderful. And if you're looking for your next read, don't be afraid to go give my own YA thrillers a little peek right here!
I'll see you very, very soon for my next review!
My Website | My YA Thriller Books | My Bookish Podcast | My Linktree | IG | TWTR
I'm not really sure anyway if I can put into words the exact feelings I got from these characters and this plot. It's a story I know, not particularly well but I've heard it in bits and pieces, generalized in mythological book after book as a mere moment in time, a backdrop to a more important story.
But this book. This brings it back to the spotlight where it belongs. Not just the Trojan War, but the story of Achilles in particular. And it brings to light a story I have thus far heard very little of: the story of Patroclus.
To be perfectly honest, Patroclus makes the book worth reading. His POV is what makes this a beautiful tale and an unforgettable one. His kind spirit and honesty and his view of the world and the people within it are shining star of this book.
Achilles, on the other hand... meh, I'll take him or leave him. I didn't care for him so much once the story wore on, and I got to the point eventually where I was rooting for Patroclus to get out of there and live his best life on his own, with his female, non-toxic bestie, but alas, we all (or most of us) know how this story ends. And I, unfortunately, cannot always have what I want. (Cue the tears.)
That said, I think the writing of Achilles truly encompasses the spirit of Greek mythology and the typical male Greek hero. Which is not in itself a bad thing. (It was the other bad things that made me wince.)
I did, however, truly enjoy The Song of Achilles for the most part, and this is in no way meant to be me bashing it. (See the four star rating? I'm no hater. I'm a fan!) I just do not understand the love for Achilles himself. He is rather unflattering and ultimately somewhat unlikable for me. The book on the other hand: super likable, super lovely, and not quite what I expected and that makes me happy.
If you made it this far... phew! You're a trooper! Thanks for hanging in there and reading my little rants. You're wonderful. And if you're looking for your next read, don't be afraid to go give my own YA thrillers a little peek right here!
I'll see you very, very soon for my next review!
My Website | My YA Thriller Books | My Bookish Podcast | My Linktree | IG | TWTR
Dark Objects by Simon Toyne
1.0
Thank you, NetGalley, for providing an advanced copy of this book in exchange for an honest review.
I'm about to do something I really don't like to do: give a book one star. Unfortunately, I felt really backed into a corner on this one, and I just ended up having a pretty poor reading experience. As always, with reviews of this kind, I want to note that my rating is simply the opinion of one person, and there will certainly be people out there who enjoy the story. I firmly believe that every book has an ideal audience that will love it, but as much as I wanted to be a part of that audience, I am not.
My main issue ended up being the predictability of the story, in which case every "reveal" was actually something I guessed long before. I think much of this had to do with the fact that the author clearly had a bone to pick with a certain political party. I'm not naïve. I know modern politics are included in a lot of books, no matter the genre. But I think those points can be included while also surprising the reader by not making the "bad guy" the most obvious person possible.
I was really hoping for a grand surprise at the end, and for a moment I thought I got one. Then, there was a further surprise that ended up being exactly who I had pegged as the ultimate villain from about 10 percent of the way through, simply from gleaning the author's political leaning. (A bit of a bummer.)
I also found many of the characters unlikable. There was such a focus, by everyone, even the main characters I was probably supposed to like, on the color of people's skin, that I found it difficult to form any kind of connection with them. When the anti-gun, anti-violence, (stereotypical "girlboss") white female protagonist has a whole inner monologue about whether a man is Asian, Pakistani, or Bangladeshi-Irish (or something like that), while there's a dead person out there, I find it hard to sympathize or understand her train of thought.
All in all, I can honestly say this is not the book for me, but I do hope it finds its way into the right circles.
My Website | My YA Thriller Books | My Bookish Podcast | My Linktree | IG | TWTR
I'm about to do something I really don't like to do: give a book one star. Unfortunately, I felt really backed into a corner on this one, and I just ended up having a pretty poor reading experience. As always, with reviews of this kind, I want to note that my rating is simply the opinion of one person, and there will certainly be people out there who enjoy the story. I firmly believe that every book has an ideal audience that will love it, but as much as I wanted to be a part of that audience, I am not.
My main issue ended up being the predictability of the story, in which case every "reveal" was actually something I guessed long before. I think much of this had to do with the fact that the author clearly had a bone to pick with a certain political party. I'm not naïve. I know modern politics are included in a lot of books, no matter the genre. But I think those points can be included while also surprising the reader by not making the "bad guy" the most obvious person possible.
I was really hoping for a grand surprise at the end, and for a moment I thought I got one. Then, there was a further surprise that ended up being exactly who I had pegged as the ultimate villain from about 10 percent of the way through, simply from gleaning the author's political leaning. (A bit of a bummer.)
I also found many of the characters unlikable. There was such a focus, by everyone, even the main characters I was probably supposed to like, on the color of people's skin, that I found it difficult to form any kind of connection with them. When the anti-gun, anti-violence, (stereotypical "girlboss") white female protagonist has a whole inner monologue about whether a man is Asian, Pakistani, or Bangladeshi-Irish (or something like that), while there's a dead person out there, I find it hard to sympathize or understand her train of thought.
All in all, I can honestly say this is not the book for me, but I do hope it finds its way into the right circles.
My Website | My YA Thriller Books | My Bookish Podcast | My Linktree | IG | TWTR
The Wife Upstairs by Rachel Hawkins
3.0
I have very mixed feelings on this book. On the one hand, there were some interesting twists and things that made it the kind of thriller I like to read. On the other hand, there was quite a bit of predictability that just didn't vibe with me. It's sort of split down the center for me: the first half of the story was very enjoyable; the second half, I could have done without.
My Website | My YA Thriller Books | My Bookish Podcast | Linktree | Instagram
My Website | My YA Thriller Books | My Bookish Podcast | Linktree | Instagram
Perfect Little Lives by Amber Brown, Danielle Brown
1.0
I would love to say this was the fun, gripping thriller it was advertised as, but the truth is much more mundane than that.
The very first chapter of the story begins with an admittedly sort of funny rant about women hating her body hair because of men and how the patriarchy sucks and she is such an anti-feminist for utilizing hair removal devices... blah, blah, blah... In case you're wondering, the rest of the book doesn't get a whole lot more interesting.
As a big fan of thrillers, this was a disappointment. I am not anti-feminist or pro-patriarchy. I just think Perfect Little Lives skirted a little too close to being named Annoying Little Complainers.
The very first chapter of the story begins with an admittedly sort of funny rant about women hating her body hair because of men and how the patriarchy sucks and she is such an anti-feminist for utilizing hair removal devices... blah, blah, blah... In case you're wondering, the rest of the book doesn't get a whole lot more interesting.
As a big fan of thrillers, this was a disappointment. I am not anti-feminist or pro-patriarchy. I just think Perfect Little Lives skirted a little too close to being named Annoying Little Complainers.
The Curse of Penryth Hall by Jess Armstrong
4.0
Thank you, NetGalley, for providing me with an advance copy of this lovely book in exchange for an honest review.
Let me begin by telling you: it really is a lovely book. This is a great story for anyone looking for a fairly lighthearted mystery. As a thriller reader myself, I typically look for grittier, more intense stories, but it turns out this was the perfect change of pace for me after a long line of high-anxiety reads.
One of the aspects of Penryth Hall that I particularly enjoy is the simple writing style. It makes for very easy reading, which matches the genre of--dare I say--a cozy mystery very nicely. Now, perhaps that is an incorrect genre for this story: a cozy mystery. (I wouldn't know. I don't read them.) But that is what it feels like. A fun little fall/winter mystery book you won't want to put down.
Ruby Vaughn is very much the stereotypical "quirky, not-like-the-other-girls" main character, but those traits are not played up enough for it to be a bother. She is very run of the mill, but that also means she fits into the plot seamlessly.
Also, for my fellow readers who do not like overly/plentiful/gratuitous sexual content, I am pleased to announce that there is none. Hoorah! We win!
There is just so much to enjoy here if you're looking for a light read. I would definitely recommend it. Just don't be expecting something too serious. (Might I also add, it was a delight to read a story with a cat who is always just hanging around. I find very few stories, outside of my own, where that is the case, and it honestly adds a whole start on to my review. Thank you, Jess Armstrong, for the feline rep!)
My Blog | My YA Thrillers | Linktree | Instagram
Let me begin by telling you: it really is a lovely book. This is a great story for anyone looking for a fairly lighthearted mystery. As a thriller reader myself, I typically look for grittier, more intense stories, but it turns out this was the perfect change of pace for me after a long line of high-anxiety reads.
One of the aspects of Penryth Hall that I particularly enjoy is the simple writing style. It makes for very easy reading, which matches the genre of--dare I say--a cozy mystery very nicely. Now, perhaps that is an incorrect genre for this story: a cozy mystery. (I wouldn't know. I don't read them.) But that is what it feels like. A fun little fall/winter mystery book you won't want to put down.
Ruby Vaughn is very much the stereotypical "quirky, not-like-the-other-girls" main character, but those traits are not played up enough for it to be a bother. She is very run of the mill, but that also means she fits into the plot seamlessly.
Also, for my fellow readers who do not like overly/plentiful/gratuitous sexual content, I am pleased to announce that there is none. Hoorah! We win!
There is just so much to enjoy here if you're looking for a light read. I would definitely recommend it. Just don't be expecting something too serious. (Might I also add, it was a delight to read a story with a cat who is always just hanging around. I find very few stories, outside of my own, where that is the case, and it honestly adds a whole start on to my review. Thank you, Jess Armstrong, for the feline rep!)
My Blog | My YA Thrillers | Linktree | Instagram
Atalanta by Jennifer Saint
4.0
(Tune in to my full podcast review of Atalanta here.)
This book is so, so special to me. What a beautiful story from beginning to end, and a fascinating new take (for me) on Greek mythology. Atalanta provides a deep look into the morality and sensibility of mindlessly following the mythological gods and goddesses. Really a heartfelt and thoughtful work.
My only downside for this story was that it felt a little draggy at some points. I set it down and came back to it later, as it wasn't quite as captivating for me as Elektra. However, the good far outweighed the bad for me, and I was really impressed with this beautiful retelling.
My Website | My YA Thriller Books | My Bookish Podcast | Linktree | Instagram
This book is so, so special to me. What a beautiful story from beginning to end, and a fascinating new take (for me) on Greek mythology. Atalanta provides a deep look into the morality and sensibility of mindlessly following the mythological gods and goddesses. Really a heartfelt and thoughtful work.
My only downside for this story was that it felt a little draggy at some points. I set it down and came back to it later, as it wasn't quite as captivating for me as Elektra. However, the good far outweighed the bad for me, and I was really impressed with this beautiful retelling.
My Website | My YA Thriller Books | My Bookish Podcast | Linktree | Instagram