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celeste_velocci's reviews
496 reviews
The Champions by Kara Thomas
mysterious
tense
medium-paced
- Plot- or character-driven? Character
- Strong character development? No
- Loveable characters? No
- Diverse cast of characters? No
- Flaws of characters a main focus? It's complicated
2.0
I really loved the first book in this series The Cheerleaders. I was really looking forward to reading this one but unfortunately it was quite a letdown for me. I connected a lot more with the characters in the first book and I feel like there was much more thriller/mystery to it than this one.
Eleven years after the infamous murders of the cheerleaders of Sunnybrook strange things start happening at the high school again but to another sports team. The football players. Someone in town knows that the football team isn’t the outstanding champions they portray themselves to be. A student and member of the school’s newspaper tracks down the hidden story of what the Sunnybrook football team is really like.
I enjoy this author’s writing and would love to read more of her work because the first book in the series was excellent unfortunately this one just missed the mark for me. I wish the first book would have just had its story end where it did instead of branching out into a new mystery at the same high school.
Eleven years after the infamous murders of the cheerleaders of Sunnybrook strange things start happening at the high school again but to another sports team. The football players. Someone in town knows that the football team isn’t the outstanding champions they portray themselves to be. A student and member of the school’s newspaper tracks down the hidden story of what the Sunnybrook football team is really like.
I enjoy this author’s writing and would love to read more of her work because the first book in the series was excellent unfortunately this one just missed the mark for me. I wish the first book would have just had its story end where it did instead of branching out into a new mystery at the same high school.
#CrimeTime by Jeneva Rose
funny
lighthearted
mysterious
fast-paced
- Plot- or character-driven? A mix
- Strong character development? Yes
- Loveable characters? Yes
- Diverse cast of characters? Yes
- Flaws of characters a main focus? It's complicated
4.0
This is just what I needed today! This audible original had me cracking up. I love Jeneva Rose. Her and her husband are so funny so when I heard they wrote a book together I knew I had to read it.
This was a quick and fun read to help with your reading goal. It had a lot of heart , humor , and some mystery in it. I recommend this one for sure! I went in pretty blind and I’m glad that I did.
This was a quick and fun read to help with your reading goal. It had a lot of heart , humor , and some mystery in it. I recommend this one for sure! I went in pretty blind and I’m glad that I did.
The Note: A novel by Alafair Burke
mysterious
tense
medium-paced
- Plot- or character-driven? Character
- Strong character development? No
- Loveable characters? No
- Diverse cast of characters? No
- Flaws of characters a main focus? It's complicated
2.0
Many thanks to NetGalley and the publisher for the gifted copy of The Note. All opinions are my own. This is my first book by this author and unfortunately it was kind of a flop for me. I really enjoyed the author’s writing and would love to read more of her books.
Three friends from their teenage years reconnect after life gets in the way as adults. While taking a reunion trip all together something sinister occurs. The friends realize that what is happening in present day is eerily history repeating itself.
I enjoyed the premise and the outline of the book but overall it felt kind of a miss for me. This does not mean that it won’t be a hit for other readers though.
Three friends from their teenage years reconnect after life gets in the way as adults. While taking a reunion trip all together something sinister occurs. The friends realize that what is happening in present day is eerily history repeating itself.
I enjoyed the premise and the outline of the book but overall it felt kind of a miss for me. This does not mean that it won’t be a hit for other readers though.
The Only Law of Attraction Book You'll Ever Need by Layla Moon, Layla Moon
emotional
hopeful
informative
inspiring
lighthearted
reflective
relaxing
fast-paced
I love listening to nonfiction and learning about new topics and topics I already love. I’m really big on being spiritual and manifesting so this was an awesome book to listen to teach me more insight and tips on a subject I find so intriguing.
Society of Lies by Lauren Ling Brown
dark
mysterious
sad
tense
medium-paced
- Plot- or character-driven? A mix
- Strong character development? Yes
- Loveable characters? Yes
- Diverse cast of characters? Yes
- Flaws of characters a main focus? It's complicated
4.0
A twisty dark academia mystery told from two sisters points of view and has a dual timeline, All of my favorite things. I really enjoyed this slow burn mystery. It kept me guessing and on my toes. I liked the characters and enjoyed trying to solve the mystery.
Maya seeks answers after the mysterious death of her sister Naomi. Naomi, a Princeton student was found dead on campus and the police are ruling it an accident but a sister's intuition is rarely wrong. Maya believes that her sister's death is connected to a decade old mystery and secret from her very own time as a Princeton student. The sisters seemed very close on the outside but as time goes on Maya realizes that both and her younger sister are hiding and holding onto sinister secrets.
Many thanks to Netgalley and Penguin Random House for the gifted copy. All opinions are my own.
Maya seeks answers after the mysterious death of her sister Naomi. Naomi, a Princeton student was found dead on campus and the police are ruling it an accident but a sister's intuition is rarely wrong. Maya believes that her sister's death is connected to a decade old mystery and secret from her very own time as a Princeton student. The sisters seemed very close on the outside but as time goes on Maya realizes that both and her younger sister are hiding and holding onto sinister secrets.
Many thanks to Netgalley and Penguin Random House for the gifted copy. All opinions are my own.
All Because of You: A Novel by Lissa Lovik
challenging
dark
emotional
mysterious
tense
fast-paced
- Plot- or character-driven? A mix
- Strong character development? It's complicated
- Loveable characters? It's complicated
- Diverse cast of characters? Yes
- Flaws of characters a main focus? Yes
4.0
Many thanks to NetGalley and Thomas & Mercer for the advanced copy of All Because of You by Lissa Lovik. First off, I can't believe this was a debut novel! It felt like I was reading a very seasoned author's work. I love thrillers and read them very often so it's sometimes hard for me to be wow'd by specific themes and tropes in thrillers. This book did just that.
A chance meeting in a grocery store one day creates a domino effect of obsession, lust, and chaos for two people. Boy meets girl. Boy stalks girl. You know that kind of love story. This book honestly creeped me out with the amount of sinister details there were. You truly never know who you are meeting when encountering a stranger.
Single mother and real estate agent Serena has been unlucky in love. Raising a teenage son and just trying to keep her head above water in all aspects of her life gets swept off her feet by a stranger she meets in the grocery store. Chris seems too good to be true but that is only because Serena has been always unlucky in love.
This is a heart pounding thriller that will have you at the edge of our set. I finished it in about a day because I could not put it down. This book releases July 2025 so be sure to add it to your summer thriller list. I have a feeling it will be a top read of the summer!
A chance meeting in a grocery store one day creates a domino effect of obsession, lust, and chaos for two people. Boy meets girl. Boy stalks girl. You know that kind of love story. This book honestly creeped me out with the amount of sinister details there were. You truly never know who you are meeting when encountering a stranger.
Single mother and real estate agent Serena has been unlucky in love. Raising a teenage son and just trying to keep her head above water in all aspects of her life gets swept off her feet by a stranger she meets in the grocery store. Chris seems too good to be true but that is only because Serena has been always unlucky in love.
This is a heart pounding thriller that will have you at the edge of our set. I finished it in about a day because I could not put it down. This book releases July 2025 so be sure to add it to your summer thriller list. I have a feeling it will be a top read of the summer!
Always You and Me by Dani Atkins
emotional
hopeful
inspiring
reflective
sad
medium-paced
- Plot- or character-driven? Character
- Strong character development? Yes
- Loveable characters? Yes
- Diverse cast of characters? No
- Flaws of characters a main focus? Yes
4.5
Wow what a beautiful story this was. I got choked up a few times while reading. The way the author wove together the past and present was done so incredibly well.
When Lily’s husband Adam is at the end of his life he makes his wife make him a promise. The promise is to go and find her best friend Josh who she had a falling out with the week of her wedding years ago. Adam tells his wife to forgive her best friend Josh and to also forgive him her husband. Lily and Josh were lifelong friends who were always intertwined in one another’s lives until their bitter falling out. Josh is someone Lily has kept locked in heart for many years. While dealing with the grief of her husband a year after he passes she sets out to find Josh again to fulfill her promise to her late husband.
This was a beautiful story of love, friendship , loss , grief, forgiveness , and redemption. Highly recommend. Available on kindle unlimited.
When Lily’s husband Adam is at the end of his life he makes his wife make him a promise. The promise is to go and find her best friend Josh who she had a falling out with the week of her wedding years ago. Adam tells his wife to forgive her best friend Josh and to also forgive him her husband. Lily and Josh were lifelong friends who were always intertwined in one another’s lives until their bitter falling out. Josh is someone Lily has kept locked in heart for many years. While dealing with the grief of her husband a year after he passes she sets out to find Josh again to fulfill her promise to her late husband.
This was a beautiful story of love, friendship , loss , grief, forgiveness , and redemption. Highly recommend. Available on kindle unlimited.
Dinner for Vampires: Life on a Cult TV Show by Bethany Joy Lenz
informative
reflective
medium-paced
Haley James Scott is a beloved character in my eyes but I never realized how much was hiding behind the actress Bethany Joy Lenz’s character on my forever favorite show One Tree Hill. I love reading memoirs because I always learn something new. It’s so interesting to read about someone’s life and journey straight from them. I wish this had a bit more One Tree Hill and Hollywood in it but I find it so hard to judge a memoir because who am I to tell someone how to tell their life story. Was it my favorite memoir ever? No. I did enjoy some parts but think I went in hoping for something a bit different than what it was.
Wicked Serve by Grace Reilly
emotional
hopeful
inspiring
reflective
medium-paced
- Plot- or character-driven? A mix
- Strong character development? Yes
- Loveable characters? Yes
- Diverse cast of characters? No
- Flaws of characters a main focus? Yes
4.5
I absolutely loved this one! It was by far one of my favorites of this series. I love these characters so much. I enjoyed that it was about two mature people who really strived for a healthy relationship. Every now and then I’m a sucker for a hockey romance! The spice was good - relevant to the plot. Great character growth and loved the tie in with mental health and dealing with childhood trauma.
The Last Trip by Kiersten Modglin
mysterious
tense
fast-paced
- Plot- or character-driven? Character
- Strong character development? No
- Loveable characters? No
- Diverse cast of characters? No
- Flaws of characters a main focus? It's complicated
2.0
Major lifetime movie vibes. I love a lot of this authors books but this one was kind of a miss for me! It just kind of seemed silly and far fetched. I wasn’t exactly sure where it was going and some things I feel like we still didn’t really get answers for? You can probably skip this one!