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celeste_velocci's reviews
417 reviews
Killer House Party by Lily Anderson
dark
mysterious
tense
medium-paced
- Plot- or character-driven? A mix
- Strong character development? No
- Loveable characters? No
- Diverse cast of characters? Yes
- Flaws of characters a main focus? Yes
1.0
This one was just not for me….the premise sounded so interesting at first and I was looking forward to reading it but it quickly fell so flat for me. I was actually annoyed with all of the characters and the plot. I went in knowing it was a YA horror / thriller but it was way too sci-fi for me and the dialogue of the characters just was not working for me.
Candy Coated Murder: A Pumpkin Hollow Mystery, Book 1 by Kate Bell, Kathleen Suzette
lighthearted
mysterious
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? No
4.0
Halloweentown meets Nancy Drew in this cozy who dunnit mystery. This was perfect for the season and super fast paced. The dialogue wasn’t the best but for a quick and easy Halloween mystery it was good. This book was corny at times but going into a cozy mystery open minded knowing what it is and accepting that it is supposed to be a light read will help you along. I will be checking out the rest of the series when I need an easier read and or palette cleanser.
The Dinner by Herman Koch
dark
informative
mysterious
reflective
tense
medium-paced
- Plot- or character-driven? A mix
- Strong character development? No
- Loveable characters? No
- Diverse cast of characters? No
- Flaws of characters a main focus? Yes
3.5
it weaved together generational mental illness. It explained that a lot of people’s issues come from genetics and who our parents are and how they live their lives and raise us.
I didn’t like any of the characters because one was more despicable than the next. I am not a parent yet so I don’t know how or what I would do in a situation like this I would like to know from a parent’s perspective if they would cover a crime up for their child? If you know something is wrong with your child should you take steps in trying to correct or help the problem? Very interesting storyline and made me feel uncomfortable but in a mystery way.
This book won’t be for everyone - it was a little bit out there at times and most of the book was centered around one single outing at dinner. The flashbacks were helpful to piece it all together.
I didn’t like any of the characters because one was more despicable than the next. I am not a parent yet so I don’t know how or what I would do in a situation like this I would like to know from a parent’s perspective if they would cover a crime up for their child? If you know something is wrong with your child should you take steps in trying to correct or help the problem? Very interesting storyline and made me feel uncomfortable but in a mystery way.
This book won’t be for everyone - it was a little bit out there at times and most of the book was centered around one single outing at dinner. The flashbacks were helpful to piece it all together.
Daisy Darker by Alice Feeney
adventurous
challenging
dark
mysterious
reflective
sad
tense
medium-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
3.5
I enjoyed this one! It was great for spooky season and set around Halloween. It wasn’t my favorite Alice Feeney book but still enjoyable. I guessed one or two of the twists but the big reveal in the end was a shock to me. Some things in the end kind of seemed far fetched and that’s the only reason it’s not a 4.
I always say I know reading fiction is fictional but most of the time I still need things to be possible and not far fetched to really wow me. Overall it was a good read and I would recommend this one for sure.
I always say I know reading fiction is fictional but most of the time I still need things to be possible and not far fetched to really wow me. Overall it was a good read and I would recommend this one for sure.
Murder With a Hint of Pumpkin Spice by Laura M. Drake
lighthearted
mysterious
fast-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
3.5
this was a cute and cozy mystery that kept me entertained for what it was. It was a nice break from usual mystery thrillers. I had a theory and ended up being wrong in the end. There is another book coming out in this series and I think I will continue it. It was lighter than what I usually read and perfect for the season. It was a nice story that had family ties, a book store, some romance , and murder.
Hallowe'en Party by Agatha Christie
dark
mysterious
medium-paced
- Plot- or character-driven? A mix
- Strong character development? No
- Loveable characters? No
- Diverse cast of characters? No
- Flaws of characters a main focus? Yes
2.0
I listened to this on audio it was a nice cozy-ish mystery for the Halloween season but I did not like the narrator and I think it kind of broke my reading experience for it. I liked the way that everything was wrapped up in the end it felt like I was playing the game Clue.
The Fabulous Miss Fortune by Jessica Gleason
challenging
dark
mysterious
tense
fast-paced
- Plot- or character-driven? Character
- Strong character development? No
- Loveable characters? No
- Diverse cast of characters? Yes
- Flaws of characters a main focus? Yes
3.0
What a bizarre read but good for spooky season! This was a horror novella with a super twisted plot and characters. If you’re looking for something quick for spooky season this is available on kindle unlimited.
We Used to Live Here by Marcus Kliewer
adventurous
challenging
dark
mysterious
tense
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? Yes
5.0
Ummm excuse me WHAT? What a complete and utter mindfuck in the best way. I am still processing this entire book. I basically read it in less than 24 hours because I just couldn’t put it down. This has me questioning EVERYTHING. Yes - it’s fiction but could it really happen???? I think so! This world is nuts. I’m kind of at a loss for words to be honest I feel a book hangover coming soon.
This totally was mind blowing and so well done. It had me all over the place from theory to theory and I’m still not even sure what is true and false. It’s not leaving me confused though because it can be interpreted in so many different ways which I’m happy about - I think I can accept that this was supposed to be a mindfuck and that’s exactly what it was.
This totally was mind blowing and so well done. It had me all over the place from theory to theory and I’m still not even sure what is true and false. It’s not leaving me confused though because it can be interpreted in so many different ways which I’m happy about - I think I can accept that this was supposed to be a mindfuck and that’s exactly what it was.
Spellbound In The Stacks by K. Iwancio
funny
inspiring
relaxing
fast-paced
- Plot- or character-driven? A mix
- Loveable characters? It's complicated
- Diverse cast of characters? Yes
- Flaws of characters a main focus? Yes
3.0
I’m not a fantasy girly whatsoever but I’ve been reading witchy and spooky season books all month long so when I saw this on Kindle Unlimited I wanted to read it. It was a cute story but also cringey at times. The spice was all over the place and a bit too much to the point where I was like ummm I didn’t need to know that LOL
Overall it had a good life lesson and was lighthearted and cute for the season.
A local witch must find true love by her 26th birthday or else she will have to endure the curse of becoming a cat forever. It did give me some Sabrina the teenage witch and Salem the cat vibes which was fun and nostalgic!
Overall it had a good life lesson and was lighthearted and cute for the season.
A local witch must find true love by her 26th birthday or else she will have to endure the curse of becoming a cat forever. It did give me some Sabrina the teenage witch and Salem the cat vibes which was fun and nostalgic!
The Cheerleaders by Kara Thomas
challenging
dark
emotional
mysterious
sad
tense
fast-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? It's complicated
4.0
I really enjoyed this one. It was much darker than I had expected and did not read as a YA book. I didn’t guess the twist and was glad with how everything got wrapped up in the end. It kept me interested and engaged the entire time. If you’re looking for a fast paced thriller with a who done it vibe and untrustworthy characters this is the one for you.
Five cheerleaders in a small town all die within weeks of one another. These girls suffer one tragic death after the other getting rid of their entire friend group. Is this a coincidence or something much more sinister? A grieving sister decides to find out what really happened to her older sister, the fifth cheerleader to die in this small town.
Five cheerleaders in a small town all die within weeks of one another. These girls suffer one tragic death after the other getting rid of their entire friend group. Is this a coincidence or something much more sinister? A grieving sister decides to find out what really happened to her older sister, the fifth cheerleader to die in this small town.