chaptersofchase's reviews
1036 reviews

The Ghostwriter by Julie Clark

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dark emotional mysterious tense medium-paced

Plot- or character-driven? A mix
Strong character development? Yes
Flaws of characters a main focus? Yes

4.5

There’s a little something of everyone inside Julie Clark’s newest book!

Thank you, Sourcebooks Landmark, for the gifted copy of The Ghostwriter {partner}

Genre: Mystery

Format: 🎧📖

Pub Date: 6.3.2025

Pages: 368

Star Rating: ☆☆☆☆.5

Okay, Julie Clark, you’ve officially got me! The Ghostwriter was an absolute rollercoaster of a story – I wasn’t sure what to expect at first, especially with the timeline jumping around, but once I found my bearings, I was completely hooked. This book kept me up late into the night because I just couldn’t put it down!

Not only was The Ghostwriter a gripping mystery (with some serious thriller vibes), but it also offered such a deep, emotional look at the stories we tell ourselves about our pasts. It’s a mystery, sure, but it’s also a heartbreakingly beautiful story that unraveled in ways I never saw coming. The way everything came together left me in total awe of Clark’s story telling abilities.

Trigger warnings: Lewy Body Dementia, animal abuse resulting in death (2)

Read if you enjoy:

😳 Dysfunctional family dynamics

🗣️ Multiple POV

🧐 Thought provoking

✌🏼 Dual Timeline

I recommend reading The Ghostwriter this summer when you have an afternoon to yourself - once you start reading, you won’’t be able to put it down!

______

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Content Warnings

You Between the Lines by Katie Naymon

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slow-paced

Plot- or character-driven? Character
Strong character development? It's complicated
Loveable characters? It's complicated
Diverse cast of characters? No
Flaws of characters a main focus? Yes

3.0

So.. about this book 🫣

Thank you, Forever Books, for the gifted copy of You Between the Lines {partner}

Genre: Romance

Format: 🎧📖

Pub Date: 2.18.2025

Pages: 368

Star Rating: ☆☆☆

When I first read the synopsis for You Between the Lines, I was immediately intrigued – I haven’t read a romance set in an MFA program before. However, it ended up being one of the two reasons why the book didn’t quite work for me. Initially, it was fine, but the author spent so much time delving into poetry and the dynamics within the program that it distracted from the main point of the book.

My second issue was with the female protagonist, Leigh. She was really difficult to connect with. One moment she was passionate, and the next, she was distant—constantly indecisive about what she wanted from life, school, or her relationships. At times, her behavior felt so immature that I just wanted to scream at William to run away and never look back.

Read if you enjoy:

🐌 Slow burn

💥 Rivals to lovers

👩🏽‍🏫 Academic settings

I recommend reading You Between the Lines if you love a good academic setting and characters that may test your patience a bit.

______

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A Killing Cold by Kate Alice Marshall

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adventurous dark mysterious fast-paced

4.5

Grab something warm and curl up with A Killing Cold! 🥶

Genre: Psychological Thriller

Format: 🎧📖

Pub Date: 2.4.2025

Pages: 304

Star Rating: ☆☆☆☆.5

“Angry people do unpredictable things. We all have violence inside of us. It needs only the right fuel.”

Kate Alice Mitchell has done it again! Every year, I eagerly await her new releases, and A Killing Cold was no exception. As a fan of psychological thrillers, I love a story that keeps me on the edge of my seat, forcing me to question everyone and trust no one. This book was exactly that—packed with twists, turns, and a plot that kept me frantically flipping pages.

One of the things I absolutely adored about A Killing Cold was the protagonist, Theo. In a genre often filled with morally gray or unlikable characters, she was a refreshing change. Theo has faced unimaginable hardship in her short life, and I found myself rooting for her every step of the way. I wanted her to survive, to thrive—and I can’t say that about all the characters in the book!

As for triggers, I’ll share a full list below, but one important theme in A Killing Cold is hunting. There are graphic descriptions of hunting with a bow and arrow, as well as field dressing, which, while fitting to the story, were a bit too much for me at times. I found myself skipping over some of those paragraphs, but for readers who aren’t squeamish, it definitely adds to the atmosphere.

The way this story unraveled was so well done—it’s a slow burn, revealing pieces of the puzzle one at a time. Just when I thought I had it figured out, Mitchell threw in another twist. It was a thrilling ride from start to finish, and I know it’ll make my top favorites list for 2025.

Trigger warnings: domestic abuse, child abuse, miscarriage

Read if you enjoy:

❄️ Atmospheric

🎭 Family drama

📖 Short Chapters

🏔️ Isolated setting

🔀 Unexpected twists

I recommend reading A Killing Cold if you’re looking for the perfect winter thriller to keep you occupied!

______

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Content Warnings

Head Cases by John McMahon

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adventurous dark mysterious fast-paced

Strong character development? Yes
Flaws of characters a main focus? Yes

4.5

Oh, do I have a new series for you all! 👀

Thank you, Macmillan Audio, for the gifted copy of Head Cases {partner}

Genre: Mystery

Format: 🎧📖

Pub Date: 1.28.2025

Pages: 352

Star Rating: ☆☆☆☆.5

"Head Cases follows an enigmatic group of FBI agents as they hunt down a murderer seeking his own justice in this electrifying—and commercial—series debut."

Well, Head Cases has officially become my newest obsession! I went into this book knowing little about it, and what a delightful surprise it was. Not only is it the first book in a gripping series, but it's also being adapted into a TV series—how exciting is that?!

As a huge fan of police procedurals, I'm always looking for something that will keep me hooked, and the FBI-centered plot had me completely sold. From the first page, I was on the edge of my seat, and let's say I did more than a bit of stress cleaning in the kitchen while reading this one. It's one of those books that's so addicting you could easily devour it in one sitting.

The only reason I took off half a star is because the ending felt just a tiny bit too drawn-out, but aside from that, it was phenomenal!

Trigger warning: there is a brief mention of an animal death around the 59% mark in Chapter 30.

Audiobook Review: ☆☆☆☆☆

Head Cases is narrated by Will Damron, one of my favorite voice actors. He has narrated The Rule Book, Listen for the Lie, and Bride. Damon becomes the character that he describes, so he helps bring the audio to life!

Read if you enjoy:

👏🏼 Quirky characters

🚨 Police/FBI procedural

🤩 Clever plots

🫢 Sprinkles of humor

💯 Character development

I recommend reading Head Cases if you enjoy watching Criminal Minds.

______

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Let's Call Her Barbie by Renée Rosen

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slow-paced

4.0

She was only eleven-and-a-half inches tall, but she would change the world. 🩷

Thank you, PRH Audio, for gifting me the audio for Let's Call Her Barbie!

Genre: Historical Fiction

Format: 🎧📖

Pub Date: January 14, 2025

Pages: 432

Rating: ☆☆☆☆

Growing up, I wouldn't consider myself much of a Barbie enthusiast -- I had them, but they weren't my primary source of entertainment. However, as an adult, I can appreciate Barbie's impact on young girls. Let's Call Her Barbie does an incredible job of tracing the doll's rich and colorful history.

But I wasn't prepared for the emotional weight of the story. It was heavy at times, reflecting on people's struggles and sacrifices to pursue beauty, perfection, and power. The book delves into the darker side of fame and the toll it can take on a person.

Trigger Warnings: Eating disorders, cancer, drug abuse

Audiobook Review: ☆☆☆☆.5

Narrated by Abigail Reno, a fresh voice for me, I found her narration soothing and engaging. I started listening at 1.2x speed, and once I got comfortable, I bumped it up to 1.5x.

Read if you enjoy:

📖 Short Chapters

🐌 Slow-paced stories

🧐 Well-researched books

🫶🏼 Characters based on real people

If you're curious about the history behind the iconic doll and how Barbie shaped society (both positively and negatively), Let's Call Her Barbie is one you should add to your reading list.

____

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Content Warnings

The Three Lives of Cate Kay by Kate Fagan

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slow-paced

3.5

👩🏽 The Three Lives of Cate Kay 👩🏽

Thank you, Atria Books, for the gifted copy of The Three Lives of Cate Kay {partner}

Genre: Fiction

Format: 🎧📖

Pub Date: 1.7.2025

Pages: 304

Star Rating: ☆☆☆.5

"{She} shot words straight light arrows, often pointed at my heart. But me, I burned my feelings alive, just smothered them down."

When I think about The Three Lives of Cate Kay, what stands out most to me is the beautiful complexity of the relationships between the characters. The book isn't about soulmates or grand, destined love—it's more about the fleeting yet significant connections that come into our lives at just the right moment. These romances aren't meant to last forever but hold meaning to that character's story. Each love interest served a purpose, offering something to Cate's journey.

However, as much as I enjoyed the book's emotional layers, I did struggle to connect with the characters on an individual level. And, as much as the synopsis drew me in, the book didn't quite deliver on the mystery aspect. I went in expecting a thrilling, conwoman-centered plot—something along the lines of Kate from Lost—but instead, I got something different. Still intriguing, yes, but definitely not the story I anticipated.

Read if you enjoy:

🗣️ Multiple POV

🔀 Non-Linear Timeline

❤️‍🩹 Complex Relationships

🐌 Slow Paced

📖 Debut Novels

📚 Books Within Books

______

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The Favorites by Layne Fargo

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adventurous dark emotional tense fast-paced

Plot- or character-driven? A mix
Strong character development? Yes
Loveable characters? It's complicated
Diverse cast of characters? Yes
Flaws of characters a main focus? Yes

4.0

Figure Skating is ✨FINALLY✨ getting its moment!

Thank you, Random House & PRH Audio, for the gifted copy of The Favorites {partner}

Genre: Fiction

Format: 🎧📖

Pub Date: 1.14.2025

Pages: 448

Star Rating: ☆☆☆☆

"We used to joke that they were going to die in each other's arms or kill each other with their bare hands. Nothing in between."

I've always loved figure skating, but it wasn't until I picked up The Favorites that I truly understood the level of artistry and dedication that goes into each performance. It's not just about the flawless choreography—it's the entire package: the music, the hair, the makeup, the costumes, and the jewelry. Every detail is carefully crafted to tell a story, and Layne Fargo perfectly captures this essence in her novel.

And oh, the drama—this book has it all! The characters' lives are a tangled web of passion, betrayal, and ambition. While there's a romance (or rather, a toxic one imo), this is so much more than just a love story. For me, The Favorites is a coming-of-age journey. Katarina Shaw, the FMC, grows in such profound ways from the first page to the last, and I couldn't help but be captivated by her candid account of chasing her dream.

Every moment felt like a glimpse behind the curtain of the figure skating world, and I loved every second of it.

Audiobook Review: ☆☆☆☆☆

The Favorites is one of those that is meant to be listened to. I love a good full-cast narration, and this audiobook is even more special with the narration of Olympic Medalist Johnny Weir.

Read if you enjoy:

⛸️ Winter Olympics

🎭 Drama

🫣 Toxic Romance

❤️‍🩹 Second Chance Romance/Friendship

🗣️ Mixed Media Format

I recommend reading The Favorites if you've always wanted to have a backstage pass to the secret lives of the figure skating world.

What's your favorite sport of the Olympics?

______

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Good Dirt by Charmaine Wilkerson

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emotional 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? N/A

5.0

F I V E ✨ S T AR S

Thank you, Random House & PRH Audio, for the free copy/audiobook of Good Dirt {partner}

Genre: Fiction

Format: 🎧📖

Pub Date: 1.28.2025

Pages: 385

Star Rating: ☆☆☆☆☆

Good Dirt comes from the same author who wrote Black Cake in 2022 but, for me, there is no comparison. Good Dirt is in a realm all on its own. Even after finishing it a few days ago, it’s still on my mind.

I loved the way that each character grew over the course of the book and found their own voice and path to be forged - even in the face of tragedy and unimaginable brutality.

Few stories have the power to break my heart while also leaving me filled with hope, but Good Dirt is one of those rare gems. From the very first page, I was hooked, unable to put the book down until I had finished it in one sitting.

The non-linear narrative weaves together deeply moving, thought-provoking stories that shed light on experiences and histories often overlooked by those of us who need to listen the most. It’s beautifully written, carefully crafted, and I’m confident it will resonate with many readers once it’s released.

Audiobook Review: ☆☆☆☆☆

Good Dirt is narrated by January LaVoy who is another one of the GOATS in voice acting - LaVoy has narrated Listen of the Lie, Ten Thousand Doors of January, Lula Dean’s Little Free Library, Jar of Hearts and many many more. She is incredibly talented at bringing the characters to life.

Read if you enjoy:

🗣️ Multiple POV

🔀 Non-Linear Timeline

💔 Heartwrenching Stories

🫶🏼 Family Legacies

📖 Slow Burn

I recommend reading Good Dirt if you’re in the mood for a slow burn that tugs at your heart with depictions of redemption, history and forgiveness.

______

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The Dollhouse Academy by Margarita Montimore

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dark mysterious medium-paced

Plot- or character-driven? A mix
Diverse cast of characters? Yes
Flaws of characters a main focus? Yes

3.5

Welcome to The Dollhouse 📸

Thank you, Flatiron Books, for the gifted copy of The Dollhouse Academy {partner}

Genre: Mystery

Format: 🎧📖

Pub Date: 2.11.2025

Pages: 320

Star Rating: ☆☆☆.5

I went into The Dollhouse Academy with a completely open mind because, typically, Montimore's books blend themes of reality and magic. I definitely did not anticipate the story that she wrote this time around—it was rife with themes of beauty, self-discovery, friendship, and fame.

While it wasn't the book for me, some concepts within it appealed to me. I found the idea of an academy devoted to coaching people to be famous fascinating, and there was a touch of the science-fiction element that oddly made sense to me. It cemented my happiness with being out of the public's eye because I can't imagine living the life that some of the characters in this book do.

Where the book lost me was that it became overly repetitive and seemed to lose its traction a few times. I kept listening, and I loved the open-ended portion of the ending!

Audiobook Review: ☆☆☆☆☆

The Dollhouse Academy was narrated by the incredibly talented Brittany Pressley and Xe Sands (who has also narrated The Book of Accidents, Pack Up the Moon, and the Wanderers). Both voice actors kept me hooked on the story (even when it lost traction) - but I'm not surprised because I love everything they do.

Read if you enjoy:

🤷🏽‍♀️ Open endings

🗣️ Alternating POV

🤔 Moral dilemmas

🖤 Dark academia

I recommend reading The Dollhouse Academy if you enjoyed Rouge by Mona Awad.

______

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A Winter Wish by Emily Stone

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emotional medium-paced

Plot- or character-driven? A mix
Strong character development? Yes
Flaws of characters a main focus? Yes

3.0

Looking for a heartfelt read? Here you go!✨

Thank you, Dell Romance & PRH Audio, for the gifted copy of A Winter Wish {partner}

Genre: Holiday-ish/Romance

Format: 🎧📖

Pub Date: 10.15.2024

Pages: 368

Star Rating: ☆☆☆☆☆

I've been a bit behind on my holiday reading this year, so I picked up A Winter Wish by Emily Stone. The cover was adorable, and the synopsis grabbed my attention.

My main issue with the book was that it didn't quite deliver the festive holiday spirit I was hoping for. Instead, it focused more on themes like grief, parental abandonment, and the journey of self-discovery, which made the story feel heavy at times. While it eventually picked up, and I ended up enjoying the romance between the two characters, I just wished there had been more of that cozy holiday atmosphere I was craving.

One of the book's highlights was the concept of the travel agency Lexie inherits from her father. The agency specializes in helping people experience holiday traditions from different countries, which was a unique and fun idea. It made me start thinking about all the amazing places I'd love to visit and the special holidays I could experience there!

Audiobook Review: ☆☆☆☆

Meg Travers, a new-to-me voice actor, narrated a Winter Wish, and I really enjoyed her narration style! While she doesn't do a lot of voice variation for male characters, which some listeners prefer, I still found her performance engaging. I'd listen to more of her work in the future!

Read if you enjoy:

✈️ Holiday travel

❤️‍🩹 Explorations of grief

🫶🏼 Opposites attract

📈 Character growth

I recommend reading A Winter Wish outside of the holiday season, as I think it would resonate better then!

chaptersofchase's reviews 1036 reviews

chaptersofchase's reviews
1036 reviews