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chaptersofchase's reviews
1036 reviews

Blue Sisters by Coco Mellors

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slow-paced

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

3.0

🔹 Blue Sisters 🔹

Thank you, Ballantine Books & PRH audio, for the gifted copy of this book {partner}

Genre: Literary Fiction

Format: 🎧📖

Pub Date: 5.23.2024

Pages: 352

Star Rating: ☆☆☆

"Once you get to my age, you will learn that you can take a lot of wrong turns and still end up in the right place."

I loved the author's eye for intense detail in each sister's story—they came to life with every page I read, and I started to think of them as very real, very flawed people. I was instantly enamored with Lucky's story, but I enjoyed Bonnie's the most.

But Blue Sisters was not for me. The same attention to detail I loved initially became tedious and challenging to follow. The most mundane moments were drawn out of pages, and I never felt like anything happened until the last 20 percent of the book. I struggled with the choices each sister made.

Audiobook Review: ☆☆

I chose to read and listen to Blue Sisters, and I do not recommend the audiobook. The cadence that the narrator, Kit Griffiths, used ruined the story. I actually thought that they may have chosen to use an AI voice for the book. I constantly had to readjust the narration speed because Griffiths couldn't keep a steady pace—I couldn't imagine being behind someone on the highway who doesn't understand how to use cruise control.

Read if you enjoy:

👩🏽‍🏫 Character studies

🫠 Complex relationships

😢 Emotional stories

🎭 Family dramas

I recommend reading Blue Sisters if you enjoyed reading Hello, Beautiful.

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Content Warnings

The Examiner by Janice Hallett

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medium-paced

3.5

A twisty story told in through Janice Hallett's signature format 🙌🏼

Thank you, Atria Books, for the gifted copy of The Examiner {partner}

Genre: Mystery

Format: 🎧📖

Pub Date: 8.29.2024

Pages: 480

Star Rating: ☆☆☆.5

"A mystery unfolds through email, letters, essays, and online correspondence. Six students begin a one-year master's degree program in multimedia art at a British university that has recently been forced to cut many of its fine art programs and redesign the degree with an eye toward art's business relevancy."

Hallett has an incredible talent for putting together a multi-layered plot with a full cast of characters, but what's truly jaw-dropping is the format that her books are all written in. Each book is written in an epistolary format, so we are privy to emails, texts, discussion boards, journals, letters, etc. And Hallett is still able to paint the perfect picture of what is happening within the pages of the book.

While The Examiner is not my favorite, I was still blown away by how everything came together.

My biggest complaint is that The Examiner felt a bit too drawn out. It really took me a while to get into the bones of the story. There was also an added element to the plot that did feel a bit over my head, as it was very tech-heavy in places.

Read if you enjoy:

📝 Mixed media format

👏🏼 Well developed characters

🖤 Dark academia vibes

⁉️ Red herrings galore

🔀 Lots of twists

My appreciation for this book stems from Hallett's incredible storytelling capabilities, and I highly recommend checking out her previous titles.

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How to Solve Your Own Murder by Kristen Perrin

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mysterious slow-paced

Plot- or character-driven? A mix
Strong character development? Yes
Loveable characters? Yes
Diverse cast of characters? Yes

3.5

How to Solve Your Own Murder

Perfect for fans of Knives Out

Thank you, Dutton Books, for the gifted copy of How to Solve Your Own Murder.

Genre: Mystery

Format: 🎧📖

Pub Date: 3.26.2024

Pages: 358

Star Rating: ☆☆☆.5

“Your future contains dry bones. Your slow demise begins right when you hold the queen in the palm of one hand. Beware the bird, for it will betray you. And from that, there’s no coming back. But daughters are the key to justice, find the right one and keep her close. All signs point toward your murder.”

What a debut!

I’ve had How to Solve Your Own Murder on my TBR list since it was published this spring, but I was honestly saving it for the fall. It is the perfect mystery to cozy up with on a cool fall or winter day.

But, like so many of my favorite mysteries - there were a lot of characters to keep track of. I found myself having to flip back a few pages to refresh my memory of who was who and what they had to do with the Castle Knoll and Frances Adams’ history. So, if you plan to dive into How to Solve Your Own Murder, I highly recommend grabbing a pen and paper to keep everything straight. The little effort that writing down characters takes pays off big time with this cast of quirky small-town characters!

Read if you enjoy:

🔍 Unsolved murder(s)

🏘️ Small town

🤔 Multiple suspects

🤗 Quirky characters

⁉️ Red herrings

I can’t wait to read more from this author when book two of the Castle Knoll series is published in 2024!

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The Perfect Couple by Elin Hilderbrand

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mysterious fast-paced

Plot- or character-driven? A mix
Strong character development? Yes

4.0

✅ Elin Hilderbrand Book Count: 2

Genre: Fiction

Trope: Mystery, Romance

Format: 🎧📖

Pub Date: 6.19.2018

Pages: 480

Star Rating: ☆☆☆☆

“There is nothing more terrible, she has decided, than the ferocity with which humans can love.”

I’m not going to lie—The Perfect Couple was not on my TBR list, but you know I can’t watch a book-to-TV adaptation without reading the book first!

I went in expecting a light and fluffy beach read but found myself completely engrossed in the Nantucket wedding mystery of what happened to the Maid of Honor the night before. At one point or another, I thought every character was guilty of killing Merritt. They all had something to hide and a reason to want her out of the picture. And the best part? I didn’t think any of it was over the top.

Read if you enjoy:

🔀 Twisty stories

👥 Multiple POV

🕵🏽‍♀️ Murder mysteries

⛵️ Nantucket setting

👏🏼 Character growth

🗣️ Third-party narration

The Perfect Couple was so much more than I thought it would be, and I couldn’t put it down until I devoured every page.

______

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So Thirsty by Rachel Harrison

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slow-paced

3.0

Let’s talk about Vampires🧛‍♀️

Thank you, PRH Audio, for the gifted copy of So Thirsty {partner}

Genre: Horror

Format: 🎧📖

Pub Date: 9.10.2024

Pages: 304

Star Rating: ☆☆☆

“Maybe loneliness makes monsters of us all.”

I wanted to love this one, but there was no plot, the characters were all meh, the vampire vibes were not there, and it ended abruptly. I was so disappointed because I have been looking forward to reading a vampire-featured Rachel Harrison book for a while now.

The one aspect I liked was how I related to the FMC. Relating to an FMC who turns into a vampire is strange, but I did. As someone who is 35 years old, her observations about being a woman in today’s world were spot on how I felt. It was a reminder that wonder and excitement aren’t just limited to your 20s but can happen at any age. But I always expect Harrison to hit that nail on the head with her characters.

Audiobook Review: ☆☆☆☆

So Thirsty was narrated by Brittany Presley, who, per usual, did a phenomenal job bringing the book and characters to life.

Read if you enjoy:

👯‍♀️ Female friendships

☠️ Toxic relationships

👀 Identity questions

🩸 Moderate gore

I look forward to reading more from Rachel Harrison — I can’t wait to see what “creature” she takes on next!

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The Briar Club by Kate Quinn

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emotional hopeful tense medium-paced

Plot- or character-driven? A mix
Strong character development? Yes
Loveable characters? Yes
Diverse cast of characters? Yes

5.0

FIVE 🌹 STARS

Thank you, William Morrow Books, for the gifted copy of The Briar Club {partner}

Genre: Historical Fiction

Time: 1950

Format: 🎧📖

Pub Date: 7.9.2024

Pages: 432

Star Rating: ☆☆☆☆☆

"It's the weak ones who cause the most damage. Nothing wreaks havoc like a weak man—they never learn, so they just go blithely on, leaving pain and wreckage behind them."

I loved the book's layout—instead of Quinn presenting us with five characters to try and figure out who was who, we're treated to sections devoted to one character at a time. You get to know them all so well that when they're finally all together in the "present" chapters, it's easy to understand how their personalities impact the story.

I loved the female friendship component. Quinn did an incredible job of bringing all of them together in solidarity over food (the recipes!), music, and news, thus creating a family inside the walls of the Briar Club.

Speaking of walls — another book where the house walls have a personality and pure perfection. I love a book where the house walls seem to talk and care about each character. You know that feeling if you've ever lived in an old home.

Finally, the added mystery to the story just brought everything together. It kept me interested because as we learned about each character, we were left wondering if that person would end up dead at the end of the book.

Audiobook Review: ☆☆☆☆☆

I chose to read the physical book as well as the audiobook, which was narrated by the immensely talented Saskia Maarleveld, who has narrated most of Kate Quinn's books. She's a phenomenal narrator, and I highly recommend the audiobook (plus, there's a bonus interview with Maarleveld and Quinn at the end).

Read if you enjoy:

🔍 Mystery

💪🏼 Female empowerment

🫶🏼 Friendships

🍲 Added recipes

I highly recommend adding The Briar Club to your reading list!

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Content Warnings

The Blue Hour by Paula Hawkins

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slow-paced

3.0

“Staying sane is a trick.”

Thank you, Mariner Books, for the gifted copy of The Blue Hour {partner}

Genre: Mystery

Format: 🎧📖

Pub Date: 10.10.2024

Pages: 320

Star Rating: ☆☆☆

I enjoyed so many elements of The Blue Hour, but ultimately, quite a few weren’t for me.

For starters, it was difficult to find my footing with the book. I went in expecting a thriller or fast-paced mystery, but I was met with a very slow-burn story. What really brought it down for me is that the mixed-media format (journal and letters) interrupted the pacing of the story and ultimately added nothing of interest to the story itself. I also thought that the characters were all insufferable and that it was hard to find any redeeming qualities in any of them.

I enjoyed a unique concept that created just the right amount of unease—an artist’s work featuring a human bone. Sign me up to figure that one out! The Blue Hour was also perfectly atmospheric, and the whole concept of living alone on an island that’s cut off from society during low tide was perfectly creepy!

Read if you enjoy:

🫣 Atmospheric settings

🐌 Slow burn

📝 Mixed media (journal/letters)

👀 Locked room mystery

I recommend reading The Blue Hour if you’re looking for an atmospheric, slow-burn mystery to keep you company this fall.

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We Solve Murders by Richard Osman

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adventurous emotional funny mysterious medium-paced

Plot- or character-driven? A mix
Strong character development? Yes
Loveable characters? Yes
Diverse cast of characters? Yes

5.0

If you write it, Mister Osman, I'll buy it! 🤍

Thank you, Viking & Pamela Dorman, for the gifted copy of my most anticipated read for 2025 - We Solve Murders {partner}

Genre: Mystery

Format: 🎧📖

Pub Date: 9.17.2024

Pages: 400

Star Rating: ☆☆☆☆☆

"This beautiful, brave woman scared of dying, and this silly, cowardly man afraid of living."

I thought it would be near impossible to top my love for my friends with the Thursday Murder Club, but I've found a new crew in We Solve Murders to keep me company until I can return to Coopers Chase.

The dynamic between Amy and Steve was so fun, and I wish I had a FIL to travel around the world solving mysteries with. But that would probably also mean I need a Rosie D'Antonio to fund those travels.

This book has it all: international travel, murder, mystery, wit, and a whole lot of heart. I'm always surprised when Osman can bring me to tears in a cozy mystery, but it always happens, making my heart grow 10 times bigger.

Now, before you say anything, I know a whole of characters are nestled within the 400 pages of this book, but what I have learned from Osman's books is that the best way to keep track of everyone is with a piece of paper and a pencil. I wrote down all the characters' names to keep them straight (message me for a non-spoiler cheat sheet). The best part is that many of those characters will appear again in future novels. I also wouldn't be surprised if, somewhere down the line, there was a bit of a TMC X WSM crossover 👀

Read if you enjoy:

🔍 Crime-solving

🫶🏼 Elements of Found family

✈️ Globetrotting

👏🏼 Perfectly time humor

💗 A cast of characters to love

I honestly cannot wait to see where We Solve Murders goes next! Also, don't forget to read the author's note at the end of this book for a fun announcement for Thursday Murder Club fans.

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Someone in the Attic by Andrea Mara

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mysterious tense fast-paced

Plot- or character-driven? Plot

4.0

Recommendation: Don't read this one at night! 👀

Thank you, PRH Audio, for the gifted audiobook of Someone In the Attic! {partner}

Genre: Mystery/Thriller

Format: 🎧📖

Pub Date: 8.20.2024

Pages: 368

Star Rating: ☆☆☆☆

"I'm not afraid of being alone in the dark... I'm afraid that I'm not alone."

This quote 👆🏼 gave me goosebumps.

When I have suspicions about the "twist" of a book, it either causes me to lose interest OR keeps me interested as I read along for the author to reveal how everything plays out. With Someone in the Attic, I predicted who the culprit would be fairly early on as I thought it was obvious. But, I quickly backtracked and started to doubt myself and my observations. Without giving anything away, I think this was a brilliant path to take the reader on because it showed how women are always taught to be kind and accepting to strangers or those offering to help so that they don't come across as rude/abrasive. When what we should be doing is trusting our gut instinct telling us something doesn't feel right. Someone in the Attic is the perfect example of the FMC not trusting herself and wishing she had.

Andrea Mara did a marvelous job with the story, and I'm eager to read her other titles.

Audiobook Review: ☆☆☆☆☆

Something about listening to Someone in the Attic made the story exceptionally creepy. I typically listen to my audiobooks with the noise canceling feature on (except while walking outside), but I had to turn that feature off as I felt like something (or someone) was going to creep up behind me. Someone in the Attic was narrated by Jessica Regan (who has also narrated A Killer in the Family). I thought she did a fantastic job adding suspense to her narration (I also didn't hate her narration of the kid's voices).

Read if you enjoy:

🫣 Ominous atmospheres

📖 Short chapters

⏮️ Flashbacks

🤳🏼 Social media elements

🤯 Cliffhanger chapters

I recommend reading Someone in the Attic if you enjoyed reading Nightwatching.

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The Night We Lost Him by Laura Dave

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slow-paced

Plot- or character-driven? A mix
Strong character development? It's complicated
Loveable characters? It's complicated

3.0

Family Drama x Romance

Thank you, Simon and Schuster, for the gifted copy of The Night We Lost Him {partner}

Genre: Fiction

Format: 🎧📖

Pub Date: 9.17.2024

Pages: 320

Star Rating: ☆☆☆

"Liam Noone's death is ruled accidental, but his daughter Nora is skeptical. Her stepbrother Sam shows up, and soon Nora finds herself pulled into uncovering her father's illusive past."

I always struggle with the sophomore novel after a big hit. The Last Thing He Told Me is one of my favorite books, and I flew through it — but for some reason, The Night We Lost Him wasn't the same for me.

I anticipated a story that would keep me eagerly flipping pages, but I found a prolonged story that sometimes gravitated more towards a romance or a family drama than a mystery. Don't get me wrong, it was interesting, and I liked how it was told with glimpses of their father's past, but it didn't do enough to keep my attention. I wish I had read this through the audiobook narrator (Julian Whelan narrated it, by the way), as I think it would've been narrated in a way that kept me interested.

The most enjoyable part of the story was seeing the estranged siblings come together while figuring out what happened to their father. As I mentioned before, we, as the reader, were privy to their father's past and how his relationships impacted his future and, ultimately, his death.

Read if you enjoy:

😅 Complex family dynamics

✌🏼 Dual timeline

🐌 Slow burn

🗣️ Character-driven novels

I recommend reading The Night We Lost Him if you're looking for more of a family saga than a domestic mystery.

chaptersofchase's reviews 1036 reviews

chaptersofchase's reviews
1036 reviews