emmreadsbooks's reviews
1180 reviews

The Thursday Murder Club by Richard Osman

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funny mysterious slow-paced
  • Plot- or character-driven? A mix
  • Strong character development? No
  • Loveable characters? Yes
  • Diverse cast of characters? No
  • Flaws of characters a main focus? It's complicated

2.5

I don't know why I thought this was going to be less cozy, but it is a retirement community after all. While the audio was really well done, I had issues following all of the characters and PoVs in the format. This combined with general British humor just not hitting with me led to an unfortunate experience. But I think many people will enjoy this book!

*Thank you to PRH Audio for an ALC in exchange for my honest review*
Need S'More Time by Nellie Wilson

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adventurous funny hopeful lighthearted fast-paced
  • Plot- or character-driven? Character
  • Strong character development? Yes
  • Loveable characters? Yes
  • Diverse cast of characters? No
  • Flaws of characters a main focus? No

4.0

As a kid who went to nature camp and later became a counselor there, it's like this book was made for me. Would I curl up with Colin on his murder couch? Absolutely. It was so refreshing having a romance book talk about the pandemic, educational burnout, and poop. (Yeah, I'm serious about the last one... WHY DOES NO ONE EVER POOP IN ROMCOMS?) June is so sweet and Colin gives me all of those melty marshmallow feelings. The only con is that he's a psycho who purposefully burns his s'mores. Like....why?

Her writing definitely improved in Curated, but don't sleep on S'more! It's a quick book full of wilderness vibes and the cutest puppycat to ever exist. 
Off the Map by Trish Doller

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adventurous funny hopeful fast-paced
  • Plot- or character-driven? Plot
  • Strong character development? Yes
  • Loveable characters? Yes
  • Diverse cast of characters? No
  • Flaws of characters a main focus? Yes

4.75

I've come to expect this from Trish Doller's books, but my heart hurts. Eamon and Carla fit together so well - while I wouldn't say it's insta-love, they have an immediate connection. And it is a STEAMY one! But this book hits so much harder when we begin to discuss the idea of mortality, being a caretaker, and running away from the things that scare us. I feel like I just got out of a therapy session, but this didn't cost $200. She's able to write with such care about difficult topics, but also incorporate these dreamy settings. I want to sip on sangria and swim in one of Biggie's vintage band tees.

*Thank you to St. Martin's Griffin and NetGalley for an ARC in exchange for my honest review*
You Made a Fool of Death with Your Beauty by Akwaeke Emezi

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

3.25

To preface this, the prose itself is beautiful and I really enjoyed the dialogue on self-sabotage... But what the actual fuck.
The Writing Retreat by Julia Bartz

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adventurous challenging dark mysterious tense fast-paced
  • Plot- or character-driven? Plot
  • Strong character development? It's complicated
  • Loveable characters? No
  • Diverse cast of characters? No
  • Flaws of characters a main focus? Yes

4.75

While the blurb gave away some of the general plot of the book, I was still astounded by it. Enter Blackbriar: the secluded estate of renowned writer Roza Vallo, home to a mysterious massacre and unexpected secrets. As Alex battles her writer's block and the sudden reunion with her ex-best friend, we explore Blackbriar and the strange competition that's unfolding. I was expecting something similar to And Then There Were None, but was happily surprised. I also really enjoyed how she handled Alex questioning her sexuality and the snippets of The Great Commission strewn between chapters. With sinister visions of demons and constant paranoia throughout, this book is a wild ride that I'd be happy to take again. 

*Thank you to Atria and NetGalley for an ARC in exchange for my honest review*
Ever After Always by Chloe Liese

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funny inspiring fast-paced
  • Plot- or character-driven? Character
  • Strong character development? Yes
  • Loveable characters? Yes
  • Diverse cast of characters? It's complicated
  • Flaws of characters a main focus? Yes

5.0

I've read a lot of romance and there's always something refreshing about Chloe Liese's books. Be it the sheer comfort of stepping into one or the neurodivergence representation, it's there. In particular, I don't feel like there are many "marriage in trouble" romances and Freya and Aiden just make this trope phenomenal. Freya is so confident and Aiden so considerate, and the fact that they go to couples counseling immediately is *chef's kiss*. We love a couple who's willing to admit they've made mistakes and take steps to communicate. Having Generalized Anxiety Disorder myself, I related to Aiden with his hyperfixations and worries. And having the Bergman brothers trying to engineer romance for him was absolutely hilarious. Esmeralda had me reeling! Will every book be my favorite thus far? Probably. 

But give me an a-frame and a Bergman brother please.
Dream to Me by Megan Paasch

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

4.0

Reminiscent of The Dead & The Dark with a nightmarish twist, we have another amazing paranormal YA mystery. As soon as I saw that their surname was Sylvan, I knew we were in for something supernatural. But delving into the dream world and having dramatic real life consequences? Perfection. I loved the pacing of the book, mixed with the dark atmosphere. Adding in that Eva keeps having these feelings of deja vu with no inclination as to why gives so much delightful creepiness to the story. It did have predictable elements, but the point here was that Eva was blind to them, adding dramatic irony to the mix. And given that this is Megan Paasch's debut, I'm very excited to see what she does next. 

*Thank you to Feiwel & Friends and NetGalley for an ARC in exchange for my honest review*
Black Cake by Charmaine Wilkerson

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emotional inspiring mysterious reflective medium-paced
  • Plot- or character-driven? Character
  • Strong character development? Yes
  • Loveable characters? Yes
  • Diverse cast of characters? Yes
  • Flaws of characters a main focus? No

4.75

An absolutely phenomenal novel that travels through the Bennett family, showing the true impact of connection to a person's life. Not for the faint of heart, this transcends the standard book club historical fiction or contemporary family drama. We get to dig deep into Eleanor, Benny, and Byron's histories (as well as a few unexpected characters along the way). Whether it's traversing the ocean floor, swimming in choppy Caribbean water, or sketching out tough feelings, you're there for every moment of these characters' lives. There are so many unexplored stories in this book, probably enough to form an entire second novel. I just want to know so much more about these characters! 
Scarlet by Marissa Meyer

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

4.25

While I felt like Cinder was a little slow and ended in an aggravating cliffhanger, I feel a bit better about Scarlet. I also enjoyed getting to see Scarlet and Cinder's PoVs as they navigate their respective crises. We also get to add some strapping male characters to serve as our female protagonists' foils which was quite fun. Do I love the angsty Wolf most of all? Of course. This got me SO excited to check out Cress, though it might end up being in another year.
The Blue Bar by Damyanti Biswas

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dark mysterious tense slow-paced
  • Plot- or character-driven? Plot
  • Strong character development? It's complicated
  • Loveable characters? No
  • Diverse cast of characters? Yes
  • Flaws of characters a main focus? It's complicated

2.25

I'm not sure if I read the same book as everyone, unfortunately... While I enjoyed the general plot and police procedural approach, I felt like the book dragged on and on without building much tension. It was often confusing with the multiple PoVs and I had trouble understanding their motivations. With the ending, some elements didn't feel as though they were treated with care and were instead added for the shock factor. I really wanted to like it, but this one just wasn't it for me.

*Thank you to Thomas & Mercer and NetGalley for an ARC in exchange for my honest review*