juanat77's reviews
150 reviews

The Rom-Commers by Katherine Center

Go to review page

emotional funny hopeful inspiring lighthearted reflective sad 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

4.0

I’ve loved every Katherine Center book I’ve read. She’s an auto-buy author for me. The Bodyguard is still my favorite followed by Hello Stranger. The Rom-Commers held up to my expectations! There was humor, fun, witty banter and heartwarming moments. Katherine Center’s books are more than just romance. She intertwines serious elements and ties it up with a beautiful message/lesson. 4 stars!! ⭐️⭐️⭐️⭐️

Expand filter menu Content Warnings
That's Not My Name by Megan Lally

Go to review page

adventurous challenging dark emotional mysterious reflective sad 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


That’s Not My Name by Megan Lally 

I didn’t think I would enjoy this as much as I did! I stayed up until 1am to finish it. Total page turner. Told in dual perspectives. The suspense was executed so well. I went into this one blindly and I’m glad I did. Fast paced. Engaging. Intense. Emotional. Captivating. Easy read. I did not guess the ending at all. In fact, I was very wrong. This is a book you can totally finish in one day. 

Amazing debut from the author! 4 stars ⭐️⭐️⭐️⭐️

Expand filter menu Content Warnings
If You Tell a Lie by Lucinda Berry

Go to review page

challenging dark emotional mysterious sad 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

4.0

If You Tell a Lie by Lucinda Berry

Lucinda Berry’s book are quick reads for me. If You Tell a Lie is no different. It’s a psychological thriller told in dual timelines and multiple POVs. There’s a lot of manipulation and lying; sometimes you aren’t sure which character to believe (which I like!).

If You Tell a Lie is basically a reckless journey with peer pressure and social contagion and how dangerous or deadly the outcome(s) can be. 

If you want an easy psychological thriller this is the book for you. Short chapters. Each chapter that ends makes you want to start another. There’s a few crazy twists but it’s supposed to be entertaining right?? I guessed one twist but wasn’t prepared for others. I would have liked to know what eventually happened to 3 of the characters or maybe it was left open for a sequel?

There are some subjects of sexual abuse, rape (mentioned not described), eating disorders and gruesome depictions. No sexually explicit scenes. 

4 stars ⭐️ ⭐️⭐️⭐️

Thank you NetGalley for an eARC in exchange for an honest review!

#NetGalley #ifyoutellalie #lucindaberry 

Expand filter menu Content Warnings
The Winter Garden by Kristin Hannah

Go to review page

adventurous dark emotional hopeful informative mysterious sad tense medium-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


Expand filter menu Content Warnings
The Au Pair Affair by Tessa Bailey

Go to review page

emotional funny hopeful inspiring lighthearted 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

3.0

The Au Pair was a fun read. Though I didn’t enjoy it as much as It Happened One Summer, I was pleased by the single dad trope (which I do not see often in romance novels) with the slight age gap. I think that’s what drew me in. There is A LOT of smexy scenes and internal monologues in the book. If you read Tessa Bailey then you know what you are in for. For me, I felt like there was an excessive amount of those scenes but maybe I’m not the target audience. One of my friends would totally eat this up. Besides the spice I really liked the story. There were some serious undertones including PTSD, abduction and chronic pain that really built up the book for me. Alongside the serious issues there was humor thrown in which I always appreciate!!

Thank you NetGalley for providing an early eARC in exchange for an honest review!!

#NetGalley #tessabailey #theaupairaffair 

Expand filter menu Content Warnings
The Heaven & Earth Grocery Store by James McBride

Go to review page

adventurous challenging dark emotional informative mysterious 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? It's complicated

5.0


Expand filter menu Content Warnings
House of Glass by Sarah Pekkanen

Go to review page

challenging dark emotional hopeful mysterious sad 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

House of Glass by Sarah Pekkanen

Sarah Pekkanen’s previous work such as her novel Gone Tonight have been favorites of mine so I was eager to read her latest mystery thriller release, House of Glass.

Pekkanen portrays a disturbing atmosphere in this book with a dysfunctional family, a character that can be described as a “creepy kid” and a meddlesome grandmother. Stella Hudson, the main character, is a best interest attorney whose job is to decide the future best interests of the child concerning custody, visitation, schooling, and therapy. Stella spends time with 9 year old Rose who is traumatized when she witnesses her nanny falling to her death from a window. As Stella gets deeply involved with Rose’s family she starts to uncover secrets especially regarding the death of the nanny.

When reading this book, I personally appreciated that there were no unbelievable twists in the story. It was mysterious while also not being too insane or unrealistic. Sarah Pekkanen was able to create a mystery thriller that was both captivating as a story as well as having an ending that wrapped up well. It was a page turner that made me anxious for what would happen next. 4 stars! ⭐️ ⭐️⭐️⭐️

Thank you to NetGalley for this ARC in exchange for an honest review.
 
 #houseofglass #NetGalley

Expand filter menu Content Warnings
Maybe This Time by Cara Bastone

Go to review page

emotional funny hopeful inspiring lighthearted 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? Yes

4.0


Expand filter menu Content Warnings
A Summer Affair by Elin Hilderbrand

Go to review page

emotional hopeful inspiring reflective sad tense medium-paced
  • Plot- or character-driven? A mix
  • Strong character development? Yes
  • Loveable characters? It's complicated
  • Diverse cast of characters? No
  • Flaws of characters a main focus? Yes

3.5

I re-read A Summer Affair in preparation for the last Nantucket book (Swan Song). The characters were very unlikable and if that was the Hilderbrand’s intent then she succeeded! There were a few loose ends—I would have like an epilogue to know what happened to certain characters. The plot was about an affair. It was like reading a soap opera—very entertaining. There were no dull moments. The author has a way of describing that unfolds a movie in your mind. Not one of my favorite Hilderbrand reads but it was solid. 

Expand filter menu Content Warnings
The Housemaid Is Watching by Freida McFadden

Go to review page

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

4.0


Expand filter menu Content Warnings