kelsbookzone1's reviews
263 reviews

Motheater by Linda H. Codega

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emotional slow-paced

2.5

The Meadowbrook Murders by Jessica Goodman

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mysterious tense medium-paced
  • Plot- or character-driven? A mix
  • Strong character development? No

3.25

Thank you to Razorbill and NetGalley for access to any early early release copy 

Going into a Jessica Goodman novel, I go in expecting at least one thing- an easy read. Typically, her young adult novels flow easily, have nice transitions and easy to flip the page and devour quickly. This was no different. 

Liz is hungry- hungry for the journalistic story that will make a name for herself. But if Meadowbrook is known for anything, it’s for being uneventful and boring. That is until two classmates are found murdered in their dorm. In this story, we have two points of view- that of Liz, the fortunate girl, who is lucky to be there and is grateful for what she has. And Amy, the spoiled, typical rich girl who has it easy at a boarding school. However, they are definitely written almost the opposite, with Liz coming across as stuck up while describing others as such. And of course, enter in the suspicious red herrings, where neither of our heroines have ever suspected any of them for anything, until now. 

I very much disliked Liz- the outsider who wants to constantly remind everyone she doesn’t fit in, that’s she’s not like everyone else, and she’s just so much better for it. 

Like other Jessica Goodman books, nothing really feels too surprising or twisty. Like an entry level young adult thriller. I would probably rank this one in the middle.
Victorian Psycho by Virginia Feito

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dark medium-paced
  • Plot- or character-driven? Plot
  • Strong character development? No
  • Flaws of characters a main focus? Yes

3.75

Thank you to Liverlight and NetGalley for access to any early release copy. 

When Winifred arrives as the new perfect governess, the new masters of the house seem a little… off. Maybe a little too obsessed with anatomy. Followed by meeting the servants, awkward moments, and just a curious comment of eating the children. Is it all imagination or is this the reality?

I liked the moments the author broke the fourth wall- letting the unreliable narrator of Winifred share her humor with the reader. Every tiny thing is written in detail but perhaps, a little too much. At times, the writer was trying to think for the reader, which isn’t always my favorite. Even though this is considered fast pace, the story felt slow but perhaps that had more to do with not a lot happening in the progress.

As a novella, this felt accomplished. I struggle with endings in some novellas, when it seems like an unfinished story but didn’t get that from this one. There’s some unexpected, if chaotic, humor at the end and I would have liked if it had been more throughout the story. It’s a fitting title.


A Burning in the Bones by Scott Reintgen

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adventurous mysterious tense medium-paced
  • Plot- or character-driven? Plot
  • Loveable characters? No
  • Diverse cast of characters? No

3.75

Thank you to McElderry and NetGalley for access to an early release copy.

In Book 3 of the waxways series; we are following Mercy Whitaker in part I and my first thought was, who? Kind of wish the opening of the book had been a main character, not feeling like a new character or developing a new side character. Chapter 2 was a blessing but if you haven’t read these books before, a year break from the previous wasn’t too long and I still felt caught up. 

In our third journey, we’re dropped now into a plague- new characters are introduced again and I’m realizing how much this series revolves around plot, especially with more new characters added. Ren still feels little to no growth- still a hypocrite- while Theo is completely different from where he once was. In book 3, it feels like the focus is very much the new character and the new plot- with an introduction of new characters. The old leadership family of the Tin’vori, introduced in book two, disappointingly, felt placed on a back burner. Like an after thought. I did enjoy the moments Ren reflected, her circle back to the beginning, to have the third book feel a little more connected. 

For the series, it always feels pretty intelligent, with new ideas here and there. This was no exception, particularly when it came to why the plague. At times, it does feel disjointed, like more like a companion piece. And although the third saga’s plot was enjoyable, it still feels like some of the stories from the first two never felt fully wrapped up or concluded. 





Blood Sisters by Vanessa Lillie

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dark emotional tense medium-paced
  • Plot- or character-driven? A mix

4.0

Curses and Other Buried Things by Caroline George

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slow-paced
  • Strong character development? No
  • Loveable characters? No
  • Diverse cast of characters? No

2.0

This was way too repetitive- and every character felt like a southern stereotype. 
Old Soul by Susan Barker

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dark slow-paced
  • Plot- or character-driven? N/A
  • Strong character development? No
  • Loveable characters? No

3.75

Thank you to NetGalley and G.P Putnams for access to an early release copy.

From a tragic passing 11 years earlier, to Mariko and her twin’s untimely passing, Jake finally has a connection and maybe an answer to long gone, but not forgotten, Lena’s death as this connection sends him on a new journey.

A novel of old gods, a tyrant, and a woman with a camera; it takes quite a bit to really explain anything. I went into this one blind and about 60 pages in, I had to read an excerpt cause I was still confused. Since the story kept following different perspectives and introducing new characters to tell their story, it almost felt like reading a collection of short stories with a common theme.

Each story is intriguing but nothing really furthers the plot or character development - like is there really a plot anyway? The writing is good and the story could be unsettling and some testimonies were stronger than others. The plot had a little more drive near the end but it felt a little too late.
Cross My Heart by Megan Collins

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dark
  • Strong character development? No
  • Loveable characters? No

3.5

Thank you to NetGalley and Atria books for access to an early release copy.

Deep hearted and easy to fall Rosie believes that she found a new man of her dreams- and why not? After being left after wedding planning and an illness putting her on the heart donor list, doesn’t she deserve it? Except their connection, unknown to the chased Morgan, is her heart. And what really happened to that donor anyway.

Rosie wears her heart on her sleeve and as the reader, it was easy to get invested into wanting to tell her that’s not a good idea and to pump the breaks on her pursuits with Morgan. She can definitely keep you on the edge of your seat. The Instagram messages regarding Morgan and his writing were fun, as a an individual who likes to discuss books on social media. It felt relatable.

This is a slow burn; you’ll think you get a real feel for the villain. And then the second half of the story flips you on your head, and you start questioning everything. The twist in the middle saved the story from feeling like a “run of the mill” type of thriller.

I’m not sure how I feel about how all the women were written. Like they are all only boy crazy and obsessive. The women are coming across as the stereotype of  “crazy stalker types”. I suppose the point of the story is what men drive women to do, with gaslighting and lies- but then some of the excuses the women would give for love, just reinforces the “crazy” stereotype and why men claim women get too emotional in a break up that they feel it gives them an excuse to not have the decency to do it. The justification for the behavior was a reach. 
The Favorites by Layne Fargo

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dark emotional tense medium-paced
  • Plot- or character-driven? A mix
  • Strong character development? No
  • Loveable characters? It's complicated

3.75

Thank you NetGalley and Random House Publishing for access to an early release copy.

So there are not enough ice skating stories out there. I’ve enjoyed Layne Fargo stories so I was happy to see a new one coming out. Katarina and Heath not only felt like the perfect dance partners as early teens but soulmates. An endless love kind of thing. Told in documentary style, it was easy to picture the moments, from competition to heartache. Once they get an invite to prestigious academy, the real gossip begins. And the elite world finally feels like it’s in their grasp.

The book doesn’t explore anything new for the skating world- that it’s elite and you need a good amount of money to get ahead. And Heath and Katarina felt like the perfect couple on the outskirts looking to break in. Heath’s obsessions started to feel repetitive and a little tiresome- like it would have been nice for him to have a different side. And for the first half of the book, he felt very one note. I would say the highlight may be the side characters; intriguing and always leaving you wondering their true intentions. 

This was nicely written, adding a little more drama to already intense competitive, athletic world. I wouldn’t have minded a little more suspense or having a twist somewhere. But I did enjoy it overall and found it easy to read through.
Good Girl by Aria Aber

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dark emotional medium-paced

4.25

Thank you to NetGalley and Hogarth for access to an early release copy of

Welcome to Nilab’s world in Good Girl; a carefree lifestyle of drugs and party in Berlin. At 19, society and child of a lower class Afghan family pressures Nilab into being “good” but does she really want to be? Overall, the story conveys that more like a coming of age, a teen figuring out her own independence and freedom.

You sense her every emotion, from her “know it all”ness of being young and her tragic disappointment in the world that’s been presented to her. She feels authentic. Marlowe, the thirty something man who seems to be the change in her life; but like a lot of 19 year old women, her longing for him seems more than his for her. Marlowe was irritating and childish, written to perfection.

I liked the way the author introduced the character’s  culture and heritage, and the way the past was interwoven into moments of her everyday life. It felt done seamlessly. This could be heartbreaking and frustrating but what about 19 isn’t. I would have loved to see the character have some residual growth; it was a lot of repetitive mistakes. But if you’re a glutton for punishment….

Facing both society and cultural demands of being a young woman, this portrays it nicely. I wouldn’t be surprised if this ends up being a highly talked about book of 2025.