kelsbookzone1's reviews
238 reviews

We Love the Nightlife by Rachel Koller Croft

Go to review page

slow-paced
  • Plot- or character-driven? Character
  • Loveable characters? No

4.0

A little too slow at times, really just a story of an abusive/toxic relationship and a main character trying to leave it. But with vampires.
Expand filter menu Content Warnings
Old Wounds by Logan-Ashley Kisner

Go to review page

  • Plot- or character-driven? Character
  • Loveable characters? Yes
  • Diverse cast of characters? Yes

3.75

Thank you to NetGalley and Delacorte Press for access to an early release copy

Erin and Max. Long time friends, once upon a time couple and two teenagers in the midst of their transitions to their true selves. Max, not receiving any support from his family, decides it’s time to leave for The open love of California and convincing Erin to come with.

Their friendship was a hard read at times- Max was jealous of the support Erin received from her mom and sister, whether financially or emotionally, and would talk her down and my heart broke for the lack of support Max wouldn’t provide her.  But from an outside perspective, it felt like the story was telling the differences in the trans experience.

The first half of the book was a slow focus on their friendship and a lot of back story. Maybe a little too much that it could feel like page filler as I was waiting for any kind of horror to begin. Instead of front loading the backstory in the beginning, I would have liked it maybe told with more flashbacks and sprinkled in throughout the story. And let the horror/monster parts start earlier than almost at the halfway point.

Once the monster is finally introduced and what it’s after, I appreciate the conversations the characters have regarding sex and gender. I would have liked a little more plot and not as much of similar conversations repeated, as some of the overly wordiness could get in its way. The whole“monster” ending fell a little flat and lackluster with loose ends.

“It’s hard to identify a skeleton, even harder to gender one” is a fantastic line, one more people need to hear.  It’s a reminder for people to be able to be their true selves in the little time we are not just bones. 
The Night Guest by Hildur Knútsdóttir

Go to review page

  • Plot- or character-driven? Character
  • Strong character development? No
  • Loveable characters? No

3.25

Thank you to Netgalley and Tor Publishing for access to an early release copy 

What an interesting start to a character- a very relatable experience of going to the doctor as female identifying and I couldn’t wait to continue reading this main character’s story. 

Our MC wakes up with strange bruises and is trying to figure out - why? What’s wrong with me? And sends you down a rabbit hole of paranoia and slight  influences of hypochondria. What makes this story interesting is the protagonist. Her personality is well developed for a novella. I did find some pacing issues about half way in, as I was waiting for some progress on the story. But stay for the main character, she was an interesting read. At times it can be intense as the writer tries to build up suspense of “the morning after” her sleepwalking spells but overall it would become too repetitive and lose some of its intrigue. Reader beware- the chapters at time are her random thoughts and keep be me sentence. So like 100 chapters in less than 200 pages. So be prepared for choppiness. But a slow burn good read if you can hang out for the unreliable narrator and a very unexplained ending.
Small Town Horror by Ronald Malfi

Go to review page

dark tense
  • Plot- or character-driven? A mix
  • Flaws of characters a main focus? Yes

4.0

Thank you to NetGalley for access to an early release copy

Ronald Malfi does it again! An intriguing storyteller, who gives you little bits of horror to remind you what kind of story you’re reading. Much like the author’s erie story Black Mouth, our main protagonist Andrew returns home to a childhood friend to find his wife has gone missing. With Andrew being a lawyer and his old friend Dale now being a person of interest, they will finally have to come to terms with an accident from their past and the possible ghosts of it starting to haunt them now. 

One thing the author does, is really develop an individual personality of each character, gives each a different and unique story that keeps you engrossed but never leaves you feeling like you’re wondering who is whom.

Also, what a couple of great twists right before the end; one definitely blew my mind. If you haven’t tried Ronald Malfi yet but our a horror reader who enjoys a detailed story, this could be a great start


Haunt Sweet Home by Sarah Pinsker

Go to review page

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

3.25

Thanks to NetGalley and Tor Publishing for access to an early release copy 


A ghostly haunting home makeover show haunt sweet home welcomes new employee Mara, as the new night shift production. The intro grabbed my attention- I mean, what reader wouldn’t love the idea of a ghost that wants to help organize your library?

Our main character feels same old story, new setting, as lost and unable to focus Mara accepts a job from relative Jeremy and falls into the world of is it true or is it all just a hoax. FYI, it’s mostly just a hoax. The novella not only picks on the set up and fake feeling of ghostly reality but that of makeover/house hunting type of shows as well. That reality tv is never reality and the story does it well. A small haunting reference but overall just a story of a lost 20 something trying to figure out next steps. 
Guillotine by Delilah S. Dawson

Go to review page

dark fast-paced
  • Plot- or character-driven? Plot
  • Strong character development? No
  • Loveable characters? No

4.0

Thank you to NetGalley and Titan Books for access to an early release copy

Described as ready or not and The Menu, Guillotine gives us our protagonist, Dez. Dez is after one thing- opportunity. So she meets Patrick Ruskin, a boring privileged billionaire who risks her away to the family island; where she can finally meet his mother Marie and get the coveted design mentorship someone in her status usually has no chance at. As I’m launched into this book, it’s giving me Saltburn vibes in the way of old money and a manor in the outskirts. Also, what is it with rich people stories taking away all technology, I.e. cellphones? I’m starting to feel a bit overdone in that concept.

The first half of the book doesn’t give you much but  try to show Dez is polite to the staff and how the Ruskins really are not. The back half of the story is just a good ole revenge story, especially if you’re looking for rich people comeuppance. Be prepared for some detailed, gory, and interesting deaths. A line in the book calls it “Saw for rich people” and it’s kind of fitting. Overall, the story was fun but I wish there had been more intensity built up before the reveal. Even though I wanted more from the first half of the story, the back half grabbed me and I finished it in one fell swoop. Pick this novella up if you want a gory fun horror story that plays out more like a horror movie with no backstory.
Incidents Around the House by Josh Malerman

Go to review page

dark emotional slow-paced

5.0

Like a darker adult Coraline meets Oujia Origin of Evil- I gasped out loud at certain moments. I do wish some of the jump scare moments didn’t feel receptive- after doing it once, the reader is going to catch on
The Plus One by S.C. Lalli

Go to review page

slow-paced
  • Strong character development? No
  • Loveable characters? No

2.5

Thank you to NetGalley and Harper Collins for an early release copy. 

Shay was never seen as good enough to them, socially below them, not enough money and cruelly ostracized. But she still caught the eye of Caleb and an invitation to a wedding event of the season, a “who’s who” guest list where the author will overly and repeatedly remind she doesn’t belong. But the mystery begins as the soon to be newly weds are found dead and the reader is introduced to dual timelines.

The characters are interesting to say the least; the rich are portrayed cruelly, judgmental and I find it hard to believe the father of the groom is concerned with our MC’s social status when his son is found dead. Be prepared to back burner some common sense thoughts as you read through this one. Even though this is calling as slow paced, it doesn’t feel it. You’ll move pretty easily through it as the author understands how to write a good transition.

This book does have a pet peeve of mine- the one where the “internal dialogue” of our MC contradicts  how she really feels or is doing. So that narrative was really only written to trick the reader. Breaking the fourth wall so to speak. So in that reference, be prepared to call the twists. 

Overall, I’m on the fence of giving the book a chance. It gets more than interesting around page 100, and the MC more root-able around page 200, even though she felt like a walking contradiction.  Let’s put trigger warnings please- the blatant racism from the social elite and abusive narcissistic type relationship was very uncomfortable to read. 
Expand filter menu Content Warnings
Glass Houses by Madeline Ashby

Go to review page

dark tense
  • Plot- or character-driven? A mix
  • Strong character development? No
  • Loveable characters? No

4.25

Thanks to NetGalley and Tor Publishing for access to an early release copy 


How fascinating! Feeling a little tv show Yellowjackets meets Lost, a little  Black Mirror episode; and even feeling like I started in the middle of the story, I didn’t feel confused. I felt wanting more. 

A look into AI, follow Kristen Howard in dual timelines; in the present time, on a corporate retreat, their plane has crashed on an island. And in flashbacks, the reader is following how we got there. Kristen is clever, interesting, and a fun main character to follow. A plot focused story, leaves you wondering what is this island and is it all just a company retreat. The story really conveys the downside of technology and the abuse of power that comes with, even with little moments.

Overall, the pacing moved faster at times and the story telling could give you whiplash. There were good moments of feminine rage and the story reminded me of a script of a tv show. But if you find yourself asking for something different in a book, this might be for you. I liked this. If the story had flowed a little smoother and the ending hadn’t halfway been an overall cop out from the journey, I probably would have said 5 stars
I Need You to Read This by Jessa Maxwell

Go to review page

fast-paced
  • Plot- or character-driven? Plot
  • Strong character development? No
  • Loveable characters? No

3.0

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

Jessa Maxwells follow up to her debut novel of The Golden Spoon is a story of the advice columnist; or really the obsession we have with those that feel like family but we don’t even know.

Alex gets the opportunity of a lifetime when Frances, a popular advice columnist, is found dead but her advice column isn’t. In comes Alex, excited for the new opportunity but hiding a secret of her own. Besides leaving the reader wondering what happened to Frances, we start to wonder what is Alex hiding from? Is she next? Is it all connected? Can Jessa Maxwell keep the suspension building to keep the reader invested?

Not really. Interesting concept but the suspense never really feels that tense or as tense as I was wanting. A little too much of a predictable Lifetime movie for me. I liked the idea of the trio at the diner but the whole time I felt like I was missing out on some inside joke and always felt like I was on the outside looking in. I think it’s because as the reader, we are Alex, as this is Alex’s story and she was written like a third wheel  in the trio. And Alex as a character didn’t bring much to the table in personality- she was rather bland. However, The Dear Constance letters were a nice touch. 

Some good writing. But it overall, more of a yawn.

FYI- this is totally how I found out they just re opened Century 21