kimmiereadsalot's reviews
1320 reviews

Absolutely loved this. It’s one of those books that slowly sinks into your bones. It gets in deep and before you know it, you’re crying in Kroger while finishing your audiobook and not paying attention to what you’re getting. 

I’m pretty selective about the litfic I read as it’s not typically my fave. But when it hits, it HITS. And this one definitely hits. I was hoping that’d be the case with its popularity. 

Anyway. From the octopus to Tova and even Cameron, I fell in love with  all the characters in this tiny Washington town. I love how the story unfolded. I loved Marcellus’s POV most of all. I just loved it. 

Highly recommend. 

This is the best Catalina book so far. However, I’m still struggling with what feels like important missing stories/background. And while I didn’t fully feel the build up of Andre and Catalina, I liked them a lot in this book. Communication was peak and I liked how they evolved. 

We also learned a huge story about Connor and Nevada that has me wondering if it was in a book. 

I’ll have to look for the next book. Hopefully it’s in KU or cheap on audio. 

3.5 stars

Idk. I want to love Catalina’s story as much as Nevada’s, but I’m struggling. It has most of the aspects of the first 3 I love, but I’m not buying the relationship development. Im one who can let go a lot for insta romance. But I need to buy the basis. She goes from girlhood infatuation to love without any buildup. I needed more. 

I’m also just kind of confused. I paused this one to go back and read the novella (#3.5) and feel like it was kind of important to book 4. Normally, the point # novellas are bonus companions and not intricate additions to the overarching story. Idk. I’ve just felt a little lost in the overarching story but also don’t wish to go back and read the same stories from a different POV (what the point # novellas mostly seem to be). 

Overall, I still love this series. I guess I just hope to get some clarity. I’ve already started book 5. 

I get why this was a novella, but I think full length with more of Nevada and Rogan mixed in with Catalina’s introduction as an MC would have been awesome. 

I’m glad I came back and read this as so much was referenced in book 4. Usually point # books aren’t necessary to the overarching story, but this one felt necessary. Especially since we got Kelly’s ending (which was super anticlimactic). 

I’m also still confused on who Caesar was? Did I forget? Or do I have to read Rogan’s POVs to learn?

I really love this story for the most part. I’m just struggling with the layout and info reveals in novellas. Kind of confusing imo. 

I have to say. I struggled how to rate this. Part 1 was a bit slow and I didn’t connect with the characters much. This surprised me as I’ve read two other books by this author, and while not relating to the MC at all, had not problem connecting. 

However, things picked up in part 2. I started to understand Caren a little more. Still not entirely. Her standoffishness and choices still baffled me. But I got more into her investigation. 

By part 3 I was fully invested in the outcome. I will say that I didn’t think this novel was going to have a twist. I took it at face value thinking that it was more about the roots and history than the crime. But I was wrong. 

Overall, this is a good read that takes the time to set the stage and explore the nuances of how slavery still affects us today. 

Recommend. 


Slight spoiler that’s in no way important to the overall theme or plot of the book:


I do wish that the relationship between Eric and Caren had had a different finish. I get that their relationship was very real. But the romance lover in me wanted a happier ending. 

Not terrible. Not thrilling. Terrible title though. The husband of the couple at no9 was barely in it. And the people who lived there in 1980 were not really known as a couple. 

Idk. It dragged on a bit too much. I was interested, by the reveals came a bit too slow and weren’t shocking. There were zero twists to keep me truly invested. Plus, Saffy got on my ever last nerve. So whiny and judgy of her mom but easily forgiving of someone who doesn’t deserve it. 

The more I think about it, the more I want to lower my rating. But I felt mostly positive about it until the last draggy quarter. Still keep at a neutral positive 3.25 stars. 

Fun one great chemistry between the characters. And as always, anything narrated by Mary Jane Wells is automatically better for it. 

Good. Solid. Never bored. But never captivated. The voice acting and audio production was excellent imo and definitely added to the story.  I would read this author again as I loved her book Family Game Night. 

This is my second novel based on African mythology in the last few weeks. And this one is WAY MORE my speed. Yes, there is still death and dark aspects. But there is also light and love. I’m not a girlie that can do all darkness. I really appreciated how this author portrayed the mami wata. I love how she approached the forbidden love aspect. I love how our strong FMC always did what she felt was right and still found herself in the end. 

This was just really good and I enjoyed it. 

Recommend. 

What a thrillingly wild ride! I’d never read this author before, but boy would I again. 

This was book was good from beginning to end. But of 140 on had me like 👀 much of the time!

I don’t want to overhype. But I read a lot of mysteries and thrillers. And this will go down as one of my top of the year. I just have know. 

My rating and review are pure vibes. I don’t want to give anything away and am not coherent enough to form more formal thoughts. So emotional reactions only. 

Definitely recommend. And don’t feel bad when you find yourself rooting for potential murderers.