michelles_book_nook's reviews
259 reviews

⚠️ CW: drug abuse, rape, infertility, stalking, suicide, misogyny, homophobia, domestic abuse, torture ⚠️ This book was such a dark and emotional rollercoaster but I couldn't stop reading it! Sara doesn't think about that night, about the attack and the man who did it, and the way it tore her world apart. She thought that night was over. Until a new victim appears and now a young woman's life depends on Sara uncovering exactly what happened after that night. This was my first Karin Slaughter read and it definitely won't be my last. As you can tell from the list of CW's this was a very dark and difficult read but it was written so impeccably. One minute I was crying and the next I felt like my heart stopped with the suspense and anticipation. The way Karin Slaughter so perfectly portrayed the life long impacts of rape/assault, especially psychologically, was done so well. I absolutely loved this book and the only reason I dropped it down a star is because the chapters are quite long and a few times I felt like I needed a break mid chapter after reading certain chapter's contents and I'm not a fan of putting a book down mid chapter. Overall, I think this book was incredible and I highly recommend it. It will easily be in my top 10 at the end of the year!

⚠️ CW: miscarriage, animal death, murder ⚠️ If you're looking for a book that will give you that eerie sense of dread then this is the short story for you! A husband’s obsessive desire for a child leads to an unexpected manifestation of his yearning in a nightmarish dream. Willy and Marianne’s farmhouse in Maine has acres of meadow and fresh air, and a lonesome bridle path in the forest along which Willy daydreams and ambles. When he’s loaned a decrepit old pram to cart his groceries home, the rickety squeak of the wheels comforts him. And so do the sweet coos of a baby that Willy knows can’t be real, or can it? This book had me on the edge of my seat the entire time. It fills you with such a creepy sense of anticipation that only grows the more you read. The twist was so good and even though you sort of know where the book is going it still gives you goosebumps with the petrifying ending. Overall, I really enjoyed this short story and I highly recommend it for any gorey thriller or horror lovers.

⚠️ CW: paedophilia, grooming, domestic abuse, narcissism, murder ⚠️ If you're looking for a book that you can't put down then this one is for you! When podcaster Alix Summer and the unassuming Josie Fair meet by chance while celebrating their 45th birthday's at a local pub they don't realise it yet but their lives will never be the same. Yet a few days later they bump into each other again, this time outside Alix's children's school. Josie says she thinks she would be an interesting subject for Alix's podcast. She is, she tells Alix, on the cusp of great changes in her life. Alix agrees to a trial interview and indeed, Josie's life appears to be strange and complicated. Alix finds her unsettling but can't quite resist the temptation to keep digging. Slowly she starts to realise that Josie has been hiding some very dark secrets, and before she knows it Josie has cajoled her way into Alix's life and home. But soon Alix begins to wonder who is Josie Fair really is and what she's capable of. This book had me absolutely hooked! It was so unsettling but I just couldn't stop reading. And just when you think you've figured everything out, you are hit with twist after twist. Even the ending left me reeling and questioning what was the truth. Overall, I absolutely loved this read and highly recommend it!

⚠️ CW: war, murder, death and fatphobia ⚠️ If you love fantasy books that take you on a great adventure then this one is for you! In a quiet village in the Shire, young Frodo is about to receive a gift that will change his life forever. Thought to be lost centuries ago, it is the One Ring, an object of terrifying power once used by the Dark Lord to enslave Middle Earth. Now darkness is rising and Frodo must travel deep into the Dark Lord’s realm to the one place the Ring can be destroyed. The journey will test Frodo’s courage, his friendships and his heart. And as the ring corrupts all who bear it, can Frodo destroy it or will it destroy him? This book encompasses the perfect start to the perilous adventure to Mount Doom for Frodo and his group of travellers. It is slower paced than The Hobbit but builds so well and it's filled with great character development and so much world building and lore. I just love it so much. It will never cease to amaze me how much I love Tolkien's writing and no matter how many times I've read this series I never get tired of it. Overall, if you love fantasy reads then I highly recommend checking out this great classic series! 

⚠️ CW: war, violence, death and fatphobia ⚠️ If you've never delved into the world Middle Earth and you love a good fantasy then there is no better classic to read than anything by Tolkien. Bilbo Baggins is the last person you'd expect to go on an adventure. He enjoys a quiet, unambitious life, rarely travelling further than his pantry. Until one day a wizard arrives on his doorstep. Accompanied by a band of dwarves, Gandalf, the wizard asks Bilbo to join him on a quest to raid the treasure of the great dragon Smaug. But to reach Smaug's lair under the Lonely Mountain, the adventurers will have to travel into the wild, braving trolls and goblins, ancient magic and fiendish evil. This book, and anything written by Tolkien, will always be a masterpiece in my opinion. From his immense world building, to his incredible character development, to his overall story telling. I love everything about his books. This one is such a great adventure, and even though it is a re-read for me I still couldn't help staying up late and binging it like I did the very first time I read it because it's just so enthralling. Also I love that it has some really powerful undertones and messages. Overall, if you're a fantasy lover then I highly recommend this book.

⚠️ CW: gaslighting, sexual assault, rape, abuse, violence, suicide, murder ⚠️ If you're looking for a mind blowing non-fic read then this one is for you! What makes 'cults' so intriguing and frightening? What makes them powerful? The reason why so many of us binge Manson documentaries by the dozen and fall down rabbit holes researching suburban moms gone QAnon is because we’re looking for a satisfying explanation for what causes people to join, and more importantly, stay in these extreme groups. We secretly want to know: could it happen to me? Amanda Montell’s argument is that, on some level, it already has. Our culture tends to provide pretty flimsy answers to questions of cult influence, mostly having to do with vague talk of brainwashing. However, Montell argues that the key to manufacturing intense ideology, community and us vs them attitudes all comes down to language. In both positive ways and shadowy ones, cultish language is something we hear and are influenced by every single day. Montell exposes the verbal elements that make a wide spectrum of communities 'cultish', revealing how they affect followers of groups as notorious as Heaven’s Gate, but also how they pervade our modern start-ups such Peloton leaderboards and Instagram feeds. This addicting take on the curious social science of power and belief will make you hear the fanatical language of 'cultish' everywhere. This book was so incredibly mind blowing and interesting that I could not put it down! It has easily become one of my favourite non-fiction reads. Overall, I absolutely loved this one and I highly recommend that everyone reads this book!

⚠️ CW: drug use, paedophilia, alcoholism, domestic abuse, murder, parental death and suicide ⚠️ If you love crime fiction reads then I highly recommend checking out Simon McCleave! When a teenage boy goes missing on a camping trip with his friends, the close-knit community of Anglesey is shaken. DI Laura Hart is brought in to lead the murder investigation and instantly feels the pressure, not least because her colleague’s son was the last to see the missing boy alive. Laura’s investigations force her to delve into the tangled web of relationships and personal lives of her own neighbours. The trail leads her to uncover a religious cult called The Fair Men, who locals say have a dark history and still hold their ceremonies on the island where the boys were camping. Amongst all the mysteries and lies, Laura is sure about one thing, the island will not give up the truth easily. This was such a great read that had me staying up late just to finish reading because I could not put it down and I was absolutely hooked until the very end when I was hit with the jaw dropping twist and finale. I've loved this series from the beginning and this one definitely didn't disappoint. I love how Simon McCleave weaves the current case of the book with the updates of DI Laura Hart's life and history regarding her deceased husband and past life in Manchester. Overall, I highly recommend this book and cannot wait for the next one!

⚠️ CW: murder, child abuse, domestic abuse, suicidal ideations, homophobia, sexual abuse, paedophilia, rape and incest ⚠️ If you like true crime and psychology then this book is definitely for you, but please be warned it's very dark and heavy! The Menendez saga has captivated the public since 1989. The killing of José and Kitty Menendez didn’t make the cover of People magazine until the arrest of their sons 7 months later, and the case developed an intense cult following. When the first Menendez trial began in July 1993, the public was convinced that Lyle and Erik were a pair of greedy rich kids who had killed their devoted parents, but the real story remained buried beneath years of dark secrets. Journalist Robert Rand, who originally reported on the case, has followed the Menendez murders from the beginning and has continued investigating for 28 years. Rand is the only reporter who covered the original investigation as well as both trials. With access to the Menendez family and their history, Rand has uncovered extraordinary details that would have changed the fate of the brothers’ first-degree murder conviction and sentencing to life without parole. Rand shares these never before revealed findings, including a deeply disturbing history of child abuse and sexual molestation in the Menendez family going back generations. This case has always fascinated me because its always made me question my ethics when it comes to the justice system and this book really showcased every aspect, even down to the horrific realities that the Menendez brothers faced. I think everyone will always have their own opinions about this case, but no matter where you lie on their convictions and what happened I think this book is an incredible read. Overall, I highly recommend this book and I think it become one of my top 5 favourite true crime reads!