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natreadthat's reviews
389 reviews
Sometimes I Lie by Alice Feeney
challenging
dark
mysterious
tense
medium-paced
- Plot- or character-driven? A mix
- Strong character development? Yes
- Loveable characters? No
- Diverse cast of characters? It's complicated
- Flaws of characters a main focus? It's complicated
3.5
Amber Reynolds is in a coma, her husband doesn’t love her anymore, and sometimes she lies. She’s hovering between being awake and comatose, able to hear what’s going on around her when she’s not being swallowed into the darkness of her dreams.
Even though it was a page-turner, some twists I figured out as I read and some left me more confused than anything. I think the premise was interesting, but it just didn’t hold up for me. I am excited to hear what my book club thinks about it through!
Content Warnings
Graphic: Rape
Moderate: Miscarriage, Death of parent, and Murder
Minor: Sexual assault and Stalking
The Many Daughters of Afong Moy by Jamie Ford
dark
emotional
mysterious
sad
tense
medium-paced
- Plot- or character-driven? A mix
- Strong character development? Yes
- Loveable characters? It's complicated
- Diverse cast of characters? It's complicated
- Flaws of characters a main focus? It's complicated
4.0
This novel centers around epigenetic inheritance, or the effects of inherited trauma. Spanning multiple generations and points of views, The novel follows the lives of seven different women from the same family starting with Afong Moy, who is loosely based off of the first Chinese woman to set foot in America by the same name. Each woman faces some sort of trauma that has been passed down from their mother.
I wasn’t really engrossed in the novel until around half-way through and then I found it hard to put down. It’s part historical-fiction, part science-fiction, and an entirely unique look at the effects of generational trauma.
I wasn’t really engrossed in the novel until around half-way through and then I found it hard to put down. It’s part historical-fiction, part science-fiction, and an entirely unique look at the effects of generational trauma.
Content Warnings
Graphic: Death and Domestic abuse
Moderate: Homophobia, Racism, and Rape
When We Were Bright and Beautiful by Jillian Medoff
dark
emotional
mysterious
sad
tense
medium-paced
- Plot- or character-driven? A mix
- Strong character development? Yes
- Loveable characters? No
- Diverse cast of characters? No
- Flaws of characters a main focus? It's complicated
3.0
This one was dark and disturbing.
Billy Quinn comes from an ultra-rich family, attends Princeton, runs on the track team. He wants to get into med school and be a pediatrician.
He has also just been arrested for rape.
The Quinns know Billy is innocent and hiring an expensive, top-notch lawyer isn’t a problem. The problem is the family being scrutinized in the public eye as the trial gains more and more media attention. Soon, all of the family drama will be hung out to dry.
Based on the description, I knew this would be difficult to read. And yet I was still surprised by the disturbing twists that reared their ugly heads.
Billy Quinn comes from an ultra-rich family, attends Princeton, runs on the track team. He wants to get into med school and be a pediatrician.
He has also just been arrested for rape.
The Quinns know Billy is innocent and hiring an expensive, top-notch lawyer isn’t a problem. The problem is the family being scrutinized in the public eye as the trial gains more and more media attention. Soon, all of the family drama will be hung out to dry.
Based on the description, I knew this would be difficult to read. And yet I was still surprised by the disturbing twists that reared their ugly heads.
Content Warnings
Graphic: Child abuse, Rape, Sexual assault, and Death of parent
The One by John Marrs
challenging
dark
emotional
mysterious
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? No
4.5
If you could swab your DNA to find your soul mate, The One you’re meant to be with, would you?
In this novel, the world is split in two: those that are happily matched and those still waiting. Couples are torn apart as they match with others, the non-matched are seen as outcasts, and traditional love is no longer traditional.
The One follows the stories of five very different people—Mandy, Ellie, Nick, Christopher, and Jade—as they meet their newly matched soul mates. Some find true love, some find something else. How far would you go to fall in love?
This was definitely a page-turner and the fact that almost every chapter ended with a cliffhanger helped. It was a psychological thriller unlike anything I’ve ever read before. A quick, fascinating read!
In this novel, the world is split in two: those that are happily matched and those still waiting. Couples are torn apart as they match with others, the non-matched are seen as outcasts, and traditional love is no longer traditional.
The One follows the stories of five very different people—Mandy, Ellie, Nick, Christopher, and Jade—as they meet their newly matched soul mates. Some find true love, some find something else. How far would you go to fall in love?
This was definitely a page-turner and the fact that almost every chapter ended with a cliffhanger helped. It was a psychological thriller unlike anything I’ve ever read before. A quick, fascinating read!
Content Warnings
Graphic: Blood and Murder
Moderate: Cancer and Death
Minor: Alcoholism and Miscarriage
I'm Glad My Mom Died by Jennette McCurdy
challenging
dark
emotional
hopeful
reflective
sad
tense
medium-paced
5.0
Jennette McCurdy, who most of us know from iCarly, has dropped the bombshell of hell she went through at her own mother’s hands. We usually see celebrities and think nothing beyond the screen, and yet this memoir is a big, fat nod at “you never know what people are going through”.
The realities of the complicated, nuanced, and sometimes abusive relationships that many children have with their parents or guardians is not often in the spotlight. Yet this memoir about Jennette’s childhood and her maternal relationship is just that: honest, candid, occasionally humorous, and often disturbing. It was by no means an easy read, yet somehow cathartic. I was absolutely engrossed in her story and finished it in two days. I look forward to seeing where Jennette goes and appreciate the hope she brought to this dark reality.
The realities of the complicated, nuanced, and sometimes abusive relationships that many children have with their parents or guardians is not often in the spotlight. Yet this memoir about Jennette’s childhood and her maternal relationship is just that: honest, candid, occasionally humorous, and often disturbing. It was by no means an easy read, yet somehow cathartic. I was absolutely engrossed in her story and finished it in two days. I look forward to seeing where Jennette goes and appreciate the hope she brought to this dark reality.
Content Warnings
Graphic: Alcoholism, Eating disorder, Emotional abuse, Mental illness, Sexual assault, and Vomit
Moderate: Death of parent
Minor: Cancer
Five Floors Up: The Heroic Family Story of Four Generations in the FDNY by Brian McDonald, Brian McDonald
challenging
dark
emotional
informative
reflective
slow-paced
3.5
This one is definitely for the history buffs. It’s the true story of service and bravery from one family who has spent four generations in the Fire Department of New York.
The history of the Feehan family’s involvement in the FDNY is impressive and Five Floors Up tells it in full. From the 1920s to today, four generations of Feehans have been putting out fires all across New York City. I am by no means a history buff, so it sometimes felt like it dragged on a bit, but I think those that enjoy history will likely enjoy it. Plus the 9/11 content is gripping, as expected.
Thank you to Grand Central Publishing for sharing this with me!
The history of the Feehan family’s involvement in the FDNY is impressive and Five Floors Up tells it in full. From the 1920s to today, four generations of Feehans have been putting out fires all across New York City. I am by no means a history buff, so it sometimes felt like it dragged on a bit, but I think those that enjoy history will likely enjoy it. Plus the 9/11 content is gripping, as expected.
Thank you to Grand Central Publishing for sharing this with me!
Content Warnings
Graphic: Death and Fire/Fire injury
Moderate: Mental illness
Minor: Racism
The No-Show by Beth O'Leary
challenging
dark
emotional
hopeful
reflective
sad
slow-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? It's complicated
3.5
Joseph Carter seems too good to be true. He’s kind, sophisticated, mature, a man with a career, and of course, handsome. But when three women are stood up on Valentine’s Day, all by Joseph Carter, he might be too good to be true indeed.
To avoid any spoilers, I’ll keep my review vague. This was a slow burning romantic-mystery, if that’s even a genre, with its twists and turns. I was a bit proud of myself when I figured some stuff out before it was served to me on a silver platter (like it normally is).
If you’re into straightforward, predictable romance, this book probably isn’t for you. But if you enjoy guessing what’s going to happen next with some romance intertwined, I’d give it a read!
Content Warnings
Graphic: Death, Emotional abuse, Toxic relationship, and Grief
Moderate: Mental illness and Sexual harassment
Minor: Miscarriage, Sexual content, and Dementia
Apples Never Fall by Liane Moriarty
emotional
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? It's complicated
3.0
Family drama, a stranger, missing mother, and tennis, tennis, tennis.
This had all the elements that would normally make for a great read. I was enthralled while listening and wanted to figure out what happened to Joy, why she went missing, and who the hell Savannah was. But it more than often felt dragged out and longer than necessary.
This had all the elements that would normally make for a great read. I was enthralled while listening and wanted to figure out what happened to Joy, why she went missing, and who the hell Savannah was. But it more than often felt dragged out and longer than necessary.
Content Warnings
Moderate: Child abuse and Eating disorder
Minor: Infidelity
The Paris Apartment by Lucy Foley
dark
emotional
mysterious
tense
slow-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? No
4.0
When Jess’ half-brother disappears from his apartment the same evening she arrives on his doorstep, she immediately knows something is wrong. As Jess starts poking around his very posh apartment, things don’t necessarily add up. And his neighbors definitely don’t appreciate her meddling. Can she figure out what the hell happened to Ben before it’s too late?
Set in Paris (no way), Foley gives us a psychological thriller with a modern whodunnit flare. With multiple POVs, short chapters, and a slow burn, The Paris Apartment had me guessing, and guessing again, until the end.
Content Warnings
Graphic: Death and Blood
Moderate: Emotional abuse, Trafficking, and Murder
Minor: Alcoholism
Book Lovers by Emily Henry
emotional
funny
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? It's complicated
5.0
This is my first Emily Henry book and I really enjoyed it. Romance is typically not my genre. I can’t do the mushy, happily-ever-after stuff, but Book Lovers felt different. It poked fun at the typical main character going to a small town and falling in love with the town hottie trope, which I appreciated. The fun banter between the main characters, relatable real-life scenarios, and somewhat steamy moments were interlaced so well.
Nora is the hardworking New York City girl and work is her number one priority, that, and taking care of her sister, Libby. So when Libby begs to go to the setting of their favorite book, she begrudgingly agrees to leave the city. Then she runs into the broody editor, Charlie, and she can’t ignore the previous time they met... which didn’t go well at all. And along we go with Nora, Libby, and Charlie’s month in Sunshine Falls, North Carolina.
I guess you can say that I too am a Book Lover.
tw: grief, death of a parent, sexual content
Nora is the hardworking New York City girl and work is her number one priority, that, and taking care of her sister, Libby. So when Libby begs to go to the setting of their favorite book, she begrudgingly agrees to leave the city. Then she runs into the broody editor, Charlie, and she can’t ignore the previous time they met... which didn’t go well at all. And along we go with Nora, Libby, and Charlie’s month in Sunshine Falls, North Carolina.
I guess you can say that I too am a Book Lover.
tw: grief, death of a parent, sexual content
Content Warnings
Graphic: Grief
Moderate: Sexual content and Death of parent