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440 reviews
Killers of a Certain Age by Deanna Raybourn
adventurous
funny
mysterious
fast-paced
- Plot- or character-driven? Plot
- Strong character development? No
- Loveable characters? Yes
- Diverse cast of characters? It's complicated
- Flaws of characters a main focus? No
3.5
When I first started this one I was flying through it, but after about a third of the book, I just lost my investment in it. The plot was great and the idea of retired assassins is such a fantastic premise, but I found myself really missing any attachment or love for the characters. I expected there to be some more drama, but everything played out pretty much how I expected it to.
Now that doesn't mean I didn't like it, I really did. It just wasn't as propulsive as I was hoping for from the plot, but I'd still recommend it, especially if you're looking for a soft step into the thriller world.
Now that doesn't mean I didn't like it, I really did. It just wasn't as propulsive as I was hoping for from the plot, but I'd still recommend it, especially if you're looking for a soft step into the thriller world.
The Examiner by Janice Hallett
dark
mysterious
tense
medium-paced
- Plot- or character-driven? A mix
- Strong character development? It's complicated
- Loveable characters? No
- Diverse cast of characters? Yes
- Flaws of characters a main focus? Yes
4.0
Janice Hallett has done it again - a thriller told in a unique way that keeps you guessing right up until the end, but when you get there, your brain just goes, "Oh! Of course!"
I'm new to the mystery/thriller genre and Hallett has been the perfect entrance to it. She crafts such unique mysteries that look at your average every day people and turns them into uniquely powerful pawns throughout the story. The Examiner is no exception. The characters are intriguing and constantly keep you guessing. I would say this one is most like The Appeal, but instead of looking at neighborhood drama, it looks at a group of Multimedia Art MA students and the double-crossing that happens when too many people want too many things.
I did find myself a touch bothered by consequences only really happening for a couple of people, but Hallett still does an incredible job of wrapping things up and kept me glued to the book throughout it all. If you're a fan of The Thursday Murder Club series, Hallett is the next author you need to check out.
Thank you NetGalley and Atria books for the advance copy via NetGalley's Read Now!
I'm new to the mystery/thriller genre and Hallett has been the perfect entrance to it. She crafts such unique mysteries that look at your average every day people and turns them into uniquely powerful pawns throughout the story. The Examiner is no exception. The characters are intriguing and constantly keep you guessing. I would say this one is most like The Appeal, but instead of looking at neighborhood drama, it looks at a group of Multimedia Art MA students and the double-crossing that happens when too many people want too many things.
I did find myself a touch bothered by consequences only really happening for a couple of people, but Hallett still does an incredible job of wrapping things up and kept me glued to the book throughout it all. If you're a fan of The Thursday Murder Club series, Hallett is the next author you need to check out.
Thank you NetGalley and Atria books for the advance copy via NetGalley's Read Now!
Call Me By Your Name by André Aciman
Did not finish book. Stopped at 21%.
Did not finish book. Stopped at 21%.
Loved the movie but just couldn’t get into this one. Think it’s a “not right now” kind of problem.
Four Thousand Weeks: Time Management for Mortals by Oliver Burkeman
challenging
informative
reflective
slow-paced
3.5
Some parts felt wonderfully impactful, while some parts felt overly repetitive and even in the moments where he aims to highlight that things are much more complicated than he can ever dive into in a reasonable-sized book, I did find myself feeling like some things were too far removed from their contexts.
All in all, well worth a read but be aware this is a philosophy book, not a self-help book so it’s tackling major themes in the simplest way it can.
All in all, well worth a read but be aware this is a philosophy book, not a self-help book so it’s tackling major themes in the simplest way it can.
Every Summer After by Carley Fortune
emotional
funny
hopeful
reflective
medium-paced
- Plot- or character-driven? Character
- Strong character development? Yes
- Loveable characters? Yes
- Diverse cast of characters? No
- Flaws of characters a main focus? Yes
4.0
Fortune does such an incredible job telling dual timelines - it’s never confusing or feeling like you’re missing out on things, but it also doesn’t feel like it’s too much. While I loved This Summer Will Be Different, I’d say this one was more of a “really liked it.”
I found myself ever so slightly not in love with the characters as much as I expected to be, but they were still incredibly real and dimensional and I love that the conflict felt real enough to explain a 12 year long gap in the relationships. Genuinely can’t wait to read Fortune’s other book, Meet Me at the Lake, and auto-buy anything else she publishes.
I found myself ever so slightly not in love with the characters as much as I expected to be, but they were still incredibly real and dimensional and I love that the conflict felt real enough to explain a 12 year long gap in the relationships. Genuinely can’t wait to read Fortune’s other book, Meet Me at the Lake, and auto-buy anything else she publishes.
One-Star Romance by Laura Hankin
emotional
funny
hopeful
lighthearted
medium-paced
- Plot- or character-driven? Character
- Strong character development? Yes
- Loveable characters? It's complicated
- Flaws of characters a main focus? Yes
4.0
It took me about half of the book to really get into it, but when I did, I couldn’t put it down.
I didn’t fully fall in love with the characters which I think is what took me so long to really attach myself to the story, but Hankin did an incredible job creating a realistic love story (both between friends and love interests) that by the end had me smiling like a fool.
I didn’t fully fall in love with the characters which I think is what took me so long to really attach myself to the story, but Hankin did an incredible job creating a realistic love story (both between friends and love interests) that by the end had me smiling like a fool.
The Girl with Seven Names by Hyeonseo Lee
dark
emotional
hopeful
reflective
slow-paced
(I don't give star ratings to memoirs!)
Hyeonseo Lee's story ended up being so different from what I was expecting, but was an incredibly emotional look at what it means to grow up in North Korea and how it impacts you long after you have left. I loved how open and honest she was about missing home (even though home clearly is not perfect) and she did an incredible job of showing how difficult life can be for refugees and immigrants no matter where they come from. You'll come away with a new understanding of North Korea and what it means to try to make your life a good one.
Hyeonseo Lee's story ended up being so different from what I was expecting, but was an incredibly emotional look at what it means to grow up in North Korea and how it impacts you long after you have left. I loved how open and honest she was about missing home (even though home clearly is not perfect) and she did an incredible job of showing how difficult life can be for refugees and immigrants no matter where they come from. You'll come away with a new understanding of North Korea and what it means to try to make your life a good one.
Rooms of Their Own by Alex Johnson
inspiring
lighthearted
reflective
fast-paced
5.0
I absolutely adored this coffee table book and will absolutely be adding it to the list of books that I keep handy to buy for people if I need a quick and perfect gift. It's an absolute inspiration if you need a reminder that you can be a writer, anywhere, any time.
The Burnout by Sophie Kinsella
emotional
funny
hopeful
inspiring
lighthearted
medium-paced
- Plot- or character-driven? Character
- Strong character development? Yes
- Loveable characters? Yes
- Diverse cast of characters? No
- Flaws of characters a main focus? Yes
4.0
This one hit a little too close to home 🤣 If you've ever faced burnout, you'll definitely see yourself in this one. It has Kinsella's trademark humor, but does a great job of tackling something that I think a lot of people are facing at this point. There were, as with most Kinsella books, moments where I just wanted to shake the characters and get them to do the right thing, but all in all, I loved this one and would definitely recommend it to anyone who has enjoyed a Kinsella book in the past!
This Summer Will Be Different by Carley Fortune
emotional
hopeful
lighthearted
fast-paced
- Plot- or character-driven? Character
- Strong character development? Yes
- Loveable characters? Yes
- Diverse cast of characters? No
- Flaws of characters a main focus? Yes
5.0
An absolutely perfect summer romance that I had to force myself to stop reading in order to eat and sleep. I loved every moment and Carley Fortune is officially an auto-read author for me.
If you love Anne of Green Gables, fully-fleshed out characters, and sumptuous descriptions...look no further.
If you love Anne of Green Gables, fully-fleshed out characters, and sumptuous descriptions...look no further.