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sannesbooks's reviews
239 reviews
Listen for the Lie by Amy Tintera
dark
mysterious
tense
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? Yes
3.5
I don't like whodunit kind of stories, and I didn't know this one would be that exactly because I just saw this audiobook on YouTube rondomly and stadted it without knowing anything about it. I was quite bored in the very beginning of the story but a little later when she got to the town I was starting to get invested.
The voice of the main character is refreshing, giving the book a quite lighthearted and funny undertone. Because this is told through a podcast in part, this book worked perfectly as an audiobook. I liked the voice acting a lot. The narrator really captured the sarcasm of the main character.
So, I enjoyed it for what it was. I recommend this to anyone who likes mysteries and whodunits.
The voice of the main character is refreshing, giving the book a quite lighthearted and funny undertone. Because this is told through a podcast in part, this book worked perfectly as an audiobook. I liked the voice acting a lot. The narrator really captured the sarcasm of the main character.
So, I enjoyed it for what it was. I recommend this to anyone who likes mysteries and whodunits.
Content Warnings
Graphic: Alcoholism, Death, Domestic abuse, and Murder
The Four Winds by Kristin Hannah
adventurous
emotional
sad
tense
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? Yes
4.25
I really enjoyed the writing. The story captivates you from the first chapter. This story mainly focusses on mother and daughter, and the story is told from both of their povs. Even though I liked the story, I am not a mother, I think this story would have hit harder for readers that are mothers. The book is divided in parts and I enjoyed the first half of the book best because I found that part the most emotional, and I was the most interested in the Dust Bowl. I love Rose and Tony.
The Great Depression and the Dust Bowl are events in history that I was not familiar with (I am not American). I found it a very interesting topic to learn more about. It was so terrible and I feel very much empathy for the people who lived during that time.
This is really not a happy book so I recommend to pick this book up when you are in the right mindspace for a tragic story.
There were also things I didn't like. I did not like the repetetiveness. I understand that all the tragedies were repetetive. What I mean with that is that, for example, the dust storms were very frequent and they were often described too long and in the same way. I was kind of bored at the part about communism. Again, quite repetetively written. Did not enjoy the ending but the epilogue was kinda sweet.
I also didn't like the way the mother died. It didn't really make sense. I think, the bullet should have been more fatal for here to actually die from it or she should have to recover. I also did not like the romance between Elsa and Jack. It seemed a bit forced and unnessecary.
The Great Depression and the Dust Bowl are events in history that I was not familiar with (I am not American). I found it a very interesting topic to learn more about. It was so terrible and I feel very much empathy for the people who lived during that time.
This is really not a happy book so I recommend to pick this book up when you are in the right mindspace for a tragic story.
There were also things I didn't like. I did not like the repetetiveness. I understand that all the tragedies were repetetive. What I mean with that is that, for example, the dust storms were very frequent and they were often described too long and in the same way. I was kind of bored at the part about communism. Again, quite repetetively written. Did not enjoy the ending but the epilogue was kinda sweet.
Content Warnings
Graphic: Animal death, Body shaming, Emotional abuse, Miscarriage, Physical abuse, Grief, and Abandonment
Moderate: Child death, Death, Gun violence, Police brutality, and Death of parent
The Southern Book Club's Guide to Slaying Vampires by Grady Hendrix
dark
mysterious
tense
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? Yes
4.25
This was a really enjoyable read. It was easy to read and fast to get through. The book started kinda slow, but once you are halfway you can't stop reading. I appreciated the time jumps in between. I think this was a good way to make the pacing right.
I liked the characters in this book. My only complaint is that the women in the bookclub had kind of the same personalities. This made it sometimes hard to follow, and you will mix up characters.
I loved the depiction of womenhood / friendship. It was frustrating to read about the sexism and misogyny, but I think it is realistic for that time period and it calls for reflection. It was interesting to see how different characters responded to injustice and misogyny. I also appreciated the description of rich vs poor neighbourhood and white vs colored people, discrimination that is still happening today. I enjoyed to see how the characters reacted to the differences in treatment.
Patricia's son, Blue, had an obsession with Nazis. I kinda think it is weird to include that because it didn't do anything for the storyline. I thought and wished this was a set up for something bigger but it wasn't and therefore I think this is an unnessecary 'story line'. I think the writer just want to add something to make the kid seem creepy but at the end of the book he portrait as creepy, so there was basically no point.
Another thing that was, in my opinion, only included for shock value was the thigh blood sucking. The vampire only drank blood from the inner thighs of people. In the book, it also clearly states that this blood sucking makes its victims sexually aroused. Also, the victims were naked during this for no reason. Unnessecary in my opinion, especially because his victims were minors! There was also no explaination for why it should have to be done this way, so I think it was just unnessecary.
I liked the characters in this book. My only complaint is that the women in the bookclub had kind of the same personalities. This made it sometimes hard to follow, and you will mix up characters.
I loved the depiction of womenhood / friendship. It was frustrating to read about the sexism and misogyny, but I think it is realistic for that time period and it calls for reflection. It was interesting to see how different characters responded to injustice and misogyny. I also appreciated the description of rich vs poor neighbourhood and white vs colored people, discrimination that is still happening today. I enjoyed to see how the characters reacted to the differences in treatment.
Another thing that was, in my opinion, only included for shock value was the thigh blood sucking. The vampire only drank blood from the inner thighs of people. In the book, it also clearly states that this blood sucking makes its victims sexually aroused. Also, the victims were naked during this for no reason. Unnessecary in my opinion, especially because his victims were minors! There was also no explaination for why it should have to be done this way, so I think it was just unnessecary.
Content Warnings
Graphic: Emotional abuse, Gore, Misogyny, Rape, Sexism, Sexual violence, Blood, Murder, and Gaslighting
Moderate: Animal death, Racism, and Suicide attempt
Minor: Domestic abuse, Drug abuse, and War
The Grownup by Gillian Flynn
dark
mysterious
tense
fast-paced
- Plot- or character-driven? A mix
- Strong character development? No
- Loveable characters? No
- Diverse cast of characters? No
- Flaws of characters a main focus? Yes
4.75
Great short story, captivating page-turner you can read in one sitting. It was, I think, a perfect short story. Could have been a little longer, 10/20 pages maybe, to include more depth, but overall super entertaining and well-written book!
Content Warnings
Moderate: Sexual content
Minor: Blood
Luster by Raven Leilani
dark
emotional
reflective
medium-paced
- Plot- or character-driven? Character
- Strong character development? Yes
- Loveable characters? It's complicated
- Diverse cast of characters? Yes
- Flaws of characters a main focus? Yes
4.0
Beautiful writing. The book is short and I liked the way it was written in short paragraphs which made it a easy, fast and engaging to read. It gets into some difficult topics but it also finds a way to make it funny and somewhat lighthearted which is impressive. It is also just a very cool and edgy book about a black woman figuring out life.
Content Warnings
Graphic: Racism and Classism
The Crimson Moth by Kristen Ciccarelli
dark
emotional
tense
fast-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? Yes
4.75
This was freaking amazing! Got me hooked every moment of the book. Loved the characters and the plot twist. I liked the way it was written with a dual pov. In this way, we learned a lot about the main characters and their history and motives. The characters had depth to them and are morally grey. Everything comes together beautifully. Normally, I don't read a lot of fantasy romance or romances, but I also enjoyed the romance in this book!
It didn't feel as much as a YA story to me, more of NA, which I prefer. Definitely want to pick up the second book when it is out.
It didn't feel as much as a YA story to me, more of NA, which I prefer. Definitely want to pick up the second book when it is out.
Content Warnings
Graphic: Blood
The Crimson Fortress by Akshaya Raman
adventurous
medium-paced
- Plot- or character-driven? A mix
- Strong character development? No
- Loveable characters? Yes
- Diverse cast of characters? Yes
- Flaws of characters a main focus? Yes
1.5
This was badly written, and there were too many characters. The characters weren't distinct enough to tell them apart from one another. And the switching between POVs were making it difficult to read. This made this book overall very confusing to listen to.
I didn't enjoy that the siblings were apart from eachother for most of the book. Also didn't like the romance. It felt really forced and I didn't feel chemistry between the characters. The plot was too unrealistic for it to be believed.
It was overall boring and confusing. Should have DNFd this book but loved the first book so wanted to see if it would have become better, unforturnately not...
I didn't enjoy that the siblings were apart from eachother for most of the book. Also didn't like the romance. It felt really forced and I didn't feel chemistry between the characters. The plot was too unrealistic for it to be believed.
It was overall boring and confusing. Should have DNFd this book but loved the first book so wanted to see if it would have become better, unforturnately not...
Open water by Caleb Azumah Nelson
emotional
reflective
slow-paced
- Plot- or character-driven? Character
- Strong character development? No
- Loveable characters? It's complicated
- Diverse cast of characters? Yes
- Flaws of characters a main focus? Yes
2.75
A very poetic book. There were some really pretty quotes but overall i found the writing style overdramatic. This didn't connect with me, others might like this.
I also found it quite boring. It is a very slow moving story with very little interaction. The second person narration style was bothersome and it made me connect with the main character less.
This is a very pure and intimate story of a black man, and I think black people might connect more with this story than I did and could. There were also a few references of movies, music, etc. I didn't know about and if you would knew these regerences it would probably hit harder.
I also found it quite boring. It is a very slow moving story with very little interaction. The second person narration style was bothersome and it made me connect with the main character less.
This is a very pure and intimate story of a black man, and I think black people might connect more with this story than I did and could. There were also a few references of movies, music, etc. I didn't know about and if you would knew these regerences it would probably hit harder.
Under the Whispering Door by TJ Klune
emotional
funny
hopeful
mysterious
reflective
medium-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? Yes
4.25
Beautiful, whimsical, magical! This was such a delicate and cozy depiction of grief. Such a sweet story.
No Hard Feelings by Genevieve Novak
emotional
funny
medium-paced
- Plot- or character-driven? Character
- Strong character development? Yes
- Loveable characters? It's complicated
- Diverse cast of characters? Yes
- Flaws of characters a main focus? Yes
4.0
This is relateable as someone who has dealt with anxiety. Definitely see the fleabag vibes.