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soobooksalot's reviews
975 reviews
The Haters by Robyn Harding
challenging
dark
emotional
mysterious
tense
fast-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
Haters gonna hate.
There was so much to enjoy in this thoroughly twisty thriller!
Thank you to Grand Central Publishing for my ARC of The Haters for review.
I loved the peek into a debut author's experience, as well as portions of Camryn Lane's book, Burnt Orchid, itself.
Despite all the thrillers I read and all the suspicions I had, I didn't guess at all how The Haters would pan out.
There was so much to enjoy in this thoroughly twisty thriller!
Thank you to Grand Central Publishing for my ARC of The Haters for review.
I loved the peek into a debut author's experience, as well as portions of Camryn Lane's book, Burnt Orchid, itself.
Despite all the thrillers I read and all the suspicions I had, I didn't guess at all how The Haters would pan out.
Content Warnings
Moderate: Bullying, Death, Drug abuse, Drug use, Mental illness, Panic attacks/disorders, Murder, Fire/Fire injury, Gaslighting, Toxic friendship, Alcohol, and Injury/Injury detail
Leather & Lark by Brynne Weaver
dark
emotional
lighthearted
mysterious
reflective
tense
fast-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
5.0
Content Warnings
Moderate: Death, Sexual content, Sexual violence, Torture, Blood, Car accident, Murder, Alcohol, and Injury/Injury detail
Honey: A Novel by Isabel Banta
emotional
hopeful
informative
reflective
medium-paced
- Plot- or character-driven? Character
- Strong character development? Yes
- Loveable characters? It's complicated
- Diverse cast of characters? N/A
- Flaws of characters a main focus? Yes
4.0
Honey is an intimate look behind the scenes of stardom.
Thank you to Celadon Books for my gifted ARC for review!
Amber Young wants to be a performer. Famous. Her mom takes her to auditions for acting roles, but it becomes clear Amber is meant to be a singer.
Amber joins the girl group, Cloud9, then embarks on a solo career. She goes through the teenage norms of making friends and navigating love and relationships, but in the 1990s and early 2000s public eye. Magazine features, news articles, song lyrics and such appear between chapters.
I'll admit, it took awhile for some of the characters to grow on me. Meeting them through the lens of the main character who is living her own experiences, keeps them at arm's length from the reader, to a degree.
I very much enjoyed what debut author Isabel Banta has created here, and look forward to reading more from her.
Recommended!
For release today, June 25.
Thank you to Celadon Books for my gifted ARC for review!
Amber Young wants to be a performer. Famous. Her mom takes her to auditions for acting roles, but it becomes clear Amber is meant to be a singer.
Amber joins the girl group, Cloud9, then embarks on a solo career. She goes through the teenage norms of making friends and navigating love and relationships, but in the 1990s and early 2000s public eye. Magazine features, news articles, song lyrics and such appear between chapters.
I'll admit, it took awhile for some of the characters to grow on me. Meeting them through the lens of the main character who is living her own experiences, keeps them at arm's length from the reader, to a degree.
I very much enjoyed what debut author Isabel Banta has created here, and look forward to reading more from her.
Recommended!
For release today, June 25.
Content Warnings
Moderate: Drug use, Infidelity, Sexual content, Abortion, and Alcohol
Bury Your Gays by Chuck Tingle
dark
emotional
funny
mysterious
reflective
sad
tense
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
Want some horror with your Pride?
Thank you to Tor Nightfire for my gifted copy for review!
Bury Your Gays by Chuck Tingle held some surprises for me. In addition to horror and dark humour, there was heartbreak.
Misha Byrne is a screenwriter in Hollywood, and is told to "bury" the gay characters on his current show by killing them off or be straight by the season finale. "For the algorithm", you understand.
When he refuses, Misha inexplicably begins encountering some of his previously-created horror movie characters. In real life. And they're much less pleasant in person than on the page.
It's a fantastic premise, but it's the "Inspiration" chapters that hit me in the feels. They tell of Misha's upbringing as a young person struggling with his sexuality and the heartbreaking reactions of others.
I thoroughly enjoyed the author's previous, Camp Damascus. Bury Your Gays is an entirely different feel, but no less enjoyable. Tingle's writing is all-out, unique and worth adding to your TBR.
Recommended!
For release on July 9
Thank you to Tor Nightfire for my gifted copy for review!
Bury Your Gays by Chuck Tingle held some surprises for me. In addition to horror and dark humour, there was heartbreak.
Misha Byrne is a screenwriter in Hollywood, and is told to "bury" the gay characters on his current show by killing them off or be straight by the season finale. "For the algorithm", you understand.
When he refuses, Misha inexplicably begins encountering some of his previously-created horror movie characters. In real life. And they're much less pleasant in person than on the page.
It's a fantastic premise, but it's the "Inspiration" chapters that hit me in the feels. They tell of Misha's upbringing as a young person struggling with his sexuality and the heartbreaking reactions of others.
I thoroughly enjoyed the author's previous, Camp Damascus. Bury Your Gays is an entirely different feel, but no less enjoyable. Tingle's writing is all-out, unique and worth adding to your TBR.
Recommended!
For release on July 9
Content Warnings
Moderate: Death, Homophobia, and Murder
The Axe Remembers by Marcus Hawke
dark
mysterious
tense
fast-paced
- Plot- or character-driven? A mix
- Strong character development? It's complicated
- Loveable characters? It's complicated
- Diverse cast of characters? N/A
- Flaws of characters a main focus? Yes
4.0
Take one of my favourite jump scares from a slasher movie and reverse it - that's what the opening pages of The Axe Remembers made me think of! (The og Friday The 13th. You know the scene.)
Thank you to Hawke Haus Books for my gifted ARC!
Horror readers and cinephiles should be all over this one. I could absolutely envision this story playing out on screen. And the Vancouver Island setting with nods to Canadiana throughout added to the appeal. (Yes, it would make a perfect July long weekend read!)
The Redwood Ripper, a long-deceased axe murderer (or thought by many to be just an urban legend) is back. And as axe murderers are wont to do, he's back to axe murdering.
The Axe Remembers is a fun, bloody horror novella. And according to the afterword, this isn't the last we'll see of him and his handiwork.
Bring us more, Marcus Hawke - recommended!
For release on July 2.
Thank you to Hawke Haus Books for my gifted ARC!
Horror readers and cinephiles should be all over this one. I could absolutely envision this story playing out on screen. And the Vancouver Island setting with nods to Canadiana throughout added to the appeal. (Yes, it would make a perfect July long weekend read!)
The Redwood Ripper, a long-deceased axe murderer (or thought by many to be just an urban legend) is back. And as axe murderers are wont to do, he's back to axe murdering.
The Axe Remembers is a fun, bloody horror novella. And according to the afterword, this isn't the last we'll see of him and his handiwork.
Bring us more, Marcus Hawke - recommended!
For release on July 2.
Content Warnings
Moderate: Death, Gore, Racial slurs, Violence, Murder, Alcohol, and Injury/Injury detail
The Nature of Disappearing by Kimi Cunningham Grant
emotional
reflective
tense
slow-paced
- Plot- or character-driven? Character
- Strong character development? It's complicated
- Loveable characters? It's complicated
- Diverse cast of characters? N/A
- Flaws of characters a main focus? Yes
3.5
There's just something about receiving a new book from an admired writer.
Kimi Cunningham Grant's previous book, These Silent Woods, is on my top favourites list.
So I was thrilled to receive her newest, The Nature of Disappearing - thank you to Minotaur Books for my gifted copy!
This is the suspenseful story of longtime friends Emlyn and Janessa. Chapters go from present-day, back to when they met, and the years going forward.
Their relationship has been complicated. But when Janessa, a van life social media influencer, appears to be missing, Emlyn sets out with former boyfriend Tyler to find her.
The Nature of Disappearing makes excellent use of setting - the forests of Idaho - and slow-burn tension.
The second half of the book picks up with reveals of the secrets held within relationships.
If you're not yet familiar with this author's writing, I highly recommend checking out her work.
For release on June 18.
Kimi Cunningham Grant's previous book, These Silent Woods, is on my top favourites list.
So I was thrilled to receive her newest, The Nature of Disappearing - thank you to Minotaur Books for my gifted copy!
This is the suspenseful story of longtime friends Emlyn and Janessa. Chapters go from present-day, back to when they met, and the years going forward.
Their relationship has been complicated. But when Janessa, a van life social media influencer, appears to be missing, Emlyn sets out with former boyfriend Tyler to find her.
The Nature of Disappearing makes excellent use of setting - the forests of Idaho - and slow-burn tension.
The second half of the book picks up with reveals of the secrets held within relationships.
If you're not yet familiar with this author's writing, I highly recommend checking out her work.
For release on June 18.
Content Warnings
Moderate: Addiction, Drug abuse, Drug use, and Injury/Injury detail
How to Make a Horror Movie and Survive by Craig DiLouie
dark
informative
lighthearted
mysterious
reflective
tense
medium-paced
- Plot- or character-driven? A mix
- Strong character development? No
- Loveable characters? It's complicated
- Diverse cast of characters? Yes
- Flaws of characters a main focus? Yes
3.5
This likely comes as no shock, but I love books about the making of horror movies/shows and cursed films.
There have been some awesome ones as of late - Curse Of The Reaper, Mister Magic, Run Time, Burn The Negative, Night Film, Found - to name a few.
Now add How To Make A Horror Movie And Survive by Craig DiLouie to the mix. Thank you to Hachette Books for the gifted review copy!
Director Max Maurey is best known for the Jack The Knife horror series. But it's not getting the viewer reactions he'd like. Horror shouldn't be laughed at, and Max wants horror to mean something.
Enter the Arriflex 35BL, the very camera used to film the ill-fated Mary's Birthday - a movie never released due to the on-screen deaths of several cast and crew.
Max has the cursed camera. And is making the movie If Wishes Could Kill with it. After all, as the cover states, horror isn't horror unless it's real.
I previously loved DiLouie's Episode Thirteen, and HTMAHMAS has made him an auto-buy author for me. This wink-and-nod to the horror film industry is a bit unconventional and all entertaining - recommended!
For release on June 18.
There have been some awesome ones as of late - Curse Of The Reaper, Mister Magic, Run Time, Burn The Negative, Night Film, Found - to name a few.
Now add How To Make A Horror Movie And Survive by Craig DiLouie to the mix. Thank you to Hachette Books for the gifted review copy!
Director Max Maurey is best known for the Jack The Knife horror series. But it's not getting the viewer reactions he'd like. Horror shouldn't be laughed at, and Max wants horror to mean something.
Enter the Arriflex 35BL, the very camera used to film the ill-fated Mary's Birthday - a movie never released due to the on-screen deaths of several cast and crew.
Max has the cursed camera. And is making the movie If Wishes Could Kill with it. After all, as the cover states, horror isn't horror unless it's real.
I previously loved DiLouie's Episode Thirteen, and HTMAHMAS has made him an auto-buy author for me. This wink-and-nod to the horror film industry is a bit unconventional and all entertaining - recommended!
For release on June 18.
Content Warnings
Moderate: Death, Violence, Death of parent, Murder, and Alcohol
The Break by Katherena Vermette
challenging
dark
reflective
tense
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
4.5
Content Warnings
Moderate: Racial slurs, Rape, Sexual assault, Violence, Blood, Pregnancy, Alcohol, and Injury/Injury detail
The Paradise Problem by Christina Lauren
emotional
funny
hopeful
lighthearted
reflective
tense
fast-paced
- Plot- or character-driven? A mix
- Strong character development? Yes
- Loveable characters? Yes
- Diverse cast of characters? N/A
- Flaws of characters a main focus? Yes
5.0
Content Warnings
Moderate: Cancer, Emotional abuse, Sexual content, and Alcohol
We Used to Live Here by Marcus Kliewer
adventurous
challenging
dark
mysterious
reflective
tense
fast-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
5.0
Have you ever found yourself reading a book at a most inappropriate time?
Me - I was making my way through Marcus Kliewer's We Used To Live here one fine night. By night, I mean the actual pitch dark of very early a.m. With no one else home but the dog. I rather freaked myself out.
Thank you to Simon & Schuster Canada for my gifted copy for review!
You see, some of those associated with a house in the woods, at 3709 Heritage Lane, see things that may not be rooted in reality. Previous inhabitants. And current homeowner Eve Palmer.
Eve reluctantly allows the Faust family, headed by patriarch Thomas, into the house she and partner Charlie just purchased to reno and flip.
Thomas used to live in the house. Wants to show it to his wife and kids. Fifteen minutes, tops. (The introverted extrovert in me, meanwhile, inwardly screeching "noooo!")
We Used To Live Here isn't overly gorey or violent - it's fantastic descriptive imagery of our MC's experience, and of the house. Basements with creepy hallways, attics with shadowy figures, mysterious housing contents, unsubstantiated family histories and memories.
And one of my favourite devices, the inclusion of "real documentation" relating to the unfolding plot. (Think book excerpts in Carrie.)
Supernatural, psychiatric, or something else?
Easy five star debut right here - highly recommended!
For release on June 18.
Me - I was making my way through Marcus Kliewer's We Used To Live here one fine night. By night, I mean the actual pitch dark of very early a.m. With no one else home but the dog. I rather freaked myself out.
Thank you to Simon & Schuster Canada for my gifted copy for review!
You see, some of those associated with a house in the woods, at 3709 Heritage Lane, see things that may not be rooted in reality. Previous inhabitants. And current homeowner Eve Palmer.
Eve reluctantly allows the Faust family, headed by patriarch Thomas, into the house she and partner Charlie just purchased to reno and flip.
Thomas used to live in the house. Wants to show it to his wife and kids. Fifteen minutes, tops. (The introverted extrovert in me, meanwhile, inwardly screeching "noooo!")
We Used To Live Here isn't overly gorey or violent - it's fantastic descriptive imagery of our MC's experience, and of the house. Basements with creepy hallways, attics with shadowy figures, mysterious housing contents, unsubstantiated family histories and memories.
And one of my favourite devices, the inclusion of "real documentation" relating to the unfolding plot. (Think book excerpts in Carrie.)
Supernatural, psychiatric, or something else?
Easy five star debut right here - highly recommended!
For release on June 18.
Content Warnings
Moderate: Homophobia, Mental illness, Blood, Murder, Gaslighting, and Injury/Injury detail