Stories We Never Told was my first Sonja Yoerg novel, and for the most part, I was pleased with my Amazon First selection. The writing was co3.5 stars
Stories We Never Told was my first Sonja Yoerg novel, and for the most part, I was pleased with my Amazon First selection. The writing was compelling (I read most of the book yesterday afternoon), the characters came to life and jumped right off the pages, and the story was quite unlike anything I've read before.
So, why the 3.5 star rating, Bridgett?
The answer is this...Amazon listed this as contemporary fiction, but what I actually read was more a thriller/suspense. I was not expecting those elements and honestly felt they hindered the plot. To make things work, Yoerg added so many competing story lines, it quickly became convoluted and forced--Syrian refugees, parental disappointment, autism, ADHD, homosexuality, sociopathy, infidelity, murder, and more IT information than you could ever possibly want to know. It was just so much.
Interwoven within the novel were chapters of each "Character's (Insert name here) Story." Most were unnecessary and added nothing to the story, but the options which did help move things forward gave away so many of the so-called twists, it made the ending anti-climatic.
Overall, this was an above average read, and with a few tweaks, I think it could be brilliant. I simply wish Amazon had classified the genre correctly....more
I chose this as my March First Reads selection through Amazon.
In the author's notes at the end of the book, Loretta Nyhan mentioned that more and moreI chose this as my March First Reads selection through Amazon.
In the author's notes at the end of the book, Loretta Nyhan mentioned that more and more people she knew were being diagnosed with autoimmune disorders. I could literally go on a tirade about the science and main cause behind these disorders, but I won't. This is a book review, not a biology lesson.
Nevertheless, reading about Ally running from doctor to doctor trying to find answers and not getting any at all...it was beyond frustrating to me, mostly because it's so accurate. Doctors really can be that ignorant. Or at least they pretend to be. (Please don't assume your doctor is all-knowing. Truly. Do your research...and I'm not referring to Google. I mean get actual medical books and research. Not only am I an RN who works with docs and realizes they're absolutely fallible, I'm also a mom who has corrected them on multiple occasions.)
Anyway...
The Other Family is a cutesy story revolving around themes of chronic illness, adoption, divorce, alternative medicine (which I loved) and the myriad of emotions that go along with each. The characters were full of depth, but the story itself seemed lacking to me somehow. It felt as though it just skimmed the surface of each topic, never really digging down deep. It is a quick, easy read...I finished it in one evening, so if you're looking for something which doesn't require much thought or brainpower, this is a good choice.
Overall, this was a mediocre read. I'd recommend it to those who love domestic dramas, or are just looking for something light to fill a slow afternoon....more
'You only live once, and no one has any idea how long that once is going to be, so grab on tight and hold on for the ride and don’t worry about it
'You only live once, and no one has any idea how long that once is going to be, so grab on tight and hold on for the ride and don’t worry about it and don’t look back.'
In the aftermath of a tragic and deadly accident, a group of people who came together for a weekend getaway, struggle with their actions and the (sometimes) questionable choices they made. I'll be honest, friends, I wasn't expecting to love this book as much as I did.
It was poignant, yet lovely. It was devastating, yet joyful. It was moving, yet redemptive.
Finn, our omniscient narrator was beautifully pure and refreshing. I adored her voice, just as I did Mo's....Finn's best friend. Actually, I loved the entire Miller family's vibe...with the exception of Ann, the mother. Now, being a mother myself...and particularly a mother of a mentally disabled, puberty-ridden son who reminded me very much of Oz...you'd think I'd have empathized with her. I didn't. I realize everyone grieves differently, and I'm certainly not judging, but her actions during and after the tragedy were so far from what I'd do in the same situation, I couldn't relate to her at all. Not even a little. In fact, I quite disliked her, which is why I ultimately decided to rate this novel 4.5 stars instead of 5.
Nevertheless, In An Instant is an unexpectedly stunning story. I'm grateful I chose this as my Amazon First selection for February.
Oddly enough, I recently posted a question asking my fellow bibliophiles if they'd rather read a book which makes them laugh, or one which makes them cry. While I'm always down for a good laugh, I chose the book which makes me cry. Why? Because emotionally wrecking your readers requires an author to have some crazy, mad writing skills. You guys, Suzanne Redfearn possesses that talent.
I'll be recommending this book to every person I know. ...more
'All I want is an answer. An explanation. And for this to end. I don't even need an apology despite the fact that it's beyond reprehensible to infl
'All I want is an answer. An explanation. And for this to end. I don't even need an apology despite the fact that it's beyond reprehensible to inflict mental trauma on someone who has already been victimized.'
3.5 stars rounded to 4
The best advice I can give you about When I Was You is this...despite the incredibly slow pacing at the beginning, keep reading. Once you hit the 40% mark, the novel kicks into gear and the action is fast-paced and fun.
Told from dual perspectives, those of Brienne and Niall, I have to admit the story is a bit far-fetched. The characters actions, particularly Brienne's, could easily be construed as "off-the-wall."
Hey, who knew gaslighting was so believable?
Not only was this my Amazon First pick for January, I also received an ARC from the publisher (many thanks). The opinions are entirely my own. Overall, I'm satisfied. Minka Kent is a very engaging writer, despite a couple issues within the story....more
I've been on a roll with stinky books, and this one was no exception.
There was so, so much going on with this novel. Too much.
Red herrings abound!I've been on a roll with stinky books, and this one was no exception.
There was so, so much going on with this novel. Too much.
Red herrings abound! Unfortunately, it was obvious 99% of them were added as an afterthought, meaning it was still quite easy to figure out who the "Suicide Watcher" was.
So, let me give you a brief rundown of the crap-fest that is this story (no spoilers...this is all established very early on):
Elise and Nathaniel are married, having bonded over their mothers' suicides. Romantic, right? They have three children--Ida, Miles, and baby Buddy. Ida dies, but who killed her...and why?
Following her death, Elise breaks down and believes Buddy was swapped in the hospital...that he's not really her baby. She knows who has her real baby. Or does she?
In the meantime, her husband, father, brother, in-laws, random friends, the milk man, her dermatologist, Flo from the Progressive commercials, Santa Claus, Marilyn Monroe, the Mothman, a toy bone, and an old pair of my panties all made an appearance...with accompanying story line, mind you...in this novel. Add to that the full chapters of philosophical ramblings from the "suicide watcher," and I was bored out of my mind.
Are you intrigued yet? My old undies have you rushing to click "buy," right?
::sigh::
Look, this book is horribly choppy and lacks cohesion. Further, there are so many characters, you don't really get to know any of them. While there was one mildly surprising twist at the end, mostly, I just felt confused by all the unanswered questions and plot holes. And don't even get me started about the totally nonchalant attitude regarding suicide and rape. One section, in particular, my jaw dropping, but not in a good way.
I can't tell you what to do, of course, but if it were me, I'd choose a different Kindle First novel. 1.5 stars
**UPDATE** So, I read a few other reviews which mentioned how the author completely confused two different mental health conditions, but used them interchangeably. I genuinely couldn't recall if I'd noticed that or not (probably because my interest was nil while reading this story), so I went back and double checked. Lo and behold, she does indeed get it completely wrong. In this day and age, when all it takes is a quick Google search to verify something like this, it's a completely unacceptable mistake....and embarrassing. Was there no editing involved here? For that reason, I'm lowing my rating from 1.5 stars, to 1.
A delightful little book about finding yourself...no matter your age or your life stage.
Daphne and Ellery...a mother and daughter duo for the ageA delightful little book about finding yourself...no matter your age or your life stage.
Daphne and Ellery...a mother and daughter duo for the ages...who are, unfortunately, both struggling with the not-always-fantastic life cards they were dealt. Daphne was a lovely individual who, as a fellow peri-menopausal mother, I could relate to on so many different levels. She was a gem of a character I really enjoyed getting to know. Her daughter, Ellery...the spoiled, over-indulged only child...was a character to which I could, embarrassingly, also relate. (In case you missed my point, I'm also a spoiled only child--well, I was. These days I'm a homeschooling momma of two teens and 4 dogs. Please note...I don't homeschool the dogs). Ellery was frustrating, sometimes annoying, and achingly familiar. I remember having some of those same thoughts and taking some of the same actions when I was growing up. Thankfully, I did grow up and shed those not-so desirable traits.
Told from both women's POVs, this is a quick, engrossing read I truly enjoyed. I think any mother and daughter could relate to these two women. And while there is some romance, I'd be more likely to consider this more contemporary women's fiction.
Is it predictable? Oh yes...on pretty much every level, but I enjoyed every character so completely, I honestly didn't mind. The writing was fantastic and the story flowed so smoothly, I breezed through this sucker. Very pleased with my Kindle First selection.
And so begins the exquisitely character-driven novel, Drowning with Others. I started reading this late last No one can keep secrets these days...
And so begins the exquisitely character-driven novel, Drowning with Others. I started reading this late last night, and just finished today. I could hardly put it down. While it does seem a little too drawn out, I found it to be a fun, quirky, beautifully rendered suspense.
Perhaps it was all the references to the mid to late 90s, when I was in college myself, but the book really resonated with me. I enjoyed the characters, and the mystery was unexpectedly good. I thought the book was heading one way, yet it went head-first in another direction...which I loved. Told from three points of view, those of Andi (the mother), Ian (the father), and Cassidy (their daughter), the time-frame bounces from present day (during Cassidy's senior year in high school) to the 1996-97 school year, when Ian & Andi were the senior "it" couple at Glenlake Academy...a prestigious, elite boarding school near Chicago. It also includes journal entries from each, which were probably my favorite sections.
Truly, my only gripe with this story was the Investigative Journalism class trying to solve a 20 year old crime. Not sure I really found it plausible, as they'd be interfering with an on-going investigation. Nevertheless, I think this one is well worth reading...particularly if you enjoy slow-burning mysteries with absolutely awesome red-herrings.
I'm very happy with this as one of my Kindle First selections.
'There are moments when I feel like I’m dying a little more every day. I feel like a fish that’s been caught and then abandoned on a dock, lyi
'There are moments when I feel like I’m dying a little more every day. I feel like a fish that’s been caught and then abandoned on a dock, lying there, flopping and gasping, each gasp weaker than the last.'
This story made me feel like I was dying too. I've read 112 books in 2019, and this one might very well be the worst of the bunch. Having said that, I am so far into the minority on this one, I may as well wave my white flag now. For those of you who enjoyed this novel, please forgive me, and feel free to ignore my upcoming scathing review.
I am truly, honestly, genuinely bewildered by the bright and shining reviews for this novel. It's...well, it's AWFUL.
1. Once again...we have an unreliable narrator. Blah, blah, blah. However, with this one, Devony, it's made quite clear, very early on that she's suffering a severe form of some unnamed mental illness. She hears voices. A lot. And lucky us...we get to hear them with her. Like every couple paragraphs. Over and over and over again, on every single page, throughout the entire book. I eventually just started skipping over the "voice" sections, as they were nothing but space filler...wash, rinse, repeat. It was one of the most annoying writing techniques I've ever encountered.
2. I hope you find the act of pumping breast milk fascinating, because you get to read about it every third page. Woohoo! It's a party up in here! (As a side note, I'm a huge advocate for 'breast is best,' and have a deep respect for women who pump. It's an incredibly difficult job. I should know, I did it for 18 months. At first, I was thrilled it was mentioned in this novel...it's not something you see written about, well, ever. But then it started becoming repetitive and weird. By the end of the book, I was like, "Enough already!")
3. Without giving anything away, this felt like two separate stories. It was a weird, disjointed, post-partum murder mystery. And yes...it was as bad as that sounds. How it was classified as a psychological thriller, I can't say. It read more as women's fiction with a side of murder thrown in for some spice. And Devony, who could barely function at the beginning of the novel...suddenly decided, a day later, she was going to solve her friend's murder, three months after it occurred. In my best Jim Carrey voice, "Well, alllll-righty, then!" She went from helpless to Wonder Woman in 2.6 seconds.
4. The writing was terrible...nothing ever really came together for me. The character development was non-existent. I never did get any sense of Devony's relationship with her husband or friends. There were plot holes galore. Even the red herrings were lacking.
5. Oh, and the big "twist" ending? Apparently people found it shocking. I did not. It was obvious to me from the very first chapter. Maybe that's why I couldn't stand this novel? By the end, it was taking everything in me to finish. I kept looking at my husband and sighing loudly. Honestly, I was fed up. Vanessa Lillie clearly had a point she was trying to make with the baby story line, so why not just stick to that thread and not add in some zany Scooby Doo crime to solve? It was bizarre.
I don't know, fellow readers...maybe I'm being a hard-ass here, but I can only tell you what I thought as I was reading. I've always prided myself on being as honest as I can possibly be in my reviews, and sometimes, unfortunately, that means tearing a book apart. If I could think of a single thing to praise about Little Voices, I would.
It was just so incredibly clunky.
Read at your own risk.
Hey, at least one of my Kindle First choices was decent. I can recommend Drowning with Others. At least I didn't feel like heaving my Kindle across the room upon it's completion....more
Holy shitzies, fellow readers! WHAT A ROLLER COASTER RIDE!
I'm a long-time fan of Mark Edwards, but he truly oWe're the Robinsons--we're survivors.
Holy shitzies, fellow readers! WHAT A ROLLER COASTER RIDE!
I'm a long-time fan of Mark Edwards, but he truly outdid himself with this gem of a story. I started reading it about 6 hours ago, and I'm already finished. I couldn't put my Kindle down!
The characters? All beautifully fleshed out, especially Elliot...as a reader, I could feel his pain, frustration, anger, and despair. In his shoes, I'd feel the exact same way. I found myself cheering him on throughout the novel. The Robinson family...all so intensely vile--some of the best antagonists I've read this year. This book gave me ANXIETY, y'all. But in the best possible way.
This isn't really a twisty novel...the whodunit is pretty obvious from the get-go, despite a few strategically placed red herrings. Right up to it's final moment, however, it's deliciously satisfying. I highly recommend this to virtually everyone...especially if you're looking for a high-octane, quick, and rewarding summer read.
A suspense/thriller junky, I often find myself feeling a little less than inspired as I read the same tired story lJust what the doctor ordered...
A suspense/thriller junky, I often find myself feeling a little less than inspired as I read the same tired story lines over and over and over again. Today, I needed a break.
Having read several other Camille Pagán novels in the past couple years, and loving every one, I was so excited to dive into I'm Fine and Neither Are You this morning. Yes, I said this morning. I read the entire book in just a few hours. I couldn't put it down.
If it's action and intense excitement you're looking for, this isn't the novel for you. This is the book for the married mother, trying to keep an unnaturally high number of balls juggling all at once, who neglects her happiness for the sake of others.
The voices of these characters were so real. I found myself laughing, crying, and everything in between, as Penny dealt with the loss of her best friend, her crumbling marriage, her less than stellar body, her screaming kids, the job she never wanted...even her "comfy" home (short for messy and lived in). I kind of loved Penny...although, unlike her, I've never had a problem being upfront and honest. Perhaps my issue is the other extreme...too brash and loud-mouthed.
Let's face it...we've all been down this road, forever putting the needs of our husband, our children, even our employer, ahead of our own. Why we all try to be Superwoman, I have no idea, but it seems to be the very essence of a mother's DNA.
I'm Fine and Neither Are You is a timely and thought-provoking novel about life, and, despite the pitfalls, being grateful we're still alive for the struggles. I couldn't recommend this book more...for all ages....more
I'm not sure I've ever read such a crazy, intense, non-stop, haunting, anxiety producing novel...but only in the best and most desirable way. I didI'm not sure I've ever read such a crazy, intense, non-stop, haunting, anxiety producing novel...but only in the best and most desirable way. I didn't want it to end.
Once this book has you in it's grips, it won't let go. I started it this morning and literally could not put it down. My poor husband probably feels deprived.
Having received The Perfect Child free as a Kindle First February option, I honestly didn't have high expectations. These freebie books are hit or miss for me. Sometimes they're decent, sometimes they absolutely stink, and sometimes, they slowly mesmerize you with their intensity and unparalleled chaos.
The Perfect Child was like that...I was absolutely mesmerized. The characters, particularly Hannah, were so beautifully tragic...she felt very real to me. I could relate so very much to her feelings, her anxieties...virtually everything. Having said that, at times I also felt frustrated, primarily with Christopher. His choices and actions were questionable, even during the best of times. But the character who had my jaw dropping at virtually every turn of the page was Janie.HOLY COW! I don't want to say much for fear of giving anything away, but Janie may be the best "villain" I've read in years. Little girl was beyond vile!
Is the story a bit predictable? I'd say yes, which is why I didn't give it a full 5 stars. One of the main threads was incredibly obvious to me, but that took nothing away from the story-line. And there were a couple twists which shocked me...not necessarily because they were unexpected, but because of how they actually occurred. There is also some animal torture/death, which is another deduction for me. I HATE animal torture in any book. Fair warning.
I can't end this review without making the obvious comparisons to Baby Teeth. Clearly, Lucinda Berry was somewhat inspired by the Zoje Stage novel. There are many similar threads throughout...but the stories diverge enough to make them each incredibly readable in their own ways.
I'm a fan, fellow readers. I haven't checked to see if this is Ms. Berry's first novel or not, but she has definitely become a must read author in my eyes. I'll be thinking about this novel for a long, long time....more
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