Jodi Picoult is undoubtedly a great author…. But I’ve both loved and disliked her work. So I was a little hesitant going into this one, since the lastJodi Picoult is undoubtedly a great author…. But I’ve both loved and disliked her work. So I was a little hesitant going into this one, since the last few I’ve read from her I haven’t loved. Sadly this is overall the case for By Any Other Name too.
I think the dual timelines were done really well. However I feel like we spent too much time in one of them and it wasn’t the one I wanted… or maybe it just felt that way….
I won't lie, this book took me forever to finish. I found myself constantly stopping it and picking up something else to read before this… So that probably says enough there about how I felt about it.
I think overall this book was fine, but it’s one I’m already forgetting.
How to Hide in Plain Sight wasn’t what I thought it would be, and I can’t decide fully if that’s a good or bad thing yet…
This book has some heavier suHow to Hide in Plain Sight wasn’t what I thought it would be, and I can’t decide fully if that’s a good or bad thing yet…
This book has some heavier subject matter that is handled well, so that was definitely a plus for me. The real issue I had with this are two things. First I felt it dragged on a bit too long. It kind of made me stop feeling for Eliot. Which leads me to my second point. It took a long time and there was too much spiraling for us to get the ending we get. This book is drawn out just to have the ending rushed. Felt like I didn’t get to enjoy any of her joy.
Though Hyeseung's story and upbringing will be so different from most of ours, it will feel like it is very much your own. Song does a great job o3.75
Though Hyeseung's story and upbringing will be so different from most of ours, it will feel like it is very much your own. Song does a great job of bringing you into her story and making you feel very much a part of it.
This book was marketed to me, by being compared to Crying in H Mart and Minari. Minari was my favorite movie of 2020 and Crying was one of the best things I read last year. I think comparing this book to those two things is actually doing it a disservice.
Song’s experiences, though on paper, might seem very close to those two medias, is very much its own entity.
Song writes her experiences with such love and care and you can see it throughout the whole story. The main thing that took off “points” for me was that at the end of this I was left feeling like the story wasn’t complete. I was left wanting something a bit more. I haven't quite decided if that's a good or bad thing yet.
Even with that being said, I would still recommend this to anyone who is interested in stories like these.
This book started off so strong! Great hook. An early, but good, “twist”. A fun way to have all the characters' stories flow together…
For the first 5This book started off so strong! Great hook. An early, but good, “twist”. A fun way to have all the characters' stories flow together…
For the first 50% of the book you’re going to really be scratching your head wondering what’s going to happen! You’ll probably be feeling super invested too…
HOWEVER! At the 50% mark things start to become obvious, and as it moves on you’ll be thinking “hmmm ...more
Yes, Patti's story is interesting, however her writing style wasn't for me. The style felt really messy. There was no Leaning towards a 1.5 for this.
Yes, Patti's story is interesting, however her writing style wasn't for me. The style felt really messy. There was no real flow to it, which made it so hard for me to get into it.
I do really love the cover for this book though. ...more
As far as debuts go this one wasn’t bad at all! It is rather cute and charming. I think my issues are mainly with the leads. I found myself strugglingAs far as debuts go this one wasn’t bad at all! It is rather cute and charming. I think my issues are mainly with the leads. I found myself struggling to fully understand Amerie. I didn’t fully understand why she was always so unsure. Then with Vincent I felt like I never knew what he was thinking.
Thank you Berkley Publishing Group for the ARC. ...more
“Cas had already known that Ada was beautiful. Could have, if she were a writer, written a thousand very pathetic, very gay poems about it.”
Okay. I'm “Cas had already known that Ada was beautiful. Could have, if she were a writer, written a thousand very pathetic, very gay poems about it.”
Okay. I'm a Love Island girlie. I’m talking- USA, UK & AUS, so when I heard this was a book for people who love Love Island I was so excited. What I didn’t expect was this to be EXACTLY Love Island. It being so identical I felt was a negative for this book. I needed something more in that aspect.
That being said…. Once I decided to put that aside the book got pretty good. It was fun, cute, and even had a few spicy moments. Overall Hot Summer was a decent summer read.
Teetering between a 3 and a 3.5.
Thank you Penguin Publishing for the advance copy. ...more
“There was only one road in and one road out of Eloraton, New York, and most people never took it.”
I’m really glad I gave Ashley Poston another shot.“There was only one road in and one road out of Eloraton, New York, and most people never took it.”
I’m really glad I gave Ashley Poston another shot. I’ve read books by her before and never really found a connection. A Novel Love Story I found myself overall really liking.
The concept of this book might not be super original, but it was done really well. I really liked both the leads, Elsy and Anders. Elsy is a character I think most readers will find little trouble connecting with…. Since she’s basically living a fantasy we’ve probably all had lol. Anders was funny without being too much, but won't lie I wish we would have gotten a little more out of him.
My only issue(s) with this book is I felt it dragged a bit where the middle and end of the book met. Secondly this is a romance book that I felt lacked some romance. Yes, there is some, but I do think it needed a bit more to fully have pulled me in.
I think if Poston is an author you have liked in the past that you’ll enjoy this one just as much.
3.5
Thank you Berkley Publishing Group for the ARC....more
“Some things never change. Who would want them to?”
This book had me hooked from page one!! Everything pulls you in. The characters, Dani and Alex, are “Some things never change. Who would want them to?”
This book had me hooked from page one!! Everything pulls you in. The characters, Dani and Alex, are both so relatable and felt 100% real. The setting was done so well! The premise behind this was great!
The way Renee weaved past events with the present… just flawless. Truly chefs kiss. Everything about this book surprised me.
I truly didn’t expect it to be so many amazing things. These perfectly placed moments with a great balance of humor. The humor really sent me for a spin because even just reading the synopsis you wouldn’t think this one would be so funny. But it is. Also Dani. Just wow. Well done Renee! Absolutely loved her!!!! Renee truly writes amazing characters.
I can’t tell you the last time I cried throughout a book! So many things hit you hard in the chest. Had to keep stopping to gather myself.
”It sounds like the music you would hear in heaven. This is the moment that represents exactly what love is to me. You look up and smile again.”
I spent 90% of this book thinking “Wow! I’m really about to finish my first 5 star read of the year!!” only to LEGITIMATELY turn the page, hit 91% and things changed immediately.
At one point while reading I marked an update something like “I know how this is going to end and I don’t even care!”, and I meant it. I thought I knew where everything was headed (which would usually piss me off), but I didn’t care. I wanted it!!
The last 9% of this book though... Just why?! Why?! How can something truly go from being absolute perfection… to whatever this ending was. It felt like a completely different book.
Really just wanted something else. Even if it wasn’t the ending I had thought it would be, almost anything else would have been better.
We were so close to 5 stars with this one, sadly I just can’t look past that ending.
Thank you Penguin Random House for the advanced copy....more
Listen for the Lie took me by surprise. I am a VERY hard critic when it comes to thriller books. I find it hard to get into them. Usually it’s too mucListen for the Lie took me by surprise. I am a VERY hard critic when it comes to thriller books. I find it hard to get into them. Usually it’s too much build up, they often tend to be repetitive, and usually the pay off is obvious and not worth the climb to get there.
Didn’t feel that way about this one.
From the start this book had me hooked. I think it was the balance between whodunit and the humor that really worked in its favor. There’s little to no downtime in this one. Something is always happening. You will always be in the state of wondering if she did or didn’t kill her best friend.
The main character, Lucy’s dark humor and F it attitude 100% works. The scene where she’s at her grandma's birthday and raises her hand to a bad joke took me out! So funny! Speaking of her grandma! The perfect side character. Obviously in a book like this side characters are just as important and the main one because you need them all to be on the same playing field. You need to believe any of them could be the killer. They are here! Also, Ben the podcaster, is well done so well!
I also really enjoyed the podcast aspect of this. It hasn’t always worked in books I’ve read in the past, but Tintera does an amazing job using that to bring in new information without it seeming forced. Just sprinkled in the right amount of info to keep you wanting more.
The characters are fun and just the right amount of unlikable, the plot has a great pace, and the book has an amazing hook. I think my only negative was something about the ending felt a little off…. Can’t quite put my finger on it.
I haven’t read anything I’ve really enjoyed in a quick minute! So this was a very pleasant surprise!I can’t believe I forgot to rate and review this!
I haven’t read anything I’ve really enjoyed in a quick minute! So this was a very pleasant surprise!
The classic grumpy sunshine trope is in full swing here, and thankfully it worked! The banter is really good. The blushing kind. But the most refreshing part about this is the communication! It’s so good! Thank god right!
Nova and Charlie are a great balance for one another. Think my only nitpick is that sometimes Charlie seems a little too perfect.
"He finishes climbing around Alex and grabs the only available seat in the tiny room. It screeches as he drags it across the floor, right next to me."
Tia Williams writes books that feel like warm honey.
They are so encompassing you get sucked into whatever world she builds. This story was magical. ThTia Williams writes books that feel like warm honey.
They are so encompassing you get sucked into whatever world she builds. This story was magical. The characters are so lovable. The slow burn build worked so well.
There is so much I want to say about this story, but I just can’t. I went into this blindly and I couldn't be happier with that decision. I wholeheartedly believe that’s how you should do it too. You’ll want this story to take you by surprise.
The stunning book cover will draw you in, but the story will keep you there.
If I lose You is a combination of things that don’t usually work for me. Unreliable narrator and children (a baby) in stories... Especially in thrilleIf I lose You is a combination of things that don’t usually work for me. Unreliable narrator and children (a baby) in stories... Especially in thrillers!
I also usually run hot or cold on thrillers.
This one started slow, but once it gets going it will really have you questioning and guessing what will happen next. Sommerville’s writing style flowed seamlessly with the flashbacks, and for a debt thriller novel, which is no easy thing to nail, I think Sommerville did a great job!
Giving this a 3.5
Thank you Rising Action Publishing Co. for the ARC. ...more
I felt at times this was a little bit too chaotic and at some moments I felt like the authors just thought we would know everything without fully giviI felt at times this was a little bit too chaotic and at some moments I felt like the authors just thought we would know everything without fully giving us what we needed.
I think my only real feedback is that I do want my characters to be a little flawed, and Everly and Max are almost too perfect. HOWEVER I did like theI think my only real feedback is that I do want my characters to be a little flawed, and Everly and Max are almost too perfect. HOWEVER I did like the HEA in this one. There are some issues in the 3rd act too, but this is cute.
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