“Stories are the wildest things of all, the monster rumbled. Stories chase and bite and hunt.”
I read this in one sitting and it emotionally wrecked me. What an incredible book – I pretty much knew where it would end up but that didn’t make getting there any less memorable or emotional.
The artwork in this book is stunning. And even at 200 pages, it’s a quick read.
“There is not always a good guy. Nor is there always a bad one. Most people are somewhere in between.”
Woof. This book was…fine.
It was a bit too long. Way too repetitive. And took way too long to get to the point. I also felt that most of the “twists” were hinted at so heavily throughout the book that once revealed they simply confirmed my suspicions instead of being shocking surprises.
I thought the first half of this book was great – I was on board, I was interested and I was ready to learn more. Then it just kept going…and going…
I enjoyed The Wife Between Us so I will give these authors another try if they write more books.
The Summer We Lost Her is an absolute gut punch. Tish Cohen has written amazing, complex and, in some cases, despicable characters.
This book is incredibly atmospheric – I could vividly picture Lake Placid and imagine myself right alongside Elise and Matt. Even though I knew Gracie was going to go missing, the moment in the book where it happens was still incredibly emotional.
I absolutely hated two characters in particular, to the point that my husband had to ask if I was okay because I scoffed so loudly after reading a chapter. Cohen’s writing is THAT good.
An amazing read for anyone who likes deep domestic fiction with just a dash of thriller/suspense.
Thank you Scout Press for providing me with a review copy of this book!
My middle-ish rating is not indicative of Malerman’s writing. Malerman is a fantastic writer. However, I think this book was maybe 80 pages too long, or may have been more impactful as a short story.
It does start to get a bit slow and repetitive at times, but the ending is fast and insane and…brutal.
Inspection has elements reminiscent of 1984, Never Let Me Go and The Giver.
It’s an incredibly unique story, and although not quite as memorable as Bird Box, still enjoyable for those who like some sci-fi/light horror.
Your Life is Mine reads like an episode of Criminal Minds. There are twists you will likely predict, but others that will be a gut punch.
The best way to summarize this book is: You’re in a cult, call your dad. (Fellow Murderinos will understand!) The cult aspect of this book was eerie – Chuck Varner is like a cross between Charles Manson and a Columbine shooter. The mindset of those who will blindly follow a deranged, violent cult leader is chilling.
Overall, it’s an interesting, gritty thriller. I would recommend this to anyone who has an interest in true crime – there’s definitely some true crime elements in this story.
Thank you to Atria Books for providing me with an ARC to read and review!
This is a very hyped book that fell flat for me. The writing is beautiful, don’t get me wrong.
But I must be too much of a cynic, not enough of a romantic, someone who reads too many “twisty” books for this one to affect me.
I just didn’t find the storyline realistic – I know it’s fiction, but I felt that it was intended to be a “real” story and it just wasn’t believable. And I couldn’t connect with the romantic plot(s).
I didn’t think the “murder mystery” part of the story was really necessary, either. The rest of the book would have worked without it.
First of all, I want to apologize to Jennifer McMahon for taking so long to read one of her books.
The Invited is incredible. I loved everything – the characters, the rich history, all of the back stories.
Oddly enough, I don’t read a lot of ghost stories. But this book has convinced me that maybe that needs to change.
[slightly spoilery comments ahead]
I had my suspicions about who the real “monster” was in this story, but there were some twists towards the end that caught me off guard. I also didn’t expect this to be sad, but it works so well.
I have been looking forward to reading Vessel since I first read the synopsis. I’ve been wanting to try out the sci-fi genre a bit more, and I love creepy stories about space (Alien is one of my favorite movies!)
Vessel isn’t what I expected, but I still enjoyed it. It’s a relatively complex and rich story, with interesting characters. Some parts in the book definitely creeped me out!
However, it does read more like women’s fiction than sci-fi. (That didn’t stop me from enjoying the book.) There’s a lot of focus on how Catherine adjusts to life back on earth, and how her return impacts her family. This isn’t a negative at all, just an observation.
I was expecting this to be a bit creepier, and a bit darker, but I think it’s a great choice for readers who are interested in a book with a sci-fi theme without being too heavy handed.
Thank you to Atria for sending me a review copy of this book!
The Book of Essie was a great story (even if it was a bit predictable). I liked the characters (Roarke was my favorite!) and the plot definitely keeps moving – there isn’t a slow moment in this book.
I did think that Essie and Roarke seemed a bit too mature for their age, but I also might be too far removed from 17 to remember what I was really like and how mature (or not) my peers were.
Overall it’s an easy, quick read and is perfect for anyone who ever followed that super large, religious TV family. You know who I mean.
Miracle Creek is a debut novel that doesn’t feel like one – Angie Kim’s writing is that of a seasoned author.
Without giving too much away, this book gave me Jodi Picoult vibes in the best way possible. The multiple perspectives, the courtroom drama, the complex relationships and family dynamics.
This was a page turner, but not in the traditional way. I didn’t find this to be fast paced, but it still held my attention and had me wanting to learn more.
Read with Aimee 