Tag: Review

REVIEW – Get a Life, Chloe Brown by Talia Hibbert

Aimeeeliz

“If I had died today, what would my eulogy say?”

What a CUTE book! I am not a romance reader in the slightest, but the hype and reviews compelled me to choose this for a Book of the Month box. I am so glad I picked it up! Chloe Brown is a hilarious main character – she’s relatable and snarky and (mostly) self-aware.

I loved Chloe’s relationship with her sisters. Dani and Eve, although somewhat minimally featured, were great characters! I think Hibbert has plans to write books revolving around them, and I look forward to picking those up.

And Red. Oh, Red. What a sweet, loving man. The way he describes Chloe is so lovely – it’s warm and heartfelt. I loved what Hibbert did with Red’s back story. He felt like such an atypical main male character and it was a breath of fresh air.

“The promise of more with him glittered like broken glass, beautiful but potentially deadly. Good things usually hurt in the end.”

Chloe and Red’s relationship was portrayed as sweet and vulnerable. It felt so realistic. Not once during this book did I roll my eyes or go “oh, brother!” Hey, I said i’m not a romance reader! I’ve had bad luck in the past with cheesy, cliche stories that just don’t work for me (but are beloved by many others, so truly…if you feel it’s the genre for you, give romance a chance!)

Did this book turn me into a romance reader? Absolutely not. But it did make me a fan of Talia Hibbert! She is an incredible writer – I read some passages twice because I loved the writing so much. I liked this more than I thought I would and i’m willing to give similar books a fighting chance against my standard thriller/horror/mystery reads.

COZY MYSTERY REVIEW – Death by Chocolate Frosted Doughnut by Sarah Graves

Aimeeeliz

{Available February 25, 2020} Jake and Ellie are co-owners of The Chocolate Moose, a chocolate-themed bakery in Eastport, Maine. When a visiting celebrity food writer and TV star ends up dead in their cellar, it’s a race against time to solve the murder before Jake is arrested.

This was a fun little cozy. I loved the setting – the town was wonderful and I would love to visit The Chocolate Moose for some delicious baked goodies! The murder mystery kept me guessing for the majority of the book. Graves is great at twisting a story so you’re not quite sure who to suspect.

Compared to other cozies i’ve read in recent months, this one was FUNNY. I laughed out loud quite a few times and I really appreciated the humor woven throughout the story.

I did think the final conflict was a bit over-complicated and a little drawn out, but the overall book was still very enjoyable. I would love to pick up more books in this series!

Thank you Kensington Books for the free ARC.

REVIEW – Woman on the Edge by Samantha M. Bailey

Aimeeeliz

{Available March 3, 2020} Woman on the Edge is a twisty thriller that is actually incredibly sad. This book kept me guessing until the last few pages! Our main character, Morgan, is kind of an idiot at times (she puts herself in some dangerous situations!) but she’s also very brave and selfless.

The chapters from Nicole’s perspective become more disorienting and sad as the book progresses. You can’t help but feel for her, and for sweet baby Quinn.

This is a quick read, perfect for devouring in a sitting or two. I would recommend having something light on hand as a follow up – although it’s a pretty standard thriller, it’s likely to leave the reader slightly emotional at the end.

I look forward to reading more from this author!

Thank you Simon & Schuster for the NetGalley ARC.

REVIEW – Unfollow Me by Charlotte Duckworth

Aimeeeliz

{Available March 10, 2020} Unfollow Me starts with a chilling email to Violet, a social media influencer with more than one million subscribers on YouTube.

We learn early on (from the perspective of our two main characters – Lily and Yvonne) that Violet’s social media presence has inexplicably vanished, and no one knows where she is or if she’s okay.

These characters are OBSESSED with Violet – a woman they’ve never met, but think they know due to her constant vlogs of her daily life. It’s very relevant to society today, how many “influencers” have turned into micro-celebrities. They have fans, they have haters, they might even have stalkers. It also gave me MTV Diary vibes (throwback! Remember: you think you know, but you have no idea?!)

Details are revealed as the story progresses, and we do get chapters from Violet’s husband’s point of view as well. However, the majority of the book is confusing (not necessarily in a bad way). I found myself wanting to read more just so I could get some answers and find out wtf is going on.

Unfortunately, the ending was a little lackluster for me. I still enjoyed the book, and enjoyed the perspective it gave on “influencer” culture!

Thank you Crooked Lane Books for the NetGalley ARC.

REVIEW – The Other People by C.J. Tudor

Aimeeeliz

Let’s get one thing out of the way first. This is my first C.J. Tudor book – and it will NOT be my last, not by a long shot. A TL;DR summary? It’s like if Stephen King wrote The Face on the Milk Carton.

What can I say about The Other People? Go in as blind as possible. I had no clue what was going on in this book while I was reading it, and it was such an enjoyable ride! It’s a little disorienting (especially at first). It’s super atmospheric, and honestly a little depressing. The whole vibe just felt very gloomy and hopeless and sad.

The writing – wow. There are a lot of great little snippets and passages throughout this book that are so reminiscent of some of Stephen King’s best bits from his best books. C.J. Tudor NAILS it. If you’re a King fan, you’ll probably be a Tudor fan. (and vice versa! Like the Tudor books you’ve read? Pick up some King!)

This is the first book in quite some time where I have had theories while reading. Not just vague ideas of where it was headed, but straight up THEORIES like pinned to a corkboard and connected with a string.

I had a friend ask me while I was reading this, “It’s supernatural, right?” Ummm…well. I’m not going to tell you. Maybe? Maybe not? Trust me, it’s better if you just don’t know.

There are a lot of connections in this book. A LOT. Some are easy to deduce. Others? Not so much. Honestly – just stop reading my review and go read this book.

Thank you Ballantine Books and Goodreads for the giveaway win.

COZY MYSTERY REVIEW – Coconut Layer Cake Murder by Joanne Fluke

Aimeeeliz

{Available February 25, 2020} Coconut Layer Cake Murder continues the Hannah Swensen cozy mystery series. This is the most recent book, but only my second that I’ve read.

The mystery is good and interesting. However, our characters spend a LOT of time drinking coffee and trying new cookies (this is fine – the book is pure fluff and a great palate cleanser. But it does get a bit repetitive).

I would recommend these if you’re already interested in the cozy genre, and need something super light (and a little silly). If you’re dipping your toe into the genre for the first time, I would suggest starting somewhere else.

Thank you Kensington Books for the ARC!

REVIEW – Rust: A Memoir of Steel and Grit by Eliese Colette Goldbach

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{Available March 3, 2020} There’s a lot to say about Rust – this story hooked me right from the beginning. Goldbach is from Cleveland, a resilient city with an industrial past (and present, and future).

I connected with a lot in the beginning of this book. Goldbach and I are both graduates of Catholic all-girls high schools. We’re both from cities in northern Ohio (her from the northeast, me from the northwest). Our cities both have strong foundations in industry – hers in steel, mine in glass and cars. Goldbach and I are roughly the same age (I believe she’s a few months older than me).

I’ve never worked in a factory. I’ve never had to and, honestly, have never considered it an option. Reading Goldbach’s account as a woman in her late twenties (at the time) navigating life as an employee in a steel mill was fascinating. I think many of us can agree that when we picture a “factory worker” or a “steelworker” we do not picture a young, college-educated woman. Goldbach’s account dismantled my idea of what a typical factory worker is like (which makes me sound like an idiot, but i’m not afraid to admit I was biased and I was WRONG).

I felt that this book lost its way a bit at times – it meanders from topic to topic, timeline to timeline, with few line or section breaks (but this could be something that is remedied in the finished copy). However, it’s difficult to place a “review” lens on someone’s life experience. There are moments where I forgot I was reading nonfiction (Goldbach is a great writer! And this memoir felt more like a novel sometimes).

This memoir isn’t just about a young woman finding her way in the steel industry. It also focuses heavily on her struggle with mental illness, and is supplemented by observations and events surrounding the 2016 presidential election.

Content warnings: mental illness, rape, discussion of suicide/suicidal thoughts.

Thank you Flatiron Books for the NetGalley ARC.

REVIEW – The Light After the War by Anita Abriel

Aimeeeliz

“No man can wipe out truth and beauty. Human beings were born to create great things, and they will do so again.”

The Light After the War is a post-WWII account of Vera and Edith, two best friends living in Naples, Italy (and eventually ending up in Caracas, Venezuela). The novel is based on the author’s mother’s story of surviving WWII and her experiences in the years immediately following the end of the war.

“When they were together, Vera felt like she and Edith were two girls on a grand adventure instead of orphans alone in the world.”

There was a lot to like about this book. The writing is incredibly vivid and provides a beautiful, delicious description of Naples, before moving on to warm, colorful Caracas. I felt like I was there right alongside Vera and Edith (and it was wonderful!) I loved that both Vera and Edith had career aspirations – Vera dreamt of being a playwright and Edith wanted to be a clothing designer. Some of the most interesting aspects of the book were the plot points that led each woman down her own career path.

“That was the thing about Edith: she believed falling in love was the answer to everything, even escaping the war.”

This is primarily a historical romance, and honestly I would have found it a bit unbelievable (and a little too fluffy) if not based on a true story. (I guess truth really is stranger than fiction sometimes!) It leaned a little too light and airy at times for my taste, but I think romance lovers will really enjoy this story.

“Death is everywhere, but so is life.”

My favorite part of Abriel’s writing was how she tied events and objects from the “present” timeline in the book, to Vera and Edith’s experiences as children and during the war. It was really impactful to get their backstories in small bits and pieces, even at times when you’d least expect it. Ultimately, it’s a very hopeful book but it doesn’t gloss over the realities and horrors of the war. It strikes the perfect balance between joy and sorrow.

I know many avid readers may think the historical fiction genre is oversaturated with WWII novels, but I would urge you to give this one a try – the war is a key part of the story, but it’s not the main focus.

Thank you Atria for sending me a finished copy of this book!

REVIEW – The Chill by Scott Carson

Aimeeeliz

{Available February 11, 2020} A supernatural thriller blurbed by Stephen King? I knew I had to get my hands on this one. And oh man…this gave me probably the STRONGEST book hangover i’ve had in months. I ended up finishing it sooner than I anticipated because once I passed a certain point in the plot, I couldn’t stop reading.

This book grabbed my attention right from the start. Focused on the Chilewaukee Reservoir (or “the Chill” as the locals call it), the novel revolves around an interesting cast of characters, including a sheriff and his son, a DEP officer and her “sandhog” father, and an engineer/inspector who has come to town to evaluate the state of the dam containing the Chill.

There are some strong supernatural vibes early on in this book, some of which reminded me heavily of The Shining (but in a great way, more of a homage vs a plot point being yoinked from someone else’s work). Add a sprinkle (just a sprinkle) of an old-timey cult, and some chilling (sorry…) descriptions of rushing, relentless waters, with secrets buried beneath the surface.

It’s a little slow-going for a bit, but right at the halfway point it takes an unexpected turn and dives right in to straight up nightmare fuel territory (at least for me. One major thing i’m afraid of? Dark, deep water. Guess we can now add dams to my list of fears). Much like a King novel, the real horrors in this book are grounded in reality. Basically, I ain’t afraid of no ghosts but I AM afraid of things that can actually kill me.

Thank you Atria and Emily Bestler Books for the ARC!

REVIEW – Grace Is Gone by Emily Elgar

Aimeeeliz

From the suspense-filled prologue, to the chilling ending, Grace Is Gone is sure to be a popular thriller.

Murderinos and true crime junkies will have a good idea of where this story is heading (you might be able to figure out from the premise what it’s based on). Not a true crime fan? Then enjoy the ride – it’s full of twists and turns!

The one thing I didn’t love? Jon, one of our main characters, is kind of an idiot. The majority of his problems are self-inflicted, and I found it difficult to feel bad for him.

Even though I knew approximately where this plot would end up, I still enjoyed the book. Elgar’s writing is solid throughout, and even exquisite at times.

Thank you Harper Perennial for the free book!