My cousin and I decided to start celebrating Jolabokaflod (And Icelandic Tradition)about 5 - 6 years back. Over the years we've added more people to our exchange but we still sit down and have a fun exchange with coffee or cocoa and warm fuzzy blankets.
This was my haul this year! Can't wait to dig into the pile!
#Jolabokaflod
pickI love stories that reunite long lost relatives. This one did not disappoint. McManus seems to have a signature style of writing with multiple narrators with interesting and compelling back stories. The way this one ended makes me think it could have a sequel. I would totally read it.
so-soThree cousins meet for the first time when they receive a letter from their grandmother asking them to spend the summer working at her resort. Family secrets abound as the teens explore the small town. Not my favorite from this author, but an entertaining read. A bit too predictable with lots of obvious bad choices and not enough twists.
pickWow, what a suspenseful ride all the way until the end! McManus weaves together an intricate plot of a complicated family seamlessly. My only complaint is the use of so many A names for the Story siblings. While it ties the siblings together and shows their close bond, it often confused me on who was who!
pickCousins unite to under the premise of working for their Grandmother (who cut of her children/their parents 24 years ago). Plenty of family secrets, hidden agendas and dubious motives.
Well paced, good premise. Loved Millie. There were a lot of characters to keep track of. Overall a lot of fun.
I feel like the library is disappointed in me. I‘m only at 9% with 2 days left 😂
so-soThis was a thrilling novel with amazing characters and plot twists, but I just couldn‘t love it as much as I wanted to. Her other books “one of us is lying”, and “one of us is next” just set the bar too high.
pickBook 127📚 3.5⭐️
I wasn‘t a huge fan of the One Of Us is Lying series but this one was better 👍🏻
Estranged from their grandmother all their life, 3 cousins are invited to her island for the summer.
But why invite them now? 🙀
Family first, always.
P.
#TheCousins #KarenMMcManus #book #books #bookmark #bookmarks #bookmarket #bookmarkets #bookmoment #bookmoments #bookquote #bookquotes #bookqueen #bookquirk #quote #quotes #bookworm #bookworms #bookwormproblem #bookwormproblems #bookworld #bookword #epicreads #bookend #bookends #bookending #bookendings #bookedit #bookedits #Mystery #YoungAdult #Thriller #MysteryThriller #Fiction #Contemporary #Audiobook #Crime #Family ❤️🩹
panSadly this mystery book wasn‘t what I expected, the characters were bland & I could predict most of the plot twists. The positives were the third act of the book other than that it was not groundbreaking in my opinion.
#bookspin #freecard #thecousins #review #tuesdayread #mayread #karenmmcmanus
pick4✨ I finished this on Friday, but had a really rocky week. I really like McManus‘ writing and have enjoyed all the books I‘ve read from her so far. This one was about three cousins visiting their grandmother for the very first time. Their parents were disinherited which is the main mystery of this story. As the cousins uncover the truth they become fast friends. I wasn‘t a fan of the ending, but it was realistic.
pickI don't typically read a lot of YA books, but this one was very intriguing. 3 cousins, whose families are estranged from each other, receive an invitation to visit and work for the summer for their grandmother (who they have never met). Lots of secrets and lies throughout this family and small island town. Figured out the ending early on, but didn't ruin the book.
Taking my time in these foggy roads to be safe and….finish my audiobook!
pickI may not be back to 100% after Covid, but I am back to reading again! I hated not being able to concentrate enough to read.
The Cousins is the first book I have finished since Covid. Thank God for audiobooks when holding a physical book feel like a lot of work.
I will give this book 3.5⭐ I am not sure that this could all be really pulled off, but that is the joy of fiction.
I also picked my December books today. Happy to be ready to read again.
pickThis story kept me on my toes with its twists and turns! The story follows three cousins who Tavel to meet with their mysterious grandmother for the first time when things take a sinister turn. Awesome book full of surprises ☺️
Found these on sale at Walmart! Anyone read any of them? 📚📚📚 I started My Dark Vanessa, but got distracted and need to restart it!
#TBR
so-soAfter loving the other books - One of us is Lying, One of Us is Next, I was disappointed by this one. Too many characters and jumping back and forth, choppy plot line, too many unfilled holes. Not a bad book but not a good one either.
pickI‘m a McManus fan and this YA mystery/thriller didn‘t disappoint! There were some twists at the end that I didn‘t see coming.
#bookspinbingo This was my #bookspin for this month!
The tagged book is my #bookspin for this month, and Behind Every Lie is my #doublespin. Very excited to read these two!
so-soThis was a good book, it held my interest and moved at a good pace - it gets a so-so because the ending was a little “Scooby Doo“ - if it weren't for you meddling kids....
#20in4 readathon thx for hosting @Andrew65 - reached my goal of finishing this book
Make a great day everyone.
#WondrousWednesday @Eggs
Thanks for the tag @TheSpineView
1. 3 - all books #CurrentlyReading
2. I've never set a yearly number - just enjoy reading when and as much as I can
3. No auto-buys/borrows but slow down and look at any Stephen King novel that I have not read yet
4. My family and friends
Anyone reading feel free to join in - make a great day everyone.
pickMcManus fan and this one didn‘t disappoint. Enjoyed this twisty mystery with a murder tossed in. Several old crimes are also brought to light by three cousins who are basically ordered to spend the summer working for their grandmother over a memorable summer.
pickMy first read in so long! This story is about three cousins working for their extremely wealthy grandmother, trying to work out why she disinherited their parents long ago. I‘m used to McManus‘ books revolving around a murder, but this one is more of a mystery with murder woven in. I don‘t want to give away too much! A good example of “everything is not what it seems.”
Cate Blanchett does double duty in Jim Jarmusch's Coffee and Cigarettes, playing both a highly polished version of herself as well as her hard-edged, resentful cousin Shelly who have an awkward meet-up in a hotel lobby. If you love her dual performances as much as I do, you might also like McManus's book- another story of cousins meeting and engaging in family drama. #CateBlanchett #Movie2BookRecs @Klou
pickJune Wrap Up
12 books altogether and I snagged a bingo at the last minute including my #BookSpin and #DoubleSpin picks for the month woohoo 🥳 Also realizing I am a sucker for these Karen M. McManus books they are oddly like comfort reads to me. 🙃 #BookSpinBingo
bailedI really tried to like this book. I loved One of Us is Lying. I know it‘s me, not the book. I‘m just not in a YA mood.
I got bored really fast. I only made it about 75 pages in.
I‘m bailing on this #doublespin from April. I may revisit it another time, but for now it‘s off my #TBR list.
Screenshot from SNL.
https://youtu.be/JE4VdrKf40s
so-soThree cousins, Milly, Aubrey and Jonah, are invited to meet the wealthy grandmother they never knew.
But why would grandchildren never have met their grandmother?
Because years ago, she disinherited her own children, and now this may be the opportunity to finally get back in her good graces.
Before even arriving, someone is lying, and soon enough, more secrets are uncovered. Overall, a decent read. I definitely preferred One of Us is Lying.
pickI enjoyed this one, but not as good as her other books. There are two timelines, one with the cousins on the island in the present and the other with their parents with the story of how the disinheritance came about. It kept me thinking and didn't figure out the ending!
I‘m late for dinner again, but this time it‘s not my fault.
#TheCousins #KarenMMcManus #firstsline #openingline #book #books #bookmark #bookmarks #bookmarket #bookmarkets #bookmoment #bookmoments #bookquote #bookquotes #bookqueen #bookquirk #quote #quotes #bookworm #bookworms #bookwormlife #bookwormproblem #bookwormproblems #bookworld #bookword #epicreads #bookend #bookending #bookendings #bookedit #Mystery #YoungAdult #Thriller #MysteryThriller
pickThis was a good read, it wasn't as good as her earlier books. A decent thriller to keep you guessing until the end. I do like how all the book covers match each other. I
pickI started (and finished this one) earlier this month --- super behind on my updates this month! Anyway I totally enjoyed it. It kept me guessing and had enough suspense so to keep me super engaged!
#BookSpinBingo
@TheAromaOfBooks
pickThe elements of the mystery came together very nicely. Kind of took me by surprise, but made sense in the end. It also had good messages on family and the power money can have on people. I don‘t know if there will be a sequel. If there is, the ending is a good segue into it.
pickSolid YA mystery about a group of cousins sent to spend the summer working at the island resort of the grandmother they‘ve never met. Had a couple twists I didn‘t anticipate, enjoyable ⭐️⭐️⭐️⭐️
so-soLike most of the other readers, I read this because I loved One of Us is Lying, but this book was really lackluster in comparison. The plot twists weren‘t very exciting and the whole idea around this story was a little silly. If you like YA mysteries/thrillers I would definitely recommend One of Us is Lying over this book.
Tagged by @StillLookingForCarmenSanDiego
1. I read lots of YA, tho this year it‘s been more difficult because I‘m not reading in class because I only get to see my kids in person half time.
2. My most recently read YA is the tagged book, but it wasn‘t my favourite. I recommend Concrete Rose by Angie Thomas
3. Young, 14-18, first person narrator with a relatable theme are the hallmarks of YA for me
Tagging @ShelleyBooksie @Moonprismpower @Cuilin
so-soBetween a pick and so-so for me. I felt the author relied on the same tropes throughout the novel. I thought the whole premise was ridiculous but I enjoyed the characters enough that it kept me reading. I like this author and will read her other books, (I read One of Us is Lying previously). Just a quick enjoyable enough read if you like YA mysteries/thrillers.
The Cousins | 
