Litsy

The Ghosts of Merry Hall | Heather Davey

so-so

The plotline itself was well thought out, with the mixing of the two timelines & the gradual reveals, but for me, I'm afraid the characters rather spoiled things. Dolly Dove seemed to have almost no personality & I had no strong feelings about what happened to her character, Fern was just annoying, & did Nell have to be quite so useless at everything? I also found the ending to be rather melodramatic. (continued)

OutsmartYourShelf Overall, although this did have its good points, I didn't really enjoy it all that much.
2.5⭐ (Some trigger warnings on full review but hidden in case of spoilers)

My thanks to #NetGalley & publishers, Titan Books, for the opportunity to read an ARC.

Full Review: https://www.goodreads.com/review/show/7634416602
Read 13th-16th Sept 2025

#ReadAway2025 @Andrew65 @DieAReader @GHABI4ROSES
1w

DieAReader #Next 👋🏻👋🏻 1w

28 likes2 comments

TheBookgeekFrau

The Lacuna | Barbara Kingsolver

bailed

After 136 pages I'm out. It's just not holding my interest. #HailTheBail

This concludes my #AllergicToChunksters challenge. Thank you @julieclair for helping me get 3 huge books off my TBR shelves!! 🙏🏼💕

#BookSpinBingo @TheAromaofBooks

#ReadingMyTBR #Reading2025 @DieAReader

DieAReader 👋🏻 #Next 2w

TheAromaofBooks I know many people love Kingsolver's books, but I have tried three and haven't been able to finish any of them, so she just must not be a good fit for me. 2w

TheBookgeekFrau @TheAromaofBooks She's hit or miss for me now. I loved her earlier books, but either her writing style changed, or I did 🤷🏻‍♀️ 2w

46 likes3 comments

TheBookgeekFrau

Bel Canto | Ann Patchett

bailed

It started out great, but by page 121 my desire to read was almost non-existent. #HailTheBail 🙌🏼

65/80

#BookSpinBingo @TheAromaofBooks

#ReadingMyTBR #Reading2025 @DieAReader

Bookbuyingaddict Agreed 👍 I did the same funny it‘s claimed to be her best 😳 2w

TheAromaofBooks At least it's off the list!! 2w

TheBookgeekFrau @TheAromaofBooks 🙌🏼🙌🏼 2w

See All 13 Comments

TheBookgeekFrau @Bookbuyingaddict I'm hoping her not best is better! 😂 2w

Aims42 This was one that I did finish but I should‘ve just bailed. Not my cup of tea 👎 2w

TheBookgeekFrau @Aims42 I'm glad I'm not alone in this! 😅 I just don't get all the love this book got 🤷🏻‍♀️ 2w

StillLookingForCarmenSanDiego This was boring AF, but I think that was intentional to make the ending more impactful. It all kind of pops off at the end. But I didn't really find it worthwhile. And if I remember correctly, the epilogue pissed me off. 2w

TheBookgeekFrau @StillLookingForCarmenSanDiego So boring!! What good is an impactful ending if you put your readers to sleep before they get there? 🤣 I couldn't even care about the characters who seemed like dust sheets draped over the furniture 2w

Aims42 @StillLookingForCarmenSanDiego UGH! The epilogue almost made me throw the book across the room! I remember thinking, “I finished it for this?!?!?” And being super mad too 🤣 2w

Aims42 @TheBookgeekFrau Definitely not alone 🩷 2w

dabbe 🧡🩶💜 2w

TheBookgeekFrau @Aims42 💛🧡💛 2w

DieAReader #Next 👋🏻👋🏻👋🏻 2w

40 likes13 comments

OutsmartYourShelf

Dark Lanterns: 15 Chilling Tales from Tokyo (Nihon Gothic Book 3) | Zoe Drake

bailed

Just could not get into this short story collection at all. DNF @ 23%

#ReadYourKindle @CBee
#ReadAway2025 @Andrew65 @DieAReader @GHABI4ROSES

DieAReader 👋🏻👋🏻 #Next 4w

30 likes1 comment

TheEllieMo

Universality: A Novel | Natasha Brown

so-so

Given that this is Booker longlisted, this may be an unpopular opinion, but this missed the mark for me. The structure apes Hernan Diaz‘s Trust, longlisted in 2022, but whereas Trust had a natural flow, Universality feels very disjointed, and purely a vehicle for Brown‘s view of the press. I had to reread some sections 3 times because I just didn‘t feel engaged with the writing at all. Too much of a hard slog.

Book 69/80 #Read2025 @DieAReader

ChaoticMissAdventures I didn't even think about Trust when reading this! Good observation. I read the ARC of this and was super underwhelmed I was surprised it was in the list. 1mo

DieAReader 👋🏻 #Next 🤓📚 1mo

squirrelbrain Like @ChaoticMissAdventures I read the ARC and was also underwhelmed 🤷‍♀️ 1mo

TheEllieMo @ChaoticMissAdventures @squirrelbrain I‘m glad it‘s not just me! 1mo

28 likes4 comments

TheBookgeekFrau

One Italian Summer: A Novel | Rebecca Serle

pick

This was almost a DNF. But, when I got surprised by who Katy runs into in Positano the story really took off for me. The ending was a little disappointing because I would've liked some kind of explanation. Overall, it was good story to get lost in.

59/80

#BookSpinBingo @TheAromaofBooks

#ReadingMyTBR #Reading2025 @DieAReader

willaful I really like her but I can't bear to read about people grieving their mothers now mine is so frail. 😞 1mo

DieAReader 🎉 #Next 1mo

TheBookgeekFrau @willaful I get that. The beauty of books is, they'll still be around when you're ready for them. 1mo

TheAromaofBooks Woohoo!! 1mo

49 likes4 comments

TheBookgeekFrau

Hollywood Kids | Jackie Collins

bailed

After 235 pages, I just don't care enough to read another 300 pages. #HailTheBail

#BookSpinBingo @TheAromaofBooks

#ReadingMyTBR #Read2025 @DieAReader

DieAReader #Next up! 1mo

dabbe YES! #hailthatbail! 🙌🏻 #betterbooksahead 1mo

TheAromaofBooks At least it's off the list!! 1mo

LiteraryinPA On to better things! 😋 1mo

TheBookgeekFrau @LiteraryinPA Yes! Reading time is too precious for books that don't beg to be picked up 1mo

41 likes5 comments

OutsmartYourShelf

Broadmoor Inmates: True Crime Tales of Life and Death in the Asylum | Nicola Sly

so-so

A history of some of the people who were sent to Broadmoor Criminal Lunatic Asylum (as it was then known) which opened in 1863. People who were tried for committing a crime but found unfit to plead or not responsible for their actions due to insanity under the Trial of Lunatics Act (1883), were sent to places such as Broadmoor - often for the rest of their natural life. Later residents included Peter Sutcliffe (the Yorkshire Ripper) & Ronnie Kray,

OutsmartYourShelf but this book concentrates on the early & less well-known cases.

Although the true crime stories were interesting, they did start to become a bit samey after a while. Many of the women incarcerated seemed to have been suffering some kind of postpartum issue, i.e. psychosis, & almost all of these men & women were incarcerated for many years. What really stood out was the absolute dearth of even rudimentary knowledge around mental health, even from 1mo

OutsmartYourShelf doctors who were often reluctant to send their patients to an asylum resulting in tragic loss of life. I think the book may have worked better if it had included a more thorough history of Broadmoor (now psychiatric hospital) including photos of the plan of the site as it changed over the years, & maybe some idea of daily life within the asylum walls. 3.25⭐

My thanks to #NetGalley & publishers, Pen & Sword, for the opportunity to read an ARC. 1mo

OutsmartYourShelf Full Review: https://www.goodreads.com/review/show/5830057412
Read 13th-17th Aug 2025

#ReadAway2025 @Andrew65 @DieAReader @GHABI4ROSES 1mo

DieAReader 🎉🎉Onto the #next 1mo

33 likes4 comments

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