pickThis one kept my interest the whole way through. Hepworth's style is similar to Lianne Moriarty, and Lisa Jewell, switching back and forth between characters throughout. The different perspectives keep you guessing about the reality of what is happening.
so-soMeh.
It was a bit difficult to empathize with the protagonist, as her poor decision-making skills played a big part in all of her problems. It's an okay read, but I wouldn't rush out to pick it up. Now I have to check out the show, because I do feel the storyline has potential.
pickBook #73
4/5
Another good read by Hawkins, though I was a bit disappointed by the lack of actual horror as mentioned in the synopsis - maybe I'm just too desensitized by watching true crime documentaries and reading thrillers, but the murders in the "murder house" didn't really seem all that horrific or murder-y. Otherwise, still an anjoyable read.
so-soBook #72
3/5
Page's memoir deals almost exclusively with sexual/gender related experiences and identity. There are also a lot of references to Halifax, NS, which this Bluenoser personally found enjoyable to listen to. I always recommend the audiobook when reading an autobiography. And as always, this one I borrowed from the Halifax library.
so-soBook #70
3.5/5
If I'm being honest... I borrowed this audiobook from the library thinking it was an autobiography by Dame Maggie Smith. Disappointment aside, this memoir about a poet's journey through the end of her marriage is insightful and, well, poetic. It's a bit wordy (as I would expect from a poet), but it is relatable.
pickBook #69
4/5
This was a delightful change of pace from my usual reads. I love Me Before You, and the sequels, so I thought I'd give another of Moyes' novels a try. I was a tiny bit thrown by a change of pace just past the halfway mark, but it all evened out and made for an enjoyable read.
pickBook #68
4.5/5
This is a really unique read. It's part neurodivergent love story, part psychological thriller. It is told mostly from the POV of neurodivergent Fern, and alternately, in part, through the journal of her neurotypical twin sister, Rose. I found Fern endearing.
pickBook #67
4/5
A few loose ends in this one, but in this case, it's okay to leave some things open to interpretation. Part mystery, part supernatural (maybe?), it kept me hooked the whole time.
pickBook #65
4.5/5
I don't read much Sci-fi, but Crouch's novels really grip me, with his ideas of multiverses, genetic tampering, and morality. This one did not disappoint.
so-soBook #64
3.5/5
If you have watched the documentary about Pam on Netflix, there really isn't much need to read this book; there really isn't anything additional except for Pam's philosophical ideas. If you haven't seen the doc, and you're curious about who Pamela really is, this is worth reading.
pickBook #63
4/5
There are a few genuine surprises throughout this one. Also notable is the theme of survival: when given the choice, who do you save? The storyline may be a teensy bit contrived, but it's worth it for the entertainment factor.
so-soBook #60
I don't know if I can give this an accurate rating, because even though I finished it only about a week ago... I honestly cannot remember how it ended. Lol. I think I enjoyed reading it?
pickBook #59
4.5/5
Not my typical read, but I enjoyed it nonetheless. Bardugo's supernatural world, based on the history of Yale/Newhaven, is complex, as is the storyline she built from it. Great read for anyone who enjoys dark fantasy/thriller/mystery/supernatural fiction.
pickBook #58
4/5
This novel is kind of how Bridget Jones Diary would be if you added in some Murders and detective work. Good read. 😊
pickBook #57
4.5/5
I may have a newfound appreciation for romance novels. 🤔😳
I may even read this one again.
pickBook #55
3.5/5
This was a pretty good novel - unique storyline, good storytelling, held my interest. It did make me question my own moral compass a bit, because though the main character is guilty of 3 Murders (it's right there on the cover, so not a spoiler), I really found myself hoping that she wouldn't go to jail. 🤔
pickBook #54
4.5/5
An oldie, but a goodie, as the saying goes. Strangers... was the inspiration for a 1951 movie of the same name by Hitchcock, and it definitely has that Hitchcock feel to it. Part Hitchcock, part Poe's The Telltale Heart, Highsmith's debut novel speaks to the theme of morality, and is a busy ride from beginning to end. 👍 👍
pickBook #53
4/5
VERY loosely (from whar I can tell) inspired by Jane Eyre and Wide Sargasso Sea, this one has a few surprises which, honestly, would have been more *surprising* if I hadn't read both of the aforementioned books. Still, there were a few things that I had not expected, and I would call it a worthwhile read. 😊
so-soBook #52
3.5/4
Hendrix doesn't really fit into a genre - I've read all of his novels to date (my favourites being My Best Friend 's Exorcism and Horrorstör), and I'd have to say that the recipe for a Hendrix book is equal parts horror, creepiness, humor, and nostalgia.
pickBook #51
4/5
This one actually had me kind of stumped, and that doesn't happen a lot with thrillers or mysteries anymore. It had many elements of the many popular books of its genre, but with a bit more originality.
pickBooks 45 - 50
5/5
Yes, I read Locke and Key again ❤️🗝
(And I'll likely read it a 3rd time before the year's done).
*pic from Google*
pickBook #44
4/5
Though not necessarily my cup of tea, this book is unique, quick paced, and well-written. I know I shouldn't compare his writing to his father's (Stephen King), but I can't help it - their writing has the same dark, richly detailed, otherworldly quality. Heart-Shaped Box is, at times, like an insane fever dream.
pickBook #43
4.5/5
I did not realize this was a YA novel until I was already getting into it. This book was an adorably predictable rom-com, and totally swoon-worthy if you're into that sort of thing 😉
pickBook #41
4/5
Unique concept, well written. Parts of it may have gone a bit...unhinged...but that fits the theme nicely. A few people start hearing a hum that most of the population can't hear. They find one another and form a group to try to determine the origin of the hum.
pickBook #40
4.5/5
This YA read is surprisingly insightful and wrll-written. It is written from the POV of a young girl who lives with her 3 younger siblings, her mom, and her youngest sibling's dad. There are themes of domestic abuse, poverty, and parentification (if you don't know, Google it - it's a thing).
pickBook #39
4/5
Like The Paris Apartment, the most recent novel I read, Greenwich Park has several twists and turns, making it a hard book to pull yourself away from. How the story begins, and where it ends, are almost like two different stories, because of all the information revealed in between.
pickBook #38
4/5
This one has more twists than a Twizzler, a saying I recently made up to describe the Murdaugh Murders docuseries. Like MM, The Paris Apartment features complicated relationships, illicit affairs, money, and power. In ny opinion, this is, by far, the best of Foley's four books to date.
so-soBook #36
3/5
It really bothers me when the synopsis on the back of the book is misleading. This one led me to believe that it's about a dead man trying to decide how to spend his last week on earth before crossing over. In reality, it's more than halfway through the book when he is given that time line. There are good parts, but overall I found the story underwhelming.
pickBook #35
4/5
As a bluenoser, this one's close to home, literally. They could never make a movie based on the NS massacres of April 2020, because the sheer volume of people involved, and the complexity of the situation, complete with unbelievable lies and cover-ups. Palango's comprehensive research and writing on the subject are both very informative and eye-opening.
so-soBook #34
3/5
I was really disappointed by this one. Michaelides' novel, The Silent Patient, was one of my favourites a few years back. The resolution to this one was just too contrived for my liking. Too many questions left unanswered.
so-soBook #33
3.5/5
Decent book - offers a different perspective on relationships, in the context of African-American characters in the US. My complaint would be the pacing of the storyline. There were a lot of places that felt very slow, and it didn't have a very good flow.
so-soBook #32
3.5
Well written, as always by TJR, but this one missed the mark for me - likely due to my total indifference to tennis (and sports in general). The characters were well developed, but I struggled to make any personal connections with their life goal and purpose of becoming better than everyone else at something. My goal is just to be the best me I can be - competition has never really interested me much.
pickBook #28
4.5/5
I've read all of Flynn's books to date, and thoroughly enjoyed them. Gone Girl was SO much better than the movie made it seem, and I actually found her other books better than Gone Girl. The Grownup is a short story. Flynn's writing is so good at drawing the reader in, and I loved it. My only criticism is that it should not have been a short story!
pickBook #27
5/5
I have never watched a single thing McCurdy has acted in - at least that I can remember. I wanted to read her memoir because the title caught my attention, as did the 80s nature of the cover design.
McCurdy is a talented writer - something that she would have no doubt pursued earlier, had her mother not forced her into acting.
pickBook #26
4.5/5
This graphic novel is a retelling of the classic Snow White, but told by the queen. In it, Snow White is not the innocent and kind girl we know from the original story. Definitely not suitable for children (scenes of erotic nature). The illustration style is very beautiful, and very different than in most comics.
so-soBook #25
3/5
This gives some background on the two kids who bully Mike and the other kids. It was okay. I'm definitely not the target audience. 🤷♀️
pickBook #24
4/5
I grew up with a grandmother who was 100% loyal to the British monarchy, as her grandparents were from Great Britain. I remember many decorative plates, teacups, and other memorabilia with photos of the royals. I can remember looking through books and magazines about the royal family.. My grandmother even brought me a book about Diana and Charles' wedding, with pop-ups and tabs....
pickBook #23
5/5
This is a short collection (3 stories), one of which was also in L&K : The Golden Age. It's my favourite Locke & Key story, and is called Open the Moon. When I first read it, I almost didn't get far - a young boy with epilepsy, having seizures. I generally avoid epilepsy in books and on television for several reasons - it's just too close to my reality (my son has a severe form of epilepsy called Dravet Syndrome).
pickBooks # 16 - 21
5/5 🌟
Obsessed. Hyperfixated. In love.
This is how I feel about Locke & Key.
