Quite possibly one of the stupidest books I have ever read. I should have bailed, but felt I owed it to the author to at least struggle through it. I skimmed the final 8 chapters, as it was too agonizing to actually read. Characters that readers won‘t care about, a storyline that is just a little too precious and obvious, and a convenient love story that is so forced. Save yourself from this book, it is, sadly, not worth it.

Race horses, potential sexual chemistry, dementia, veterinarians, murder, twins, dark secrets, lies, Irish names, tarot, a cranky fisherman, betrayal, and a super shitty 13th birthday, this book has it all. It feels overwhelming at first, but once you understand who all of these people are, it gets good! The ending did feel a tad bit convenient, but I was pleased with this book.

For as wild and feral as the characters are, this was a very bland read. Way too many loose ends (so…what‘s with Eleanor‘s mom?…no one is gonna explain that one?) and way too many stupid bits that the author tries to make into gothic enigmas…she did not do a great job at that. But hey, if you want to read a book about a stereotypical weird girl and the family that she doesn‘t feel connected to, then go for it! But be warned, this book has no bite.

A mansion, embroidery, isolation, twinning, hidden hallways and doors, an axe, a man that saves and pets caterpillars, and lots of dioramas. It‘s certainly not groundbreaking or amazing, but it‘s pretty entertaining! If you think YOUR family is weird, abnormal and full of strange traditions and histories, wait until you read about this one. But be warned, you will hate the LMM acronym by the end of this book…just you wait and see.

Have you ever lived in a quirky desert city full of odd and eccentric beings, invisible food, back-alley fights between scientists, and a cult that worships a diety that will eat you (and potentially the rest of the city) whole? Yea, me neither! But after reading a book about such a place, I would be down to at least visit. Such a fun read, very funny, weird and wonderful. It‘s another hit from the Night Vale realm and I suggest you read it.

Very cool dragons and really boring people! Ok, I know there is a ton of buzz around this book, but it is indeed a mediocre fantasy novel. The beginning is so slow and I didn‘t care about any of the characters. If they died, if they lived, didn‘t matter to me. It wasn‘t until about 170 pages in that it got good. This is a book that reads like a 15 year old wrote it, so don‘t expect good writing. But this was a fast read once the dragons showed up.

You will need to take a Dramamine in order to cope with the nonstop twists and turns of this literary roller coaster. This is a finish-in-a-day book, very fast, and full of flawed people with desperate motives. Between the wild emotional dynamics of the main family and the behind the scenes shenanigans of said main family, this book will keep you guessing! But legit, it‘s very twisty, so be ready for that reading whiplash!

A woman who goes quiet, refusing to speak despite having MUCH to say…a man with an intense desire to make her speak…and a journal that holds all the answers. I enjoyed this book! It was one of those reads where you want to slow down and read each word thoroughly. There were a few lost plot lines in this story, but overall it was a worthy read! Also, I want to see the female protagonist‘s art come to life in a gallery exhibition!!

Want to read a book that has one of the most annoyingly insufferable main characters ever written? Then pick this one! Ok, that might be a bit strong, but truly, the MC in this book is the worst portrayal of a woman…neurotic, clingy, needy, weak-minded, desperate…this is the worst book I have read this year. You can tell this author thinks she is a modern feminist writer, but this book of hers only demonstrates her dislike of both men AND women.

The Mob, sibling rivalry, drugs, DEA and FBI, a twisted sister with a dormant soft side, poetry, steamy times, and a greenhouse. This is a rare smut book that neatly blends story with…well…smut. I have read all the other books from this series, putting this one off for last due to not being that into OZ and such. But this one was good! If you are not into sexy story-time, it‘s all good! But if you ARE into it, then dive in. It‘s a fun read!

Just when I was getting over my McFadden hangover, I went back for one more round. And as with any hangover, that last round was NOT good. The same can be said for this book. It was a quick read but IMO, it isn‘t her best. Weak story & characters. Everything felt so…convenient, plot armor was so shiny, McFadden was hoping readers would be blinded by it, not seeing how bland this book is. Glad I finished it, glad I get to move onto a new book.

Alright, I have been binging this author‘s books this past week and this was the most predictable read. Not to say I didn‘t like it…maybe I am in a Freida McFadden hangover, but this one was easy to piece together. Pushy detective, bullies, health supplements, office romances, emails, a charity run, and turtles…a shit-ton of turtles. You will learn lots of random facts about turtles, and that‘s the cold, hard truth. Give it a read, it is decent.

Shoes, shoes and more shoes…oh, and highly manipulative behavior with a hefty dash of “ew.” This book revolves around 2 female characters, one with mediocre poetry skills and the other with a rabid shoe fetish…and both have a complicated, questionable, icky relationship with one man. Good book to blow through while sitting outside, but the overuse of the word “pumps” will drive you to drink copious amounts of booze. Still a worthy read.

So this may not be the best thriller ever, but it‘s a fun book that will entertain you. A surgeon with a serial killer dad…I‘m sure you can fill in the blanks. It‘s not a complex story, slightly predictable, but it is entertaining! Oh, and the main character will do many things that will make you say “this lady is making some dumb choices.” Also, there is a loyal stray cat in this story who deserves her own perspective chapter. A fair summer read.

A sweaty Southern murder mystery for a sweaty Southern summer (I live in the sweaty South). Louisiana swamps are full of cool creatures, twisty plants, tricky terrain, dark waters and sometimes muck. This book showcases that whole vibe in its theme. The narrator is great! Just like the swamp she grew up in, she is tricky, dark, and often has a mucky memory of the past. I enjoyed this story, but the ending does get twisty, like them swamp vines.

A wintery weekend getaway gone wrong…very wrong…deathly wrong…Agatha Christie levels of wrong. Another fast-paced read from Lapena, this book feels both suffocating and satisfying! Interesting characters from different backgrounds, and some will die…but hey, some will survive! And I‘m sure said survivors will never go to a quaint mountain hotel again after what they suffer through.

Picture it…a decaying theme park with a spotted past now has a new life in the form of a hide & seek competition for 14 adults. They start being found…and disappearing. It‘s a good premise, yes? I agree! The book reads well and the theme park vibe is creepy and unsettling, but then suddenly the story adds on something more…something deeper and semi-unexpected. The 14 hiders are somehow woven into this “game.” A weird little book you should read!

AirBNB, sexy ranch man, taxidermy, whacky family, small town, some massacred hens, skinny dipping and…beekeeping…? Yep, it‘s all here! There were some plot & character gaps upon reaching the “big twist ending” BUT despite said gaps, it was very enjoyable! I read the whole book in 6 hours, it grabbed me, for sure. I would recommend it, just know you might be going over prior chapter in your head and saying “wait…do all the dots connect after all?”

Ok, here goes…it‘s mediocre, the book feels like it was written by a lust-struck 19 year old who has never been in a relationship, the writing is repetitive from chapter to chapter, the character development feels haphazard at best, makes both men and women out to be vapid and overly emotional caricatures…it‘s not worth recommending. Save your money and skip this one.

What a weird and interesting premise…not gonna lie, it‘s the cover and the R.L. Stine one-liner review that sold me on buying this book. There were a few moments towards the end where it felt a little…meh…several “huh” moments and a couple of loose ends, but overall it was a great read. My major take away was that island life may not be for me…well, supernatural-evil island life isn‘t for me. Take a walk on the wild side and pick this tale up!

Another smutty showing from McIntire. I never wanted to bang Judge Frollo, as he was a pretty insidious Disney villain, but this book made me more open to letting this creepy, pious, sinner-in-saint‘s-clothing weirdo hit it. It‘s not as steamy as her prior novels (it‘s no Hooked…), much less Hustler Magazine themes for this story, but overall it was still a good time.

It‘s a fun suburban romp through the secret lives of an east coast neighborhood. Suspicion, breaking and entering, paranoia, sex, burner phones, a techy teen, and coffee…these broads drink a shit ton of coffee in this book! They are caffeinated and activated! Read this book in a day, it‘s fast and a solid who-done-it thriller. Bon appetit!

A modern gothic novel…weird family history with a crummy past, weird stately mansion with a crummy future (this house serves up “Rebecca” vibes), what more could you want?! I found the big Shyamalan-esque twist ending to be a tad obvious, but it was still fun. This is a good showing for Sager, and if you enjoy his other books then give this one a go! Don‘t expect Hemingway or Tolstoy, or even Christie…just enjoy it for the quick-read that it is.

Ugh. This book could have been MUCH shorter. This is truly an example of “brevity is best,” as this book is so verbose and wordy, it‘s a journey and not a fun Middle Earth journey…this is a tedious journey, with not much payoff. Protagonist is an unreliable boozehound that I was not rooting for. The flashbacks to childhood/Guatemala could have been way cool but are tepid at best. Who knows, this might be your kind of book but it wasn‘t for me.

Another dose of smut, but not as hearty a dose as Hooked. The story was fair, the lead characters were solid…the main man, Tristian, has a Loki vibe, which I was not mad at. The best part of this book is what goes down in the sheets, not the streets! Read the 300+ book in about 7 hours, so it‘s a fast read! Hooked was a bit better, in my opinion, as is Twisted, but I liked this book. Just know it‘s more like Playboy than it is Hemingway or Joyce.

Captain James Hook is one smokin‘ hot mofo! I admit it…I was that kid who had a crush on Disney‘s Captain Hook and agreed with him that Peter Pan was an utter scoundrel. Yes, I have come to terms with this part of myself, and this book only made my Hook crush all the more exciting! It‘s a smutty crime novel, so don‘t confuse this Capt Hook with the Capt Hook of your childhood. A fun, fast read! Read the whole book in one day.

Disclaimer…the ending is a bit wild and left me feeling odd, BUT the rest of the book leading up to the ending was awesome! So just be ready to have the final 15 pages make you say “wait…huh…?” If you love true crime podcasts, thriller novels, mystery, repressed memory, characters who indulge in the ol‘ 5-finger-discount, and baking…yes, baking…then read this book. Honestly, I am glad I read it, just wish the ending wasn‘t SO twisty and turny.

Ladies and gents, if you want a fast and thrilling read, pick this book up! From the outside, The Bartholomew building seems so stunning…but on the inside it is unsettling, like something is not quite right. The MC of this book begins to uncover some wild stuff, and the reader gets to discover things with her. Gargoyles, creepy wallpaper, a suffocating set of house rules…it all comes together to create the lovely yet eerie setting for this book.

Read it in a day! Very fast and satisfying read set in London but spread out over 2 and a half centuries. The lead character is realistic, has normal reactions to life around her, and she has an interest in forgotten/lost history. The POV is split between 3 women of varying ages and eras (main character is the modern-times character), their stories intertwining to create a cool, atmospheric tale that you are sure to dig!

Not the usual book I go for but it is very enjoyable! With that being said, the protagonist will drive you NUTS with her bizarre emotional reactions but all in all, I would recommend this book. I don‘t want to spoil anything, but here is a bit of what will be in store: young love that fizzles due to family trauma, emotional paralysis, a job as a haunted tour guide, an indignant cat, hot guys with hidden secrets, gravestone art…? Give it a read!

The concept, riveting! The characters…I found some of them to be highly insufferable. Despite the characters that were ridiculous social caricatures, the style of writing is very good! And the well-written characters were great to read about, and their scope/development was rewarding to read. But as stated earlier, the star of this book is the concept, not the characters. Worth reading? I think so. Wouldn‘t read it twice, but glad I read it once.

What a fast read! Done in 2 days! Is it a bit predictable? Yeah…but is it an entertaining read? For sure! The 2 female leads are solid POV characters, both with very different motivations. If you want a quick poolside-book, this is the one for you! Don‘t expect Hemingway or Tolstoy, just embrace it for what it is…a fast, fun thriller.

It‘s “Pretty Woman” with violence, murder, too much plot armor and a chateau. Certain parts could have been shortened or even cut out, as it felt like I was reading the same text (the narrator‘s thoughts/perspective) repeatedly throughout the book. The overall concept is OK (a thriller told from the POV of a prostitute, albeit a boring prostitute) but like I said, the narrator‘s thoughts were SO redundant. Legit, it‘s a “no” from me dawg.

Ok, so I read this book in 3 days, and it started off strong! But once I got to the final few chapters, the book lost some steam. The overall theme and motifs were riveting, though! And I am glad I read it…but the ending was a tad bit of a letdown. I would be open to reading the other 2 books in this series, as the writing style is really good…but the ending just left me flat and…meh.

I finished this book 4 weeks ago, and have been thinking about it ever since…which made me realize that I should write a review and share my recommendation. This was a rewarding read! I have always had a deep interest in octopuses, so this book was right up my alley! The point-of-view characters (the octopus, especially) were endearing without being like a Hallmark movie, and you genuinely rooted for them! It‘s a quick read, so give it a go :)

This book is part of the Night Vale collection, but it stands alone and can be read without any prior knowledge of any of Night Vale book. Legit, read the first chapter of this book, let it grab you, let it wow you. That first chapter truly gives the reader a treat, and a great preview of what is to come while also maintaining a deeply eerie mystery. Blew through this book, couldn‘t put it down!