I will say that I think the pacing could have been better. It started off faster than it ended. Somewhere in the middle the tension was lost and I felt like it was a slow crawl to the conclusion.

A good story, nevertheless, and probably a perfect fit for someone who struggles with most romcoms (like me!).

Although Laura Chinn does reflect upon her childhood in a comedic tone, don‘t let that fool you. Her life was full of trauma and heartache. She kept it all light and digestible, but she still managed to make me cry in the end.

I‘m glad McCurdy was able to share her story. I think she did well expressing the thoughts and feelings of her childhood, the transition into an adult who had too much to process and no healthy way of doing so, and the hope she now has as she reassesses who her mother was. While she doesn‘t talk a lot about her understanding of the emotional impact, she demonstrates that impact as she conveys the frightening coping mechanisms that ruled her life

While I didn‘t love this collection quite as much as some of the random Louise Glück poems I‘ve read, it was still a profound, high quality read. I‘m looking forward to reading more of her older work.

This complex, emotional narrative was compulsively readable. There were moments I was so involved with the content that I was reacting verbally to it!

Daisy Darker was well on its way to three stars for me, but the ending ruined what little I had appreciated. While I didn‘t completely mind what the author did with Daisy‘s personal story, I could not invest in the big reveal or the motive. It just seemed absurdly unbelievable to me. “Aren‘t all thrillers that way?” you might ask. Well, sure. But if I have to suspend disbelief, I like to do so without rolling my eyes.

After Dark With Roxie Clark appealed to me because of the ghostly tour and the murder mystery, but what really sold it for me was the fact that it was described as “thought-provoking” in the blurb. That aspect, along with emotional depth, always draws me into a story. Unfortunately, the thoughts I had while reading this were probably not the ones it was meant to provoke. The novel was a disappointment in that area.

I have truly enjoyed the two Heartstopper books I‘ve read. They‘re light and sweet, plus the pacing is fantastic.

I will confess, however, that I‘m enjoying the show more. It makes up for what the graphic novels seem to lack for me (which is why they haven‘t been five star reads). I appreciate the more detailed character development and, overall, the actions of the characters feel more realistic to me.

This was a meaningful examination of death, grief, and anxiety.

When an author uses a first person narrative, I think it leaves little room for character development beyond the narrator. I do actually feel, despite the lack of nuance throughout most of the story, the author did a very good job giving the other characters emotional depth in the end, forcing Georgia to see beyond herself in a way she‘d been incapable of for most of the story.

This was adorable and Charlie‘s anxiety was relatable in many ways. Some pieces felt like they could have been better developed, even for a graphic novel, but the show seems to make up for that.

When you mess with perfection, you cannot expect the same results.

This was kind of corny. It really did not capture the unsettling nature of the original.

On the plus side, it was short.

What really did the story in for me was the ending. And after an entire book of telling, rather than showing, it‘s especially odd to me that symbolism was suddenly inserted. It was all very strange and while strange isn‘t always equivalent to bad, this was certainly not a good strange.

I had expected the focal point of the book to be more current day with the murders of Brenda and Erica Lafferty. I was surprised by how much of it actually centered around Mormon history. It bears relevance to the case examined in the book and I certainly learned a lot from it, but it did have a textbook feel to it, consequently making it quite dry at times.

“But deep down, I think I was mad at myself more. I knew I wasn‘t actually planning to do anything, that it was just a cry for attention. And I hated myself for it.”

Alison‘s brows drew together. “But what‘s so bad about needing attention? Especially if you‘re in pain, or struggling.”

I adored Ruth Emmie Lang‘s debut novel so I had high hopes for this sophomore release. Unfortunately, even though I sensed it was supposed to make me feel things, I was rather indifferent to it all. It was quirky like Beasts of Extraordinary Circumstance, but the emotional component did not hit right for me. I never found myself especially eager to get back to this, either.

The story tackled extremely tragic circumstances, but I did not find it did this well. Instead. I felt it was a poorly written, superficial look at depression and weaponized spirituality built with characters who felt significantly younger than they were supposed to be. I was dismayed to see such delicate subject matter handled in such a careless fashion.

Having finished this, I can easily say it is an unforgettable tale. Even a week after reaching the end, its dust remains on my skin. What started as a decent read quietly exploded into an intricately woven character study written through a compassionate and nuanced lens, overflowing with power and unexpected reveals. It pokes into areas of gray, demonstrating that behavior and intentions are rarely black and white.

With an understated tone, McCarthy managed to both shock me and move me to tears more than once. It‘s amazing how little you need in the background to tell a good story. This novel doesn‘t thrill, but I still sped through it, and I loved it enough to watch the movie the same day I finished

I truly lost my head in this mesmerizing story. It‘s a thing of beauty, filled with philosophical depth, while equally tragic and inspirational. Plus, the thick, glossy pages covered in magnificent artwork made this an aesthetic treasure!

Winn vividly captured the angst and awkwardness of adolescence, along with the cruelties and love shared within a bond between sisters. She managed to keep the story suspenseful with both the mystery and the dark hints of Audrina‘s looming fate. But the tale is driven more by the authentic drama it encapsulates than anything else. Readers are given morsels of wisdom tinged with remorse, as it was all hard won and delayed learning for Bee.

With lush prose, thought-provoking content, and a remarkable premise, I found it very difficult to hit pause on this novel. Thorne‘s meticulously built atmosphere was easy to get lost in, even before the real horror began, and while I was frustrated with Nina‘s adamant disbelief, that did not affect my opinion of the story. I found myself gasping out loud more than once, but I was also plagued with worry, fury, and sadness throughout the book.

I discovered The Craigslist Incident the day before my birthday and I desperately wanted to read it. When a friend gave me a gift card to my favorite bookstore as a gift, it wasn‘t difficult to decide what I wanted to spend it on! I‘m so glad my order came in today and that my husband was able to pick it up for me.

I do believe the aspects that worked for me outweigh my gripes and I was fairly glued to the story from start to finish. I will likely continue with the series, but I hope the next homicide mystery better suits what I find intriguing in a plot line.

The emotional abuse was quite well-portrayed. I felt it in my core as Rowena muddled through her upsetting experiences. And the fact that people preyed upon her mental health issues and invalidated her regularly - well, that was familiar, too. It was equally uncomfortable and, like the abuse, authentically conveyed. I didn‘t like how it made me feel, but I loved that it succeeded in making me feel that way.

I did love The Handmaid‘s Tale vibe with a fantastical twist. I think the statements the story aims to make are critical and timely. I‘d definitely recommend it to my hardcore fantasy friends, expecting they‘ll love it more than I did.

It is clear that Brom is more than an exceptional visual artist. He is also a fine craftsman with words, sculpting details into rich, vivid imagery. His storytelling was mesmerizing, w/ unexpected complexities veering into world religion & Norse Mythology. His character development was thorough, as these were people I could care about & cheer for. There was plenty of action, emotional depth, and humor to keep me fully invested in this tale!

Harmony was one of the best fiction takes on cults I‘ve read, as Parkhurst aptly demonstrated how alluring the idea of Camp Harmony was & how subtle the waves of change can be. Until, of course, they erupt into a tsunami. This felt like an accurate depiction of both parenting a neurodivergent child with needs that go beyond what people are willing to understand & the dynamics of a seemingly innocuous following that leans into cultish practices.

And here was another truth: I was lonely and I was angry, and rage and loneliness can end up tasting the same.”

I have no interest in self help unless Brené Brown writes it. Her latest contribution - Atlas of the Heart - was truly phenomenal. She speaks a language we all need to understand.

I loved the visceral experience of this terrifying tale. While I‘ve seen others comment that the pacing was slow, I found Elevator Pitch to be captivatingly thrilling from beginning to end with masterfully built terror inducing scenes.

My full review: https://www.goodreads.com/review/show/4746902400

Saturday was my birthday and my husband game me some new books!

The author had some wonderfully creepy vibes dispersed throughout the story. There were some great red herrings, as well. Every character seemed suspicious so I couldn‘t easily predict how things would conclude. Plus, there was another very unexpected surprise in the book that I found eerily delightful!

My full review: https://www.goodreads.com/review/show/4448368962

The Floating Girls did seem to be off to a good start. I was invested in the mystery at hand while trying to make sense of Kay‘s family. When a bomb was dropped halfway through the book, I thought, “Here we go!” and I buckled up for one heck of a ride. Imagine my disappointment when I realized I wouldn‘t be going anywhere!

My full review: https://www.goodreads.com/review/show/4527327930

I liked the way this story explored a complicated sisterly bond, as well as how it showed how differently everyone sees a person and how easily we are swayed by a public persona. Fame has been known to blind us to human fallibility. On top of these more profound dynamics, there is the mystery of what happened to Violet, which only enhanced my investment in the story.

Full review: https://www.goodreads.com/review/show/4724868940

I appreciate the meaningfulness Chapman tried to pour into the story, even though his methods didn‘t work for me. You have no idea how sad I am about this. Ghost Eaters was one of my most anticipated reads of the year and I never expected to come out on the other end hating it.

My full review: https://www.goodreads.com/review/show/4616601266

#junewrapup

June Reading Wrap Up

Favorite of the month: Hidden Valley Road

A History of Fear ⭐️⭐️⭐️

One‘s Company ⭐️⭐️⭐️⭐️

Hidden Valley Road ⭐️⭐️⭐️⭐️⭐️

And There He Kept Her ⭐️⭐️⭐️⭐️

Bath Haus ⭐️⭐️⭐️⭐️

Counterfeit ⭐️⭐️⭐️

Nightcrawling ⭐️⭐️⭐️

A Noise Downstairs ⭐️⭐️⭐️⭐️

Tender is the Flesh ⭐️⭐️⭐️⭐️

An American Sunrise ⭐️⭐️⭐️⭐️

Patricia Wants to Cuddle ⭐️⭐️⭐️

Ghost Eaters ⭐️⭐️

#readingwrapup #monthlywrapup

The book is well written, but the storytelling lacked any real sense of direction. I think it could have been something great if either A) Patricia‘s presence in the story had been more prominent or B) Patricia had simply never been a plot device in the story at all. Plus, give me characters who aren‘t caricatures. Making me hate them still doesn‘t make me want to see them die. I simply wasn‘t a fan of how the author chose to execute her idea.

My husband and I chose to listen to this on audio together. It‘s read by the author which, undoubtedly, brings more power to the poetry. However, I do think I would have preferred to have read the text version. I have a difficult time with auditory processing and, as a poetry lover, I don‘t want my processing issues to interfere with my appreciation for the depth.

Great social commentary on the meat industry, the inhumane treatment of marginalized groups, and all that human beings are willing to rationalize for the sake of preserving themselves. Honestly, it was so much more than that. Although the pacing was a bit slow, I did find this to be a disturbing and thought-provoking read.

I pieced together a few things, which is something I am especially loving about Barclay‘s books. Nothing is obvious, but if you pay close attention, playing detective proves to be quite satisfying. I certainly didn‘t figure it all out, and I was especially off on motives, but I still smugly patted myself on the back for what I did get right - haha!

Full review: https://www.goodreads.com/review/show/4736617535

“When you think very little of yourself, you can‘t imagine ever having control over what happens to your body or having agency over how you are spoken to. That‘s something I have had to learn.”

I can see why this book has received so much acclaim; why Oprah would put her seal of approval on it. It‘s authentic and dark, which is typically my ideal combination, and it‘s clear that Mottley has a compassionate and profound mind. My feelings about this debut won‘t keep me away from whatever she writes in the future. She grappled with an important subject matter and I‘d love to see what else she addresses as she continues to hone her craft.

I‘ve been struggling to find the words to express how I felt about this book. What comes to mind is, “It was fine.”

Really, there‘s not much more to say. I enjoyed it, but it wasn‘t the potent social criticism I‘d hoped for, and it felt like it lacked something I can‘t quite put my finger on.

So I‘ll keep this short and sweet. Counterfeit was a quick read, sometimes fun, but nothing I expect to stick with me down the road.

I did find it a bit easy to see the twist that waited around the corner, but I enjoyed the other elements of this psychological suspense so much that I didn‘t mind what felt obvious to me. P.J. Vernon knows how to tell an exceptionally unsettling story and I look forward to reading more of his work.

My full review: https://www.goodreads.com/review/show/4573057375

“Dis mine now?!” ~Jude

Although I did feel the book was quite entertaining, part of that entertainment came from how corny it felt at times. This largely stemmed from the cartoonish feel of the villains, although a few other characters felt both over-the-top and one dimensional. Of course, if this continues into a series, there is plenty of time to better develop the townspeople.

My full review: https://www.goodreads.com/review/show/4284733805

A meticulously researched and intriguingly presented look at schizophrenia. The narrative provides a raw view of the effects this disease had on one family with multiple diagnosed members. It also illuminates a clinical standpoint, raising awareness on the inconsistencies and issues within the mental health field, as well as the progress made, in terms of understanding and treating schizophrenia.

It‘s clear this novel was well thought out and that the content surrounding trauma was deeply understood within the author‘s heart. The creativity surrounding the plot was incredibly impressive and the meaningfulness of the story spoke to my soul.

“This house isn‘t old enough to be haunted… Although - the thought creeps in unbidden - perhaps houses could be like people. Haunted at any age.”