Well that was an entertaining action story about some over-powered teens!
I liked the premise and the multi POV. I'd like to h2.5 Stars rounded up to 3
Well that was an entertaining action story about some over-powered teens!
I liked the premise and the multi POV. I'd like to have seen a bit more use of their powers in battle situations but overall it was a satisfying story. What was missing was some much needed world building. We had no context for why there were terrorists and what they hoped to achieve. I will actually follow up with book two at some point however it will be a wee way down the TBR to be honest. ...more
Well that was a darkly entertaining book about a woman hell-bent on a murderous revenge.
I thought Grace was a fun main character and appreciated the thorough planning and dedication to her cause. It felt a bit drawn out and I dozed off at a couple of points for at least 15 minutes each time, but I honestly didn't feel like I had missed anything. I'm not sure the big twist was actually necessary as in my opinion it slightly watered down Grace's story. Still an entertaining read!...more
Well that was really cute and funny but way too long.
This started out so well and there were a few laugh out loud moments and I absolutely loved the dWell that was really cute and funny but way too long.
This started out so well and there were a few laugh out loud moments and I absolutely loved the dynamics between Chloe and Drew. The story was engaging and the family completely adorable in their craziness. I won't do any spoilers but there was a point where the story could have ended and I would have loved it. But it didn't end. Then there was another point where it could have ended and I would have been happy. But it didn't end. Then there were a few points where it should have ended but it didn't. I started becoming a bit bored with the attempts to wrap everything up so neatly because the story really started to drag for me. I think it needed an editor to cut chunks out of that last section so it didn't lose the wonderful tone and pace it had throughout the first three-quarters. Still a lovely read....more
3.5 Stars - This was a hard decision but I am not convinced we needed the horrific descriptions of the painful memories as it was essentially a romanc3.5 Stars - This was a hard decision but I am not convinced we needed the horrific descriptions of the painful memories as it was essentially a romance. For me it would have been enough to hint at the horror and then move on.
CW: There are some significant triggers in this book with some particularly distressing content.(view spoiler)[description of rape, rape of minor, sexual violence, homophobia, animal abuse/killing, traumatic scene where man is taunting a girl by detailing about how he had been sexually assaulting her and how she had cried etc (her memory had been repeatedly erased after periods of sexual abuse so he could start the cycle of abuse again), suicide, consensual sex. (hide spoiler)]
Well I thought the memory book binding was an interestingly dark concept.
It is however, important to mention that this is absolutely a romance, with very little time spent on any other elements in this intriguing world. Luckily I had read some informative reviews so it came as no surprise to me. And what a well written, swoon-worthy romance it was! My favourite section was actually from Lucian's POV in the last part. My poor heart was willing love to triumph over adversity.
In and amongst this however, is some deeply disturbing content. It was actually quite jarring. Some of the memories people had erased from their minds and bound in books made for difficult reading. I would advise checking out the content warnings. Dark parts aside, and as contradictory as it sounds, this was mostly a lovely romance book!...more
Well that was somewhat of an abrupt and predictable ending. That being said I was still engaged and quite interested to see how the story would unfold. The characters were pretty flat but at least they weren't annoying. This book reminded me a bit of I Know What You Did Last Summer, which is another slightly underwhelming thriller. I think the author did a good job in terms of the pacing, and also sowing the seeds of doubt as to which of the passengers had sinister motives. I am glad I listened to it as I suspect the first quarter would make for dull reading. Just okay for me but I think it will be popular in the YA library I work at....more
CW: descriptions of animal killing, rape, murder, suicide details, descriptions of bloody scenes and dead bodies
Well that was quite traumatic in partsCW: descriptions of animal killing, rape, murder, suicide details, descriptions of bloody scenes and dead bodies
Well that was quite traumatic in parts but that's to be expected in a book about a serial killer.
This is one of the first true crime books I have read so I didn't really know what to expect. Not knowing anything about this killer worked in my favour as it was all new information to me. I have to say I thought it was utterly disturbing how wrong detectives and police got things throughout this investigation. An interesting look into the mind of a serial killer but I wasn't blown away by this book....more
CW: (view spoiler)[sexual content, domestic violence, underage sex, cheating, drunk driving, abortion, drugs, alcohol, homomi4.5 Stars rounded up to 5
CW: (view spoiler)[sexual content, domestic violence, underage sex, cheating, drunk driving, abortion, drugs, alcohol, homomisia, bimisia, lesbomisia, suicide, loss of loved ones in car accident and illness, misogyny (hide spoiler)]
Well that was an absolutely amazing reading experience!
I could not stop listening to this incredibly well narrated, beautifully written, and engaging story until I got through to the emotional and lovely last line. It felt like I was listening to a yarn. A smoothly told tale of an actress fighting to establish herself in an industry that saw women as pretty baubles. The writing was wonderful and it seemed to just flow and sweep me into this world of glamorous facades. I loved every moment of it. ...more
CW: There were some unpleasant attitudes to the role of women and a lack of regard for the lives of black people in the community. Some of these attitCW: There were some unpleasant attitudes to the role of women and a lack of regard for the lives of black people in the community. Some of these attitudes didn’t seem to fit with the 1990s as Fiona expressed in her earlier review. Shout out to the Cantabs!
CW: (view spoiler)[ Rape, horrible killing of black man with racist motivations, suicide attempt, suicides as a result of their emotional state after vampire attacks. (hide spoiler)]
Well y’all aside from some of the things described in the content warning this was a great book! I mean seriously, middle aged book club housewives turned vampire slayers? Brilliant! I was pretty stressed during some really tense moments which is a refreshing change as I rarely find supposed thrillers all that thrilling but during the attic scene I was a bundle of nerves. To me this was perfect as an audiobook as it really gave you a sense of the different characters due to the excellent voice acting. I like how the story took place over a number of years as I felt quite immersed in the lives of the people in the community. I gotta say that was seriously the best (view spoiler)[dispatching of a villain I have ever read. They were so practical, calm and efficient. It was hilarious when they were discussing different cleaning methods. (hide spoiler)] Women rule! I thoroughly recommend this book for 16+ and am adding it to my favourites....more
UPDATE 26/08/2021: Reread in order to prepare to read the next in the series for an assessment I will be book talking for. I stand by my original reviUPDATE 26/08/2021: Reread in order to prepare to read the next in the series for an assessment I will be book talking for. I stand by my original review.
2.5 Stars
Audrey Rose Wadsworth is a young feminist determined to throw off society's shackles in terms of the role of women in the Victorian era. I know this because it is repeatedly mentioned in the book. This is not a new notion and I don’t have an issue with it, however, we were being slapped in the face with the ‘I am woman hear me roar’ theme repeatedly. Repeatedly. Again and again. Numerous times. See what I did there?
I did like the chemistry and dialogue between Audrey and Thomas but aside from a few gory murder scenes and some cloak and dagger type sneaking around nothing much actually happened in the book. There wasn’t enough sleuthing or deduction going on amid the flirty banter in my opinion. I did like the ending though.
No thrills in a thriller isn’t ideal. Just saying....more
It just felt like a book about an obsessed creepy stalker girl yearning after her Disney princess best friend who fell for the misunderstood snarky rich girl. Wait. It didn’t feel like that. It WAS that. After looking at the chilling cover I was expecting so much more. The thing that I need to confess is that I could not stop listening to it today. After processing this I’ve realised I was completely drawn into the ‘whodunnit’ aspect of it and I really enjoyed the police interview scenes. There were definitely a few possibilities of who committed the crime and I wasn’t disappointed with the direction the author took. So what Readers really need to do is ignore the cover. Imagine it has a moody looking girl staring at a pretty girl who is looking at a beautiful girl who is staring at the moody girl with a smirk on her face. That I think would be a more appropriate cover by which people could set their expectations to. A weird read for me because it was an unputdownable average book. Odd right? Props for diversity too....more
The next paragraph is a spoiler but not really. I’ll hide it just in case but I recommend not reading the blurb (view spoiler)[ if you like a2.5 Stars
The next paragraph is a spoiler but not really. I’ll hide it just in case but I recommend not reading the blurb (view spoiler)[ if you like a bit of mystery in your books because it is essentially a novel summary including the ‘dot dot dot’ at the end. (hide spoiler)]
I’ve got to say I’m pretty lucky I listened to this as an audiobook because there was a lot of rage at the end. Being on my phone meant that there was zero chance I would throw it out the window in annoyance. I can’t promise this wouldn’t have happened with a paperback. FYI, I’m not in the habit of throwing my toys out of the cot, it's just that the ending was the worst. The. Worst.
I went into this book with very low expectations and during the first third it lived down to those expectations beautifully. Nothing was special about it. Unoriginal characters and average writing. I can’t pinpoint exactly when it changed for me but I was sitting in the kitchen plunging my coffee and I felt anxious (when will the cafes be open again? seriously, I’m over it!). I said to myself, “Self, why are you feeling anxious about coffee?”. Then I realised it was during quite a suspenseful scene in the book. I have read a lot of supposed YA thrillers but very few of these elevated the heart rate of this seasoned Reader. Don’t get me wrong people, this isn’t an amazing book but Ms Preston certainly managed to build tension during some of the scenes. I enjoyed that aspect of it, hence the 2. 5 stars (down graded from 3 because I still can't get past the ending).
My biggest issues are that not one of the people in Ivy’s life believed her! Imagine all your close friends right now. Are you picturing them? Say a random person they have never met comes in and talks smack about you what would they do? There’d be a verbal beat down of this interloper right? Not according to our author. Instead your nearest and dearest would turn on you in a flash. Completely and annoyingly UNREALISTIC. Yes there may have been a person or two with an axe to grind but come on people, everyone? Nope.
My next issue and perhaps it was done intentionally to explain the above issue is that Ivy is a total muppet. I have never seen a more ‘passive helpless victim’ mentality in a book. Fight back damnit! FIGHT. Rage against the dying of the light and all that good stuff. By the time she had realised what was happening (an embarrassingly long time) it was all over, red rover.
My last main issue was the ending. Ending a book like that is not clever. It is not mind-fudgey. It is not suspenseful.
This is one of those books where the main character is going to divide Readers. Alessandra is abrasive, egocentric and power hungry. I loved her. She This is one of those books where the main character is going to divide Readers. Alessandra is abrasive, egocentric and power hungry. I loved her. She has a 'take no prisoners' approach to life and will fight to achieve her ambitious goals. The audiobook was brilliantly read as the actor perfectly captured the haughty tone that I imagine Alessandra has. I thoroughly enjoyed this stand alone novel. ...more
CW: alcoholism, parent abandons child, racism, offensive comments made to girl about her promiscuity after she drunkenly ch**spoiler alert** 3.5 Stars
CW: alcoholism, parent abandons child, racism, offensive comments made to girl about her promiscuity after she drunkenly cheated on her boyfriend....more
An action packed, tension filled WWII novel aimed at middle school and younger high school Readers. I enjoyed this one a lot more than Allied because An action packed, tension filled WWII novel aimed at middle school and younger high school Readers. I enjoyed this one a lot more than Allied because the young James Bond vibe made for an entertaining adventure. Readers will be treated to a mash up of a lot of WWII elements. I think it is important for young Readers to listen to the author's notes at the end as it gives the historical context for this fictional story. The difficulties Michael faced blending in with his fellow Hitler Youth whilst trying to sabotage them from within made for some tense moments, as he was nearly exposed on several occasions.
I will be adding the following comment in all of my reviews of Alan Gratz's books. Authors like Alan Gratz, who capture the interest of ‘reluctant readers’, are really important. I also love that his novels have been made into audiobooks so his engaging stories are accessible to those with learning differences. I think we can all appreciate that if you are after some more historically detailed WWII literature then you may be left wanting. I choose to enjoy Alan Gratz’s books as 'introductions' to an important period in our world's history....more
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