The Doll House by Phoebe Morgan My rating: 2 of 5 stars I was given this ARC by the publisher in return for an honest review.I guess with this book began my search for new contemporary adult mystery/thriller stories; something I could read and get lost in when I’m not in the mood for YA, cozy murder mystery or fantasy. I was excited and happy to have been approved to read a book that already had such a great reputation. Sadly, this was also not the end of said search.I couldn’t relate to the protagonist at all. She was in a place in her life that I will never be…
-
-
Save the Date
Save the Date by Morgan Matson My rating: 2 of 5 stars I was given this ARC by the publisher in return for an honest review.This was incredibly detailed and it took me more effort to stay focused on the story than any book I have read since “The Counsel of Elrond” in Tolkien’s The Fellowship of the Ring. Sorry, but that chapter took me a month to get through; I kept falling asleep and the same was happening with this story (not that I’m trying to compare classic fantasy literature with contemporary young adult fiction).I found the protagonist to be rather entitled and self-centred. There isn’t really much else…
-
The Cheerleaders
The Cheerleaders by Kara Thomas My rating: 5 of 5 stars I don’t know how I came to know about this story, but I immediately put a hold on it at the library and couldn’t wait to read it. I finished it in 2 days.Truth be told, regardless of what the synopsis promised the reader, I was still expecting a tongue-in-cheek, high-school serial killer sort of story like Scream Queens, which it certainly was not.The characters, with their secret agendas and equally suspicious motivations, were well thought out and created. The main character, with her own share of emotional turmoil and hardship, was highly intriguing to follow on her path…
-
From the Embers: A Havenwood Falls Novella
From the Embers: by Amy Miles My rating: 5 of 5 stars I received this ARC from Red Coat Publishing and the author in exchange for an honest review.Amy Miles wrote a Havenwood Falls novella and I could not have been more excited, well, maybe if it had been a full-length novel, but I don’t want to be greedy.The main character was interesting and well developed, although at times I felt like shouting at her to be less angsty, but it suited her and made her stronger. The secondary characters had me feel all kinds of emotions, ranging from sadness to giddiness to flat out rage, which is a great…
-
The Death of Mrs. Westaway
The Death of Mrs. Westaway by Ruth Ware My rating: 1 of 5 stars I was given this ARC by the publisher in return for an honest review.This is the second mystery book I read in late spring in an attempt to satisfy my craving for a good contemporary mystery story, alas in vain. I saw this story greatly promoted before its publication and I felt so special for having received an ARC. Plus, this story is set in Cornwall, a place I recently was fortunate enough to visit and admire.I must apologize in advance for perhaps coming across a bit strong, but I have a great pet peeve when…
-
The High Tide Club
The High Tide Club by Mary Kay Andrews My rating: 1 of 5 stars I was given this ARC by the publisher in return for an honest review.In late spring I was in the mood for contemporary thriller/mystery stories and from the synopsis The High Tide Club seemed to be the right fit to satisfy my reading craving. Sadly, and I know I’m in the minority here, the story did not offer what it promised.I found all the characters underdeveloped and uninteresting. And the further I read the book the more annoying the protagonist became. I understand that the author intended to create a complex character to carry the story,…
-
When Dimple Met Rishi
When Dimple Met Rishi by Sandhya Menon My rating: 2 of 5 stars I have seen many people on Goodreads read this book and even though I have taken a step back from reading much of the YA genre these days, I was curious to see what it was all about.It started out quite well, with the protagonist going against tradition and wanting to put her education and career aspirations ahead of her family’s traditional hopes for her. Introduced as a make-up avoiding, computer science enthusiast, Dimple had my hopes up high for an unconventional story that wouldn’t end the way most YA contemporary stories ended. She felt relatable and…
-
According to Audrey
According to Audrey by Happy LaShelle My rating: 5 of 5 stars I received this ARC from Red Coat Publishing and the author in exchange for an honest review.That was quite the trip down memory lane with respect to my first high school love. A lot of different emotions were running through me as I made my way through this story and I was truly invested in Dove’s journey.Although at times the protagonist came across as overly emotional and analytical with a big splash of teenage hormones, it was interesting to read her narration as she dealt with love, school, family and her uncertain future. She felt alive and real,…
