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aliciaclarereads's Reviews (1.25k)
read for NEWTs 2019 readathon: Potions, E - house ingredient: book with your Hogwarts house color on the cover (yellow!)
This book was so decadent and savory and also made me so hungry.
This book was so decadent and savory and also made me so hungry.
read for Popsugar 2019 Reading Challenge: a book revolving around a puzzle or game
This book took everything I loved from the first book and ramped it up. This was a fantastic sequel, and I am so excited for the final book to see how this trilogy ends!
In [b:Truly Devious|29589074|Truly Devious (Truly Devious, #1)|Maureen Johnson|https://i.gr-assets.com/images/S/compressed.photo.goodreads.com/books/1498501619i/29589074._SX50_.jpg|49916452], I was so much more engaged in the cold case of the Ellingham murders than the contemporary mystery. I mean it was interesting but it didn't quite reach its potential for me. This time around, Johnson had me just as engaged in both of the timelines. Stevie returns to Ellingham within 10 pages (thank god, because while I'm a native and love Pittsburgh, Stevie would just be trashing it the whole time, and my heart couldn't take it), and is refreshed into searching for clues to solve the Ellingham murders. While the events of the past book still haunt her and she is certainly determined to discover what really happened to Hayes & Ellie, Stevie's dive back into solving the cold case was thrilling. Sure the audience knows more as we get flashbacks to the 30's, but watching Stevie make conclusions and put the story together was so much fun. And there were some nice resolutions with still a ton to mystery left for the final book.
My main issue was David and Stevie's relationship with him. He felt as though any development from the previous book had disappeared. His choices were erratic, which didn't seem to just be because of his concern over Ellie. It all felt really bizarre and not in a good way. Factor in Stevie's decision to just lie for no reason... I was annoyed. It's pretty lazy for characters to just not tell each other the truth without a good reason. Sure now you have tension and conflict, but i don't think it was justified.Just tell David you're using his dad to return to Ellingham!!! Literally everyone would understand!!!! Also no fucking way a politician of Trump/Ted Cruz type fame would have an ex-wife and kid that no one knows about. Not in this day and age. It's something YA and romance novels do a lot, and I would love to not have to see it anymore, personally.
Like the last book, I did like the anxiety representation. Stevie has a lot of methods for coping with it which i liked seeing (someone who employs therapy techniques!). And she herself has grown more confident which i think lends itself to her renewed determination to solve the Ellingham murders.
Also that dedication to Murderinos made me smile. Hope Stevie remembers to SSDGM in the final book!
This book took everything I loved from the first book and ramped it up. This was a fantastic sequel, and I am so excited for the final book to see how this trilogy ends!
In [b:Truly Devious|29589074|Truly Devious (Truly Devious, #1)|Maureen Johnson|https://i.gr-assets.com/images/S/compressed.photo.goodreads.com/books/1498501619i/29589074._SX50_.jpg|49916452], I was so much more engaged in the cold case of the Ellingham murders than the contemporary mystery. I mean it was interesting but it didn't quite reach its potential for me. This time around, Johnson had me just as engaged in both of the timelines. Stevie returns to Ellingham within 10 pages (thank god, because while I'm a native and love Pittsburgh, Stevie would just be trashing it the whole time, and my heart couldn't take it), and is refreshed into searching for clues to solve the Ellingham murders. While the events of the past book still haunt her and she is certainly determined to discover what really happened to Hayes & Ellie, Stevie's dive back into solving the cold case was thrilling. Sure the audience knows more as we get flashbacks to the 30's, but watching Stevie make conclusions and put the story together was so much fun. And there were some nice resolutions with still a ton to mystery left for the final book.
My main issue was David and Stevie's relationship with him. He felt as though any development from the previous book had disappeared. His choices were erratic, which didn't seem to just be because of his concern over Ellie. It all felt really bizarre and not in a good way. Factor in Stevie's decision to just lie for no reason... I was annoyed. It's pretty lazy for characters to just not tell each other the truth without a good reason. Sure now you have tension and conflict, but i don't think it was justified.
Like the last book, I did like the anxiety representation. Stevie has a lot of methods for coping with it which i liked seeing (someone who employs therapy techniques!). And she herself has grown more confident which i think lends itself to her renewed determination to solve the Ellingham murders.
Also that dedication to Murderinos made me smile. Hope Stevie remembers to SSDGM in the final book!
read for Popsugar 2019 Reading Challenge: a ghost story
I'm so blown away by this book, and can't wait to discuss with my book club. I need time to gather my thoughts but WOW I cried so hard.
I'm so blown away by this book, and can't wait to discuss with my book club. I need time to gather my thoughts but WOW I cried so hard.
read for Popsugar 2018 advanced challenge: a book about a problem facing society today
WOW, this book was excellent. There was such great character work that I constantly found my allegiances switching throughout (although Big Roy was probably my favorite). I loved the interludes of letters after the first part. It was really phenomenal storytelling.
Also this cover is gorgeous!!
WOW, this book was excellent. There was such great character work that I constantly found my allegiances switching throughout (although Big Roy was probably my favorite). I loved the interludes of letters after the first part. It was really phenomenal storytelling.
Also this cover is gorgeous!!
This is probably a 3.5.
I've been on a mystery kick the last couple weeks, so this book was such a fun and fast-paced read. I really like Johnson's writing! She has an excellent wit (one of the reasons she's a great twitter follow) and this book was peppered with so many funny little jokes and observations. Stevie was a good main character, and frankly it's been overdue to have a heroine who's obsessed with true crime (and true crime podcasts!). Also, she's from Pittsburgh, which is always weird to have characters reference things in your life. Stevie mentions the Carnegie Library system, and I was reading this checked out from that system! (little things that no one but me cares about). The side cast had a lovely wide range of characters, and while I don't think there was a lot of growth in them (except Nate, what a sweetie), I am looking forward to how they grow in the sequels.
The weaving of the Ellingham affair throughout the story was so excellent. It was definitely my favorite part and has me desperate to get my hands on the sequel (I've already got it from the Carnegie Library, thanks once again CLP). The flashbacks had the same vibe as putting on a true crime podcast.
However I found the mystery set in the present lacking. It takes awhile to kick in and the hunt for clues was a little meh. I didn't feel the same amount of tension and danger as I did from the flashbacks. I guess I just didn't find the whodunnit thrilling enough and the cliffhanger ending... while it did make me want to pick up the sequel right away, I was also rather dissatisfied.I'm not convinced Ellie murdered Hayes? Sure she's acting weird and ran away and is probably involved, but I know there has to be a bigger plot. This is too simple of an answer It's sort of weird to be thrilled and underwhelmed at the ending?
However I'm definitely continuing on because I have to know what happened to the Ellinghams.
I've been on a mystery kick the last couple weeks, so this book was such a fun and fast-paced read. I really like Johnson's writing! She has an excellent wit (one of the reasons she's a great twitter follow) and this book was peppered with so many funny little jokes and observations. Stevie was a good main character, and frankly it's been overdue to have a heroine who's obsessed with true crime (and true crime podcasts!). Also, she's from Pittsburgh, which is always weird to have characters reference things in your life. Stevie mentions the Carnegie Library system, and I was reading this checked out from that system! (little things that no one but me cares about). The side cast had a lovely wide range of characters, and while I don't think there was a lot of growth in them (except Nate, what a sweetie), I am looking forward to how they grow in the sequels.
The weaving of the Ellingham affair throughout the story was so excellent. It was definitely my favorite part and has me desperate to get my hands on the sequel (I've already got it from the Carnegie Library, thanks once again CLP). The flashbacks had the same vibe as putting on a true crime podcast.
However I found the mystery set in the present lacking. It takes awhile to kick in and the hunt for clues was a little meh. I didn't feel the same amount of tension and danger as I did from the flashbacks. I guess I just didn't find the whodunnit thrilling enough and the cliffhanger ending... while it did make me want to pick up the sequel right away, I was also rather dissatisfied.
However I'm definitely continuing on because I have to know what happened to the Ellinghams.
read for Popsugar 2019 Reading Challenge: a book with an item of clothing or accessory on the cover
Honestly the ideal romantic pairing is two people who you aren't sure if they're going to kiss or kill each other. And OH BOY did this book deliver on that!!!!!!
I gobbled this down in one day and I truly cannot wait to get my hands on the sequel.
Honestly the ideal romantic pairing is two people who you aren't sure if they're going to kiss or kill each other. And OH BOY did this book deliver on that!!!!!!
I gobbled this down in one day and I truly cannot wait to get my hands on the sequel.
This book is a slow burn. It invests so much time in building the narrative of Elizabeth Holmes and Theranos and blood testing science that it grew rather tedious at times. But the final third? Whew boy, the story exploded and became a page turning thriller. I am so pumped for this film, and will probably listen to the podcast and watch the documentary - especially to experience Holmes's wild affected voice.
In conclusion, John Carreyrou is Gossip Girl.
In conclusion, John Carreyrou is Gossip Girl.
read for Popsugar 2019 Reading Challenge: a book written by an author from Asia, Africa, or South America