ambershelf's reviews
1295 reviews

Until the killer of Evelyn Hardcastle is identified, Aiden Bishop will wake up every day in the body of a different guest at Blackheath Manor. To break the cycle, Aiden must use the knowledge acquired by various hosts daily to solve the seemingly impossible murder within eight days. If he fails to do so, the events reset, and Aiden will start the whole series anew.

First and foremost, The 7 1/2 Deaths of Evelyn Hardcastle is not at all related to The Seven Husbands of Evelyn Hugo; I was wondering if there are any connections, but it turns out just to be a huge coincidence. This book is best described as a murder mystery on sci-fi/fantasy steroids. While learning the relationships between characters, I also have to keep track of which host Aiden is in at the time. Usually, for a mystery, I try to form my theories and solve the murder. Interestingly, The 7 1/2 Deaths of Evelyn Hardcastle is so complicated yet fast-paced that I ended up being pleasantly confused, if that is ever possible. This book will be a great read if you're in for a mind-twisting and bewildering experience!

Zoe Penney lives the perfect suburban life in the Northwest with her husband, three children, and a dog. But with an arsonist setting fires around her neighborhood, her husband diagnosed with cancer, and a reclusive neighbor seemingly hovering around the house, Zoe starts experiencing nightmares and insomnia. In this tumultuous time, Zoe must learn to turn her fear & anger into love.

NEVER is a propulsive story about finding the courage to face the unthinkable in one's life. While the book opens with the mystery of the arsonist, NEVER isn't a thriller that focuses on solving the puzzle. Instead, it centers on Zoe and her family dynamic as she navigates one tragedy after another.

While the premise is intriguing, I never got used to Putnam's writing style and struggled to understand some plots. I think there are a lot of metaphors in NEVER that juxtapose with navigating a cancer diagnosis of a spouse, but I sadly couldn't fully grasp their meanings. Because of this, I feel like much of what happened in the book just made me so sad. Not to give away anything, but a lot of animals were harmed in NEVER

For those considering eliminating the person who is the object of your affliction, McMasters Conservatory is the perfect place to start one's studies. After all, the institute is dedicated to teaching students the art of homicide. This "Poison Ivy League" college is situated in an unknown location and only admits students with ethical reasons for erasing someone who truly deserves death.

MURDER YOUR EMPLOYER is brilliantly written with dark humor in a case study textbook format. Holms presents three case studies of past students who graduated from McMasters and went on to carry out their "thesis." These case studies are fascinating and provide deep insight into the minds of the alums and the methods they use to perform their theses.

The wordplay and innovative approach in MURDER YOUR EMPLOYER are refreshing and unique, and it is a perfect read for those looking for something different & unique. Since it's written in a textbook style, MURDER YOUR EMPLOYER has quite a slow buildup, and the overall pace of the story isn't as fast as traditional crime thrillers.

Overall, I enjoyed reading MURDER YOUR EMPLOYER and would suggest it to readers who enjoy dark humor and want to explore an unconventional approach to the crime genre.

As an introvert, Jana Suleiman often feels out of place in large groups and sticks to her comfort zone. The one time she tried something new—by falling in love with the charming Anil Malik—she was left heartbroken with a baby on the way. Jana vows to never repeat her mistakes and to avoid Anil at all costs. Now as a bridesmaid in a destination wedding in Tanzania with her mom and 4-year-old daughter, Jana is surprised, and frankly, quite upset, to find the father of her child suddenly joining the trip as a groomsman. Jana desperately wants to avoid Anil, but the heart wants what it wants.

Incidentally, I read JANA GOES WILD on a destination wedding in Tulum, and I immensely enjoyed how the novel reflects my IRL experience. I adore the descriptions of the wedding, the celebration of love, and all the touristy things described in the book. Attending weddings & reading about them always allow me to reflect on my own marriage and how different personalities have shaped how we celebrate & show love.

But on top of the cute, fun rom-com, JANA GOES WILD also explores how past mistakes can hold us back. I resonate with Jana as we're both extreme introverts who never know what to do at large parties and have trouble forgiving people who've wronged us. While this is oftentimes a self-protective mechanism, Hernon also shows that it can inadvertently keep us from moving forward. While I don't necessarily agree with all the characters' decisions in JANA GOES WILD, I adore Hernon's messages that by letting go of others' pasts mistakes, we're setting ourselves free too.

As a novel featuring Muslim South Asian characters, there are also plenty of descriptions of delicious food and fun wedding traditions that I adore. For those looking for a light read that will transport you to a vacation full of love, great food, and fun adventures, JANA GOES WILD is your perfect next read

Thank you to Forever for the gifted ARC.

In a dystopian future, the US has overhauled its criminal justice system. Those with a sentence over 30 years can choose to enter a gladiator-style competition and earn their freedom—if they survive the death matches. At the center of this new sports gaining traction across the country are two rising stars, Loretta Thurwar and Hamara "Hurricane Staxxx" Stacker. As they ascend to stardom, both women face difficult choices to clench their freedom. Will Thurwar and Staxxx be free?

CHAIN is a brilliant book that examines the ways in which a for-profit criminal justice system fails society, both those serving time within and those searching for closure & healing outside. While the setting is extreme, where a fight-to-the-death system is implemented for those incarcerated, Adjei-Brenyah draws parallels between this distant future and the current prison system; both focus heavily on punishment rather than reform.

We follow multiple POVs throughout CHAIN, and the readers are tasked to figure out who the narrators are. Additionally, footnotes on the US history of incarceration & prison complex are scattered across chapters. While these intricacies could break the flow of reading, I appreciate Adjei-Brenyah's inclusion & originality in painting a layered story that encourages the readers to reimagine a more humane & compassionate justice system. At its core, CHAIN asks us: can we design a system that creates more peace and less pain?

Thank you to Pantheon Books and NetGalley for the eARC.