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b_readsalot's Reviews (700)
mysterious
fast-paced
Plot or Character Driven:
Plot
Strong character development:
Complicated
Loveable characters:
No
Diverse cast of characters:
No
Flaws of characters a main focus:
Yes
*Advance Read Copy*
What Worked:
- Visually, Kistie was able to weave a story that had many moments I could see perfectly. Like, Sophie playing with her horses and the neighborhood’s physical grasp on the survivors and the boundary around it.
- The premise was creative, which piqued my interest and made me want to see what was going to happen next.
- I always love a good queer storyline. The author did a great job of adding many layers of complications (past and present) to make it feel like an integral and important part of the story.
What Didn’t Work:
- I didn’t really love Talitha as a character. Though we got to see some of her backstory and context for choices she made, I found myself feeling a bit exasperated with her. On the other hand, characters like Brett and Enid shined the whole way through and I found myself very invested in their stories.
Recommendations/Final Thoughts:
- If you’re looking for a book that isn’t TOO scary, but has a unique and interesting premise, this is the book for you. You’ll get a good dose of how things rooted in real life, rather than the paranormal or unexplained, can truly be the scariest things of all.
Thank you, Netgalley, for the ARC!
emotional
funny
informative
reflective
fast-paced
I knew I was going to be pretty biased about this book because I’m obsessed with the USWNT, so I won’t say that I was surprised to find how much I loved it or surprised at how quickly I devoured it. But, I will say that all that aside, I still found it to be such an inspiring, informative, funny(!), and worthwhile read. I loved Pinoe’s storytelling and honesty while detailing her life growing up in northern CA, her start in soccer as a kid, and through her career as a professional athlete and player on the national team. In typical Pinoe fashion, she didn’t hold back on sharing her strong opinions about everything from race to politics, lgbtq advocacy to gender and pay inequality, which really kept the reaading experience an engaging one. Next up, I’ll have to hear the audiobook version!
dark
emotional
informative
sad
fast-paced
lighthearted
fast-paced
Plot or Character Driven:
Plot
Strong character development:
Yes
Loveable characters:
Yes
Diverse cast of characters:
Yes
Flaws of characters a main focus:
Complicated
challenging
dark
tense
fast-paced
Plot or Character Driven:
Plot
Strong character development:
N/A
Loveable characters:
Complicated
Diverse cast of characters:
No
Flaws of characters a main focus:
Complicated
mysterious
tense
fast-paced
Plot or Character Driven:
Plot
Strong character development:
No
Loveable characters:
No
Diverse cast of characters:
No
Flaws of characters a main focus:
Yes
What Worked:
- The different POVs and timelines made for an interesting read. You wanted to keep turning the page to see where the next piece of the puzzle was going to fall into place.
- Some of the reveals were genuinely surprising! Though the entire book wasn’t necessarily earth-shatteringly original, I was genuinely surprised by some of the twists.
What Didn’t Work:
- The characters were rather unlikable. I suppose you don’t have to relate to any characters in order to enjoy a book, but I did find myself rolling my eyes at a few of the characters more than once, which took me out of the reading experience.
Recommendations/Final Thoughts:
- If you like The White Lotus or other stories that start with a shocking crime that all starts to come together as you go along.
- It was a fun quick holiday read that left me curious enough to want to eventually check out another one of Foley’s books.
emotional
tense
fast-paced
Plot or Character Driven:
A mix
Strong character development:
Complicated
Loveable characters:
Complicated
Diverse cast of characters:
Yes
Flaws of characters a main focus:
Yes
What Worked:
- It’s very rare for me to be genuinely interested in everyone’s story in a book with multiple POVs and timelines, but this book did that so well. The 90s timeline sucked you right in and set the stage for the rest of the events throughout the book, and the present-day POVs of Grace and Shawn were equally captivating.
- It was so hard to put this book down. The historical (and current day) backdrop of this book really raised the stakes and kept me turning pages wanting, or rather, holding my breath to see what would happen next.
What Didn’t Work:
- N/A. I have 0 complaints.
Recommendations/Final Thoughts:
- Anyone who wants a book that feels real, raw, and heart-wrenching. It’s a heavy book for sure, but completely worth the hype.
- Being from LA and having grown up hearing about the LA riots, this book touched on local history in such a beautifully written way that piqued my interest the first time I heard about it. Living in the Valley now also added another personal element that connected me to this book.
- If you’re from LA, if you like books that touch on race, class, immigrant stories, incarceration and policing, you’ll want to check this out.
dark
funny
mysterious
fast-paced
Plot or Character Driven:
Plot
Strong character development:
Complicated
Loveable characters:
Complicated
Diverse cast of characters:
No
Flaws of characters a main focus:
Yes
*Advanced Read Copy*
What worked:
What worked:
- The characters were likable (or unlikable, when it mattered)
- Cool concept that made you want to keep reading, to find out what was going to happen next
- Alistair as the protagonist - I’d keep reading books he’s in. He doesn't seem too 2-dimensional and is endearing enough that you find yourself rooting for him.
- Though not a shocker of an ending, I didn’t predict it. Nor did I really feel like I knew where the story was going, so predictability wasn’t an issue.
What didn’t work:
- It wasn’t very scary. I expected far more chills and thrills throughout.
- Overall, the reading experience was somewhat underwhelming. By the end of it, I was left wanting more - maybe a sequel?
Recommendation/Final Thoughts:
I’d recommend this book to anyone who wants “lighter” horror read that keeps you engaged and curious. It had plenty of banter and interesting characters. And who doesn’t love a locked-room mystery?
dark
mysterious
fast-paced
Plot or Character Driven:
Plot
Strong character development:
Complicated
Loveable characters:
Complicated
Diverse cast of characters:
No
Flaws of characters a main focus:
Yes