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elizlizabeth's Reviews (242)
mysterious
reflective
tense
fast-paced
Interesting premise, leaning a bit on psychological thriller. I didn't like the pacing of it a lot since at times it infodumps on things that don't have any impact on the immediate events. At times it felt like an excuse to present some ideas the author has regarding human-centric science, religion, grief, and guilt, rather than a novel with an actual plot and conflict.
Content Warnings
Graphic: Confinement, Suicide attempt
dark
funny
lighthearted
fast-paced
Plot or Character Driven:
Plot
Loveable characters:
Yes
Diverse cast of characters:
Yes
This was NOTHING like I expected but in a good way. Super entretaining and a total page turner if you don't mind suspending your disbelief for a bit -absolutely not for you if you're a fan of police drama or thrillers as this is not it. If anything, the aunties' personalities are so endearing you're gonna want to keep reading. It does get a bit slow at the end but I had so much fun that I don't mind all that much.
Content Warnings
Graphic: Drug use, Toxic relationship, Blood, Medical trauma, Murder, Alcohol
emotional
reflective
fast-paced
Plot or Character Driven:
A mix
100% recommend getting the audiobook version as it's a totally different experience. I really liked the experimental way in which TJR told this story tho I appreciated it more as a writer than a reader. It's loosely based on the Fleetwood Mac gossip so if you like band drama this is your book.
Content Warnings
Graphic: Addiction, Drug abuse, Drug use, Infidelity, Pedophilia, Toxic relationship, Abortion
Moderate: Eating disorder
medium-paced
Loveable characters:
No
I disliked every single character here and thus had a hard time relating or empathizing with them. The writing is so bad, half screenplay half novel it feels like someone much younger and inexperienced wrote it. Shoutout to the seven (?) asian women named Anna Lee!
Content Warnings
Graphic: Adult/minor relationship, Body shaming, Drug use, Gun violence, Homophobia, Sexual violence, Vomit, Grief, Car accident, Death of parent
adventurous
dark
emotional
medium-paced
I enjoyed the first half of the book but by the end it honestly felt like the plot was there only to justify the smut. Jamie was my favorite character but by the end he had lost all semblance of personality and coherency in favor of whatever the plot or Claire's own arch required. Claire herself was very annoying and unlikable to me, but her actions and personality made sense for the plot so it's not really a critique and more of a lack of affinity on my part.
Gabaldon is a very good writer and I truly enjoyed the historical fantasy part of this. Not sure if I'd read the rest of the series after that infamous dungeon scene tho. Definitely read and heed the warnings on this one.
Gabaldon is a very good writer and I truly enjoyed the historical fantasy part of this. Not sure if I'd read the rest of the series after that infamous dungeon scene tho. Definitely read and heed the warnings on this one.
Content Warnings
Graphic: Ableism, Animal death, Child abuse, Chronic illness, Homophobia, Infertility, Infidelity, Misogyny, Pedophilia, Rape, Sexual violence, Suicidal thoughts, Torture, Blood, Kidnapping, Medical trauma, Suicide attempt, Pregnancy, Injury/Injury detail
Moderate: Infidelity, Xenophobia, Abortion
funny
lighthearted
fast-paced
Plot or Character Driven:
A mix
Loveable characters:
Yes
Diverse cast of characters:
Yes
I fell in love with the whole cast of characters and I kept laughing out loud on my commutes to the point other passengers must've thought I was losing my mind.
The last 15% however felt very rushed plot wise, a lot of tell don't show with the revelations and false confessions. It made me feel as if we were never meant to solve the mystery on our own for the sake of plot twists. I feel there were more elegant ways to tie off the loose ends and pick up on both previous clues and the overall message of the book (which if I'm seeing it correctly is "the past/old people" vs "the present/young cops" and how there's good and bad things in both).
The last 15% however felt very rushed plot wise, a lot of tell don't show with the revelations and false confessions. It made me feel as if we were never meant to solve the mystery on our own for the sake of plot twists. I feel there were more elegant ways to tie off the loose ends and pick up on both previous clues and the overall message of the book (which if I'm seeing it correctly is "the past/old people" vs "the present/young cops" and how there's good and bad things in both).
Content Warnings
Graphic: Suicide, Terminal illness, Dementia, Murder
emotional
tense
medium-paced
Plot or Character Driven:
A mix
Loveable characters:
Yes
Three (four if we count Greta) women who love each other so much but fail to give the other what they really need. Love lost in translation is no less love, and this gets proven beautifuly by the end of the book.
Content Warnings
Graphic: Infidelity, Physical abuse, Pregnancy
adventurous
dark
tense
medium-paced
Plot or Character Driven:
A mix
I loved the worldbuilding, the writing and characters of this, and greatly enjoyed the overarching themes. The pacing between the two "halves" of the book, when it's all academia vs after "the incident" felt off, and a bit redundant but otherwise I really liked it.
Great if you're interested in a more anthropological take on dark academia and magic.
Great if you're interested in a more anthropological take on dark academia and magic.
Content Warnings
Graphic: Child abuse, Gun violence, Suicidal thoughts, Xenophobia, Cultural appropriation, War
emotional
fast-paced
I really liked how Jennette wrote and narrated it in such a way that made light of otherwise heavy topics while at the same time allowing herself to be vulnerable. I'm glad that she found some healing and closure after all of that, and I like that she managed to establish boundaries that work for her.
It's honestly shocking to know that someone whose work I derived so much entertainment from was having such a horrible time all along but we never know what kinda battles anyone's fighting I guess.
It's honestly shocking to know that someone whose work I derived so much entertainment from was having such a horrible time all along but we never know what kinda battles anyone's fighting I guess.
Content Warnings
Graphic: Addiction, Body shaming, Child abuse, Eating disorder, Vomit, Gaslighting, Dysphoria
dark
tense
slow-paced
Kind of a bummer because I enjoyed Dune a lot. This one focuses on bringing some darker aspects to the saga, but the pace is so slow for such a short book that I couldn't be as into it as I was with the first book. I think the ending saved it for me, so I'll continue to read but gah this book could've been an email.
Content Warnings
Graphic: Miscarriage, Injury/Injury detail
Moderate: Adult/minor relationship, Incest