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dark
emotional
informative
mysterious
sad
tense
medium-paced
Plot or Character Driven:
A mix
Strong character development:
Yes
Loveable characters:
Complicated
Diverse cast of characters:
No
Flaws of characters a main focus:
Yes
This book felt so much different that what I'm used to from Paula McLain, but at the same time was still written to the same atmospheric caliber. A near contemporary mystery mixed with true crime and the author's own personal experiences, the narrative was raw and gut-wrenching.
The book is well laid out with good small town vibes and a lot of internal character monologue work. The pacing is a little languid, but doesn't feel overly bogged down or stagnant. Instead, it gives a bit more of a contemporary feel to the book, adds humanity to the protagonist, and makes the story about much more than just solving a missing person's case.
I felt emotionally conflicted by the use of the Polly Klaas case in the story. It is a case I remember well in an area that I also know well. This connection made the narrative hit harder, but also somehow made the movement of the story feel awkward when the case was mentioned. Utilizing this information makes sense for the story, but for me it felt a little forced and shoehorned into the narrative.
Perspective readers should be aware that this is not a thriller, but a mystery. In addition, it is written in McLain's signature style, which means that the language is very atmospheric and descriptive, giving the book a bit more of a literary feel. For me, that's a beautiful style of writing and makes it much more enjoyable than your typical police procedural. Anna was a much more realistic protagonist for me and the clash of her profession and personal life really added to the depth of the narrative.
This may not be my favorite Paula McClain, but it is still a wonderful read and I would definitely recommend it.
The book is well laid out with good small town vibes and a lot of internal character monologue work. The pacing is a little languid, but doesn't feel overly bogged down or stagnant. Instead, it gives a bit more of a contemporary feel to the book, adds humanity to the protagonist, and makes the story about much more than just solving a missing person's case.
I felt emotionally conflicted by the use of the Polly Klaas case in the story. It is a case I remember well in an area that I also know well. This connection made the narrative hit harder, but also somehow made the movement of the story feel awkward when the case was mentioned. Utilizing this information makes sense for the story, but for me it felt a little forced and shoehorned into the narrative.
Perspective readers should be aware that this is not a thriller, but a mystery. In addition, it is written in McLain's signature style, which means that the language is very atmospheric and descriptive, giving the book a bit more of a literary feel. For me, that's a beautiful style of writing and makes it much more enjoyable than your typical police procedural. Anna was a much more realistic protagonist for me and the clash of her profession and personal life really added to the depth of the narrative.
This may not be my favorite Paula McClain, but it is still a wonderful read and I would definitely recommend it.
adventurous
emotional
hopeful
inspiring
lighthearted
reflective
sad
tense
medium-paced
Plot or Character Driven:
A mix
Strong character development:
Yes
Loveable characters:
Yes
Diverse cast of characters:
Yes
Flaws of characters a main focus:
Yes
Taylor Jenkins Reid KNOWS how to tell a story. Though this started off a bit slow and maybe a bit too saccharine for me, it slowly gained traction and turned into something amazing. I should NEVER doubt Reid's ability to weave a fantastic tale.
The character work in this narrative is just magnificent. The main characters are well done, sure. That's to be expected. But the supporting and secondary characters totally shine in this one. It's amazing to me how she can take a character who shows up on maybe three pages of the over 400 page novel and create a magnificent backstory, personality, and motivation in that time. They become full-fledged people who could jump off the page. I'm totally in awe.
The pacing is definitely a little slower, with things becoming a bit more ramped up the closer you get to the end, but it's like a rollercoaster...slowly inching up that first big hill before all hell breaks loose. Once things start to unravel, they really go nuts. It was awesome.
The ending is just as stunning as the rest of the book. It is different and brutal in a way. Door slam shut and that's that. It was just great.
There will never be a Taylor Jenkins Reid book I won't read. The end.
The character work in this narrative is just magnificent. The main characters are well done, sure. That's to be expected. But the supporting and secondary characters totally shine in this one. It's amazing to me how she can take a character who shows up on maybe three pages of the over 400 page novel and create a magnificent backstory, personality, and motivation in that time. They become full-fledged people who could jump off the page. I'm totally in awe.
The pacing is definitely a little slower, with things becoming a bit more ramped up the closer you get to the end, but it's like a rollercoaster...slowly inching up that first big hill before all hell breaks loose. Once things start to unravel, they really go nuts. It was awesome.
The ending is just as stunning as the rest of the book. It is different and brutal in a way. Door slam shut and that's that. It was just great.
There will never be a Taylor Jenkins Reid book I won't read. The end.
emotional
inspiring
reflective
sad
medium-paced
Plot or Character Driven:
Character
Strong character development:
Yes
Loveable characters:
Yes
Diverse cast of characters:
No
Flaws of characters a main focus:
Yes
Taylor Jenkins Reid's debut is a different flavor from the other works I've read from her, but it certainly isn't a bad one. Forever, Interrupted is a quick read that will hurt you from the beginning, but weave a little hope in at a time.
The writing isn't the same caliber that you will receive from Reid's newer works, but you can absolutely see the talent in this narrative. It's clear that she simply learned a little bit of finesse over the years. I enjoyed the prose quite a bit, with the exception of some very small pieces. There are some bits of the plot that are unrealistic and some that didn't hit me quite right, but overall the storyline had me swooning and then crushed and then devastated before it slowly pulled me out of the dark hole it threw me into. The emotional journey of Elsie was raw and well done. It left me pondering too much about life and how lucky each moment is.
There are extremely poignant moments and Susan is an amazing character who I think is just about perfect on the crafting scale. She was quite possibly the most realistic person in the story and I was amazed at how well I could understand her movement through her emotional recovery. Elsie was a good character too, but I think the perspective of Susan (having had a bit more experience and time to reflect on her situation) gave a really good long-term picture of grief. Her understanding of love and loss hit me hard and resonated so well that it nearly had me in tears. (I never cry at books.) "You define that. What you feel defines that. You loved him. He loved you. You believed in each other. That is what you lost. It doesn’t matter whether it’s labeled a husband or a boyfriend. You lost the person you love. You lost the future you thought you had."
Not my favorite Taylor Jenkins Reid book, but still a solid read. My gut still hurts from this one's punch...and I don't mind.
The writing isn't the same caliber that you will receive from Reid's newer works, but you can absolutely see the talent in this narrative. It's clear that she simply learned a little bit of finesse over the years. I enjoyed the prose quite a bit, with the exception of some very small pieces. There are some bits of the plot that are unrealistic and some that didn't hit me quite right, but overall the storyline had me swooning and then crushed and then devastated before it slowly pulled me out of the dark hole it threw me into. The emotional journey of Elsie was raw and well done. It left me pondering too much about life and how lucky each moment is.
There are extremely poignant moments and Susan is an amazing character who I think is just about perfect on the crafting scale. She was quite possibly the most realistic person in the story and I was amazed at how well I could understand her movement through her emotional recovery. Elsie was a good character too, but I think the perspective of Susan (having had a bit more experience and time to reflect on her situation) gave a really good long-term picture of grief. Her understanding of love and loss hit me hard and resonated so well that it nearly had me in tears. (I never cry at books.) "You define that. What you feel defines that. You loved him. He loved you. You believed in each other. That is what you lost. It doesn’t matter whether it’s labeled a husband or a boyfriend. You lost the person you love. You lost the future you thought you had."
Not my favorite Taylor Jenkins Reid book, but still a solid read. My gut still hurts from this one's punch...and I don't mind.
adventurous
dark
hopeful
mysterious
sad
tense
fast-paced
Plot or Character Driven:
A mix
Strong character development:
Yes
Loveable characters:
Yes
Diverse cast of characters:
Yes
Flaws of characters a main focus:
Yes
I have to admit that I was very surprised by Scars of Cereba. This book packed a serious punch. Continuing the duology from the ending of Last Memoria, Scars takes off running and doesn't really ever stop.
The pace is quite quick and the writing is really well crafted. There has been some growth in the author's writing style and I was totally thrilled to see this. The book moved so well and the plot really had me sucked in from quite early on.
This is a multiple POV tale and that can become a bit troublesome during the reading. Really this was my only struggle with the book. Though it is crafted to show when a memory (and POV) switch is occurring, it can still occasionally be difficult to figure out which character is doing the talking. Like the first installment, this approach does give quite a bit of dimension to the story and presents the events of the tale from very differing perspectives. Sometimes this made it hard to know who to root for and that confusion just hyped up the tension and the suspense for me even more.
The world is still quite interesting, with a little bit of darkness and a lot of mystery. I enjoyed the development of the characters and the plot in this second half of the duology and felt like things were really thought through quite well. The character arcs for Sarilla and Falon were fantastic, particularly Falon, and I found myself with a lump caught in my throat a few times.
There is a lot of cleverness in this writing and I really enjoyed the creativity of the world. The characters were well-bodied and the story really did carry on with a lot of strength. This was a solid book with an ending that I just cannot fault.
Shaw is really showing a lot of talent in her writing as well as her potential for growth and finesse. I very much look forward to her future reads.
* Disclaimer: I received a copy of this novel from the author in exchange for an honest review. *
The pace is quite quick and the writing is really well crafted. There has been some growth in the author's writing style and I was totally thrilled to see this. The book moved so well and the plot really had me sucked in from quite early on.
This is a multiple POV tale and that can become a bit troublesome during the reading. Really this was my only struggle with the book. Though it is crafted to show when a memory (and POV) switch is occurring, it can still occasionally be difficult to figure out which character is doing the talking. Like the first installment, this approach does give quite a bit of dimension to the story and presents the events of the tale from very differing perspectives. Sometimes this made it hard to know who to root for and that confusion just hyped up the tension and the suspense for me even more.
The world is still quite interesting, with a little bit of darkness and a lot of mystery. I enjoyed the development of the characters and the plot in this second half of the duology and felt like things were really thought through quite well. The character arcs for Sarilla and Falon were fantastic, particularly Falon, and I found myself with a lump caught in my throat a few times.
There is a lot of cleverness in this writing and I really enjoyed the creativity of the world. The characters were well-bodied and the story really did carry on with a lot of strength. This was a solid book with an ending that I just cannot fault.
Shaw is really showing a lot of talent in her writing as well as her potential for growth and finesse. I very much look forward to her future reads.
* Disclaimer: I received a copy of this novel from the author in exchange for an honest review. *
adventurous
mysterious
fast-paced
Plot or Character Driven:
A mix
Strong character development:
No
Loveable characters:
Complicated
Diverse cast of characters:
Complicated
Flaws of characters a main focus:
Yes
Spells Trouble is a cute, witchy, YA fantasy romp. It reads very easily and quickly, with a lot of teenage snark (though I will admit that it is sometimes over the top and worthy of an eyeroll). The feeling is light and fun even though the subject material does get a bit dark and gritty. It's like a dark, witchy beach read if that were a thing.
This definitely gives off a YA vibe. That is NOT a bad thing. It is written a little more casually, but with some language that prevents it from being more in the lower YA range. The story is not overly complex and is easy to follow, though there are some good pieces of intrigue. The plot does not veer toward the thriller side, but is more of an omniscient mystery. The reader knows the answer to the mysteries when the twin protagonists do not.
The pacing was great and I was able to breeze right through this baby. It kept me entertained and I was invested in the story, though I was occasionally put off by the immature undercurrent that intermittently surfaced. Even for a YA I felt there could be a little more maturity to the writing. The ending was a little confusing and does end on something of a cliffhanger, so I was left a bit disoriented. Still, I enjoyed my read and I'm curious about where this series is going to go.
* Disclaimer: I received a copy of this novel from the publisher in exchange for an honest review. *
This definitely gives off a YA vibe. That is NOT a bad thing. It is written a little more casually, but with some language that prevents it from being more in the lower YA range. The story is not overly complex and is easy to follow, though there are some good pieces of intrigue. The plot does not veer toward the thriller side, but is more of an omniscient mystery. The reader knows the answer to the mysteries when the twin protagonists do not.
The pacing was great and I was able to breeze right through this baby. It kept me entertained and I was invested in the story, though I was occasionally put off by the immature undercurrent that intermittently surfaced. Even for a YA I felt there could be a little more maturity to the writing. The ending was a little confusing and does end on something of a cliffhanger, so I was left a bit disoriented. Still, I enjoyed my read and I'm curious about where this series is going to go.
* Disclaimer: I received a copy of this novel from the publisher in exchange for an honest review. *
adventurous
dark
mysterious
tense
medium-paced
Plot or Character Driven:
A mix
Strong character development:
Yes
Loveable characters:
Yes
Diverse cast of characters:
No
Flaws of characters a main focus:
Yes
I love historical type fiction that adds in a fantasy element. I also love the circus/carnival trope. You cannot stop me from gravitating to this style of book. With <i>Ladies of the Secret Circus</i> this addiction proved to be a good thing.
The writing flows incredibly well and I love the historical elements that got drawn into the book and the story. The narrative is incredibly atmospheric and fun as well as just the right amount of dark.
It started off a little slow and I couldn't quite grasp the feel of where things were going to go. Then it swerved to the left and went dark. I could not have been happier. The world created by Sayers is awesome and creepy. I loved it. The characters were rich and well-written and things felt highly tangible. I was gripped by the middle and read the majority of the book in one sitting. I needed to know how things were going to end.
Dark, magical, beautiful, and haunting. A fantastic read and a great addition to the circus/carnival genre. This one will have a home on my bookshelf.
* Disclaimer: I received a copy of this novel from the publisher in exchange for an honest review. *
The writing flows incredibly well and I love the historical elements that got drawn into the book and the story. The narrative is incredibly atmospheric and fun as well as just the right amount of dark.
It started off a little slow and I couldn't quite grasp the feel of where things were going to go. Then it swerved to the left and went dark. I could not have been happier. The world created by Sayers is awesome and creepy. I loved it. The characters were rich and well-written and things felt highly tangible. I was gripped by the middle and read the majority of the book in one sitting. I needed to know how things were going to end.
Dark, magical, beautiful, and haunting. A fantastic read and a great addition to the circus/carnival genre. This one will have a home on my bookshelf.
* Disclaimer: I received a copy of this novel from the publisher in exchange for an honest review. *
challenging
dark
emotional
informative
mysterious
sad
tense
medium-paced
Plot or Character Driven:
Character
Strong character development:
Yes
Loveable characters:
Yes
Diverse cast of characters:
No
Flaws of characters a main focus:
Yes
Long Bright River definitely caught my attention. This is an interesting read. It's something of a thriller mystery, but gives off a totally different vibe. It's very much a crossover with the literary fiction genre, giving a more personal touch to the story and really diving into the issues. For a good portion of the narrative it feels very much like a journal.
The writing is very introspective and raw and the entire feeling of the book is something of a high emotional caliber. I listened to the audiobook, so I didn't experience the grammatical and punctuation issues other readers have mentioned. Instead, I simply felt brought in to an inner circle. I was caught up in the story and the history, worried about Kacey's fate and how Mickey was handling things.
The pacing is a little slow, but for the most part that works for the story. It doesn't feel like wasted space or a slog. It is dark and gritty and real. The natural flow of the pace allows for a bit more immersion in the past and the relationships between Mickey and the other people in her life. There is a lot of hurt wrapped up in this story and a lot of emotional moments. It can really feel like a gut punch from time to time and will hit very hard for those who have experience watching a family member struggle with addiction.
This is not an easy read in some ways, but it is worth the time. It's one that will stick with me a bit.
The writing is very introspective and raw and the entire feeling of the book is something of a high emotional caliber. I listened to the audiobook, so I didn't experience the grammatical and punctuation issues other readers have mentioned. Instead, I simply felt brought in to an inner circle. I was caught up in the story and the history, worried about Kacey's fate and how Mickey was handling things.
The pacing is a little slow, but for the most part that works for the story. It doesn't feel like wasted space or a slog. It is dark and gritty and real. The natural flow of the pace allows for a bit more immersion in the past and the relationships between Mickey and the other people in her life. There is a lot of hurt wrapped up in this story and a lot of emotional moments. It can really feel like a gut punch from time to time and will hit very hard for those who have experience watching a family member struggle with addiction.
This is not an easy read in some ways, but it is worth the time. It's one that will stick with me a bit.
emotional
inspiring
sad
medium-paced
Plot or Character Driven:
Character
Strong character development:
Complicated
Loveable characters:
Complicated
Diverse cast of characters:
Yes
Flaws of characters a main focus:
Yes
Sequel to Sheets that I found more enjoyable, but also a bit heavier. Cute middle grade graphic novel that hits on some difficult topics. Neurodiverse representation and attention to bullying, isolation, peer pressure, and social stigma. Also explores grief and loss in a creative way.
Not incredibly deep and has a bit of a lighter feel due to the inclusion of the ghost element which should make it more accessible for younger readers. The artwork is unique with the inclusion of a lot of jewel tone coloration that makes it feel comfortable and inviting.
The ending was really well handled and I hope it indicates that there will be more in this series. I think this second book shows a lot of growth and there could be some wonderful investigation into difficult topics for young readers.
Not incredibly deep and has a bit of a lighter feel due to the inclusion of the ghost element which should make it more accessible for younger readers. The artwork is unique with the inclusion of a lot of jewel tone coloration that makes it feel comfortable and inviting.
The ending was really well handled and I hope it indicates that there will be more in this series. I think this second book shows a lot of growth and there could be some wonderful investigation into difficult topics for young readers.
adventurous
challenging
dark
emotional
mysterious
sad
tense
medium-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
3.5 stars.
Lots of twists and turns in this one. Looking back, I probably should have guessed the ending, but I didn't, so score 1 for the plot. There is a lot going on in this book, with a semi-complicated plot that goes in a LOT of directions. There are quite a few red herrings and small off shoots that cause good distraction along the way. There were a few moments that were unbelievable, but the majority of it makes sense and lines up with things that could realistically happen during the investigation of a case.
Despite a good plot, the authorial voice caused me some issues in this one as it occasionally felt a little too stereotypical in the dialogue and actions of the characters. The writing is good, it just has a tone that occasionally rubbed me the wrong way. There were also some pieces where the writing just felt off, making some characters feel like cardboard cutouts, even having some moments where the building of the characters felt judgmental of individuals in specific situations. Most of this was a feeling of misogyny. Though I don't consider myself to be a raging feminist, the female characters in the book mostly felt put down a little. It just lacked the smoothness, balance, and authenticity in character building that I would have liked.
Suspense wise, I think this was well-crafted. I would consider reading another book by this author in the future. Perhaps the character construction will improve and the authorial/narrative voice will feel a bit more comfortable for me. For this one, I have to place it in the middle of the ratings road.
* Disclaimer: I received a copy of this novel from the publisher in exchange for an honest review. *
Lots of twists and turns in this one. Looking back, I probably should have guessed the ending, but I didn't, so score 1 for the plot. There is a lot going on in this book, with a semi-complicated plot that goes in a LOT of directions. There are quite a few red herrings and small off shoots that cause good distraction along the way. There were a few moments that were unbelievable, but the majority of it makes sense and lines up with things that could realistically happen during the investigation of a case.
Despite a good plot, the authorial voice caused me some issues in this one as it occasionally felt a little too stereotypical in the dialogue and actions of the characters. The writing is good, it just has a tone that occasionally rubbed me the wrong way. There were also some pieces where the writing just felt off, making some characters feel like cardboard cutouts, even having some moments where the building of the characters felt judgmental of individuals in specific situations. Most of this was a feeling of misogyny. Though I don't consider myself to be a raging feminist, the female characters in the book mostly felt put down a little. It just lacked the smoothness, balance, and authenticity in character building that I would have liked.
Suspense wise, I think this was well-crafted. I would consider reading another book by this author in the future. Perhaps the character construction will improve and the authorial/narrative voice will feel a bit more comfortable for me. For this one, I have to place it in the middle of the ratings road.
* Disclaimer: I received a copy of this novel from the publisher in exchange for an honest review. *
adventurous
hopeful
mysterious
medium-paced
Plot or Character Driven:
A mix
Strong character development:
Yes
Loveable characters:
Complicated
Diverse cast of characters:
Yes
Flaws of characters a main focus:
Yes
3.5 stars.
This was a comfortable read with a unique premise and a lot of room for a series continuation should the author be interested. It had a very interesting magic system that manages the earth's weather and other natural characteristics. There was an environmental undertone that wasn't totally overbearing, but did definitely come through as an allegory and something of an opinion piece. Some may be turned off by this approach, but I found it interesting.
The primary characters are fairly well constructed and their interactions feel mostly genuine, though there is a bit of instalove. The supporting characters could definitely be fledged out more and are a good portion of the reason that a series possibility exists. There is a lot in this world that could be explored and there is a lot more of the magic school that could be utilized as well. It's a bit of a treasure trove of imagination.
My primary issues with this book that prevented it from being rated higher were pacing and plot development. The pacing was a little bit slow due to some repetitious events in the plot that made things sometimes feel as if we were spinning in circles. There was a bit of monotony there that felt like the author was trying a bit too hard to get some points across rather than trusting the reader to fill in the blanks. The plot itself was overall good, but seemed a bit too restrained. There was so much more that could have been done with this premise that it felt like the story just didn't go far enough. Again, this is a reason why I think a series is a possibility.
Overall, a quick and comfortable read. Definitely not a bad debut and I think that Griffin is one to watch. She has a creative flare that is outside the norm and I think her writing could go in some fun directions.
* Disclaimer: I received a copy of this book from the publisher in exchange for an honest review. *
This was a comfortable read with a unique premise and a lot of room for a series continuation should the author be interested. It had a very interesting magic system that manages the earth's weather and other natural characteristics. There was an environmental undertone that wasn't totally overbearing, but did definitely come through as an allegory and something of an opinion piece. Some may be turned off by this approach, but I found it interesting.
The primary characters are fairly well constructed and their interactions feel mostly genuine, though there is a bit of instalove. The supporting characters could definitely be fledged out more and are a good portion of the reason that a series possibility exists. There is a lot in this world that could be explored and there is a lot more of the magic school that could be utilized as well. It's a bit of a treasure trove of imagination.
My primary issues with this book that prevented it from being rated higher were pacing and plot development. The pacing was a little bit slow due to some repetitious events in the plot that made things sometimes feel as if we were spinning in circles. There was a bit of monotony there that felt like the author was trying a bit too hard to get some points across rather than trusting the reader to fill in the blanks. The plot itself was overall good, but seemed a bit too restrained. There was so much more that could have been done with this premise that it felt like the story just didn't go far enough. Again, this is a reason why I think a series is a possibility.
Overall, a quick and comfortable read. Definitely not a bad debut and I think that Griffin is one to watch. She has a creative flare that is outside the norm and I think her writing could go in some fun directions.
* Disclaimer: I received a copy of this book from the publisher in exchange for an honest review. *