emmreadsbooks's Reviews (1.28k)

As is a tradition, I start an Abby Jimenez book right before bed and then stay up entirely too late because I can't bear to put it down. This was a beautiful book with all of her classic flair - gorgeous people, mental health issues, realistic conflict. Just DELICIOUS!! I also love the little callbacks to her previous books and I hope to see more in this series.

This is an addictive book about corruption, fame, and what people will do to get ahead in life. I loved how it almost read like a satire. Adding on to that the rich atmosphere and culture makes this book a total win. It may leave you wondering about how many times you can kidnap people in one story, but just sit back and enjoy the ride.

Give me ALLLLL the dark and broody fairytale retellings please! I listened to the audiobook of this and it totally immersed me in their world (and oh god, the creepy woods...). As a reader I was a bit confused for some of it, but it made sense as Wendy's struggling to process what's occurring. It also took a bit to pick up speed admittedly. However once it gets going, you'll be hooked!

This is a dark and sexy thriller with enormous triggers for child abuse, so be warned. I loved the duality of the chapters in reality and the chapters from Verity's journal, and how the author depicted Loren's mental state. The story itself is simple yet surprising and a great quick read. It's definitely unputdownable.

Every now and then, you find a book at the perfect time. Honey Girl was that for me - a woman finishing her PhD and anxious about deviating from her perfect plan. The story was lyrical, the characters interesting, and the writing style kept me engaged. As a woman in STEM, much of Porter's experiences in astronomy rang true for me. This book was exquisite and you can't change my mind.

Despite a slow start, this book is addictive. Combining the trauma of a brain injury with the aftereffects of a home break-in leads to a dramatic domestic suspense. Following Greg and Jade's perspectives, it was easy to see how the paranoia between them built (though as usual, communication really would've helped). While I predicted the ending, it was still satisfying overall and the entire story gave me the creeps thinking about all those cameras watching.

Thank you to Grand Central Publishing for a complementary copy of the book.

As a woman in a male-dominated field, I can say that this book rang true to a lot of my experiences. Melody was a confident and intelligent woman thrust into crappy situations with few allies. If you go into this book thinking that it's going to be a romance, you'll be disappointed. However there's still a slow burn romantic element that kept me engaged. The writing can be a bit on the nose, but I refused to put it down. Consider me a fan for life.

This is an unfortunate case of misplaced expectations. I went in expecting a thriller and received a sexy crime novel instead. While it was certainly captivating and did have its fair share of twists and turns, I was let down from the start.

This book would be great for fans of heists, dirty cops, and revenge.

(Thank you to Grand Central Publishing for the complementary copy!)

Suzanne Park has the incredible ability to write unputdownable after unputdownable book. I loved the focus on social media and detoxing from tech, especially in a camp setting. It was punctuated with her signature humor and a homey camp atmosphere. As an avid summer camper from the Midwest, it rang true to my experience (though luckily there wasn't any Side Braid at mine!). Plus now I'll never look at brownies the same way...

*Thank you to NetGalley and Sourcebooks Fire for the ARC in exchange for my honest review*

This book is a beautiful combination of What A Girl Wants and The Princess Diaries that pulls at my 90's baby heartstrings. I loved watching Izumi grow into a princess without ceding her personality. And the Tokyo Tattler was HILARIOUS! Plus the romance was palpable through the narration (though I don't want to spoil it too much), leaving me to quickly plug in my headphones because I was listening to it on speaker. And don't get me started on the Shining Twins... Overall just amazing.

*Thank you to NetGalley and Macmillan Audio for the ALC in exchange for an honest review*