emmreadsbooks's Reviews (1.28k)

I have never frantically DMed my bookstagram friends as much as I did when I was listening to this book. It is full on cuckoo bananas and will have you screaming "CALL THE COPS" in the middle of a work meeting. While I didn't agree with *many* of Pip's decisions, the ending is well worth the tension. For the audiobook in particular, they added cast members at perfect moments like for the reading of a police transcript or telephone calls. You could hear the fatigue progressing in Billy's voice as he's interrogated... Just perfection. And the placement of the details throughout the series as a whole is just top notch. This book wrapped up basically every question that I had which is as satisfying of an ending as I could ask for. If you loved the earlier books or are just a YA thriller fan, this is one for the books.

*Thank you to PRH Audio for the ALC in exchange for my honest review*

This book was truly fascinating and taught me so much about nature. How creatures adapt to their environments, CO2 phenomena, and the relationship of fossils to the theory of evolution are all explored in the text, just to name a few of the interesting topics. Personally I found it far more interesting on audio because it felt like I was in a course about ecobiology. This is a great non-fiction read that will have you thinking twice about your impact on the environment and the history of the land around you.

*Thank you to Hachette Audio for the ALC in exchange for my honest review*

My biggest problem with this book is that it's 75% dialogue, and the witty banter just got old so fast. I liked the idea of the book - a romance writer reconnecting with her college flame - but things felt unrealistic. The secrets they kept from one another were unnecessary and weren't actually dealt with within the course of the book. It just felt like it glossed over everything in the end. I also found myself skimming the regency romance parts, mostly because if I wanted to read a historical romance that's what I would've picked up. Usually I have much more patience for romance novels, but this one was just meh for me.

This was the perfect book to read after my previous flop, because it just NAILS an honest portrayal of infidelity. Mackenzie and Cooper are constantly thrust together and have instant chemistry. While they come from different worlds, they relate so well and you can't help but root for then. Toss in a devilish bet, a stuck-up boyfriend, and the cutest puppy ever and you have a recipe for success. This book makes me want to sit in a rocking chair and sip sweet tea, just soaking it all up.

*Thank you to St Martin's Griffin and NetGalley for the ARC in exchange for my honest review*

This book was a little bit of a struggle for me. I loved the representation in it, the writing, the atmosphere... but it gets really dark, even for a gory thriller reader like myself. Douglass quickly delves into topics like school shootings, rape, and domestic abuse and it was just a shock to my system. I loved the relationships between Jake, Alistair, and Fiona. Things just felt a bit rushed here, especially in terms of the lore of becoming a medium. And the last 50 pages were just... oof. I felt like this book needed 50 more pages to make the pacing feel more natural and fleshed out. But I don't regret reading it at all!

I loved the idea of this book - a girl gone missing that a podcast is trying to track down based on the clues she left behind. The audiobook for me was a little lacking, mostly in that it kept saying "brought to you by MacMillan Publishing" in every podcast episode. But this book hits hard in discussing pedophilia and its effect on Sadie. Her chapters are the hardest to listen to because it feels so real. You can't help but support Sadie as she works to hunt down her sister's killer, even if she has a harmful intent. I also loved the ending, though I might need to reread it in text form to make sure that it really sinks in. This is definitely a Courtney Summers book with its atmospheric feel and difficult themes, and serves more as a mystery than a thriller for me.

I'm a sucker for a cheerleading book, especially when it focuses on the social dynamics of a squad. This reminded me of a mix of Dare Me and Heathers, but a little less dark. I really enjoyed following Shade as she works her way up the cheer hierarchy, and then devolves after the death. There's so much paranoia and mystery throughout, though I wish we could've spent more time developing the Chloes and Jadis as characters. Plus all of the cheer terminology has me on Netflix looking for a season 2 of Cheer, so... Overall a high V for Victory from me.

I'm struggling a bit to review this book as it wasn't really for me. But it was truly beautiful examining the process of grief from 6 perspectives, those of Dava, her children, and Sandi. It raises questions of morality with euthanasia and infidelity, and discusses themes like polyamory, alcoholism, and domestic abuse. I also enjoyed the multimedia at the beginning of each chapter, be it from newspaper articles or close friends to Dava. The book may have just been a bit heavy for me at the given moment, but it was honestly quite good.

*Thank you to Grand Central Publishing for the ARC in exchange for my honest review*

I listened to this on audio and it was CREEEEEPY! I honestly think that Ruth Ware books will be hit or miss for me, but this one was a hit. We couldn't entirely believe Lo as she follows a mystery that seems to deny her at every turn. Add in being trapped on a luxury cruise liner with the intrinsic nausea of that atmosphere, and you got a winner. There were some threads left unresolved for me that still remain in my head and may have just been ultimately unnecessary to include, but I quite enjoyed this book. Perfect for the spooky season!