hermusings's Reviews (303)

This one pleasantly surprised me. However, it felt like two separate books as the thriller took a significant back seat to their relationship on the second half of the book. 
Looking forward to the next books in the series.

There were things about this story that just weren’t for me.
However, I really like the trajectory for where this series seems to be going so I’ll be picking up book 2 once it drops.

I don’t know how to feel. 
Maybe this was too short and in turn, fell short of fully saying something of worth.

This was honestly kinda sad. 

SMG is incredible at writing horror and thrilling mystery in comparison, this book falls short. Yet, her usual intriguing and complex story telling is still felt as she explored this genre.

It was interesting to get so many different POVs and to have the myth and plot run parallel course.

I think the press revolving this book and Coates lending his prestigious reputation to write it in the first place, is doing wonders to keeping Palestine in mainstream media in an accurate way. Which is the main reason I picked it up.

This book is like a stream of consciousness of Coates on a few adventures (Senegal, Palestine, etc.) in which he grapples with his involvement in facilitating oppression, how the US’s history is interlinked with oppression across the globe and most importantly, how language/words matters.

However, a year into a genocide this book is not adding any new information nor insight but services as a great reminder of how intricate the web of oppression is weaved. 

Cara Bastone wrote this sweet book about grief and loss that is honest and raw. I think anyone that’s experienced life-altering loss (specially in their 20s) will resonate with this one.

I enjoyed that the romance takes a backseat and is almost used as a plot device. It allowed for the story to feel genuine and focused on how main character Lenny will handle all-consuming grief.

The proses were lovely and the overall message profound. I wish I could time travel and give myself this book in 2021.

Thank you to NetGalley and Random House Publishing Group, for an eArc in exchange for an honest review.

I would like to preface this by warning other readers that this book is 95% BJL’s memoir/dealings with a cult and 5% one tree hill.

Marketing aside, dinner for vampires, is a book I’ll be thinking about for a long time.

Lenz writes in tremendous detail about her thought process and believes as she navigates her twenties in a small cult. Her writing submerges you, almost like a diary entry being written with the wisdom of hindsight, as her personality shines through the story. 

The things that occur to her will infuriate you and make you reflect.  

I would defiantly recommend to those who enjoy learning about cults but more to those who have been in any sort of high demand group and may want a cathartic read.

Thank you to NetGalley and Simon & Schuster, for an eArc in exchange for an honest review.

Quick fun ride. Felt a bit like two books put together but engaging none the less. Wouldn’t call this a mystery as much as a series of events coming together in a slight thriller manner.

I was hater at first (partly the tediously descriptive world building & initially senseless nature of the plot) but it won me over.

Heavy on the Plato’s allegory of the cave and the nods to other philosophers/philosophical questions; the whole thing felt like an early Christopher Nolan film (I.e. memento or the prestige).

I liked that it touches on the pursuit of knowledge — Is it worth it? Can it be done without exploitation? 

It also felt like I was reading someone realized they are in a cult and trying to navigate leaving  & what reality looks like after. In Piranesi’s case, the “house”.

I’m a sucker for a good Greek myth retelling. This one was interesting as Le Callet chose to not involve the gods at all. Which made the story more feminist, modern and dare I say, girlbossy.

The illustration by Peña was impeccable and elevated the story. 

Once again we are reminded to never fall in love with a man with a “J” name.