lipsticktoliterature's Reviews (629)

If you read and loved this book please don't take any of my review personally. Remember I am just one person out of millions who will read this book. 

I love books about books. Who doesn't right?? I thought, based on  the synopsis, The Reading List would help Mukesh with his relationship with his granddaughter after the grandmother passed away. While that was a part of the story that wasn't the main part.  I also thought the description of Mukesh's life was inaccurate in the synopsis. 

Aleisha has a rough home life taking care of her mother with the help of her brother Aiden. There was a lot to unpack with this family dynamic that could have been it's own storyline. 

So when you add both of the MC's storylines together it was A LOT to unpack in the book. It could have been a longer book but in that case I definitely wouldn't have picked it up. 

Then there were other characters I completely forget their names and honestly I have no clue how they fit into the story which is incredibly frustrating. 
 

This was one of the library books I borrowed before they closed for renovations. The book was dragging on I switched to the audio version to see if I would enjoy the content. In my opinion (which take it with a grain of salt) wasn't better than the print version. 

Again, PLEASE remember that one persons least loved book is someone else's holy grail book they will read until it falls apart.  

On my Scale of Buy, Borrow, Bargain, Bud or Bust I have to rate this one bust :(. 

Thank you to for buddy reading this with me! I know our next buddy read will be better!

Imagine meeting an amazing man only to find out he's just passing through for work.  🥺 You agree to meet 1 year later only it didn't happen! 
 I.  Had. To. Know. Why!! I couldn't put this book down!!  

I remember reading the synopsis but of course I promptly forgot what it said. I received the book and started reading it. I am SO GLAD I forgot what it was about!  The story is beautiful!! It gave me all the feels! 

I was kinda worried that the book was 400 pages long and it would be one of the books that could have been shorter. This book deserved every single page and more! 

TW &

: This book does have a male character who is a real jerk.  He is narcissistic and manipulative. He does gaslight the MFC. I know that this is a trigger or sensitive topic for some people. I wouldn't want anyone to read this book without being aware.

On my scale of Buy, Borrow, Bargain, Bud or Bust. This is a BUY!!  Definitely a top book for me this year!! 

Read this book if: 
 🇬🇧 you like second chance romance
 🇬🇧 you want a strong, patient, kind man in the book you're reading
 🇬🇧 you want a twist to the second chance romance trope 

Did you ever wait to read a book because you know you'll love it and know you won't have the chance to read the book for the first time again? That was me with this book. 🤷🏻‍♀️

This book starts off from a psychologist's POV. He is talking about how interesting his next appointment is that day. Yep, at this point, I'm totally hooked.  I love books that have psychology or really anything about the mind involved. Y'all know the more twisty and turny the better. (Are those even words. If not, I just made them up, and we will contact Webster about it later today 🤣)

As I was reading, I honestly couldn't tell the nightmare chapters from the real-life chapters. They both sound so real and equally messed up. The whole time, I couldn't figure out if Grace was sane or not. I love it!! I don't want to mention more about this because I don't want to give anything away. Just know it was creepy and claustrophobic!!

I do want to mention that it is set during quarantine. It helps set the scene as to why Grace let her mother, Jackie, move in with her. Jackie is passive-aggressive and judgmental. Another character does get the virus but recovers. I know that this won't be for everyone. I felt it was necessary to put in my review. 

This book is 100% worth the read!! On my scale of Buy, Bargain, Borrow, Bud, or Bust, this one is a BUY!!! I added the paper copy to my wish list because I absolutely need it on my new shelves!! 

Read This Book If:
✂️ You want to read a book to hook you from the beginning
✂️ You love books where you can't figure out what is real and what isn't
✂️ You like horror novels 

Thank you @zoje.stage_author, Thomas & Mercer Publishing & @netgalley for an eARC of this book!!

WOW!! I can't even begin to form the sentences to do this book justice!! I don't predict the endings to the books I read. I like to let the author tell me the story. It is their "baby" after all. However, I thought this book was going one way and I was so very pleasantly surprised. This book took me on a wild ride and I loved every single page!

Imagine you get a phone call saying your sister is dead. When you go to make the ID you insist the woman looks like your sister. However, you know she is not your sister. The ride Briana takes you on is worth every hour of sleep you'll miss to finish this book. Okay, I'll stop gushing now 😄 Just read the darn thing already!