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morganjanedavis's Reviews (396)
The Reunion is centered around Cait Du Bois, a famous author who is returning to her small hometown for a high school reunion. Due to the tragic past Hotel Lilith holds, she feels this could be a time to gain closure and face her high school tormentors once and for all, proving she is larger than the scars they left, showing she emerged from the experiences that haunt her unscathed. Cait's wherewithall begins to fade as her time at Hotel Lilith is marked by sinister messages, packages, and disturbing interactions with what she assumes is a super fan. Who can Cait trust, and how long does she have to figure it out before it's too late?
This is my first novel by Modglin and she is going to be my new go-to when I'm in the mood for a thriller. I love a good ~the past is coming back to haunt me~ storyline and this one was done perfectly. Her writing style immediately drew me in, providing just enough detail for me to feel like I'm watching the plot unfold in real time while keeping the pace of the story steady. Normally, a dual timeline is a lackluster story structure for me, due to the fact that one is typically less interesting than the other. This was NOT the case here. Although very different, both timelines were gripping and I felt that they gave a depth to the characters that made me become more emotionally invested in the book than I initially anticipated. The WHOLE TIME I was reading this, I concocted at 2-3 theories that I thought were solid enough to reign true to the end...I was wrong about each one. I was truly blindsided and by the last 15 pages or so I was feverishly scrolling to find out what was going to happen next. The Reunion was not a 5 star read only because of the plot twist but, because all story elements were extremely well written, coming to together in a "I am about to blow all my responsibilities for the day to finish this" thriller. I highly recommend this, and I cannot wait to check out more of Modglin's work in the future.
This is my first novel by Modglin and she is going to be my new go-to when I'm in the mood for a thriller. I love a good ~the past is coming back to haunt me~ storyline and this one was done perfectly. Her writing style immediately drew me in, providing just enough detail for me to feel like I'm watching the plot unfold in real time while keeping the pace of the story steady. Normally, a dual timeline is a lackluster story structure for me, due to the fact that one is typically less interesting than the other. This was NOT the case here. Although very different, both timelines were gripping and I felt that they gave a depth to the characters that made me become more emotionally invested in the book than I initially anticipated. The WHOLE TIME I was reading this, I concocted at 2-3 theories that I thought were solid enough to reign true to the end...I was wrong about each one. I was truly blindsided and by the last 15 pages or so I was feverishly scrolling to find out what was going to happen next. The Reunion was not a 5 star read only because of the plot twist but, because all story elements were extremely well written, coming to together in a "I am about to blow all my responsibilities for the day to finish this" thriller. I highly recommend this, and I cannot wait to check out more of Modglin's work in the future.
Because of its length, I feel this is best going in blind so I’m going to provide ✨zero context
Oof. You Should Have Left is a cunning novella with sharp edges that hit you where it hurts most. The writing style was brilliant, dropping off and picking up sporadically so that the reader felt the eventual frantic energy that reveals itself fully as the plot moves forward. Any story with “Am I crazy? No, no way I can’t be crazy!” vibes automatically sucks me in but this was elevated, due to the unknown circumstances surrounding the house. The vivid imagery, gut punch events, and pointed writing makes this book *5 stars*. A very enjoyable hour’s worth of reading.
Oof. You Should Have Left is a cunning novella with sharp edges that hit you where it hurts most. The writing style was brilliant, dropping off and picking up sporadically so that the reader felt the eventual frantic energy that reveals itself fully as the plot moves forward. Any story with “Am I crazy? No, no way I can’t be crazy!” vibes automatically sucks me in but this was elevated, due to the unknown circumstances surrounding the house. The vivid imagery, gut punch events, and pointed writing makes this book *5 stars*. A very enjoyable hour’s worth of reading.
When Grant and Maise's mom passes away of cancer and their dad has to go to rehab, they are shipped off to their Uncle Patrick's house for the Summer. Patrick is a has-been television star who has been laying low for the past four years in Palm Springs, ever since the tragic death of his partner, Joe. The book details the children's Summer and Patrick's transition from single man with no responsibilities to primary care provider for his niece and nephew.
I went into this book looking for a silly palate cleanser from my usual spooky stories. I didn't realize the emotional range that would be exhibited throughout, and how big of a connection I would feel to The Guncle as as result. Grief is a major theme throughout the book and we get to see that through different lenses as the plot unfolds. First, the obvious being the children grieving for their mother and more surprisingly, Patrick's journey as he begins to truly process the loss of his boyfriend, Joe. Rowley doesn't showcase this through rose colored glasses, and instead uses these losses as a chance to show the truth of grief, no matter how dicey and hard it gets for his characters. Because this is obviously super heavy, I loved that these portions were counterbalanced with silly situations that GUP and the kids got into, as well as the heartwarming moments that happened along the way. The Guncle is witty and has more depth than meets the eye. Recommend.
I went into this book looking for a silly palate cleanser from my usual spooky stories. I didn't realize the emotional range that would be exhibited throughout, and how big of a connection I would feel to The Guncle as as result. Grief is a major theme throughout the book and we get to see that through different lenses as the plot unfolds. First, the obvious being the children grieving for their mother and more surprisingly, Patrick's journey as he begins to truly process the loss of his boyfriend, Joe. Rowley doesn't showcase this through rose colored glasses, and instead uses these losses as a chance to show the truth of grief, no matter how dicey and hard it gets for his characters. Because this is obviously super heavy, I loved that these portions were counterbalanced with silly situations that GUP and the kids got into, as well as the heartwarming moments that happened along the way. The Guncle is witty and has more depth than meets the eye. Recommend.
Greenlights is Matthew McConaughey's memoir, told through the major events of his life that impacted him greatest along with the decisions that he made to end up where he is, otherwise referred to as "green lights". The book serves as a reflection on the past 50 years of his life; starting at his childhood and covers the major highlights of his career such as: Dazed and Confused, Dallas Buyer's Club, and all the rom-coms in between.
There are some spoilers so be warned:
Dazed and Confused is one of my favorite movies so I figured why not give this a go. I found McConaughey's road to fame extremely interesting and lucky. I enjoyed listening to him discuss his refusal to create romantic comedies in pursuit of more serious roles as well as the portions of the book that highlighted his commitment to his family and certain aspects of his career. It's evident that he has the mindset of creating and being a part of things that revere quality over quantity. With that being said, I KNOW THIS IS A MEMOIR but McConaughey seemed to come off as a bit pretentious, which grated my nerves over time. His family also seemed, very lightly put, off kilter. He frequently (and admiringly) referred to his father and mother getting into violent fights in front of the kids and their overall toxic relationship. I didn't mind this being in the book but, he seemed to brush this behavior off and stated that he was never a victim in any of this. While I am glad he has found a way to deal I feel this mindset can be harmful to others enduring abuse???? IDK maybe I'm reading too much into it but I got too much of an "oh it's chill, rlly" vibe but...that could be attributed to his signature voice supplying the narration. They were also trying to sue people like any chance they got? Strange lol. Overall, if you are a fan of McConaughey's I suggest listening to this. It was v quick and interesting to read.
There are some spoilers so be warned:
Dazed and Confused is one of my favorite movies so I figured why not give this a go. I found McConaughey's road to fame extremely interesting and lucky. I enjoyed listening to him discuss his refusal to create romantic comedies in pursuit of more serious roles as well as the portions of the book that highlighted his commitment to his family and certain aspects of his career. It's evident that he has the mindset of creating and being a part of things that revere quality over quantity. With that being said, I KNOW THIS IS A MEMOIR but McConaughey seemed to come off as a bit pretentious, which grated my nerves over time. His family also seemed, very lightly put, off kilter. He frequently (and admiringly) referred to his father and mother getting into violent fights in front of the kids and their overall toxic relationship. I didn't mind this being in the book but, he seemed to brush this behavior off and stated that he was never a victim in any of this. While I am glad he has found a way to deal I feel this mindset can be harmful to others enduring abuse???? IDK maybe I'm reading too much into it but I got too much of an "oh it's chill, rlly" vibe but...that could be attributed to his signature voice supplying the narration. They were also trying to sue people like any chance they got? Strange lol. Overall, if you are a fan of McConaughey's I suggest listening to this. It was v quick and interesting to read.
Ray, Tim, and Jennifer are inseparable besties. When Ray does the unthinkable, with Tim and Jennifer present, they both assume this was a one off situation that won't happen again. They are terrified to alert anyone about this because since they were around at the time, they would technically be considered accessories to Ray's crimes. As the book progresses, Ray continues to show erratic behavior that his friends brush off. How long do they have before Ray blows his lid again; will it be directed at them this time?
Uhhhh ya. So I feel that this book had promise but, absolutely fell flat for me.
The first ~50 pages were promising! I was excited to see what would come of Ray's actions as the book progressed. The women were seriously likable. I was able to sympathize, root for, and want more for them. As I was reading I felt that the women were what made the book interesting overall. Ketchum's writing style is elevated compared to other horror authors I have read. He knows how to twist a phrase and leave the reader on the edge of their seat. This would be great if the plot had anything, at all, that would actually keep the reader on the edge of their seat. With that being said, after the super eventful first 50 or so pages, you have to read through 200+ pages of Ray Pye just being a total dick and no one around him doing anything about it. This would have been okay if Ray was actually DOING stuff to move the plot along but he wasn't. The reader basically has to sift through Ray's misogynistic comments/actions, temper tantrums when things don't go his way, and overall disregard for those around him, while he and his friends are just busting a fat chill in town partying, working, going on dates, etc. Ray's narcissistic/sociopathic character is absolutely wasted on this nonexistent plot. When the plot finally does pick back up again, it's so predictable that I didn't even care about it. Don't waste your time on this please.
Uhhhh ya. So I feel that this book had promise but, absolutely fell flat for me.
The first ~50 pages were promising! I was excited to see what would come of Ray's actions as the book progressed. The women were seriously likable. I was able to sympathize, root for, and want more for them. As I was reading I felt that the women were what made the book interesting overall. Ketchum's writing style is elevated compared to other horror authors I have read. He knows how to twist a phrase and leave the reader on the edge of their seat. This would be great if the plot had anything, at all, that would actually keep the reader on the edge of their seat. With that being said, after the super eventful first 50 or so pages, you have to read through 200+ pages of Ray Pye just being a total dick and no one around him doing anything about it. This would have been okay if Ray was actually DOING stuff to move the plot along but he wasn't. The reader basically has to sift through Ray's misogynistic comments/actions, temper tantrums when things don't go his way, and overall disregard for those around him, while he and his friends are just busting a fat chill in town partying, working, going on dates, etc. Ray's narcissistic/sociopathic character is absolutely wasted on this nonexistent plot. When the plot finally does pick back up again, it's so predictable that I didn't even care about it. Don't waste your time on this please.
Since Carrie is a horror classic in the literary world and just amongst horror culture in general, I'll spare the synopsis :-)
Rereading this close to 10 years later brought new clarity to Carrie. Although the story line was familiar and already spoiled, I wasn't any less engaged and/or bored. This King work is a bit more succinct, as his trademark writing style is normally characterized by an extreme amount of detail. While detail is definitely provided here, I didn't feel it was too much. I completely forgot that the story is told through the lens of minds who are documenting and researching people with TK abilities, so it was really neat to watch that portion unfold after forgetting it existed. Ultimately, just as it did the first time I read it, I just wanted more for Carrie. I get that's part of what makes the story so gut wrenching but, seeing someone get failed in every way by everyone always hits me hard regardless of the gory pieces that take place in between. Blood is heavily referenced throughout (duh) and aside from the now iconic way it is used during the climax of the book, I found it interesting that it worked its way in in less significant ways, which can be seen as foreshadowing of the events to come. This classic is a must read if you're into horror of any sort.
Rereading this close to 10 years later brought new clarity to Carrie. Although the story line was familiar and already spoiled, I wasn't any less engaged and/or bored. This King work is a bit more succinct, as his trademark writing style is normally characterized by an extreme amount of detail. While detail is definitely provided here, I didn't feel it was too much. I completely forgot that the story is told through the lens of minds who are documenting and researching people with TK abilities, so it was really neat to watch that portion unfold after forgetting it existed. Ultimately, just as it did the first time I read it, I just wanted more for Carrie. I get that's part of what makes the story so gut wrenching but, seeing someone get failed in every way by everyone always hits me hard regardless of the gory pieces that take place in between. Blood is heavily referenced throughout (duh) and aside from the now iconic way it is used during the climax of the book, I found it interesting that it worked its way in in less significant ways, which can be seen as foreshadowing of the events to come. This classic is a must read if you're into horror of any sort.
Crying in H Mart is a memoir that focuses on the loss of Zauner’s mother; outlining the hardship of losing someone to a disease that deteriorates, grief and the grieving process, and how these experiences play a part in who she is today.
I rarely listen to memoirs and when I do, it’s typically ones by people I’m very familiar with—not someone I know of faintly, through a band I listen to every now and again. As soon as I started this one it was love, it sucked me in within the first 15 minutes. Grief is portrayed realistically: in ebbs and flows, normally brought on heavy by something commonplace that reminds you of your departed loved one. Zauner ties memories of her mother to traditional Korean dishes, frequently reminiscing with painful nostalgia, highlighting how these dishes are imperative to her mom’s existence in her mind but, how they remind her of her murky sense self-identity as a Korean-American. Zauner’s writing style isn’t flowery or ornate but, the rawness in the emotions conveyed pack a punch that is insistent and gnawing. If you’ve experienced grief that has fucked you up, I 100% recommend this—there were so many thoughts conveyed in Crying in H Mart that I’ve thought yet never articulated. So so good.
I rarely listen to memoirs and when I do, it’s typically ones by people I’m very familiar with—not someone I know of faintly, through a band I listen to every now and again. As soon as I started this one it was love, it sucked me in within the first 15 minutes. Grief is portrayed realistically: in ebbs and flows, normally brought on heavy by something commonplace that reminds you of your departed loved one. Zauner ties memories of her mother to traditional Korean dishes, frequently reminiscing with painful nostalgia, highlighting how these dishes are imperative to her mom’s existence in her mind but, how they remind her of her murky sense self-identity as a Korean-American. Zauner’s writing style isn’t flowery or ornate but, the rawness in the emotions conveyed pack a punch that is insistent and gnawing. If you’ve experienced grief that has fucked you up, I 100% recommend this—there were so many thoughts conveyed in Crying in H Mart that I’ve thought yet never articulated. So so good.
3.5
These Witches Don't Burn follows Hannah, an elemental witch through her journey to uncover the looming threat against her coven that has made itself known. While trying to figure out who is behind the danger, she has to deal with her toxic ex, her family's disbelief of said threat, and ensure that no "regs" she's close to find out about her witchy ways. Hannah's in a race against time to discover who is targeting witches; the lives of her coven and ~regs~ she is close to depends on it.
This was a really cute read! I was looking for something with more of a whimsical beat (Cackle by Rachel Harrison type of energy, if you will) and while this didn't really satisfy that I did enjoy it. I'm unsure of when this book was written/published but I love the sexuality representation throughout. There are characters who are bi and lesbian and the author does a fantastic job of highlighting their struggles throughout the novel. Along with this, there is a trans character named Cal, and Sterling frequently names people with them pronouns if the reader is unaware of their pronouns. This was refreshing and I love that this is becoming the norm in works I reach for.
The characters in this book are extremely likable. They're all complex and nuanced, and Sterling does a great job of supplying background information and linking past events that perfectly explain each character's unique traits. With that being said, the plot of the book was murky and overall a lot to sift through. At first, Hannah and Veronica have multiple theories about the threat that is upon them, one of which involves a trip out of town. This is mentioned frequently throughout the book but, it's never truly connected to anything. I also felt that the reveal of a blood witch was sort of anticlimactic and predictable. Finally, the looming threat was very obvious if the reader paid attention. I figured out the culprit about 1/2 way through the book, and the little clues along the way only confirmed my suspicions. These Witches Don't Burn give off a massive YA vibe with darker elements. YA is normally.....N E V E R my jam (sorry ya'll), this worked better than any YA-eqsue book I've tried to get into. Because of the flatness of the plot, I'm not sure if I'd recommend this per se, though I didn't hate to read it? If you like a Riverdale-ish type beat & witches, you'd probably enjoy this.
These Witches Don't Burn follows Hannah, an elemental witch through her journey to uncover the looming threat against her coven that has made itself known. While trying to figure out who is behind the danger, she has to deal with her toxic ex, her family's disbelief of said threat, and ensure that no "regs" she's close to find out about her witchy ways. Hannah's in a race against time to discover who is targeting witches; the lives of her coven and ~regs~ she is close to depends on it.
This was a really cute read! I was looking for something with more of a whimsical beat (Cackle by Rachel Harrison type of energy, if you will) and while this didn't really satisfy that I did enjoy it. I'm unsure of when this book was written/published but I love the sexuality representation throughout. There are characters who are bi and lesbian and the author does a fantastic job of highlighting their struggles throughout the novel. Along with this, there is a trans character named Cal, and Sterling frequently names people with them pronouns if the reader is unaware of their pronouns. This was refreshing and I love that this is becoming the norm in works I reach for.
The characters in this book are extremely likable. They're all complex and nuanced, and Sterling does a great job of supplying background information and linking past events that perfectly explain each character's unique traits. With that being said, the plot of the book was murky and overall a lot to sift through. At first, Hannah and Veronica have multiple theories about the threat that is upon them, one of which involves a trip out of town. This is mentioned frequently throughout the book but, it's never truly connected to anything. I also felt that the reveal of a blood witch was sort of anticlimactic and predictable. Finally, the looming threat was very obvious if the reader paid attention. I figured out the culprit about 1/2 way through the book, and the little clues along the way only confirmed my suspicions. These Witches Don't Burn give off a massive YA vibe with darker elements. YA is normally.....N E V E R my jam (sorry ya'll), this worked better than any YA-eqsue book I've tried to get into. Because of the flatness of the plot, I'm not sure if I'd recommend this per se, though I didn't hate to read it? If you like a Riverdale-ish type beat & witches, you'd probably enjoy this.
Blythe and Fox hit it off with what seems to be a fairy tale of a relationship. They are swiftly married and welcome their baby girl, Violet, into their new family of three. Blythe so desperately wants to be a better mom to her newborn than her mother or grandmother were before her. So why is it so hard? Fox has taken up the role of perfect dad while Blythe seems to be floundering. Is it her fault completely? Or is something wrong with Violet.
I haven't been able to get this novel out of my head since I finished. This was a super fast read that kept me sucked in until the end. Audrain's writing style lets the reader dig into every nook and cranny of Blythe's mind and even then, I was unsure if she was the problem or if there were other forces at play. The events that occurred that made Blythe question her daughter's sociopathic tendencies were timed perfectly, not too much happening and not too little, leaving just enough wiggle room for Blythe to question her own beliefs. Fox was infuriating. His refusal to even entertain his wife and the coolness he showed her, eventually turning into full blown disrespect and indifference was super depressing to watch unfold within the chapters. My heart ached for Blythe during these times, and the evident undermining of Blythe to Violet was so toxic it made my head spin. The ending of the book couldn't have been better, I am obsessed with the ~closure but AH AH AH not too much closure~ that was provided in the conclusion. Story lines that involve children being psychopaths are truly terrifying to me, and Audrain executed this perfectly. Big recommend.
I haven't been able to get this novel out of my head since I finished. This was a super fast read that kept me sucked in until the end. Audrain's writing style lets the reader dig into every nook and cranny of Blythe's mind and even then, I was unsure if she was the problem or if there were other forces at play. The events that occurred that made Blythe question her daughter's sociopathic tendencies were timed perfectly, not too much happening and not too little, leaving just enough wiggle room for Blythe to question her own beliefs. Fox was infuriating. His refusal to even entertain his wife and the coolness he showed her, eventually turning into full blown disrespect and indifference was super depressing to watch unfold within the chapters. My heart ached for Blythe during these times, and the evident undermining of Blythe to Violet was so toxic it made my head spin. The ending of the book couldn't have been better, I am obsessed with the ~closure but AH AH AH not too much closure~ that was provided in the conclusion. Story lines that involve children being psychopaths are truly terrifying to me, and Audrain executed this perfectly. Big recommend.
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I'm not going to include a synopsis with this one because I feel like the immersive experience that is Toplin is better to blindly jump into.
This was by far the strangest thing I've ever read (maybe ever BUT) by McDowell. The nameless narrator's paranoia made me uneasy to the point to where I had to read this ~20-40 pages at a time and then take a break. The way McDowell lets you peer into his mind is fun but his thought processes make me....truly terrified to coexist with strangers in the world. The gang aspect and the (kooky???) characters like Annie and Howard were what kept the book truly interesting to me but, I wish that there was more going on plot-wise throughout, as most of the events didn't take place until the last 10 pages. Living inside the narrator's mind and going through his day-to-day ritualistic activities began to become monotonous after a while BUT I did like that the monotony was always shaken up with some "what in the actual fuck is this guy thinking/doing?!" *spice* added in. This made me feel like I do after looking at those creepy backrooms pictures, looking at anything that's pale yellow for too long, and gave me major The Number 23 w/ Jim Carrey vibes. O D D.
This was by far the strangest thing I've ever read (maybe ever BUT) by McDowell. The nameless narrator's paranoia made me uneasy to the point to where I had to read this ~20-40 pages at a time and then take a break. The way McDowell lets you peer into his mind is fun but his thought processes make me....truly terrified to coexist with strangers in the world. The gang aspect and the (kooky???) characters like Annie and Howard were what kept the book truly interesting to me but, I wish that there was more going on plot-wise throughout, as most of the events didn't take place until the last 10 pages. Living inside the narrator's mind and going through his day-to-day ritualistic activities began to become monotonous after a while BUT I did like that the monotony was always shaken up with some "what in the actual fuck is this guy thinking/doing?!" *spice* added in. This made me feel like I do after looking at those creepy backrooms pictures, looking at anything that's pale yellow for too long, and gave me major The Number 23 w/ Jim Carrey vibes. O D D.