mrsalwaysreading's Reviews (624)

Stone Blind

By Natalie Haynes

⭐️⭐️⭐️⭐️⭐️

“Can a monster be beautiful if it is still terrifying?”

“And is a monster always evil?”

If you’ve been following me for any length of time you’ll know that this is not my usual read. 

I am consistently blown away by how much I enjoy a beautiful feminine edge to a retelling of a classic. (See: Circe). 

I will never look at Medusa the same. The hurt and anger I felt in understanding more of her story is unmatched. Just the unfairness in the time of the Greek gods is enough to enrage me, but the romanticizing of the misogyny…. I’m on the war path.   

The emotional journey that is Stone Blind is unmatched. 

Well done, Natalie Haynes. 

Read if: you like Greek mythology, you enjoyed Circe (or Song of Achilles-nevermind that I didn’t) or if you have read and loved any of Natalie Haynes other books (which I am currently adding to my TBR). 

Vera Wong’s Guide to Snooping on a Dead Man

By Jesse Q. Sutanto

⭐️⭐️⭐️⭐️

I love Vera Wong. In this 2nd book of the Vera Wong series, there is no less humor and shenanigans from our favorite SF tea shop owner. 

I really enjoyed the hype, the buildup, and even the resolution.

This book was completely entertaining, and I devoured it on release day- shout out to Amazon for delivering it early! 

The reason it wasn’t five stars is because I feel there was a miss opportunity to expand on the relationship between mother, son, and almost-daughter-in-law. It feels like something was waiting to be said all book, and we were left with one big question mark. 

This book also sets up the next one perfectly. France, here Vera comes! (AND the archnemesis?!) 

The Good Samaritan

By Toni Halleen

⭐️⭐️⭐️

This book was marketed as a psychological thriller. I wouldn’t put it in that category. It’s more like a contemporary fiction novel based in the 80’s. 

It’s average, if I’m being generous. 

The premise was so good and this book had SO much potential. I struggled to keep reading after the first third. It just fell flat and the multi-pov just didn’t make the story better. 

*check the TWs!! The back half of the book revolves around SA, though it is NOT graphic.* 

April Fools

By Jess Lourey

⭐️⭐️⭐️

Pub Date: March 24, 2025

Thank you NetGalley and Thomas & Mercer Publishing for the advanced digital copy of this book. All opinions are my own. 

After the March of Crimes book, I wasn’t excited to jump into this one. The title appealed to me on a personal level, and I clicked ‘request’ before I could stop myself. 

As like the last one, it’s a very simple whodunnit mystery set in a small Minnesota town. Bland. 

Schitts-Creek vibes. Some hilarity surrounding the main character’s octogenarian best friend. 

Read if: you are looking for a clean, witty whodunnit mystery with no shocking twists and zero loose ends. 

Sabotage

By Shantel Tessier

Dark enemies-to-lovers that was so spicy but had almost zero plot.

It was a quick read, and I was hoping it would just be something to break up the ARC I was struggling to get in to.

I don't know if I recommend it. There are other spicy dark romance books out there that have a little more story to keep one entertained - if that's your thing.

Lethal Prey

(Lucas Davenport # 35)

By John Sandford 

⭐️⭐️⭐️⭐️.5

I have been reading the Lucas Davenport series since I was in high school. The series actually started in 1989, but I think my Grandpa was the one who gave me my first Prey book in 2000 or so. 

As an adult, I went back to the beginning and read all the books. Over the last 10 years, I have devoured the new books on or near their release day. 

Lethal Prey was no different in that regard. 

But it was a refreshing divergence from ‘typical’ Lucas Davenport books. In this installment, he is joined by Virgil ‘Fkin Flowers’ who used to make a regular appearance in his novels, but has since cultivated his own spinoff series. 

There were no shootouts and no life-threatening injuries to Lucas. There was also no resolution at the end of the book. 

I really enjoyed this installment. I love what the series means to me, personally and I love that John Sandford keeps writing them. 

A Cold Killing

By Kate Alice Marshall

⭐️⭐️⭐️⭐️.5

In true KAM fashion, this psychological thriller delivered! 

It was dark and suspenseful, and the twists kept me glued to the pages. 

What would you do if you found out buried secrets that unlocked forgotten memories of your past? What if your name wasn’t really your name? 

This was a great 1-day-read to break up the backlog of ARCS I’m finding myself buried under. 

Serial Killer Support Group

By D.B. Stephens

Pub date: 5/08/2025

⭐️⭐️⭐️

I tried to read this arc twice before I actually got through it. The title and premise promised one thing and the body of writing just didn’t deliver. 

The writing style felt a lot like when you write nonsense to hit a word count for an essay due in an hour. There was a lot of fluff and a lot of repetition. It made it hard to read. 

The premise was great, and had it been supported by good writing, this would have been a 5 star read. 

I’m actually shocked that this is going to be a series.

Monarch

By Sophie Lark

⭐️⭐️⭐️⭐️

The companion to Grimstone, but could be read as a standalone. 

Spice was ok. Story was good. 

I’m team Ivy. 

Counting The Cost: a Memoir

By Jill Duggar-Dillard

If you ever watched the TLC reality tv show “19 Kids and Counting” or any of its variations, you’re aware of the drama and scandal surrounding this family in recent years. 

This is Jill’s story. 

I watched their shows for years, starting with “17 Kids and Counting” in 2008-ish.  When the Josh Duggar stuff popped off, I was disgusted. and I wondered what happened to everyone. 

It was very interesting to hear things from Jill’s perspective. 

I wish nothing but healing for them all. 

Jinger’s memoir is on my radar for later this year.