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219 reviews by:
philsbookcorner
Narration: 5 Stars
Story: 4.5 Stars
You know that age-old saying "revenge is a dish best served cold"? Well, Rachel Howzell Hall delivers just that & more with her novella, How It Ends - this was so entertaining & juicy!
Hall's been an author on my radar for quite some time now, but this is the first time I've actually checked out her work & consider me an instant fan! I loved her writing - this was sharp, breezy, & very witty, Hall managed to balance both laughs & thrills with such ease. I really empathized with Marti & her situation, both struggling to free herself from the grasp of a toxic man & dealing with PTSD from a brutal break-in that may or may not have been targeted. There were plenty of twists & turns & Hall did a fantastic job of making you question just who was responsible - & I was immensely satisfied with how this ended! & I have to give it up for the truly fantastic narrator, Joniece Abbott-Pratt - she performed the hell out of this! I was so invested, she made me feel like I was right there amongst all of the action & I just ate it up - I'll listen to anything she narrates!
This is yet another win from Audible Originals & I know Hall has a new novella that just came out with them, as well - See How They Run! I had such a blast listening to this, highly recommend, & I truly can't wait to check out more of Hall's work!
Story: 4.5 Stars
You know that age-old saying "revenge is a dish best served cold"? Well, Rachel Howzell Hall delivers just that & more with her novella, How It Ends - this was so entertaining & juicy!
Hall's been an author on my radar for quite some time now, but this is the first time I've actually checked out her work & consider me an instant fan! I loved her writing - this was sharp, breezy, & very witty, Hall managed to balance both laughs & thrills with such ease. I really empathized with Marti & her situation, both struggling to free herself from the grasp of a toxic man & dealing with PTSD from a brutal break-in that may or may not have been targeted. There were plenty of twists & turns & Hall did a fantastic job of making you question just who was responsible - & I was immensely satisfied with how this ended! & I have to give it up for the truly fantastic narrator, Joniece Abbott-Pratt - she performed the hell out of this! I was so invested, she made me feel like I was right there amongst all of the action & I just ate it up - I'll listen to anything she narrates!
This is yet another win from Audible Originals & I know Hall has a new novella that just came out with them, as well - See How They Run! I had such a blast listening to this, highly recommend, & I truly can't wait to check out more of Hall's work!
4.5 Stars
V. Castro's The Queen of the Cicadas is a gorgeously written, atmospheric tale that seamlessly blends horror & fantasy elements together with searing social justice commentary.
This was such a fresh & unique take on the classic urban legend trope - I loved how Castro weaved Aztec mythology all throughout the book, it was fascinating learning about Mictecacíhuatl & seeing how she'd play into the overall story. I'd consider this to be a slower burn, but Castro really draws you in with her beautiful prose, both haunting & lyrical. I truly had no idea where this was going to go, at all, & really enjoyed how the story kept peeling back layers to reveal deeper meanings behind everyone's role in Mictecacíhuatl's plan. & Castro wasn't afraid to go all out with the creep factor, either - there's a ton of great body horror here. I've said it before & will say it again, I love when horror is multifaceted & brings forth real world issues. This touches upon colonialism, conditions & treatment of migrant workers, femininity & sexuality (loved the queer rep here!), racism, religion - all issues still very prevalent throughout our world today.
I'd highly encourage everyone to give this a read, Castro is such a talented storyteller & I'm really looking forward to reading more of her work!
V. Castro's The Queen of the Cicadas is a gorgeously written, atmospheric tale that seamlessly blends horror & fantasy elements together with searing social justice commentary.
This was such a fresh & unique take on the classic urban legend trope - I loved how Castro weaved Aztec mythology all throughout the book, it was fascinating learning about Mictecacíhuatl & seeing how she'd play into the overall story. I'd consider this to be a slower burn, but Castro really draws you in with her beautiful prose, both haunting & lyrical. I truly had no idea where this was going to go, at all, & really enjoyed how the story kept peeling back layers to reveal deeper meanings behind everyone's role in Mictecacíhuatl's plan. & Castro wasn't afraid to go all out with the creep factor, either - there's a ton of great body horror here. I've said it before & will say it again, I love when horror is multifaceted & brings forth real world issues. This touches upon colonialism, conditions & treatment of migrant workers, femininity & sexuality (loved the queer rep here!), racism, religion - all issues still very prevalent throughout our world today.
I'd highly encourage everyone to give this a read, Castro is such a talented storyteller & I'm really looking forward to reading more of her work!
(Mini-Review) I’m not sure I can put into words just how much I loved this book - in my opinion, this is as close to perfect as thrillers get! You will question everyone & everything from the very beginning right until the truly jaw dropping finale. The alternating timelines that were present in Final Girls really added to the suspense of the story, but The Last Time I Lied had that extra creep factor. The location, the mystery, the suspicious characters - all of it really lent itself to the vibe that something really off was going on. This officially solidified Riley Sager as an auto-buy author for me. I can’t recommend this enough, & try to go into it as blind as possible!
Narration: 5 Stars
Story: 4.5 Stars
(Mini-Review) Neel Patel's short story "Townie" took me completely by surprise - it's a rare occurrence whenever a story can make me audibly gasp, & I was truly shocked by the ending of this. Patel's writing was hypnotic, that's the best way I can describe the overall feel of this story. I was totally & utterly invested in both Amal & Bridgette & was really curious to see how their friendship would ultimately play out. Without giving anything away, all I'll say is I've never felt such a fast switch between empathy & hatred for a fictional character before. Queer friends, proceed with caution with this one - it's dark, but Patel succeeded in spades in telling an impactful, realistic story that showcases an uglier side of humanity. Highly recommend if you're looking for something that's short yet discussion-worthy. I'm looking forward to reading Patel's debut novel!
Story: 4.5 Stars
(Mini-Review) Neel Patel's short story "Townie" took me completely by surprise - it's a rare occurrence whenever a story can make me audibly gasp, & I was truly shocked by the ending of this. Patel's writing was hypnotic, that's the best way I can describe the overall feel of this story. I was totally & utterly invested in both Amal & Bridgette & was really curious to see how their friendship would ultimately play out. Without giving anything away, all I'll say is I've never felt such a fast switch between empathy & hatred for a fictional character before.
Spoiler
Seriously, I did NOT want any kind of redemption whatsoever for Bridgette, but I understand why Patel left the ending as open as he did - people get away with horrific things all the time, as atrocious as it is.
I've sat with this one for a while, & in all honesty I'm still not quite sure how to "review" this - this was so raw, real, & personal, easily the best memoir I've ever read, but I want to be sure I'm as sensitive with this subject matter as I can be.
I really admire Carmen Maria Machado for her bravery in sharing her story with the world. I've never seen queer domestic abuse examined through this lens - Machado recounts her experiences utilizing popular narrative tropes in each chapter (erotica, the haunted house, & the possession story, etc.), as well as uses examples found within queer art, literature, history, & pop culture to help paint a picture of her time with her ex-girlfriend in the "dream house". The way Machado told her story was so unique & I came away learning a ton (for example, I never knew the origins of the word "gaslight") - I really loved this, as strange as that may seem to say about a book dealing with abuse; however, there's a lot of beauty & self-healing to be found within the pain here, showing us &, most importantly, other survivors that there can be some light at the end of the tunnel. I highly, highly recommend this but please proceed with caution if this subject matter is triggering in any way.
One section has really sat with me, a discussion about the representation of queer villains - this quote, in particular: We deserve to have our wrongdoing represented as much as our heroism, because when we refuse wrongdoing as a possibility for a group of people, we refuse their humanity. That is to say queers - real-life ones - do not deserve representation, protection, & rights because they are morally pure or upright as a people. They deserve these things because they are human beings, & that is enough.
I really admire Carmen Maria Machado for her bravery in sharing her story with the world. I've never seen queer domestic abuse examined through this lens - Machado recounts her experiences utilizing popular narrative tropes in each chapter (erotica, the haunted house, & the possession story, etc.), as well as uses examples found within queer art, literature, history, & pop culture to help paint a picture of her time with her ex-girlfriend in the "dream house". The way Machado told her story was so unique & I came away learning a ton (for example, I never knew the origins of the word "gaslight") - I really loved this, as strange as that may seem to say about a book dealing with abuse; however, there's a lot of beauty & self-healing to be found within the pain here, showing us &, most importantly, other survivors that there can be some light at the end of the tunnel. I highly, highly recommend this but please proceed with caution if this subject matter is triggering in any way.
One section has really sat with me, a discussion about the representation of queer villains - this quote, in particular: We deserve to have our wrongdoing represented as much as our heroism, because when we refuse wrongdoing as a possibility for a group of people, we refuse their humanity. That is to say queers - real-life ones - do not deserve representation, protection, & rights because they are morally pure or upright as a people. They deserve these things because they are human beings, & that is enough.
4.5 Stars
The Seven Husbands of Evelyn Hugo is one of my all-time favorite books & I loved Daisy Jones & the Six, so I was nervous to see if this would live up to those two - well, it totally did! I loved Malibu Rising, this felt like a combination of parts of Evelyn Hugo mixed with coming-of-age dramadies of the '80s & '90s.
The format really worked for me here - the entire book takes place over the course of a day, & I felt like this really added a sense of suspense that kept me eagerly turning the pages. I really enjoyed the backstory of Mick & June, I could have read an entire book about just the two of them. One of TJR's strong suits is crafting her characters & I just totally fell in love with the Riva family. Nina is easily one of TJR's best protagonists, I loved seeing how her story in particular played out. The dynamic between Nina, Kit, Jay & Hud was one I'd love to see explored more in the future, my only wish being we got to see more of where their story went (but I get it - formatting). & it was so much fun seeing the easter eggs hidden throughout from her other books - I love this fictionalized version of Hollywood she's created so much!
This was one of my most anticipated books of the year & it didn't disappoint one bit (dare I say I enjoyed this more than Daisy Jones, & I loved Daisy), I'll eagerly be awaiting to see what TJR does next!
The Seven Husbands of Evelyn Hugo is one of my all-time favorite books & I loved Daisy Jones & the Six, so I was nervous to see if this would live up to those two - well, it totally did! I loved Malibu Rising, this felt like a combination of parts of Evelyn Hugo mixed with coming-of-age dramadies of the '80s & '90s.
The format really worked for me here - the entire book takes place over the course of a day, & I felt like this really added a sense of suspense that kept me eagerly turning the pages. I really enjoyed the backstory of Mick & June, I could have read an entire book about just the two of them. One of TJR's strong suits is crafting her characters & I just totally fell in love with the Riva family. Nina is easily one of TJR's best protagonists, I loved seeing how her story in particular played out. The dynamic between Nina, Kit, Jay & Hud was one I'd love to see explored more in the future, my only wish being we got to see more of where their story went (but I get it - formatting). & it was so much fun seeing the easter eggs hidden throughout from her other books - I love this fictionalized version of Hollywood she's created so much!
This was one of my most anticipated books of the year & it didn't disappoint one bit (dare I say I enjoyed this more than Daisy Jones, & I loved Daisy), I'll eagerly be awaiting to see what TJR does next!
If you've been looking for a fresh take on the gothic novel, look no further than Silvia Moreno-Garcia's Mexican Gothic!
This read like a beautiful, dark nightmare, captivating from beginning to end! The atmosphere created here was next-level, I just loved the juxtaposition between Noemí's life in Mexico City vs. the eerie setting of High Place. This was a slow burn but it never read slow, if that makes sense - there's a looming sense of dread felt throughout that slowly & steadily creeps up on you until exploding in a truly insane finale, one that really leans into the book's horror elements full force. It gets a little weird & won't be for everyone, but I thought it worked really well & had zero issues suspending my disbelief. & Noemí just has to be one of one of my favorite horror heroines, ever! There are so many topics to dissect within, & when I originally reviewed this I gave it 4.5⭐️'s; however, sitting with it a bit & talking about it more with others who've read it really solidified this is a 5⭐️ read for me.
Gorgeously written, Mexican Gothic perfectly captures the essence of classic gothic novels while presenting a unique voice of its own, I highly recommend going out & picking this up if you haven't!
This read like a beautiful, dark nightmare, captivating from beginning to end! The atmosphere created here was next-level, I just loved the juxtaposition between Noemí's life in Mexico City vs. the eerie setting of High Place. This was a slow burn but it never read slow, if that makes sense - there's a looming sense of dread felt throughout that slowly & steadily creeps up on you until exploding in a truly insane finale, one that really leans into the book's horror elements full force. It gets a little weird & won't be for everyone, but I thought it worked really well & had zero issues suspending my disbelief. & Noemí just has to be one of one of my favorite horror heroines, ever! There are so many topics to dissect within, & when I originally reviewed this I gave it 4.5⭐️'s; however, sitting with it a bit & talking about it more with others who've read it really solidified this is a 5⭐️ read for me.
Gorgeously written, Mexican Gothic perfectly captures the essence of classic gothic novels while presenting a unique voice of its own, I highly recommend going out & picking this up if you haven't!
(Mini-Review) 4.5 Stars - When I read the synopsis of this, I was instantly drawn in - slashers are my all-time favorite sub-genre of horror. I’ve always wondered how the final girl would cope after tragedy in real life & Riley Sager perfectly captures that! I particularly loved the focus on trauma, both how one deals with and recovers from it in a modern day scenario. This was a really clever thriller, kept me guessing until the very end! I was a big fan of the alternating timelines, it really added to the suspense & a truly killer finale. This put Riley on the map for me, he’s quickly becoming one of my go-to authors. Highly recommend!