ryan_isreading's Reviews (195)

Oh okay I was the perfect audience for this SNL and Harry Styles (but not) coded book. Couldn’t put it down.  I loved the older characters, I loved the inside look into the show the character worked on, I loved the feel good but not obnoxious ending. Target audience - reached.

This one is unique in that it’s unlike anything else I’ve read, but I don’t know that I would recommend it to anyone I know. It will probably feel intimately familiar and relatable and touching for moms. It’s very very very mom life focused. Truly, the main thing I want to say is that I was shocked that it was over when it was… So. Many. Questions.

This would have been 5 stars from me up until the Pioneers chapter. That and a few surrounding chapters really dragged for me. Happy to end it on a hopeful note and I did have a tear in my eye thinking of my own friend breakups and reunions. The loss of Marx was so crushing to me. One of the best sections of the book, beautiful and devastating.

TLDR: Wholesome small town guy Daniel meets stressed out city girl Alexis. Alexis gets space from her controlling family and learns a lot about herself. Read it 😊

Plot: Talented city ER doctor Alexis from a high pressure medical field dynasty family gets roadside help from a country B&B running hunk, Daniel, a few small towns away. Their connection is electric straight away, but can they combine their worlds?

Praise: I always love how Abby Jimenez handles tough topics with empathy and care and can also make me smile or laugh out loud at banter or flirty dialogue. In this book in particular, I appreciate that our FMC, Alexis, grows a great deal of perspective when she gets some space away from some controlling and high powered father. Her story is empowering and inspiring.

Critiques: I honestly don’t have any critiques about how the story was put together. It uses some tropes I don’t love (insta-love), but if they aren’t heavily relied on as the story goes, I get over it. I think Abby gives us enough throughout the story to feel the love deepen realistically.

CW/TW: There is a side plot of domestic violence in which the main characters are trying to help the person to leave.

This is, in my opinion, SJM’s best first book of any of her series that are out so far. I am also primed to be a huge fan of this book because it melds genres of romantacy with mystery thriller and I was living for it. Absolutely loved it. Will likely re-read.

This didn’t feel like a story that was going somewhere or starting to connect. I was forcing myself to pick it up and read. Lastly, too much animal violence for me.

Wowwww! I loooove how this series is expanding the story. I read the last third of the book in a single sitting. The author’s writing has matured, the world is more broad, and the plot sophistication in book 2 has me so so excited for more! If you like dystopian novels and character-driven writing, you will love Aya and the band of characters in Death is Watching.

I loved it! Worth the long journey. SJM knows character development and boy am I attached to these characters.

This was a fun and quick read! I really like the characters and the dystopian world Jen has built. Naturally, I found myself comparing this dystopian future to our current systems of control. Both the humanity and lack of humanity in this book are compelling and heart wrenching. I loved the action based plot points. I read the majority of it over a two day period and will be reading book 2!

Two pieces of feedback I would give Jen directly if I knew how: 1) I think the cover would be more compelling if it were a graphic design of primarily the title, in a different font (and without the word “is” inside the C) and then perhaps the visual of the death date symbol somewhere in the design. Maybe a tagline for intrigue. And 2) There are some moments where you have written out several thoughts or sentences about how Corrie is feeling or thinking and it feels like maybe you didn’t trust the reader to catch on by context clues or by dialogue. This makes it read as intended for younger audiences to me, but maybe that is intentional!

DO THE TANDEM READ! I cannot imagine getting to the cliff hanger in EOS and having to start TOD from the beginning while wanting to get to KOA to learn what’s next in the timeline. I’m so grateful that friends convinced me to do it. The books make each other better and it’s a FUN read.