sarahthegaymer's Reviews (305)

Yes, I gave this book 2.5 stars. But, I think it's more of a 'me' problem and not a 'book' problem. 

Let me start by saying that I don't think it was necessarily a bad book - I read it one sitting while Sam was getting a tattoo. It was an easy read and I didn't think it was boring..but I didn't find it super interesting, either. 

After reading the acknowledgements in the back, where Peter Swanson suggests reading this Christmas Eve with a beverage by the fire after everything has calmed down..I think that would have been the better route to take and I would have likely enjoyed the book more had I read it that way. 

In this story you're following Ashley, an American who is attending college in a new country. She heads to a friend's family home for the holidays and finds herself living in her own Thriller/Mystery. 

One thing I do like about this novella is that it's told from diary entries which is a unique way to read. I love things that are mixed media and I loved an unreliable narrator. 

***I AM YELLING WHEN I TELL YOU THAT THIS WAS MY MOST FAVORITE BOOK OF THE YEAR AS WELL AS MY FAVORITE BOOK IN THE SERIES AND IT ABSOLUTELY DESTROYED ME IN A WAY I DID NOT KNOW POSSIBLE BUT ALSO NEVER KNEW I NEEDED.***

..Now that we've got that out of the way. I read this almost immediately after finishing Book #3 in the series, and I'm so glad that I did. In the fourth installment of 'The Thursday Murder Club' we're on the hunt for a missing box of heroin and the murderer of Stephen's (Elizabeth's husband), best friend. 

While the mystery takes a bit of a backburner in this story as we focus on another storyline, they ultimately come out on top. I feel at the end of this book, their friendship is stronger than it's ever been. 

I will note, I advise being in a good headspace when you're reading this as it does touch on some heavy topics. But the way that it's done is beautiful. I have never read a book that has had me literally sobbing, gasping for breath with snot running down my face, that three lines later has me laughing at a comment, then sobbing again a chapter later. When I tell you that it wrecked me, I am not exaggerating. However, despite how much it destroyed me, I NEEDED that storyline in a way I didn't know was possible. The power of love and power of friendship is so incredible and I hope that every person in their life can find those friends. 

Oh, also, if you read this, I need to know...Ibrahim story. (I also sobbed). Did you know/expect it/see it coming? Cause I had suspicions but I was not expecting it to be brought to attention during this already emotional turmoil. LOL

Once again, I highly, highly recommend picking up this series if you've haven't yet. I promise you won't be disappointed in the mystery, the humor, their wit, and most of all the incredible bond. I'm incredibly sad that Richard Osman is going to be taking a break from this series next year (even though we're getting a new series) but I'm thankful that at some point we WILL be getting another installment.

While 'The Thursday Murder Club' is probably one of my all-time favorite series, I will admit that this was probably one of my least favorite in the series so far. 

Our four favorite Coopers Chase residents are back looking into a murder that never really made sense. For example, where is the body? And since the missing person was chasing down a pretty big story involving a lot of money..where is said money?  

Each of the characters in this series - the four main, as well as the side characters - are just utterly incredible. I love that they all have their own individual quirks and personalities that are lovable but then when you put them all in a room together, the genuine connection and friendship shines through and the humor that follows it ACTUAL 'laugh-out-loud' funny. I don't think that truthfully I could ever pick a favorite, but there are a few that I hold a 'soft spot' for. 

If you haven't picked up that series yet - I highly, highly recommend that you do! 

I was given an ARC of this novel to read & review from Goodreads/St Martin's Press prior to it's release in January 2024! 

Let me preface this with stating that I have never read anything by Rachel Hawkins (unless you count 'The Ex Hex' under her pen name Erin Sterling, which I did not like), so I didn't have an opinion one way or the other going into it. I also didn't know anything about the plot, because I felt that it was better to go into it blind. Boy, was I surprised! It was the second book I finished in less than 24 hours over 2 days (let's hope this momentum helps carry me til the end of the year). 5-star read, no doubt!

Without saying too much..in this we're following Camden and Jules, husband and wife who are headed backed to Camden's family home, the Ashby House. Located in the Appalachian Mountains of North Carolina, Ashby House is a place full of people that Camden would have liked to forget  after the passing of his adoptive Mother, the infamous Ruby McTavish; but it seems he just can't let it go, yet. Ruby McTavish, was abducted and returned to her family as a toddler (and happens to be a very, very wealthy woman), making her a household name before she was old enough to speak. Just what exactly does this family have up it's sleeve...

One of my favorite things about the book was it's set-up. It's a dual POV between Camden and Jules, each chapter picking up where the last left off (aside from a few cliff-hangers). It was also mixed media as there were letters, newspaper articles, emails, excerpts from other books, and more! It really kept the story moving because the breaks between the chapters were packed with information in a way that wasn't 'info-dumping'. I guess you could technically say there were two timelines as the articles and letters were from the past and the chapters are from present day, but that didn't deter me like it does in some other novels. 

As an avid thriller, one thing I will say about myself is that I don't often catch plot-twists. This book had quite a few of them and there was only one that I saw coming. I don't know if that means I'm actually getting better at catching them or if that means it was poorly written by the author - but either way it did not ruin anything about the book for me. 

One more thing I will say is that a lot of people who gave this lower reviews or DNF said they didn't because of one particular reason and I am here to say, if you continue through until the end of the book, that resolves itself! 

This book gives me a 'Seven Husbands of Evelyn Hugo' by TJR vibe with a cross over to 'The Only One Left' by Riley Sager. Overall, I 100% recommend reading this book if you're looking for a fast-paced, page-turner that will leaved you a bit shocked! 

I have not read a book so quickly in a long, long time. I read 50 pages in the morning, picked it back up in bed around 10PM and continued reading through til 1AM, finishing it in less than 24 hours. 

Anyone that knows me, know that I am a crier. But let me tell you this book positively destroyed me. I was full on sobbing. Snot and tears running down my face, my body shaking, heart breaking, crying. 
While I knew very little about the book, I knew that there were some emotional scenes, but I was not expecting this. Not even a little. F*#K!! 

In this novel we're mostly following Greta James and her father Conrad as they embark on an Alaskan Cruise that was suppose to be a anniversary present for her parents. Greta is a musician whose career might be in limbo after emotionally falling apart on stage following her Mother's unexpected death and her Father, Conrad is also learning how to live without the love of his life. Together, the pair have a tumultuous relationship at best, but at her brother's insistence, each of them decide to spend the week together. We get to watch this beautiful journey unfold and it is heartbreaking and heartwarming all at once. 

I don't want to go into too much more detail, as I feel it'll spoil the story. But I highly encourage anyone to read this. Some of the monologues and discussion surrounding feelings of losing someone you love is just ... *chefs kiss*  

My first experience with T. Kingfisher will certainly not be forgettable and I'm curious to dive into more of their backlist. 

This is a retelling, or maybe more of a exploration, of the Fall of the House of Usher by Edgar Allen Poe. While I have read this particular work by Poe, it's been awhile so I had forgotten about it which allowed me to go in blindly. 

One of the first thing's I'll say was that like a few pages in, I was cracking up at the specific quote: "Sometimes it's hard to know if someone is insulting or just an American." 

As an American, I can say, truer words have not ever been spoken. Because of the way that the narrator is presented at the start of the story, as being a solider, my own ignorance and prejudices allowed me to just assume that it was a male, though it turns out, the narrator, Easton, is indeed a female. I loved the representation in this book and how gender is considered sort of fluid, there is a lot of grey area and not everything is not black or white. 

When it comes to the actual storyline/plot of the story, I will say that it sits around a solid 3 stars for me as it's slow moving and for a short novella, it takes awhile to get where we're going. But, I added the fourth star because once you get to the last bit, the creep factor had me...ick. Goosebumps, for sure. It's disgusting but awesome and has stayed with me so I think it's worthy of the four stars I've given it. 

Definitely recommend checking it out if you like a creepy factor and enjoy works by Poe. I'm excited to check out the 2nd book in the Sworn Solider series coming out in 2024, I believe! 

For a debut novel, I thoroughly LOVED 'The Wishing Game' and I can't wait to see what other magic Meg Shaffer publishes in the future. This book is like warm hug on a cold winter day..and I hate hugs, so that's saying something! 

In this story we're following Lucy, a Kindergarten Teacher's Assistant that is estranged from her family and doing her best to survive with a wish to adopt Christopher, one of her former students that is living in the Foster System. Just when things seem to be taking a turn for the worse, Lucy is invited to Clock Island - the home where her favorite childhood books took place - to compete for a copy of the first book Author Jack Masterson has written in almost 20 years. Lucy knows that winning this book could change the trajectory of not only her life, but Christopher's as well and she's willing to stop at nothing to make that happen. 

Shit. This book was so sweet, I can't stand it. There was a character in this book that I didn't love and I found them all incredibly relatable. Everyone is just trying to survive - and that's what life is about a lot of the time. Just because of how someone presents themselves on the outside doesn't mean you know what sort of battles they're facing on the inside. I particularly enjoyed Hugo, the Illustrator of the Clock Island books that lives on the island with Jack. Prickly on the outside but soft and squishy on the inside. (*SPOILER - there is a lil romance happening, too!*)

I think one of my favorite lines is: "When you gotta scream, you gotta scream." I feel this in my soul & I feel like maybe the world would be a little bit better if we all followed this advice.

One of the most comforting things about this book was listening to Lucy talk about her childhood and the experience of reading "The Clock Island" books. This entire novel is centered around the fact that books are magic and that magic can transport you anywhere you want to go, even if only for awhile. When you're happy, you're sad, or feeling 'magenta' (where are my Golden Girls fans?) - a book can give you exactly what you need. As a millennial that grew up and experienced the explosion of Harry Potter - I relate to Lucy so much. The way she talks about Clock Island is how I felt in. my. soul about Hogwarts and anything to do with the Wizarding World. Even now, in my thirties; if I'm feeling down or maybe like I'm heading towards a reading slump - I know I can pick up any book in the HP Series and be transported back to a place in time where there was nothing but me and the characters that I loved and cherished so much. 

One thing that did bother me just a bit about the book was that once Lucy and the others arrive at Clock Island - we only get a taste of the 'challenges' they face in the competition. The first few are mentioned in depth, and so is the last - but the ones in between just exist. I know that each of the scenes mentioned are important to the storyline, so I don't hold that against the author - I just would have like a bit more. 

As we've already mentioned, reading is crucial and can literally change the entire trajectory of a person's life and I think that's the underlying message here. One of my most favorite scenes in the entire book is when presented with the last challenge, Lucy knows that she has to call Christopher on the phone - something he is absolutely terrified of (read the book to find out why). You're getting the perspective of each of them - Lucy waiting anxiously, wishing Christopher picks up & Christopher anxiously looking at the phone as it rings, knowing he should answer but just being a little afraid. In the end, he does pick up, saying that the Mastermind (a character from the books) tells him it's OK and the scene from there just progresses into something so beautiful. *cries* Ugh, so frickin' cute. 

I highly recommend if you believe in the magic of books you giving this one a try. 

Michelle Obama could read me a Dr. Seuss book and I'd love it. Hell, Michelle Obama could read me the Bible and I might actually listen. Listening to her voice is sincerely the most relaxing; it's calm while exhilarating and everything she says sounds so damn genuine. There are even a few points in this particular book where it sounds to me if she's emotional, and that makes a story so damn good to listen to. 

Unlike 'Becoming' which is here autobiography or memoir, this work is the former FLOTUS talking about how to remain positive despite all of the negative that is surrounding us. Normally, I hate these types of books because they're often times filled with a lot of fluff that doesn't actually help. With 'The Light We Carry', that is far from the truth. 

From personal experience, to learning to new hobbies, to leaning on friends new and old - Michelle Obama has an answer for a lot of things. I definitely listened to this book at a time when I needed it most - questioning a lot of what has recently happened in this Country and what the future looks like as a person that is part of the LGBTQIA+ community. It gives me hope that there are enough kind hearted people out there that we can hopefully continue to fight back against the hate and keep progressing forward. 

One thing I will note - as someone without children - there was a large section of this book that didn't apply to me, but I know that it someday may and I'll be happy to go back and take her advice as a parent in the future. 

I highly recommend! 

This was a really great Thriller that I stayed up entirely too late trying to finish because I needed to know what happened! 

You're following Darby, a college student who is trying to make it home during a winter snow storm to see her Mother, who was recently diagnosed with cancer. Knowing she can't possibly make it any further in the current weather conditions, she pulls over to a small rest stop where there are a few other people who have already decided to hunker down for the evening. Going outside in attempts to find cell service, she finds a small girl locked inside an animal crate in the back of a van - and now she is determined to find out why and to save this small girl. 

So, one of the standout things about this book is that it literally takes place in the span of less than 24 hours. It's very quick-paced and you're constantly jumping about in the story as the night moves on. I loved that and think it was done really well. Because of this, I think it's very easy to get engrossed in the book and continue reading without realizing how much time you've spent reading it.

One of the other things that I really enjoyed about the story was that there were quite a few 'plot twists' or things that I definitely didn't see coming. As someone who reads a lot of thrillers, I always enjoy where I can still find a thriller that has some surprising elements. 

One of the only reasons I didn't give this book 5-stars was because towards the end, I just wanted it to end. I found myself skimming probably the last 15% and looking for dialogue to just keep pushing and get through to the end. I'm not sure if that has something to do with the time frame for which the book was written, the storyline, the characters, or what. But, once we got to the ending and it was evident we had, I was gobbling it all up again and kept gasping as things twisted and turned.

Overall, I really enjoyed this book and I definitely recommend it if you're someone who enjoys a fast-paced and exciting storyline! 

First of all, let me start off by saying that I was almost positive this did not publish until 11/30 and when I saw it at Half-Price Books I legit blew a gasket thinking it was like mistakenly put out early. No ma'am it was published 10/31 and I am a moron who just didn't bother to pay close enough attention or I would have had this book THAT DAY and read it. 

Needless to say, I scooped it up and completed it in two days! 

LISTEN.
HATERS.
BE GONE! 

I know that a lot of people have given up or had less than positive things to say as this series has continued; however, I am here for it. I will ride with Stephanie Plum until the motherf*ckin' wheels come off, do you understand?! This is not up for discussion. If you don't like it, cool, but no one is making you read it so if you're going to be negative just stop reading and kindly move on to something else.

ANYWAYS. *end rant* 

If you're new around here, without going into too much detail, Stephanie Plum is a Bail Bondswoman living in New Jersey that has a knack for getting herself into trouble. We usually are following her as she tries to scoop up some FTA's that *should* be easy but never quite are. She's usually running around handling a high profile case that blows up in face..or her car..or her apartment. She has a Grandma that is here for the tea and is always down for a funeral or getting into some shit. This time her Mom was even in on the adventure. Not to mention, she's sort of dating a cop Morelli and is friends with..benefits? to Ranger, an ex-special forces man that use to be a bails person and is now operating his own high profile security business. Oh, and her boss is her cousin but a slime ball. The office manager has mob ties but is a good time and Lula, her forever sidekick is a hoot! 

I wouldn't say that you *HAVE* to read all of the others to enjoy this, but I would recommend it because it is a good time, indeed. One of the things that I love about this series is that you can pick them up and read them individually and they are great at stand-alones OR you can binge the series and not be able to get enough of it. I of course, have a few that stand high above the rest and this might be a new one added to that list. 

Seeing as this is #30, I'll keep it brief on the description.. In this specific book, we meet up with some old characters along with the new while Stephanie is trying to find out what exactly went down when a local jeweler's was 'robbed'. She think's there is more than meets the eye and she's determined to get to the bottom of it. I will say, there was a little less action in this particular story and not enough Grandma Mazur for my liking, but that's alright, we can't win them all. It doesn't deter me from the 5-star rating because there is enough other things happening that kept it interesting.

Lula was *the best* in this book. I always enjoy when the storyline is heavily including her and this did not disappoint. 

One thing I will say is that the ending had me #shook. I was mad as hell knowing that Janet Evanovich is over here making us wait another book to find out what is going to happen. #TeamRanger #iykyk 

I will also add that because of the ending, I am a little worried that this series might be drawing to a conclusion and I'm not sure I'm ready for that -- any thoughts on that fellow Plum friends? 

So that's my review in a nutshell which is more just me rambling then a review but, alas, it's my life.