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sarahthegaymer's Reviews (305)
This was the first 5 start book I had read in quite some time. I was initially drawn to the book by the beautiful cover, as well as I have a soft spot for Apothecary’s as I find that sort of thing fascinating.
Following the lives of three different women, Nella and Eliza during the late 1700s and Caroline in the current day; the variation for how the story was told was truly unique.
Nella was the owner of an Apothecary, however; she specialized in “dark medicine”. I loved this about her because she was way ahead of her time, in the fight for women’s rights. When she meets Eliza, at first it’s just for business but the friendship that ultimately blossoms between them is heart warming. It goes to show that if you love and care about someone strongly enough, you’ll do *anything* for them .
Caroline was a character that at first I couldn’t understand the tie in, but she grew on me and I loved the storyline that was taking place in the current world, parallel to the days of the apothecary.
There’s a decent bit of drama, a little bit of love, and a whole lots of spins that make this book truly unique and interesting.
Following the lives of three different women, Nella and Eliza during the late 1700s and Caroline in the current day; the variation for how the story was told was truly unique.
Nella was the owner of an Apothecary, however; she specialized in “dark medicine”. I loved this about her because she was way ahead of her time, in the fight for women’s rights. When she meets Eliza, at first it’s just for business but the friendship that ultimately blossoms between them is heart warming. It goes to show that if you love and care about someone strongly enough, you’ll do *anything* for them .
Caroline was a character that at first I couldn’t understand the tie in, but she grew on me and I loved the storyline that was taking place in the current world, parallel to the days of the apothecary.
There’s a decent bit of drama, a little bit of love, and a whole lots of spins that make this book truly unique and interesting.
Received this as a Christmas gift as I idolized Betty White but didn’t pull it out to read until her passing. A super sweet story that shows just how incredible Betty White was, in a true Little Golden Book fashion. Adorable illustrations and easy to follow! Your little would love this and it will hopefully help keep the legacy of this incredible woman alive!
The Hunting Wives by May Cobb ⭐️ ⭐️ ⭐️
I read this book so long ago, and it was so impression-less to me, I’m not really sure what to talk about.
This story follows a woman who has moved her family from the bustling life of Chicago to a small-town where she’s hopeful to make friends with the ‘in-crowd’. Then, while spending time with them, a murder takes place, and the town - and wives - are in an uproar.
They story in itself was written pretty well, being lead to believe the murderer was one person only to then discover why it couldn’t have been them, etc. However, some of the storyline just dealt with things that I wasn’t interested in - cheating spouses, age gap relationships - so for me those brought the overall rating of the story down.
I’d definitely give this author another chance, but I’m just now sure if this was the best book to start with. Therefore, I cannot really recommend or not recommend it. What I do recommend is perhaps giving it a chance for yourself or reading some other reviews that may be better than mine!
I read this book so long ago, and it was so impression-less to me, I’m not really sure what to talk about.
This story follows a woman who has moved her family from the bustling life of Chicago to a small-town where she’s hopeful to make friends with the ‘in-crowd’. Then, while spending time with them, a murder takes place, and the town - and wives - are in an uproar.
They story in itself was written pretty well, being lead to believe the murderer was one person only to then discover why it couldn’t have been them, etc. However, some of the storyline just dealt with things that I wasn’t interested in - cheating spouses, age gap relationships - so for me those brought the overall rating of the story down.
I’d definitely give this author another chance, but I’m just now sure if this was the best book to start with. Therefore, I cannot really recommend or not recommend it. What I do recommend is perhaps giving it a chance for yourself or reading some other reviews that may be better than mine!
I saw this book blowing up on social media across the board and was intrigued. I was worried that due to the hype, it would let me down. But it did not disappoint!
Addie LaRue has lived a remarkable life for hundreds of years though no one remembers her. Although the story started off really slow and there were times were I just didn’t know if it was worth going on and finishing, I ended up really, really happy that like Addie, I persevered.
It was really powerful in a way where it makes you think about your life, and the people you meet. What if you were destined to live a life similar where you remember everyone and everything, but they don’t remember you? Living thorough so many centuries and seeing all of these amazing and incredible things come to life - sky scrapers, electricity, cars, and so much more!
One thing that never changed though, was books. And that is where she meets Henry. The boy who after 300 years, remembers her.
It’s a unique situation the two find themselves in and it’s heart-wrenching and beautiful and just all the feels in between.
Overall, if you’re looking for a powerful and unique story, I think this might be it for you. Again, I will caution on how the story tends to drag in places, but all of that detail ultimately becomes relevant so it IS important.
Addie LaRue has lived a remarkable life for hundreds of years though no one remembers her. Although the story started off really slow and there were times were I just didn’t know if it was worth going on and finishing, I ended up really, really happy that like Addie, I persevered.
It was really powerful in a way where it makes you think about your life, and the people you meet. What if you were destined to live a life similar where you remember everyone and everything, but they don’t remember you? Living thorough so many centuries and seeing all of these amazing and incredible things come to life - sky scrapers, electricity, cars, and so much more!
One thing that never changed though, was books. And that is where she meets Henry. The boy who after 300 years, remembers her.
It’s a unique situation the two find themselves in and it’s heart-wrenching and beautiful and just all the feels in between.
Overall, if you’re looking for a powerful and unique story, I think this might be it for you. Again, I will caution on how the story tends to drag in places, but all of that detail ultimately becomes relevant so it IS important.
While I’m not one that’s typical a fan of the romance novel - this was one was pretty good and stopped my loathing, I think!
While a romance is what ultimately blossoms in this story between Ethan and Olive; it also talks about the power of siblings. It also touches on how lying, or pretending to be someone you are not can really come back to bite you in the ass!
The enemy-to-lovers trope is probably one of my favorites - I mean, hello all SwanQueen fanfiction - so maybe that is why I’m partial to this one. Maybe it’s also because I too want to win an all-inclusive Honeymoon to Hawaii, maybe? ;)
If you’re looking for a quick and easy read with summer/beach vibes. This one is it!
While a romance is what ultimately blossoms in this story between Ethan and Olive; it also talks about the power of siblings. It also touches on how lying, or pretending to be someone you are not can really come back to bite you in the ass!
The enemy-to-lovers trope is probably one of my favorites - I mean, hello all SwanQueen fanfiction - so maybe that is why I’m partial to this one. Maybe it’s also because I too want to win an all-inclusive Honeymoon to Hawaii, maybe? ;)
If you’re looking for a quick and easy read with summer/beach vibes. This one is it!
The Club by Ellery Lloyd ⭐️ ⭐️
Ugh, this was another rough one for me. If you see the dates, it took me well over a month to read this. I just could not get into it.
It’s written like a lot of other thrillers where it’s told from the perspective of multiple people who are a crucial part of the story line. The Club is an elite, all inclusive hotel where only the best of the best can come to stay, party, drink, and stay out of the public eye. Then, a mysterious event takes place and leaves The Club in chaos.
The story starts with the main event then goes backwards and leads up to the event, and then there is a epilogue that takes place after the story. Perhaps I’ve just read too many thrillers where they all start to blend together and the stories seem the same? But overall, this was just mediocre for me.
Read at your own risk.
Ugh, this was another rough one for me. If you see the dates, it took me well over a month to read this. I just could not get into it.
It’s written like a lot of other thrillers where it’s told from the perspective of multiple people who are a crucial part of the story line. The Club is an elite, all inclusive hotel where only the best of the best can come to stay, party, drink, and stay out of the public eye. Then, a mysterious event takes place and leaves The Club in chaos.
The story starts with the main event then goes backwards and leads up to the event, and then there is a epilogue that takes place after the story. Perhaps I’ve just read too many thrillers where they all start to blend together and the stories seem the same? But overall, this was just mediocre for me.
Read at your own risk.
I’m not going to lie. I really, really tried to ignore this book. It didn’t seem interesting to me and typically when something is hyped up, it disappoints. However, as seems to be the theme this year, the hyped up books are worth the read! In my opinion, anyways!
A good friend of ours insisted that we simply HAD to read this book and then forced us into borrowing it. Her love for it seemed pretty genuine and then she talked about their being a movie..and I didn’t want to spoil it, so I caved. I’m glad I did!
I think I felt a strong connection to Kya as I’ve often in my life felt like the outcast though instead of just loving myself and being who I am unapologetically, I’ve always tried to conform to societal norms. I love watching strong female characters just blossom.
I loved that it touched on education not being as important as true, valuable life lessons. You can still turn out to be a remarkable person despite lacking higher education.
There was a touch of suspense to keep it interesting it’s a side of mystery and trying to solve who did it and what happened to the people Kya loved? And just enough romance to keep it from becoming a sappy love story.
It all talk about isolation and dealing with that as a person and though the book was published in 2018, I didn’t read it until 2022 after having lived through a pandemic where isolation was a very real thing. I think that also allowed for me to be more invested in the story and come out with a deeper love and understanding for it.
Definitely a classic case of don’t judge a book by it’s cover and just do the damn thing and read it!
A good friend of ours insisted that we simply HAD to read this book and then forced us into borrowing it. Her love for it seemed pretty genuine and then she talked about their being a movie..and I didn’t want to spoil it, so I caved. I’m glad I did!
I think I felt a strong connection to Kya as I’ve often in my life felt like the outcast though instead of just loving myself and being who I am unapologetically, I’ve always tried to conform to societal norms. I love watching strong female characters just blossom.
I loved that it touched on education not being as important as true, valuable life lessons. You can still turn out to be a remarkable person despite lacking higher education.
There was a touch of suspense to keep it interesting it’s a side of mystery and trying to solve who did it and what happened to the people Kya loved? And just enough romance to keep it from becoming a sappy love story.
It all talk about isolation and dealing with that as a person and though the book was published in 2018, I didn’t read it until 2022 after having lived through a pandemic where isolation was a very real thing. I think that also allowed for me to be more invested in the story and come out with a deeper love and understanding for it.
Definitely a classic case of don’t judge a book by it’s cover and just do the damn thing and read it!
This. This book was pretty powerful.
If you pay any attention to what’s happening in the U.S. right now, this book is a great fictional depiction of situations that are taking place.
You’ll meet our two main characters, one white and one black who have been best friends since childhood. Then, tragedy strikes as an unarmed Black man is shot and killed by the hands of the police force.
This story is a testament to their friendship, White privilege, police brutality, a corrupt judicial system, and more! It was an easy listen via audio, and it definitely made me stop and think.
If you’re looking for something that might move you a little, or educate a little, I highly recommend!
If you pay any attention to what’s happening in the U.S. right now, this book is a great fictional depiction of situations that are taking place.
You’ll meet our two main characters, one white and one black who have been best friends since childhood. Then, tragedy strikes as an unarmed Black man is shot and killed by the hands of the police force.
This story is a testament to their friendship, White privilege, police brutality, a corrupt judicial system, and more! It was an easy listen via audio, and it definitely made me stop and think.
If you’re looking for something that might move you a little, or educate a little, I highly recommend!
The Secret Diary of Hendrik Groen, 83 ¼ Years Old by Henrik Groen ⭐️ ⭐️ ⭐️
So, I think it’s important to know that this book is written just like the title insinuates that it would be, as a diary. There is an entry for almost every day for a year over the course of one man – Hendriks – life at a nursing facility. This was a book I went into pretty blind, other than it being recommended to me by a patient at my work who also enjoys reading.
It took me a while to get through the book due to the nature of it. When I would sit down to read it, I’d enjoy what I was reading but not enough that it kept me up all night to finish it or see what would happen next. I feel like 3 stars is appropriate because this was a book I could take or leave, I didn’t love it but I didn’t hate it.
I can say, respectfully, if you are a member of the elderly community, you will probably resonate more with the entries as well as the trials and tribulations that Hendrik is dealing with. From medical ailments, to family never visiting, to even death, he doesn’t leave anything untouched. However; as someone who is only in my 30s, I appreciated the story but didn’t really relate to it. I can relate to some of what he discusses as I see it in my own family members who are aging, but not in me, personally.
So, all in all, I know this isn’t one of my greatest reviews but I’m just left without knowing what to really say about it! If you’re looking for maybe some toilet reading (if you know you know) or something to just pick up and skim through every now and again – this might not be a bad choice for that!
Happy Reading!
So, I think it’s important to know that this book is written just like the title insinuates that it would be, as a diary. There is an entry for almost every day for a year over the course of one man – Hendriks – life at a nursing facility. This was a book I went into pretty blind, other than it being recommended to me by a patient at my work who also enjoys reading.
It took me a while to get through the book due to the nature of it. When I would sit down to read it, I’d enjoy what I was reading but not enough that it kept me up all night to finish it or see what would happen next. I feel like 3 stars is appropriate because this was a book I could take or leave, I didn’t love it but I didn’t hate it.
I can say, respectfully, if you are a member of the elderly community, you will probably resonate more with the entries as well as the trials and tribulations that Hendrik is dealing with. From medical ailments, to family never visiting, to even death, he doesn’t leave anything untouched. However; as someone who is only in my 30s, I appreciated the story but didn’t really relate to it. I can relate to some of what he discusses as I see it in my own family members who are aging, but not in me, personally.
So, all in all, I know this isn’t one of my greatest reviews but I’m just left without knowing what to really say about it! If you’re looking for maybe some toilet reading (if you know you know) or something to just pick up and skim through every now and again – this might not be a bad choice for that!
Happy Reading!
This was the second audiobook I read in 2022 that I had no recollection of reading until I saw it on my Libby account - I think that was due to some stress life events that had me listening to books but not really, listening..if you know what I mean.
So, initially I thought I was really going to love this story as I was a super fan of The Silent Patient by Michaelides. I'm not going to lie, in the beginning I was really intrigued - I liked that there was a small cross-over of some characters between books. I liked that there was a promise of dark(ish) academia. I liked that there was a promise of Greek Mythology.
What I did not like, or, at least what I didn't love, was the book overall.
I didn't like the characters, mostly. They were all a little flat for me & Mariana, for being a Psychologist definitely had some issues that I think would benefit from therapy, herself. I didn't like the idea of a professor just hanging out with some "smart girls" to give them extra information/lessons -- gives me mega creeper vibes. Just. Ick.
I didn't like that I felt I was spinning in circles most of the time trying to figure out who we were talking about and where they were heading and who saw what and where they saw it with who. Again, I'll admit that I wasn't 100% devoted to this book so maybe I just missed some things that were pertinent.
Maybe someday I'll go back and give it a second chance and see if I can up the rating after listening in a head space. But for the time and place, this just didn't do it for me.
So, initially I thought I was really going to love this story as I was a super fan of The Silent Patient by Michaelides. I'm not going to lie, in the beginning I was really intrigued - I liked that there was a small cross-over of some characters between books. I liked that there was a promise of dark(ish) academia. I liked that there was a promise of Greek Mythology.
What I did not like, or, at least what I didn't love, was the book overall.
I didn't like the characters, mostly. They were all a little flat for me & Mariana, for being a Psychologist definitely had some issues that I think would benefit from therapy, herself. I didn't like the idea of a professor just hanging out with some "smart girls" to give them extra information/lessons -- gives me mega creeper vibes. Just. Ick.
I didn't like that I felt I was spinning in circles most of the time trying to figure out who we were talking about and where they were heading and who saw what and where they saw it with who. Again, I'll admit that I wasn't 100% devoted to this book so maybe I just missed some things that were pertinent.
Maybe someday I'll go back and give it a second chance and see if I can up the rating after listening in a head space. But for the time and place, this just didn't do it for me.