The Perfect Couple by Jackie Kabler
My rating: 4 of 5 stars From start to finish, this book was superb. My favorite part of this story was its consistency. From the beginning, and all the way through to the end, the author manages to drop in just enough of a hint or plot point to keep you engaged. There are no dragging moments where you're just in it for the end result. Throughout the story line, I was second guessing my predictions and wondering if I was being led on in the wrong direction. Was I being told to look right when the story was going left? Is this person as sane as they think they are, or are we being given a normal narrative from an insane character? You never find out until the end. The author did a fantastic job filling out each character without bogging you down with details. No character was too minor or insignificant. You could recall each person with familiarity, even if their role was small. Jackie Kabler has written the epitome of a psychological thriller. Many thanks to NetGalley for the free copy in exchange for an honest review. View all my reviews
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Prance Like No One's Watching: A Guided Journal for Exploding Unicorns by James Breakwell
My rating: 5 of 5 stars First of all, if you aren't following James on any social media, I would start, immediately. Not only is he hilarious, he's EXTREMELY relatable. Anyway, I follow him on Twitter and Instagram so when I saw him advertising this book for kids, I pre-ordered it right away. Then it shipped and I was freaking out because I had forgotten I'd ordered it and Alexa is telling me to expect a package and I'm wracking my brain trying to remember what this package was, how big was it, where could I hide it from my husband... Oh, it's a book I ordered a month ago. Whew. I've always loved journaling, so I was looking forward to my child enjoying the same activity as me, because that always works out the way you envision. I don't even know if she's opened it, but she's nine, not exactly a discerning consumer. When I looked through it, though, I wanted to instantly steal it and fill it out myself. I might still do that, or at least save it for a daughter (or son) that will appreciate it, unlike the one for whom it was originally purchased. It has so many fun prompts and questions for your burgeoning writer, or any kid that enjoys doing creative things, which my oldest daughter loves to do, hence the state of her bedroom, so why she instantly rejected this book, I won't ever know. Just the fact that I bought it for her specifically and was excited about it probably tipped her off that she should make an effort to NOT even open the book. DO NOT let my daughter's reaction to this gift scare you off of buying this book. She has TERRIBLE taste, so let it ENCOURAGE you to buy this fun and engaging journal for your kiddo. View all my reviews 3/20/2020 0 Comments Follow Me by Kathleen Barber
Follow Me by Kathleen Barber
Everything about this story is infuriating, but again, I do not feel that this book was made for my age range. That being said, it was very well written, and anything that can make me feel anything so passionately has to be given credit. To feel nothing at all would mean it was awful. My frustration is mainly with the main character. I don't think she's very bright. Definitely naive to think that she can plaster her entire life online and not have consequences. Why she puts up with any of the stuff she does, brushing off advances and people breaking into her home, shows so much immaturity that it's painful. Again, documenting your entire life on social media, just the constant need to post and what to post next, it's annoying. However, the story was good, if not a cautionary tale, a successful whodunnit story. View all my reviews
Many thanks to Netgalley for the free copy in exchange for an honest review.
2/10/2020 0 Comments Only Lies Remain by Val Collins
Only Lies Remain by Val Collins
My rating: 4 of 5 stars A page-turner from beginning to end, this quick read is everything you want when you reach for a crime mystery. The characters and situations are relatable, realistic, and well fleshed out. Scenes evoke a myriad of emotions and reactions. Intrigue and surprises at every turn, and an ending not even I could predict. This book is very well written and satisfying. View all my reviews
Many thanks to Book Sirens for the free copy in exchange for an honest review.
Daisy Jones & The Six by Taylor Jenkins Reid
My rating: 2 of 5 stars I can understand why people enjoy this book, but I can't fathom why it's getting rave reviews. The writing was palatable and the style in which it was written didn't even bother me, but I didn't love it, it doesn't deserve 4+ stars. Two stars is generous. A quarter of the way through the book and I'm realizing that this is it, this is the story, and I'm disappointed. I've heard it before, numerous times, thousands of variations. I grew up watching VH1 Behind the Music, and all I was seeing here was an ultimate mashup. The overall theme of sex, drugs, and rock and roll has been done, anyone that has seen a documentary on any band formed in the 70s knows exactly how this is going to end. Each character was a bland, cookie cutter facsimile of competing leads, apathetic pragmatists, hot heads, and sleazy outliers. It was the 70s, so of course there are drugs, but the problem with addictions is that they can only end in two ways, through sobering up or in flames. There is true love and one night stands, unrequited love and convenient companionship. All of this bandied about and outlined as an interview, it plays out exactly like any one hour expose on E! Television. It had its moments of humor and some standout lines, but each song was "the one", everyone said something "that really stuck" with whatever person, so many times did Daisy sing "from her gut" it was no wonder why she was high all the time, it had to be painful constantly singing so raw. Cliche is an understatement. This book starts out bland and stays that way, a few mild bumps in the road, but nothing to propel you to the end except for the promise of the last page. View all my reviews
For more insight on how I felt throughout the book, check out my notes at https://www.goodreads.com/notes/40520251-daisy-jones-the-six/14751350-heather-gadd?ref=bsop
Toil & Trouble: A Memoir by Augusten Burroughs
My rating: 4 of 5 stars Brilliant! It was absolutely beautiful. I remember seeing something about it and so I put it on hold at the library. That was awhile ago, so when it popped up in my Kindle, I loved the title but I had no recollection what it was actually about. When I started reading it, it read a lot like fiction, but then when I checked out the author, it all came back to me that it was a memoir and then I was really intrigued. Especially since I had read Running With Scissors years ago and hadn't made the connection that it was the same author. Anyway, throughout the entire book I was just swept up in the storytelling, the imagery of the house and his upbringing, not to mention his abilities. Even if you are a skeptic, which I most certainly am, he still tells a damn good story. So vivid are the details, his humor is dry and sarcastic, I want to go back and read all of his works leading up to this one. Reading this was so much fun and delightful and I wish we were friends because he sounds like he would be so much fun to sit with and chat. Check out my notes for the book for a few of my thoughts throughout the novel. View all my reviews 12/12/2019 0 Comments The Goldfinch by Donna Tartt
The Goldfinch by Donna Tartt
My rating: 2 of 5 stars Dear Ron Charles with the Washington Post, you are quoted saying, "...a long novel that never feels long," in regards to this tome of adjectives that equals 771 pages. You are WRONG. This book feels like EVERY single one of those 700 plus pages, and it didn't need to be this way. This book could have been awesome, and by all accounts of its awards and acclaim, apparently it is, but maybe I'm too stupid to realize its greatness. However, I don't believe I am stupid, or ignorant, or uneducated, but what I do believe is that there is an unnecessary elite that comes with writing a long, drawn out, fatalistic piece that has other authors and critics falling all over themselves to adore. Why? Yes, the story, the bare bones beginning, middle, climax, resolution, it was good, something I would have enjoyed reading, but it was the nonstop depressing rain of descriptions upon descriptions, drawn out conversations that had me screaming in my head, "Just shut up already!" Again, I wonder, as I do with so many other books that I read and come away dissatisfied, yet feeling so strongly, is this the point the author is trying to make, the impact they so desire? Is it the point to elicit such intense feelings, whether it be love or hatred? I don't hate the book, there were parts I enjoyed, characters I loved, in its entirety, it inspired to want to write more on my own, but is it really as great as some would lead you to believe? I don't think so, but again, what do I know, I'm a stay-at-home mom writing reviews in my spare time. View all my reviews 12/12/2019 0 Comments My Favorite Children's Books
A little bit about me, I have five, that's right, FIVE kiddos, so I read A LOT, a lot of board books, Dr. Seuss, Sandra Boynton, Roald Dahl, Beverly Cleary, we have BOXES of books for kids. I got tired of cleaning them all off the floor so I had to start rotating them seasonally. Below I've compiled a list of authors and books that I love reading over and over.
12/8/2019 1 Comment Dark Hollows by Steve Frech
Dark Hollows by Steve Frech
My rating: 4 of 5 stars I found Dark Hollows while scrolling through Twitter. The name was the first thing to jump out of me, I’m a huge fan of books that have “dark” and “hollows”, it’s the recipe for a great read. Since it was a NetGalley retweet that had featured this title, I jumped over to see if I could snag it for myself, and I rejoiced when I was approved to read the title. From the beginning, I was in love. Set in a Vermont small town in October with detailed descriptions of an east coast autumn, small town main street, and a bustling coffee shop, it wasn’t long before I was craving a cup of joe and the cozy firepit mentioned early on in the story. Mysteries abound in this tale of a past that has caught up with the future, taunting and threatening to expose horrible truths. A classic battle of conscience, where the truth will set you free, sort of. Murders and kidnappings, sabotage and car crashes, this page-turning thriller has everything to keep you entertained to the very last word. This story flows effortlessly, the transitions between the past and present are innovative and add life to the page. Steve’s writing is like a familiar friend, it’s comfortable in its skin, it’s your favorite sweatshirt, perfectly broken in. He masterfully crafts suspense in a way that is not easy in written form. I couldn’t read it fast enough but was upset when it ended so quickly. What I found especially fun was being able to interact with Steve via Twitter while reading. I enjoy following the authors I read, and am thrilled when they follow back, even more so when they interact with my posts as I always want to discuss the book I am currently reading. I am thankful to have found a community on Twitter where I can share what I’m thinking and sometimes receive feedback and commentary. Reading and reviewing becomes so much more fun when you can build a relationship with readers and writers. View all my reviews
Many thanks to Netgalley for the free copy in exchange for an honest review.
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