This book is the first in a series and is seamlessly translated from Japanese. I’m not sure I’ve ever read a Japanese translated novel, and it was a lThis book is the first in a series and is seamlessly translated from Japanese. I’m not sure I’ve ever read a Japanese translated novel, and it was a lot of fun. I enjoyed the pictured that were scattered throughout which aided in understanding the story. This book didn’t focus on one human character necessarily, but they were all connected, and I really enjoyed that. The true main characters, though it didn’t feel that way at the start, were the cats of the Full Moon Café. They read the astrological characts of the human characters and offered them guidance for their life. The astrology was so well explained and introduced some deeper terms than I had experienced before. But because of how they were explained, I had a firm understanding of the concepts and really enjoyed the story. This book and how well it was written is why I love magical realism.
I highly recommend this book to cat and astrology lovers alike, and it was a quick read.
Thank you so much to the publisher, Ballantine Books and @netgalley for this e-arc. All thoughts are my own. ...more
I was lucky to be able to read this #23 book in the Temperance Brennan collection. I really enjoy these books and each one is a new adventure. I don’tI was lucky to be able to read this #23 book in the Temperance Brennan collection. I really enjoy these books and each one is a new adventure. I don’t know why but this one was particularly interesting as Tempe was called to the scene of a fire scene. This story is fairly vivid in its description and listening to it really brought those scenes to life. So, this rendition of the story is not for the faint of heart. I love the narrator of these stories; she does such a good job brining the story to life and really nailing the mood and atmosphere.
This rendition did have a fun mystery and it packed the punch that I have come to expect from a Temperance Brennan novel. It is interesting that this series goes back and forth between being based in the US and Canada. While I loved this one because it was fire based, I seem to think that I enjoy the Canadian mysteries more. I think that in Canada Tempe is a different character if that makes sense and I love it.
This one is a lot of fun, but be careful if you get squeamish. I highly recommend for Temperance Brennan fans.
Thank you to @scribnerbooks for the physical book and the e-arc, @netgalley for the e-arc, and @simon.audio for the ALC copy. I appreciate them all however, all thoughts are my own. ...more
Thank you to the publisher @randomhouse and @netgalley for this e-arc. All thoughts are my own.
I loved this book so much. It was a fast paced amazinglThank you to the publisher @randomhouse and @netgalley for this e-arc. All thoughts are my own.
I loved this book so much. It was a fast paced amazingly well-done police procedural with a nice tech tie in. I loved how the futuristic, though not too unrealistic or futuristic AI was incorporated into this book. It was interesting as I was reading this book, I was reading about how our government agencies are currently looking at using AI. While this book is based in the UK, I couldn’t help but wonder if we would get to the point that our police force carried around AI devices like described in this book. Its quite the interesting topic.
The plot was very unique and well thought out. I kept wondering how all the characters could tie together and the breadcrumbs leading up to the reveal was just *chefs kiss* absolute perfection. The main character, Kat Frank was likeable and utterly human. I enjoyed that we got to see many different emotions from her and I’m a sucker for a strong female main character and she was just that.
This book is incredibly well written and will not only leave you on the edge of your seat because of the thriller aspect, but it will make you stop and think about the line between technology and policing and where we are going as a society.
This is a book you need to pick up. I didn’t think that the end of the world could be so hilarious, but it was! This book had me hooked from the startThis is a book you need to pick up. I didn’t think that the end of the world could be so hilarious, but it was! This book had me hooked from the start, we are dropped right into action, and it doesn’t let up. I read a lot, and I can say that I don’t think that I’ve ever read anything quite like it. I didn’t expect to like it as much as I did, but then I fell in love with the writing and the story. The writing was so well done, I felt like I was right there with the characters where the world ended, and it invoked quite a few emotions. I love it when a book can do this for me, and it takes a lot, but I was rooting for Dan and Mara even when things got pretty intense. I really wasn’t sure how this book was going to go until the final pages of the book, and it was fantastic! Perfect ending and it nicely wrapped up all the loose ends.
I did not realize that this was a debut! I only found out when I went to write my review. My socks are blown off! I can’t believe it
So, while this one is called “Zero Stars Do NOT Recommend” I HIGHLY recommend it!
Thank you to the publisher @bookmarked, the author, @wassmerwrites and @netgalley for this e-arc. All thoughts are my own. ...more
This true crime book was rather interesting. I, unlike so many, had not heard of Alex Murdaugh so learning about this terrifying family was truly horrThis true crime book was rather interesting. I, unlike so many, had not heard of Alex Murdaugh so learning about this terrifying family was truly horrifying. I know, this was all over the news, so how could I not know about it? I don’t watch a lot of news. The Murdaugh family is like the villain type family you read about in fiction novels. Alex Murdaugh was so horrific, and he committed so many crimes that I really didn’t think that he was real half of the time. I just couldn’t believe that someone could get away with so many crimes for so long, but he did because of the family he came from.
This book was long, at almost 500 pages, and for me I felt that it really could have been condensed. I found myself tuning out a lot of the details and wanting to skip over them but because I was unsure where everything was going, I kept reading. I do think that the author wove an interesting story, but there were too many details on certain parts of the story, and not enough on the others. I wish I could have learned more about the court case and what went into that aspect. The piece about Alex Murdaugh’s falling apart on the stand was a real treat though.
Overall, I Learned a lot about the Murdaugh’s and the corruption of Alex Murdaugh. Alex Murdaugh was not a good man, not a nice man, he was by all accounts a lowly criminal and the only reason everyone didn’t think so was because of his family.
I liked reading that Alex still will serve a lengthy sentence even if somehow, he manages to overturn his convictions for the crimes he committed against his wife and son. While it isn’t enough, it’s something.
This was a well don’t true crime book and shared a lot of very valid information about the case. I would most definitely recommend this to others looking to learn more about the family.
Thank you to the publisher Ballantine and @netgalley for this e-arc. All thoughts are my own. ...more
I will preface this review by saying that I have been reading quite a bit of horror lately, so I may be a little numb to what I’m finding scary or eveI will preface this review by saying that I have been reading quite a bit of horror lately, so I may be a little numb to what I’m finding scary or even creepy. I picked this book up because I thought it would be unique in that it was written from a child’s POV. I don’t think that I’ve read a book quite like this in that regard before, but it felt off in some way. Maybe because I have a child roughly this age and I kept comparing how my daughter speaks to how Bella spoke. It didn’t really match up. However, I really didn’t find this book that unsettling or even very creepy. Yeah, Bella saw Other Mommy, but then the rest of her family did too. That was strange to me and seemed like an odd choice. I think that I would have got into it more if only Bella would have been able to see Other Mommy the entire time.
Despite not really finding this book scary the entire time, the ending was on point and totally worked! It was a little rushed but matched up to the style of the book. Because of the writing style, I think that this makes for a quick read.
Despite my drawbacks, I think that this book would be amazing on audio or even adapted to a movie.
Thank you to @delreybooks and @netgalley for this e-arc. All thoughts are my own. ...more
Elizabeth hates the summer in the Hamptons. She’s lived there her whole life, but every June, her hometown is inundated with rich Manhattanites who paElizabeth hates the summer in the Hamptons. She’s lived there her whole life, but every June, her hometown is inundated with rich Manhattanites who party all day and disappear in September. But Lizzy needs to help her parent bakery.
Will is everything Lizzy isn’t. Aloof, arrogant, and well, rich. He knows Lizzy is wrong for him, but he can’t stop thinking about her.
Can the two figure out what the other wants, or is it going to be a summer neither of them forgets for the wrong reason?
This is a fun and angsty romance story with nods to Jane Austin’s Pride and Prejudice that hooked me right from the start. The relationship between Will and Lizzy was so much fun and so full of some fabulous banter. I think great banter is my favorite part of the enemies to lover’s trope and that was most definitely the case with this book. This one is perfect for a lazy and relaxing summer day of reading. It was just so lighthearted and fun. Lizzy’s family was fabulous. I couldn’t imagine having a family like that, but it was so heartwarming to read how fantastic they all were with each other. The writing was well done and lighthearted and evoked so many emotions when I was reading.
This is book two in the For the Love of Austen series, but I had no idea that was the case until I was writing this review, and I don’t feel like I missed anything not having read it.
Thank you to @gallerybooks, and @netgalley for e-arc. All thoughts are my own. ...more
A group of employees and their CEO celebrating the sale of emotion tracking AI algorithm, crash onto a not-quite-deserted tropical island.
For those wA group of employees and their CEO celebrating the sale of emotion tracking AI algorithm, crash onto a not-quite-deserted tropical island.
For those who do survive, they come across a beautifully stocked private palace. The house however has more secrets than anyone might have guessed
This book is for fans of Black Mirror, and I think that it was delivered. However, my biggest complaint was that these people all survived this plane crash, but there’s really no explanation really into what happened with the plane. Why did they go down. But the people who survived just carried on like nothing had happened. I would be a mental mess; on the verge of a breakdown, you can guarantee that. The characters were detached and showed sociopath tendencies. Kristen was a great character and full of depth. It was interesting to see the flashes to the past so I could get to know her more. Really added a lot of understanding.
This book is most certainly a twisted read and one that will make you wonder, and keep you guessing until the last minute.
Thank you to @tornightfire and @netgalley for this e-arc. I appreciate it so much.
I’ve been a huge fan of this series, but the last book or so, including this one, have left me wanting. I have been left feeling unsatisfied and that I’ve been a huge fan of this series, but the last book or so, including this one, have left me wanting. I have been left feeling unsatisfied and that they are just filler books. Each time I tell myself that the next one is going to be amazing because the epilogues sound fantastic, but that hasn’t happened yet. That being said, will I keep reading them? Yeah, I will because I know how good they once were and I keep hoping we will get back there.
I loved the touch her and die dynamic that was going on but I did struggle with the couple as a whole. They felt off to me.
Thank you to netgalley and sourcebooks Casablanca for the e-arc. All thoughts are my own. 3.5 stars rounded down. ...more
If you’re looking for an edge of your seat horror book, then read this one.
Thank you to G.P Putnam Sons @putnambooks and @netgalley for the e-arc copIf you’re looking for an edge of your seat horror book, then read this one.
Thank you to G.P Putnam Sons @putnambooks and @netgalley for the e-arc copy. All thoughts are my own.
Willow made an unfortunate tweet and was cancelled. She deals with it by getting drunk, and passing out in a swimming pool so her agent sends her to Camp Castaway.
Camp Castaway is a camp set in the woods with no technology, full of campers needing to escape.
Unfortunately, things aren’t as idyllic as they seem, and it isn’t long before Willow gets threatening messages, and she finds a mutilated doll. Soon after, campers go missing and start losing their heads.
Is Willow about to get cancelled all over again?
I had a lot of fun with this book. The author does a good job writing horror, and I love reading it. I loved that despite it being a slasher book it didn’t feel over gory and had an interesting storyline. My biggest hang up with this book, and its not a huge hang up, is that this book felt very much YA despite being a slasher book. I enjoyed that this book took an interesting look at cancel culture and how everyone was running from something at the camp. I also enjoyed how there was a bit of humor mixed in as well. The character development was also great and getting to know Willow and Dani was fantastic. It was interesting how one sentence can be taken out of context and cause a whole lot of problems, and I think that is often something we are seeing more of in this day and age of online presences, and this book did a fascinating job of highlighting that....more
Chelsea was living her best life and had everything she wanted. Then out of nowhere her husband tells her he wants a divorce. The irony of the whole tChelsea was living her best life and had everything she wanted. Then out of nowhere her husband tells her he wants a divorce. The irony of the whole thing is, shes a marriage therapist. So, she tries to get him back and just when she thinks its working, he announces he’s engaged.
Chelsea takes refuge in the small-town lake cabin she and her ex share and tries to get on with her life.
There’s just something so idyllic about the town and then she meets Knox and he’s perfect too. But maybe sometimes things are too good to be true.
I think that I went into this book expecting it to be like a different book because that is what someone compared it too. This gave me really high expectations because I loved that book. This book is broken into three parts. Part 1 was alright, though it felt a little out there in some regards, however I was willing to go with it because I really wanted this book to work. It felt like a hallmark movie, and I was lapping it up. I love romcoms and I was hoping for that so hard. Part 2 came along and well, my feelings towards this book really shifted and things started going way south. Like then it kept going and so did my feelings. Then Part 3 didn’t help, and I really just hated it. This ending was worse the worst type of ending for me. I know some people out there love books where they can make it all up in their minds, but I don’t. I needed something and what I got wasn’t enough. While I think that this book could have been a lot of fun, I didn’t appreciate how the author went about it.
Thank you to @kensingtonbooks and @netgalley for this e-arc. All thoughts are my own. ...more
There’s something in the lake. It should have been filled years ago. That’s what the locals say at least.
Meg will do anything to earn her friend forgThere’s something in the lake. It should have been filled years ago. That’s what the locals say at least.
Meg will do anything to earn her friend forgiveness. They haven’t talked to her since she got suspended.
So, when they all meet at Wren hall, she will do anything. Too bad Wren hall is hiding secrets. Will any of Meg or her friends survive the weekend?
I love gothic horror books, they are some of my favorites, and this book did not disappoint. This book is for the older end of the YA spectrum, but not because it is graphic, but because it is intense. The intensity of the writing just jumps off the page and the story felt so real. The book was so atmospheric it was great. The main character was a lot of fun, but she was a tad predictable at times. The cast of side characters were great, however there were quite a few of them. The dual timelines were great and easy to keep up with, it also kept the story interesting. Since this is a gothic story, the pacing is on the slower side, but there was plenty to hold my interest, so my mind didn’t wander. I also enjoyed that this story was pulled from Edgar Allen Poe, that was a nice touch, and I loved the author’s note.
If you are looking for an utterly immersive YA gothic horror, then you need to check this book out.
Thank you to @delacortepress and @netgalley for this e-arc. All thoughts are my own. ...more
Detective Elise wonders is Karen was murdered because of a man she met online. While the townspeople are blaming Karen for her own death, others are bDetective Elise wonders is Karen was murdered because of a man she met online. While the townspeople are blaming Karen for her own death, others are banding together to protest societies violence against women. Kiki is just reporting on it all, and aggravating Elise in the process.
Kiki is struggling as a single mom but solving the mystery of who killed Karen would put her back on the map and revitalize her career. Can she figure it out before the killer strikes again?
I didn’t love but I didn’t hate this book. It was a solid mystery, but it is slower paced, and easy to figure out. While I really wanted to enjoy this one more, I feel that it fell victim to trying to fit too many hot topic items into one book. I am noticing a trend right now where this is happening, and I can say that I am not a fan. It feels like we are taking a handful of pasta and throwing it at the wall and hoping some of the noodles, hot topics, stick or resonate with our readers. Not to say this book was bad, I really think that it had some fabulous potential and had some awesome points going for it. This book is told through three different points of view, and I really felt connected to one of them. It was interesting how while two of the characters made sense and were connected the third was kind of loosely connected and we needed to figure out why. I think the short chapters, while usually my preferred reading style, really through things off here because just when I got into it, we switched, so they were just a little too short. Despite having a lot of hot button topics, this book did make me think and was thought provoking. While this wasn’t my favorite read of the year, I would recommend it to certain readers who I know would enjoy it.
If you are looking for mystery told from three different points of view and touches on several different hot topic items, then this is the book for you.
Thank you to @berkleypub and @netgalley for this e-arc. All thoughts are my own. ...more
When Lorelei’s mentor is murdered, there are five suspects each with their own motive. There’s only one person she can trust, her academic rival.
LoreWhen Lorelei’s mentor is murdered, there are five suspects each with their own motive. There’s only one person she can trust, her academic rival.
Lorelei and her rival must work hand in hand to uncover the truth and resist the feelings that are growing for each other. Can they figure this out before the killer strikes again?
This was a really fun sapphic folklore with a gorgeous cover. I think that this book was more character driven than plot drive. Not to say that nothing happens with the plot, I just feel that we did a deeper dive into the characters than we went places with the plot, and while sometimes I struggle with this, that was not the case here. This book did start a little slow, but it felt that it was because of the intense world building to me more than anything and I enjoyed it. After a little bit, the pacing did pick up and the story took off. My biggest complaint about this one is that it seemed more YA than adult. I had to look it up but it is most definitely adult and not YA, despite reading more YA in my opinion. While this isn’t inherently wrong, it did create a disconnect that I couldn’t reconcile and caused me some frustration. However, despite that, I really did enjoy this story and had a lot of fun with it!
If you are looking for sapphic folklore retelling then you need to check this book out, it is a lot of fun.
Thank you to @delreybooks and @netgalley for this e-arc. All thoughts are my own.
If you are looking for a thriller with quite a bit of gore then this is the book for you!
Thank you to @daturabooks and @netgalley for this e-arc, alIf you are looking for a thriller with quite a bit of gore then this is the book for you!
Thank you to @daturabooks and @netgalley for this e-arc, all thoughts are my own.
Amanda was once the hottest rising star in the music world but not anymore. So when her old manager calls with the opportunity of a lifetime. For five days, she will be staying in a mansion with five other people and will take one pill. There are no adverse reactions.
It quickly becomes clear to Amanda that the mansion they’re staying in has secrets, the largest of all being there is no way out.
The blurb of this book just sounded fascinating and right up my alley. I loved black mirror so much so was excited to see what the author had done with that as the teaser. However, I never felt fully engaged with this book. I found the pacing to be rather slow, especially for a thriller. Usually, I prefer my thrillers to be faster paced because for me this is how I get engaged, and like I said I just struggled with this one. I kept checking the reviews trying to catch a glimpse of when all the action was supposed to start, and I just kept seeing that everyone loved this book. All that did was make me feel worse for not loving it immediately, but it did keep me reading. I didn’t give up and the action started about 50-60% of the way in though even though there was more “action” it wasn’t any quicker pace, so it was still lacking for me. It did get bloody though, but at least at this point it made sense. By this point of the book, I had already figured out the twists as well, which is always a disappointment for me because I actively try not to figure out the twists as I enjoy being surprised by them.
I think the biggest let down of all is that with the blurb there was so much promise. I had such high hopes that I would be embarking on a nice creepy thrill ride, but that never came to fruition. ...more
For 48 hours, Kat’s mom was married to Jamie’s dad. It all ended with an epic divorce and Kat and Liam haven’t spoken since.
That changed when Kat andFor 48 hours, Kat’s mom was married to Jamie’s dad. It all ended with an epic divorce and Kat and Liam haven’t spoken since.
That changed when Kat and Jamie run into each other at the Sutherland’s. Jamie is a jewel thief trying to go straight and Kat is tagging along. When a Sutherland dies, they realize they might be in danger themselves and the only people they can trust is each other.
The pacing on this one was slow at the beginning and hard to get into, but then things started to pick up and things moved along at a nice pace. Kat and Liam were both interesting characters and they each had some traumas in their pasts. There were a couple of twists that I didn’t entirely see coming and were pretty surprising. There really was a lot going on between all the characters. It was a little difficult to keep track of all the plot points just because of the sheer volume of them all, but they all did work. I enjoyed the epilogue because it wrapped things up nicely and put a nice bow on it all. Overall this one was a really good read, and I had a lot of fun with it.
Thank you to @tbrbeyondtours, the author, @writerkmc, the publisher, @delacortepress as well as @netgalley for e-arc. All thoughts are my own. ...more
This is probably one of my most anticipated books of the year, so it is with great disappointment that I express how let down I was by it. I adored RWThis is probably one of my most anticipated books of the year, so it is with great disappointment that I express how let down I was by it. I adored RWRB and One Last Stop. I own several copies of each of them because I love them so much. Theo and Kit just didn’t work for me. Theo was insufferable and was just a horrible person. I felt that in exchange for character development, we got horniness. And not really for the sake of anything except hooking up, it was a lot. I think that Theo needed to grow a lot as a person and that just didn’t happen over the course of the book. As far as working together, I felt that there was so much history between Kit and Theo, but we never got into that, just they were supposed to be back together. For a second chance romance to work for me I need to know why a couple broke up, why they’re trying again, and how they have overcome why they broke up to begin with. That did not happen here. In this case we got a little, but it was so brief I was unsatisfied and needed more.
I think that this book is about being horny and working your way through Europe. I was expecting more from this author. Now please excuse me while I go cry. ...more
Thank you to @readforeverpub and @netgalley for this e-arc. All thoughts are my own
When Gwen plays violin she can feel the music, Xander is the opposiThank you to @readforeverpub and @netgalley for this e-arc. All thoughts are my own
When Gwen plays violin she can feel the music, Xander is the opposite despite being all about emotion.
Despite both playing at the Manhattan Pop, it took Xandar a year to notice Gwen. When Gwen is offered the role of first chair of the orchestra, something Xander has coveted for years, their hostility for each other rises. But despite it all, Gwen can’t ignore the sizzling chemistry between them.
Now they’re being forced to work together more closely, they can’t help explore their attraction. As the begin to compose and play songs together it’s clear that their powerful connection could put on a performance that would blow the minds of many. Too bad it might get ruined for a publicity stunt.
This book was so amazing! I loved how well written this book was. Julie Soto did it again and did not disappoint. I’d not read a book about professional classical musicians before, and it was perfect. I was transported into the story, and I could hear the music playing. I am a huge fan of rivals to lovers, and it totally worked in this book. Alex and Gwen were made for each other and once they figured that out – amazing. There was so much tension between them I could just feel it oozing off the page and I couldn’t wait for them to figure it out. When we got to the scene from the cover it was so hot. I love when covers play into the story, and this one was just extra special. There wasn’t a ton of spice, but the spice that did exist was well done and not over the top.
I’m still thinking about this book a few days later, it was just that good. This is a book that you are going to want to binge because you won’t want to put it down.
I especially loved the author’s note and how this story came to be. ...more
If you’re looking to dive deep into four different friends’ lives where they have real problems, but they’re on a journey to open a bookshop, and liveIf you’re looking to dive deep into four different friends’ lives where they have real problems, but they’re on a journey to open a bookshop, and live their best bookshop life then look no further.
Celeste, Yasmeen, Toni, and Leslie are on the verge of opening the bookstore of their dreams.
Just when they think they are on the right track, it seems everyone of them is thrown a curveball and they’re not sure they will be able to open the book shop at all.
Can they lean on each other to get through these tough times?
This book follows the lives of four book friends and their friendship journey. It’s a wild ride and each friend has something random and intense going on. Some of them I liked, one of them, not so much. For starters, I found one of the women very insufferable and she made some horrible life choices. I cannot for the life of me figure out how someone with three best friends could make the poor decisions she made, surely, she would at least listen to them and they’d put some sense into her head right? Not over the course of the book, nope. I really didn’t like reading her point of view chapters and it did diminish my enjoyment of the book. However, I enjoyed the other three characters. I found this book to not necessarily be about a bookshop, yes, they are working on opening one. But it was more a character development while they meander their way to opening a bookshop. Nothing huge really happens, but that is okay, I don’t think it needed to, I still enjoyed it. ...more
Mark’s in a recovery program, for assassins. He’s on his way to his one year clean when he’s attacked and goes on the run. He is trying to figure out Mark’s in a recovery program, for assassins. He’s on his way to his one year clean when he’s attacked and goes on the run. He is trying to figure out who is trying to kill him, all while trying not to be killed and without using lethal force. Can he pull it off?
What a fun and fast-paced thriller. This was such a fun premise. I wouldn’t think of a support group for assassins, I have so many questions, but somehow it worked. The program was molded off another very popular 12 step program and it works similarly. I enjoyed how funny this book was. I think the humor brought some much-needed levity to the pages. I loved how the assassins were portrayed. Since they’re in recovery, they use non-lethal approaches to try to figure out what was going on but there was plenty of blood to go around. Quite interesting. This is one that would make a great movie and I would sign up to watch it It was great getting the flashbacks into Mark’s past, it really helped add some depth to his character....more
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