This was an easily digestible read, even with some of the more difficult subject matter that is discussed, and it was just what I needed when I read iThis was an easily digestible read, even with some of the more difficult subject matter that is discussed, and it was just what I needed when I read it.
This was great for what it was, giving a look into the one... and also many lives of queer women in the world. While this is personal essays and anecdotes from Allyson McQuat, this is completely relatable. I enjoyed her candid tales of motherhood, sexuality and life. This was bold and fun and completely bingeable. ...more
Good lord this was such a breath of fresh air!! I was smiling, I was giggling, I was swooning… the ENTIRE TIME!!!
This book is sweet and silly and absoGood lord this was such a breath of fresh air!! I was smiling, I was giggling, I was swooning… the ENTIRE TIME!!!
This book is sweet and silly and absolutely everything that is good in the world. With characters that you immediately fall for, flaws and all, and a super fun and engaging story that had me flipping pages welllllll past my bedtime.
We follow Naomi and Luca as they start out as reluctant pen pals back in grade school… they continue writing these hilarious hate mail letters to one another through the years, with this just purely adorable banter throughout.
They stopped suddenly though, and now Naomi is living her best life, working as a weather girl and loved by many. Suddenly, the letters start up again. She and her friend decide to track Luca down, since the two have NEVER met face to face. She doesn’t even know what he looks like. It’s bittersweet though… just as she is finding joy in the ridiculous letters back and forth with Luca, a new man enters her life… and her apartment building… Will things be able to work out with her new neighbor while she is still thinking about Luca? Does he even stand a chance?
This book is sweet, sweet sugary goodness. There is a touch of steam - which I found was the perfect amount. The writing is fantastic, and characters are so freaking fun. This was just all around a good time!...more
This is a sweeping and imaginative tale and I had such a good time.
The entire vibe of this book worked so well for me. These characters are wonderful,This is a sweeping and imaginative tale and I had such a good time.
The entire vibe of this book worked so well for me. These characters are wonderful, and each with so much that they bring to the book. And the dog?!?!? Perfection. Animal companions in fantasy are always a huge treat and Kutaa was perfection!
Kajal is determined to bring her sister back from the dead, no matter the cost. But, when her sister’s soul becomes a killing monster, Kajal is blamed for the destruction and is locked up.
Freedom comes at the hands of rebels, needing Kajal to resurrect the crowned prince and save the usurped throne, but the one she resurrects is not the prince…
Now, Kajal is even farther away from being able to reunite her sister’s soul and body. She must work with the boy she resurrected to find the prince so she can get back to saving her sister… before her sister kills her.
This has some great action, some dire situations and wonderful world building. I can’t wait for more!...more
This was an intricate and fast paced read that had it's hooks in me from the first chapter.
Locked away memories resurface when Anna shoots a man in thThis was an intricate and fast paced read that had it's hooks in me from the first chapter.
Locked away memories resurface when Anna shoots a man in the line of duty. She has come a very long way from the childhood she experienced. Parsing through the wonderful and terrible memories of her father, Anna becomes aware that she is the daughter of an infamous serial killer, but all of that information was suppressed when she was adopted.
When her team begins investigating a new string of murders that are eerily similar to the crimes of her father, Anna is fearful that everything will come crashing down around her. There is a copycat on the loose because her father was put to death for the murders he committed, and Anna is in a unique position to uncover the identity of the new killer, while hopefully staying under the radar.
I thought this was really unique. The mystery and thrilling aspects of this book held up from beginning to end. I got invested in the characters and the paranormal levels to the story. So well done!...more
I wasn't aware this was the second book in a series when I went into it, so I hope that I didn't miss out on a whole chunk of this world... this book I wasn't aware this was the second book in a series when I went into it, so I hope that I didn't miss out on a whole chunk of this world... this book was such a treat!
This felt like intense thriller mixed with cozy fantasy and I am here for the combo. We get a creepy secret society, the Toadmen, which-lets face it-wasn't that big of a secret, really... and Merry who will do anything in her power to get one of her best friends (and her one unrequited love) Teddy to stop from joining. Meanwhile, a rival of hers, Caraway approaches her for help.
Thinking this is a two birds, one stone sort of situation, Merry teams up with Caraway in order to help him, but also to help Teddy. The one hitch... she is learning that behind Caraway's cold as ice glamour he never removes, he is very different from who she always thought he was. As she gets closer to him, she learns more and more about the goings on of the Toadmen, putting herself in very real danger. It seems as though Caraway is hiding some of his own secrets and Merry has a hard time coming to terms with the truth.
This book was just all vibes! I loved it. From the moment Caraway comes on the scene I was here for the rivals to something more feel that I got. And, it only got better. The Toadmen are seriously bizarre, as a whole idea. It is the typical secret society ideology... Climbing through the ranks of success on the backs of others, but with these really great magical elements that make them even scarier.
This book has it all, though. There is a thrilling plot, a dark magical haze, some romance, and dangerous people looking to hold dominion over Merry when she gets too close to the truth. I highly recommend this book and definitely want to go back and read the first book in the series....more
This is my second read from this author and the two books couldn't be more different. I think that showcases Sweeney's scope and ability, as they haveThis is my second read from this author and the two books couldn't be more different. I think that showcases Sweeney's scope and ability, as they have both been amazing for what they were. This book shows the intricacies of small town dynamics, relationships between friends and family members, and dealing with grief.
Jules, her cousin Remy and their best friend-turned-Remy's-boyfriend, River grew up together; the best of friends through their entire childhood. When River dies, it shakes their entire bedrock... but when Remy goes missing just a week later, Jules is left reeling. She has lost her tethers, but she is determined to find Remy, not even wanting to entertain the idea that she could be dead.
Sam, River's cousin arrives in town, and even though he wears River's face, he is wholly different. So, why does Jules find herself drawn to him? Jules and Sam form an alliance and try to figure out the deeper, and much darker secrets that Remy and subsequently River were hiding...
This had such a fantastic flow. The events that play out do so in such a way that I was holding my breath waiting for the next big blow to hit. I love when YA doesn't shy away from going into the dark stuff and this one kind of goes there. I had a great time reading this one!...more
On the surface, this book is a slice of life look into one single day between Kathleen and her husband Virgil, but underneath, this does a great job sOn the surface, this book is a slice of life look into one single day between Kathleen and her husband Virgil, but underneath, this does a great job showcasing the complexities of marriage, partnership, betrayal, and the moment you make the decision to face it all head on.
I thought this was thought provoking and quirky. I enjoyed the writing style, though it took me a few beats to get used to the jump around timeline.
This was a super short intriguing read set in the 50s, that felt both tragic and hopeful at the same time....more
This book and the journey the characters take brought very real tears to my eyes.
This is a queer ya supernatural thriller that I think was so well donThis book and the journey the characters take brought very real tears to my eyes.
This is a queer ya supernatural thriller that I think was so well done. It’s both in your face and nuanced at the same time, with levels that you peel back as you read.
YA thrillers have been my catnip lately, and if it has a supernatural twist, I am going to be even more inclined to read it. And this one had it all.
The characters are really well thought out, going through real issues, coming to terms with themselves and finding who they are. Overall, this book is an homage to growing up queer and learning who you are in that space and outside of it. But, we also get this mysterious paranormal subplot!
Three friends who bond over their shared queerness find solace in an old abandoned house that seems to be there just to protect them. Running from life at home, the three venture to the house one night but only two make it back… gone along with Mallory are Fern’s and Jaq’s memories of that night. Five years later, Fern and Jaq are in the cusp of adulthood, living completely separate lives with no memory of their friendship or their queer identities, just a vague feeling they both get randomly.
Slowly, something starts happening… and they start to remember little by little. They must figure out what happened to their friend and come to terms with their queerness, coming out, and what exactly happened in that house all those years ago.
With a riveting first page, this book immediately throws you into the deep end. I knew it was going to be good insWow, this was hands down phenomenal!
With a riveting first page, this book immediately throws you into the deep end. I knew it was going to be good instantly. It was a five star prediction by chapter one.
A cop with an addiction problem, a past filled with repressed memories…
The day after a well known serial killer, Father Silence is put to death, one of the police officers who arrested him all those years ago is found dead. Now a new killer calling himself the Outcast is prowling, scooping up children as he goes.
Tess, the daughter of the now murdered arresting officer has spent her life trying to get away from Father Silence and the cloud that surrounds her memories of that time in her childhood. When the Outcast kidnaps her daughter, she is pulled back into that whole mess, encouraging her addictive tendencies. She will stop at nothing to find her daughter, learning more about the Outcast and Father Silence in the process.
This perfectly pairs crime thriller with cultish horror! There are so many level to this story, and as you peel them back, more horrors bleed out. From start to finish, this book had me locked in!...more
I have only ever read one other book by this author, but both have been so freaking enjoyable!
This book has some intricate writing. The story is so coI have only ever read one other book by this author, but both have been so freaking enjoyable!
This book has some intricate writing. The story is so compelling. I found myself thinking about the case and the characters whenever I wasn’t actively reading this in the two days it took me to read.
There are some fantastic mysterious elements, an action packed plot line and some really perfect supernatural levels inside of this book. I highly recommend if you’re looking for a thriller with creepy, unexplainable supernatural aspects....more
Oh my goodness, I had so much silly fun with this one!
I adored Mavis!! She was so real! Juggling all of the things, all the time. Her relationship witOh my goodness, I had so much silly fun with this one!
I adored Mavis!! She was so real! Juggling all of the things, all the time. Her relationship with her daughter Pearl was incredibly sweet. I love when young children are written realistically in regards to how they act and what they say.
This book has so much to enjoy. There is the dramatic moms element, where Mavis reluctantly joins the PTA filled with typical lulu lemon mommies with lots of opinions. We have a potential romance plot. Mavis is a single mom and she isn’t sure she is ready to be dating with so much on her plate, but there is such a pull to a school staff member who becomes her partner in crime… solving! There is also a fun mystery plot that we get throughout where Mavis flexes her amateur sleuth skills to find out what happened to the missing school principal.
I really loved Mavis. She was funny and engaging. The humor sprinkled through this book was perfection. Such a fun read....more
A fully engaging and eye opening collection from some incredible Palestinian voices.
I have been spending a lot of time educating myself on not only ocA fully engaging and eye opening collection from some incredible Palestinian voices.
I have been spending a lot of time educating myself on not only occupied Palestine, but colonialism in general. This brought to my attention things I hadn’t thought about before. Education is never over. Push yourself to learn about things that make you uncomfortable.
This doesn’t talk, really, about the rubbled state of how Gaza is currently with the bombardment of bombs dropped, but showcases the ongoing torment they have faced throughout the last century. Things like what it would take to rebuild… what the process looks like. Personal stories and accounts of life in Gaza are shared in this book and one thing I see over and over again when Palestinian people are shown, how even in the face of oppression, they love and respect their home.
This was perfectly atmospheric. The edge of panic starts early and ramps up at an anticipatory pace, and had me on edge the whole time.
This was all viThis was perfectly atmospheric. The edge of panic starts early and ramps up at an anticipatory pace, and had me on edge the whole time.
This was all vibes… unsettling at its finest. There wasn’t anything about the way this book plays out that I didn’t think was perfectly done for this particular situation. You’re going along with this story not knowing who, if anyone, you can trust.
Immediately upon starting this, I got an anxious feeling, dread sitting right in my gut. And the feeling progresses throughout. Just a really enjoyable book that mixes home invasion vibes with haunted house horror.
Interspersed with our protagonist’s story, we get these snippets of documents in various forms of the history of house that is the backdrop of the book. We get other accounts of things having to do with the house and the area and I thought it gave more of an authentic feel to the story as a whole.
I definitely recommend this one if you like character driven psychological supernatural thrillers....more
This was incredibly sweet! This was just pulpy, wholesome goodness!
This was a recommendation and I can absolutely see why people love this book, love This was incredibly sweet! This was just pulpy, wholesome goodness!
This was a recommendation and I can absolutely see why people love this book, love this author… I am definitely on board to read more from this author.
Nick and Andy are besties… The year is 1950 something and they are working together at a newspaper. Nick is gay and hiding it and Andy is finding himself looking at Nick differently all of a sudden. Deeper, and with a different kind of intensity. Nick never imagined something could ever BE between he and Andy, the man he has been suppressing feelings for since they met and became friends.
It’s a terrifying time to be gay, though, and the two of them have to manage their feelings and their terrain at the same time.
I LOVE Nick and Andy separately, but together they are just so beautiful ...more
I will always gravitate towards a thriller featuring a reunited friend group who dealt with something horrific happening in their past. When they all I will always gravitate towards a thriller featuring a reunited friend group who dealt with something horrific happening in their past. When they all must reunite because those buried secrets have resurfaced, I’m ON BOARD! I loved that about this one.
I enjoyed the beginning of this book. I enjoyed the chapters that depict the past and how everything built up to this main event that shaped this group of people.
It’s the second half of the book that had my interest waning some. This wasn’t bad, in fact it was very entertaining. This has a great creepy purity culture aspect rampant with predatory nature. All in all, quite enjoyable, I just wish that the intensity of the first half carried over into the remainder of the book....more
What pulled me into the book: the really intricate dynamics between the characters. Wow! There is so mucWhat drew me to the book: THE COVER and TITLE…
What pulled me into the book: the really intricate dynamics between the characters. Wow! There is so much going on in the lives of the people in this book. There are so many things going on behind the scenes and it was such a great aspect of the story.
A group of couples and friends book a trip to this gorgeous Astrology House. They all have their various reasons for their stay, all quite different… though nit all of them take stock in astrology at all.
These people are MESSY, folks! And I loved it! Between influencers who carefully curate their entire lives according to their feed, to infertility, to infidelity, to possible murder…? This book has it ALL.
The big reveal wasn’t exactly what I was hoping for, which was the only reason this wasn’t a five star. Even with the way the end plays out, it was still incredibly enjoyable as a whole!...more
I had a ridiculously good time with this book. It was dark and morbid, but funny and touching in some ways.
A family locked away when the patriarch falI had a ridiculously good time with this book. It was dark and morbid, but funny and touching in some ways.
A family locked away when the patriarch falls from grace… Siblings who are all subjected to their father’s paranoia and their mother’s obsession with armchair psychoanalysis… A plot to kill and end their suffering…
There were moments when the humanity of Casandra, Calia, and Caleb’s parents peeked through, but wow, were they messy!!! Their father was right hand to a dictator, but his decline in power has built up fear and paranoia in the man, causing the decision to lock his family away in their crumbling home. Their mother is obsessed with dissecting their brains, looking for what is causing them to be such troublesome children. The damage this woman inflicts… oof!
Cassandra, her younger brother Caleb, and their younger sister Calia are all weird in their own ways, which are equally entertaining. It was FOR SURE the contrasting personalities that had me so locked into this book. All vibes, no reasoning!
The siblings realize that they will have to take matters into their own hands if they want to be free from their tyrannical parents, as well as the actual tyrannical ruler they collectively live under…
All around, this was incredibly entertaining! It was exactly what I needed when I read it.
I enjoyed the bonds formed between the characters. FBI AgentAll around, this was incredibly entertaining! It was exactly what I needed when I read it.
I enjoyed the bonds formed between the characters. FBI Agent, Susan Parker is smack dab in the center of an investigation into a notorious killer, putting her family in danger. Her team, though?!? Chef’s kiss! I loved them…
It’s been a year since her husband’s suicide and Susan is still healing. Taking a break from work when an altercation got her in big trouble, she is spending more time with her daughter. She is pulled back in to a case when her name and number are left at the scene of a grisly murder, so she kind of has no choice… Also, it is connected to a case she is VERY familiar with.
Falling down a rabbit hole of dead therapists, kidnapped and tortured patients refusing to speak and still reeling from her husband’s suicide, Susan desperately needs to solve this case.
The one major qualm I had with the book is the ending… I could not tell if it is setting up for another installment or if it was just the way it ended… I NEED to know....more
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