I accidentally deleted this review (whoops) but managed to find a backup, so enjoy this three year old review lol (don't judge it too harshly though, I accidentally deleted this review (whoops) but managed to find a backup, so enjoy this three year old review lol (don't judge it too harshly though, I was still finding my footing with writing reviews)
The Guest List was my first thriller by Lucy Foley, but I will be sure to keep an eye out for anything she writes in the future!
This book was the perfect amount of mystery, atmosphere and thrilling that hooked me from the very beginning and had me engrossed until the last page.
The Guest List follows an exclusive wedding on an island off the Irish coast, but beneath the glamour and spectacle hides secrets that threaten to escape. By the end of the wedding, someone will be dead.
We follow many POVs at the wedding from the bride to the wedding planner. I love stories told in this way, and The Guest List was no exception. I enjoyed seeing all the storylines slowly weave together and had fun trying to guess at how everyone was connected.
The atmosphere was one of the strongest points of the book, amplified for me by the audiobook. I would really recommend trying out the audiobook, as it is narrated by a different person for each character and helped me keep them all straight. It also really added to the intoxicating nature of plot, the feeling that I HAD to keep reading.
In terms of the actual mystery, I guessed a few things- but some others really shocked me. I spent the whole book with a slightly unsettled feeling, knowing that something was wrong about each of the characters, trying to guess their secrets. Most of the time, it left me with that feeling of having a word on the tip of my tongue- so close to the truth, but not quite putting the pieces together. That is the sign of a really good mystery to me, as it shows that clues were planted throughout but not enough to completely give away the twists. The victim was relatively easy to predict, but I never saw the killer coming. That being said, mystery/thrillers are not my typical reads, so to those more experienced in the genre it might be more predictable.
I am not entirely sure what made me hesitate to give this book 5 stars, but I think it has to do with the characters. I am quite a character driven reader, and I felt like I didn't get to see enough depth in these ones. They felt like caricatures at times and didn't fully become their own person. I also felt like some issues were thrown in with not enough care or effort, particularly to do with Olivia. These issues weren't addressed and left me without complete closure after finishing the story.
That being said, in terms of pure enjoyment I would rate this book 5 stars. It was an engaging, tense and twisty read that I would undoubtably recommend.
Thank you to HarperAudio and Libro.fm for this ALC
What if You & Me is the sequel to Yes & I Love You, a book that I really enjoyed (and would definitely recommend!)
While I didn't love this follow up What if You & Me is the sequel to Yes & I Love You, a book that I really enjoyed (and would definitely recommend!)
While I didn't love this follow up as much as the first book, it still had the signature Roni Loren wit and chemistry. If you haven't read the first book, but are interested in this plot- you can definitely go straight into this no worries. You may not get some of the context surrounding Hollyn and Jasper- the couple from the previous book- but it shouldn't detract from your enjoyment.
What if You & Me follows Andi, a true crime podcaster with a troubled past. She struggles with anxiety, and finds it difficult to have lasting relationships due to her trauma. Insert Hill Dawson. A former firefighter who is left stuck in limbo after losing his leg. The unlikely pair quickly develop a bond and maybe even something more.
This book definitely deals with some harder hitting themes, but it also has its fair share of cute, romantic moments. If you want to read a romance that actually has good communication- here is a perfect example! They talked about their triggers and fears and likes and never got annoyed at the other because of them. Thank you Roni loren!
I can't exactly pinpoint what made me like this book less than its predecessor, but one thing I definitely didn't vibe with was the sex scenes. For some reason I found them awkward. Maybe it was because of my experience listening to the audiobook that it felt intrusive- or maybe because of the word choices- I don't completely know. But nevertheless I didn't enjoy them unfortunately. (Obviously this is more a personal issue than anything else though)
Overall, What if You & Me was a super fun and fast paced read that I would definitely recommend- especially if you are a fan of Roni Loren's previous works!...more
Four Hundred Souls is a highly ambitious retelling of Black America's story from 1619-2019 told by 90 different writers. It touches on a myriad of issFour Hundred Souls is a highly ambitious retelling of Black America's story from 1619-2019 told by 90 different writers. It touches on a myriad of issues, everything from the war on drugs to slavery to migration to creativity. Each chapter covers five years and often has a central theme to it. However each is different, for every author writes in a different way. This allowed for diversity in the styles and kept it fresh.
I have mixed feelings about this book to say the least. I am simultaneously glad it was told in the format it was, and also not. It is good because it kept it interesting and less like a history textbook- which it definitely still felt like, but not as much. However, inevitably each reader will connect with certain authors over others. I really enjoyed the way certain authors wrote, but really didn't for others. I wish there was perhaps a smaller pool of contributors to really hone in on those whose style matched the book. I also feel that would solve the problem of the disconnectedness I felt was evident through the book. There wasn't as much continuity and connection between the sections as I normally like.
Additionally, I feel that listening to the audiobook was potentially a hinderance to my enjoyment. While I usually like consuming non-fiction audibly, this one was an anomaly. Perhaps it was that every ten minutes a different narrator would start speaking and it was a bit jarring. Perhaps it is just that this book is better taken in slowly and with the opportunity to go back and reread certain passages. I definitely found it more difficult to retain information than normal.
Overall, I loved the concept of Four Hundred Souls, but unfortunately the execution was a little lacking for me. I am grateful for the opportunity to learn more about a culture and history I am less familiar with as an Australian. However, I wanted certain topics to be delved into a little longer and was less interested in others. ...more
"As George Floyd's death suggests, the knees of the nation have been on the necks of Black America for centuries."
Long Time Coming offers a timely loo"As George Floyd's death suggests, the knees of the nation have been on the necks of Black America for centuries."
Long Time Coming offers a timely look at racism in the US, told in epistolary format with each chapter addressed to black victims and martyrs.
“to be Black in America is often to feel under siege, to feel, in the marrow of our bones, genuine terror.”
This book is a good opening for those looking to begin their journey of educating themselves on modern day racism. It provided clearly presented information in an accessible way, with many of the key base concepts of anti-racism. However, the book lacks a little depth and originality for me. For people who have already been made aware of the institutionalised and deep rooted racism in America, I feel that much of the information will be nothing new. I would have liked to dig a little deeper into some of the topics, because I know this author is definitely capable. Some of the chapters showed this potential, such as the one on cameras, which framed the issue through a different lens, and made it feel more engaging and innovative. The chapter on George Floyd was absolutely chilling, providing a more personal look at racism and changing up the format.
"the camera's framing of black bodies through its lens suggested how so many black bodies were framed by whiteness in a culture that disdained the very image of blackness."
I listened to the audiobook, read the by the author himself, which I think is a good way to go should you have it available to you. Michael Eric Dyson is a preacher, which comes through in the story. Therefore, hearing it audibly feels as if you are hearing speech and invigorates you with the urge to do something. However, this is also the source of one of my other complaints. It felt at times a little... preachy. It could possibly be my lack of spirituality, but I felt some sections or lines to feel as if I were in a church being preached at, which is something I just personally didn't love.
"denied first their bodies, their being; then they are denied control over the social consequences of their nonbeing; finally, they are denied the very changes that only their deaths make possible."
Overall, I think this book is a useful and informative look into racism in America for beginners. However, there weren't many new ideas presented, and some didn't go as much into depth as I was hoping for. It was definitely engaging and accessible, however I didn't love the preachiness of certain sections.
“to be Black in America is often to feel under siege, to feel, in the marrow of our bones, genuine terror.”
The Office of Historical Corrections is a collection of 6 short stories and one novella all written by Danielle Evans. They similar cover themes of raThe Office of Historical Corrections is a collection of 6 short stories and one novella all written by Danielle Evans. They similar cover themes of race, prejudice, womanhood, home and truth but in differing ways from story to story. As is always the case with short story collections, I found some to be stronger than others and just naturally connected with a few more than the rest. When a story was good- it was really good, but I also found a few to be lacking.
➽Happily Ever After This was the first story in the collection, and while it was a solid opening, it didn't really wow me. It followed a woman who works at a titanic replica, and gets invited to participate in a music video shoot. It focuses on her relationship with men, and while some lines were thought provoking I was overall underwhelmed.
➽Richard of York Gave Battle in Vain This short story was about a wedding that goes off the rails and the interconnecting lives of some of the attendees. I was pleasantly surprised by it, and found it to be engaging and exciting.
➽Boys Go To Jupiter Boys Go To Jupiter was undoubtedly one of my favourites in this collection. We follow Claire, a white student who gets labelled racist after wearing a Confederate bikini, and digs herself deeper into the hole when she defends her actions. We learn about her background, and a story of grief and denial surfaces. I liked the ambiguity of the story, and how it didn't tell readers what to think. Whether or not you sympathise with Claire is left to you, but either way it was a thought provoking tale about culpability and ignorance.
➽Alcatraz Alcatraz is one of the stories that has completely erased itself from my memory, which says a lot about my enjoyment of it. It was about a family whose patriarch was dishonourably discharged from the army. Some of his descendants are invited for a family reunion at Alcatraz, where he was imprisoned.
➽Why Won't Women Just Say What They Want? I really enjoyed this one! It discusses apologies, a topic I had never really thought of that deeply before. It shows the unlikely bond fused between the exes of a famous artist who caused suffering to each of them.
➽Anything Could Disappear My absolute favourite of the collection, Anything Could Disappear, kept me on the edge of my seat. It follows a young black woman who boards a bus couriering drugs and exits it becoming the mother of an abandoned baby boy. The ending was heartbreaking, and it was the one that made me most emotionally invested out of the whole collection.
➽The Office of Historical Corrections This was the one novella included, and the title piece of the collection. In reading reviews, this seems to be a favourite for many- so I went in with high expectations. However, they weren't quite met and I was left feeling slightly disappointed. I really liked the premise, but the execution was a bit lacking. Let me be clear, I thought it was well written and had some interesting themes, but I just wasn't as connected to it as I had hoped. This is definitely an unpopular opinion, so I would not dissuade you from picking it up, but perhaps temper your expectations first.
Overall, I really enjoyed this collection. If you have access to the audiobook, I would recommend it as it is narrated by a different person for each story. If I could only recommend three I would be 'Anything Could Disappear', 'Boys go to Jupiter' and 'Why Won't Women Just Say What They Want'.
Thank you to Penguin Random House and for this ALC
Tunnel of Bones is the latest instalment in Victoria Schwab's middle grade paranormal series. After finding the first book slightly underwhelming, I was really pleasantly surprised by how much I enjoyed this one! The characters felt more developed, the ghosts more chilling and the plot more engaging. I won't go into any spoilers for either book in case you are worried about that, either!
In Tunnel of Bones, Cassidy Blake and her best friend/ghost Jacob travel to Paris for the next season of her parent's ghost hunting show. I am completely biased when it comes to anything relating to France, so it really isn't a surprise that I liked the setting more, but it was simply so good. I have always been fascinated by the catacombs and having the chance to 'see' them along with the rest of the city was really interesting.
“It's important to take care of the past. To revisit it, to study and learn. Understanding the past helps us move through the present and discover the future.”
Even more than the setting though, I loved the plot and development of Jacob in particular. It felt much darker and grittier than the first book which I really appreciated. And you can never go wrong with a creepy child. The ghost story this book focused on was simultaneously so terrifying and sad to me. It made the story feel more authentic too, I felt the motivation behind the villain to be realistic- grief and fear are powerful emotions.
“What you can't see is always scarier than what you can. Your eyes play tricks on you, filling in the shadows, making shapes.”
If you read my review of City of Ghosts, you may know that Lara was not my favourite character. Having some distance from her made me appreciate her more, and while I still think she is a caricature, she isn't an annoying one anyone. I also actually liked the new addition to the gang this time around with adele! The friendship between Cassidy and Jacob felt realistic, with all its ups and downs. The ending actually had me bordering on emotional (a feat for me, particular with middle grades).
“You are my best friend. In life. In death. And everything in between.”
Overall, I enjoyed this book even more than the first and cannot wait to continue on with the series! If you haven't picked either book yet, now is the perfect time. And if you weren't completely sold on the first one, I would still recommend at least reading on to the second. ...more
Black Sun is the first instalment in the Between Earth and Sky series, a high fantasy inspired by pre-columbian americas. We follow multiple perspectiBlack Sun is the first instalment in the Between Earth and Sky series, a high fantasy inspired by pre-columbian americas. We follow multiple perspectives from all across this vibrant world, all seemingly separate at the beginning, but soon become entangled with one another's story. While it took me quite a bit of time to get invested in the story, once I became immersed, I was in love.
This story and world is so expansive that I don't even know how to give an accurate summary that does justice to it. In short, this is a story of prophesies, fate, divinity and darkness. In the holy city of Tova, the winter solstice has coincided with the solar eclipse, a rare and dangerous event that could result in the unbalancing of the world.
“There was magic in the world, pure and simple, things she didn't understand. Best get used to it.”
This book opens with a bang, and I think will appeal to more plot driven readers from the get go. As someone who prefers character driven stories, it took me a while to warm up to the story. I was pretty confused about the world and who was who for up to the halfway point. But after that, my feelings had a full 180 and found myself rooting for all the characters (which lead to some very conflicted emotions considering some were working directly against each other.) Despite us following four leads, I think it quite clear that our two main characters were Xiala and Serapio. I am not complaining, considering I found them to be the most interesting and complex, but just found the other perspectives to pale in comparison. I am sure they will be developed further in subsequent books- but for now I definitely have my favourites.
Something I adored about this book was its casual representation and diversity. It felt completely authentic and natural to the world. We had genderqueer characters, the introduction of a third gender using xe/xir pronouns, a spectrum of sexualities and cultures. It didn't feel contrived or added for diversity points at all.
If you are looking for an entirely unique and vibrant fantasy story, I cannot recommend this one enough. If you are feeling overwhelmed and confused by the beginning like me, I would still encourage you to push through because this book is worth it. I cannot wait for the rest of the series to release and see what happens next!
★★★☆☆.5 stars
Thank you to Simon and Schuster Audio and for this ALC
Goodnight Beautiful is a clever and twisty thriller novel that will undoubtably keep you on your toes. We follow newlyweds Sam and Annie who move to aGoodnight Beautiful is a clever and twisty thriller novel that will undoubtably keep you on your toes. We follow newlyweds Sam and Annie who move to a quiet town to get away from the bustle of New York City life. Sam is a therapist and works from home at his downstairs office. But little does he know, the conversations he has with his clients can be overheard through the vent above him. What follows is a dark story of obsession, lies and deceit.
My advice would be to go into the book knowing nothing more, because so many things about this story are really easy to spoil. If you are a fan of the psychological thriller genre and this one seems interesting to you- I would recommend it.
I listened to the audiobook- which I am grateful for being provided by libro.fm- but this is one case in which I would actually recommend reading the words visually rather than audibly. I think the narrators did a good job, but the story is much more suited to physically reading it. Some of the plot twists lost a little of their shock to me because of the way I read it, and I think had I picked up the actual book I would have been much more impressed. That being said, if the audiobook is the only option you have, it is perfectly fine and had me gripped from about the half way point.
I found the beginning to be slow and boring, with the exception of some reveals. I love when books use the writing to trick the reader, and this is a perfect example of that. While I found myself liking the final part better than the beginning, I can acknowledge that this will not be the case for many, particularly those who frequent the genre. It is clearly a nod to a certain popular book that I have never read, but even then can see the inspiration and parallels between. I can definitely see how it would seem generic and disappointing to some readers, but I enjoyed it. Keep in mind that this is likely influenced by my lack of experience within the physiological thriller category.
My main problem was that I didn't care. I didn't care what happened to the characters or even the story. For that reason, the impact the plot twists had on me were diminished. I found myself thinking that they were objectively good, but I didn't have a huge reaction to them. Once again, this could be a side effect of the audiobook, from which I found it quite easy to drift my attention away from and didn't absorb every detail.
Overall, I would definitely not write off Aimee Malloy in the future, and I look forward to picking up another one of books and hopefully having a more positive experience.
This is the third book written-in-verse that I have read this year, and the format has yet to disappoint me!
Apple: Skin to the Core is a memoir recouThis is the third book written-in-verse that I have read this year, and the format has yet to disappoint me!
Apple: Skin to the Core is a memoir recounting the author's experiences, identity and family history in an engaging and often beautiful way. As a white Australian, I was ignorant to many aspects of Native American culture and history. Even the significance of the title and cover were unbeknownst to be when I began, signifying a slur used in Native communities for someone who is "red on the outside, white on the inside."
This book was not written for me, or for the purpose of educating white people as Gansworth acknowledged. I didn't understand every single story, but that is okay. It is so important that this book exists for the people who need it and feel seen as a result.
I listened to Apple as an audiobook, read by the author himself which added a layer of emotion to the experience. This added to the feeling that it was simply Gansworth recounting his life, and I happened to be listening in. I would recommend audibly reading for that reason. However, I think to have the full experience it may be best to have the physical book handy and perhaps switch between them, or listen while looking at the pages. From what I have heard, the print copy has art interspersed which gives it a scrapbook-like quality. I also think seeing some of the poems could enhance the experience, as I often found myself wishing I could see them on the page. If I can manage to find a physical copy, I would love to reread and annotate my favourite lines- of which there were many. I wish I could add some to my review, but I would never be able to do them justice by transcribing them from the audiobook.
A common issue I have seen in reviews is Apple's classification as YA. I have mixed opinions on this discussion. On one hand I fall into the YA age range and happened to really enjoy the book. I think it is critical for teenagers to get a glimpse into the lives of different people and become more accepting and empathetic as a result. For Indigenous teens, I also think the book could be invaluable.
On the other hand, I can definitely see many aspects going over the heads of younger readers or being confronting. I think this may be most appropriate for the older end of the YA spectrum and above. It definitely has adult appeal with 70's nostalgia and countless Beatles references that I wasn't able to appreciate to its full extent. Speaking of the Beatles- Gansworth took the rhyme and rhythm patterns of Beatles songs and constructed some poems around it. Once that was explained I had a whole new appreciation for the effort that went into the book, but I think someone more familiar with their songs will enjoy it even more.
Overall, I would highly recommend this book for anyone who enjoys memoirs, but perhaps wants to experience them in a different format. I truly believe everyone can take something different from the story, and I hope if it sounds like something you would enjoy, you give it a chance!
The Original is a novella length sci-fi novel, available exclusively as an audiobook. It is set in a futuristic world and follows a woman named Holly The Original is a novella length sci-fi novel, available exclusively as an audiobook. It is set in a futuristic world and follows a woman named Holly who discovers that she is a clone created to kill her 'original'. The original Holly has been accused of killing her husband, but nothing is certain in this world built on appearances and 'theming'. Holly has four days to prove innocence, or kill her original and take her place.
I love audiobooks, but I was daunted by this one because of the genre. I typically prefer to read SFF books physically, as it helps me to grasp the world and all its details more easily. With these kinds of books, listening passively for just 30 seconds can really pull me out of the story and make me lose my bearings. This proved to be the case with this book, but not to as a great an extent as I had feared. I feel like I definitely missed some details and would perhaps benefit from a second listening. However, I think this audiobook was perfectly produced. Julia Wheelan expertly narrated the story and I realise appreciated the sound effects and music throughout. They weren't too loud that it drowned out the narrator, and they added tension and suspense to the storyline.
I really enjoyed the themes explored in the book: reality, identity and morality. While pretty typical for sci-fi, the production, plot and short length made it feel refreshed and compelling. It was easy to get hooked into the story from the get go, and made for a really immersive experience.
However, the short run time was also a factor in why I didn't absolutely love the book. I felt like we didn't get enough time to fully flesh out the characters and the world, and would have preferred to take a little more time to do so. But as complaints go, wanting more isn't the worst thing in the world and is probably a side effect of me being used to full lengths novels. I don't think this is the type of book that I will find myself thinking about for years to come, but that's okay! I think it is just important to set your expectations right before starting it.
I appreciated the ending, and think it was probably the best way to go- but I still didn't feel completely satisfied. If you prefer your mysteries completely wrapped up and explained, maybe give this one a miss.
Overall, I found The Original to be a fast paced, quick and immersive experience. If it is available to you and the premise sounds intriguing- I would give it a go! If worst comes to worst, it is only a few hours of your time.
“Reconsideration is what history is all about; history doesn’t care what you feel. I had to be OK with being uncomfortable with whatever I would find “Reconsideration is what history is all about; history doesn’t care what you feel. I had to be OK with being uncomfortable with whatever I would find out about my family.”
Wandering in Strange Lands is a memoir mixed with cultural history and social commentary. Morgan Jerkins investigates the Great Migration while tracing back her family history. This book provided many interesting and thought provoking facts that aren’t necessarily taught at schools. However it suffered from its lack of emotional connection.
Morgan Jerkin’s personal connection with the topic meant the book had potential to be heightened in terms of emotion. However, it felt quite detached from the facts and history interspersed. I would have loved to see the two parts of the story interweave in a larger and more nuanced way.
Some aspects will definitely stick with me (such as the section about water) but not the book as a whole. At some places it felt a bit dense which made it difficult for me to stay engaged.
Overall, I found this book to be an interesting look at American history through a black lens, and undoubtedly well researched. However, due to a lack of emotional connection it felt at time more like a textbook at times than a memoir/non-fiction read.
I cannot decide how I felt about this book. On the one hand, it was an incredibly well written, importan"If nobody sees you, are you still there?”
I cannot decide how I felt about this book. On the one hand, it was an incredibly well written, important and emotional novel. On the other, it was too short to get fully invested, had too many characters and not enough of the most complex and engaging one- Vivek.
We begin the story with the end, the death of Vivek Oji. The book then backtracks and tells the story of Vivek from birth to untimely death. Throughout, there are deeply relevant discussions of identity, acceptance and an overarching theme of love- in all its messiness. This book was thematically brilliant, but my main issue was that it seemed to be trying to pack in too many topics, characters and storylines into too short a page count. If it were a bit more fleshed out, I think it could have packed much more of an emotional punch. We follow everyone from Vivek's parents, cousin, grandmother, friends- and some who I could not even discern their purpose of being in the book. I may well have not being paying as much attention as I could have in some sections, so perhaps upon reread I will connect more.
My favourite parts about The Death of Vivek Oji:
the writing The writing was simply breathtaking- beautiful at times and ugly at others- but always in purposeful and masterful way.
the setting Set in South-Eastern Nigeria, the setting is vibrant and culturally rich. However, Akwaeke Emezi does not shy away from the prejudice and discrimination evident.
Vivek Oji For a book seemingly about Vivek, there wasn't nearly enough of the character. For the most part, we only see Vivek through other peoples eyes. For this reason, I never really felt like I knew the real Vivek. This could very well be the intention of the author, as the tagline for this book is "What does it mean for a family to lose a child they never really knew?" But I think it did the book a disservice.
Overall, my feelings towards this novel are conflicted. I know this will be a hit for many, and for good reason- it is mostly for personal reasons that I couldn't connect to it as deeply as others. If the premise and themes intrigue you, I would without a doubt recommend it.
Thank you to Penguin Random House and for this ALC
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