The Finalists (David Bell)

 

The Finalists
David Bell
⭐: 4/5

Pros: great plot idea, loved the historical background, loved the diverse characters. I kind of had a feeling from the start of "who done it", but was wrong, so that was nice.

I was kept guessing the whole while. Props for that.

Cons: politics are not my most favorite subject ever and it felt like they were a light undertone in this. It's good to bring attention to things and I felt it wasn't overdone, I just thought, "really?" several times. Then again, that's how I feel in general with them, so this point may be completely irrelevant for some of y'all.

Conclusion: if you want a fairly fast paced "who done it", see if you like this. You've seen my pros and cons, so hopefully they help!

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The Children on the Hill (Jennifer McMahon)

 

The Children on the Hill
Jennifer McMahon
⭐: 4/5

Pros: the duality of human nature is certainly explored in this work and I give mad props for the creative ways in which it's done.

I appreciated the twist towards the end. I thought I'd figured everything out, and did some of it, but not that switch up! I'd say the last 25% of the book is what held my attention the most, though the prior 75% was necessary to plot and character build.

I'm a fan historical sciences (I'm a scientist myself), so definitely was intrigued by how TCOTH presented it.

Cons: I personally am not in love with repeated information, especially in excess. This can be in the form of word repetition in paragraphs or the same ideas over and over. There's a book title that is said so many times, authors included, that I thought, "Again? How many times is that now?" Its existence is important, as are those who wrote it, but I felt it was overemphasized that way.

I also felt the description fell short. While it was there, it didn't feel creatively presented. Everything was a list of what was in the room or what was learned. I'd like to have seen it woven more organically via actions and conversations.

Conclusion: if you want something that's suspenseful and about medical history, give this a go. However, if you're ridiculously meticulous about how stories are written and presented, you may not love it. I think the bones of the story are fabulous, but just wasn't thrilled about the execution of animating them.

The Broken Vows (Daniel Hurst)

 

The Broken Vows
Daniel Hurst
⭐: 5/5

OKAY, THEN. If you were a fan of Verity and had the #TeamManuscript or #TeamLetter dilemma, this is one for you! Only with a new take by the time we learn of these things. No, I'm not giving too much away!

Pros: I cannot count the times I say, "oh my gosh!" While this book could come off predictable to a small degree, the wording and plotting felt so intricate and delicious that even if I knew what was going to happen, I'd forget I knew it until it did. Those are the best kinds of stories!

The character development is strong, given there are primarily 3 MCs all involved in one plot with many layers. This also means the plot development itself also had accolades to be sung about. I couldn't get enough!

Cons: I don't think this is necessarily a con, but this is my standard review format, so I'd say if cancer and/or cheating of any sort bothers you, you should think before you pick this up. I wasn't triggered by either despite having experienced both in one form or another.

Conclusion: if you want something full of revenge, manipulating, "things aren't always what they seem", and wow factors, pick this up like five minutes ago!

I'm Glad My Mom Died (Jennette McCurdy)

I'm Glad My Mom Died
Jennette McCurdy
⭐: 5/5

Calling all children of truly difficult parents: this book is for us. We are not alone. Also, this review will not be my standard pro/con format. (For those of you who know me and my mother, it is what it is. Talk to me, not about me, if you don't like this review.)

Initially, I was skeptical. The title is a bold thing to say, but I knew deep down it wasn't without reason. As I listened to Jennette tell her story, I felt the little girl in me being drawn to her. I was a plethora of emotions throughout the whole ride.

I related to the hoarding issues, to the mother being emotionally reliant on everyone but herself, to the struggle it takes to face oneself, and to the eating disorder. I still struggle with the latter, though I've had more control than it has for more than a decade now. I loathe that Jennette had to go through all she did, but damn it, I'm also really proud of her for being willing to go head first into all the traumas that followed her into adulthood and to show them who's boss! I'm proud that she's continuing to do what it takes to find peace and happiness. I admire her for being true to herself, even when it's difficult.

I also loved how raw she was. She says what every kid probably does when we're little, but that we never admit to. She's hilarious and I giggled more than a few times, too.

I don't normally get star struck, but I think I wouldn't mind having coffee (or a drink) with this girl! I totally understand dysfunctional relationships with mothers, as well as overcoming oneself and eating disorders. I also love how raw, blunt, and unfiltered she is.

Jennette, thank you for sharing your story! I'm sure you've gotten a lot of flack, but I'm here cheering you on for what it's worth! Even if the world doesn't like it, this stuff still happens, so it needs to just deal with it!

Suicide Med (Freida McFadden)

 

Suicide Med
Freida McFadden
⭐: 5/5

First, I must absolutely own this!

Pros: if you love science, specifically anatomy, and have any sort of medical background, you might nerd out like I did while reading about specific lab scenes. I also had to giggle about formaldehyde not being so noticable over time. I remember those days well!

Next, the format of this book surprised me with how well it was done. Essentially, it's one situation seen from a few different perspectives but isn't confusing to follow. I was blown away with how much more depth each character got once their own chapters came along and almost wish I could read more like this!

Last, that ending... Didn't feel overly rushed. Everyone was addressed and when I read "the end", my only words were, "WOW. Also, WTF... It's already 1AM? This was definitely a 'just one more chapter... Yeah, right' book!" Always a great reaction to have!

Cons: there's a specific situation that occurs with a character named Abe that my science brain can't wrap my head around and I know McFadden is a doctor in real life, so it's got to be plausible, but I wish we'd had a little more info about infection aftermath. She gave a lot of info overall, but I'm curious by nature and will probably rabbit hole that topic soon.

Conclusion: if you're a science/health/medical nerd like I am who appreciates well-executed format and character development, as well as a thorough and engaging plot, you really need to give this a "shot"... Pun intended.

Someone We Know (Shari Lapena)

 

Someone We Know
Shari Lapena
⭐: 4/5

Just... WHOA.

Pros: tech isn't really my thing, but I was sucked in from page one of this! The story relies heavily on technology, but still also is character driven and well written.

I had my suspicions throughout about "who done it", though I was quite surprised at the ending! When I wasn't able to be reading, my mind was still soaked up into this twisted tale!

Cons: I really can't think of any. The writing style is unique when it comes to character povs and that might bother some, but it didn't me.

Conclusion: if you're interested in a twisty story with several plausible, get-to-the-point, of-course-they-think-the-husband-did-it, this is your book. Every question I'd have asked in others, this one immediately poses and answers. I loved the rawness of that aspect! This was definitely a great impulse grocery store buy!

I Liked My Life (Abby Fabiaschi)

 

I Liked My Life
Abby Fabiaschi
⭐: 5/5
*Buddy read with my lovely "bonus sister", caffeinereadrepeat on Instagram. She's amazing and you should go follow her for more book reviews!

This book wrecked but simultaneously healed me.

Pros: grief has been a friend of mine for some time now, so seeing it in I Liked My Life was refreshing. It's nice to know I'm not alone in the isolation and immense growth I was forced into.

My grief wasn't specific to death, either, so in those aspects, I felt like I had revelations in how to deal with or think about things, as well as to have grace with myself.

I immensely enjoyed the no nonsense writing style, staying on point, and flow of this work. Such a beautiful, beautiful book despite the cloud of pain it carried in initially. "The end depends on the beginning" is not only a quote from this, but one that fits the entire context as a whole.

Cons: if you're not the type to face your pain or traumas, you need to skip this. I Liked My Life will force you to confront them, so only read if you're ready to grow. That's not even a con, but I don't have any other con to give and this is my traditional review formatting.

Conclusion: If you're ready for a story where the main characters grow in realistic yet admirable ways, you'll want to give this one a shot. The interactions, lack of predictability, and overall plot absolutely will pull you in to the very last line!

P.S.: this was such a joy to buddy read with you, C! We both grew immensely in our own ways and I'm super thankful in how much stronger our friendship has become due to this alone! I just love you and thank you, Abby, for writing this and letting the world see it!

Digging to Hell (Willie E. Dalton)

 

Digging to Hell
Willie E. Dalton
⭐: 4/5

Pros: this is the second book in the series and so far, I'm still hooked! I usually lose interest quickly when it comes to series, but not this one. The intrigue of "are things what they really seem?" haunts my mind, constantly leaving me hungry for more.

Speaking of hungry, new creatures are introduced feeding my appetite, mixing the world with creepy and mythology. I'll be starting book three shortly. Still need to figure out what happened to the earth loves of these dead souls!

Also, I'm a bit obsessed with the Romanov family, which is how I came to know about Rasputin, and even in book one, was humored by that. It's been intriguing to see the old mystic in this new, creative spin.

Cons: I actually can't think of any for this one. My con for the first book doesn't even apply, as there's not as much in this one as there was in that. (Go read my review to know what I'm referring to.)

Conclusion: if you're gunning for a paranormal book with an original take, this is your slice of cake, baby!

Digging Up the Dead (Willie E. Dalton)

 

Digging Up the Dead
Willie E. Dalton

⭐: 4/5

Pros: this is the second book in the series and so far, I'm still hooked! I usually lose interest quickly when it comes to series, but not this one. The intrigue of "are things what they really seem?" haunts my mind, constantly leaving me hungry for more.

Speaking of hungry, new creatures are introduced feeding my appetite, mixing the world with creepy and mythology. I'll be starting book three shortly. Still need to figure out what happened to the earth loves of these dead souls!

Also, I'm a bit obsessed with the Romanov family, which is how I came to know about Rasputin, and even in book one, was humored by that. It's been intriguing to see the old mystic in this new, creative spin.

Cons: I actually can't think of any for this one. My con for the first book doesn't even apply, as there's not as much in this one as there was in that. (Go read my review to know what I'm referring to.)

Conclusion: if you're gunning for a paranormal book with an original take, this is your slice of cake, baby!

The Girl Who Digs Graves (Willie E. Dalton)

 

The Girl Who Digs Graves
Willie E. Dalton

⭐: 4/5

Pros: I'm fascinated with death and the afterlife, as well as morbid professions, so this book easily drew me in with all of those.

I'm new to this genre, but I'm guessing this is still a very original story that I read in one setting! I love how direct the MC is, how she doesn't care what others think, and just does what she wants to.

I definitely am interested to see what Hel (MC) finds out about the mysterious wall, where her earth love ended up, and what happens next! I'll be binging these books on study breaks for sure!

Cons: I'm not a fan of romance or sex in any genre, but can handle them in moderation. There is SO MUCH sex in the book, though! I'm not a conservative person, I just don't care to read about it, so I skimmed quite a bit. If you love that kind of stuff, you'll love this.

Conclusion: if you're dark and twisty and love paranormal, give this one a try!

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All the Blood We Share (Camilla Bruce)

 

All the Blood We Share
Camilla Bruce
⭐: 5/5

Pros: AS ALWAYS, Bruce writes about such fascinating topics and this book is no different!

I had no idea the Bender Family existed until the very end. Bruce knows how to blend fact and fiction so convincingly that I never think to wonder, despite being familiar with her affinity with female true crime, if something is inspired by true events.

I feel she captured Kate Bender's psychopath personality brilliantly, but also really did well developing every character and giving them each their own traits that appeared in their dialogue and movement.

History doesn't know the truth of all the identities or how the murders happened, but I was, once again, sucked into how warped Bruce's mind could be to write such scenes and am always impressed with that imagination!

Cons: given the Bender Family was never found after leaving KS, this book is a bit of a cliffhanger, but at least for that, fiction meets fact.

Conclusion: if you're into twisted, well-developed plots with excellently written characters and hardly a single edit missed in the book... This is your read. Just be sure you don't end up playing the, "Just one more chapter... Yeah right" game that leaves you saying "what the..." at 1A when you finish reading. EASY five out of five stars! Bruce NEVER disappoints for me!

The Crowns of Croswald (D.E. Night)

The Crowns of Croswald
D.E. Night
⭐: 5/5

Let me begin with the fact that fantasy is not typically a genre I’m easily drawn into. I knew within two chapters that I absolutely wanted to read and review this book for Night! 

Pros: It’s a bit Harry Potter reminiscent in some ways, but the plot itself is original and captivating. There’s plenty of foreshadowing, but not so obvious that it gives the plot away. Night also is a brilliant wordsmith - I cannot count how many times I giggled or smiled seeing wordplay! I also was intrigued with how well she built not only Coswald, but the characters and even inanimate objects such as quills and bottles (both are very important to the storyline). 

There isn’t a detail in this book that doesn’t belong! Every last description, personification, and scene all work together as a cohesive whole! I especially love that the ending wasn’t rushed, given the enormity of building that went on for the world, characters, their interactions, and plot itself. I truly cannot wait to read the next few books in the series!

Cons: There were a few times I was slightly confused, but those moments were answered in time. I just had to exercise some patience. Otherwise, I really don’t know that there are any cons I can think of, truthfully. 

Conclusion: If whimsy, original, similar to Harry Potter, and magical are your things… this is a book you need to try out. I feel it’s not a story that’s been said before, so open the cover for yourself and see if you agree!

P.S.: There's a bit of an Easter egg with one of the Scrivenist's names. See if you can figure it out! If you haven't by the end, message me and I'll tell you! So clever!

P.S.S.: If you're interested, the author is looking for readers! You can obtain the email addresses to contact from her Instagram if interested!

Alive Again (TW Piperbrook; Book 2)

 

T.W. Piperbrook
Alive Again 2
⭐: 5/5

Pros: well, I've learned that you don't always get immediate answers when living in an apocalyptic world, but I definitely am okay with it... For now.

Piperbrook had me wondering constantly and just when I couldn't figure out what more he could possibly do to make the story interesting... He showed me once again!

The characters are wildly fun and easy to understand while still being complex enough to hold water.

I also enjoyed the many pop culture references - clearly Piperbrook is an author who reads and those are the best kinds!

Cons: CLIFFHANGER. This book is a cliffhanger and the next isn't out until who knows when! Sad day!

Conclusion: if you like zombies but are sick of the same ole, same ole, give this a read, but be sure to start with the first book!

Alive Again (T.W. Piperbrook)

 

Alive Again
T.W. Piperbrook
⭐: 4/5

The premise of this book is what made me pick it up. How often do we see zombie books? ALL the time! How often do we see them from the zombie's perspective? Hardly ever!

Pros: again, the plot is what initially drew me in. As a real life scientist, zombie infections annoy me because they never seem realistic, but I was glad this book seemed so for the most part.

I was also intrigued because a vaccine actually exists, though we don't know that much about it. Hopefully book two releases soon!

Cons: if you're an action lover, this story is super led by it. I'm not personally, so I honestly skimmed through many of the scenes until it was dialogue and story driven again. Not a bad thing overall, but all my reviews are pros/cons format, so I had to put something here.

Conclusion: if you're sick of the same zombie apocalyptic reads, give this one a chance and see what you think!

*Available on #KindleUnlimited for free*