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pagesplotsandpints's Reviews (2.1k)
Read Completed 6/18/23 | Another extremely cute installment in this series/collection of companion romances. I didn't remember much about Carla or if she was even in the first book a lot, but I really liked how her story fit into this family and these books! I really connected with both main characters and this is also how you do instalove! They were immediately attracted to each other and jumped into the spicy stuff right away... then the affection and attraction grew into true feelings as they got to know each other, brought out better things in each other, and had some fun adventures as well.
OFF THE MAP still has its fair share of serious issues, as do the rest of the books. Carla's father has Alzheimer's but encouraged her to keep traveling so she could keep living and not having to "get stuck" taking care of him. It started off a little lighter and things ended up progressing and getting worse (and also Carla spent more time with him/talking to him to notice that).
This felt like a really natural flow to me. I still never quite fall head over heels for these books or their characters but I've given each one a very solid four stars. This was another very good read for me and one I needed after a very long string of reads under four stars.
OFF THE MAP still has its fair share of serious issues, as do the rest of the books. Carla's father has Alzheimer's but encouraged her to keep traveling so she could keep living and not having to "get stuck" taking care of him. It started off a little lighter and things ended up progressing and getting worse (and also Carla spent more time with him/talking to him to notice that).
This felt like a really natural flow to me. I still never quite fall head over heels for these books or their characters but I've given each one a very solid four stars. This was another very good read for me and one I needed after a very long string of reads under four stars.
Read Completed 6/17/23 | 3.25 stars
Usually, I really click with Wendy Walker but this one just didn't seem to come together for me. I enjoyed the first half of the book and wondered how things would come together. There were many tense moments as Elise is gaining a dangerous stalker and he begins to threaten her and her family. There are also side moments (with a different audiobook narrator) that shows another plot point and readers wait to see how these two stories will come together.
The conclusion felt a little garbled to me, and also a bit out of character. Be warned that this does involve "rogue cop" things where Elise goes off on her own and takes matters into her own hands, partially to protect people and partially to get around the law. Mostly for protection, as she sees it. I don't always mind the "rogue cop" thing but it also has to fit with the character. Elise felt very by the book and I just didn't see her actions in the end being something that fit, or I guess the author/book didn't convince me that it made sense.
I enjoyed most of the story, but the ending didn't do it for me. The two story lines did come together but it felt a little loose, confusing, and I wasn't invested enough in the second story line for it to feel satisfying. I felt like it was a little forced, especially putting Elise in the middle of all of this? I don't know, I just didn't click with it.
Usually, I really click with Wendy Walker but this one just didn't seem to come together for me. I enjoyed the first half of the book and wondered how things would come together. There were many tense moments as Elise is gaining a dangerous stalker and he begins to threaten her and her family. There are also side moments (with a different audiobook narrator) that shows another plot point and readers wait to see how these two stories will come together.
The conclusion felt a little garbled to me, and also a bit out of character. Be warned that this does involve "rogue cop" things where Elise goes off on her own and takes matters into her own hands, partially to protect people and partially to get around the law. Mostly for protection, as she sees it. I don't always mind the "rogue cop" thing but it also has to fit with the character. Elise felt very by the book and I just didn't see her actions in the end being something that fit, or I guess the author/book didn't convince me that it made sense.
I enjoyed most of the story, but the ending didn't do it for me. The two story lines did come together but it felt a little loose, confusing, and I wasn't invested enough in the second story line for it to feel satisfying. I felt like it was a little forced, especially putting Elise in the middle of all of this? I don't know, I just didn't click with it.
Read Completed 6/16/23 | 2.5 stars
I haven't been reading a lot of fantasy lately but I miss it! I asked for book recommendations in a Facebook group and when this one popped up, it really sounded like something I would like. It was like Alex Verus meets American Gods meets October Daye. It started off a little interesting but I really lost interest about halfway through (maybe a little after halfway) and by 75-80%, I really didn't care but was close enough to finish.
I liked the concept and I liked the main character. I think some of the magical things weren't explained well enough and honestly, I just really had a hard time with the audiobook narrator. I had to slow the speed down because he talked so fast and I just really didn't like his narration style either. Unfortunately, I think it affected my feelings about the book, but usually even with a narrator I don't like, I can separate the two.
I was excited to binge read this series but sadly, I won't be continuing. Between the narrator and how much I just wanted to be done with the book by the end, I can't imagine reading another book. I'm just wishing for things similar to this, though.
I haven't been reading a lot of fantasy lately but I miss it! I asked for book recommendations in a Facebook group and when this one popped up, it really sounded like something I would like. It was like Alex Verus meets American Gods meets October Daye. It started off a little interesting but I really lost interest about halfway through (maybe a little after halfway) and by 75-80%, I really didn't care but was close enough to finish.
I liked the concept and I liked the main character. I think some of the magical things weren't explained well enough and honestly, I just really had a hard time with the audiobook narrator. I had to slow the speed down because he talked so fast and I just really didn't like his narration style either. Unfortunately, I think it affected my feelings about the book, but usually even with a narrator I don't like, I can separate the two.
I was excited to binge read this series but sadly, I won't be continuing. Between the narrator and how much I just wanted to be done with the book by the end, I can't imagine reading another book. I'm just wishing for things similar to this, though.
Read Completed 6/15/23 | 3.5 stars
I finally made it over to read MEET CUTE after several years of reading romances! I definitely had high expectations, but it also might not be fair reading new romances after loving most of Abby Jimenez's books lately.
MEET CUTE was fun, but it didn't knock me off my feet. Mostly, I felt like there were several things that could have been just a touch more developed: the fact that Dax was a child/teen actor, the early stages of their relationship, etc. I just felt like the author could have leaned into them a bit more to really give the characters more personality. I just never felt like I was falling in love with them like I have with other romances.
I really loved the family aspect of the book. The beginning felt a little awkwardly written with the tragedy of the parents' dying... I feel like we didn't need this big intro about college and then the car accident happening in the book's timeline. I think I would have rather spent the time with our characters in the current timeline and seeing them flash back a little to these events, or explaining them through dialogue.
I did like the characters, though. In any romance, that's essential since most romances are SO character-driven. I did have a fun time reading this one, even if I didn't feel much chemistry between the two leads. I was more rooting for the brother-sister team to stay together and for Kailyn to become a part of Emme's life. I wasn't as invested in the romance.
I finally made it over to read MEET CUTE after several years of reading romances! I definitely had high expectations, but it also might not be fair reading new romances after loving most of Abby Jimenez's books lately.
MEET CUTE was fun, but it didn't knock me off my feet. Mostly, I felt like there were several things that could have been just a touch more developed: the fact that Dax was a child/teen actor, the early stages of their relationship, etc. I just felt like the author could have leaned into them a bit more to really give the characters more personality. I just never felt like I was falling in love with them like I have with other romances.
I really loved the family aspect of the book. The beginning felt a little awkwardly written with the tragedy of the parents' dying... I feel like we didn't need this big intro about college and then the car accident happening in the book's timeline. I think I would have rather spent the time with our characters in the current timeline and seeing them flash back a little to these events, or explaining them through dialogue.
I did like the characters, though. In any romance, that's essential since most romances are SO character-driven. I did have a fun time reading this one, even if I didn't feel much chemistry between the two leads. I was more rooting for the brother-sister team to stay together and for Kailyn to become a part of Emme's life. I wasn't as invested in the romance.
Read Completed 6/14/23 | 3.75 stars
THE COUPLES TRIP was entertaining enough but I never quite became fully invested. The story alternates between the timeline that follows the mountain trip and the timeline where Anna is recounting her story to a police officer after the events of the trip. We know something happened that ended in disaster but the story unfolds more and more as the book goes on.
Some of the details while hiking were a bit boring... it wasn't bad, but a little too much time spent on telling us about the landscape, the hiking supplies, etc. I was maybe too anxious to get into the thrilling bits and after finishing, I wished we had maybe seen some more of the ending in the beginning.
I liked the suspicion of the different characters and it was a neat way to set readers on edge -- being nearly lost in a harsh environment with someone you didn't trust.
Around halfway, I was hoping for a big twist ending, particularly one that I've read in a previous books and loved. There was a little twist but it wasn't what I was expecting. I liked that there was something more to the story and that it also didn't wipe out all previous suspicion. The book ended a little quickly after that without the confirmation that I needed and without a concrete ending of what was going to happen to Anna. I definitely wanted a bit more from the ending.
This was an enjoyable read. It took me a little longer to read than I was hoping and I didn't quite love how it all worked out, but it was a fun, tense journey.
THE COUPLES TRIP was entertaining enough but I never quite became fully invested. The story alternates between the timeline that follows the mountain trip and the timeline where Anna is recounting her story to a police officer after the events of the trip. We know something happened that ended in disaster but the story unfolds more and more as the book goes on.
Some of the details while hiking were a bit boring... it wasn't bad, but a little too much time spent on telling us about the landscape, the hiking supplies, etc. I was maybe too anxious to get into the thrilling bits and after finishing, I wished we had maybe seen some more of the ending in the beginning.
I liked the suspicion of the different characters and it was a neat way to set readers on edge -- being nearly lost in a harsh environment with someone you didn't trust.
Around halfway, I was hoping for a big twist ending, particularly one that I've read in a previous books and loved. There was a little twist but it wasn't what I was expecting. I liked that there was something more to the story and that it also didn't wipe out all previous suspicion. The book ended a little quickly after that without the confirmation that I needed and without a concrete ending of what was going to happen to Anna. I definitely wanted a bit more from the ending.
This was an enjoyable read. It took me a little longer to read than I was hoping and I didn't quite love how it all worked out, but it was a fun, tense journey.
Read Completed 6/11/23 | I was so excited to read this book because I felt like each Seraphina Nova Glass book I've read has gotten better and better. (Not necessarily in publishing order, but in the order that I read them, anyway.) This was one of my most anticipated reads of the summer and it definitely wasn't what I was hoping it would be.
Right away, this book was hard for me to get into. It has multiple POVs and I found them hard to connect in the beginning. We didn't really know how these would connect and what was going on, but once the characters' lives started to merge, it was easier to follow and had me a little more invested. I felt like this was a little grittier than SNG's previous books, where those had more of a domestic suspense and psychological type thriller vibe, this was much more crime-focused with a little armchair detective added in. I didn't mind the characters taking on their own fates in this book, but some of it did end up a little unbelievable.
With the book taking a long time to hit its stride, for me, I really had a hard time enjoying it. I wasn't pulled in right away, and despite being a little wild, the ending actually got better for me simply because our characters were working together and there was some more action. I don't think I liked the logistics of it all and I didn't really feel relieved or happy for the outcome in the end... but I didn't connect with the characters as much as I had wanted to really care about what happened to them either. I wanted to know what happened, though. I feel like the lack of police involvement was odd? Especially at the time where they were pointing their ideas towards a serial killer, wouldn't the FBI get involved at that time too? Not like I know the details of how that all works... just TV and movies and books, like the rest of is.
In part, this just wasn't my vibe but it also didn't really feel as smooth as I thought it could have been.
Right away, this book was hard for me to get into. It has multiple POVs and I found them hard to connect in the beginning. We didn't really know how these would connect and what was going on, but once the characters' lives started to merge, it was easier to follow and had me a little more invested. I felt like this was a little grittier than SNG's previous books, where those had more of a domestic suspense and psychological type thriller vibe, this was much more crime-focused with a little armchair detective added in. I didn't mind the characters taking on their own fates in this book, but some of it did end up a little unbelievable.
With the book taking a long time to hit its stride, for me, I really had a hard time enjoying it. I wasn't pulled in right away, and despite being a little wild, the ending actually got better for me simply because our characters were working together and there was some more action. I don't think I liked the logistics of it all and I didn't really feel relieved or happy for the outcome in the end... but I didn't connect with the characters as much as I had wanted to really care about what happened to them either. I wanted to know what happened, though. I feel like the lack of police involvement was odd? Especially at the time where they were pointing their ideas towards a serial killer, wouldn't the FBI get involved at that time too? Not like I know the details of how that all works... just TV and movies and books, like the rest of is.
In part, this just wasn't my vibe but it also didn't really feel as smooth as I thought it could have been.
Read Completed 6/9/23 | 3.75 - 4 stars, rounding up for entertainment factor
This was a fun a read! It was like watching an action movie. You're there for the entertainment and don't always care whether or not the action is logical or could really happen. I had a good time listening to this audiobook and following the story, not letting myself try to reason out what might actually happen in this situation or look for plot holes. (I haven't even read reviews yet -- I'm just assuming someone will call it out somewhere because they always do... and sometimes that's me too!)
This wasn't the most ground-breaking read but it was a great summer blockbuster-type vibe! I liked the survival aspect, the character relationships, and just watching the events unfold. I don't really have a ton to say about it as far as a review goes... it was fairly surface level and here for pure enjoyment purposes!
This was a fun a read! It was like watching an action movie. You're there for the entertainment and don't always care whether or not the action is logical or could really happen. I had a good time listening to this audiobook and following the story, not letting myself try to reason out what might actually happen in this situation or look for plot holes. (I haven't even read reviews yet -- I'm just assuming someone will call it out somewhere because they always do... and sometimes that's me too!)
This wasn't the most ground-breaking read but it was a great summer blockbuster-type vibe! I liked the survival aspect, the character relationships, and just watching the events unfold. I don't really have a ton to say about it as far as a review goes... it was fairly surface level and here for pure enjoyment purposes!
Read Completed 6/8/23 | I immediately liked the tone of this book, and the audiobook narrator. After about 10%, it was kind of losing me.
So, LIAR'S BEACH is a take on Agatha Christie's THE MYSTERIOUS AFFAIR AT STYLES, which I read in 2017. Do I remember anything from that book? Absolutely not, so I had no idea how this book was going to go. If you were attracted to it by the cover like I was, know that it's a mystery and not a thriller. I also should have known this, given that it was inspired by an Agatha Christie book, but I was still expecting things to be a bit more sinister, so that was just my misconception.
Usually I don't like the rich kid vibe, but this wasn't too bad. It almost had a Gatsby vibe (which someone actually referenced in the book, so maybe it was supposed to), and I didn't think all of the characters were incredible unlikeable, though they were a little. I was interested enough to stick with the whole book, and it was a short read so it was easy to move through. This was also technically young adult but didn't feel too YA. The kids are in college (I think... right? Unless they were private schools) so we've moved beyond high school. At least one of them was 20. But it was also life at the beach during the summer so school wasn't a focus and even if they were young adults, that wasn't really the focus.
The ending was a little lackluster, and I probably should have caught onto some of these clues, but that's also the nice thing about listening to an audiobook and multi-tasking.... my brain is already occupied with two things so I don't have the focus to guess all of the twists all the time.
This does end in a bit of a cliffhanger and I wonder if there will be another one? It was surely set up like that. The mystery does wrap up, but there's also room for more. It could be fun and I'd give that one another shot.
So, LIAR'S BEACH is a take on Agatha Christie's THE MYSTERIOUS AFFAIR AT STYLES, which I read in 2017. Do I remember anything from that book? Absolutely not, so I had no idea how this book was going to go. If you were attracted to it by the cover like I was, know that it's a mystery and not a thriller. I also should have known this, given that it was inspired by an Agatha Christie book, but I was still expecting things to be a bit more sinister, so that was just my misconception.
Usually I don't like the rich kid vibe, but this wasn't too bad. It almost had a Gatsby vibe (which someone actually referenced in the book, so maybe it was supposed to), and I didn't think all of the characters were incredible unlikeable, though they were a little. I was interested enough to stick with the whole book, and it was a short read so it was easy to move through. This was also technically young adult but didn't feel too YA. The kids are in college (I think... right? Unless they were private schools) so we've moved beyond high school. At least one of them was 20. But it was also life at the beach during the summer so school wasn't a focus and even if they were young adults, that wasn't really the focus.
The ending was a little lackluster, and I probably should have caught onto some of these clues, but that's also the nice thing about listening to an audiobook and multi-tasking.... my brain is already occupied with two things so I don't have the focus to guess all of the twists all the time.
This does end in a bit of a cliffhanger and I wonder if there will be another one? It was surely set up like that. The mystery does wrap up, but there's also room for more. It could be fun and I'd give that one another shot.
Read Completed 6/8/23 | 3.25 stars
This was different, suspenseful, weird, a fever dream. I was a little all over the place with this one! This was another case where the cover led me to believe that it was a bit more thriller, and this was more suspense and drama. That wasn't in a bad way, but it was a different read than I was expecting. It was VERY character-driven, so be prepared to go on a journey with these characters!
I had a little trouble with some inconsistencies in all of the characters and I couldn't quite tell if it was intentional. The book is highly psychological as Jacy begins to question everyone around her. There's a lot of people telling her (mostly the men -- mainly her father-in-law) what's best for her and essentially highjacking her pregnancy. At first, she can't tell if it's true affection driving the concerns, but the more the novel goes on, the worse it spirals and she feels she can't trust anyone. The gaslighting and head games were so disorienting, but in a good way, from a reader's perspective. It was a scary, anxious ride being inside Jacy's head while all of this was happening.
The book also had a twist at the end, which I wasn't expecting. I don't really think it was necessary and it kind of changed the tone of the book, I felt. I felt like some things could have been shaken out to flow a little bit better. Some of the writing felt a bit choppy and at times, a bit too flowery. I think this is the first book I've read from this author so I'm not familiar with her style, but I don't know if I'd pick up another. I don't regret reading this one and it was actually kind of nice to read a different writing style! I don't think it was exactly my style, but I still think it's a book that I'll remember.
This was different, suspenseful, weird, a fever dream. I was a little all over the place with this one! This was another case where the cover led me to believe that it was a bit more thriller, and this was more suspense and drama. That wasn't in a bad way, but it was a different read than I was expecting. It was VERY character-driven, so be prepared to go on a journey with these characters!
I had a little trouble with some inconsistencies in all of the characters and I couldn't quite tell if it was intentional. The book is highly psychological as Jacy begins to question everyone around her. There's a lot of people telling her (mostly the men -- mainly her father-in-law) what's best for her and essentially highjacking her pregnancy. At first, she can't tell if it's true affection driving the concerns, but the more the novel goes on, the worse it spirals and she feels she can't trust anyone. The gaslighting and head games were so disorienting, but in a good way, from a reader's perspective. It was a scary, anxious ride being inside Jacy's head while all of this was happening.
The book also had a twist at the end, which I wasn't expecting. I don't really think it was necessary and it kind of changed the tone of the book, I felt. I felt like some things could have been shaken out to flow a little bit better. Some of the writing felt a bit choppy and at times, a bit too flowery. I think this is the first book I've read from this author so I'm not familiar with her style, but I don't know if I'd pick up another. I don't regret reading this one and it was actually kind of nice to read a different writing style! I don't think it was exactly my style, but I still think it's a book that I'll remember.
Read Completed 6/7/23 | 3.75 - 4 stars
I really liked the cover for this book, which is how I ended up reading it. It really took most of the book for it to hit its stride but I really liked the ending which I why I ended up rounding up the rating.
The very first few chapters set a tone for the book and I was really hooked! It portrayed Jewelann as a married woman, unhappy in her marriage, set to get revenge on an old high school boyfriend. This tone shifted shortly after that and I didn't really know what Jewelann's motives were. I was hoping to have more of a consistent story, and I think it that had happened, I would have enjoyed the book so much more! I appreciated the overall arc and how everything unfolded, but I kind of felt like the author didn't really know who the characters were. Jewelann and Christian (the old boyfriend) specifically seemed to change personalities throughout the book and they just didn't feel consistent at all.
The secrets that come out in the ending made this a better read for me. I saw some hints of it coming but didn't expect it to happen like it did, and then there's a twist of the twist as well, which is always fun. Like I said before, I think the biggest issue of this book was consistency. If the tone and the characters had been a little bit stronger, this would have been a really great book! I don't know if I can outright recommend it but the ending paid off for me.
I really liked the cover for this book, which is how I ended up reading it. It really took most of the book for it to hit its stride but I really liked the ending which I why I ended up rounding up the rating.
The very first few chapters set a tone for the book and I was really hooked! It portrayed Jewelann as a married woman, unhappy in her marriage, set to get revenge on an old high school boyfriend. This tone shifted shortly after that and I didn't really know what Jewelann's motives were. I was hoping to have more of a consistent story, and I think it that had happened, I would have enjoyed the book so much more! I appreciated the overall arc and how everything unfolded, but I kind of felt like the author didn't really know who the characters were. Jewelann and Christian (the old boyfriend) specifically seemed to change personalities throughout the book and they just didn't feel consistent at all.
The secrets that come out in the ending made this a better read for me. I saw some hints of it coming but didn't expect it to happen like it did, and then there's a twist of the twist as well, which is always fun. Like I said before, I think the biggest issue of this book was consistency. If the tone and the characters had been a little bit stronger, this would have been a really great book! I don't know if I can outright recommend it but the ending paid off for me.