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pagesplotsandpints's Reviews (2.1k)
Read Completed 2/2/23 | 2.5 - 2.75 stars, rounded up since I was entertained for the most part
This was another book I picked up on a whim because I liked a handful of the audiobook narrators. Again, that's definitely what kept me engaged. REPUTATION started off interesting if a little over-the-top but it definitely got to be a little too much too fast. The characters were unlikeable and they were supposed to be, but it got to be so much and nearly all of them were terrible people that it got on my nerves. The plot went more and more overboard though too. I felt like there was a ridiculous amount of tropes and the tragedies just kept piling on, like the author felt the need to cram in everything she possibly could. It really cheapened the experiences of some of the characters and there were many eyeroll-worthy lines.
I know Sara Shepard is famous for her Pretty Little Liars series (which I've never read) and I think this is her first adult book, if I'm not mistaken. It didn't feel like it was too hung up on that young adult tone but the amount of drama and some of the writing styles still didn't translate well for me. I guess that doesn't have to be a young adult thing, but it did remind me of that a bit. Regardless, I won't be rushing to pick up another one of her books.
This was another book I picked up on a whim because I liked a handful of the audiobook narrators. Again, that's definitely what kept me engaged. REPUTATION started off interesting if a little over-the-top but it definitely got to be a little too much too fast. The characters were unlikeable and they were supposed to be, but it got to be so much and nearly all of them were terrible people that it got on my nerves. The plot went more and more overboard though too. I felt like there was a ridiculous amount of tropes and the tragedies just kept piling on, like the author felt the need to cram in everything she possibly could. It really cheapened the experiences of some of the characters and there were many eyeroll-worthy lines.
I know Sara Shepard is famous for her Pretty Little Liars series (which I've never read) and I think this is her first adult book, if I'm not mistaken. It didn't feel like it was too hung up on that young adult tone but the amount of drama and some of the writing styles still didn't translate well for me. I guess that doesn't have to be a young adult thing, but it did remind me of that a bit. Regardless, I won't be rushing to pick up another one of her books.
Read Completed 2/1/23 | 3 stars
This was a very random pick from Libby based only on the fact that I liked the audiobook narrators. It was definitely what kept me going through the whole book and really what made it an enjoyable read.
I was engaged the whole time, even with Allison's survival scenes. I don't always hate watching characters in survival mode since it does add a lot of tension and a sense or urgency, especially in this case, but sometimes it can get tedious. Her chapters were also peppered with her experiences in the past, bringing us information how she ended up in the plane crash.
I really liked all of the characters, but this ended up being a little too villain-y in the end. I think I would have liked a little more morally grey mixed in versus someone ending being a total villain with no remorse.
I also thought it was supremely stupid how Allison ended up with Ben. I don't know why she had to lose her whole life and become desperate and he "saved" her and swept her away to a mansion. She could have just as easily and maybe even more believably just left her home and met him somewhere in her new life, fallen in love, and started a life together. Why did she have to literally become homeless in order for a rich guy to save her? I just really hated that.
This was a very random pick from Libby based only on the fact that I liked the audiobook narrators. It was definitely what kept me going through the whole book and really what made it an enjoyable read.
I was engaged the whole time, even with Allison's survival scenes. I don't always hate watching characters in survival mode since it does add a lot of tension and a sense or urgency, especially in this case, but sometimes it can get tedious. Her chapters were also peppered with her experiences in the past, bringing us information how she ended up in the plane crash.
I really liked all of the characters, but this ended up being a little too villain-y in the end. I think I would have liked a little more morally grey mixed in versus someone ending being a total villain with no remorse.
I also thought it was supremely stupid how Allison ended up with Ben. I don't know why she had to lose her whole life and become desperate and he "saved" her and swept her away to a mansion. She could have just as easily and maybe even more believably just left her home and met him somewhere in her new life, fallen in love, and started a life together. Why did she have to literally become homeless in order for a rich guy to save her? I just really hated that.
Read Completed 1/30/23 | This was just okay for me! I felt like a lot of the writing was trying way too hard to be funny, goofy, and light, and Cooper was WAY too perfect and not realistic. It definitely took me out of the experience. I also really hated how the whole "off limits" thing progressed in the end with the brother being so upset over these two getting together. They're supposed to have a good relationship and instead of the third act break up, it was the third act tantrum. They were like, "Oh, he just needs to throw a tantrum and he'll come around." No, he's a grown adult who has no say in his friend's love life nor his sister's. He is not allowed to throw a tantrum and not talk to them for THREE WEEKS. That's not okay. Getting upset and walking away, sure. But they should resolve that in like, a day or two. Not multiple weeks.
I picked this up because I read one of Sarah Adams' most recent books, WHEN IN ROME, and decided to go through her backlist and this one was available. I'm glad I didn't start with these because I might not have come around to WHEN IN ROME and I'll likely keep on with the rest of her backlist, but this one would have scared me off.
I picked this up because I read one of Sarah Adams' most recent books, WHEN IN ROME, and decided to go through her backlist and this one was available. I'm glad I didn't start with these because I might not have come around to WHEN IN ROME and I'll likely keep on with the rest of her backlist, but this one would have scared me off.
Read Completed 1/27/23 | 4.25 stars
This was so. darn. cute! I absolutely loved reading this and it absolutely helped that two of my favorite audiobook narrators (Karissa Vacker & Andrew Eiden) narrated the dual POVs in this one. We had:
- grumpy/sunshine
- small town romance
- little to no spice
- cute, fun professions (pop star + pie shop owner)
- fun cast of minor characters (three sisters, much smaller roles of the townsfolk)
- adorable banter
- no third act break-up
- characters who speak their mind and don't have stupid communication breakdowns
This whole book warmed my heart and I had so much fun reading it. It was definitely more on the cute side than the steamy side, but given that I don't care about spice levels, it was absolutely lovely. My only minor, small wish was that we got to see more of Amelia's pop star life since she was 100% taking a break from it when in Rome, Kentucky. We see a tad more at the end, but it would have been fun to slip that in a little bit more throughout the story aside from just her trying to keep her identity secret from everyone in town.
I was just about to say that I would LOVE to see spin-offs of the sisters but it looks like PRACTICE MAKES PERFECT, coming out in 2023, is about Annie and I can't wait! This was my first Sarah Adams book and now I must go back and read her backlist. I just really clicked with this writing style and love when I can devour a new-to-me author's work.
This was so. darn. cute! I absolutely loved reading this and it absolutely helped that two of my favorite audiobook narrators (Karissa Vacker & Andrew Eiden) narrated the dual POVs in this one. We had:
- grumpy/sunshine
- small town romance
- little to no spice
- cute, fun professions (pop star + pie shop owner)
- fun cast of minor characters (three sisters, much smaller roles of the townsfolk)
- adorable banter
- no third act break-up
- characters who speak their mind and don't have stupid communication breakdowns
This whole book warmed my heart and I had so much fun reading it. It was definitely more on the cute side than the steamy side, but given that I don't care about spice levels, it was absolutely lovely. My only minor, small wish was that we got to see more of Amelia's pop star life since she was 100% taking a break from it when in Rome, Kentucky. We see a tad more at the end, but it would have been fun to slip that in a little bit more throughout the story aside from just her trying to keep her identity secret from everyone in town.
I was just about to say that I would LOVE to see spin-offs of the sisters but it looks like PRACTICE MAKES PERFECT, coming out in 2023, is about Annie and I can't wait! This was my first Sarah Adams book and now I must go back and read her backlist. I just really clicked with this writing style and love when I can devour a new-to-me author's work.
Read Completed 1/26/23 | 2.5 stars
SOMEWHERE IN THE DARK wasn't horrible but it wasn't much of a thriller for me. The focus was a bit more on the main character, Jessie, than it was the mystery & thrill aspect of a character getting murdered and figuring out who did it. It took a VERY long time to even get to the mystery part (a third of the book? I didn't check how far through I was when that happened) so it felt more like a drama or general fiction book until that point because there wasn't much else going on besides setting up Jessie's life as it is now and her relationship (or lack thereof) with the James family.
After that point, I just really didn't care for the way it unfolded. Not bad but not how I was hoping things would go. Jessie becomes the primary suspect for the murder and, like most thriller book heroes, does everything she can to clear her name. I just didn't really like how that part happened and there weren't enough breadcrumbs for me to be interested in who really did it and why. It made it feel like a stretch.
SOMEWHERE IN THE DARK wasn't horrible but it wasn't much of a thriller for me. The focus was a bit more on the main character, Jessie, than it was the mystery & thrill aspect of a character getting murdered and figuring out who did it. It took a VERY long time to even get to the mystery part (a third of the book? I didn't check how far through I was when that happened) so it felt more like a drama or general fiction book until that point because there wasn't much else going on besides setting up Jessie's life as it is now and her relationship (or lack thereof) with the James family.
After that point, I just really didn't care for the way it unfolded. Not bad but not how I was hoping things would go. Jessie becomes the primary suspect for the murder and, like most thriller book heroes, does everything she can to clear her name. I just didn't really like how that part happened and there weren't enough breadcrumbs for me to be interested in who really did it and why. It made it feel like a stretch.
Read Completed 1/25/23 | 4.5 stars
This was a really enjoyable thriller for me! I went in moderately blind and with little to no expectations, which I think helps a lot in my thriller reads. I just really connected with the writing style and loved all of those seeds of doubt that are planted all throughout the book. I really didn't have any complaints and I wouldn't quite call it five stars since it lacks a little sticking power, but it did have some small twists and surprises that made it even more enjoyable. I felt like this was just really solid and something that was right up my alley.
This was a really enjoyable thriller for me! I went in moderately blind and with little to no expectations, which I think helps a lot in my thriller reads. I just really connected with the writing style and loved all of those seeds of doubt that are planted all throughout the book. I really didn't have any complaints and I wouldn't quite call it five stars since it lacks a little sticking power, but it did have some small twists and surprises that made it even more enjoyable. I felt like this was just really solid and something that was right up my alley.
Read Completed 1/25/23 | 3.25 stars
This was just okay for me. RUN TIME is as meta as can be when actress Adele signs on to make a horror movie about a woman who's reading a book and the events of the horror novel start to happen to her. In the movie script. And then these things start happening to Adele.
Because of the repetition of plot, it was all just okay for me! The repetition didn't really bother me like I would expect it would have, but I felt like it was hard to keep the pacing and the plot moving forward. We had to repeat scenes, one happening to the book character then to the movie script character and then happening to Adele, so the same concept got repeated three times in some spots. It was kind of interesting but ended up just really taking forever.
The ending was... fine. Nothing for me to go crazy over. A little complicated and unnecessary, but okay. It was all just okay in every way, but I still had a fine time reading it. I never felt like putting it down or quitting, so it wasn't a bad read but not one I could go out and recommend and aside from the concept, not one that I'll keep thinking about in the future. Gorgeous cover, though.
This was just okay for me. RUN TIME is as meta as can be when actress Adele signs on to make a horror movie about a woman who's reading a book and the events of the horror novel start to happen to her. In the movie script. And then these things start happening to Adele.
Because of the repetition of plot, it was all just okay for me! The repetition didn't really bother me like I would expect it would have, but I felt like it was hard to keep the pacing and the plot moving forward. We had to repeat scenes, one happening to the book character then to the movie script character and then happening to Adele, so the same concept got repeated three times in some spots. It was kind of interesting but ended up just really taking forever.
The ending was... fine. Nothing for me to go crazy over. A little complicated and unnecessary, but okay. It was all just okay in every way, but I still had a fine time reading it. I never felt like putting it down or quitting, so it wasn't a bad read but not one I could go out and recommend and aside from the concept, not one that I'll keep thinking about in the future. Gorgeous cover, though.
Read Completed 1/24/23 | 2.5 stars
This is probably my last Claire Douglas book. I've had ups and downs with the others I've read from her but I just don't love this writing style and I really didn't like the plotting on this one. There were three different POVs and things just took forever to come together. It finally did, but it was too little, too late, and I didn't even enjoy how it all came together.
There was a bit TOO much deception with literally everyone lying, too many things being held back for the sake of a twist. I just didn't feel any connection to the characters or story and by the end, it was too late. I probably could have DNFed this one, but I just quit my previous book and was too far into this one to do it again.
This is probably my last Claire Douglas book. I've had ups and downs with the others I've read from her but I just don't love this writing style and I really didn't like the plotting on this one. There were three different POVs and things just took forever to come together. It finally did, but it was too little, too late, and I didn't even enjoy how it all came together.
There was a bit TOO much deception with literally everyone lying, too many things being held back for the sake of a twist. I just didn't feel any connection to the characters or story and by the end, it was too late. I probably could have DNFed this one, but I just quit my previous book and was too far into this one to do it again.
Read Completed 1/22/23 | I thoroughly enjoyed Lacie Waldon's debut, THE LAYOVER, but this one didn't do it for me.
FROM THE JUMP just had entirely different vibes, which isn't a bad thing since it potentially connects with a different audience, but it didn't have the charm and dazzle that THE LAYOVER did for me. It felt a touch more serious with a lot more time spent discussing Liv's job and how she perceives herself. She's extremely focused on her appearance, physically and how she comes across to others personality-wise and professionally. While that's a perfect valid story line, I just didn't enjoy it.
I also just didn't enjoy the friend group and all of the many characters of the book. Again, fine for another audience, but for me, it was too many people and we only got to know them quickly and on the surface. I like the "formula" of a quirky best friend sidekick because we get to know them a little bit more and they add a flare of personality to the book as well. We can't write the same books all the time so I know I can't read that forever, but the large friend group makes it difficult for me to connect with the characters. It also added a lot of drama with so many different dynamics flying around.
I also felt like I never got to know the love interest. It's a weird hang-up, but I hated that he was called by his last name the whole time. Maybe I just didn't like the name ("Deiss" pronounced like dice), or just that it always made it seem too informal. Once she started hooking up with him, I would have liked a shift to first name, because calling your boyfriend/sig other by their last name forever is kind of weird, but again, a personal preference. Maybe it was another case of where I would have preferred a dual POV to get to know the love interest more.
There was also a trip to South Africa but it really wasn't even a huge part of the book. After THE LAYOVER and reading that this book also included an adventure, I expected them to be on the trip for a lot longer.... like the whole book. It was fine, but I just thought it was another part that wasn't developed enough. I would have rather spent the whole time there (because it took too long for the beginning to take off and even get there), or not have had it at all. I have no issue with focus on Liv as a person, AND Liv's work life, AND a romance, AND a trip, AND all these friendships, but I just felt like there wasn't enough time spent with each one of them for me to care about them. There was a bit too much going on and the pacing didn't seem to connect them well enough for my tastes. I’m glad I read THE LAYOVER first because I wouldn’t have picked it up if I read this one first.
FROM THE JUMP just had entirely different vibes, which isn't a bad thing since it potentially connects with a different audience, but it didn't have the charm and dazzle that THE LAYOVER did for me. It felt a touch more serious with a lot more time spent discussing Liv's job and how she perceives herself. She's extremely focused on her appearance, physically and how she comes across to others personality-wise and professionally. While that's a perfect valid story line, I just didn't enjoy it.
I also just didn't enjoy the friend group and all of the many characters of the book. Again, fine for another audience, but for me, it was too many people and we only got to know them quickly and on the surface. I like the "formula" of a quirky best friend sidekick because we get to know them a little bit more and they add a flare of personality to the book as well. We can't write the same books all the time so I know I can't read that forever, but the large friend group makes it difficult for me to connect with the characters. It also added a lot of drama with so many different dynamics flying around.
I also felt like I never got to know the love interest. It's a weird hang-up, but I hated that he was called by his last name the whole time. Maybe I just didn't like the name ("Deiss" pronounced like dice), or just that it always made it seem too informal. Once she started hooking up with him, I would have liked a shift to first name, because calling your boyfriend/sig other by their last name forever is kind of weird, but again, a personal preference. Maybe it was another case of where I would have preferred a dual POV to get to know the love interest more.
There was also a trip to South Africa but it really wasn't even a huge part of the book. After THE LAYOVER and reading that this book also included an adventure, I expected them to be on the trip for a lot longer.... like the whole book. It was fine, but I just thought it was another part that wasn't developed enough. I would have rather spent the whole time there (because it took too long for the beginning to take off and even get there), or not have had it at all. I have no issue with focus on Liv as a person, AND Liv's work life, AND a romance, AND a trip, AND all these friendships, but I just felt like there wasn't enough time spent with each one of them for me to care about them. There was a bit too much going on and the pacing didn't seem to connect them well enough for my tastes. I’m glad I read THE LAYOVER first because I wouldn’t have picked it up if I read this one first.
Read Completed 1/19/23 | I had seen THE BOOK OF ACCIDENTS around but never made it around to it until I saw my friend Megan compare it loosely to the Netflix show Dark. I absolutely loved the twisty time warp of the show so I immediately bumped this up on my TBR, and she was right! This book was a sort of... Stephen King meets Dark meets Stranger Things.
THE BOOK OF ACCIDENTS is a mix of horror and sci-fi with some twisty content that I won't get too far into because if you liked going into books blindly, it's no fun if I tell you. I'd say the book leans more heavily on the horror side of things but it did have that underlying sci-fi vibe and some main points of the book that made me feel like it pointed that way. I was immediately hooked from the beginning and enjoyed the tone all the way through the book! The characters were strong, well-developed, and still had plenty of fun attitude to really get reads invested in them.
The plot takes a little while to unfold but there's plenty to keep your wheels turning while you read! In the end, this veered towards a horror vibe where my personal tastes would have liked more of a sci-fi ending, but that's my personal preference and certainly not the book/author's fault. I knew where it was heading the whole time in that general sense because we were told as much throughout the book, but if this was our sci-fi with more explanation than magic, it would have been a bit more mind-blowing to me. Again, not the book's fault as it delivered exactly what was promised.
I've had several Chuck Wendig books on my TBR for years but never really knew where to start or if I wanted to dive in. I'm happy I did and will certainly be reading more in the future!
THE BOOK OF ACCIDENTS is a mix of horror and sci-fi with some twisty content that I won't get too far into because if you liked going into books blindly, it's no fun if I tell you. I'd say the book leans more heavily on the horror side of things but it did have that underlying sci-fi vibe and some main points of the book that made me feel like it pointed that way. I was immediately hooked from the beginning and enjoyed the tone all the way through the book! The characters were strong, well-developed, and still had plenty of fun attitude to really get reads invested in them.
The plot takes a little while to unfold but there's plenty to keep your wheels turning while you read! In the end, this veered towards a horror vibe where my personal tastes would have liked more of a sci-fi ending, but that's my personal preference and certainly not the book/author's fault. I knew where it was heading the whole time in that general sense because we were told as much throughout the book, but if this was our sci-fi with more explanation than magic, it would have been a bit more mind-blowing to me. Again, not the book's fault as it delivered exactly what was promised.
I've had several Chuck Wendig books on my TBR for years but never really knew where to start or if I wanted to dive in. I'm happy I did and will certainly be reading more in the future!