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Read Completed 10/6/24 | 3.5 stars
Thank you to the publisher, Macmillan audio, and Netgalley for access to this audiobook review copy. Receiving this copy did not affect my reading experience or review in any way.
I picked up I DID SOMETHING BAD for its self-proclaimed mix of romance, action, and suspense. It was deemed a rom-com so I imagined it being more funny and silly, but this was actually more of a serious tone and not a laugh-out-loud comedy story. I did enjoy the book, for the most part, but I feel like it set me up for something that it really didn't quite deliver.
I liked the chemistry between Khin and Tyler, but it was overshadowed by them literally committing a murder (which I didn't realize was *quite* happening from the blurb). Without that extra push of funny, the two vibes just didn't really go together. It seemed like the romance was fighting with the concept that these two just murdered a guy... I feel like the author was trying to give the two genres/concepts equal space and they just fought each other.
I really did like the individual leads and the author did a great job with the secondary characters as well. I enjoyed the appearances from Khin's best friends as well as Tyler's best friend, who is an actress and leading with him in their current movie. It also had a How to Lose a Guy in 10 Days feel where there's a lead female journalist who writes important, meaningful pieces who is now trying to get a job at Vogue and then in the end, the article she ends up writing about him is more love letter than objective interview. Which again is all well and fine, but it would have clicked more if it had been more comedic.
The ending kind of broke the book a bit for me, which I was honestly already waffling on. While I was doing well with the read, I did get bored in spots where nothing was really going on. There were some chunks where the romance wasn't progressing nor was anything with the murder investigation. There were some incredibly pushy cops, but nothing was still moving forward.In the end, as much as we want to see our protagonists "get away with it", it really didn't feel right that they "got away with it". It was self defense, and that's what they kept maintaining, but in the end, the coroner actually determined that he died of a heart attack?! Uhh no. Nah. That's just not right.
I did like a lot Pyae Moe Thet War's writing here and I'd try another book from this author! I think this one had a little too much going on and a lot of things suffered. I liked what it was going for but a lot of it just didn't land for me.
Thank you to the publisher, Macmillan audio, and Netgalley for access to this audiobook review copy. Receiving this copy did not affect my reading experience or review in any way.
I picked up I DID SOMETHING BAD for its self-proclaimed mix of romance, action, and suspense. It was deemed a rom-com so I imagined it being more funny and silly, but this was actually more of a serious tone and not a laugh-out-loud comedy story. I did enjoy the book, for the most part, but I feel like it set me up for something that it really didn't quite deliver.
I liked the chemistry between Khin and Tyler, but it was overshadowed by them literally committing a murder (which I didn't realize was *quite* happening from the blurb). Without that extra push of funny, the two vibes just didn't really go together. It seemed like the romance was fighting with the concept that these two just murdered a guy... I feel like the author was trying to give the two genres/concepts equal space and they just fought each other.
I really did like the individual leads and the author did a great job with the secondary characters as well. I enjoyed the appearances from Khin's best friends as well as Tyler's best friend, who is an actress and leading with him in their current movie. It also had a How to Lose a Guy in 10 Days feel where there's a lead female journalist who writes important, meaningful pieces who is now trying to get a job at Vogue and then in the end, the article she ends up writing about him is more love letter than objective interview. Which again is all well and fine, but it would have clicked more if it had been more comedic.
The ending kind of broke the book a bit for me, which I was honestly already waffling on. While I was doing well with the read, I did get bored in spots where nothing was really going on. There were some chunks where the romance wasn't progressing nor was anything with the murder investigation. There were some incredibly pushy cops, but nothing was still moving forward.
I did like a lot Pyae Moe Thet War's writing here and I'd try another book from this author! I think this one had a little too much going on and a lot of things suffered. I liked what it was going for but a lot of it just didn't land for me.
<b>Read Completed 10/3/24 |</b> 3.25 stars
<I>Thank you to Macmillan audio and Netgalley for the audiobook review copy! This did not affect my reading experience or review in any way.</I>
I had mixed feelings about this book throughout my whole read, but it was very easily readable. It started off as a 4 star read, jumped to a 3 star, then a 3.5 star, and then ended up at 3.25 stars. THE LAST ONE AT THE WEDDING was an easy read, but nothing really stood out to me, and a lot of it felt a little underdeveloped. I think this can be a fun popcorn read, but it just wasn't a favorite of mine.
I really liked the story of "rubbing elbows with the rich" but from the father's POV. I liked Frank as the narrator and I liked that he was neither the rich guy nor the one being wooed by the rich people. I really liked that he was a UPS truck driver and genuinely just an average, normal guy. He's been estranged from his daughter Maggie for three years and is very happy to be invited to her wedding, but red flags fly as he spends more and more time with Maggie and the new in-law family to-be.
Mostly, I just felt like a lot of things were underdeveloped. It's hard to talk about it all without sharing spoilers, but nearly all of the characters weren't very details or deep. I feel like we didn't really get to know anyone, but especially Maggie. There are some stories about her past that give us some insight, finally including the incident that caused the three year rift, but it just didn't really connect. I feel like there still wasn't a lot of explanation about why she makes the decisions she makes and we're just kind of told to accept it.
A big part of the story -- in content, but not necessarily plot -- is that Frank's sister, who helped raise Maggie after her mother died, comes to the wedding as well and she brings her new foster daughter Abigail. Abigail came from a rough background -- she doesn't know how to behave in social situations, came to Frank's sister (and the wedding) with head lice, and consistently becomes an uncomfortable situation for Frank as he's trying to barely keep up with the new part of the family. I don't have an issue with Abigail being a part of the story and her behavior is totally understandable, especially after the trauma she's been through, but I just didn't really enjoy her part in the story. Sometimes I just don't enjoy kids being a big part of an adult thriller and this just happened to be one of those cases.
The ending had some high-stakes moments but it was kind of too little too late, and even then, some things just didn't really feel like they jived with the rest of the book. I just felt like a lot of these plot points and twists were still stuck in the outline phase and we didn't really get the meat and potatoes that fleshed out that whole story.
The very end got a little more exciting and that was when I thought I might end up rating this 3.5 stars, but then we lost the momentum again and it kept going and going. Then I lost interest and steam and the book just kind of... ended and I didn't get why.
AUDIOBOOK THOUGHTS: John Pirhalla was the narrator for this book and I really enjoyed his narration! I wouldn't say he's a new favorite but I did like his voice and narration style. My only complaint was that most of his women sounded pretty similar and his voices weren't *super* varied, but I did have a good time listening to him and I really liked his tone of voice.
<I>Thank you to Macmillan audio and Netgalley for the audiobook review copy! This did not affect my reading experience or review in any way.</I>
I had mixed feelings about this book throughout my whole read, but it was very easily readable. It started off as a 4 star read, jumped to a 3 star, then a 3.5 star, and then ended up at 3.25 stars. THE LAST ONE AT THE WEDDING was an easy read, but nothing really stood out to me, and a lot of it felt a little underdeveloped. I think this can be a fun popcorn read, but it just wasn't a favorite of mine.
I really liked the story of "rubbing elbows with the rich" but from the father's POV. I liked Frank as the narrator and I liked that he was neither the rich guy nor the one being wooed by the rich people. I really liked that he was a UPS truck driver and genuinely just an average, normal guy. He's been estranged from his daughter Maggie for three years and is very happy to be invited to her wedding, but red flags fly as he spends more and more time with Maggie and the new in-law family to-be.
Mostly, I just felt like a lot of things were underdeveloped. It's hard to talk about it all without sharing spoilers, but nearly all of the characters weren't very details or deep. I feel like we didn't really get to know anyone, but especially Maggie. There are some stories about her past that give us some insight, finally including the incident that caused the three year rift, but it just didn't really connect. I feel like there still wasn't a lot of explanation about why she makes the decisions she makes and we're just kind of told to accept it.
A big part of the story -- in content, but not necessarily plot -- is that Frank's sister, who helped raise Maggie after her mother died, comes to the wedding as well and she brings her new foster daughter Abigail. Abigail came from a rough background -- she doesn't know how to behave in social situations, came to Frank's sister (and the wedding) with head lice, and consistently becomes an uncomfortable situation for Frank as he's trying to barely keep up with the new part of the family. I don't have an issue with Abigail being a part of the story and her behavior is totally understandable, especially after the trauma she's been through, but I just didn't really enjoy her part in the story. Sometimes I just don't enjoy kids being a big part of an adult thriller and this just happened to be one of those cases.
The ending had some high-stakes moments but it was kind of too little too late, and even then, some things just didn't really feel like they jived with the rest of the book. I just felt like a lot of these plot points and twists were still stuck in the outline phase and we didn't really get the meat and potatoes that fleshed out that whole story.
The very end got a little more exciting and that was when I thought I might end up rating this 3.5 stars, but then we lost the momentum again and it kept going and going. Then I lost interest and steam and the book just kind of... ended and I didn't get why.
AUDIOBOOK THOUGHTS: John Pirhalla was the narrator for this book and I really enjoyed his narration! I wouldn't say he's a new favorite but I did like his voice and narration style. My only complaint was that most of his women sounded pretty similar and his voices weren't *super* varied, but I did have a good time listening to him and I really liked his tone of voice.
<b>Read Completed 10/1/24 |</b> 3.25 stars
This was okay! I've seen a lot of amazing ratings for it, but I think I tend to have a hard time with "cozy fantasy" or this was kind of a fantasy romcom in a way, because I just want more world-building and that's not really the point.
The main focus here is the romance, but I really just wanted more development in a little bit of everything. I really liked the concept of sort of a mix-and-match fantasy world. It's a fictional world that doesn't exist here on Earth or in reality, but there are also some glaringly obvious things that do exist and glaringly obvious things that don't exist... but there was just something that didn't really make me believe that both things could exist in the same world. Somehow I just wasn't sold on it. I also really would have liked juuust a touch more about the worlds. There are old gods and new gods but I didn't really know a lot about either of them. I get that the romance is the focus here, but I'm consistently underwhelmed when we have these cozy / romcom fantasy books and I don't get enough world-building.
I actually didn't like Mercy. Hart was fine, and more enjoyable than Mercy for some reason though I can't really tell you at this point why I didn't like her. I felt like she wanted so many things and never spoke up for herself (until finally she did) and she took others down with her, which was so unnecessary. I also had a hard time that this was hate-to-love and there wasn't enough wooing or swooning for me to make that leap as quickly as they did to the love side. The letters were supposed to be that bridge but those were also fairly underwhelming and not really romantic. They were largely friends through the letters but I just didn't feel that swelling romantic vibe.
This was still very readable and a fun concept. I likely won't continue on with the next book unless I'm looking for a book by an author I've already read. I think I *personally* would have liked this more if this was undertaking in the real world or fantasy without the undertaking. It felt like one too many things, somehow. Maybe because I just really felt like everything was a little underbaked.
This was okay! I've seen a lot of amazing ratings for it, but I think I tend to have a hard time with "cozy fantasy" or this was kind of a fantasy romcom in a way, because I just want more world-building and that's not really the point.
The main focus here is the romance, but I really just wanted more development in a little bit of everything. I really liked the concept of sort of a mix-and-match fantasy world. It's a fictional world that doesn't exist here on Earth or in reality, but there are also some glaringly obvious things that do exist and glaringly obvious things that don't exist... but there was just something that didn't really make me believe that both things could exist in the same world. Somehow I just wasn't sold on it. I also really would have liked juuust a touch more about the worlds. There are old gods and new gods but I didn't really know a lot about either of them. I get that the romance is the focus here, but I'm consistently underwhelmed when we have these cozy / romcom fantasy books and I don't get enough world-building.
I actually didn't like Mercy. Hart was fine, and more enjoyable than Mercy for some reason though I can't really tell you at this point why I didn't like her. I felt like she wanted so many things and never spoke up for herself (until finally she did) and she took others down with her, which was so unnecessary. I also had a hard time that this was hate-to-love and there wasn't enough wooing or swooning for me to make that leap as quickly as they did to the love side. The letters were supposed to be that bridge but those were also fairly underwhelming and not really romantic. They were largely friends through the letters but I just didn't feel that swelling romantic vibe.
This was still very readable and a fun concept. I likely won't continue on with the next book unless I'm looking for a book by an author I've already read. I think I *personally* would have liked this more if this was undertaking in the real world or fantasy without the undertaking. It felt like one too many things, somehow. Maybe because I just really felt like everything was a little underbaked.
<b>Read Completed 10/1/24 |</b> 3 stars
A big old EH.
This had a lot of promise but the whole purpose of the book was just... EH. MEH. I wasn't into it. I was hoping for more chills and suspense and dread, but this was still just another popcorn thriller.
The ending was pretty silly and just didn't really make sense. I mean, going over-the-top, sure it made SENSE. It wasn't confusing or obscure, but it was just a lot of stupid reasons for doing a lot of serious things.
I absolutely hated the addition of a cancer diagnosis because it literally had nothing to do with anything. Neither did the pregnancy. There were just things thrown in to add more shock value and raise the stakes, but it really didn't even add anything to the story.
All of the characters were not likable, though I think that's the point for half of them. Overall, this just wasn't my vibe and wasn't what I was hoping for here. I think this can be a really enjoyable book for some, but it just wasn't for me. I gave it a shot!
A big old EH.
This had a lot of promise but the whole purpose of the book was just... EH. MEH. I wasn't into it. I was hoping for more chills and suspense and dread, but this was still just another popcorn thriller.
The ending was pretty silly and just didn't really make sense. I mean, going over-the-top, sure it made SENSE. It wasn't confusing or obscure, but it was just a lot of stupid reasons for doing a lot of serious things.
I absolutely hated the addition of a cancer diagnosis because it literally had nothing to do with anything. Neither did the pregnancy. There were just things thrown in to add more shock value and raise the stakes, but it really didn't even add anything to the story.
All of the characters were not likable, though I think that's the point for half of them. Overall, this just wasn't my vibe and wasn't what I was hoping for here. I think this can be a really enjoyable book for some, but it just wasn't for me. I gave it a shot!
<b>Read Completed 9/27/24 |</b> 2 stars
THE WIFE IN THE PHOTO was not at all about a wife a photo? Maybe the ONE line from the synopsis is about all the photo was involved. It has nothing to do with anything.
The book was okay and readable enough to finish, but it was just plain goofy. There were too many outlandish things that would never happen in real life. I really don't like the diary concept and it's too easy to let that drive certain situations.
The whole concept of the twist was just... not good. There was no real motivation for anyone's deaths here, the reveals were not shocking because the author led us to the twists and it wasn't surprising at all. I've read worse books this year but I definitely wouldn't recommend this one, sadly.
THE WIFE IN THE PHOTO was not at all about a wife a photo? Maybe the ONE line from the synopsis is about all the photo was involved. It has nothing to do with anything.
The book was okay and readable enough to finish, but it was just plain goofy. There were too many outlandish things that would never happen in real life. I really don't like the diary concept and it's too easy to let that drive certain situations.
The whole concept of the twist was just... not good. There was no real motivation for anyone's deaths here, the reveals were not shocking because the author led us to the twists and it wasn't surprising at all. I've read worse books this year but I definitely wouldn't recommend this one, sadly.
<b>Read Completed 9/26/24 |</b> 2.5 stars
WILLIAM sounded so interesting -- horror, but a little sci-fi with the horror concept being a rogue AI robot. I liked that this was quick, and it kept the action moving, but it also felt like it was lacking in a lot of areas. The book moved quickly enough, but I felt like some tension and suspense was sacrificed when I could have used a little more build-up in the beginning.
There's a fun twist that I probably should have seen coming, but didn't, so that was a good surprise. I was a little frustrated with some of the plot and reasoning. Overall, this was an easy horror read but it just isn't something that'll be memorable for me. I was hoping this would hit a nice sweet spot with horror & sci-fi, but it just wasn't quite it.
WILLIAM sounded so interesting -- horror, but a little sci-fi with the horror concept being a rogue AI robot. I liked that this was quick, and it kept the action moving, but it also felt like it was lacking in a lot of areas. The book moved quickly enough, but I felt like some tension and suspense was sacrificed when I could have used a little more build-up in the beginning.
There's a fun twist that I probably should have seen coming, but didn't, so that was a good surprise. I was a little frustrated with some of the plot and reasoning. Overall, this was an easy horror read but it just isn't something that'll be memorable for me. I was hoping this would hit a nice sweet spot with horror & sci-fi, but it just wasn't quite it.
<b>Read Completed 9/24/24 |</b> 1.75 stars
DO I KNOW YOU was kind of a hot mess.
Jane is a “super recognizer” where she remembers faces easily, in more detail than everyone else, and can remember more faces than the average person as well. She gets fired from her job at Homeland Security when she blows her cover and accuses a high-profile woman of murdering her sister 11 years ago.
I thought this was going to go interesting places with Jane actually using her super recognizer about really, that’s about all it comes into play, and that’s really the whole reason why I picked up the book. It’s tied in a bit more later but not enough that it’s actually USED.
The rest of the book was just… a mess. Jane goes to the cape — and where her sister disappeared — to interrupt the wedding of the Richie riches, including Bella, the woman she’s accused of murdering her sister. But it was a weird, confusing mess where Jane and her boyfriend are forced to share their vacation home with the boyfriend’s mentor/coworker/boss/whoever he was and his family. All of them were HORRIBLE. So entitled, unbearable, rude, selfish, and Jane puts up with all of it. WHY? Why is she tolerating it? Why is she being a nanny to these kids? It’s insane. The boyfriend is like oh ha sorry, it’s important that I suck up to this guy. It makes no sense, none of it. The rich family was also unbearable and they’re all terrible people. I hated every single one of them.
Things are connected in the end and my assumptions were not correct but I think my ending would have been better… The actual ending was so stupid and didn’t make sense. It was one of those twists that you didn’t see coming but in a a bad way. I did get one thing right, though. The author connected everything that was going on but just by telling you this is what happened. None of it actually blends together, the story goes back on itself, I’m still confused, and all logic went out the window. This was so messy and confusing. It was incredibly unsatisfying.
DO I KNOW YOU was kind of a hot mess.
Jane is a “super recognizer” where she remembers faces easily, in more detail than everyone else, and can remember more faces than the average person as well. She gets fired from her job at Homeland Security when she blows her cover and accuses a high-profile woman of murdering her sister 11 years ago.
I thought this was going to go interesting places with Jane actually using her super recognizer about really, that’s about all it comes into play, and that’s really the whole reason why I picked up the book. It’s tied in a bit more later but not enough that it’s actually USED.
The rest of the book was just… a mess. Jane goes to the cape — and where her sister disappeared — to interrupt the wedding of the Richie riches, including Bella, the woman she’s accused of murdering her sister. But it was a weird, confusing mess where Jane and her boyfriend are forced to share their vacation home with the boyfriend’s mentor/coworker/boss/whoever he was and his family. All of them were HORRIBLE. So entitled, unbearable, rude, selfish, and Jane puts up with all of it. WHY? Why is she tolerating it? Why is she being a nanny to these kids? It’s insane. The boyfriend is like oh ha sorry, it’s important that I suck up to this guy. It makes no sense, none of it. The rich family was also unbearable and they’re all terrible people. I hated every single one of them.
Things are connected in the end and my assumptions were not correct but I think my ending would have been better… The actual ending was so stupid and didn’t make sense. It was one of those twists that you didn’t see coming but in a a bad way. I did get one thing right, though. The author connected everything that was going on but just by telling you this is what happened. None of it actually blends together, the story goes back on itself, I’m still confused, and all logic went out the window. This was so messy and confusing. It was incredibly unsatisfying.
<b>Read Completed 9/22/24 |</b> 4 stars
This was a fun read! With a mystery/thriller incorporating the concept of AI in the investigation process, I was expecting something a little more sci-fi / Black Mirror / dystopian, but nope, it was just a thriller that involved some advanced AI technology to accompany and enhance human police work.
I enjoyed the story and really enjoyed the writing. I felt like the author always kept things moving while incorporating personal aspects of the characters into the plot, as well as the case. I really flew through this audiobook and it was an easily readable mystery! I don't normally go for police procedurals but this one really clicked.
This is the first in a series, so I'll definitely pick up the others as they come out. I don't really have a ton to say about the book, but just that I found it enjoyable and well-written. It's not something that will be a crazy stand-out read, but was very solid, and I'm so impressed that this is the author's debut!
This was a fun read! With a mystery/thriller incorporating the concept of AI in the investigation process, I was expecting something a little more sci-fi / Black Mirror / dystopian, but nope, it was just a thriller that involved some advanced AI technology to accompany and enhance human police work.
I enjoyed the story and really enjoyed the writing. I felt like the author always kept things moving while incorporating personal aspects of the characters into the plot, as well as the case. I really flew through this audiobook and it was an easily readable mystery! I don't normally go for police procedurals but this one really clicked.
This is the first in a series, so I'll definitely pick up the others as they come out. I don't really have a ton to say about the book, but just that I found it enjoyable and well-written. It's not something that will be a crazy stand-out read, but was very solid, and I'm so impressed that this is the author's debut!
<b>Read Completed 9/20/24 |</b> 3.5 stars, but rounded down for overall feeling
AN ACADEMY FOR LIARS had all of the bones that I wanted, but it just never really swept me off my feet. I was wondering how a dark academia adult fantasy wasn't the most buzzworthy book this fall, honestly! It was well-written, keeping the book unique amongst other similar concepts of a magical school, and it had a great cast of characters. And yet, it just won't be wholly memorable for me.
Set in Savannah, GA, this mysterious school takes in students to learn the art of Persuasion. This is a magic school but with one very singular focus where students essentially learn to control the minds of others. Other magic is slowly introduced, but only a few gifted people possess the power to do more. I liked that this was a different take on a magic school! It was a different kind of magic where we're not thrown into all different things and it kept this book more unique, keeping it apart from several other magic schools out there.
I enjoyed the plot and liked the multiple elements that we explore: the structure and happenings at the school, Lennon's own past as well as family life/friendships, a potential romance, and of course, a larger plot line that unfolds as we go along. I also did like the characters, but I think that's where I just couldn't end up LOVING this book. I really liked them all. I liked Lennon and Dante, the secondary characters, the mysterious teachers and staff. But I just never loved them. I just didn't feel that spark the way I had hoped. I wanted Lennon to be a bit stronger of a personality? She left this terrible relationship where she barely felt like a person and she found out she has this whole magical ability. I wanted to really see her come into her own, but I feel like she just kind of immediately fell into another relationship that was one-sided, and of course, it's her advisor... It was a little weird to me. It was like her power was constantly in someone's hands and I just wanted to see a little bit more independence from her. I wanted a little more development of their friendships to give us more personality of basically everyone. The characters were good, but they were still characters. They didn't come to life off the page and make me feel like I was reading about real people.
I'm glad I read this and it was an enjoyable read. Some of the pacing and action was a bit choppy, but overall, a solid book.
AN ACADEMY FOR LIARS had all of the bones that I wanted, but it just never really swept me off my feet. I was wondering how a dark academia adult fantasy wasn't the most buzzworthy book this fall, honestly! It was well-written, keeping the book unique amongst other similar concepts of a magical school, and it had a great cast of characters. And yet, it just won't be wholly memorable for me.
Set in Savannah, GA, this mysterious school takes in students to learn the art of Persuasion. This is a magic school but with one very singular focus where students essentially learn to control the minds of others. Other magic is slowly introduced, but only a few gifted people possess the power to do more. I liked that this was a different take on a magic school! It was a different kind of magic where we're not thrown into all different things and it kept this book more unique, keeping it apart from several other magic schools out there.
I enjoyed the plot and liked the multiple elements that we explore: the structure and happenings at the school, Lennon's own past as well as family life/friendships, a potential romance, and of course, a larger plot line that unfolds as we go along. I also did like the characters, but I think that's where I just couldn't end up LOVING this book. I really liked them all. I liked Lennon and Dante, the secondary characters, the mysterious teachers and staff. But I just never loved them. I just didn't feel that spark the way I had hoped. I wanted Lennon to be a bit stronger of a personality? She left this terrible relationship where she barely felt like a person and she found out she has this whole magical ability. I wanted to really see her come into her own, but I feel like she just kind of immediately fell into another relationship that was one-sided, and of course, it's her advisor... It was a little weird to me. It was like her power was constantly in someone's hands and I just wanted to see a little bit more independence from her. I wanted a little more development of their friendships to give us more personality of basically everyone. The characters were good, but they were still characters. They didn't come to life off the page and make me feel like I was reading about real people.
I'm glad I read this and it was an enjoyable read. Some of the pacing and action was a bit choppy, but overall, a solid book.
<b>Read Completed 9/18/24 |</b> 3.25 stars
BREAK EVERY RULE was a fun, easy, thriller/action read. I picked it up because I had previously read a book by Brian Freeman (that was not a Bourne book) and I really liked it! BREAK EVERY RULE felt very different but it was fast and easy.
I would be interested in continuing this series (if it was one, but at least right now it's a stand alone) but a lot of things did bother me about this book. It's basically about and Epstein-type island and reading about sex trafficking really isn't something I enjoy, so the darker topic just wasn't something that I enjoy in books. While I guess I'm supposed to feel very uncomfortable about it, I might not have requested to read this book had I known because it's really not mentioned in the synopsis. It was handled... okay. But I feel like there were some aspects that could have been better, and for a book that was making a point about treating women with respect and trying to get all those girls/women away from that island, it was quite annoying having to hear about the size of nearly every woman's breasts in this book, even when it literally had nothing to do with anything. That's not something I normally notice, but it was very obvious after a while.
The writing was entertaining and definitely kept me following the story the whole time. I enjoyed the characters on a surface level. There were a lot that felt like shells of what they could have been and I wish there was a little more depth.
I think this is mainly more action and some shock value. It reads a bit like an action movie! While I didn't love it, I'm glad I tried it. Honestly, a big draw also was audiobook narrator Scott Brick. I really enjoy his narration and that was something that pushed me to try it. I think he did a really good job, as he always does, and his tone and performance went really well with the vibe of this book.
BREAK EVERY RULE was a fun, easy, thriller/action read. I picked it up because I had previously read a book by Brian Freeman (that was not a Bourne book) and I really liked it! BREAK EVERY RULE felt very different but it was fast and easy.
I would be interested in continuing this series (if it was one, but at least right now it's a stand alone) but a lot of things did bother me about this book. It's basically about and Epstein-type island and reading about sex trafficking really isn't something I enjoy, so the darker topic just wasn't something that I enjoy in books. While I guess I'm supposed to feel very uncomfortable about it, I might not have requested to read this book had I known because it's really not mentioned in the synopsis. It was handled... okay. But I feel like there were some aspects that could have been better, and for a book that was making a point about treating women with respect and trying to get all those girls/women away from that island, it was quite annoying having to hear about the size of nearly every woman's breasts in this book, even when it literally had nothing to do with anything. That's not something I normally notice, but it was very obvious after a while.
The writing was entertaining and definitely kept me following the story the whole time. I enjoyed the characters on a surface level. There were a lot that felt like shells of what they could have been and I wish there was a little more depth.
I think this is mainly more action and some shock value. It reads a bit like an action movie! While I didn't love it, I'm glad I tried it. Honestly, a big draw also was audiobook narrator Scott Brick. I really enjoy his narration and that was something that pushed me to try it. I think he did a really good job, as he always does, and his tone and performance went really well with the vibe of this book.