Harisa

This was unfortunately not for me. Boring and I didn't like where it went.

4.5 stars rounded up! Really interested and I'm very invested in the series.

Very sanitized. Maybe would've been better as a forward in a Bible study but definitely doesn't read like a memoir.

I also want to add that I read this book at a very interesting time in my life as I am lightly “dis-entangling” from the Calvinist and Baptist pastors she keeps quoting in this book. I still stand that this book doesn't really feel complete and I predict that there will be more from her.

This was AMAZING. Loved every bit of it.

Finally sat down to finish this and unfortunately the last 20% lost me. The way the hero spoke to her during the fight, the way he spoke to and about his mother, how absolutely annoying he was to his sisters...it made it really hard for me to root for this guy.

Also a lot of the family backstory was tied up way too quickly.

This was really good!! Very uplifting.

3.5.

Definitely not my favorite but not horrible either. I like this little town

2.5 stars. The short chapters made it a good airplane book but the plot was weird. Recommend reading fast so you don't have time to overthink this one

This was cute and fun!!

This was incredibly strong. The third act breakup was very predictable and the only reason why it lost a star.

Riveting, nuanced, and so good.

I thought this was going to be straight up interviews but it was A LOT about the authors life and not enough about the people around him in my opinion.

This was incredibly boring I'm so sorry. Absolutely nothing happened then it was just all gore with some story crammed in there when it was just wayyy too late. Unfortunate.

This is an incredibly solid novel. I really enjoyed it!

This one really didn't work for me. LOTS of debating which is just not what I expected as I was reading this. I did feel like I learned a good amount and I truly want to try to give his non fiction a try. But overall the story just did not capture my interest.

This was SOOO good. I haven't read a book I enjoyed this much in a while. Really hoping for more in this world. Just such a sweet book.

I really enjoyed this book! It was a very good combination of light-hearted but touching and it was really well executed.

2.5

Started off super interesting with really strong writing and quickly deteriorated into a mess of POV switching. A good study on how far we have come in how we treat female heroines in romance and sexual assault victims. Jade didn't really have a personality and Luke was just one big stereotype.

Also I don't want this to be a rant but what was with the religious aspect thrown in? Basically shoving God down Jade's throat and that's really the only time religion was mentioned. Confusing. Lots of paternalism in general and it irked me but I try to take context and year published into consideration.

I thought this was just...fine. I was able to put it down pretty easily and just didn't feel as connected to these characters as I did to others. It wasn't a bad book by any means but it was really just average for me.

This was exceptionally good. I highly recommend

So I DNFd the last of the Twisted Lies series but decided to give this one a chance after an author interview. This book reminded me so much of the first one in the twisted series so I REALLY enjoyed it. Highlights that tipped it to 5 stars include:

-The family dynamics from both the hero and heroine. Absolutely engaging and well written
-Making the hero actually appropriately sorry and show he's sorry for his bad actions.
-Vivian. Absolutely amazing main character.

Really enjoyed this one!! Looking forward to Kai and Isbella's story.

Probably 3.5 rounded up. Great book and really well written. I just wish we would have gotten some more explanation and a less rushed ending

What a fantastic premise AND EXECUTION!!! I wish we got a bit more into why its so bad not to be fully human? Haha maybe it's all my weird paranormal binges but I would've liked more explored there.

This definitely ends on a cliffhanger and I am so excited to continue this series!!

This was very very good! Maybe a 4.5 only because I find the endings so abrupt in her novels but that may be me issue. I get why the first book had sooo much set up now. I was SO invested in the characters in this book and really really recommend it. I wish there was more.

So, at this point I can confidently say I love Octavia Butler's writing style. A lot. No matter how strange the plot seems to me I am hooked. This book was a journey that I loved taking and I was into it really quickly. Star only knocked off because I think the ending didn't tie up enough for me but this is true for every book I have read by this author so at this point you'd think I'd be used to it but I'm not.

A paranormal/sci fi story about a vampire with amnesia. Definitely worth picking up.