hailey
as olive got older throughout the book (& series), it got more difficult for me to relate to her. i still enjoyed the writing style, atmosphere and humanity that was brought to these short stories, but overall it was just good... nothing to write home about. maybe i will enjoy it more as a re-read when i'm older!
FAVE BOOK OF 2020!!!! i love the art of drag & books written in verse so i knew i would love this one, but i didn't expect it to make me feel as much as i did. i just wanna give michael a hug. I LOVE LOVE LOVE THIS BOOK. PLEASE READ IT.
“your ignorance may be innocent but your racism is real” -Dean Atta
3.5 ✨ this was extremely thrilling, fast paced and unputdownable! i love how this book felt like a movie and created an atmosphere of anxiety, but everything seemed almost too perfectly tied up at the end. it was too simple. i predicted the creator of the chain correctly and was waiting for another twist... but none came. overall, i liked the action and the plot, but the characters were flat and mediocre & the ending was odd.
4.5✨ I LOVED this book so much! It's Big Little Lies meets Where the Crawdads Sing, and it creates an atmosphere of Southern charm and suburban irony. This story has humor, mystery, heart and everything in between. I only wish I didn't accurately predict every plot twist. Still, a wonderful read!! ❤️
I loved The Housewarming! It's a smart and suspenseful British thriller that follows a woman suffering from the tragic loss of her 2 year old daughter. The timeline switches between the day she disappeared and present day (one are after the tragic event) in a dissociative and wandering way that adds to the atmosphere. Although I predicted one of the major twists, there were plenty more at the end that caught me by surprise and left me shocked. Additionally, I love when a thriller has a message, and this one definitely does. Yes, the drama, intrigue and twists are all accounted for... but themes of grief, forgiveness, family and morals are also explored in a meaningful and authentic way. Overall, 4 stars for a suspenseful and true to life thriller!
3.5 ✨ rounded up! this book felt like a classic horror movie from the first chapter & i loved that. it's super gory & has an EXTREMELY high body count, so if you're looking for a slasher to read during spooky season, this ones for you!
however, i had to knock off 1 star bc the inner thoughts & dialogue of the teenagers was laughable at times. like girl....... you're really judging a man's sweat stains in the midst of escaping a serial killer...... you can't be serious. but that's just YA voice i guess ?? & the other half star i took off was due to the cheesy epilogue and ultimate motivation behind the killings (yikes cnjsjsndsnla).
overall, great concept & atmosphere with average execution!! it lies somewhere between No Exit (which was 5 stars for me) & There's Someone Inside Your House (which was 2 stars for me).
