Joan

This was another solid entry in the Joe Talbert series.

This was a 3.5 star read for me. I really enjoyed the first 1/3 of this book and still think that Stephen King is excellent at writing characters that you come to feel like you know. The middle part of the book felt like a slog for me though I did enjoy the ending. This book is not my favorite Stephen King story, but it was entertaining enough to make me want to finish it.

3.5 to 4ish. I'm enjoying this series and will continue.

Fun and enjoyable read!

This is a well-researched historical mystery. The historical part is its strength. I didn't find the story, characters, or mystery that compelling, though.

I enjoyed this short character-focused, literary novel.

3.5 stars. This is a fast-paced mystery with pictures! I liked that element of the book and enjoyed reading it.

Here is a fast-paced story and a fun read!

This is a beautiful book and I highly recommend it to everyone!

This is well-written and enjoyable literary fiction.

I don't recommend it to anyone who is looking for a fast-moving plot or lots of action. You will be disappointed.

If you love slow-moving stories, character development, and an emotional deep-dive, pick this one up.

A sweet and fun book about a robot and her adventures on an island. It was interesting to watch AI and nature come together.

I think this book is a bit over-hyped. I enjoyed the premise (doors that are portals) and the writing, but I never really connected with the characters. It does lean toward Young Adult literature, which is not a favorite genre of mine, which may be why I didn't love it as much as some other readers. I would definitely read another book by this author.

This was a fun and fast-paced series. Highly recommend!

Fun read!

Second Read: I enjoyed reading this book a lot more the second time and changed my rating from a 3 to 4 stars. I am realizing that there is so much detail in this series that I missed the first time. Reading them carefully and paying more attention to details has increased my enjoyment of the series.

I enjoyed this installment and am looking forward to the final book!

I found the story and illustrations creepy and unsettling and I highly recommend it.

This sci-fi thriller was a hit for me! It is fast-paced and centered around changing DNA to “upgrade” humans. There is family drama and high stakes for the future of humanity which keeps the action going. Lots to enjoy here so I highly recommend it.

Thanks to the publisher and NetGalley for a digital ARC.

Fast-paced and enjoyable read. Picking up the second one in the series now.

I loved that this book can be read and understood on multiple levels.

I enjoyed the superficial level of the mystery of the house and characters. The author made it fast-paced and I couldn't wait for all of the pieces to come together.

I also enjoyed it on a deeper spiritual level...as a fable for the human condition. I highly recommend it for any reader looking for a unique read.

I was glad that I had read Mandel's two previous novels, Station Eleven and The Glass Hotel, prior to reading her latest book. There were characters and nods to both of those books included in this novel. I enjoyed Station Eleven but wasn't a big fan of The Glass Hotel. So the carryover of characters from that book was not a plus for my reading experience.

I enjoyed the themes the author explored in this book. Overall, however, I found that the characters were not fleshed out enough for me to care about them and the story. I appreciated the author's cleverness in this book, but ultimately it was just an okay read for me.

Thanks to the publisher and NetGalley for the digital ARC.

This was a propulsive thriller that kept me turning the pages. I didn't particularly care for the ending and “reveal.” I would recommend it to someone looking for a quick, easy read.

Thanks to the publisher and NetGalley for the digital ARC.

A fun read and fandom! Looking forward to book 2.

3.5 stars. I appreciated the diversity and propulsive story-telling!

This book had such a unique plot. If you are looking for something short, sci-fi (cloning), and original, give this one a try.

I typically love this author's books but am torn on this one. It was an interesting thriller but had some cons for me.

I didn't really connect with the characters and it took a long time to build the story which made it longer than I think it needed to be. The story wraps up pretty quickly in the last 50 pages and has a predictable and logical conclusion.

It was interesting in that it was the first book I have read that has characters dealing with COVID...wearing masks, etc.

If you are a fan of the author and have high expectations, you may want to keep those in check. Overall, it was an okay read. Trigger warnings for sexual abuse, violence, and drug addiction.