Joan

I enjoyed A Gentleman in Moscow quite a bit and had high hopes for this new offering from Towles. He came through with a completely different yet utterly enjoyable story. I enjoyed the historical setting, the characters, and the plot. I highly recommend this book to lovers of historical or literary fiction.

Thanks to the publisher and NetGalley for the digital ARC of this book.

This is a long meaty book. In spite of its length, I was never bored and found this to be a propulsive apocalyptic story. If you are politically sensitive, you may have a few quibbles with how characters are drawn and the narrative about why the events were taking place. I was able to overlook this and it didn't bother me. I was expecting a little more at the end, but it did leave me satisfied. It was a solid read overall. I look forward to reading more of this author's books.

I have heard great things about the series, so I plan to continue on even though I wasn't blown away by this installment. The characters and world are interesting. The plot was okay. I loved the beginning but felt that the second half dragged.

3.5 stars...I really enjoyed The River and had high expectations for this book. I love Heller's writing and descriptions, especially of the natural world. Even though the story was propulsive, I found it a bit lacking. I'm not sure if it is because the end seemed rushed or I just wanted the mystery to have more meat on its bones. It is a short and quick read though, so pick it up if you are curious.

Thanks to the publisher and NetGalley for the digital ARC.

This is a propulsive read that kept me turning the pages. The story had some major plot holes which kept it from being a 5 star read for me.

Thanks to the publisher and NetGalley for a digital advance review copy.

I went into this book knowing nothing and was so glad I did. Everything was a surprise which made it a fantastic read for me. A lot of the science was beyond my understanding, but that didn't take anything away from the heartfelt and funny aspects of the story. I recommend going into this book blind and just enjoying the ride!

Thanks to the publisher and NetGalley for the digital ARC.

I really enjoyed this first installment of a new fantasy series by John Gwynne. I am new to the author and haven't read any of his other books, but hope to rectify that soon.

This book focuses on three main characters and that is what really pulled me into the story. They are each very unique and it didn't take long for me to feel invested in their lives. The world-building and plot were solid and I look forward to the next installment.

Thanks to the publisher and NetGalley for a digital ARC.

I listened to the audiobook and really enjoyed it. Now I am going to go back and read the annotated edition to pick up on aspects of the story that I might have missed. I highly recommend this book to readers who are interested in a unique fantasy story that incorporates mythology and philosophical themes.

I enjoyed “The Seven Husbands of Evely Hugo” and had high hopes for this book. Overall, it was just an average read for me and not up to the level that I was expecting. I didn't find the character development that I typically enjoy and the story was predictable and ho-hum.

I think many readers will enjoy this as a light, summer read this season. It just didn't captivate me as I had hoped it would.

Thanks to NetGalley for a digital advanced review copy of the book.

I don't read a lot of horror novels, but this was a good one. I found it to be suspenseful and a page-turner. I am looking forward to reading more of this author's books.

3.5 stars. This book was an enjoyable nerdy romp. The story was very creative though I did find the ending to be a bit convoluted.

Thanks to NetGalley for a digital review copy.

3.5 stars. Entertaining cozy mystery.

I enjoyed the characters and set-up in this first book and am continuing on with the series.

The book was interesting but seemed unfinished at the end. I know there is a sequel, so hopefully, that will satisfy my need to have more development in this story.

I had high expectations for this book due to all of the positive reviews and felt a little let down by it. It was interesting enough to keep reading but I never connected with the main character. The ability to travel to different worlds is a concept that always interests me, but wasn't fully utilized in this story.

I really enjoyed this book. It is perfect for readers who enjoy literary fiction and well-developed characters. The plot is slow-moving but engaging and I found the ending satisfying.

Even though Augusten's story isn't easy to hear, he is a fantastic writer.

This was an interesting book. It did have some slow parts but the ending made it worth it. I would recommend it to readers who enjoy literary fiction and don't mind a character-driven story.

Riveting and disturbing memoir. This author's writing is very immersive.

What a compelling memoir! I listened to the audio version read by the author and it was engrossing. It gave me the same vibes as “Educated” by Tara Westover.

The author did a great job of getting in the mind of the main character and the first half of the book kept me turning the pages. The second half was way too long and lost my interest. The writing was good and I felt that the author dealt with the dynamics of sexual abuse in a realistic manner.

This was an interesting reimagining of history. What kept me reading was my curiosity about where the author was going to take Hillary's story. It will probably appeal more to fans of Hillary but was well written and entertaining so anyone interested in alternate history or political stories should enjoy it.

Thank you to NetGalley and the publisher for the digital advanced review copy of this book.

Fast paced but ultimately forgettable. Mystery/suspense readers should enjoy the story, but there isn't much depth here.

Thanks to NetGalley and the publisher for an advance digital review copy.

3.5 stars. Fast paced and twisty novel. This is a revenge story between two characters with emotional and psychological issues due to abuse. Even though it is fiction, that may be a barrier to enjoying this book for some readers.

Thanks to the publisher and NetGalley for the digital advanced reader copy of this book.

3.5 stars. I found this book to be well written and fast-paced. By the end I felt a sense of exhaustion which I think was one aspect of what the author was trying to convey about the undocumented immigration experience for those trying to escape violence or poverty.