Rebecca
3.5
This follows a group of four college friends after a fraternity brother is found dead at a party. We get a dual timeline – before & after they are being questioned by the police about this event. This is a story about female friendship dynamics, jealousy, and obsession.
The scene is very much college frat party – lots of drinking and partying late into the night, which I didn't love because that's just not really my thing. The four girls live in a house owned by a frat and are constantly hanging out next door at the frat house.
I did enjoy the writing style. The way Stacy Willingham allows the plot to unfold and gives us reveals is very satisfying to me. I feel this way about all her books, but this is my least favorite of her three. Nothing really had me on the edge of my seat, but I was intrigued to see how everything wrapped up.
Thank you to Netgalley and St. Martin's Press for an early copy in exchange for a review!
literally could not stop reading this. the character dynamics and relationships in both the past and present timeline were so interesting
A powerful story of a man who wanted the most out of the world and the people he met on his journey to fulfill that desire.
Big Fish follows narrator, William Bloom, who tells of the life of his dying father, Edward. Throughout his life, Edward was frequently referred to as being a “big fish.” He was not fulfilled in the “pond” in which he lived, and he longed to explore the world, never wanting to be still for a long period of time. In the novel, William tells a series of metaphorical short stories to highlight some of Edward's life battles and the courage he had to power through and gain the growth and the life he was looking for.
During his journey, Edward encounters many different types of people, including those who attempted to control his life, those who sat stagnant rather than looking to change their life, and those who were too afraid to go after their dreams, leaving them as empty outlines of themselves. Edward did not let fear of the unknown get in his way, and he leapt out of his hometown into the rest of the world. Although he never stayed in one place for long, Edward was remembered for his kindness and for his ability to make others laugh.
I loved this book because of the way it makes you think about your own life and the goals you have for yourself. Edward's story is a tribute to how our past challenges shape us into the people we are today, as well as how we decide to react to barriers we face.
3.5
was really into this & then the ending went a little too wild & wrapped up too quickly
i think the real-world issues and conflicts in Celeste Ng's books are always interesting, but the characters and dystopian world building felt a little lacking and underdeveloped in this one
I felt like I was floating along on a fluffy cloud until the last 40 pages when things became more interesting.
Jacks just doesn't do it for me like he does for everyone else & I feel out of the loop
I loved this! I thought Hannah's job was unique and interesting, and her coworkers were funny side characters.
Hannah and Jack's relationship was so cute. They had great banter, and they were such a good fit together. Jack is charming and sweet. I liked how we got to see Jack just living in his everyday life even though he's a celebrity in this world, and it was a neat fictional representation of how people idolize celebrities but they really are just normal people. He was very real and down-to-earth.
This was a very fun rom-com that also had a deeper plot line around Jack's family and their relationships with each other because of events from their past. A good balance between the two.
It's also a clean romance and a slower burn which are two things I love in romance books.
the ending made up for it, but for the first like 75% i really didn't care much about any of the characters
full disclosure: i skimmed the last 150 pages because i was sooooo bored since the same things were happening over and over again. but i liked the ending of Behind Her Eyes and wanted to see what she did with this ending. liked the ending
Ruby is a very interesting character we get to follow. She was sort of a psychopathic character, but she also knew that she felt emotions so she claimed she wasn't totally a psychopath. It was interesting to be in her thoughts and know some of the things she has done and rules she has for herself while also getting her perspective of things from a therapist standpoint since that is what she does for a living.
I think I would classify this more as a suspense novel and not necessarily a thriller. It also felt like a character study of Ruby herself from her own perspective.
Not sure how to feel about this one. If you're looking for a story that's dark and has some creepy isolated home and creepy basement vibes, give this one a shot. Also a HUGE emphasis on monsters and the way that people can have monstrous & evil sides to them.
I was intrigued to figure out what happened in the house and to learn how the past events led us to what was happening in the present. I was much more interested in the past timeline than I was in the present timeline, and I just wasn't very satisfied with the ending of the book in the present day. I also liked the monster club journal entries and the snippets of a book about the house woven throughout.
3.5 stars
as a band kid, everything marching band in here is so relatable.
even if you aren't a music person, you can still appreciate the deep range of emotion in this book. the sweet awkwardness of high school first love is captured well, but I did think it was a little bit cringe at times. the writing style is a more lyrical-type style and has symbolism throughout
I loved this book way more than I was expecting to. Honestly I picked it up because I had never read a Sarah Dessen book and wanted to, and this one is coming out as a netflix movie next week.
I liked it so much because Auden was so relatable to me. I tend to get worked up about how I need to finish whatever school work and feel like I can't go out and do something fun because of it. But this summer, Auden didn't try to get ahead in school and she just let go and had a summer filled with new experiences, new adventures, and new friends.
I also think it was impactful in the idea of not being so over concerned about the future and instead enjoying where you are in that moment.
That was how this book resonated with me, but there were so many other ways I think it could resonate with different people. I think that's what makes it such a beautiful book.
Loved this book! Such a fun romance between two people who have been friends for years. I really enjoyed the plot going back and forth in time so you could see their trips over the years while also being fully present in their current trip. I liked the slow burn of being able to see how their relationship got to where it is now.
I loved Poppy and Alex's relationship so very much. There was a great amount of friendly and flirty banter, and the romance itself was not too over the top. Only one steamy scene, but it was not terrible.
I would recommend this to any rom com fan, especially those who love the friends to lovers trope!
enjoyed this a lot more than I thought I would. if you like stranger things, I think you should check it out but it is more fantasy horror than sci-fi horror. some really good creepy description. was a little slow/repetitive at the beginning but definitely recommend!
kiva has no right to act like jaran has wronged her by not telling her who he is. tsk tsk are we about to see some lovers to enemies in the second book
I enjoyed the setting and gothic atmosphere, but I think the concept and plot was too bizarre for me. I found it to be kind of dumb and not as suspenseful as I wanted it to be. I liked the first half a lot more than the second. Just wasn't my favorite!
I liked this book. The beginning was interesting, and the first few chapters really drew me in. However, once we enter the midnight library, it feels like we keep doing the same thing over and over again as Nora is experiencing new lives and trying to find one she would rather live.
Long story short, I love the concept of how all of your choices affect aspects of your life, but the plot wasn't keeping me super engaged.
It was more of a “feel-good” book and a “life doesn't have to be perfect to be wonderful” inspirational quote-type book than I thought it would be. People who love inspirational quotes and the butterfly effect concept would love this I'm sure.
Know that it deals with depression and suicide as well - Nora wants a life that is not as miserable and disappointing as hers.
2.5 ish
a quick & decent read. i found it entertaining enough but didn't was never fully invested in the plot & found the suspense lacking
Loved this! Such a great rom com that focuses on working through hard times as a couple and choosing to continue to love each other through it. Knowing that everything won't always be fantastic and learning new things about each other all the time. I enjoyed the deeper meaning of it, and it was also hilariously written. I laughed out loud at many scenes.
At first I thought I wouldn't like it because Naomi was being a terrible jerk to Nicholas. She was so so annoying in the beginning, and she kept thinking that she knew exactly what he was thinking during everything they were going through. Honestly, I wish we had chapters in his point of view so that we could know what he was thinking.
But whatever, I ended up loving it!
One steamier scene but not terribly explicit.