Natasha

This is my last Alice Hoffman book. I love her plots and ideas - and this one sounded so promising. But I failed to connect with the characters again. I think it's the writing style that always keeps me at a distance.

4.5 stars. Nurse Ratched rules!

I actually really had fun with this book. It was light and frivolous and even made me giggle a few times. Just what I needed after some very heavy reads.

While the premise sounded intriguing and the beginning was compelling- the middle and end were completely unsatisfactory, rushed and way too meandering.

Kate Morton is always a solid read. Unfortunately I guessed one of the twists in the mystery from almost the very beginning, but just wanted to read on to see how it ended. The writing is great, sense of place is great. Didn't particularly like any of the characters though and it was a little too long. I'll still read anything she puts out there though.

4.5 stars. This took me a little while to get into - the beginning is very slow, but I was rapt by the end. Couldn't put it down. It was even more chilling to discover this was based on a true story.

I loved this! So much fun (and I really enjoyed the cheeky ending - IYKYK). Definitely for Janice Hallett in my near future.

Great read, but unfortunately my expectations were way too high (this was a 5 star prediction) and it just didn't get there for me. However - still highly recommend.

I've jinxed by reading boom. 2.5 stars. Nothing special. I expected more - something a little twisty maybe.

What's the opposite of a book slump? A boom? Well, I'm in a book boom. Another 5 star read. I feel like Oprah handing out cars - you get 5 stars and you get 5 stars etc. Long may the boom continue.

This was an awesome read btw.

Beautiful and heartbreaking, at times joyous and amusing - at others horrific. I cared about these characters so much. A touching, poignant, brilliant novel.

Trapped in an asylum during a hurricane with the criminally insane. No one is more surprised than I am that I gave this 5 stars. I've never heard of this author and borrowed the audiobook from the library on a whim. It was dark and twisty and just good fun.

Meh. A bit too cutesy for my liking. But a good palate cleanser between my usual murder and mayhem reads.

From the low ratings I expected to detest this memoir novel, but it had its moments, and I appreciate the nostalgia Art Barbara Paul Tremblay evoked. (Even though I was not a teenager in the 80's - or ever, in fact, that into the punk scene).

A devastating read about the witch trials in Vardo (Northern Norway). I've read quite a few similar books but they never fail to anger and sadden me.

That was really dark and unsettling. The creepy uneasiness throughout the whole book through the lens of childhood is truly terrifying.

I'm going to be honest and say that I skim read the last 50% of this book. For the first 200 pages it was entertaining and satirical and funny - but it just got too repetitive and it's far too long. Maybe I wasn't in the right headspace for this one. She is a great writer though.

Bittersweet. I'm sad to say goodbye to Lockwood & Co, but I had a great time doing it. A wonderful end to a brilliant series.

4.5 stars. Love a time loop. Just a damn good time.

Very interesting examination of what the transfer of power based on sex and gender would look like - and the horrific consequences that absolute power brings.

3.5

Wow. Didn't see that coming. The atmosphere of creeping dread, and of something being “a little off” made this a thrilling read.

Note: I went into this blind - and highly recommend it. It would ruin the experience if you know what the twist is.

A quiet apocalyptic novel that is haunting and sad. A beautiful coming-of-age story set during the end of the world. Families are still complicated, mean girls are still mean, and people still fall in love. It makes you appreciate what we have, and how quickly it can all change.

No rating. I only picked this up to fulfil a prompt in a reading challenge (it was the shortest I could find). As much as I wish it were - self-help books are not for me. I feel like I'm being lectured to and told how I'm living my life incorrectly. My issue I know - I wonder if there is a self help book for that (haha)?

3.5 stars. I wanted to love this book. The premise and concept sounded phenomenal (and it won the Booker!) - I expected something similar to Midnight's Children (one of my favs). However, despite genius moments of humour, horror and revelations, I found it to be very repetitive. It probably could have been a hundred pages shorter. The beginning and the end were 5 stars worthy.