A Book Lover's Bookish Thoughts

In the Dark by Loreth Anne White My rating: 2 of 5 stars Note: An ARC was given generously in exchange for an honest review. Thanks to Netgalley, the author for allowing me to review this. So. This novel held a promise of being great. But with unreliable and unidentifiable narrators, too many of them, slow pacing, and a cover which doesn't hold much interest, I succumbed to boredom and simply skipped on this novel after 4%. Hence why, not a recommend. But I would still like to try this author's works in the future. Until the next read, TMr View all my reviews

Nine Elms by Robert Bryndza My rating: 2 of 5 stars Note: An ARC was given generously in exchange for an honest review. Thank you to Netgalley and the author for allowing me the opportunity to review this. I wanted to like this novel so bad, I mean it was just so made for me. The summary, the cover. The recs by my friends. Gah, it was perfect. But then it blew up. I felt the characters were too weak for my taste, as someone who's dealt with cases before, she was too weak-hearted and the plot was moving too slowly for my taste. Hence why I DNFed. But still I'd like to try this author's works as I do see some potential. So yeah, not a recommend. Until the next read, TMR View all my reviews

Enemies by Tijan My rating: 5 of 5 stars Note: An ARC was provided generously in exchange for an honest review. Ah Tijan stories...welcome back y'all. Missed you all so dearly. Finally recently, I've loved a Tijan work. I am all eager to tell you about it. So let's go. The cover - Pretty hot, hot, hot! Swoon-worthy cover, even though I can't see the face but damn it, still so gooood. Gahhh. Hence the stars. The summary - "Stone Reeves was my neighbor, and I've hated him since sixth grade. Gorgeous and charismatic, he became the town's football god, while I became the town's invisible girl. He went to a Division 1 school for football, while my father was fired by his father. His team won the National Championship, while my mother died the same day. He was a first round pick for the NFL ... ... while I made the worst decision of my life. Now I'm in Texas trying to pick up the pieces of my life. But, Stone is here. S...

Good Girls Lie by J.T. Ellison My rating: 1 of 5 stars Note: Thank you to Edelweiss for sending me an ARC in exchange for an honest review. This novel has been popular around, circling a lot of goodreads feeds, hence why my curiosity about it and finally requesting it through Edelweiss after Netgalley delayed me, yet again. But seriously, I think the lord knew that I would hate this novel, that's why he didn't let my request come through on time. My main reason for rejecting this overall was the Pretty Little liars format this story uses. It's like a remake of above tv show. I thought it would be different, even with such a cliched summary, I mean it'd won so many hearts, but then this.. Gah, I can't. Until the next read, TMR View all my reviews

One Hot Night by Kacey Shea My rating: 4 of 5 stars Note: This is a prequel to Caught in the Lies. This is a whole series, so probably start from Caught in the Flames first, because that will explain Cam's connection. And Jill's. Anyway. I don't really have much to say. This was like an introductory book to characters, Jill and Cam. Cam, you'll know who he is, once you've read CITF (That book is Jill's friend's story...). So we get to know through this prequel who Jill and Cam are, and how they first met each other. The title is exactly what this story is about. One Hot Night. That's it. So if you want a short and sexy read (which would also help your reading challenge..) and also you love romantic shorts like this, then this is a good one to try. So a recommend. Until the next read, TMR View all my reviews

Die Trying by Lee Child My rating: 4 of 5 stars Ahhhhhh... WELCOME BACK, my dear Jack Reacher. Missed ya loads, love. Anyway I've loved your recent adventures in civilian life. Let me tell everyone else about em too. So. The cover - Bullets cover every inch of the background, red dots the background, and yellow flashes throughout..close to looking like a traffic light but whatever. It's so fierce, mysterious and dangerous, it's got me all shivering and goosebumps up. SO yup, I loved it, hence the stars. The summary - "A Chicago street in bright sunshine. Jack Reacher, strolling nowhere, meets an attractive young woman, limping, struggling with her crutches, alone. Naturally he stops to offer her a steadying arm and then they turn together—to face twin handguns held level and motionless and aimed straight at their stomachs. Chained to the woman, locked in a dark, stifling van racing 2,000 miles across America, Reacher needs to know wh...

One Week ’Til Christmas: The perfect holiday romance this Christmas! by Belinda Missen My rating: 5 of 5 stars Note: An ARC was given generously in exchange for an honest review. Thanks to the author, the publisher, and Netgalley for letting me review this. What an excellent end it was to Christmas Eve, reading this wonderful story set during Christmassy England. Anyway. Let me tell you how. The cover - Is pretty cute, nothing special really. But still good enough for my heart to swoon over. Hence the stars. The summary - "Two people. One chance meeting. Seven days to Christmas. Isobel Bennett is waiting for the number 11 bus when a man quite literally falls into her lap. Snow is falling, Christmas lights are twinkling, and a gorgeous man with dark brown hair has just slipped on ice and is now pressed against Isobel. Isobel knows she’s not imagining the chemistry between them. But then his ride arrives and, embarrassed, he beats a hasty retreat,...

Force of Nature by Jane Harper My rating: 5 of 5 stars Note: This is a sequel to The Dry. This can also be read as a standalone. But be aware, this novel will mention some snippets of the events of The Dry, so just to be up to date, it would be best if you tried the first novel first. Anyway here we go. This was actually a great novel. Better than The Dry in some aspects. Let me tell you all about it. The cover - Pretty thick as the grass surrounding, thick with mystery and scare jumps all around. It got me, hook, line, sinker. It was just great. Hence the stars. The summary - "Five women reluctantly pick up their backpacks and start walking along the muddy track. Only four come out the other side. The hike through the rugged Giralang Ranges is meant to take the office colleagues out of their air-conditioned comfort zone and teach resilience and team building. At least that is what the corporate retreat website advertises. Federal Police Agent A...

99 Percent Mine by Sally Thorne My rating: 3 of 5 stars Oh this novel... I've had so many hopes dashed by this novel. By this author. There had been so many good things to be appreciated about this novel, but so, so many bad things overruled this novel's positive view. Let me explain. The cover - So darn quirky, and cute. Like there's nothing hiding what is obvious in the summary and the cover itself. It immediately sets the dynamic between the two. So yeah. Loved the cover. The Summary - "Darcy Barrett found her dream man at age eight - ever since, she's had to learn to settle for good enough. Having conducted a global survey of men, she can categorically say that no one measures up to Tom Valeska, whose only flaw is that he's her twin brother's best friend - oh, and that 99 percent of the time, he hasn't seemed interested in her. When Darcy and Jamie inherit a tumble-down cottage from their grandmother, they're...

Silver by Chris Hammer My rating: 2 of 5 stars Note: This is a sequel to Scrublands, therefore should be read in order to understand main character's life. And that's exactly what I didn't follow through. Silly me. So I didn't really enjoy this novel as I didn't even have a clear understanding of the characters, and didn't know the whole story so well. Hence why I had to DNF earlier. So until I read the first novel, I am going to have to stick to this rating. Until the next read, TMR View all my reviews

American Royals by Katharine McGee My rating: 2 of 5 stars Almost a perfect copy of the british royal family. But wait, tis not true. This is about our american folks. Why so much confusion then? Because Americans are too far-fetched to actually be able to settle down with a monarchy, in my opinion. Need I say more? And there's not much difference between this book and a daytime soap opera. Everyone's scheming, everyone's out for blood. Gosh. If I'd wanted something like that, I'd have watched the princess diaries or the documentaries on the british royal family. I was not looking for a replica. Really, I wasn't. But I was hit by this anyway since everyone else loved it around me. So nothing really inspired me to read this aside from the cover of this book, the recommendation, and the cliched as hell summary (besides nothing was really that interesting on my shelf to read, so this was solely picked on a whim..) hence the stars...

Come Sundown by Nora Roberts My rating: 5 of 5 stars "Love, lies, murder. A lot can happen." And so it did, but at least it didn't ruin the book. Hah Fate, you lose. Anyway, let me tell you why I loved this masterpiece. The cover - So beautiful, a gorgeous sunset painted in the back, with a farmlike background. All so comforting, comfy and so far away from everything else. My dream, come true, in a book. Hence the point. The summary - We meet our Bodine and her family, the responsible adult and her very adorable family, all so supporting and loveable. And then we meet our broken hero, Callen, coming back to the very place he left before. Starting a new life. Love sparks, murders bloody the streets, lies come to threaten them all, especially when a murder of a woman occurs near the bodine farmhouse. Only time will be able to save them all. Loved this summary and couldn't wait to start. Hence the point. The characters - Bodine and her...

Killing Floor by Lee Child My rating: 5 of 5 stars Three ways I've heard about Lee Child: 1. Jack Reacher novels, one of which had a movie made starring Tom Cruise (I think it was on One Shot, 5th novel in the series). 2. Recommending several mystery novels, all of which I loved. 3. The recent release of Blue Moon. So it was no surprise I wanted to read the jack reacher novels as quickly as possible. Although I joined late, I was eager to have an opinion on his novels and love them too. And I loved this one. A lot. So let me explain. The cover -A red, blood soaked handprint on the front (I had a different edition). So scary yet it intrigued some mystery fangirl in me to continue reading it. Made me wonder about the mystery of the red handprint. Hence why the point. The summary - Jack Reacher is an ex-military police man. And recently he's become free from his service of 13 years. Drifting from one town to another was his life. But with how Fa...

The Rosie Project by Graeme Simsion My rating: 2 of 5 stars Loved by many, I was spellbound by it as well to read it. But then like so many disasters, this was incoming, yet I had no idea. So, let me try to explain it as best as I can. ......................... The cover - Cute, nothing special. It just eludes to the summary and the title, giving everything away, keeping nothing in secret. But still cute, hence the stars. The summary - A man looking for a wife in his thirty something years after many dates gone wrong. And he wants to look for the one, through a scientific experiment. Intriguing enough for my attention, since this is the first time I'm hearing of something like this. Hence the stars. But then that's where everything stopped being nice and fun. The main problem behind the dnf: His scientific language, and standoffish behavior. All he talks about is, his science experiments, some weird fact that nobody would care about while rea...

The Long Call by Ann Cleeves My rating: 2 of 5 stars Due to personal reasons and beliefs conflicting against this novel, I will only say I couldn't read it or review it like I would have wanted. Therefore, DNFed. Until the next read, TMR View all my reviews

Shelter in Place by Nora Roberts My rating: 2 of 5 stars Nora Roberts, oh my god, Nora Roberts! I love her novels! Fate: Oh really? Let's see if she likes this one. *rips up pages and puts in new ones* MUHAHAHAHAHA! That's exactly what happened. Some spawn of a devil ruined the entire book by switching the whole plot and people in it. That's the story I stick by, goodreads police. Anyway..... Here we go. The cover - So relaxing and removes the mental stress of life in general. The deep, blue-green ocean churning by, the sun glaring near, no civilisation close by. YESS! This is what I want. Thank you very much, dear cover artist. You've saved me. Hence the stars for you. The story - A massacre happens in our heroine's past and in our hero's past as well, shaking them to the very core that holds them. Years later, the heroine and hero meet again, they fall in love. But someone is out to shake the peace down, and ruin every last ...

In the Unlikely Event by L.J. Shen My rating: 2 of 5 stars An ARC was given generously in exchange for an honest review. “It’s not the right time to be together, I agree. But if we meet again, under any circumstances, any time in the future, we’re making this work, Rory. Feck spouses. Feck boyfriends and girlfriends. Feck the world. If kismet happens, we are letting it happen, no matter what.” - (Mal) And boy did kismet make sure they were together. Screwing everything which they held dear but never, directly them. Go kismet! Yeah...anyway. I had such high hopes for this novel for two reasons: 1. L.J Shen. (Need I say more?) 2. An experiment with a different storyline. (Hell yeah!) And....*boom* it did not happen. Let me explain. ............................................... 9.46 pm, in Melbourne, Australia. The date reads 18th of December. A girl sits in her comfortable recliner, jaw slack, eyes wide open, and mind blown to pieces (from the inside...

Eleanor Oliphant Is Completely Fine by Gail Honeyman My rating: 2 of 5 stars *shouts* Incoming fall, incoming disaster, your way, it's coming! *book falls off cliff* Good riddance. *walks back, a bounce in steps* ............................ I wish this had actually happened..but alas, you don't always get what you want. This was my meant to be novel, my one true love. I mean, cmon. Weird as hell heroine? - Check. An equally weird hero? -Double check. Rude as heck side characters? -Triple check. A weird as hell backstory for the main character? -Triple check. Chance meeting with the male protagonist in the most weird yet awkward way? - A big, fat, CHECK, please. Fellow readers, reviewers: Then why, J, why two stars? Me: You'll see. That's been my conversation with others, myself and thoughts ever since I DNFed this novel at page 73 or something. But let me explain it to you, in proper grammer and all. I mean, I don't want the gram...

The Lost Man by Jane Harper My rating: 2 of 5 stars Note: This is a completely different novel and is not part of a series like the Aaron Falk ones. Where do I begin? How can I begin? I'm having trouble doing so.. But let me see.. I was so excited for this novel, considering I literally had just reviewed The dry before and was in love with it. But then this...this disaster..god..I can't. I...I can't. It's like taking an emotional hit after someone died. Here however, the plot died on me real quick, but still hit me hard. I feel like some other writer wrote this, or the editor proofreaded it wrong..or another possibility was the writer fell asleep at the wheel, and decided to write whatever jumbled mess grew out of her dreams, like the body snatcher, except this is the writer who writes good plot but got muddled because of dreams snatcher... Just my theory. But let me explain. The cover -Again a view of something like the sahara desert...

The Dry by Jane Harper My rating: 4 of 5 stars Note: This is a series, this is the first one in the series. However both novels are standalones so it shouldn't be a problem if you read one and didn't read in order. Originally I got this novel through the most read section and through some very few but definitely convincing Goodreads Friends such as Kevin (even though some of their reviews weren't so positive..) hence why I picked this novel up. I've also ordered the sequel, and it's on the way haha.. So to begin.. The cover - is definitely close to the dry, often dry and sweltering weather here where I live, in Melbourne, Australia. Overall, I liked it a lot, hence why the points. The summary -"It hasn't rained in Kiewarra for two years. Tensions in the farming community become unbearable when three members of the Hadler family are discovered shot to death on their property. Everyone assumes Luke Hadler committed suicide ...

The Wedding Party by Jasmine Guillory My rating: 2 of 5 stars Note: This is the third novel in the series, entirely a standalone, but would be best if you read in order to understand the characters and their backstories. So where should I start? I was kind of hoping this would be better than Royal Holiday, but I guess either Fate doesn't want me happy (when does he want me happy anyway?) or this author can't quit with the annoying characters and half-assed writing.. Here we go then.. The cover - Cute as hell, with both of them at different ends of the wedding..obviously they're both opposed to each other heh. But still adorable. Hence why the points. The summary - After a one night stand (I don't know why they call it kissing, they literally went and whacked out the entire apartment, but anyway..), they can't stop thinking about each other. But when they're stuck attending a mutual friend's wedding and receptions, they can...

Scythe by Neal Shusterman My rating: 1 of 5 stars A favorite among my friends here on goodreads and goodreads in general too. Hence why I tried it out. But sadly, I couldn't go through with it. The cover - Was impressive enough with rich red and yellow tones, creating an aura of danger and yet light in a way. Terribly conflicting but still blending so well. Hence the point. The summary - One child policy (they tried and reduced the population, hence the amount of children was 1 and then came the emperor's/empress's syndrome), where they try and keep the population regulated by cutting off at least one innocent life in the process of "gleaning". A good side is that humanity has conquered every fault it ever faced, such as hunger, poverty, mortality, illness, emotional conflict, war, sufferings. Not my cup of tea, but still pressed on. The death of that boy...as gleaning..I couldn't continue. I'm sorry but these elements a...

Olive Kitteridge by Elizabeth Strout My rating: 2 of 5 stars Note: This is a duology. The first one is Olive Kitteridge. The second one is Olive, Again. Read in order, please. Where do I begin with this novel? Every goodreads friend recommended it to me, said it was close to real life and sometimes a real life dose is often needed to get back down to earth. I agreed and then started reading. And then... The writing - Was great, I mean not impressive, but good enough to not zone in and out of. Half star. The cover - Was something that caught my attention, but again nothing extraordinary. Hence again half a star. The problems: The characters -Olive seems pissed off most of the time, Henry seems to be that cool, calm mind. Total opposites, and yet both are not even properly matched to one another. Descriptions of every character come into play but with Olive, it's angry, young woman, Olive. Nothing special about her, even though the novel is about h...

The Giver of Stars by Jojo Moyes My rating: 2 of 5 stars Note: Took me three days to get to 30 pages, imagine how bad this novel must be for me to take such a long time.. Ah yes, this same blasted author, that I promised I'd never read again after checking out Me Before You series. But guess what? I got roped in, yet again by goodreads and it's popularity, and the author being Jojo Moyes.. Gosh. But let's move, shall we? The cover - Reminds me of the view you get through the telescope when looking at the night sky. The stars, glinting bright and happy, and the sky being so blue, you feel it being painted rather than actually existing. Such a surreal feeling I got when I first looked at the cover. Hence why the points. The summary -Late 1930s, America. There are two women, Alice and Margery. Alice Van Cleve, who gets married to Bennet Van Cleve just to escape her harsh family and life (being british and all). Once she moves to America in a...

The Turn of the Key by Ruth Ware My rating: 1 of 5 stars Another popular book which I once again did not like. *sad horns in the distance* Yeah, I got it, thanks. Anyway.. Let me explain what happened exactly. The cover - Not much to look at, the title is so big, literally hid most of the artwork. So yeah, not a good move by the cover maker. Hence why I didn't bother giving it a star. The summary -A nanny is hired to look after a couple's children in the highlands. It's quite good money, good lodging too, well-behaved children, a happy couple. And the nanny was looking to get out of her old job as she wasn't doing so well with it before. The only catch with this picture perfect family -the technologically built house. Everything runs on an AI system, programmed by the couple, and is given some access to the nanny too. Everything seems perfect. But then why is the nanny then later on accused to have murdered a child in the family? And ...

Girl, Woman, Other by Bernardine Evaristo My rating: 2 of 5 stars Note: An ARC was given to me by Netgalley, and I also was able to obtain a copy from the library. Hence why I had two copies before. But thank you to Netgalley for approving me in exchange for an honest review. "A masterpiece." "A must read." "One for all the bookworms." Boy were they wrong.. Let me explain. The cover -A patchwork, quilts made up. Stitched together are the girls of the story, each having their own part, their own voice about what's been happening in their life. Good enough to get me reading, therefore a point given. The summary -It's almost the same story that is told about women, specially black women and their struggles in different eras. Not much interest, but like 5% maybe. Hence why a point is given. But as usual, Fate runs up to me and snatches my story, tries to ruin it and......succeeds. One point for Fate. 0 for J. God. Th...

The Unhoneymooners by Christina Lauren My rating: 5 of 5 stars “And I get it. As much as I hate him . . . I think I’m starting to like us.” (Because Olive, secretly Hate is LOOOVE..so can't deny it..sorry.) *cartwheels all over the lawn* Me to me: What in the godforsaken lucifer ridden hell are you doing? Get back here! Me to me again: I'm having a moment here, excuse me. And you go back in there. Let me be happy. You know I'm having these moments rarely, after all the disappointments I've been reading. SO just chill. Me to me the third time: I know it's been rare, I have an idea. Share your happiness with your amigos, you know, like how you share kindness? It might make you even more happier. And maybe more clean. *wrinkles nose* Me to me for the fourth time: Fine, fine. I'm coming. *grins* That's been my reaction ever since I finished The Unhoneymooners (such a hilarious title honestly, but yeah). I've literally lost...

The Craftsman by Sharon J. Bolton My rating: 2 of 5 stars Another well sought after novel. And once again, I've managed to defy the odds and stand aside to the popular, agreeing opinions. Let me tell you how. The cover -A different one to this one. But definitely it had my interest. A coffin with the usual details. And then the words brought something in me. A devoted father or a merciless killer? Hmm.... Definitely makes you think. It certainly made me think. Hence why the points. The summary - A police detective captured the killer that had buried bodies (which were alive) deep underground, 30 years ago. But now she encounters a ghost from her past, a possible belief that the killer is still at large, and goes back wondering to the house she used to once lodge in with the Glassbrooks, and tries to once again solve the case that may change her life forever. Sounds good? Certainly it does, going back to something that may just endanger your life ...

The Family Upstairs by Lisa Jewell My rating: 2 of 5 stars "Be careful who you let in." (Exactly.) Time for the unpopular opinion streak..*gunshots fired* Once again, I'm against a book which everyone else loved..Wowza. Either I lack good taste, or other people lack good taste, or the author just doesn't know how to write. I don't know anymore. But I'll write this review to explain anyway. The cover - It's so dark and is not so straightforward as you'd first imagine it to be. It still hides a lot in the dark, which leaves you intrigued, about its' secrets. Especially that one light in the window of the apartments, something is clearly afoot and we, as the readers, can only figure out when we read it. So definitely it deserves all the points. The summary -It talks about three families, but it mentions mostly Libby with her recent inheritance of a house a family used to once own, but she has no idea that everyone e...

The Silent Patient by Alex Michaelides My rating: 5 of 5 stars “We're all crazy, I believe, just in different ways.” (Indeed we are, indeed we are). The plot itself - We are introduced to a woman called Alicia Berenson with her picture-perfect life, being married to an in-demand fashion photographer. One day she shoots that same husband five times in the face and goes completely silent. But her silence is what gives her more time in the spotlight, more than the average 15 minutes in the spotlight a normal person receives. In turn, she's put in a psychiatric center, to be treated. Meanwhile we're introduced to our second main protagonist, Theo Faber, a brilliant criminal psychologist, who's been waiting and watching to uncover the truth behind Alicia's actions and is recalled as the last hope. But what if the truth was more than what he could handle? What if it consumed him to a point of no return? The characters - Alicia is a bril...

Well Met by Jen DeLuca My rating: 5 of 5 stars “Like the stars, your love should be a constant source of light, and like the earth, a firm foundation from which to grow.” (I forgot who said that but eh..still romantic, and swoonworthy.) Me: My spirit animal is Simon. Case closed. Me: He knows so much about ancient english, shakespeare and faires...I'm in love. Someone stop me from loving him hard. God. Me: Wonder if I can find him in real life? God, that would be so great. A guy who knows something about literature and actually enjoys conversations about that..Oh my heart. Me to me: Stop with the heart eyes and the gushing, geez, you need to write and I don't want to vomit my lunch. (My less romantic side). Me to me: God, fine. Party pooper and hater of romances. Fine. Let's go. So here I am. A conversation with me, myself and...I. Ya. So really, let's go. The cover - Love it, already makes you anxious for their story and their HEA. P...

Educated by Tara Westover My rating: 2 of 5 stars The most popular novel of 2019 with highly sought after reviews and yet...here I am. The unpopular queen of em all. Gee. Well, this queen has to start somewhere, so let's go. The cover -Pretty straightforward (if you can call it that) with the pencil against a white palette, background. Leaves no mystery as to what the novel is about. Interesting enough for me though, I was looking for something straightforward anyway. So points. The summary - Pretty intriguing in a sense that a girl (a young girl) takes a stand to better herself, to give herself the power of knowledge, she has a hunger for it, a craving, to better understand herself, her family and the world around herself. Truly inspiring. Hats off to the author to be able to face such a childhood and still be sane. I always respect people who try and better themselves with knowledge, with literature, with words that will perhaps help them under...

The Kiss Quotient by Helen Hoang My rating: 4 of 5 stars “All the things that make you different make you perfect.” (Oh Michael, such a sweetheart..) This novel... Was absolute perfection, in a way.. My first Helen Hoang novel and I was in love. Imagine the power this novel holds, to grab me so quick. ... Let's continue though... The cover - Is dorkably adorable. Math equation with the couple. I like it. A cover like this is rare. Reveals only what you may be able to pick out, along with the summary. This cover had my heart, before I even read this novel. Points are given. The summary - Was cliched but cute regardless. An autistic but brilliant young woman needs help with dating and relationships, and she hires an escort to help her. But can love also be added to the difficult equation being life? Definitely got my interest, so points given for sure. (the autism part was not cliched, fyi, the help was though...) The story itself (plot) -I think t...