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Charleen wrote: "Juli wrote: "#73 In an Absent Dream

5/5 stars

By so very, very far my favorite in the series. This was everything none of the others were...."


I liked book #1 and #4. I was really disappointed in the other two.

#76 The Greatest Love Story Ever Told

5/5 stars

This was so darn entertaining. I'm so happy I chose the audiobook version. It didn't feel like a book at all. It was just like listening to a conversation or a podcast hosted by Megan and Nick.

#77 Waking the Witch: Reflections on Women, Magic, and Power

5/5 stars

I would like to thank NetGalley, the publisher and the author for my advanced copy of this novel in exchange for an honest review.

I've been following Pam Grossman for a while and love her podcast The Witch Wave. I connect with her intuition and sensitivity toward spiritual subjects. I was elated when I received this ARC. I am a feminist but not very outspoken about it. I am spiritual in private and I am bookish and academic outwardly. Waking the Witch touched upon all of these aspects of me. I felt, it was well-researched and logically laid out. I enjoyed the many mentions of books, paintings, movies, talks, and music. Contemporary, as well as historical facts and trivia, were expertly interweaved with Grossman's personal experiences and memoir-like tales.

Furthermore, it read easily. In fact, this may be the fastest I have finished a non-fiction book. At the end of the last chapter, I felt satisfied that I learned something. This book was educational to me without feeling like a textbook. It certainly is no in-depth guide to witchcraft or similar things but it appears to be a wonderful introduction to witches and their feminist aspirations. I love the idea that being a witch can have so many meanings and Grossman does an amazing job of being inclusive and open to other lifestyles, believes, and experiences. I walked away from this feeling seriously pumped of her interpretation of feminism and where we should go from here. This is a book that I will consult in the future when I might feel bleak about today's society or when I might need some spiritual insight. You definitely don't need to be a witch in the most literal sense to enjoy her writing and be inspired by it.

As a novice in this field (so take this with a grain of salt), I can see this book becoming a staple for people who seek mindfulness, spirituality, and/or a unique way of feminism. I believe this would be a fantastic book for book clubs and similar discussion groups as it has many jumping off points along the way.

Juli wrote: "#76 The Greatest Love Story Ever Told

5/5 stars

This was so darn entertaining. I'm so happy I chose the audiobook version. ..."

Love them!! More him but also her. lol. I still have this audiobook to listen to.

#78 Valencia and Valentine

3/5 stars

I feel conflicted about this book as it had some amazing moments of character development but also fell flat on the actual storyline. I found the depiction of Valencia's OCD and anxiety at times over the top and at times too real. I felt for her and struggled along when she had to yet again call her family in the middle of the night just to make sure they are ok. But I hated some of the stereotypical manifestations such as having to check the stove three times or having to do certain things in a very specific order. We all have heard of those kinds of symptoms before and it would've been more significant to show how OCD can be different for everyone. Aside from that, I thought the story itself was predictable and bland. There was also a lot going on that convoluted some of the plot events for me. Overall, I feel only meh about this book.

#79 The 7½ Deaths of Evelyn Hardcastle

3.5/5 stars

I loved the Agatha Christie feel to this story. It was suspenseful and the theme reminded me of many of her stories. I enjoyed the time travel aspect and the many characters. But overall, it felt long-winded and crowded. I also, and this might be my biggest issue with the novel, found the friendship between the protagonist and Anna far-fetched and not believable.

#80 Whiskey in a Teacup: What Growing Up in the South Taught Me About Life, Love & Baking Biscuits

3/5 stars

I think Reese Witherspoon is so adorable. I find her real and relatable. I enjoy her movies. It was fun listening to her read her book. But it didn't amount to anything more. I equal reading this book to watching a fun and silly movie on a lazy Sunday afternoon. Would you regret spending that time? No you won't because you've been entertained for a few hours. Will you remember it? Probably not. I think having the recipes in the book adds value to it and I could even see myself trying some of them out. I love the South and its comfort foods. Overall, this is a book to occupy your time when you're looking for a light read and a few hours spent doing nothing of importance.

Elyse wrote: "Juli wrote: "#76 The Greatest Love Story Ever Told

5/5 stars

This was so darn entertaining. I'm so happy I chose the audiob..."

I can highly suggest this audiobook! It was so fun and it felt so natural; like they were just having a conversation and I got to listen in.

#81 Doctor Sleep

2/5 stars

I am sad to say this wasn't for me. I couldn't get invested into any of the characters. I found Abra annoying. I kinda hated her parents. I felt meh about Dan, though he probably was my favorite character. The True Knot was mildly interesting but I needed more evil, more disgust, and much more weird. I didn't really notice many horror elements and probably because of Abra's age and her teenage angst and behavior it felt more like a dark fantasy YA novel. The showdown at the end was completely lackluster. I am a bit disappointed because The Shining was excellent. King's portrayal of alcoholism was too real and truly scary. Here, he had the opportunity to take the reader through the aftermath of alcoholism, through the feelings and struggles of staying sober, but that part seemed just an afterthought. The writing style itself reminded me a lot of the Mr. Mercedes series, for which the tone was perfect, but it didn't fit here.

#82 Naturally Tan

4/5 stars

I would like to thank NetGalley, the publisher and the author for my advanced copy of this novel in exchange for an honest review.

What a lovely memoir! Although I read this book, I could hear Tan's voice the entire time as if he was speaking directly to me. The conversational tone throughout the story fits the theme extremely well. The first chapter was a bit rough as it started off reading a bit immature (and this is my only gripe with this book). In hindsight though, it helped to make this book feel special as I could see with every chapter how the author grew as a writer. Indeed, Tan France grew in the story and his writing skills improved along the way. I think this would make for a great audiobook; read by him of course.

Tan wrote a very personal book and I felt honored in a way that he let me into his world. I learned about his childhood. I learned about his marriage. And I learned about his businesses. All from a place of his own insecurities and struggles. I admire that he let us, the reader, be part of this. I could relate to many of his anxieties, dreams, and ambitions alike; and it made me somehow not feel alone with things.

This book has a nice flow and evolution of events. It starts off with Tan's childhood in England. Here, he makes an immediate impact by discussing his struggles as a kid in an England that isn't quite as a progressive and a happy melting pot nation as I had believed. In fact, it caught me off guard that he experienced so many racist undertones in his day to day life. Despite that and despite his family's conservative beliefs and religion, he was able to explore many of his interests early on and credits that fact to his success today. He then moves on to meeting the love of his life and now-husband. Their relationship and story are inspiring. He freely discusses their differences and how they work through them. And of course, he then transitions to his endeavors in the fashion industry and his clothing businesses, which ultimately led him to the show Queer Eye where most of us know him from. Throughout this journey, he reveals a lot about himself in a way that is easy and fresh.

This is a quick read, but not because it's fluff but because once you start you can't put the book down.

P.S.: I delight in the fact that the title of this book has several meanings. Well done!

#83 The Bride Test

4/5 stars

Fast read. Lots of emotions. I quite loved this book more than her first even, ... until the ending. It felt odd and a bit icky to be honest.

#84 Under Currents

4/5 stars

I would like to thank the publisher, the author, and the lovely indie bookstore Scrawl Books for my advanced copy of this novel in exchange for an honest review.

This was a 3.5 stars read for me. It had classic Nora Roberts elements but also new features I haven't seen in (m)any of her books. For starters, it reads more like a family saga rather than her usual suspenseful romances. I really enjoyed getting to know her characters in this novel, how their lives are intertwined and how their todays were shaped by their yesterdays. Roberts, as usual, does an excellent job highlighting the intricacies of interpersonal relationships that range from quirky and fun to deeply bonded in good and in bad ways. The book also shines in its characters which are all well-developed, relatable, and real. In fact, the budding love interest between the two protagonists, Zane and Darby, seems normal and like true life. That also is a double-edged sword, because if you're looking to leave reality and immerse yourself in a fairytale type romance (as many of Roberts' books entail), you will be disappointed here. In fact, this novel has the potential for several triggers including domestic abuse, sexual misconduct/rape, and stalking; and thus does make for an uncomfortable read at times.

The reason I am deducting points is because this book is marketed as a suspenseful romance but it is lacking suspense (and the romance is a tad too casual, too much of a byproduct or side story). The unknown villainous figure tormenting the town of Lakeview is fairly predictable and not surprising. I have read other Roberts' mysteries that really dug into the mind of the perpetrator and had me on the edge of my seat wanting to find out who did what. This one, unfortunately, did not. It made up for it, of course, by excellently showcasing family dynamics, community, and the need for belonging, and had me devouring the book because of that. In fact, would it had been advertised as such, it would've received 4 or 5 stars for sure.

Overall, if you're looking for a book that dives deep into how past events influence what person you become and how a community deals with tragedy, this is the book for you.

#85 The Princess and the Fangirl

3/5 stars

A fun read with lots of cute characters and tons of amazing fandom references. A solid sequel to Geekerella.

#86 Parable of the Sower

4/5 stars

Kindred is one of my all-time favorite books and it was high-time that I read more Octavia Butler. The Earthseed series sounded so intriguing and the first book did not disappoint. It is packed with philosophical poetry that made me think deeply about my world. This is not a fast-paced book by any means - this is more of a ponderer. At times, it reminded me of McCarthy's The Road or St. John Mandel's Station Eleven. I am looking forward to the next book in the series.

#87 A Spark of Light

3/5 stars

I didn't care for the timeline jumps but the story itself kept me interested. There was one plot twist I did not see coming (it didn't even cross my mind to question anything about that person) and I always admire an author who manages to accomplish that.

Juli wrote: "#82 Naturally Tan

4/5 stars

I would like to thank NetGalley, the publisher and the author for my advanced copy of this novel in exchange for an ..."

I will definitely be listening to this audiobook!

Elyse wrote: "Juli wrote: "#82 Naturally Tan

4/5 stars

I would like to thank NetGalley, the publisher and the author for my advanced copy of this novel in exc..."

I hope you'll love it!

Katie wrote: "Juli wrote: "#8 The Winter of the Witch

5/5 stars

Um, what to say????? I had to stay up late to read The Winter Witch in one sitting. ..."

Oh thank you for the compliment!!!! I appreciate this a lot!

#88 Wilder Girls

3.5/5 stars

I would like to thank NetGalley, the publisher and the author for my advanced copy of this novel in exchange for an honest review.

Wilder Girls is deliciously strange and unusual. It can't be molded into one genre with it's horror, sci-fi, and magical realism inspired plotline. The less you know about the story, the more you get sucked in. Where does it lead and what does it mean? You have to find out for yourself!

I am giving this novel a 3.5 star rating because I wanted the author to take the strangeness and madness over the top. I can't even exactly pinpoint where but I just know I wanted more. More weirdness. More suspense. More confusion. I enjoyed how icky I felt while reading the book but there were too many parts where the story was too slow to maintain that feeling.

However, I think this would be an excellent book club read. The ending was vague enough (though to me that felt a bit like a letdown) that it will spark many interpretations. Moreover, the subtle feminism (or maybe not so subtle) with almost all characters being female for example adds to the complexness of this book. The main characters are flawed and beautiful despite or probably because of their disfigured appearances. The characters have no pretense. What you see is what you get. The meaning behind the plot though is open to your imagination making this book also one to re-read.

#89 No Matter

4/5 stars

I would like to thank NetGalley, the publisher and the author for my advanced copy of this novel in exchange for an honest review.

This collection of poems brings cityscapes to life. Emotions and the nature of a city can mimic each other - who would've thought


The poems ooze the love the author feels for cities like New York, London, and Dublin. She doesn't sugarcoat them. She presents them raw and vulnerable. There is admiration and hate. There is praise and criticism. Prikryl does an excellent job drawing parallels between the inner workings of a large urban metropolis and the readers (and her own) inner emotional turmoil. Her descriptions of places by utilizing phrases we associate with illustrating emotions worked perfectly for this collection and seemed unusual to me. I will be reading more of her work in the future.

#90 Things You Save in a Fire

4/5 stars

I would like to thank NetGalley, the publisher and the author for my advanced copy of this novel in exchange for an honest review.

This was delightful. It had depth, romance, a sliver of suspense, quirky characters, human emotions, and conflict.

We all know firemen are hot. We all can imagine being rescued by a hunk of a man and living happily ever after. This story is not that! Our fireman is actually a firewoman who needs no rescuing, who is stubborn and skilled, who can be abrasive, who has not discovered herself, and who is currently thrown into a situation that pushes her way, way, wayyyyy out of her comfort zone.

I enjoyed the growth of the main character. I enjoyed the budding romance. I enjoyed the countryside setting of the story. I personally could relate to the frayed mother-daughter relationship. Some aspects of the plot were a bit underdeveloped (like Cassie's sexual past for example) but overall it didn't take away from the plot progression. The emphasis of the book is healing, empathy, and forgiveness, and Katherine Center beautifully delivered that.

#91 Ever Alice

3/5 stars

I would like to thank NetGalley, the publisher and the author for my advanced copy of this novel in exchange for an honest review.

An adaptation of Alice in Wonderland you say? Count me in! Ever since my introduction to Lewis Carrolls' excellent world building, I have loved Alice and her Wonderland. Giving her stories a dark twist makes it all the better. Ever Alice promised a twisted, sinister tale, an evil Red Queen, and a host of obscure minor characters reimagined. While the story delivered all that, it also fell flat in connecting the pieces.

Ramsay switches viewpoints between Alice and the Red Queen. This should've worked but Alice was so boring and the Red Queen had only one defining characteristic - being paranoid. The ending while being a logical twist to Carroll's world, was utterly predictable, taking away the page-turning suspense. Coupled with the fact that the characters didn't carry the story, the book was a bit of a dredge to get through.

To make this book a 5 star read, Ramsay should've made the queen as evil as can be with a hint of chaotic and Alice a strong-willed, stubborn, and flawed girl (not a doormat!). In fact, this novel could've been entirely reliant on complex characters while maintaining the weird and strange Wonderland aspects Carroll already created. There isn't a need for a big plot development.

Overall, I am giving this book 3 stars because it has good bones but failed on the assembly.

#92 We Were Liars

5/5 stars

I'm gonna be thinking about these characters for a long time. This book surprised me with it's depth and message.

#93 The Girl Next Door

no rating

I don't know how to rate this. I'm deeply disturbed and saddened. If that was the intention this book is a 5/5. I can't comment on the writing because everything just felt too real, too nonsensical, too depraved. I didn't even pay attention to his writing style. It didn't seem like fiction at all. I know it's based on a true story but it didn't read like true crime either. This book will stick with me.

#94 Well Met

3/5 stars

Fun and entertaining vacation read. Story was cute. Characters could've had more depth or more complexity.

#95 Curse of the Dead-Eyed Doll

2/5 stars

I would like to thank NetGalley, the publisher and the author for my advanced copy of this novel in exchange for an honest review.

First of all, I love that middle-grade horror is starting to take off and is getting the attention it deserves. Thomas Kingsley Troupe's Haunted States of America Series is a lovely idea and a fun resource for any middle-grade library. I quite enjoyed Trapped in Room 217 and had high hopes for this book. Sadly, Curse of the Dead-Eyed Doll left me wanting more.

I love the author's motivation for this Key West haunted doll story. Haunted dolls are creepy, unpredictable, and something anyone could encounter at any time. I wish this concept would've translated into his story. I was mostly bored and sometimes confused by the plot. The build-up to the main protagonist's agony was lacking. I enjoyed that Al didn't believe in the superstitions of this doll. I liked that he challenged the warnings and dismissed them as coincidence or superstitions. But when the creepy events started to compile I was expecting a slow progression from disbelief to horror to belief. That didn't happen in my opinion. But that is exactly what would've made me, as the reader, scared as well. I wanted to experience the dread with Al. I wanted to live his emotions but I couldn't because they weren't on the page.

I will check out the other books in the series in hopes that they are more like Trapped in Room 217 and less like this book.

#96 Jane Eyre

5/5 stars

I loved this book. Life came in between finishing it quite a few times but when I got to read a few pages here and there, I cherished every moment.

#97 Christmas in Vermont

1/5 stars

I would like to thank NetGalley, the publisher and the author for my advanced copy of this novel in exchange for an honest review.

I wanted to love this novel. I am a big fan of cheesy Christmas romances, Vermont, and snowy winters. The book had the right setting. It had theoretically great characters. It had the potential for a great 'we reconnected after many years' romance.

But what it also had was a huge set of stereotypes. There were women who were damsels in distress, there were women who looked like they would make it on their own but then, in the end, needed a dude to make their lives complete, and then there was the best friend who encompassed to be the biggest problem. Why would you have a professionally successful woman with two kids who is per the protagonist's words "having the best of both worlds: being a mother and not sacrificing her job, and on top of that the perfect marriage" complain about every single thing her kids do when she has to babysit them on her own, fly to an all-inclusive resort the first chance she gets where a nanny will watch her kids, and make any excuse for her man who opted to go on a skiing trip with his buddies rather than spend the time between Christmas and New Year's Eve with this family????? Why is that your example of a strong professional woman who is also a mother????? Moreover, while the plot started out super cute with the engraved watch it quickly turned into an almost stalker sort of situation, all under the name of synchronicity!

I am very disappointed in this book. Come on people, we live in 2019! We can have cute and cheesy romance novels without sacrificing the strength and independence of women. We can use the usual and predictable plots of romance novels and still have strong female leads and supporting characters. That doesn't make men look weak. We don't need damsels in distress to have strong male leads. And we most certainly don't need to make women into stalkers to get the man of their dreams!

Juli wrote: "#96 Jane Eyre

5/5 stars

I loved this book. Life came in between finishing it quite a few times but when I got to read a few pages here and there, I cheris..."

Woot!

#98 Lesath

2/5 stars

I would like to thank NetGalley, the publisher and the author for my advanced copy of this novel in exchange for an honest review.

What a strange and disorganized story! I enjoyed the weirdness, the confusion, and the not-knowing-what's-going-on when it was obviously done intentionally. But there were two many times where it just seemed like an oversight. I was often wondering who was speaking, I couldn't follow the descriptions of locations, and I had a hard time understanding the purpose of several of the characters. There is the good kind of oddd and then there is this. It just didn't work for me. The author has to give the reader something. At the very least I should be able to follow the world-building. I wanted to feel immersed in the plot but the descriptions of the surroundings were incomplete or erratic giving me no chance for imagery. This honestly led me to not caring about the plot events or the characters. I felt bored quite often and just slugged through the story.

2 stars for concept. This could've been great with the right execution.

#99 Year One

3/5 stars

Honestly, I am disappointed. I am frustrated on how much this book copied The Stand - not even an homage (which I would've loved actually) but straight up a copy. Don't get me wrong, I was entertained with the story. Everybody knows I love Nora Roberts and I am happy she is branching out but this just felt blatantly like not her ideas but those of another book with the addition of some magick. And again, that's where Roberts did her best job - the magick, the folklore, the interpersonal relationships. Which is the only reason this book gets three stars from me! I will continue to move on to the next book as I received an ARC of the third installment. I hope it will start deviating from The Stand.

#100 Of Blood and Bone

4/5 stars

This was much better than the first one because it played on Roberts strength in weaving folklore, fantasy with human interest pieces. The story itself felt like a classic, epic fantasy coming of age plot and I enjoyed reading about Fallon's growth as The One. There was little action in this book but it didn't make it boring. I am now looking forward to reviewing the last book in this trilogy.

#101 Six Scary Stories

3/5 stars

*** Not by Stephen King***
These stories were more creative than scary. La Mort de l'Amante was my favorite. I also enjoyed The Bear Trap, The Spots, and Wild Swimming.

#102 Wytches, Volume 1

5/5 stars

I loved this intro to the story. I want to read on right away! The backstory why Snyder wrote this series is equally fascinating and creepy! The artwork is very good and creates the perfect atmosphere.

Juli wrote: "#99 Year One

3/5 stars

Honestly, I am disappointed. I am frustrated on how much this book copied The Stand - not even an homage (which I would've lov..."

Ayup! Ditto to your whole review! My hold just came in for the sequel but I have to go back to the end of the queue because I've got too much to read right now. Only 2 more weeks to wait though! I would like to get it in before Kingtober! Looks like you liked it better than the first one so that's promising!

Elyse wrote: "Juli wrote: "#99 Year One

3/5 stars

Honestly, I am disappointed. I am frustrated on how much this book copied The Stand - not even an homage (which I..."

Because it read more like Nora Roberts and less like The Stand. Though I've come across reviews that likened book 2 to some other fantasy novel, which I haven't read.

#103 Suee and the Shadow

4/5 stars

I loved how creepy this was! Definitely a series I will continue.

#104 One by One

3/5 stars

I would like to thank NetGalley, the publisher and the author for my advanced copy of this novel in exchange for an honest review.

This book left me with mixed feelings. It took quite a while to get into it and I was starting to get worried I'd DNF it. But then, family members started disappearing and my heart quickened. D.W. Gillespie really knows how to draw you into the fear, the confusion, the accusations that drive this story. I was genuinely frightened at times. For a while it is unclear what kind of villain we are dealing with and this makes this novel deliciously complex and triggers just the right emotions. For a while the book reminded me of the Amityville horror plot with a modern twist. Are these disappearances linked to a supernatural power, is the dad going crazy, is the protagonist completely unreliable, or is there something else at bay entirely? Eventually, I was able to predict the ending and that took away some of my enjoyment - particularly since the ending felt common.

So overall, this novel has a great middle wedged between a meh beginning and a boring ending. I still recommend this book because the middle portion was just really damn good.

#105 Dark Witch

5/5 stars

#106 Shadow Spell

4/5 stars

#107 Blood Magick

5/5 stars

I really enjoyed this trilogy. I loved Ireland and Irish folklore/magick. I love Nora Roberts' romances. So Ireland + romance + magick is a fantastic combo. Book #2 took me a bit to get into as I didn't enjoy the couple that much. The other two were exactly what I wanted.

#108 Ten Things My Cat Hates About You

2.5/5 stars

I would like to thank NetGalley, the publisher and the author for my advanced copy of this novel in exchange for an honest review.

This is a fun and super quick read. Sadly, it's not very memorable. The premise of "my cat picking my suitors" is enticing and makes for a quirky setting.

Let's start off with things I liked about this book. The cat, obvi. Clara was sweet and happy most of the time allowing for this tory to feel light-hearted. The two male leads were sort of ok.

Now to the less likable parts. First of all, the title doesn't hold what's promised. There were no TEN things the cat hated about anyone. There was actually very little cat-suitor interactions. Secondly, Clara was a bit boring and self-centered which did not drive the story in any direction. I was excited that she worked an interesting job for example but then seemed to be completely out of touch with what's important (like writing grants for funding - why?, I never received an answer to that reluctance to do what's required of her. Why was this tidbit important to the story?). Her younger brother actually stays with her in her apartment for a while and Clara is so focused on her own life, she doesn't notice that he might need help? This was a serious situation and could've given the book some depth but was handled in a nonchalant way and sort of glanced over, kind of like an unnecessary side-act. Thirdly, her romantic interactions seemed just wrong. One guy treated Clara badly and the other kind of babied her in a bad way. Neither one seemed a super desirable match. The outcome of the love triangle was also incredibly obvious and really no triangle at all. I wish the author had left some mystery.

All in all, this was a kooky, very British read that I think is best enjoyed when a need to escape reality is urgent.

#109 The Girl in Red

3/5 stars

I usually love Christina Henry's books but this one left me feeling meh despite the fact that I was entertained reading it. It was just too full of cliches and deviated a tad too much from the original fairytale.

#110 The Stranger in the Woods: The Extraordinary Story of the Last True Hermit

no rating

I'm conflicted. I don't know how to rate this. On one hand the story about the hermit is fascinating. Knight is a complex person and I enjoy many of his believes. I felt his story was well researched. On the other hand, I'm uncomfortable with the author's intrusion into Knight's life. It feels voyeuristic. It seems that all Knight wanted was to be alone though there were a few occasions where he seemed to connect to Finkel in a way he didn't seem to connect to others.

Juli wrote: "#109 The Girl in Red

3/5 stars

I usually love Christina Henry's books but this one left me feeling meh despite the fact that I was entertained..."

Oh no! I love her dark fairy tale retellings! Sorry this one missed the mark. I haven't read it yet.

#111 Stranger in the Woods

2/5 stars

Wow. What a soap opera!!!! Imagine daytime TV wrote a thriller, this would be the result. So much plot. So many red herrings. Everyone could be the perpetrator. Mix this with an unreliable narrator and the most preposterous ending, you have this Lifetime version of a book. The reason it is getting two stars at all is because once I got into the book I couldn't put it down. I had to watch this trainwreck of a story unfold.

#112 Get a Life, Chloe Brown

5/5 stars

I just adored this story! I loved that the protagonist dealt with a chronic illness but made it work somehow. I enjoyed reading how her family dynamics revolved around her - it felt real. Her twin sisters were particularly funny and quirky. I enjoyed the budding relationship with Red.

#113 Oryx and Crake

4/5 stars

It took me forever to get into this book. Like much, much longer than other books that take me forever to get into. Why? I don't know. BUT, once the story grabbed me I really loved it. I was surprised myself. This is a smart book. A slow-simmering social commentary. As applicable today as it was when Atwood wrote it (though some of the science reads a bit dated with its constant references to CD-ROMs etc). It's simultaneously different AND the same as The Handmaid's Tale in that it is smart, shows a keen eye, and evokes just the right fears in the reader. I am a little hesitant to go to the second book only because I worry it will be another lengthy and time-consuming start before the story gets me.

Juli wrote: "#113 Oryx and Crake

4/5 stars

It took me forever to get into this book. Like much, much longer than other books that take me forever to get into. Why..."

I started to listen to this but couldn't concentrate on it. Someday I will go back to it as an e-book or physical. I do really want to read it!

#114 Loretta Lynn: Coal Miner's Daughter

3/5 stars

Ok .... I am a huge Loretta Lynn fan. I was dying to read her autobiography. But now I feel a bit heartbroken after reading some of her very outdated views on marriage and the position of a woman. How is it possible that this country star wrote/sings some of the most female-empowering songs but then doesn't seem to carry this fully into her private life? Honestly, I am disappointed.

#115 The Dead Girls Club

2/5

I would like to thank NetGalley, the publisher and the author for my advanced copy of this novel in exchange for an honest review.

The good: The Red Lady was amazing. I loved how creepy, evil, and unpredictable she was. I loved the actual Dead Girls Club and their obsession with serial killers, the paranormal, and the weird. I enjoyed the group dynamic that happens amongst teenage girls. It felt real and authentic.

The bad: The 'now' and 'then' format felt contrived. The 'then' stories were so much better, so much more unique, and so much more engaging; that I found myself almost skimming the 'now' chapters. I so wanted more of the Red Lady and the Dead Girls Club!!!!! Honestly, the whole book should've been about that. The synopsis promised a supernatural and eerie atmosphere and instead provided a lackluster thriller at best. It's truly disappointing that the story essentially lacked any horror motifs.

The ugly: Adult Heather Cole was dreadful. She was boring and entitled. The 'now' happenings were almost as unbelievable as Heather's reactions to it. And the ending was just ..... a disaster. The overarching trope is utterly overdone. The twists and turns were chaotic. The adult side characters were one dimensional and often useless to push the plot forward. And don't even get me started on Heather's mom! I am not giving anything away but her involvement in the entire storyline is outrageous and so far fetched, the author may as well have introduced a unicorn that came flying down to earth, sprinkle a bunch of confetti to make everything nice again and it would've had the same credibility.

#116 Murder at the Vicarage

4/5 stars

The introduction to Miss Marple does not disappoint.

I've read this series a long, long time ago as a teenager in German. I love that I can now re-visit it in its original language.