WWW Wednesdays #296 – December 2nd

WWW WEDNESDAYS is a weekly meme hosted by Sam @ Taking On A World Of Words and is all about answering the three questions below.

• WHAT ARE YOU CURRENTLY READING?

It’s been ages since I last read a physical book, so I decided to finally pick up my copy of The Craftsman by Sharon Bolton… I’ve also started The Tourist Attraction by Sarah Morgenthaler as I was in the mood for some romance and I always like having a book ready on my kindle for whenever a physical copy isn’t as convenient.

• WHAT DID YOU RECENTLY FINISH READING?

1. The Shadow Man by Helen Fields (4,5/5 stars) REVIEW
I’ve been meaning to start the D.I. Callanach series for ages now, so when I saw Helen Fields was having a new stand-alone coming out in 2021 I just couldn’t resist the temptation to finally try her work. I have to say that I’m most definitely a fan now! Thriller fans: make sure to add The Shadow Man to your 2021 wishlist, as you will be in for an absolutely thrilling as well as shocking ride.

2. The Vanishing Half by Brit Bennett (4/5 stars) REVIEW 07/12
There has been a lot of hype around The Vanishing Half ever since it came out a few months ago, and I have been curious about this title ever since I read the first review… And I most definitely understand why so many rave about this story now. I mostly picked up my copy because I hadn’t read any of the Goodreads Choice Awards historical fiction finalists yet (still can’t believe it myself as it’s one of my favorite genres), and I’m glad I did as it turned out to be a very powerful read.

3. The Winter Of The Witch by Katherine Arden (4,5/5 stars) REVIEW 08/12
It took me long enough, but I finally started the Winternight trilogy in October and I wanted to finish it while memories of this part fantasy, part historical world were still fresh. I highly enjoyed the first two books of the series, making me have extremely high expectations for the third and final book The Winter Of The Witch… And those expectations were more than met! I think this might just be my favorite book of the series, and I loved every single second of the ride.

4. The Devil And The Dark Water by Stuart Turton (5/5 stars) REVIEW 10/12
This was a buddy read with Nicki @ Secret Library Book Blog, and it turned out to be another winner! We had a fantastic time reading this story, discussing possible suspects and plot twists along the way on Twitter and of course being almost completely wrong about everything in the end. What a read! This story is without doubt one of my reading highlights of the year, and I already can’t wait whatever story Stuart Turton comes up with next.

5. Dear Edward by Ann Napolitano (3,5/5 stars) REVIEW 11/12
I couldn’t resist reading this one after all the hype… And while I did think it was a good read, somehow it didn’t blow me away completely? I loved the dual timeline with the before and after the crash, but for me it just read too slow in parts… It might just not have been the right time for me to read this book though.

• WHAT DO YOU THINK YOU’LL READ NEXT?

I’ll most likely end up reading The Thursday Murder Club by Richard Osman next as I keep hearing fantastic things and I love the sound of the blurb. I also want to pick up Marion Lane And The Midnight Murder by T.A. Willberg so I can forget about blog tour/ARC obligations until at least mid January… And Incendiary by Zoraida Cordova is also really high on my list as I love books that focus on Spanish history. My newest TBR jar pick Us by David Nicholls is also up soon as it’s the only way I might actually complete my TBR jar goal this year (I still need two more after this one). xD

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WWW Wednesdays #295 – November 25th

WWW WEDNESDAYS is a weekly meme hosted by Sam @ Taking On A World Of Words and is all about answering the three questions below.

• WHAT ARE YOU CURRENTLY READING?

I’m still buddy reading The Devil And The Dark Water by Stuart Turton with Nicki @ Secret Library Book Blog, and it’s turning out to be a fantastic buddy read as well as a fantastic story! I already know this one will appear on my list of top 2020 favorites. I’m also reading The Shadow Man by Helen Fields even though it’s not due until next year, as I just couldn’t resist it any longer… And I’m about to start The Vanishing Half by Brit Bennett so I can say that I at least read one of the historical fiction Goodreads Choice Awards finalists. xD

• WHAT DID YOU RECENTLY FINISH READING?

1. You Had Me At Hola by Alexis Daria (4/5 stars) REVIEW 29/11
I admit that I was sold as soon as I saw that cover and read the blurb. I’ve been craving more romance stories than usual these last couple of months, and the promise of Latinx characters and a Hollywood angle sounded absolutely brilliant. I had high hopes for You Had Me At Hola, and it turned out to be just what I was hoping it would be! Sure, the sexy scenes did made me cringe as I already suspected. Sure, some of it might be a tad cliche, the insta-love vibe wasn’t for me and the attitude of the main characters can be annoying in points. BUT. Overall I was just having too much fun too care!

2. Fallen Angels by Gunnar Staalesen (2/5 stars) REVIEW 08/12
Ok… I’m still not sure what happened here, as I LOVED the newest Varg Veum book Wolves At The Door back when I read it last year. I connected to the main character almost immediately and profoundly, so I jumped at the chance to read Fallen Angels and learn more about Varg in his earlier years. Somehow, I didn’t like what I found at all though… I’m not sure if it’s just me being in a weird headspace right now, but I have picked up this title multiple times over the last three weeks and I just couldn’t warm up to the story or the characters at all.

3. All Boys Aren’t Blue by George M. Johnson (4,5/5 stars) REVIEW 29/11
I confess that I have been really bad at reading non fiction this year… Probably partly because I preferred escaping the real world with fiction reads instead. I couldn’t resist picking up All Boys Aren’t Blue though when I saw it was a Goodreads Choice Awards finalist, as I have been wanting to read it for a while in the first place. It most definitely turned out to be such an important and powerful memoir! George M. Johnson not only tells us his own story and struggles relating to his black and queer identity, but tries to speak to the YA black/queer community to show them they are not alone.

4. When by Victoria Laurie (3,5/5 stars) REVIEW 07/12
I’ve had When on my TBR for a long long time… I remember adding it as soon as I read the blurb as I loved the premise of this story, but somehow it took my TBR jar choosing it to finally pick up this title. I’m glad I finally did read it, as it turned out to be a really interesting story. I still think the premise itself is fantastic. I mean, imagine being able to see the deathdate of every single person you meet in your life, or even knowing someone who can… Would you want to know when exactly you die? Should you tell others or keep it a secret? This moral dilemma is fascinating and definitely one of the key points that makes this story stand out.

5. The Guest List by Lucy Foley (4/5 stars) REVIEW 03/12
Between the fact that I love a good locked room mystery and that I’ve been meaning to try this author for quite some time now, I decided to just give in and pick up my copy of The Guest List. And I definitely liked what I found! Engaging and fast writing style, fantastic eerie setting, multiple characters with something to hide… And multiple POVs along the way to keep you on your toes. The small island definitely makes for the perfect ominous backdrop for this story, and it is one of the reasons The Guest List works so well for me.

• WHAT DO YOU THINK YOU’LL READ NEXT?

I’m probably reading The Winter Of The Witch by Katherine Arden next both because I want to know how the trilogy ends and I want to cross off another series on my list. 😉 I also want to read Dear Edward by Ann Napolitano to see if it’s worth the hype… And it’s been a while since I read a physical copy, so I’m picking up The Craftsman by Sharon Bolton next. And I have a new TBR jar pick! Us by David Nicholls… I really have to update my TBR jar though as the last time I did that was at least four years ago and I only get old titles. xD

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WWW Wednesdays #294 – November 18th

WWW WEDNESDAYS is a weekly meme hosted by Sam @ Taking On A World Of Words and is all about answering the three questions below.

• WHAT ARE YOU CURRENTLY READING?

Together with Nicki @ Secret Library Book Blog, we are currently buddy reading The Devil And The Dark Water by Stuart Turton… After a fantastic buddy read with his first title last year, we had immediately decided to buddy read his newest title even before the title and blurb were announced. xD I’m SO excited to see what we will make of this one! I’m also reading Fallen Angels by Gunnar Staalesen for my upcoming blog tour stop.

• WHAT DID YOU RECENTLY FINISH READING?

1. Dead Girls Don’t Lie by Jennifer Shaw Wolf (2,5/5 stars) REVIEW 26/11
It has been months since my TBR jar decided it was about time for me to finally read Dead Girls Don’t Lie, but somehow I never actually picked it up until now. The blurb sounded interesting enough, and I was curious about it, but I guess in the end my instincts did smell something funny and made me look in the other direction for months. Don’t get me wrong; it is not necessarily a bad read, but most of it turned out to be just so darn cliche!

2. Beach Read by Emily Henry (4,5/5 stars) REVIEW 26/11
I’ve honestly been a bit hesitant to pick up my copy of Beach Read. There has been a lot of hype around this title, and you all know how hyped books and me tend to get along… But my curiosity won in the end and I just couldn’t help myself reading it despite the sometimes mixed reviews. And guess what? Beach Read turned out to be an exception to the rule and I loved my time with this story!

3. Only Mostly Devastated by Sophie Gonzales (4/5 stars) REVIEW 24/11
I admit that I was sold as soon as I saw the Grease mention… I must have watched that movie a million times as a kid, so I simply HAD to read Only Mostly Devastated for nostalgic reasons alone. I must say that I was expecting more of a fluffy romcom after the cover and blurb, which I can confirm that this story is not. In fact, Only Mostly Devastated is quite heavy on the more serious topics and has a healthy dose of drama as well as heartbreaking moments. I liked this spin off very much though and it has a great cast of characters that will most likely appeal to those who enjoy the genre.

4. Cemetery Boys by Aiden Thomas (4/5 stars) REVIEW 28/11
I’ve been seeing Cemetery Boys mentioned a lot and as it was nominated in two Goodreads Choice Awards categories, I decided to see for myself what the hype was all about. And I must say that I definitely understand now why so many people rave about this debut! I haven’t seen many books with a well developed trans representation before, and to have a Latinx trans main character at that? Talk about a double bonus! I especially loved the building up of the fantasy/paranormal part of this YA urban fantasy, as it’s packed to the brim with Latinx culture and references to the Dia de Muertos celebrations.

5. Deadly Betrayal by OMJ Ryan (4/5 stars) REVIEW 23/11
I’ve been following this series ever since the first book came out last year, and Deadly Betrayal is already book number four… And without doubt another action-packed ride! Jane Phillips and her team have another intriguing case on their hands, and I loved that we even got to travel to Hong Kong along the way. These books read superfast and if you enjoy the detective thriller genre this series will always provide you with an entertaining ride.

6. One By One by Ruth Ware (3/5 stars) REVIEW 28/11
I loved her previous two books, so I had superhigh expectations for One By One… Especially since I always love a good locked room mystery. Sadly, somehow I ended up feeling underwhelmed by this story. It’s not a bad read perse, but it’s quite slow and I found the whole thing rather boring most of the time? Not up to the point that I would DNF, but I never felt invested in the story either. Also, I kind of saw one of the big twists coming quite early on, and the whole Snoop stats each chapter were quite annoying. I guess it’s another unpopular opinion review to add to the pile…

• WHAT DO YOU THINK YOU’LL READ NEXT?

I want to keep working on my unread Goodreads Choice Awards nominees, so I’ll probably read either You Had Me At Hola by Alexis Daria, The Vanishing Half by Brit Bennett or The Guest List by Lucy Foley next depending on what genre I’m in the mood for. I’m also planning on reading my current TBR jar pick When by Victoria Laurie soon…

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WWW Wednesdays #293 – November 11th

WWW WEDNESDAYS is a weekly meme hosted by Sam @ Taking On A World Of Words and is all about answering the three questions below.

• WHAT ARE YOU CURRENTLY READING?

I’ve finally picked up my TBR jar pick Dead Girls Don’t Lie by Jennifer Shaw Wolf… It was about time as it has been four months since I finished the last one. xD I’m also finally starting Beach Read by Emily Henry; I’ll be keeping my fingers crossed it will live up the hype for me.

• WHAT DID YOU RECENTLY FINISH READING?

1. The Last Thing To Burn by Will Dean (4,5/5 stars) REVIEW 15/11
I really enjoyed Will Dean‘s writing in his Tuva Moodyson series, so I knew I wanted to read this stand-alone as soon as I first heard about it. I mean, have you seen that blurb?! A man keeping an illegal woman trapped in his home, pretending to be his wife… That most definitely sounds like a rock solid premise to build your story around. I had a feeling that I was going to enjoy my time with The Last Thing To Burn, and my instincts turned out to be absolutely right. You will want to clear your schedule for this one, as it will be REALLY hard to stop reading before you reach that final page. Unputdownable indeed!

2. Get A Life, Chloe Brown by Talia Hibbert (DNF 45%; 0 stars) DNF REVIEW 22/11
Nope. No way. Cannot do. DNF it is! I feel sad because I do love the rest of the story, the snarkiness and characters, but the crude and way too explicit sexy scenes make me want to vomit. YUCK! This one most definitely wasn’t for me.

3. Breathe Your Last by Lisa Regan (4,5/5 stars) REVIEW 20/11
We all have our series we cannot wait to get back to, those characters and settings that feel like old friends every time you have the pleasure to return to when you pick up a new installment. The Detective Josie Quinn series is exactly that for me. I’ve been a fan of this detective series ever since I read the first book back in 2018, and I’ve devoured every single sequel since then. This series is known for its lightning fast and action-packed plots, and I can definitely recommend clearing your schedule as it will be really hard to stop reading once you’ve read the first chapters. These books are highly addictive and simply exhilarating!

4. The Coral Bride by Roxanne Bouchard (3/5 stars) REVIEW 05/12
So… The Coral Bride. I’m still surprised myself this happened, but apparently this series marks the first time an Orenda title somehow didn’t work for me. I struggled considerably with the first book, which was my reason to swap my stop of the blog tour this month to a content post just in case… I’m kind of glad I did, because this sequel has confirmed to me that there is just something about Roxanne Bouchard‘s writing that simply isn’t for me.

5. Such A Fun Age by Kiley Reid (4/5 stars) REVIEW 22/11
There has been so much hype around this title and to be honest I was a bit hesitant to pick it up myself as hyped books and me don’t tend to get along all that well… But I’m glad I did pick up Such A Fun Age in the end, as I understand why it has been receiving so much praise. I’m definitely in love with the writing style, which made the story so damn readable! I literally finished it in less than a day, unable to pace myself or to stop reading… Racism is such an important topic and this story shows us so well that it is so easy to seemingly do the right thing for all the wrong reasons.

6. He Started It by Samantha Downing (3/5 stars) REVIEW 24/11
I guess it’s unpopular opinion time again… So many people have praised He Started It and after loving her previous book My Lovely Wife I was fully expecting to have a repeat experience with this one. Especially since I always enjoy road trip stories in the first place… But the fact is: I was bored. A lot. Up to the point that I kept wondering when the damned road trip was finally going to end so I could get on to my next book. The pace was just too slow for me, and with highly unlikeable characters I had a hard time to stay invested. True, the ending was a bit of a surprise, but overall I can’t say I enjoyed my time with this one.

• WHAT DO YOU THINK YOU’LL READ NEXT?

I need to pick up Fallen Angels by Gunnar Staalesen as my blog tour stop is coming up… I’ve been looking forward to meet up with Varg Veum again! I also completely forgot Only Mostly Devastated by Sophie Gonzales was inspired by Grease, one of my favorite movies when I was little, so I’ve decided it will be my next romance read. I also hope to pick up One By One by Ruth Ware soon. And I have a new TBR jar pick! When by Victoria Laurie; the blurb sounds really intriguing so I’m hoping to get to it soon.

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WWW Wednesdays #292 – November 4th

WWW WEDNESDAYS is a weekly meme hosted by Sam @ Taking On A World Of Words and is all about answering the three questions below.

• WHAT ARE YOU CURRENTLY READING?

I’m currently reading the The Last Thing To Burn by Will Dean, a 2021 release I’ve been really excited about… And somehow ended up having not one, but TWO Netgalley ARCs of (both US and UK version). xD I will also start Get A Life, Chloe Brown by Talia Hibbert as I’m in the mood for a romance read.

• WHAT DID YOU RECENTLY FINISH READING?

1. The Last Resort by Susi Holliday (2,5/5 stars) REVIEW
I’ve been meaning to try one of Susi Holliday‘s books for ages now, so I jumped at the chance to read her newest story The Last Resort early. I always love a good locked-room mystery, so I fully thought I was going to find a new favorite with this story after reading the blurb. Unfortunately, it wasn’t ment to be… And sadly the actual story didn’t live up to the blurb at all for me. More about why in the review linked above.

2. Furia by Yamile Saied Méndez (3,5/5 stars) REVIEW 17/11 (AUDIO)
I confess that I have a weak spot for any story with a Latin American setting, and any story set in Argentina will instantly have a special place in my heart. As an immigrant who has had the opportunity to live in Argentina during (most of) the last decade, I love seeing the Argentinian culture and customs portrayed in my stories. As soon as I read the blurb of Furia, I knew I was going to be in for a treat. The setting in Rosario (a city I’ve had the chance to visit a couple of times over the years) as well as the prejudice the main character has to face as a female soccer player had me fully intrigued… And it most definitely turned out to be a powerful listen.

3. The Girl In The Tower by Katherine Arden (4/5 stars) REVIEW 13/11
I’ve been meaning to read this trilogy for so long now… So after finally reading and loving the first book a few weeks ago, I decided to pick up the sequel while memories were still fresh so I could actually try to finish a series in a timely matter for a change. Once again I had a fantastic time with this medieval Russian story filled with folklore and magic! True, I did enjoy the first book a tiny bit better than The Girl In The Tower, but that same magic of the first book was still there, and I already can’t wait to pick up the third and final book after that ending.

4. Clap When You Land by Elizabeth Acevedo (4,5/5 stars) REVIEW 14/11
Both The Poet X and With The Fire On High simply blew me away, so I have been eagerly anticipating her newest story Clap When You Land… And I can now say that my expectations were more than met; what an absolutely stunning read! The fact that the story is told through free verse, the glorious writing, the two sisters, the Dominican Republic setting and culture references, the plot itself… There is so much to love in Clap When You Land and it is definitely a story that will stay with me for a long time.

5. Harrow Lake by Kat Ellis (3/5 stars) REVIEW 16/11
I’ve been curious about Harrow Lake ever since I first read the blurb. The horror movie element, the small town where strange things happen… It sounded like the perfect premise for a creepy read, and also a perfect story to read close to Halloween. And while I did end up having mixed thoughts, I can’t deny that Harrow Lake nailed that creepy and eerie vibe.

6. Anxious People by Fredrik Backman (5/5 stars) REVIEW 09/11
I know that I am biased when it comes to Fredrik Backman‘s books, but I adored every single minute I spent with Anxious People. There is just something about his writing and humor that is a match made in heaven and this newest story has once again shown me why he is one of my absolute favorite authors. He is an absolute master creating flawed and strangely likeable characters, and we have another fantastic cast in Anxious People. Humor and heavier elements are blended perfectly, and this is hands down one of my favorite stories this year.

• WHAT DO YOU THINK YOU’LL READ NEXT?

I will most likely pick up either He Started It by Samantha Downing or Breathe Your Last by Lisa Regan up next depending on what kind of thriller I’m in the mood for… It will probably end up being the second as I can never resist a Josie Quinn for long haha. I also need to read The Coral Bride by Roxanne Bouchard for the blog tour… I’m keeping my fingers crossed that I will enjoy it better than the first one! And I really need to start working on my TBR jar picks if I want to complete my goal, so I’ve put Dead Girls Don’t Lie by Jennifer Shaw Wolf back on the list.

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WWW Wednesdays #291 – October 28th

WWW WEDNESDAYS is a weekly meme hosted by Sam @ Taking On A World Of Words and is all about answering the three questions below.

• WHAT ARE YOU CURRENTLY READING?

I’m currently reading the Winternight sequel The Girl In The Tower by Katherine Arden… I’ve been looking forward to return to this trilogy! I’m also starting The Last Resort by Susi Holliday, which sounds like the perfect Halloween read.

• WHAT DID YOU RECENTLY FINISH READING?

1. Shadow Sands by Robert Bryndza (4,5/5 stars) REVIEW 02/11
I’ve been a fan of Robert Bryndza‘s thrillers ever since I read the first Erika Foster book back in 2016, and his newest Kate Marshall series is quickly turning into a favorite too. I loved my time with the first book Nine Elms last year, and I have been eagerly anticipating the sequel for a long time… And now I’ve had the chance to read Shadow Sands, I’m happy to say that it turned out to be everything I hoped for and more. His books are just so damn readable! Highly addictive, fast-paced, dark and suspenseful… Shadow Sands will take you on another exhilarating ride.

2. The Silent Daughter by Kirsty Ferguson (DNF 23%; 0 stars) REVIEW 08/11
I confess that this was what I now call an ‘oops’ request… I’ve learned my lesson not to browse Netgalley while still half asleep the hard way, that’s for sure! Somehow psychological/domestic thrillers haven’t really worked for me lately, and my negative reaction to The Silent Daughter might have had something to do with that… But there is no denying that I REALLY struggled with this story, up until the point I had to make the difficult decision to make this title my fourth DNF of the year. In my DNF review I will be explaining briefly why.

3. The Invisible Life Of Addie LaRue by V.E. Schwab (5/5 stars) REVIEW 13/11
Fangirling alert coming in!! I know that I’m a bit biased when it comes to this author… I basically adore anything Schwab writes, and I have been eagerly anticipating The Invisible Life Of Addie LaRue. Especially knowing how much Addie’s story means to the author in the first place… I was afraid my expectations would be set too high, but I shouldn’t have worried as I literally devoured each and every single page. I do get why some people might find this story too slow or overlong, but I personally treasured every single minute I got to spend with Addie. Say hello to a new all time favorite!

4. Black Coral by Andrew Mayne (4/5 stars) REVIEW
I’m always in for a solid detective thriller and after highly enjoying my time with the first book of the Underwater Investigation Unit series earlier this year I just couldn’t say no to reading the sequel. The Florida police diver angle had me immediately intrigued, and after an intense and action-packed first book, I had high hopes for an entertaining second round… And Black Coral turned out to be exactly the exhilarating dose of action and detective thriller I was desperately craving!

5. We Were The Salt Of The Sea by Roxanne Bouchard (2,5/5 stars) REVIEW 14/11
Okay… I’m not sure what happened here, but I guess it’s unpopular opinion time again? I’m still surprised as I’ve never had an Orenda miss before and fellow bloggers seem to love We Were The Salt Of The Sea… But somehow this story just didn’t seem to work at all for me. It might just have been the wrong time for me to pick up this story, but the fact this that I really struggled with both the writing style and plot in general.

6. We Begin At The End by Chris Whitaker (4,5/5 stars) REVIEW 09/11
This was a buddy read with Nicki @ Secret Library Book Blog and we couldn’t have picked a better title! I definitely understand the love for this story now, as it turned out to be such a raw, emotional and simply heartwrenching read… I went in blind not sure what to expect, but I ended up being completely blown away by this story.

7. Maria In The Moon by Louise Beech (4,5/5 stars) REVIEW 16/11
I’m a huge fan of her work and I’ve been saving her final backlist titles for special occasions… Orentober month fits the bill right? I wasn’t 100% sure when I started reading this story, but it snuck up on me and managed to bowl me over in the end. The Beech effect has struck again!

• WHAT DO YOU THINK YOU’LL READ NEXT?

I will most likely pick up The Alienist by Caleb Carr next as it’s one of the final titles on my October TBR and I’ve been wanting to read it ever since I watched the Netflix adaptation. Afterwards I want to read The Winter Of The Witch by Katherine Arden so I can cross off another series on my list… I also need to listen to Furia by Yamile Saied Méndez as I got an audio on NG and I’m not sure when it will be archived. And I can’t wait to finally read Clap When You Land by Elizabeth Acevedo as I love her writing and I’ve heard so many great things about it.

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WWW Wednesdays #290 – October 21st

WWW WEDNESDAYS is a weekly meme hosted by Sam @ Taking On A World Of Words and is all about answering the three questions below.

• WHAT ARE YOU CURRENTLY READING?

Together with Nicki @ Secret Library Book Blog, we are buddy reading We Begin At The End by Chris Whitaker… So many call this book their 2020 favorite, so I can’t wait to see how we will react to it! I’ve also started one of my final 2020 ARCs: Shadow Sands by Robert Bryndza. I always enjoy his writing, and I’ve been looking forward to return to this series.

• WHAT DID YOU RECENTLY FINISH READING?

1. The Book Of Two Ways by Jodi Picoult (2/5 stars) REVIEW 25/10
Well, well, well, what do we have here? I guess it’s unpopular opinion time again… Sigh. I have loved Jodi Picoult‘s recent books without fail, so I was fully expecting a repeat experience with The Book Of Two Ways. But fate had different plans in store, and somehow I ended up having a completely different reading experience instead. I’m not sure if this was just the wrong time for me to pick up this story, but the fact is that I struggled considerably with The Book Of Two Ways. More in my review…

2. The Waiting Rooms by Eve Smith (4,5/5 stars) REVIEW 23/10
I actually won an e-copy in a giveaway back in March, but with the whole COVID-19 situation I haven’t been in the mood to read it until now… I’m glad I waited, because this story might just have been too much for me back then. Why? The Waiting Rooms is a compelling and terrifying thriller set in a dystopian world that feels a little too realistic to be comfortable… The current state of the world gives this story an even bigger impact and makes the dystopian world seem like a logical possible next step. Most terrifying indeed! If your nerves can stomach it, this story is absolutely brilliant though.

3. Art And Soul by Claire Huston (4/5 stars) REVIEW 26/10
I’ve been looking forward to pick up this contemporary romance story written by fellow book blogger Claire, and it turned out to be such a wonderful and uplifting story! Just what I was craving… I love that this is a slowburn romance built on friendship, the many mentions of cake made me want to bake and Becky and Charlie make for a brilliant pair of characters. Fans of the genre should definitely give this story a go.

4. The Chalet by Catherine Cooper (4/5 stars) REVIEW 30/10
There was just something about the blurb of The Chalet that made it impossible to resist the invitation to read this debut… It might have been the setting in the French Alps, it might have been the mystery around the missing man and the promise of secrets and a potential killer… But my instincts told me I was most likely going to enjoy my time with this story. And my instincts didn’t fail me! The Chalet turned out to be a multi-layered and entertaining thriller with a setting that makes for the perfect backdrop for this story. Fans of the genre will have a great time with this one.

5. Mexican Gothic by Silvia Moreno-Garcia (4/5 stars) 03/11
There has been so much hype around this title, and now I’ve finally gotten the chance to read it I absolutely understand the love for Mexican Gothic. This story is dark, this story is eerie, this story is gothic horror at its best… It’s simply glorious! The ominous atmosphere of the setting simply spot on and this was the perfect story for Halloween month. I can’t deny that the pace is considerably slow in points though… But overall the exquisite writing mostly made up for that. I can’t wait to read more of her work now!

• WHAT DO YOU THINK YOU’LL READ NEXT?

I will most likely pick up The Invisible Life Of Addie LaRue by V.E. Schwab next as she is one of my absolute favorite authors and I won’t be able to resist much longer. Afterwards it’s probably The Girl In The Tower by Katherine Arden as I want to continue the series ASAP… And then it’s an #Orentober binge with We Were The Salt Of The Sea by Roxanne Bouchard in preparation for the blog tour next month and Maria In The Moon by Louise Beech. She is another of my absolute favorite authors and this is one of the final titles I still have pending.

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WWW Wednesdays #289 – October 14th

WWW WEDNESDAYS is a weekly meme hosted by Sam @ Taking On A World Of Words and is all about answering the three questions below.

• WHAT ARE YOU CURRENTLY READING?

I’m currently reading The Book Of Two Ways by Jodi Picoult as the ARC is due soon… I’ll also be starting another Orentober read: The Waiting Rooms by Eve Smith. I actually won an e-copy back in a giveaway back in March, but with the whole COVID-19 situation I haven’t been in the mood to read it until now.

• WHAT DID YOU RECENTLY FINISH READING?

1. The Bear And The Nightingale by Katherine Arden (4,5/5 stars) REVIEW 16/10
I still can’t believe it took me this long to finally pick up this trilogy… I’ve been meaning to ever since it was first published since I kept seeing raving reviews, and I’m definitely kicking myself for waiting this long now. I can understand the love for this trilogy after reading The Bear And The Nightingale, because I ended up having a fantastic time with this story. The historical setting in Russia, the Russian folklore, the magic, the characters, the writing, the plot… There is so much to love!

2. Kiss My Cupcake by Helena Hunting (4/5 stars) REVIEW 24/10
I was in the mood for a good contemporary and I always love a food element in my stories, so I figured that Kiss My Cupcake would probably be a good choice. And it ended up exactly the type of story I was craving! Sure, there are quite a few cliches involved… Sure, there are quite a few sexy scenes involved and we all know how allergic I am to those. BUT. Somehow I didn’t really care too much as I was too busy having fun seeing Ronan and Blaire pitched against each other.

3. The Bird Tribunal by Agnes Ravatn (3,5/5 stars) REVIEW 31/10
I’ve had The Bird Tribunal on my radar for a while now, and after a fantastic experience with her newest title The Seven Doors I decided to simply give in and finally read it. I’m honestly a bit lost for words as this turned out to be such an odd and intriguing story! Both the Norwegian setting and the brilliant creation of that eerie and ominous vibe steal the show and are definitely the strongest asset of this piece of nordic noir together with the beautiful writing. Where the characters were a tad too unlikeable for me and I found the ending to be too predictable, it was the writing and the stunning descriptions of the Norwegian setting that swept me off my feet… And we even get a dose of Norse mythology along the way as well.

4. Reviving The Hawthorn Sisters by Emily Carpenter (3/5 stars) REVIEW 18/10
Sadly Reviving The Hawthorn Sisters wasn’t my favorite title of hers, but that might just have been me. Most people do seem to enjoy this story better, so if you enjoy historical fiction and don’t mind a slower pace and repetitions in parts this might just be a great read for you.

5. Tender Is The Flesh by Agustina Bazterrica (4/5 stars) REVIEW 24/10
I’m kind of lost for words when it comes to Tender Is The Flesh… It’s been a while since I read a story this brutal, this shocking, but somehow it is powerful as well and the writing is without doubt enchanting. Marcos makes for a very interesting main character and I liked seeing him evolve over time. If you are looking for a dark, gory and shocking horror read and aren’t put off by cannibalism being the star of the show, Tender Is The Flesh would without doubt make for the perfect Halloween read.

• WHAT DO YOU THINK YOU’LL READ NEXT?

I will probably pick up either The Girl In The Tower by Katherine Arden or Mexican Gothic by Silvia Moreno-Garcia next depending on what genre I will be in the mood for… I’m really excited about both! Afterwards, it’s back to ARCs with Shadow Sands by Robert Bryndza and The Chalet by Catherine Cooper. I’m trying to work my way through most of my ARCs ASAP; I really need to take a break from reviewing ARCs as the review writing has been killing me lately. xD

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WWW Wednesdays #288 – October 7th

WWW WEDNESDAYS is a weekly meme hosted by Sam @ Taking On A World Of Words and is all about answering the three questions below.

• WHAT ARE YOU CURRENTLY READING?

I’m finally reading The Bear And The Nightingale by Katherine Arden! I still can’t believe it took me this long to start this trilogy… I’ll also be starting my second Orentober read of the month: The Bird Tribunal by Agnes Ravatn. It’s another short read and I expect to fly through it as I loved her writing in The Seven Doors.

• WHAT DID YOU RECENTLY FINISH READING?

1. Dead Perfect by Noelle Holten (3,5/5 stars) REVIEW 10/10
I’ve been a fan of this series and its main character ever since I read the first book last year, and I’ve been looking forward to meet up with DC Maggie Jamieson and the others again. While I still think Dead Perfect is a solid crime thriller, it’s not my favorite of the series so far. This had to do with the fact that I guessed the identity of the killer almost immediately as well as some issues with the credibility… The ending left me wanting for more though!

2. Across The Green Grass Fields by Seanan McGuire (2,5/5 stars) REVIEW 12/11
I’ve been a fan of the Wayward Children series ever since I read the first book back in 2018, and each new installment has been a most-anticipated release without fail. Sadly  Across The Green Grass Fields turned out to be my least favorite Wayward Children story by far to this date… Between the slow parts, abrupt ending and too much focus on the ‘real’ world, the elements I did enjoy (including the worldbuilding of the Hooflands and Regan’s character) just didn’t make up for it. This might just have been me though, as most people did seem to love this story so far.

3. The Boy On The Bridge by M.R. Carey (3,5/5 stars) REVIEW 16/10
I LOVED The Girl With All The Gifts back when I read it four years ago, and I’m still not sure why it took me this long to pick up this sequel set in the same world… The bright orange cover called my name once again the other day, and I finally gave in. And even though I didn’t love The Boy On The Bridge as much as the first book, it most definitely satisfied my dystopian cravings!

4. Betrayal by Lilja Sigurdardottir (4/5 stars) BLOG TOUR REVIEW 14/10
Look out for my thoughts during my stop of the blog tour!!

5. The Nesting by C.J. Cooke (/5 stars) BLOG TOUR REVIEW 15/10
Look out for my thoughts during my stop of the blog tour!!

• WHAT DO YOU THINK YOU’LL READ NEXT?

I still have more October ARCs to read, and next up are Reviving The Hawthorn Sisters by Emily Carpenter and The Book Of Two Ways by Jodi Picoult. Then it’s a little break from ARCs with my next Orentober read: The Waiting Rooms by Eve Smith. I actually won an e-copy of this book months ago, but with the COVID-19 I haven’t been in the mood to read it until now. I’m looking forward to finally do so! Afterwards, it’s back to ARCs with The Chalet by Catherine Cooper, although I might just give in and read the Winternight Trilogy sequels first instead…

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WWW Wednesdays #287 – September 30th

WWW WEDNESDAYS is a weekly meme hosted by Sam @ Taking On A World Of Words and is all about answering the three questions below.

• WHAT ARE YOU CURRENTLY READING?

I’m currently reading The Boy On The Bridge by M.R. Carey as I was left craving a good dystopian read after a recent disappointment… It’s been a while since I last read a physical copy, and I’m really enjoying my time with this story so far! I don’t think I’ll be able to finish it before tomorrow though, as I do seem to read a lot slower with physical copies… xD I also have Dead Perfect by Noelle Holten lined up as my next kindle read.

• WHAT DID YOU RECENTLY FINISH READING?

1. Confessions On The 7:45 by Lisa Unger (3,5/5 stars) BLOG TOUR REVIEW 09/10
Look out for my thoughts during my stop of the blog tour!!

2. A Boy And His Dog At The End Of The World by C.A. Fletcher (2/5 stars) REVIEW
I was fully expecting to find a new favorite, so that’s probably why I felt even more disappointed when I ended up having a completely different reading experience instead. It’s unpopular opinion time again! Don’t get me wrong: I still love the premise of this story and the idea behind this dystopian future as well as its development was interesting. I also like the idea behind Griz’ character and the dogs… But somehow, the actual story just didn’t work for me personally.

3. Dead Wrong by Noelle Holten (4,5/5 stars) REVIEW 05/10
I really enjoyed my time with the first book Dead Inside last year, and I have been looking forward to continue the series ever since… I’m not sure why it took me this long to actually do so, but I guess that in a way I’m kind of glad I did now because that cliffhanger ending is nuclear!! Oh yes, Dead Wrong has the most shocking ending and I will definitely be diving into book three ASAP to find out what happened there.

4. A Heart So Fierce And Broken by Brigid Kemmerer (3,5/5 stars) REVIEW 05/10
I really enjoyed the first book, and I have been looking forward to the sequel… And I ended up really enjoying it despite the slower pace in points! There is a shift in focus on the main characters, but I actually liked spending more time with Grey instead of Rhen. While I did miss Harper, most of the other characters make their appearance and I really liked Lia Mara’s character and what she added to the plot. The ending made me crave book three!

• WHAT DO YOU THINK YOU’LL READ NEXT?

I’ve been in the mood for fantasy so I will most likely pick up most anticipated release Across The Green Grass Fields by Seanan McGuire next… Afterwards it’s two pending October blog tour reads with Betrayal by Lilja Sigurdardottir and The Nesting by C.J. Cooke. Next, I’m probably sticking with fantasy again and I’ll finally be picking up The Bear And The Nightingale by Katherine Arden. I’ve been wanting to read this trilogy for years now!!

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