**spoiler alert** I was actually enjoying this until we got to their first sex scene. Hahaha - readers, it was soooo bad. The pacing was atrocious and**spoiler alert** I was actually enjoying this until we got to their first sex scene. Hahaha - readers, it was soooo bad. The pacing was atrocious and literally in the middle of it she pauses to ask him if he's ever measured himself. AND HE SAID YES AND SAID A NUMBER. It was hilarious and not in a good way.
Clearly thing were going to go downhill, so I did DNF from there. Sounds like there might be a pregnancy and a neck tattoo in the future? Yeah count me out....more
I did decide to abandon this book about halfway. And I do still feel it's a solid three stars. This book had a lot of potential but it struggled to feI did decide to abandon this book about halfway. And I do still feel it's a solid three stars. This book had a lot of potential but it struggled to feel cohesive or sophisticated. All the action was great but also unbelievable in so many ways. Even suspending my disbelief (learning how to be an acrobat in like a couple weeks, for example) it just didn't often make sense.
I can see the appeal though, it just ultimately was not for me....more
Another very well done book by Jodi Picoult. I really love the way the stories tied together, Mel's flawed character was really impactful. I did find Another very well done book by Jodi Picoult. I really love the way the stories tied together, Mel's flawed character was really impactful. I did find some parts of the story felt a bit long but otherwise it was a very interesting and engaging read....more
200 pages shorter and this would be easily 4 stars. Why in the world was this sooooooo long? Goodness.
It was never going to be five stars because of t200 pages shorter and this would be easily 4 stars. Why in the world was this sooooooo long? Goodness.
It was never going to be five stars because of the beginning. I definitely almost gave it up. The body image issues ended up being a legit plot point that rounds out well in teh story but at first it felt really overdone. Zanders also gave me the ick in how he pursued her - constantly calling her to do random stuff on the airplane? Are you kidding? Not cute.
I am glad I stuck it out because the characters did progress but I definitely would have put it down if I hadn't heard so many good things. But I doubt I'll pick up the rest of the series if they are the same length as this because, sheesh....more
Dnf about halfway. Honestly, it was fine. But it's such a long book and I realized I just didn't need to read anymore. I just don't find the writing gDnf about halfway. Honestly, it was fine. But it's such a long book and I realized I just didn't need to read anymore. I just don't find the writing gripping and where I hoped from the first book I'd get more depth instead it started to feel even more shallow. The political masterminds aren't in the room and it shows....more
I really enjoyed this! Such a dynamic duo. Really fun writing style too - Spotswod plays with the timelines/narrative in a way I found really pleasingI really enjoyed this! Such a dynamic duo. Really fun writing style too - Spotswod plays with the timelines/narrative in a way I found really pleasing. And the audiobook is incredible. I'll definitely be picking up more....more
Honestly? I was bored through a lot of this. I really didn't love the way it was written overall -I think it would have been ok if it were just Vera aHonestly? I was bored through a lot of this. I really didn't love the way it was written overall -I think it would have been ok if it were just Vera and Solome. I understand why we got Nancy's perspective but I don't think it added to the whole story. And I really didn't like the other random narratives. I feel like it was trying to do a documentary/Daisy Jones feel but it just didn't work, in my opinion.
Add in that I didn't know anything about Salome and this really fell flat to me.
If you're interested in the story, it might be a decent read, but otherwise it's not a recommendation book for me....more
In preparation for a trip to Greece, I felt embarrassed about my lack of knowledge of Greek mythology. This is the perfect crash course on the subjectIn preparation for a trip to Greece, I felt embarrassed about my lack of knowledge of Greek mythology. This is the perfect crash course on the subject. Engaging and informative, the audio book is top notch....more
This book was SO quirky and for a lot of reasons I really enjoyed that. However it's length/story progression made some parts that should have been puThis book was SO quirky and for a lot of reasons I really enjoyed that. However it's length/story progression made some parts that should have been punchy or gut wrenching land a little light for me. It was feeling like a solid 4 star read for me in the first half but then it really went downhill in the second when we pivoted to Wren's mother's story.
I really with Habeck would have intertwined the storyline of her mother and Lewis throughout the book instead of the abrupt switch. I think it would have colored Wren in such an interesting way. I was enjoying their story and really didn't appreciate leaving it entirely (even though it does kind of back around).
Can't say I recommend the book but I enjoyed a lot of it regardless....more
Honestly, this book is really messed up. It goes so much harder than I expected - I enjoyed a lot of it and the audiobook was done really well. A few Honestly, this book is really messed up. It goes so much harder than I expected - I enjoyed a lot of it and the audiobook was done really well. A few things I thought were overdone - the way Will's inability to read kept being reiterated like... every page was a bit much. I am not sure I'm drawn to read more about this detective duo, but I really enjoyed how unique they were. All in all, a good read and not one I'll likely forget anytime soon....more
I can understand the uniqueness of the book and therefore the appeal, but at the end of the day I definitely wanted more answers. Given how this storyI can understand the uniqueness of the book and therefore the appeal, but at the end of the day I definitely wanted more answers. Given how this story is, I think I would have preferred it to be more of a novella...more
Personal note - somehow I accidentally picked up two books in a row centered on women whose entire lives are unraveling to the point of being suicidalPersonal note - somehow I accidentally picked up two books in a row centered on women whose entire lives are unraveling to the point of being suicidal because their husband has cheated and left them. Soooo that's a weird vibe.
OTHER THAN THAT, this was a lovely book. For a morbid start it's ultimately really endearing. It doesn't quite get to heartwarming although some parts will do that. It's raw without being coarse and deep without taking you under. I think I'd like to get a physical copy because I could see myself wanting to come back to certain parts to read them again. That being said - the audiobook narrator is divine....more
This book is hard to rate - I took a couple of days to collect my thought but I ultimately have to land on the fact that I just didn't enjoy this bookThis book is hard to rate - I took a couple of days to collect my thought but I ultimately have to land on the fact that I just didn't enjoy this book. A few key issues come to mind:
1) It really wasn't cohesive until about 3/4 in. We could guess at why were seeing both of these female MCs stories (Hannah and Mallory) but it took ages for the story to be pulled together.
2) I found Mallory and Hannah to both be deeply, deeply, unlikeable. Mallory in particular is awful. (view spoiler)[Her reluctance to reach out out to Monk to see if he was a kidney match for her son is atrocious. Even when the secret was revealed that maybe she wasn't 100% sure if he was the father... not reaching out because she felt some kind of way about his fame/how she left is horrifying. (hide spoiler)] I can appreciate an imperfect character but honestly both of these women were selfish. I'm all for a story where a woman takes her power but not like this - these women hurt EVERYONE around them and yet every man they encountered in their lifetime apparently found them impossibly funny/smart/sexy. I just couldn't believe it.
3) There are a lot of useless/poorly tied up parts to the story. (view spoiler)[ Why did Paige's husband's infidelity matter at all? The Ireland bit felt like something the author read about but didn't actually fit with the story. The entire mushroom storyline being the FIRST part of the story was soooo random. Her cobra shared secret messages but did Hannah ever actually spy? Who did she run away with after she had the baby? (hide spoiler)]. It comes off very messy.
4) Monk is perfect to the point where you want to puke. His only downfall is the fact that he nicknamed Mallory "Pinks" which might be the worst nickname I ever heard. I got the ick every time I read it (and it comes up A LOT.)
There's more but I'm going to stop there. All in all, I found myself getting intrigued far too late in the book and then still being disappointed at the end for all the reasons that were bothering me in the beginning....more
I actually really found myself enjoying this book. I almost didn't pick this up - given some of the mixed reviews and my own less than happy receptionI actually really found myself enjoying this book. I almost didn't pick this up - given some of the mixed reviews and my own less than happy reception of Harrow's Doors book - but I'm really glad I gave this a go. I love how the House was a character but in what ended up being a subtle way. Opal's character was a little too much of everything but overall I like how the pieces fit together. ...more
First off, I always have to give kudos to a NaNoWriMo novel <3
I adopted the first 2/3 of this book. Their friendship and the tension of their relationFirst off, I always have to give kudos to a NaNoWriMo novel <3
I adopted the first 2/3 of this book. Their friendship and the tension of their relationship was so good. I did however get a bit of the ick with their sexy time (just didn't vibe the way I thought it would, or even hoped) and I really didn't like the last minute conflict of the book (I saw it coming a mile away and it's sooo blah). But those were blips in what ultimately was a really lovely love story....more
Damn, can this woman write. This book was exceptionally well done. I was deeply uncomfortable for most of the book. There is a part where she is reallDamn, can this woman write. This book was exceptionally well done. I was deeply uncomfortable for most of the book. There is a part where she is really losing it, where it is hard to concentrate, where she has brain fog ... I felt it all in my body. There was a low thrum of panic that was injecting itself into me as a reader. Truly exceptional.
That being said - this book is pretty disturbing. It's excellent but it might mess you up if you pick it up....more
I probably should have known more about this book before going into it. I kept thinking we were going to move on - I had no idea that the majority of I probably should have known more about this book before going into it. I kept thinking we were going to move on - I had no idea that the majority of the book was going to be one giant and extremely long Hunger Games. It wasn't bad, but I really think we should have moved on way sooner....more
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