Reviews of my Reading List
2024 Wrap up
Below are the books I finished in 2024. I have a high DNF rate, so those are also listed on my blog if you’re interested. Of the 110 listed below they are listed in order of rating and as you’ll see only 3 received a perfect score! What were your favorite reads of...
DNF Beartown
Well after 60ish pages I stopped because it was slow, boring, had too many different points of view with quick head hopping, and the whole story so far could be summed up in one statement- the town is obsessed with hockey. The end
DNF- Mr. Dickens & His Carol
I feel guilty because the intent was a first ever bookclub buddy read with my husband. I picked it out for the holiday season despite the third person narrative (not my preference). I was happy with the beginning but quickly lost interest and 75% of the way through...
DNF- Whisked Away at Christmas
I finally found a holiday audiobook that is first person so I was very excited but the female narrators voice kept putting me to sleep.
The Kingdom of Sweets
Review #542 This was a very good choice for my annual tradition of finding a Nutcracker retelling. I absolutely loved the dark vibe and shadowy prose that painted the grotesquely gorgeous land of Natasha and her twin Clara. It was much more psychological and...
DNF- Once Upon a Christmas. Carol
Even though this audiobook has a full cast and sound effects (like a script) which I absolutely love, it was too corny for me. Too much holiday overkill tropes.
Never Lie
Review #541 Her books are super addicting but sometimes repetitive do drum in certain concept, which gets old quick. I always enjoy the journey of the twist revealing itself. This fast paced, mysterious thriller with two points of view is set in a creepy house in a...
Under the Mistletoe
Review #540 Cruel Winter with You by Ali Hazelwood was average at 4.5 stars but it had unnatural info dumping in parts that felt forced like (hypothetical sentence): “the last time I saw you three months ago when you were still at intern the snow in Northern Illinois...
This Spells Love
Review #539 I read this one for a bookclub I host in Raleigh. The author even sent us a packet of free bookmarks for SWAG! It had a lot of “13 Going on 30” vibes with Jennifer Garner. I’d give this standalone romcom a solid 4.75/5 stars. I really liked all the...
The Inmate
Review #538 Of all the books I’ve read by this author, The Inmate has been my least favorite so far. I was frustrated for most of it due to the repetition. I also predicted the bad guy so I was underwhelmed. I’ll rate it a 4.0/5 stars. These were my notes and...
Icebreaker
Review #537 This book was interesting in so many ways. I even vented to my sister a bit about its intriguing contradictions. For how many smut & drunken frat vibe scenes there were, the characters felt impressively deep since it balanced with them going to therapy...
Bright Winter Lights
Review #536 This audiobook completes all the audios I could find by Liz Maverick so far. I give this fake dating/ 2nd chance story a 4.5/5 stars. It was short, cute, easy, sweet & clean. I feel like I know the whole group of friends now. My biggest complaint is I...
How to Lose a Guy Before Christmas
Review #535 This audio was cute, short, easy, fluid and sweet. The ending felt a bit drawn out but I loved the holiday festivities in Tinsel. It read like a Hallmark movie with a touch of uniqueness because of the weird motel. I loved the male narrators voice but wish...
As Luck Would Have It
Review #534 This Hockey romance was really heavy on the racist and sexist theme so after a while I got a bit tired of being preached to. I love diverse cultures in general but the “I need to finally speak up for myself” after being used as a doormat her whole life was...
The Boyfriend
Review #533 I listened to this in one sweep during a long car drive. It was definitely messed up but I rate it a solid 4.5/5 stars. In two points of view, Tom (before- in high school) and Sydney in present day, The Boyfriend has 4 main suspects of the brutally...