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| 1524745154
| 9781524745158
| 3.90
| 234,800
| Jul 02, 2019
| Jul 02, 2019
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really liked it
| “Never take anything you haven’t earned, my father used to say. You always end up paying for it one way or another.” I really enjoyed this “Never take anything you haven’t earned, my father used to say. You always end up paying for it one way or another.” I really enjoyed this book a lot more than I actually expected to. I've read the author in the past, I've read Final Girls by him, and I liked it a lot, but I think this one is a bit better even, I think it has a very fluid writing style that makes the whole reading process, even though tense, feels light at the same time. I admire the author a lot especially because he's able to give us an extremely unique plot with solid twists and characters very different from each other. Most of all, I quite enjoyed the atmosphere as well, which almost makes you feel a bit claustrophobic while reading it. A really very successful book, that although it can become a bit predictable manages to surprise us towards the end and gives us a more than satisfying ending [image] 4/5 ⭐⭐⭐⭐ You can find more of my reviews & fun content on my blog A Book. A Thought. The Plot Explained in My Word: In this story, we follow Jules Larsen, a girl who has been hit by life several times in her early twenties. Having just separated from her boyfriend, with no job and no family to support her, Jules sees in this new and peculiar job a way to finally start over and get ahead. This new job is about taking care of an apartment in the most prestigious and mysterious building in Manhattan, the Bartholomew, and although the rules are strict: like not bringing anyone to the apartment, not spending a single night out of it, or not disturbing the exclusive and wealthy tenants, Jules ends up totally enchanted by this great and unique opportunity, and needless to say that the money will come in handy in the precarious circumstances in which she finds herself. As Jules begins to get to know the other tenants, she crosses paths with Ingrid, another apartment sitter like herself, who nostalgically reminds her of her missing sister. Ingrid tells her the disturbing legends behind the Bartholomew, and although Jules doesn't believe in ghost stories, things become more serious the next day, when Ingrid disappears. Because of this, Jules begins to dig deeper into the building's past and discovers that Ingrid isn't the first sitter to disappear from the place in the middle of the night, and with this, in mind, Jules must hurry to find out what's really going on there before staying there becomes permanent. Are Batholomew's inhabitants covering up something? The Plot: The plot is, honestly, super entertaining, it kept me on the edge of my seat wanting to know what would happen from the beginning and it really is a plot that slowly leads you to think many things along the way and I must say, I find, that in this book, the plot itself is the undisputed protagonist, being even more shocking and powerful than the characters themselves. It has a very dark undertone and also gives you that feeling that anyone can be guilty and anything else can happen. The author has done a great job because this is also a very cinematic book, you can clearly see everything that's happening in your head and without a doubt, I can see it being made into a movie, which I would watch without thinking twice, especially for that almost gothic visual beauty. In this plot we explore grief, I think that undoubtedly that and loneliness, are two protagonists, since the main character has lost her family so tragically, and she only has her best friend as support, makes that during her stay in the apartment she begins to remember more of her past and also to wonder who she is and how she defines herself. It has a lot of introspection and is very well portrayed without being too heavy on monologues. We also get to explore the human psyche and very quickly see the darker sides of a person as well as the more honest and kind ones, all thanks to the variety of characters. The Characters: The characters are good, they're not an extremely amazing point for me, but they are well built and make the plot, who's the real protagonist here, move which is great. The positive thing about this point is that there are really a lot of characters and that makes you distrust all of them, I was really all the time trying to figure out who was good and who wasn't lol, which I find very entertaining. We also have a very marked variety within social classes, where there are characters that have nothing, and characters that have literally everything, as well as a lot of color in terms of personalities and actions, being all very different from each other. Among them, I have to highlight Jules, because I think she's a great main character, I have to be honest, guys, I would have given up long before Jules,she goes all the way, and has proven to be a real fighter, even when things get very intense, dangerous and dark towards the end, she never gives up. Another thing I really like about her is that she never stops looking for Ingrid, who, as we read in the summary, she had just met, and I think the fact that no one was going to look for Ingrid since she had no family, made her feel relate to her, and she showed an incredible empathy, not only with her but then with other characters as well. I also highlight my favorite characters in this story, who are Chloe, the best friend, and Dave & George the janitors of the building. They all have secondary roles but, .in the case of Chloe I couldn't help but love her because she's the best friend in the world, and in the case of the male janitors, I found each of their personal stories to have weight and they touched my heart, no doubt. I would love to share with you much more about the characters and their roles, but obviously, I can't because everything is potentially a spoiler when you're talking about a mystery thriller (I hope I spelled the names of the characters right, because I'm terrible at names, and this time I didn't take notes lol) Setting & Writing: The setting is spectacular, one of my favorites I've seen in the mystery genre. I think having everything happen inside a building like the Bartholomew is described here, is brilliant, I think it brings a sense of confinement and desperation, and you feel it along with the main character as she starts to feel more and more trapped inside its walls. It's also a place full of secrets and every detail is important, I mean even the decoration, everything. At the same time, as I think I mentioned before it's a very beautiful place, with an old gothic-Victorian vibe, that I think is perfect for the mystery that surrounds it. The writing style really charmed me, you can see how the author has improved from one book to another, being Final Girl very good too, I don't want to detract from his previous work, but this is another level in terms of writing, much cleaner, straight to the facts, no twists and turns and yet guys there are almost 400 pages, I mean, many things happen during the story and every detail is important, so I think there's not much filler in these 400 pages, everything matters and is very well created and organized. Book’s Weaknesses: I think within the weaknesses I could mention that I think it's somewhat predictable at times, but only if you're really paying attention to the details, and maybe this is the intention, I don't know, in my case I could guess who was responsible very early on in the book, but even so, it's not really an impediment to enjoyment because there's a lot more behind it and a lot more involved as well, it ends up being bigger than you think and that's fine. On the other hand, I also find it not very believable that someone wouldn't be suspicious of such a tremendous proposition, I mean someone offers you the perfect job, literally perfect, and you take it right away even though it comes with such weird and strict rules? I don't know. I can see the growth of the main character, though, since in the beginning, she's innocent and trusting, I also understand that not having many options and in such a desperate position you can accept something like that, of course. It just seemed kind of weird to me as I was reading it. Even so, it doesn't have too important points of weakness, they're observations more than anything else that I think are worth mentioning. Book’s Strengths: I have to say again that THE PLOT, is the best thing about this book, and also the atmosphere that's created while reading it, it starts off light and gets tenser and tenser and denser and dark, and you almost feel like you can't breathe from the tension, it's that kind of book, especially towards the end when everything really gets very bad. It's a dark book clearly, it touches on some pretty sensitive issues, but it does it all in a very gripping way and honestly, it's hard to put down. In fact, it left me thinking when I finished it about how everything the book describes could happen in real life and probably does, and that's even more creepy. I also want to reemphasize that it touches on themes like loneliness and the search for meaning in life, it's quite powerful when you pay attention to the things the characters must have gone through, all while the plot goes crazy around it. It's a book that's very well structured. To conclude, it's obviously a book that I ended up enjoying a lot, I think this author is fast becoming a must-have on my shelf, and I'm excited to continue exploring his stories, which so far, are everything I expect from a good mystery plot, always combined with dark themes that go a little more to touch the horror genre. How the author plays with the minds of the characters, while you read an already more than interesting plot. You never know what's going to happen, so everything is very surprising. I really liked how it's not a story, in this case, that ends with all the paths concluded and finalized, you know? There are many issues that are left to the imagination of the reader and others that are left open, and that for me, personally, is a plus, because it makes it feel more realistic. It's a great book, I enjoyed it a lot, due to the genre there's not much more I can reveal, but without a doubt, I think it's worth reading. It has a very gripping plot from moment one, it has characters with powerful stories, and a fast-moving but shocking plot at every second. I wouldn't be put off by the fact that you can guess what's going on because, in the end, it leaves you with a feeling of "YES! THAT WAS AWESOME", you know? And that feeling alone is worth the read. An extremely successful setting as well, with an incredible atmosphere and creepy details all over the place. Definitely a great reading experience. Do I recommend it?: Of course, I DO! Especially if mystery/thriller is your thing, I know you'll enjoy this unique plot with a touch of horror along the way and an ending that will keep you thinking for a while after reading it. Precaution on sensitive topics: such as suicide and murder. First Thoughts 04/01/22 SUCH an amazing book! I really enjoyed it a lot and loved the almost double twist towards the end. A story that left me with goosebumps, a gripping plot and a very fluid writing style. Also a reminder of how cruel people can be a thousand times creepier than ghosts. ...more |
Notes are private!
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1
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Mar 18, 2022
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Apr 2022
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Mar 18, 2022
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ebook
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| 0525426019
| 9780525426011
| 0525426019
| 3.40
| 42,128
| Sep 26, 2017
| Sep 26, 2017
|
liked it
| This book was entertaining to read at times, as well as gripping at others, and above all very light within its genre, which makes it easy to read, bu This book was entertaining to read at times, as well as gripping at others, and above all very light within its genre, which makes it easy to read, but I must confess that I feel polarized about my opinion on the plot and the characters, as they didn't end up convincing me. I completely understand what the author wanted to do, though, and I also deeply admire that she dared to try a different genre, that has a lot of merit for me, but maybe I was expecting a heavier on mystery kind of book, more intense on horror as well, and maybe it fell a bit short this time. I also don't feel impressed by the character development either about the revelation and twists, which were quite disappointing. [image] 2.5/5 ⭐⭐ ...more |
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1
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Oct 02, 2021
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Oct 05, 2021
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Sep 30, 2021
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Hardcover
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| 0593309642
| 9780593309643
| 0593309642
| 3.85
| 3,305
| Sep 05, 2021
| Sep 07, 2021
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really liked it
| This book is a crazy ride, if you can say so, it's really a roller coaster of emotions, as it has a very dynamic plot where things are happening from This book is a crazy ride, if you can say so, it's really a roller coaster of emotions, as it has a very dynamic plot where things are happening from minute one, so I'm happy to say that I enjoyed it even more than I expected, I found it super addictive, and also very easy to read even though it has so many moments of tension and a rather heavy atmosphere due to the tragic events it covers. A very well-thought-out execution for a book full of mystery and plot twists, which is definitely worth reading. [image] 4/5 ⭐⭐⭐⭐ You can find more reviews & fun content on my blog A Book. A Thought. In Lies, Like Wildfire we follow a group of five friends, the main character being Hannah Warner, who's also the sheriff's daughter of Gap Mountain, California, where most of them live. It's summer, so Hannah and the others decide to get together at their favorite spot on the lake, but it doesn't take them long to realize that this won't be a summer like any other when by accident they start a fire, and while they all agree to hide what has happened and lie to the police, everything starts to get out of control when the fire takes a dimension that no one expected consuming much of the rural area where they live, taking with it everything in its path. Because of this some of Hannah's friends begin to regret, and alliances begin to break down. In this context, Hannah's capable of everything to keep her friends safe because sometimes good people do bad things, right? I'm super grateful to be part of the blog tour for this book, it's always a pleasure to be able to share such an amazing story with many other readers, Thank you so much to Dave for the chance! so I'm super excited to bring you my thoughts today. Needless to say, I obviously liked it a lot, I think when it comes to YA mysteries/thrillers I know I'll go for it, and even when it's a genre I've already read a lot, it never ceases to surprise me, which I love! In this case, I came across a very ambitious plot that not only wants to tell an intriguing thriller but also explores a lot of other interesting and dark themes. We explore toxic friendships, we explore how tragedies can affect people's mental health, we explore what a person is capable of doing to save themselves, among other things. On the one hand, we have the obvious main theme which is the fire, but the book itself starts with the search for a body, so from the beginning, we know that something very tragic happened, and although at the beginning it's not clear what one thing has to do with the other, it all ties together towards the end making sense and making it even more interesting. I think the author's choice to reveal a detail that could have been used later in the book as a great plot twist, was incredibly wise because it's a factor that will keep you wondering what happened, I even felt that since I knew it was going to happen I couldn't stop reading because I felt that as the book gets more and more into the climax you can sense that it's about to happen, you're about to figure everything out, you know? and it's even more exciting. I also have to admit that the way the author has handled the revelations is brilliant, as she makes sure we get just the right amount of information, but in small measures, to give us the whole truth in the last few pages from the main character's hands. That alone makes this book SO GOOD! I loved the writing style, this is my first time reading this author, but it certainly won't be my last. I love how this book has been compared as being for fans of Karen McManus and E. Lockhart because I agree 100% with that, so if you like those authors you should definitely give Jennifer Lynn Alvarez a chance. Without a doubt, her style is very dynamic, things are always happening, and that keeps the reader on the edge of their seat and always wanting to know what's going to happen next. I also feel that it has a less descriptive style and is more focused on the characters as such, which in this type of plot is a great choice. Also, the dialogues are very good , I always think that's a great detail that gives a lot of realism to the story. The amount of tension in this book can't be legal lol, I was super worried wanting to know what would happen, and then came another mini-revelation or mini-twist that suddenly changed everything and generated even more tension. So it's definitely one of those reads that keeps your heart in your mouth, trying to figure out what else could go wrong. The characters are another thing entirely. None of them are exactly lovable characters or ones you can identify with, and that's the intention I think, it's not meant to make you like the characters, they're more like that kind of super conflicted and a toxic group of friends. The author gives a glimpse of each of the personalities in their fair share, but mostly she focuses on Hannah, the main character, and although at times you can understand some of her behaviors... mostly you don't, and that's okay, she has a very intriguing erratic personality to know, it's obvious that you don't know for sure what she'll do and that has its catching part. Hannah clearly has extremely toxic behaviors, where we see a lot of obsession about certain people and although at the beginning it seems that her motivations are from sincere concern, towards the end I'm not sure and somehow I like that, I need more characters like these, that aren't completely good and you know they're hiding things, they're incredible to read. Then we have the other characters and although I'm not going to mention each of them, I can say that although some of them sound cliché they help a lot to move the plot along and the conflicts make sense. The personalities range from the beautiful rich girl, the troubled boy with home issues, the more "decent" girl and the handsome boy that everyone wants to be with and who behaves like a jerk, sounds chliché, right? and it probably is, but this doesn't take away that a lot of unexpected things happen with this group. When you talk about a mystery in general you can't reveal too much, so I don't want to do that, but I would like to mention that I really liked how this plot was approached, I like it's dark and that we follow the "villains" instead of the "good and honest people", you know? that gives another color and tone to the book. Everything that happens in this book is mostly illegal and clearly wrong, still, I hope you get my point, it's refreshing to read about dysfunctional characters who will do anything to get their way, but also intriguing to see how the dynamic of this group of friends develops, what things will make them doubt each other, what things will keep them together and what will be the breaking point. I liked the ending a lot, it's a bit polemic maybe because I think it feels a bit open, but for me, it was perfect. I like how the author approached it, I feel that, without a doubt, it's that kind of book where we don't have a "fair" ending but it's a bit satisfying I must say. I love how the characters' minds are explored, I'm sure it's something I already mentioned, but I needed to say it again, especially when talking about Hannah, I don't want to say too much, but there's this discussion about what's right and what's wrong, and from some people's point of view, what's fair and what's not. It's also super interesting to see how the mind can turn to anything to leave everything behind, even when you know that something isn't right. It explores the dark side of people and the primal need to save oneself, which is great! So in summary, I obviously enjoyed the plot a lot, maybe it's not the most incredible thing I've ever read in my life because I still think some situations are very unrealistic and a bit crazy, but I still enjoyed it a lot, and overall it's a book worth recommending if like me you, you like mystery/thriller, also if you like plots with lots of unexpected twists and totally crazy moments of high tension and lots and lots of DRAMA! There are betrayals, secrets, and lies going on too, and above all, I give her a lot of credit for choosing to create such peculiar and unlovable-unbelievable characters in the best way. Get ready for a journey of many lows and highs with this read, I'm definitely excited for more people to discover it. First Thoughts 08/16/21 Wow, I really liked this story, even darker than I expected. Super addictive plot full of secrets, lies, betrayals and toxic relationships, I honestly couldn't stop reading until I knew what would happen. A very well-created structure that follows two plot lines with a lot of suspense, mystery and tension. ...more |
Notes are private!
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1
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Aug 14, 2021
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Aug 16, 2021
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Jul 02, 2021
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Library Binding
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| 1982136359
| 9781982136352
| 1982136359
| 3.61
| 10,995
| Apr 20, 2021
| Apr 20, 2021
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really liked it
| I want to thank Dave from The Write Reads for allowing me to be a part of the blog tour for this book! “I was happy here. Mostly. And I’ve been I want to thank Dave from The Write Reads for allowing me to be a part of the blog tour for this book! “I was happy here. Mostly. And I’ve been so unhappy since. But I still know it’s true: you can never go back.” Mirrorland was an unexpected read that was much more plot-wise than I expected. I expected to find a mystery thriller quite heavy in those aspects that would obviously deepen the reality and the lives of these twin sisters. Still, beyond that, I found a parallel of almost magical realism that I didn't expect. I enjoyed this mix, but it can become confusing at times, and it takes away a little of the weight that the most realistic story has, which I end up enjoying more than the fantastical one. Nevertheless, I appreciate this unique perspective the author wanted to give since it makes it a pretty unique book. [image] 3.5/5 ⭐⭐⭐ ...more |
Notes are private!
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1
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Jun 07, 2021
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Jun 14, 2021
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May 30, 2021
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Hardcover
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| 0241345278
| 9780241345276
| 0241345278
| 3.41
| 721
| May 06, 2021
| May 06, 2021
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liked it
| Super grateful for being part of the blog tour for this title & as always, my opinions are honest and my own. I ended up enjoying the book, I hoped to Super grateful for being part of the blog tour for this title & as always, my opinions are honest and my own. I ended up enjoying the book, I hoped to enjoy it even a little more, but it was very good, and the author's style resonates a lot with me, even so, it was not entirely what I expected. The plot begins with a certain super catastrophic but at the same time intriguing promise that manages to keep you hooked from the first pages, but then begins to transform into a more than anything contemporary book of self-discovery, which wasn't an impediment to my enjoyment, it was just different and unexpected. I adore the author's style and how she always manages to give us a solid setting and relatable characters. In summary, I found a very interesting book to explore even though it doesn't cover the full experience that I expected, nor does it have a very clear direction. [image] 3/5 ⭐️⭐️⭐️ You can find more of my reviews & other fun content on my A Book. A Thought. blog In this book, we follow Olivia, a highly introverted girl who's trying to live her life as comfortably as possible, until one-day humanity recognizes the damage has done to the earth for thousands of years is irreversible, therefore there are only nine months left till the "end of the world." Due to this tragic news, everyone is driven to start living their lives to the fullest and make the most of the time they have left as much as possible, which becomes a challenge for the shy Olivia who's still not sure how she wants to live her last months. But then almost out of nowhere Natasha, a cousin that Olivia didn't know, appears in her life and this will affect and change Olivia in ways she didn't expect. This is a very interesting plot to read, as I said before, I was expecting something denser in terms of the end of the world and this apocalyptic thing, you know, but instead, I found a point of view more focused on the contemporary side, and in the consequences or actions that this news has on people and how, above all, it affects the main character Libby (Olivia), who has always lived a little fearful and withdrawn from other people. This approach isn't something negative as such, just something surprising for me, anyway I think it's important to emphasize it in case any of you are interested in reading it and perhaps a contemporary plot isn't what you're really looking for. I'd already read the author in the past, I read The One Memory of Flora Banks and although I know it's an unpopular opinion, I loved it! So I was quite excited to read more about the author and even more to participate in this blog tour, which I don't regret since I think she has a very unique ability to describe settings, to create interesting and relatable characters, such as also to give a unique touch to their stories that make them stand out from others, perhaps exploring issues that aren't touched too much in the genre. This time I really liked the way the author gives personalities to the characters since both Olivia and Natasha and even the secondary characters, have very marked personalities and differ widely from each other, which puts the characters in difficult, uncomfortable, or even new situations, which makes the relationship between them help each of them to grow and develop, especially for Olivia this is an important factor since starting to interact with her cousin starts a strong journey of self-discovery and even acceptance for her. Although I don't care that the book is more focused on the story of the girls, and the things we would do if we knew that the world was going to end, instead of focusing more on the apocalyptic of the matter, I have to confess I'd have loved to have that point of view too, maybe something more dystopian where people make plans to try to survive or this kind of thing. In this book, it's rather a collective realization where everyone understands that although it's difficult to assimilate, the reality in which they live is like this, and now they must hurry to do everything they have always wanted to do. There are simply so many points to explore in a plot as such, that I feel that they were somehow left aside to focus on the more contemporary and human aspects. It also gives me the sense that it is poorly resolved as such, especially towards the end it's kind of messy as if the author didn't know well what definition to give it, in any case, I highlight the revelations since they seemed well executed. In summary, I think that when you give your book such a dark and urgent tone, maybe the focus should be more developed in that area at least for the first part of the book, and then transition to the worldly problems of the characters, even so, This is my opinion and as I always say, you don't have to think the same. As a contemporary plot, touches on extremely interesting and even important topics, such as revelations about the family, the search for who we are, and what we want to do with our lives. Why is it really worth fighting for? & the value of simply living fully, you know? What would you do if you knew that you only have nine months to live? I think it's an extremely interesting and intriguing question to explore and is asked quite intentionally in this book. I quite liked the book, I don't think it's a bad read at all, it's not what I expected certainly, even so, it provides very unique moments, great characters and life lessons, as well as reflective moments that explore things in life we can all feel identified with. I recommend it? Of course! but only if you're looking for a solid contemporary book with a plot focused on the existential as such rather than an apocalyptic plot, you know? in that case, it's super easy to read, flows for the most part well as well and the characters are worth it. I'm still interested in continuing to read the works of the author since I really like her writing style. ...more |
Notes are private!
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1
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May 2021
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May 08, 2021
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May 01, 2021
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Paperback
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| 1616208783
| 9781616208783
| 1616208783
| 3.48
| 1,175
| May 21, 2019
| May 21, 2019
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liked it
| I'm very grateful to Algonquin Young Readers for providing me with a copy of the book in exchange for an honest review & I'm so sorry for the lateness I'm very grateful to Algonquin Young Readers for providing me with a copy of the book in exchange for an honest review & I'm so sorry for the lateness of my review! This book ended up being a different experience than I expected, this doesn't mean that it was a negative experience as a whole, only I found a heavier book, full of topics that could be triggering for many readers, so I want to begin my review recommending discretion to those who decide to read it, as it contains sensitive topics such as abortion and eating disorders, among others. Personally, I think that this book didn't meet my expectations fully because it has an immature tone in terms of character creation & drama, on the other hand, I liked several aspects, especially the focus on ballet & the focus on this "friendship" which was very interesting to explore. [image] 3/5 ⭐️⭐️⭐️ You can find more of my reviews & fun content on my blog A Book. A Thought. In Bright Burning Stars, we follow a double POV of the characters of Marine & Kate, two best friends whose bond has grown stronger due to certain family tragedies in their lives and because they also share the same passion for ballet. But when both girls want to be the only girl selected to join the Opera’s prestigious ballet corps, they'll begin to wonder what they're willing to do or how far they're willing to go to win it and we will see that this bond wasn't as solid as we thought. The promise of the book captivates me, I love that it's about competition, I like that it focuses on this weird/kind of toxic friendship and above all I really like the dark tone behind that invokes betrayals, secrets, and lies, it seems like one of those super addictive plots which I enjoy watching in TV series, for example, but the execution is really messy. This plot is highly focused on the development of the characters, therefore it is a character-driven book, which isn't a problem for me because I love this type of stories, even so, I feel that the main problem that I've had and I think it has It's been something I've seen from other readers as well, it's the feeling that the characters don't grow up enough or don't have that impact to really engage with them. I think it's okay, in fact, I got quite hooked on everything that was happening, but it's true that the girls don't have strong growth towards the end and there's not much learning or evolution regarding their relationship. This book, as mentioned before, touches on extremely sensitive topics and does so in a rather crude way, so if you're sensitive be very careful with that. I don't want to focus too much on each problem as such since I think that I couldn't give a complete opinion due to my ignorance on certain issues, even so, I want to mention that I would have liked a little more information or commitment on some points, especially in the abortion issue, since the way it's approached in the book seemed to be almost "simple" and "flat" on the other hand, issues such as eating disorders, even mental illnesses and emotional abuse I think they're approached with more "success " Even so, always remembering that my opinion is personal and I haven't gone through these situations, so I cannot speak from my experience but only based on what I've read. I was surprised while reading for the lack of descriptions in the story, I'm not the biggest fan of descriptions, in fact, I prefer when they're brief but here it seems like it needed it, you know? There's something about the setting that I love and I find it extremely beautiful that it's located in Paris, so I'm surprised that there's not a little more focus on the surroundings. Yet this was only my perception and it may have been totally enough for others. On the other hand, the author's style seemed good to me, I'm not sure if it's for me, though, because even when I enjoy my reading experience, I don't think the way in which the author approaches the story or the structures of the plot itself be for me. Which is fine, this doesn't mean that I can't recommend it anyway. One of the things I liked the most is exploring a bit about the competitive and more intense side of ballet. Having been a ballet dancer myself I know how the pressure feels and the havoc it can cause on your mental health. I dance for a lot of years, so I know how exhausting it can be and the competitions can be very demanding. So seeing the darker side of all this was very interesting, obviously, I had a wonderful experience, but being a demanding person myself I can understand some situations within the book, and how girls give their all to achieve excellence makes sense to me. Even so, it's not a book that shows a healthy environment, in fact, the author has decided to focus more on all the negative aspects within a competition and decided to add a bit of mystery and tension from the hands of many twists and betrayals around the corner, which was really good. At times, I was so hooked on this story especially with the whole subject of the competition, the dance school, Paris, and the relationship between Marine & Kate, that's why I say that I've enjoyed this story, even though I know that it has its flaws or at least weak complements that don't add much to the plot itself or are choices that I personally wouldn't have made or simply with which I don't agree, such as the love triangle, for example, you know how I feel about that Even so, and leaving these things that I haven't liked very much aside, I can recommend it if you want to read something intense with a lot of drama, focused on characters (non-likable ones) that although flat at times are interesting to follow and can provoke many emotions. I don't feel that the growth of these, but it does make sense, sometimes in life things don't go the way we want and the endings aren't always perfect or happy, so here you have one of those outcomes that leave you with a bittersweet taste. So if you enjoy dark, dramatic plots that involve betrayals, friendships, and gossip then surely this will be your cup of tea & even though I'm not entirely convinced with the execution of the idea in general nor the evolution of the characters, I can see why others could enjoy it more. 03/06/21 I can't believe I actually FINISHED A BOOK! *happy dance* lol I enjoyed the experience of reading this book and am extremely grateful to the publisher for providing you with a copy. I think that the story itself has its flaws and many times it goes off topic, forgetting at times the main focus which can be somewhat dense, but it's still a good pretty solid read, it's intriguing and all the time I wanted to know what would happen. I'll bring you my full review in much more detail soon, I promise. But this time it was a good read for me, not impressive, but I would still recommend it ...more |
Notes are private!
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1
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Mar 04, 2021
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Mar 06, 2021
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Feb 28, 2021
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Hardcover
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| 0593175867
| 9780593175866
| 0593175867
| 3.73
| 71,295
| Nov 30, 2021
| Nov 30, 2021
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really liked it
|
So grateful to have received a copy of the book in exchange for an honest review & of course, participating in the blog tour! This author really knows So grateful to have received a copy of the book in exchange for an honest review & of course, participating in the blog tour! This author really knows how to write a thriller so intriguing and solid that it leaves me thinking about it for days, I loved what she did with this new release and I'm glad I got to read it before its release date. With this book, I especially appreciate the plot, as I think it has all the compliments that I love in this genre and the author has a way of developing the story in a way that keeps you on the edge of your seat, the characters, on the other hand, were just okay, but that didn't stop me from enjoying another good mystery/thriller YA book from the author. [image] 3.5/5 ⭐️⭐️⭐️ ...more |
Notes are private!
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1
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Nov 17, 2021
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Nov 25, 2021
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Jan 13, 2021
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Hardcover
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| 1250303737
| 9781250303738
| 1250303737
| 3.53
| 968
| Mar 16, 2021
| Mar 16, 2021
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really liked it
| I want to thank NetGalley & Wednesday Books very much for providing me with a copy of the book in exchange for an honest review This is certainly a di I want to thank NetGalley & Wednesday Books very much for providing me with a copy of the book in exchange for an honest review This is certainly a difficult story to read at times because it focuses much on an extremely traumatic event where the main character is the survivor who escapes from her captor. I enjoyed the plot a lot, due to how it's told and from what point of view it is played, and also I find it extremely intriguing, although heartbreaking, to see how the veracity of the victim's kidnapping story is questioned a lot to the point of humiliating and treating her as a liar. Of course, all this makes it a hard-hitting book, but you still can't stop reading because there are many unknowns things to which you want to know the answers. [image] 3.5/4 ⭐⭐⭐ ...more |
Notes are private!
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1
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Apr 04, 2021
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Apr 07, 2021
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Sep 14, 2020
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Hardcover
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| 0525708014
| 9780525708018
| 0525708014
| 3.77
| 124,934
| Dec 01, 2020
| Dec 01, 2020
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really liked it
| I'm very grateful to be part of the blog tour for this book, so thank you so much to The Writer Reads I had an incredible time reading this book, now I I'm very grateful to be part of the blog tour for this book, so thank you so much to The Writer Reads I had an incredible time reading this book, now I can finally understand all the love there's for the author and her works, I'm excited to read more of her in the future. This book has many factors that I love to find in mystery, from an incredible setting and solid characters to an addictive plot with surprising revelations. I also love the intrigue it generates and how the important points are slowly hinted at during the plot, it's a very well constructed book. [image] 4/5 ⭐️⭐️⭐️⭐️ You can find more of my reviews & other fun content on my blog A Book. A Thought. In this story, we follow three characters, Milly, Aubrey & Jonah Story who are cousins, but they hardly know each other, as well as they don't know their rich grandmother at all, who disinherited her parents before the boys were even born. But now each of them has received an invitation letter to go to work at their gran's island resort throughout the summer. Their parents insist that they should go as an opportunity to return into Grandmother's good graces, but once arrive on the island they realize that the plans that their grandmother had for them were different and the longer they stay they begin to realize that there are dark secrets in the family past, secrets that this summer will finally see the light. I think what I enjoy the most about the book is the plot, the idea behind it's extremely smart and is very well executed, so my applause for the author who has managed to give us an incredibly addictive story that's very difficult to stop reading. I love how also during the plot some smaller secrets being to reveal and you begin to learn along with the characters some things that were happening with their family and all this information, despite not being the great ending or the great revelation, they also have their own weight. And I really liked how the author decided to reveal these little details to give us more clues because that way she manages to keep you on the edge of your seat trying to discover what really happened in the past of this family that managed to separate them forever. I'm fascinated by plots focused on family conflicts, especially when it focuses on a mystery, I think there's something in a family drama that hook me a lot. In this case, we can see some betrayals, many lies, cover-ups, fakers, and above all many secrets, all this involving the Story family, which also owns a huge legacy and a lot of money . It was fascinating to meet the family and each character, and I also really appreciate the family tree at the beginning of the book because when you first start reading, it can be confusing because there are many names and you have to remember who is whose child, so that was really helpful. [image] The fact that it's located on an Island seems wonderful to me, you know that I'm trash for a good setting and when it's an Island even better, I feel that this type of place can give a lot of character to the story and makes it feel much more atmospheric, which I love. We can visit beautiful beaches and mountain places, I love that. Also, all this focuses on a very wealthy woman who owns several hotels and tourist business, so the buildings and her house are all very elegant and majestic, I love that with my soul. I really appreciate the author's style, not only was it very easy for me to read the book, but I was also delighted to see how the times of descriptions, revelations, and information, in general, are handled. By this, I mean that everything is given in small and fair amounts, which I really liked, I think it may feel precipitated for other readers, but for me, it was perfect since I don't usually enjoy over-descriptive books. I think that in summary everything is in its proper measure and nothing is exaggerated or too much. The characters are obviously the center of the story, we get to know all the members of the Story family, but also other characters who work with Grandma Mildred, who also take important roles in the plot. I'll talk briefly about them to tell you how I felt in general. To start I want to start with Milly, she was my least favorite, not because her chapters weren't enjoyable because they were, I think they're also chapters with a lot of important information, but her personality doesn't resonate with me, she reminded me a bit of Veronica Lodge from Riverdale for some reason lol, and I do like that Veronica, but at times Milly can be too superficial and full of herself for my taste. Even so, I think she's an intelligent character who knows how to read people well and that helped the movement of the plot. On the other hand, we have Jonah, and he's a very interesting character to explore although I cannot reveal too much about him, I think he gives a new meaning and another look at the family that's interesting to explore, he's also the protagonist of some very solid scenes. And the last cousin is Aubrey, and she's my absolute favorite, I loved her from the first moment, I felt super protective over her, I know that she's a girl who always needs the approval of others and lacks a lot of love and acceptance of her paternal family, it's partly what brings her on this trip, and to all of them really, but in Aubrey I see the most sensitive and empathetic soul of all, and that made me love her immediately and I feel more identified with her in some way. It makes me happy to see that she's who grows the most and seeing her get stronger and confidence made me very happy. Then we have secondary characters, and I love how they all have an important role, and in some way, their own main scenes, the adults in the story, Mildred's children are: Allison, Adam, Archer & Anders, all very interesting characters to explore, I think in general they're all imperfect and unlikeable characters, especially Adam and Anders, characters that I hate, they have a lot of darkness in themselves and are the most egocentric of all. On the other hand, Allison is an interesting character for me because she gives a new perspective to the story itself, and I loved seeing her when she was young and seeing her eventually grow up and accept her own mistakes. Archer is my favorite of the four, he ends up being such a supportive character with his nephews and represents in some way the most innocent and sweet side of the Story family, I love him, and I love the role he takes in the whole situation. In addition, we also have many more characters that will give it a super interesting twist, and even quite creepy, which is worth discovering for yourself. [image] There's romance happening, I can't tell who they are because of spoilers, but it wasn't something that I enjoyed, to be honest, I didn't care much, I think it doesn't have much depth or meaning for me, I was much more focused on the family and conflicts in itself than in this couple, so I have no opinion about it, it's just not my favorite thing. On the other hand, I loved the relationship between Aubrey and Milly, I think there's a genuine connection between them that I enjoy a lot, they have good interactions. Something that I love in mystery is also the jumps in time, here we follow the POVs of the three main characters in the present, but also we follow a plotline that takes place in the 90 'a couple of years before all the conflict happened, and there we followed the boys' parents as teenagers, which I LOVE! I think that this type of detail makes the plot better understood, makes the reader feel committed to the characters and what they're going through, and also gives you a better perspective of how the family dynamics were at that time. It's always fun to go back in time to find out details of what happened and experience it right there with the characters, I love that, it's a lot of fun. Of course, I highly recommend this book, I can't wait to read more by the author, she has a natural talent at the time of writing the genre, I love how addictive the story is, and how dynamic it is since there are things happening all the time and it keeps you wanting to know what will happen, I never lost the intrigue and it was able to keep my interest until the end, which is great. I really like the revelation at the end, I didn't see it coming at all, so that's always positive, but it's also very well executed and thought out, nothing is left to chance, which feels very good for my brain lol. I loved where the plot went, and the ending is solid, so I know a lot of people will enjoy it. In short, I know you would like if you enjoy the mystery genre, if you like multiple characters' POVs, if you like a drama with many family secrets and lies & also if you enjoy an incredible setting. I'm so glad I read it and I'm excited to read her next work, this was very entertaining from start to finish. ...more |
Notes are private!
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1
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Nov 18, 2020
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Nov 26, 2020
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Sep 05, 2020
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Library Binding
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| 0525620788
| 3.67
| 378,856
| Jun 30, 2020
| Jun 30, 2020
|
really liked it
| “The world might indeed be a cursed circle; the snake swallowed its tail and there could be no end, only an eternal ruination, and endless devourin “The world might indeed be a cursed circle; the snake swallowed its tail and there could be no end, only an eternal ruination, and endless devouring.” I really enjoyed the experience reading this book, was a wild ride! It's very weird, I'll not lie to you and as you progress it gets weirder and weirder, but at the same time, it's super engaging and addictive to read, so it's very difficult to put it down, which I loved. I think that also the plot has an unpredictable effect that makes it very difficult to guess what is happening and the author takes the plot to a very original place with a slow-paced gothic style that's very well achieved. [image] 4/5 ⭐⭐⭐⭐ You can find more of my reviews & fun content on my blog A Book. A Thought. In this book, we set ourselves in 1950 in Mexico and we follow Noemi, a young woman from a wealthy family from Mexico City, who lives for the glamor of the time, going to parties and celebrating with friends, but Noemi wants to continue your studies. One day her father receives a disturbing and rather worrying letter from her recently married niece Catalina, for which he asks Noemi to go to High Place, a distant house in the Mexican countryside, to see what's happening to her as he suspects something strange may be happening in the relationship with her husband. Once there, Noemi will find herself surrounded by rules imposed by her cousin's husband English family, in an old house that has certainly lost its charm decades ago. But as soon as she's there, things start to get more and more strange and uncomfortable for Noemi, and may soon find it impossible to ever leave this enigmatic house behind. I think this book is very unique and certainly difficult to forget, there's a lot of work put into this story and it shows, the details are wonderful and the way the plot unravels, it's just great, I love it because it does it in a fluid and shocking way. The atmosphere I expected from this book was certainly what I got, I loved having all that gothic horror suspense, it's one of my favorite things, also I think it's very well achieved through the style of the author's writing. I also really enjoyed the dark academy tone and I think it has a very unique side since the author's style is very soft and easy to read which softens that dark tone a bit, even so, it's slow-paced, so don't be fooled by those 300 pages, it certainly gives you the feeling of reading a much larger book, which in this case I don't think is a really bad thing, but rather it goes well with the tone of the plot in general and gives you time to process EVERYTHING that happens, and believe me, it's A LOT. It has many gory and very graphic moments, which can be shocking if you're a sensitive person, so be careful with that. For me, the tone was very appropriate, although it does get more and more disturbing as it progresses, ...it's like those kinds of books that play a lot with suspense and horror, but in a more physical and graphic way, you know? It's like a horror movie of those that you know there will be a lot of blood and disgusting things involved, but still, you can't stop watching. I would definitely see an adaptation, though, because I'd love to see the characters and the overall idea come to life on screen. [image] As I mentioned before, I liked the author's style a lot, this book, in particular, is slow-paced, but I still liked the style because it's fluid and doesn't feel heavy at all, also I think it's SO addictive and the dialogues are pretty solid. The whole story takes place in High Place, which is a fairly old Victorian "mansion" built on a hill in Mexican countryside & it must be one of my favorite settings that I've read for this type of plot, I loved the construction of the place, the descriptions are very well done. There are parts that happen in a town as well, and those are ok although not overly developed, but those on High Place are just wonderful, that house is super creepy as well as its surroundings, it even has its own graveyard and I just loved it, it's like the perfect setting for scaring. The characters are quite interesting and they're very well created, I think they all have a very solid individual characteristic, and you can come to hate or love them very easily, which shows how well they're developed. Even though we have little time to get to know them individually, I think they're explored enough to get an idea of what role each one takes part in everything that's happening in that house. I loved Noemi as the main character, at first she seems like the typical daddy's girl who has everything she wants, but this character develops brilliantly, and you meet a girl who's not afraid to speak her mind, not even all those creepy people who live in that house, she's a super strong and determined person , I loved her character because even though you can see her flaws like every human being, she also shows that stronger side of the Latin woman and I'm a big fan of that. I love how this character takes action all the time and that makes the plot even more dynamic and interesting. Then another character that I would like to highlight is Francis, he's the youngest of this family of English people, and he's super gentle and careful, I like him a lot especially because as the plot progresses you can see everything he has to go through for living in this horrible place with his awful family and it breaks my heart , but I don't want to say much about him because it would be too much of a spoiler, so I'll let you figure it out for yourself. Then I want to mention Vigil who's Catalia's husband, and it's just terrifying, I felt a very bad vibe from this character from moment one, but I wasn't prepared for what was coming. It's very difficult to talk about the characters without spoilers because the main point of the plot is the Doyle family, so I can't reveal much but in short, I liked the characters, each one has its creepy touch and something strange that makes you feel immediately uncomfortable, so don't doubt that everyone will be on Noemi's side reading this. Nothing can prepare you for where the plot takes you, I was definitely not ready. I didn't know what I was going to find, because I decided not to read the synopsis before reading it, so I wasn't sure, I supposed there would be a paranormal or fantastical touch, which happens, but I didn't know much more and it's just... WOW, surprising, and very unique. At the same time, I know that it will not be for everyone, it's a unique idea but very difficult to explain and I also feel that it was difficult to understand 100%, I think you have to take your time with this book because everything happens too fast and can be quite confusing. If you like plots that get weird in a second, then you'll love this one. As I mentioned before, I warn you that there are many scenes of explicit violence, blood everywhere, and other repulsive things, so I needed to say it so that you'll not find something that's not for you. [image] The twists are very solid and if you like many of them on a roller coaster of emotions and revelations, you'll love this one, but I had a lot of moments where I was like "WTF ..." but in the best way, you know? because I wanted to know more and more, it's very addictive and the ending is impossible to predict, which I appreciate. I still have a moment when I think about the plot and everything that happened in High Place, and I think "What the hell did I just read" you know? lol, but at the same time I think that's the uniqueness of this book, all that bizarre content is the tone that the author wanted to achieve, and together with solid characters and a creepy atmosphere, I think it worked quite well! I highly recommend this book if you want to read something for Halloween perhaps, or something quite graphic and impactful gothic horror content. Don't expect to understand everything that happens at once because I know it sounds strange, but I think that in the end, it's only when you begin to understand and it begins to have more coherence. I adore the ending, I think it's open but very proper for the story and I loved it, it has something very special and is filled with feelings and uncertainties, I need to have more about these characters, I would love that! This is one of those books that you'll love or hate, but keep your mind open and go for it, it's a very rare unique experience, full of mystery and suspense, that manages to put you out of your comfort zone to give you a unique story that it will be very difficult to forget and impossible to explain. I really liked it, a great work by the author and I'm dying to read more in the future. First Thoughts 09/23/20 Well, that was a wild ride!! I love it, I think it's very original, I love the gothic & horror vibe it has and although it gets weirder and weirder as you go, it's super addictive and you can't put it down. I really liked the ending, and I think it's kind of open but also full of hope. ...more |
Notes are private!
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1
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Sep 20, 2020
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Sep 23, 2020
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May 26, 2020
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Hardcover
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| 1250304520
| 9781250304520
| 1250304520
| 3.19
| 908
| Sep 22, 2020
| Sep 22, 2020
|
liked it
| “I guess grief is like that: the banshee patiently waiting in the many-halled house of your mind, so quiet in certain moments, until you turn “I guess grief is like that: the banshee patiently waiting in the many-halled house of your mind, so quiet in certain moments, until you turn a corner and see how it takes up rooms and rooms, cracking their floors and windows with its volume, its weight.” This book had me trying to figure out what was going on for a large part of the book, which I appreciate, I like when the book makes me work a bit, still it's that kind of book where you have to focus enough to not miss any important details, which doesn't exactly make it a smooth read. The atmosphere is beautiful, it's one of my favorite things about this read, on the other hand, the characters seemed a bit flat, the construction of the plot itself wasn't my cup of tea and finally, I had some conflicts with the writing style. Still, on the bright side, I like that it has a dark tone and focuses on the mystery as such. [image] 3/5 ⭐⭐⭐ You can find more of my reviews & fun content on my blog A Book. A Thought. The plot follows two very different sisters, Manon and Thaïs, who have always been best known for their mother, a world-famous actress who has disappeared under strange circumstances. Now, both return to the Meditarranean island where they grew up and spent most of their childhood with their family, where the sisters will find the mysterious and incomplete work of their mother: White Fox, which was thought to be long lost. The words they find there, twisted into a dark fairy tale, will lead them to delve into the island's society, uncovering twisted secrets, hopefully leading them to discover the truth behind their mother's disappearance and even more about themselves. You know, I love plots that focus on sisters and their relationship, so that's a big factor that made me want to read it in the first place. This factor in general was one of the ones I enjoyed the most, even though the girls' personalities need more work in my opinion, I managed to get involved in their stories and especially the conflicts in between their relationship. They had a really complicated relationship not only because of their very different personalities, but also because of how their parents have raised them and obviously how things have been going after their mother's disappearance, and the depression and death of their father. Obviously all this emotional baggage falls on their relationship making it more and more distant. This was very interesting to explore and I also like how the author handled it, in general, it's very unusual to see this type of polarized personalities in this type of character, but in this case I think they're both flawed and have somewhat right in their conflicts. Still, both Manon and Thaïs, could have had stronger personalities, especially because I felt their voices were very similar at times and that makes it difficult to differentiate, obviously we have chapters for each one which it's great, but I'd have needed something more to end up falling in love with these characters, it doesn't always have to happen, but sometimes I like to have strong feelings for the characters I'm reading and when their personalities are a bit flat it doesn't usually happen. This is just my perception obviously. I actually ended up enjoying the secondary characters much more, as I think they're the ones that really bring this story to life, especially those mysterious characters that inhabit the Island . The idea of the plot as such is very good, I really like the fact that it's a mystery book, and that it focuses on solving a disappearance, but also that along the way we explore this beautiful island and get to know a little more about the girls and their powerful family. I think it has a lot of ingredients to be a great book, and even though I didn't totally like the execution, I would still recommend it if you want to read something different, atmospheric and with a plot focused on a rather dysfunctional family; also if you like mysteries and slow paced plots. I'd have to read another of the author's works to be sure how I feel about her writing style because, on one hand, I really like her dark and atmospheric style, but on the other hand, I'm not sure about the way she structures this story, so I would like to see if this is something she usually does or maybe it's just this time, if so, I think I could easily enjoy another of her books . The way this one is structured I found it a bit hard to follow at times, as I said before the voices of the characters are similar for me, so that combined with her super descriptive style and some moments when there are internal monologues and then we jump to memories of the past and then to notes of her mother's work, it's a bit much at times, you know? I still want to point out that the parts that I ended up enjoying the most were the ones where we read a little bit of White Fox (the girls' mother's work), I think it was pretty creepy but atmospheric and a little bit magical, I liked that. This isn't a fast paced book, it took me quite a while to read it because again, I repeat, it requires a lot of attention and it has a lot of descriptions, which is fine because I know most of you might like this detail, but I always like to mention it in case you're like me and prefer less descriptions in your reading. I mostly enjoyed the first part and the ending, but there's a lot that happens in between that I don't think is indispensable to the plot movement as such, still .it's not a bad book and I think there's a lot of magic about it and it has a dark vibe to it that feels super intriguing Although I'd heard the ending isn't very popular within the community, I personally enjoyed it a lot, I didn't see it coming, maybe because I'm always thinking of the craziest possibilities lol, and I liked that. Also I think it's not only very realistic in a way, but it also has sci-fi aspects which are a very good surprise for me in this read, it gives something unexpected but very necessary to keep the reader expectant and it really worked. The ending as such gave a good closure to the story in general, but especially to the sisters, I think what happened was something that no one but them needed in some way. It was a very appropriate solid ending for me. To conclude, I can say that it was a good read, it wasn't everything I expected and it may have influenced a little that my expectations were very high, in fact, I thought it was going to be a 5 stars for me which obviously didn't happen. But still a read that I would recommend, above all for the atmosphere, the idea of the plot and if you like descriptions and dark but beautiful settings. It's a read that I know will have very polarized opinions, because that's what it provokes just by reading it, I was like "omg, I love it" and then I was like "omg, I'm bored" you know? So I know it will take you through a particular journey. I wished for stronger and more defined characters, but I'm left mostly with the secondary characters that are even better elaborated. But all in all, a very positive reading at the end with a closure that left me satisfied and wanting to give the author another chance. First Thoughts 07/16/21 I completely forgot to update here that I already finished this book a couple of days ago and liked it quite a bit! It was certainly not what I expected, I had high expectations and I think the author's style may not be for me, which is a shame because I have The Tenth Girl on my TBR, but I still plan to give her another chance, as I quite liked the atmosphere she was able to create here, as well as the main plot idea is very catching and unique. Overall, I think it's a good book, and I liked it. My full review coming soon! ...more |
Notes are private!
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1
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Jul 2021
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Jul 16, 2021
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May 13, 2020
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Hardcover
| ||||||||||||||
| B07X17MS2R
| 3.82
| 617
| May 05, 2020
| May 05, 2020
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really liked it
| I want to thank NetGalley and Tor Teen for providing me with a copy of the book in exchange for an honest review. I enjoyed this book a lot, especially I want to thank NetGalley and Tor Teen for providing me with a copy of the book in exchange for an honest review. I enjoyed this book a lot, especially its great originality and the incredible perspective that the author chose to explore, atmospheric and suspenseful. It took me a bit, in the beginning, to get fully into it, especially since the main character didn't click with me and I ended up having certain problems with her attitude, I feel that it's simply not my type of character, even so, I enjoyed most of the aspects of the book and it's a stand-alone that I would definitely recommend, for its survival and sisterhood side. [image] 4/5 ⭐⭐⭐⭐ You can find more fo my reviews on my blog A Book. A Thought. In Last Girls, we follow the Juniper sisters: Blue, Birdie, and Honey, who live in a doomsday preppers community, where they've been trained to survive any possible destruction or "end of the world" as we know it. One day, a danger awakens from within and Honey must put everything they learned to the test to keep her and her sisters safe. I really enjoyed the plot itself, in fact, since I knew what it was about I had an interest in reading it, it's a YA suspense/thriller that has all the condiments to keep you hooked from the first moment since jumps quickly into the action. I like how the author handles intense moments and the action too because I felt that it was also like watching a movie, which I really liked. I don't want to dig too deep into the plot itself because I think exploring it yourself is part of the fun, it has unexpected twists that genuinely blew me away, and it takes interesting paths to follow. Exploring also the doomsday preppers lifestyle was very interesting, especially because I didn't really know much about it, rather than having seen this dynamic in some movies, so I really liked that it was the focus of the story, it makes it unique and quite peculiar, to distinguish it from other books of the genre. In addition to touching on these topics, the book covers a large range of situations, it talks about family, friendship, love, and personal grown, it also touches on topics such as terrorism and conspiracies. Overall, I really enjoyed each one of these aspects, which is great. On the other hand, I had a difficult time with the characters, especially with Honey, who has a very distinctive personality, is somewhat abrupt, terribly honest and can also be very hurtful with others, but behind all that, I must admit that there's an artist sensitive soul inside her and a protective sister that I liked to see. On the other hand, I loved the character of Blue, it was my favorite, for some reason the smallest of the Junipers touched my heart with her personality so mature for her age and was the only one whom I could really connect with. Then we have Birdie and she's the trouble-maker type, and impulsive, and I feel pretty unbiased about the character. But the magic happens when they're all together because I completely LOVED their sisterhood, the way they protect each other, the concern and love is remarkable, and it made me feel so good to read a sister dynamic like this one, simply I loved it. We have more secondary characters but honestly, I don't feel that any of them has a great impact other than being there as a love interest, and I'm sorry to say that, but it's something that almost always happens to me, and that's that I didn't enjoy the romance as I expected, it seemed to me that it developed hastily. The writing style is wonderful, I ended up super committed to it, but I confess that at first, I found it somewhat difficult to follow. Even so, I would be interested in reading more of the author, even more, if she continues writing about this type of plot, so exciting and intriguing. This is a super personal opinion that didn't prevent my enjoyment of this story at all, but I do think it would have been more beneficial and accurate to follow a single plotline or at least two at most. The author expands this story too much, so we have many sub-plots ramifications that can be somewhat distracting from the main topic and can even make reading somewhat dense. Especially when you start reading it's a confusing structure, for me, it was super enjoyable, though and I would recommend it. It's a brilliant point of view on survival, resilience, intelligence, challenges, and family bonds. I think that it also explores the human being very well, and how sometimes we react to being placed in extreme and unexpected situations. Although the characters can be a challenge to follow, they have varied personalities, and each one represents a possible outcome or reaction, which I appreciate and understand 100% what the author wanted to convey with this book. I'm thrilled to see that it has such positive reviews so far; I think it deserves it! My First Thoughts 04/30/20 I really enjoyed the originality that this book gives us, it's entertaining and it keeps you wanting to know what will happen from the beginning, which I loved. On the other hand, there are some factors that I didn't like that much, above all they have to do with the characters and their personalities, but I'll talk more about it in my full review SOON ...more |
Notes are private!
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1
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Apr 24, 2020
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Apr 30, 2020
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Mar 07, 2020
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Kindle Edition
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| 0316537241
| 9780316537247
| 0316537241
| 3.56
| 14,967
| Sep 15, 2020
| Sep 15, 2020
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really liked it
| Love this book, I think it will not be for everyone since it has one of those very weird and particular plots, but it worked well for me since I adore Love this book, I think it will not be for everyone since it has one of those very weird and particular plots, but it worked well for me since I adore this type of vibe in my stories, it's also extremely atmospheric and the setting is one of my faves for this kind of dark genre with paranormal touches. I'm slightly disappointed perhaps with the end since it wasn't what I expected, and it felt rushed, but taking that away, the whole book is incredible to me, it has a perfect pace that slowly develops things to surprise you, also the twists are solid & the characters are unlikeable, which this time worked very well. [image] 4/5 ⭐⭐⭐⭐ You can find more of my reviews & fun content on my blog A Book. A Thought. In this book, Jane moves with her mother to her childhood house to try to start over after her father unexpectedly passes away from a heart attack. But although they hope for a new and hopeful beginning, North Manor keeps secrets behind its doors, secrets that begin to torment Jane making her doubt even of herself. Jane's mom also seems to be having a hard but doesn't want to reveal why... Then Jane discovers that the "storage" room is actually a little girl's room and for some reason, she has stayed there untouched for years. As time passes Jane asks her mother for answers, but she's not willing to give him the whole truth ... what's really happening? Is it grief? Mental illness? Or something more ... horrid? This book has very interesting elements of terror that I found very unique, I'm not a person who is easily scared by books, but this book gave me chills on several occasions, I think it has a tense vibe that gradually builds up and makes you commit too much with what's happening, therefore once something happens it manages to take you by surprise and leave you with a feeling of insecurity and almost discomfort. It also gives us an incredible atmosphere with its great descriptions that aren't too many, but the necessary amount, and a super beautiful setting but also super dark and creepy, we are talking about this story taking place inside an old Manor that's located in a land surrounded by forests and with a garden full of roses, it's SO impressive, I really loved it, and I think the setting is key for the story to take shape, it gives the plot a lot of personality. On the other hand, we also have the beautiful writing style that I've enjoyed before with Summer of Salt, a book that I also adore, but this time the author focuses much more on the dark side of almost everything. What do I mean by this? well, explore the dark side of each of the characters a lot more in some way, some of them are going through the loss of loved ones and this triggers them in different ways and not always very pretty. We also explored mental health, which I found very interesting and isn't a minor piece of information in the book. I liked the characters because I think the author explores many facets of them and gives us the opportunity to know the good and bad sides of each one, this is great because it makes the characters come to life, giving greater impact to their decisions and behaviors. The revelations are very good, some of them I saw coming but not most of them so that's always a good thing. The paranormal aspects are great, I didn't expect it to go in that direction at first, in fact, I thought that the book would take another path, but anyway I liked the decision of the author to look for other elements to include in this plot that plays a lot with the minds of the characters and you as a reader never know what's real and what's not, which I love. In addition to the main plot, which combines the paranormal elements with the situations and vibes of terror, there are also moments of calmer interactions between the characters that I really liked, the dialogues are very good and give depth and give shades to the characters, and something I think was very smart is to include a little Agatha Christie style which was a very good idea. When we talk about a book like this, there's much that I cannot tell since each element can be a potential spoiler and the fun is discovering it yourself, so there's a lot that unfortunately I cannot share, something I do want to highlight is that there are many disturbing and graphic situations during the book and Jane's character eats pages of books to calm down after going through a stressful situation that she cannot control, there are many scenes where we can see her anger problems and then we discover how this is linked to her mother and her family history. It's extremely intriguing and interesting, but it can also be sensitive content for some people which is why I wanted to mention it. The cover makes a lot of sense once you finish reading the book, I promise, and I love that it has so much meaning and that it's not just a beautiful cover. The end wasn't for me, as I mentioned before, it felt rushed, I would have read at least 50 more pages of this story, and perhaps the ending could have developed a little more. It doesn't bother me that it's an open ending nor what happens as such, if not that it seems to me that it happens at a time when everything is unfolding and we're understanding many things about the story, then you don't have time to understand so much information, and you don't know what will happen next, which is frustrating because I needed more, I did love the story, though. So in short, I loved the book, I think it has an absolutely incredible vibe of horror combined with an atmospheric setting that succeeds. The characters are realistic and have many layers which is always appreciated. It also has super interesting twists and revelations, quite unique, as well. The author's style is beautiful and I would definitely recommend it. Read the book if you're open to enjoy a very rare but unique plot that will make you doubt every second. Incredible work, I hope the author decides to continue on this path! First Thoughts 05/03/21 This book is SO good! I can really see it won't be for everyone, but it has that super creepy atmospheric vibe that I love & a perfect spooky settings. Despite having enjoyed every second of reading it, I expected something more from the ending and it left me with a bittersweet feeling... still a great book, with a solid plot and good twists, it also has very realistic characters and interactions and I enjoyed that aspect in addition to the paranormal. ...more |
Notes are private!
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1
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Apr 19, 2021
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May 03, 2021
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Mar 02, 2020
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Hardcover
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| 0525645640
| 9780525645641
| 3.51
| 11,767
| Jul 07, 2020
| Jul 07, 2020
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it was amazing
| “I am supposed to be quiet, I am supposed to be good, but I was born at war and I can only keep from fighting for so long.” WOW, this book, “I am supposed to be quiet, I am supposed to be good, but I was born at war and I can only keep from fighting for so long.” WOW, this book, guys, was everything I wanted and more. I can already say that it will not be a book for everyone, I'm sure there will be many polarities of opinions and they'll all be super valid, but I'm happy to be part of those people who have loved it. I adore the author's style, it really resonates a lot with my soul, I adore how atmospheric this book is, and above all the originality of the story and the emotional weight it carries, as well as the complexity of its characters. Incredible work, I don't give 5 stars often, but this book deserves them. [image] 5/5 ⭐⭐⭐⭐⭐ you can find more of my reviews & fun content on my blog A Book. A Thought. In this twisted story full of secrets we follow Margot who has never had the best relationship with her mother, therefore one day she decides that she has had enough of this toxic relationship and all the secrets that her mother has hidden from her, and guided by an old photograph she has found, she leaves her house on the way to Phalene, her mother's hometown, to discover where she comes from, desperate to create a connection with a family she has never met. But once there, Margot will begin to understand why her mother escaped from there so many years ago, and soon she understands that she may never leave. This book is made just for me, I love every vibe that came to me while reading it, it's super creepy and you have that feeling of discomfort while reading it, but also you felt very intrigued to know what's happening since the plot is super uncertain in the beginning, and then it takes really wild shapes, which I love. It's also super atmospheric, it's a book that transports you completely to another place and even to another time, it feels kind of historical although it's not really. I love the small-town vibes, where there are many secrets and lies and strange conspiracies happening, it's my jam & I loved how the plot developed, .I think it's very well thought out, there's a lot of work put here and it shows, the author has a brilliant mind that managed to inspire me a lot to continue writing my own project Reading this book was a very strange, but incredibly exciting and compelling experience, it has some grotesque and twisty scenes, but if you've read Rory Power before you know what you can find and it's like her unique style. I loved it, I think from my heart that it's an incredible work, I'm very excited to read whatever she has planned for us in the future. Of course, the writing style is super captivating, it envelops you in a way where you can read many chapters without even noticing it, and that's obviously due to the great talent of the author when designing and writing her stories. I love how easy it was to read, even though it feels complex at the same time, the author struck a fine balance between plot and characters, making the latter incredibly complex. [image] This book is highly focused on super toxic family relationships, so I want to note this in case it's triggering for you, it also contains gory and graphic scenes. The relationships in the book are extremely interesting to read and follow, they develop a lot throughout the plot and it was very interesting to explore them further. Especially Margot's relationship with her mother Josephine, whose relationship is charged and marked by many secrets and things that aren't said, but then as you learn more about them and their stories, you understand on a deeper level what's really happening, and that was very well done, I loved it. Another relationship that I found interesting was that of Margot with Vera, her grandmother, I can't share much of this relationship, but it was so incredible, it shows a special vulnerability in both characters, they're so different, but at the same time very equal in certain aspects & Last but not least, Margo's relationship with Tess, it's brilliant, it's adorable at times, but it also shows an honest and new bond for Margot, I'll tell you more about the characters below, but I wanted to highlight the relationships that the book focuses on because I think it's the most important thing and the relationships that have the most weight in this story. The characters as such are incredible and you can see the work in each of their personalities. Margot's a great main character, she has grown up with many insecurities and fears due to the lack of care and love on the part of her mother, so seeing her grow and evolve made me very happy. I think that showing such a vulnerable character with so many problems to connect and communicate was super intense to read and gives another tone to the story, and a greater impact on the development of it, I was all the time on her side and although I didn't I agree with each of her decisions, I understand where it comes from and that most of her actions and decisions are taken for her need to be loved, cared for and accepted in a family. Then we have Vera and Josephine, characters with a very dark veil over them, many secrets and extremely manipulative personalities, but extremely interesting to follow, as well, these characters keep you on the edge of your seat and you never know what their true intentions are until the end, what I loved & Tess, is great, I think this character came into Margot's life to give her a little light, hope, and fun, you know? and in the book we see the beginning of a beautiful friendship that marks Margot in unimaginable ways, she's a great character to explore within this type of plot. There's no romance as such in this book and I liked that very much, it focuses 100% on family dynamics and personal development and searches for the truth, as well as many other very creepy things that I cannot explain lol. There are some friendships happening and we know that this can be as or even more significant than a romance, and in this book it undoubtedly is, it's a beautiful and super important complement. One aspect that I loved to see is that Margot is lesbian and seeing this character expressing how she feels about this was very well explored, especially because I like that there's a sapphic character that it's not involved in a romance, you know? It's not necessary for a person to be involved in a relationship with someone to know who you are and how you feel and that's fantastic. [image] This book has an extremely different and unexpected twist, that I don't want to even hint at because I don't want it to be ruined for you, but I do want to share that I think it was very unique, and I know it won't work for everyone, but it did for me. It's weird..... sooooo weird, so be prepared to have thousands of theories and still be surprised in the end. I think I mentioned this briefly before, but this book is set in a small town where there are several farms, called Phalene - Fairhaven, and the small and somewhat old towns are the perfect settings for this type of plot and I hope you agree with me on that because I love them completely. Margot's grandmother has a farm and it's there where most of the events take place, and let me tell you, I grew up part of my life as a child on a farm since my grandparents live there, and there's nothing more creepy than a farm on daylight, I just saying lol. Amazing choice of setting, I loved it. I loved the ending, I think it is extremely unexpected and very rare, but in the best way, at some point, I may have thought it would happen, but I discarded it because I couldn't understand how the author would tie all the loose ends that this story has, but she did it in a brilliant way. I feel good about Margot's ending, I think I would love a sequel just to know what will happen now with the characters and how everything will develop, it's such a unique plot but the characters get my applause, especially Margot, I love how her development towards the end lit a fire inside her and I adored follow her going through everything to find out the truth about herself and her family lineage. Parts of the ending really shocked me because of how shocking they were, just WOW. [image] Obviously, I highly recommend this book for anyone who wants to read something extremely unique and original, with a very creepy vibe, full of secrets, lies, mystery, and suspense. I also recommend it if you want to read about morally gray characters, you know that I love that and this book has them all, but also the characters are very complex and unpredictable. It's a story focused on the family and on self-discovery and self-development, but it also focuses a lot on giving the reader some impact and high tension, reading this book is quite an experience and I know you cannot miss it, I simply loved it. The complexity of the plot, the characters, and the creation of the setting and the vibe are perfect. I LOVED IT and although it's not for everyone, I hope you can enjoy it too, especially if you have enjoyed the author before. First Thoughts 10/05/20 I loved this book SO much!! *screaming with excitement* I'm super excited right now, I'm so glad I gave the author a second chance because even though I liked Wilder Girls, this ONE IS PERFECT FOR ME. I love her writing style. I LOVE how atmospheric this story is, I love how weird it gets while you read it, it's a very weird book, but I was expecting it and it's also very addictive and I couldn't stop reading it, it's amazing. I LOVED it and the paced was perfect. ...more |
Notes are private!
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1
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Oct 02, 2020
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Oct 05, 2020
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Oct 20, 2019
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ebook
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| 1524760986
| 9781524760984
| 1524760986
| 3.70
| 110,885
| 2018
| Jan 09, 2018
|
really liked it
| “What shapes us is not always our achievements but our omissions. Not lies; simply the truths we don’t tell.” This was a very good mystery “What shapes us is not always our achievements but our omissions. Not lies; simply the truths we don’t tell.” This was a very good mystery book, super different from what I usually read in the genre, but it was still easy for me to enjoy it. It reminded me a lot of "IT" at some points, due to the characters above all, but I think the author has a much more subtle and smooth writing style in some way. I liked the author's style, so I would definitely give her another chance, as well as the plot that although a little predictable in some aspects managed to captivate me and keep me hooked from start to finish, it's a solid and different book which I appreciate. [image] 3.5/5 ⭐️⭐️⭐️ ...more |
Notes are private!
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1
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Jul 05, 2020
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Jul 09, 2020
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Oct 10, 2019
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Hardcover
| ||||||||||||||
| 198483701X
| 9781984837011
| 198483701X
| 3.75
| 10,963
| Sep 24, 2019
| Sep 24, 2019
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it was amazing
| I just adore this book, I would say that it's one of my surprises of the year because although the plot always seemed interesting to me, I was surpris I just adore this book, I would say that it's one of my surprises of the year because although the plot always seemed interesting to me, I was surprised by how much I ended up enjoying it, no doubt, this will be one of those books that I'll be recommending for years! What I highlight above all in the book, is the main idea of the plot and the way it's executed, I think everything is very smart and has just the right complexity to make you can't stop reading. I also love the different formats in which this plot is told & although the characters aren't too deep, I think each one of them has an emotional weight within the plot that makes them very interesting to follow. It's a solid spooky plot with unexpected twists and thousands of super unique details. 4.5/5 ⭐⭐⭐⭐ ...more |
Notes are private!
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1
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Oct 06, 2020
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Oct 11, 2020
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Oct 06, 2019
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Hardcover
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| 1616959959
| 9781616959951
| 1616959959
| 2.89
| 300
| May 30, 2017
| May 21, 2019
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I want to thank Edelweiss + and Soho Crime for providing me with this book in exchange for an honest review I'm really sorry, I don't tend to do this a I want to thank Edelweiss + and Soho Crime for providing me with this book in exchange for an honest review I'm really sorry, I don't tend to do this and less when it's an ARC, but it's not my kind of book and I can't really keep pushing myself to finish it, I don't think it's a good idea, I'm already feeling kind of slumpy so I'll leave it here and I can tell you a little about what it's about, in case you're interested DNF My opinion as always is 100% honest and in this case, my decision is more than anything because I don't feel connected to the characters or the plot or the writing style and continue with it, will be only worse for me and for the book, as well, who doesn't deserve that. I'm not going to give the book a rating since I haven't finished it The story is told in a dual perspective, one of them told in 1978 and the other in the present. The story is about a man named Anton, this man lives on a very scary and full of secret farm, he asks his nephew Jacob to investigate what happened to Elle, a girl who was there in the summer. But Jacob also has his own ghosts and his own affairs to settle with the past, because there's a reason why he has never returned to that farm If you like complex mystery and melancholic and atmospheric stories, you may enjoy this book ...more |
Notes are private!
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1
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May 17, 2019
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not set
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May 17, 2019
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Hardcover
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| 0525645586
| 9780525645580
| 0525645586
| 3.46
| 92,224
| Jul 09, 2019
| Jul 09, 2019
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really liked it
| “We don't get to choose what hurts us” Every time I think about this book, I know for sure that it has one of the brilliants and most unique concep “We don't get to choose what hurts us” Every time I think about this book, I know for sure that it has one of the brilliants and most unique concepts I've ever read, so I'm a bit obsessed about, I think that although it has an ending that has disappointed me, it has many things and positive points to stand out and that's why I'm very excited to talk about it. In short, a book that keeps you on the edge of your seat, wanting to know what will happen, the fate of the characters is uncertain, so that creates an atmosphere of mystery and suspense impossible to put it down. .It's 100% atmospheric and plays with your worst fears, so I think if you haven't read it, October is the month to do it, since it's super creepy [image] Source 4/5 ⭐️⭐️⭐️⭐️ You cand find more of my reviews on my blog A Book. A Thought. In this captivating plot, we know Hetty and we know all that's happening from her point of view as well as later on, we have Byatt's point of view as well, which will give us a new perspective. It has been over a year since Raxter School for Girls has been placed under quarantine due to a highly contagious disease, "The Tox" began to spread killing both teachers and students one by one, leaving only a small group that has manifested deformations in their bodies after suffering the first attacks of this disease. But "The Tox" hasn't infected only the people of the island but also the animals that habit the surrounding forests making them something dangerous and unknown. One day Byatt disappears and Hetty risks everything to find her best friend, even going outside through the wild forests, once there she'll discover that there's much about what's happening that she doesn't know and will turn things upside down. I love the main concept, I think it's brilliant and I won't get tired of saying it. There's something very crude in the plot itself, but especially this fact that the girls are infected by a disease that's really destroying their bodies and transforming them in inexplicable ways, all that is so captivating, twisted and unique. I'd never read anything like that, here we find intense and very serious physical deformations, from Hetty who lost her eye to Byatt who now has two backbones, but there's also a girl with a flaky silver hand and also another one that has two hearts, and so I could go on and on with the list. In the beginning, I didn't understand very well how the author would manage to handle such a thing and keep it interesting or credible in some way, but she did it and I'm 100% impressed with it, it has a lot of potentials to be an impactful movie. In addition to this, the book also shows us how the Tox has affected nature itself and every living being, including animals that are now extremely violent and dangerous. I'm really amazed by this whole idea so raw and shocking, I think it's perfect for Halloween since it feels very very creepy. It has scenes that I think are very hard to read, especially when the girls have attacks, the whole scene is very impressive, graphic and gore, so if you're impressionable maybe this is of high impact for you. Personally I think that it's described perfectly as I think you can almost feel the physical pain that the girls are experiencing and it's heartbreaking, of course, but at the same time the author has done a great job. [image] The characters are interesting and it was easy to follow them, even when I don't really connect completely with any, I think it's interesting to follow their stories and their growth during the book is very valuable, especially Hetty's. Personally, if I had to choose a favorite character from the book, I would say, no doubt that it's Byatt, I think that her POV is extremely captivating and I just wanted to read about that, she has a very good personality to follow because although she's described as a kind being and even I can see how she treats her friends, she's an excellent friend, but she has a dark side within her thoughts and in her past that makes her an even more interesting and engaging character for me. In addition to this, her POV shows many truths about what's really happening on the island and gives us a more scientific perspective that I find very captivating. There are a couple of scenes where we can see her interaction with a boy named Teddy and I don't want spoilers here, so I just say that there's something in those scenes that is very smart, I think it shows another dimension of what the disease can do and how it affects the lives of those who have it and shows a very powerful human side that reflects the dangers in the simplicity of life. I know that everything sounds very poetic, but I lived it with great intensity for some reason and I liked that detail. Then we have Hetty, of course, and she's a good main character because I think she's quite average, you know? there's nothing that really stands out about her and although it sounds like something bad, for this story, I think it worked very well, and I'm pleased to see her personal growth. She puts a lot of responsibility on her shoulder for things that begin to happen and she takes action and does something about it, which I appreciate. I also believe that .she has a huge strength at the end, that wasn't there at the beginning of the book and everything is due to her great commitment to rescue her friend from wherever she is and all that nobility and friendship, conquered my heart Then we have Reese, she's the third friend in this group and although I appreciate the queer romance between the girls and it's obviously something I always enjoy in books, it's not a character that I really enjoyed, in fact, I found her quite annoying and difficult to be with, even at quite critical moments shows hoe unstable she can be. I understand her badass posture in life because she's the only one of the girls who has always lived on the island, so not only she lose her family, but also seeing her whole home die must be a terrible thing and I understand that, but I just didn't like her attitudes so I couldn't connect with her. The romance happening between the girls, it's really ok, I mean, it's not invasive, is put there in their fair measures, so I appreciate that since I feel that I wouldn't have liked it to focus only on romance. So I wanted to tell you that yes, it's there, and it has its scenes, but it's not too much and is more sentimental than physical. I think it's a great success even when I didn't really like the couple. The writing style was very good, which is why I've already added the author's next book to my TBR, because I'll undoubtedly be reading it. I think she's an author with a brilliant mind that still has many stories to tell and I can't wait, I'm dying to be part of each one of them. [image] It has many twists and revelations, really good ones, some I saw coming others not, but in general, I think it's well thought out and nothing seemed absurd to me, you know? Everything is set there for a purpose and serves to keep the plot moving. There are many deaths throughout the book, many people you know in one minute and the next minute is dead, so it's quite intense and never ceases to shock. Well, finally we should talk about what I didn't like at all and that's the ending. I think sometimes in certain stories and especially when they're spookies it makes sense that the ending is open. I understand that concept and that idea of the ending, but I don't think it has been well used with this book. We reached the end and we know more or less almost everything that's happening and the truth about the Tox, but I was hoping for a good closing and a better construction of the outcome, because honestly I was with my heart beating hard and I didn't know what was going to happen and in a moment it finishes and it was REALLY disappointing . At one point, I thought that my book might be missing pages, but I did look for other reviews and I feel that it's a fairly common comment about the book, many didn't like the ending and I understand why because I'm one of them. And it's a shame because I think if the ending would have been satisfactory and better thought, it would have been a perfect book, but it leaves you with that bittersweet taste, wishing to know more and with more questions than answers, which is a shame. I think and hope you could enjoy it somehow, maybe if you like uncertain endings. Finally, I want to say that I'm super pleased and happy to have read this book, I know that the ending was disastrous, but even so, the rest of the book was super enjoyable, I adore how the author manages with her plots, her style is really for me and I can't wait to read more of her works. I highly recommend it if you're looking for a catchy and super creepy story to read at night, it focuses a lot on survival so if that's something you like, you'll enjoy this one for sure. It has a unique and incredible atmosphere, one of the best settings too and some unexpected turns that will really impact you, I hope you decide to give it a chance and I would love to know your thoughts about that ending First Thoughts || 10/20/2019 OMG, you guys! What a wild journey, I really loved this book, and although it ends up being different from what I expected, I'm captivated by its descriptions and unique concept. Play with one of my biggest phobias, which I can't tell because of spoilers, but WOW, I still feel my body shake due to it. It's a highly shocking book. Although I have wonders to say about most of it, that ending was terrible, I think it's too open for my personal taste and has left me with more questions than answers, I really wanted more, so I feel kind of disappointed. Even so, and despite that, it's a great book and I would recommend it ...more |
Notes are private!
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1
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Oct 15, 2019
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Oct 20, 2019
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Jan 07, 2019
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Hardcover
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| 1640634223
| 9781640634220
| 1640634223
| 3.34
| 1,097
| Feb 05, 2019
| Feb 05, 2019
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liked it
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I want to thank NetGalley and Entangled: Teen for providing me with this copy in exchange for an honest review Well, this was a wild ride. I honestly e I want to thank NetGalley and Entangled: Teen for providing me with this copy in exchange for an honest review Well, this was a wild ride. I honestly expected something different from this story, I liked certain aspects such as the plot twist and the final chapters, which were quite solid. On the other hand the characters are very stereotyped and there's a lot of cliche going on in the relationships and the plot in general . It was an interesting book, although I wasn't surprised about it [image] 2.7/5 ⭐️⭐️⭐️ You can find more of my reviews on my blog A Book. A Thought. The book is about this girl named Molly, she has just disappeared and now all eyes are on her recent boyfriend Cobein, as the main suspect. and the big question is what has really happened to Molly?, has she escaped from her complicated life? or someone kidnapped her?. Cobain will do anything to find out what has happened to his girlfriend, and meanwhile, many secrets will be revealed You already know that I LOVE mystery and thrillers, this kind of genres, I usually enjoy a lot, with this book, in general, I feel that the plot is very unoriginal, it's something that I've read before and it's possibly something that we have all read at some point. It's about this girl with crazy personality and great beauty, who disappears a day without leaving a trace and suddenly the police suspects the most obvious person, her boyfriend. This could be something that doesn't bother me, but in this case I don't think there's much more than that happening. I feel like I'm unsure about this book and I feel a little "meh" about the plot, you know? The characters were a big point of why I haven't been able to fully enjoy this book, I didn't like any of them . Let's start with Molly, she's unbearable, really. She's the typical beautiful and manipulative girl who always gets what she wants, and is so rebellious and strange. I think that's how the author want us to see her, to make us believe that she's deep and mysterious, but to me, her decisions don't make any sense, she's always saying weird things, her dialogues are very confusing . It's obvious that her past and her family story have impacted her a lot, but that doesn't explain 100% her erratic behavior. I end up thinking that she's simply a selfish person who only cares about herself. Then we have Cobain, the typical mysterious guy, who always wears black and all that. Honestly, I hated him at first, he had such unfortunate phrases about other people bodies, and I thought "really?", OMG, it was a challenge to follow his chapters. Then there's his unhealthy obsession for Molly, they call it "love", but I don't think is that, I think their relationship is very sick. Cobain as a character grows quite towards the end, and after knowing more about his past and when the plot is revealed, then I managed to understand his personality a bit more, but even so, that relationship is a disaster. I hate this kind of romance when it's so obsessive and uncomfortable. Molly's always playing with Cobain and his feelings and I think she's so cruel. In the end, I understand that the poor guy is getting a little crazy, since she hasn't stopped manipulating him and playing with his head for months, Uh, this makes me so upset The book is told in a way that we jump in time between the "then" and the "now", and I really liked that, I think it's a very smart way to tell a mystery plot, it gives a very good touch, interesting and intriguing, because you're discovering things little by little and you can build theories of what's happening . I enjoyed more of the present chapters, and that's quite obvious since the past chapters were all about the relationship between Molly and Cobain, and although obviously it's super necessary, I don't like this couple so I it didn't care much. Anyway I want to emphasize that there are very good and atmospheric scenes that I enjoyed despite the characters. In a moment,the plot touches a possible mental illness or trauma of Cobain's character, and that was very interesting for me , and see how it connects with the ending was very well done. Even so, I would have liked to have gone deeper into the subject, since I love seeing how minds work. Despite having some problems with the book, it was very easy to read and I know that if you like the characters a little more than me, you can read it even faster. It flows very well, no doubt. I really LOVED the final chapters, the story unravels in a fantastic way and I think those last chapters have everything that the whole book should have had. It has action, drama, surprises and is very intense. I know I said a lot of things that I didn't like, but I must emphasize this great part of the book, it's VERY GOOD and I liked it a lot. The ending, along with the plot twist, save the book from being bad book to being an average book. I think it can be a big shock to many who are reading it. Personally, I'd created various theories about what had happened with Molly, but the revelation was unexpected, and it left me very pleased. [image] I don't think this book is for everyone.If it's one of your first Thriller/Mystery books, and you're looking for something more contemporary or romantic, then, go for it, you'll be surprised. But keep in mind that it's romance heavy, and it's not a very good one. I don't believe that the characters are for everyone either, personally I LOVE the anti-hero characters, but these weren't for me, although maybe they work for you. So, if you decide to give it a chance it will not take you very long since it's fast paced and the chapters are very short, but consider the points we have talked about, because I think it could be a problem for you. ...more |
Notes are private!
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1
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Jan 07, 2019
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Jan 11, 2019
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Aug 19, 2018
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Hardcover
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| 0765397587
| 9780765397584
| 0765397587
| 3.71
| 1,508
| Jul 17, 2018
| Jul 17, 2018
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liked it
| I want to thank to Tor Teen and NetGalley for having provided me with this copy in exchange for an honest review I think the main idea of the book is s I want to thank to Tor Teen and NetGalley for having provided me with this copy in exchange for an honest review I think the main idea of the book is so interesting and captivating, it was what kept me wanting to know what would happen at the end. On the other hand, and being very honest, I think that it failed in the way in which this idea was executed. Even so, I think I would like to read something more about the author because I liked her writing [image] 2.7/5 Stars You can find this one and more of my reviews on my blog A Book. A Thought. After a car accident Liv wakes up in the hospital and feels very confused because everyone calls her Morgan, at the beginning she thinks it's a mistake, but after seeing her face in the mirror she doesn't actually see herself but her best friend Morgan reflected. Liv will have to lead now with the fact that she's trapped in the body of her best friend, and even when everyone sees Morgan as the rich girl of the perfect life, Liv will be immersed in her life and discover dark secrets and crimes, that surrounds her best friend and her family, of which she had no idea. And meanwhile she also have to deal with her best friend's last request The synopsis doesn't say much actually, but I've tried to put together a little more informative one here , without spoilers of course. The thing is that when I read the synopsis for the first time I felt that this was the perfect book for me, because as you already know, I LOVE mystery, and more when it involves best friends, besides you have to admit that it sounds incredible. And honestly I was very happy when I was approved with the ARC and even though I had some problems with it, I'm glad I gave it a try, I think the author has very good ideas. I liked, as I said before, the idea that there's an accident and then something supernatural happens, that's always interesting. Liv's trapped in her best friend body, and has to discover how to get out of that situation, find a way to return to normality or even follow her life that way. All these things are super interesting, because as you read the story many questions begin to appear in your head, and obviously you want answers. And here's the thing, I really don't feel that we have answers to all those questions, I think the author deviates a lot the main issue, to other things. In fact, I really would have loved to know why this happened in the first place and after finishing it you never know it for sure, and I hate that, because it makes the story feel incomplete for me. There's, in fact, a moment where our MC begins to think that she's suffering from some mental illness but this never develops, and I think it would have been a VERY interesting. [image] I didn't like Morgan, I mean the real her, not even a little, I think she was very manipulative and such a liar, I usually enjoy unlikeble characters, but this girl is impossible . I think the fact that Liv defended her all the time made me irritate even more. I love best friends plots, but in this case I think Liv adored Morgan but not the opposite around, you know? Liv begins to find out some secrets that her friend hid from her, that are really painful, things that only a treacherous person would do, and she lets them pass so easily, I'm sorry, but I would be SO angry. There was a love triangle here, and I have nothing against them, sometimes I even enjoy them, but this time it was awful. The triangle involves Liv (who's now in Morgan's body), Clay (Morgan's boyfriend) and Nathan (Liv's boyfriend/Clay's brother), so you can pretty much get an idea of how complicated this was. I feel that Clay's a lovely person, I loved him as an individual and I feel that in other circumstances they would have made an adorable couple, but everything happens in such a strange and dramatic way that it wasn't to my liking. Nathan on the other hand, I just couldn't stand him. [image] After finishing reading it I think it's a kind of messy book, if the author would have focused more on the main idea and less on the romance, maybe it would have worked better for me. I think maybe she was scared of going for a darker side with it but I feel that it would have worked well if she had taken a risk. I really enjoyed the interactions with Liv's family, I think that helps me to know how she really was like before all this happened, even so, I would have liked a bigger development of this aspect because we know all about Morgan's life, but not much of Liv's, which would have been interesting. There's also another aspect in the plot that involves a crime, and it ends up being quite important in the book until becoming a central part, and honestly it was a bit boring and predictable, which I hate to say because I look for the opposite in this kind of books. But, I was not really interested in that aspect really. And the plot twist almost at the end was SUPER convenient In summary, I think the idea is brilliant but I would have liked to see it more developed, especially because it's a paranormal aspect and it would be nice to have seen something happen with that, it was handled in a very strange way. I think the first 50% of the book is great, quite engaging and leaves you wanting more, but then nothing ends as I would have liked and seems like the author has taken the easy way out and left me with more doubts than I had at the beginning. ...more |
Notes are private!
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1
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Sep 13, 2018
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Sep 16, 2018
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Jul 05, 2018
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Hardcover
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Sofii♡ (A Book. A Thought.)
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mystery-thriller
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really liked it
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Apr 2022
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Mar 18, 2022
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| 3.40
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liked it
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Oct 05, 2021
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Sep 30, 2021
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| 3.85
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really liked it
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Aug 16, 2021
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Jul 02, 2021
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| 3.61
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really liked it
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Jun 14, 2021
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May 30, 2021
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| 3.41
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liked it
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May 08, 2021
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May 01, 2021
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| 3.48
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liked it
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Mar 06, 2021
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Feb 28, 2021
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| 3.73
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really liked it
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Nov 25, 2021
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Jan 13, 2021
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| 3.53
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really liked it
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Apr 07, 2021
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Sep 14, 2020
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| 3.77
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really liked it
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Nov 26, 2020
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Sep 05, 2020
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| 3.67
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really liked it
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Sep 23, 2020
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May 26, 2020
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| 3.19
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liked it
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Jul 16, 2021
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May 13, 2020
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| 3.82
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really liked it
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Apr 30, 2020
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Mar 07, 2020
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| 3.56
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really liked it
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May 03, 2021
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Mar 02, 2020
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| 3.51
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it was amazing
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Oct 05, 2020
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Oct 20, 2019
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| 3.70
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really liked it
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Jul 09, 2020
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Oct 10, 2019
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| 3.75
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it was amazing
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Oct 11, 2020
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Oct 06, 2019
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| 2.89
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not set
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May 17, 2019
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| 3.46
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really liked it
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Oct 20, 2019
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Jan 07, 2019
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| 3.34
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liked it
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Jan 11, 2019
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Aug 19, 2018
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| 3.71
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liked it
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Sep 16, 2018
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Jul 05, 2018
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