When I read the synopsis of Half-Truths, I knew that I had to get my hands on it! I have been on the hunt for a good romantic thriller for a long timeWhen I read the synopsis of Half-Truths, I knew that I had to get my hands on it! I have been on the hunt for a good romantic thriller for a long time, but every time I have picked one up, it was always lacking. Either the mystery was top-notch or the romance was amazing, but they never seemed to both be on the same level. That was until I read Half-Truths, one of my favorite reads of 2019.
This is my first read by Claire Contreras and I can't wait to read some of her other books because I thought Half-Truths was written masterfully. Everything flowed perfectly and the story unraveled at the perfect pace. I honestly don't think that it could have been written better because it was just perfect. Also, would this not be the perfect book to turn into a TV show? Come on Netflix, make this happen!
Don't even get me started on Logan! He was a hot, brooding alpha male that so happens to be my newest book boyfriend. I don't even have enough words to describe how perfect he was. I also really loved Mae. She was smart, sassy and felt very genuine. I also liked that every time she put herself in danger, she did so intelligently and with purpose.
The mystery aspect of this book was great. I was on the edge of my seat wondering what was going to happen next. There were a lot of twists and turns and I was complexly satisfied by the time I turned the last page.
Hands down my favorite aspect of this book was the romance. Swoon worthy is not a strong enough word for what I was feeling. This book was full of angst and the chemistry between Logan and Mae was off the charts! I can't wait to pick up more books by Contreras if her romances are all like this!
I know that I have said this a million times already about this book, but this book was perfection. From the unique characters, to the thrilling mystery, to the epic romance, this book has it all. I feel like most romance readers will devour this book and it probably will create a lot of new Claire Contreras fans!...more
Holy Sh*t! This book was seriously one of the best thriller/mysteries that I have every experienced. And yes, it was a complete experience. This book Holy Sh*t! This book was seriously one of the best thriller/mysteries that I have every experienced. And yes, it was a complete experience. This book was everything that I love about romance married with an intriguing, cryptic mystery that kept me on the edge of my seat. I stayed up WAY late finishing this book and once done, all I wanted to do was discuss everything about this book. This would be the perfect read for a book club because there are so many layers to peel back. So much laying beneath the surface that can be discussed. I loved every second of it!
I am not well versed in Colleen Hoover books. I have only read two of her books prior to this, Maybe Someday and Hopeless. Both I really enjoyed, but Verity blew me away. The writing was absolutely captivating and Hoover was amazing at creating an eerie tension that I felt in each page. My heart raced and I could not put this book down until I knew what was going to happen.
This is definitely a hard book to really get into details with because it would be easy to give away hints of what is to come and that would be a huge shame for other readers. I HIGHLY recommend not reading other reviews. The synopsis is written perfectly to let readers know the premise of the book without divulging too much information, so my review is going to be very vague and focus mostly on my feelings.
The characters were amazing. All well-developed and really interesting. Unlike some other thriller/mystery books I have read, this book started with a bang and never slowed down. I did not feel any slow moments where I got bored. I was completely invested in this story and the characters.
I loved the way this book ended. I think I read somewhere that Colleen was writing a screenplay for this book and I think that is genius! This book would be perfect to adapt for the big screen.
I know that it is still early in 2019, but as of right now, this book is my favorite read of 2019! It was absolutely perfect and I just can't express how great this read is. It was mind-blowing and I had NO idea how this story was going to play out. I HIGHLY recommend reading this book!...more
This book was definitely worth all the hype that was surrounding it in the book world. It was dark, mysterious and emotional. I always find myself beiThis book was definitely worth all the hype that was surrounding it in the book world. It was dark, mysterious and emotional. I always find myself being drawn to these types of books, but they always seem to be lacking something. However, this book was everything! I loved every twist and turn within the pages and I had a hard time putting it down!
This was my first book by Shantel Tessier and I have to say, the writing was absolutely amazing! This book starts off with a big bang and then just keeps getting better. The twists and turns kept me on the edge of my seat. I will say that there are parts of this book that you just have to let some logic go and just sit and enjoy the ride.
My #1 reason for not enjoying books like this is because there are absolutely no good reasons for the girl to continue socializing with the guy(s) who threaten he life and continuously harm her. I will say that there was a slightly logical reason for Austin's associations with the guys in this book, but there were some holes. However, it never bothered me in this book as much as others I have read. I can only guess that it is because Austin is really damaged too, not as much as Cole, but she has her own tortured past that made it more believable that she would stick around these guys. I.E. birds of a feather flock together and all that, plus I think Tessier's amazing writing helped as well.
I don't want to get too detailed about anything in this book because it was an amazing experience letting the plot unfold. There was so much unexpected things! The plot is really detailed and the characters stories are all woven together. I really liked that about this book. I would try to go in as blind as possible to you don't get spoiled by anything.
The characters were great. They were all messed up, damaged and over all were bad people with redeeming qualities. I liked them a lot more than I think I should have. I really think that it would be amazing to have some books focusing on some of the side characters *cough* Deke.
The romance was one of my favorite parts! It was dark and Cole was a complete A*hole, but it was amazing seeing some of his sweeter side too. I also loved the romance between Deke and Becky. I really, REALLY want a book focusing on them. I can already tell it would be amazing.
I loved every second that I read this book and am really looking forward to picking up another book by Shantel Tessier....more
I want to start this review stating that I think that this book has very polarized reviews. Some readers absolutely loved it, while others blatantly hI want to start this review stating that I think that this book has very polarized reviews. Some readers absolutely loved it, while others blatantly hated it, but I found myself falling somewhere in-between (but falling more on the hated it side). With a cover that is absolutely stunning and book synopsis that promises to ‘F’ with your mind, I thought this book was going to be mind-numbingly messed up-and while it was messed up, it did not live up to my expectations. Although I didn't enjoy this book as much as I had hoped I still kept reading it because I wanted to know what would happen. I was captivated by it even though I found it lacking in many ways.
When I began reading this book, it gave off some pretty strong Paper Princess (by Erin Watt) and Corrupt (by Penelope Douglas) vibes. There are quite a few similarities between those series and this book, which I would not have minded since those are some of by favorite books, but in The Silver Swan, they didn't work for me. I will not go into detail because it is treading on spoiler territory, but considering all the mixed reviews, I still encourage readers who are interested in this series to give it a try.
I thought that the idea of this story was AMAZING, but it was not executed in the way I had hoped. I think with books like this-ones containing secret societies, mysterious characters and puzzling situations-it is imperative that the reveals to readers make sense. I have read some reviews where readers said that this book was predictable, which I absolutely did not think was the case-in fact, quite the opposite. By the end of this book, I was scratching my head because there was a lot revealed, but the problem was I did not understand how characters were able to put 2 and 2 together. There also was not enough information given for me to be shocked. When the ‘big’ reveal happened, I didn’t know what it meant, where the story might be headed and how this information affected the characters.
The thing that I struggled most with this book was the characters and their actions. The main female protagonist, Madison, lacked common sense (and that is being nice). She was constantly being seriously threatened with murder and rape, harassed and stalked, but then would forgive the individuals who were doing the threatening. The members of the Elite King’s Club were slightly more interesting, however only Bishop (Madison’s love interest) and Nate (Madison’s step-brother) had any sort of character development. The rest of them (I can’t even remember their names) seemed to be there just to add more characters (hopefully they will be more pivotal in the future books). Tillie and Tatum (Madison’s ‘friends’) were probably the most useless characters because they added absolutely nothing to the plot and their friendship with Madison seemed forced and awkward.
With all that being said, there was still something that made me read this book late into the night. It was mysterious and how some of the elements were revealed really kept me on the edge of my seat. I still am really on the fence about if I want to continue on with the series. There is still a part of me that wants to find out what is going to happen, but I will be really disappointed if the next book does not have some clearer reveals and the characters don’t become more dynamic. Although I did have problems with this read, I still recommend it to any readers who think that it sounds good. I could see how this book could be some people’s favorite read, but for me, there was just too much I could not overlook....more
This book really surprised me. I thought it was the perfect coupling of contemporary romance and mysterious thriller. Both elements were well developeThis book really surprised me. I thought it was the perfect coupling of contemporary romance and mysterious thriller. Both elements were well developed, creating a read that was exciting and kept me on the edge of my seat. I will say that although it did keep my interest and I kept turning the pages, it was predictable. It was very similar to many thriller/mystery movies that I have seen and followed a pretty stereotypical pattern. However, I did still really enjoy the journey and this is becoming one of my favorite types of reads.
I thought the writing was good and I really loved that a lot of the character development was told in flash backs. The pacing of this book was absolutely perfect. I never thought that it dragged or slowed down for one second. This book defiantly had a dark edge, especially all of the past trauma Marlie had to withstand when she was kidnapped by a serial killer. There were moments of pure terror and extreme traumas, but I would not categorize it as scary or horror.
I LOVED the character development of Marlie, the main protagonist. I could see how much her character had grown and evolved from the child she was when she was kidnapped to the current woman who was not going to back down and be defeated. Although Marlie had a sharp edge, she also had a vulnerability that made her relatable. I also really enjoyed Kenai’s character, but I felt like he was a bit under developed. I did enjoy that he was hard at the beginning of the book, but then opened up and showed his softer side when he was with Marlie.
I really liked the romance in this book. I loved the banter between Marlie and Kenai at the beginning of the book. Their relationship started with friendship and then slowly evolved to more. Both Kenai and Marlie are strong, hard characters, but they both had a deep pain that each other understood and bonded over. Although I wish their relationship would have evolved a bit more during this book, it still felt authentic.
Overall, I really enjoyed this book and thought it was a fun read. It had the perfect amount of darkness and disturbing to make it interesting, but it never crossed the line of becoming gory. Although this book was a bit predictable, I think the same is true about a lot of other books and movies in this genre. I enjoyed the process of reading this and think it would be a great read for someone who wants a thriller, but nothing too scary.
{Received in exchange for an honest review}...more
This book was okay, but it did not blow me away. My lack of connection with the characters was the downfall from completely falling in love with this This book was okay, but it did not blow me away. My lack of connection with the characters was the downfall from completely falling in love with this read. I think that this could have been a DNF for me if it was not for my curiosity to find out who the killer was. I think that the mystery was my favorite part and I was not disappointed when the big twist as revealed, but the rest of this book fell flat for me other than some occasional moments.
I thought the writing was okay and it flowed well. The pacing of the plot was very good and created a lot of tension. I will say that one VERY smart thing in the writing was one of the chapter headers. {Slight Spoiler} Near the end of the book, there is a chapter in the killer’s perspective and it was labeled ‘killer’. I thought it was weird since the identity of the killer was already revealed, but then I realized it was done so that readers who look at the chapter headers before reading would not get spoiled. Brilliant! I would have never thought of that.
The characters are where I had a very difficult time connecting with this story. Chloe was okay, but she was nothing special. I felt like she was very average and ordinary. I wish she had a bit more spunk and sparkle. But Asher was my biggest pitfall. His personality at the begging of the story was bi-polar. One moment he was a complete douche and then he would become caring and sweet the next. I am okay with male characters that start out mean/rude and end up being sweet, however, there needs to be a catalyst for the change in behavior and Asher lacked that. I also wish there would have been more interaction/connection with the side characters. They all just seemed to be there with not purpose other than being a potential suspect.
The romance in this book was good, but I wish that I would have felt the connection more. Chloe and Asher’s feelings seemed to appear out of nowhere and I am a big critic of insta-love unless it is done perfectly. I will say that by the end of the book, I was invested in their romance.
I will say the mystery aspect in this story gave it a BIG plus in my book. I kept changing who I suspected as the book progressed. I thought it was done amazingly. There were also a lot of twists and turns. However, I did have a hard time being convinced at how the characters were able to put the pieces together to find out who the killer was.
Although I did not enjoy all the elements of this book, it still had its moments of greatness. I am interested in reading a different book by both of these authors to see if I enjoy it more. I would recommend trying this book if the synopsis sounds interesting since it seems like I am in the minority with my review. ...more
I ABSOLUTELY could not wait to get my hands on this book! I think that Pretty Stolen Dolls had one of the biggest cliff hangers of all time! I really I ABSOLUTELY could not wait to get my hands on this book! I think that Pretty Stolen Dolls had one of the biggest cliff hangers of all time! I really didn’t think that this book could not be any darker or disturbing than the first, but I stand corrected. There were numerous times that I gasped, sat horrified or had to take a break from reading this book. This is DARK…the darkest I have ever read and probably the darkest that I will EVER read! This series is not one for the faint of heart, but it was also strangely addicting and I could not put it down.
The writing in this book was just as fantastic as it was in book one. The biggest difference from book one was that this was written in dual POV’s. Readers now get to not only see inside the mind of Jade, but now Dillon and Benny’s as well. It was absolutely brilliant being able to see Benny’s inner dialogue and discovering how his past shaped his psychotic behavior. This aspect was very important for me because I hate books/movies where there is a serial killer, but there is no explanations given about their actions. This aspect made the plot feel even more dynamic and well-rounded.
I really loved the evolution of these characters from book one. In Pretty Lost Dolls, Jade was just a child held hostage at the whims of a psychotic killer, but now as an adult with police training, it was interesting to see how Jade used it to her advantage. I loved that her decisions were very smart and calculated. She was able to use the thought of Dillon’s love to help her withstand the torture and abuse she had to withstand. I also really enjoyed seeing the softer, sweeter side of Dillon. His parts were essential for readers to know what was happening on the outside while Jade was in captivity, but other than that, I did not really think his POV was that necessary.
Benny! Defiantly one of those characters you love to hate. I almost felt sorry for him…almost. His gentler side was shown in book two, but for every moment of softness came a moment of hurt. And with a surprising turn of events, Macy, Jade’s sister, was even more psychotic than her captor. Her behavior was more cringe inducing than Benny’s, which is really saying something. Her character was the one that I felt sympathy for because her traumatic childhood turned her into a monster. She completely lacked the concept of right and wrong, and although her actions were horrendous, I felt like all she wanted was love from Benny.
Although the romance is great, it really took a back seat to the character development and plot. It still was strong and I am very happy it was integrated within the story, but there are SO many strong points, it almost felt like one of the weaker parts. I really loved the connection between Jade and Dillon. I loved how protective Dillon was and the fact that he would move Earth itself if he could to find Jade when she was taken.
I loved the ending of this book. It almost felt like some of my favorite 90’s horror films. However, I cannot express enough that this is for MATURE readers in every way. It is also has numerous triggers, such as rape, kidnapping, death, torture and many types of abuse (mental, physical & sexual).
I really enjoyed this duet, which I find strange because usually I do not enjoy romance books that involve such extreme violence. I think that the plot is so captivating and the character development was so amazing, it helped out shine any other problems that I might have found with it. I would recommend this book to readers who enjoy a good thriller book with a touch of romance, but are not easily offended. ...more
I was both excited and terrified to start this book. I fell head-over-heels in love with this series and did not want it to end. I was somewhat disappI was both excited and terrified to start this book. I fell head-over-heels in love with this series and did not want it to end. I was somewhat disappointed with the middle book of this series, Broken Prince, but am happy to say, I loved Twisted Palace just as much as I loved Paper Princess. This book completed this series PERFECTLY! I would have to say that this might be the best ending that I have ever read. I loved that everything wrapped up perfectly, but still allowed readers to imagine what is left to come for all of these characters. If you have not started this series, DO IT NOW!
The writing in this book was just as fantastic as the first two. I loved the mystery element added to this book. It made the book fast-paced and exciting. I desperately tried to unravel the mystery surrounding the murder that took place in Broken Prince. I had two main suspects throughout the book, with one of my theories turning out to be correct. However, I was not able to guess all the surrounding details, which still left some surprises. The mystery is what really made me love this book and devour it quickly!
The characters are just as lovable as they were in the first two books. I loved that Ella and Read’s character development expanded even more and readers got a better glimpse at Read’s softer side. However, I felt like this book lacked the connection with the secondary characters that the first two books had. It seemed like Easton, Sebastian, Sawyer and Gideon were hardly in this book at all, especially Gideon. That really disappointed me since the dynamic cast of characters was what gave these books heart and made them standout. I know that Easton will be getting a spin-off book(s), but I really want to know about the other brothers as well. Here’s to hoping that we will get some more books featuring the other brothers.
The romance between Ella and Read was amazing. I loved their connection and how genuine it felt. The affection that Read gave Ella was sweet and I loved how protective he was over her. The one thing that surprised me was that this book had a lot less mature scenes from the first two books. I don’t think that is a bad thing, but it usually seems that books usually get steamier as the series progresses and I felt that this was the opposite. I was also excited that this book started to set up Easton’s book(s)!
I loved this book series and can’t wait for any other books released that are connected to it in any way! This series was like book crack for me, as well as many other readers. I would recommend these books to readers who like steamy romance, angst, cliff hangers and a lot of drama! I can’t wait to see what other books that these authors release under the name of Erin Watt....more
Jennifer L. Armentrout is one of my all-time favorite authors! I have not read a book by her that I did not highly enjoy and this book was no differenJennifer L. Armentrout is one of my all-time favorite authors! I have not read a book by her that I did not highly enjoy and this book was no different. I was curious if Armentrout could pull off a YA mystery/thriller, but she did more than just pull it off…she blew it completely away! I really cannot wait to continue reading everything that Jennifer writes and I highly recommend everyone try at least one of her books because I guarantee that you will be hooked.
In every one of my reviews of Jennifer’s books I say the same thing about her writing. It is fantastic, easy and absolutely addicting! The pacing in this book was perfect! It was full of heart pounding moments and tons of twists and turns! The mystery of this story was captivating. I kept changing my suspects as more information was slowly revealed. I would say that even the most seasoned mystery readers would enjoy this book.
I LOVED the characters in this book, particularly Samantha and Carson. I have not read many books where the main protagonist is an unreliable narrator, but I loved that aspect of this book. It allowed readers to slowly unravel the plot and mystery along with the main character. I wanted Samantha to keep pushing to discover what happened and I felt very connected to her character. Carson was a swoon-worthy, protective love interest for Sam. I loved that he stood behind Sam and always allowed her to make her own choices, but also came along to make sure that she was always safe.
The romance in this book was on point! It was such a slow burn, angsty connection between Samantha and Carson. Other than the mystery, the romance is what really drew me into this story. It was so good that I think this could have stood on its own feet as a contemporary romance without they mystery (however, of course, I would not have wanted it any other way).
Overall, this is a perfect book for any readers. It was a great, fast-paced read that had me on the edge of my seat the entire time! I do not have one thing that I would have changed, it was perfect. ...more
I received this book from Netgalley in exchange for an honest review.
This book has it all: mysterious pasts, strained family dynamics, rivalry, forbidI received this book from Netgalley in exchange for an honest review.
This book has it all: mysterious pasts, strained family dynamics, rivalry, forbidden love and fierce completion. This book is a mix between The Fast and the Furious & Romeo and Juliet. I had a really fun time reading this book and this would defiantly be a great book to pick up during the summer, however, I did have some problem with it.
The writing in this book was good, but average. There was a lack of descriptions that made it hard to picture the events and characters in the book. However, I thought the pacing of this book was perfect. It had a slow start to build the plot and characters, but then it exploded with nail-biting action and suspect. I had a hard time putting this book down because I wanted to know what was going to happen next.
I absolutely adored the plot of this book! I loved the motorcycle racing, which brought a lot of action. I also really liked that Mackenzie was a racer, showing that it was not just a male dominated sport. I also enjoyed all the aspects that made up the plot, which made it feel very dynamic and never become boring. There was always something pushing the plot forward and mysteries that needed to be solved. One of the big downfalls of this book is the character development. With the story being told in Mackenzie’s perspective, I felt like I got a good grasp of her personality, but the other characters were lacking. I wish there was a way for this book to be written in dual perspective so readers could experience the inner workings of Hayden’s thoughts too. Mackenzie was a very relatable character, but her personality felt very basic. I was very intrigued by Hayden and only began really understanding him near the end of the book. That was enough to make me really like him, but I just wanted to know more. I also felt like the side characters needed more development, but they did feel like an important aspect of the plot.
I also enjoyed that there were multiple types of relationships in this book. The friendships developed between characters felt genuine and real. I did wish that the relationship between Mackenzie and her family would have been expanded on. I never felt like I got to know her dad, which made me really dislike him for the decisions he made. I also absolutely disliked her sisters. I found them selfish, self-absorbed, and annoying. I felt like there was a missed potential to expand and deepen the family dynamic.
Then there is the romance. At the beginning, I was not sold. I am all for slow burning romance, but nothing happened for a really long time. However, the halfway mark was a turning point. Hayden started being more open and affectionate toward Mackenzie and I started feeling like they were connecting. By the end, I really enjoyed them together and hope to be able to see their relationship expand more.
And the ending! I really, REALLY hope that there is going to at least be a sequel to this book because it just can’t end like that. I did really like the ending and my jaw dropped, but I am going to be really mad if this book turns out to be a standalone. I will most definably pick up the second book, if there is one.
Overall, this book did have its problems, but I still really enjoyed it. I really want to see what else is going to happen, especially with that ending! I want to read more from Stephens so I have already bought Thoughtless and plan on reading it soon. I would recommend this book to readers who enjoy NA books and are looking for a good summer read. ...more
This book had EVERYTHING going for it. It was a unique plot, intriguing mystery and a beautiful cover, BUT it fell flat. I think that this might have This book had EVERYTHING going for it. It was a unique plot, intriguing mystery and a beautiful cover, BUT it fell flat. I think that this might have been one of my most disappointing reads EVER! I had such high hopes…I even bought the second book thinking that I would love it. I considered reading the second book to this series to see if it could redeem itself, but my over whelming TBR pile and the not so pleasant Goodreads reviews, have convinced me that I am stopping at book one.
This book had three big down falls…the writing, the characters and the romance. The writing was flat and suffered from the author telling the readers instead of showing. Sometimes it got so annoying, I found myself rolling my eyes. However, the more of the book I read, the less the writing seemed to annoy me. I think that pacing of the book was great. It was full of action and suspense, so I never really found myself bored.
The characters in this book were really one dimensional. They all lacked personality and the dialogue always seemed a bit off. I never could really imagine them as real, so when tragic event happened, I never felt any sadness. The only character in this book that I was somewhat interested in was David. The romance was really bad. It was insta-love and it only got worse from there. There was absolutely no connection between Alenna or Liam. I also had a problem with the friendship between Alenna and Gadya. It did not seem genuine and fake.
I think the two things this book had going for it was the plot and mystery. I thought that the plot was really original. I was always intrigued with what was going to happen next. However, that was not enough to save this book for me.
Overall, I would not recommend this book for seasoned readers. I think that beginning readers or young readers might be able to enjoy this book. I have not decided if I am going to keep these books since the covers are AMAZING, but I won’t be reading them. ...more
When I read the synopsis from this book, I knew that I had to read it! I did think that this book was going to be a stand alone, which is one of the rWhen I read the synopsis from this book, I knew that I had to read it! I did think that this book was going to be a stand alone, which is one of the reasons I wanted to read it so soon, however I am kind of intrigued where the next books are going to lead. I don’t want to say too much in this review because I do not want to give any of the twists away.
I thought the writing of this book was good, but average. I thought it was an easy and fast read. The beginning was kind of slow, but it was the time where the readers were discovering things along with the characters in the book. I was very intrigued from the very beginning and kept trying to figure things out. I do have to say that I did not see a lot of the reveals coming, but I was not really shocked at the twists. I guess that I was just taking it all in and I really wanted to be knocked off of my seat from the reveals.
I like the characters in this book. I don’t want to say too much, but I really like the psychological aspects of the characters and plot. It was interesting trying to put the puzzle pieces together along with the characters. I also liked delving into the social chemistry between characters and seeing the dynamics between them.
After reading this book, I didn’t really know how I felt about it. I didn’t love it, but I didn’t dislike it either. I feel like I built it up in my head and then was a little disappointed that it was not what I thought it was going to be. I also am a little disappointed that it is a trilogy rather than a stand alone. I don’t like ready mystery books that drag out over multiple books, unless I wait for the entire series to come out and then binge read them. I feel like there will be a lot of things I will forget before then next book comes out.
Overall, I am on the fence about whether I will read the next book. There were a lot of loose ends, but I don’t know if I will continue on with the trilogy. I think this book will be liked from individuals who like The Maze Runner series.
(I received a copy of this book from Netgalley in exchange for an honest review)
When I read they synopsis of this book, I knew that I HAD to read it. (I received a copy of this book from Netgalley in exchange for an honest review)
When I read they synopsis of this book, I knew that I HAD to read it. I love mystery/thriller books, but I have not read that many in YA and wanted to give it a shot. Plus, that cover is beautiful!
I devoured this book in one sitting! The pacing in this book was perfect. It allowed for great character development, but was fast paced enough to keep me on the edge of my seat. The writing was also very captivating and gripping. I really want to get my hands on some other books written by Trish Doller to see if they suck me in just as strong as this one did.
I really loved that this book was a road trip book and full of adventure. This would be a great book to read during summer! I would say the only problem I had with this book was the mystery. The entire time I was hoping that the big reveal would totally blow away all of my guesses, but unfortunately, this book was very stereotypical. The mystery is easily guessed and then the reasons behind the mystery are pretty ridiculous. However, I felt like the mystery was not the driving force of the story so I felt the book was still very good.
I really like the main character, Caty. As a small town girl myself, I defiantly related to her want to get out of her tiny town and experience adventure. I think that a lot of people will be able to relate to Caty because she was a down-to-Earth, average teenage girl. I also really adored her relationship with Noah. I felt the chemistry between the two characters and their romance seemed very genuine. It surprisingly did not feel rushed for being such a fast-paced book.
Overall, I did really like this book. Even though the mystery was easily guessed, I feel like readers who enjoy contemporary reads would really enjoy this. I feel like the relationship between Caty and Noah is what really drove this story forward and the mystery was in the background of the book. I also think this book would be a really fun movie. It really felt reminiscent of a 90’s movie that I would have watched as a teenager. ...more
WOW! I did not even read the synopsis of this book when I started reading it and I am sure glad that I didn’t. This book blew me away. It was such an WOW! I did not even read the synopsis of this book when I started reading it and I am sure glad that I didn’t. This book blew me away. It was such an emotions rollercoaster of emotions. This book has just made me add Colleen Hoover to my auto-buy authors list and I plan on picking up more of her books this summer. If you like contemporary romance, PICK UP THIS BOOK!
I can’t believe this is one of Hoover’s early books! The writing was great, poetic and hypnotic. I could not put this book down and I found myself staying up late reading and thinking about it during the day when I couldn’t read it. I thought the pacing was great, but the beginning is a little slower to set up for the last half of the book. I was so shocked by the twists and turns from this book! I will say that this book could be a trigger for readers who have experienced abuse. I don’t want to specify much more because of spoilers, but this book focuses on several difficult topics that will tear your heart out over and over.
The characters in this book are great! It did mostly focus on Dean and Sky, with the secondary characters not getting as much development as I would have wished. However, the character development of Dean and Sky was amazing! They grew so much and overcame their traumatic pasts. I am interested in reading Loosing Hope to learn more about Dean, but I will probably wait until next year so that the story is not so fresh in my mind.
The love story is amazing and I could not get enough! I liked how there were cute little relationship quirks between them that made their relationship more special and unique. I also loved that their relationship grew slowly and then flourished into something beautiful. I liked the other relationships in this book, such as the one between Sky and her mother, Karen. I wish that it would have been a little more developed, but I still loved reading about how much Karen loved Sky.
I was blown away by the twists and turns that happened in this book. I thought some of it was slightly predictable, but the majority of it was completely out of left field! I really enjoyed the end of this book! It was heart-breakingly beautiful.
Overall, I would recommend this book to readers who like reading NA contemporary books that have deep, emotional plots. But be prepared to stay up all night reading this and keep some tissues close....more
I have recently fallen in love with New Adult books, but I have only read contemporary ones and wanted to try out a different genre. When I read the sI have recently fallen in love with New Adult books, but I have only read contemporary ones and wanted to try out a different genre. When I read the synopsis of this book, I knew that I needed to read this book and I am happy to say that it was fantastic! It had everything: action, mystery, suspense, and romance. I would defiantly describe this book as an adult version of the Hunger Games with a little bit of Minority Report mixed in. This book review was so hard for me to write because this book was not the greatest piece of literature ever written, but I really enjoyed reading it and was able to look past problems that other readers may find with it.
The plot of this book is what really made me love this book. The whole idea of the Compass Room, which is an experimental test to evaluate criminal’s morality, was really interesting. The Compass Room really reminded me a lot of the “test” that was in The Hunger Games, but was a lot more gruesome. This book is moderately gory, describing horrible deaths and murders in detail. I do have to say that the story does have some pretty obvious plot holes involving how the Compass Room really works, but I believe that more details will be learned in the second novel. I don’t feel like the plot was created flawlessly, but I think I loved this book so much because I just excepted what was being presented without analyzing it deeply.
This book is told from Evalyn’s point-of-view and alternates from the present (inside the Compass Room) to the past (before Evalyn committed her crime). I really enjoyed that it switched from past to present because it was able to slowly unfold the mystery surrounding Evalyn’s crime. However, when the details of her crime finally came to light, I was not as shocked as I thought I would be. I also feel uncertain about how the validity of her crime played out, but I will not go into detail because I don’t want to give away some major spoilers.
I was really surprised about how I felt about the characters in this book. With a book that is full of criminals that have committed some pretty heinous crimes, it would seem easy to hate these characters, but I really fell in love with them…well, some of them. I felt like the character development in this book was really great. I could see how each character opened up and evolved as the story progressed. I liked Evalyn as the main character, but I have to say that Valarie was my favorite character. I loved her don’t-take-crap attitude and thought she was such a kick-ass character. The other supporting characters were also really great and I really enjoyed seeing them all band together. One thing I have to say concerning the characters is, that although their personalities did differ quite a bit, they were very stereotypical.
I do think some people will have some issues with the romance in this book because I would classify it as insta-love. However, considering the circumstances that these characters were placed in, I can overlook that. I know that in life or death situations, people can create a very strong bond very quickly. I did find that aspect somewhat realistic because all of these characters relied on one another to survive and bonded over the horrendous conditions they had to endure. Although this book has two romances (both insta-love), I was really invested in both of them.
So, although I have to admit that the similarities to The Hunger Games are pretty obvious, I still think it was original enough to enjoy. I don’t think that this book was done flawlessly, but I consider it a guilty pleasure read and enjoyed it for what it was. I will warn readers that it does contain sex, profanity, and gore, so just be aware that you will not like this book if any of those bother you. I am most defiantly going to read the second book, which I have already bought, but I am a little worried where the story is headed from here. Overall, I don’t think this book is for everyone, but I absolutely loved it! ...more
{Thank you St. Martin’s Griffin and Netgalley for providing this in return for an honest review}
I really, really, really wanted to like this book, but{Thank you St. Martin’s Griffin and Netgalley for providing this in return for an honest review}
I really, really, really wanted to like this book, but unfortunately I just could not get past all the problems I had with it. The idea for this book is really interesting and I even really liked the sub-plot as well, however, it was poorly executed. This book did not evoke any emotions at all, I was not rooting for the main character, and I did not even want to finish this book. The only thing that kept me reading (other than this being a review copy) was that I hoped that it would switch gears and the ending would blow me away. Unfortunately, the ending was predictable and still had me skimming the pages so I could finish it.
The writing in this book was not bad, but the pacing was somewhat slow at times and Casey added a lot of details that had nothing to do with the plot and did not strengthen character development. Having to read all the extra content really made the book extremely slow in some areas and I did find my attention wandering many times. I thought that the last 60% of the book was better paced and I did become more interested in the plot. The plot in this book was such a great and unique idea. I like that Jess and Freya almost looked like twins, but I wish there would have been some depth to that instead of it just being a fact. I thought possibly there was going to be a deeper connection between the two characters other than their looks. I also had a very hard time grasping the fact that Jess came into a town she had never been in and was positive that Freya had not committed suicide, but had been murdered. It was like she instantly knew without any hesitation that Freya was killed even though there had been a police investigation. I hated that the first half of the book was full of Jess’s speculations that Freya had been killed, but there was no evidence until the second half of the book. I was pleasantly surprised by the sub-plot, which is a mystery about Jess’s mother and Dan (Will’s father). I was much more interested in that plot development by the end of this book than I was with the one about Freya.
The ending to this book was very lack luster. It progressed really quickly and the way to solve who the murderer was seemed like it came from an episode of Scooby Doo. It lacked any logic and was not innovative in the least bit. Although there was absolutely no foreshadowing about the ending, I was not in the least bit shocked when I found out the big reveal. I just felt like it was so ridiculous and then wrapped up too easily. I also do not like that this book is the first in a series. I do not think that it needs to be a series and should have been completed in one book. I think that dragging it out for another book or two would be excessive.
I think my main issue with this book was the character development. I do like when authors make their main character have characteristics that are real and may not be liked, but it is also hard to root for a character when she is completely rude and lacks any other redeeming qualities. The moment Jess arrived in town, she started interrogating people about Freya and not in a nice way either. She had a snarky attitude (and not in a good way) and always came off rude. She was also hypocritical because she constantly judged other characters in the story for chasing after guys and being vain, but she also was super insecure about her relationship with Will and was devastated when she had to cut her hair. I hated that all the female characters in this book (except for Petra) were portrayed as shallow and vain. I did really like Petra (Freya’s sister), as well as Freya. I felt like Casey was able to show readers what Freya’s personality was like and have them understand her character even though she was not present. I think it would be interesting to have a prequel that shows more of Freya’s character and played out how she died. I did not really like Will’s character at all, I felt like he was underdeveloped and I did not know anything about him. I did like Dan and how Casey made readers question if his intentions are good or bad.
The romance in this book was really lacking. Usually I love books that include romance, even if it is just a side part of the plot, but I would almost think this book would have been better if it had been left out completely. I did not think it drove the plot forward and I felt like it was just a distraction for more important elements. I never felt any chemistry between Jess and Will, which made me really bored with their romance. I was more interested in Jess’s mother and Dan’s romance because it was more interesting and intriguing.
Overall, I think that the mystery/suspense aspects of this book fell way short. There are other YA books that have a more intricate and intriguing mystery than the one that was portrayed in this book. However, I do think that this book could appeal to some new YA readers who don’t have any experience reading more complicated mystery plots. I am really unsure if I want to continue on with the series because the one part that interests me would be the relationship of Dan and Jess’s mother. I will more than likely cut my losses and spend my time reading a different book where I am more invested in the characters. ...more
{Thank you Hachette Children’s Books and Netgalley for providing this in return for an honest review}
When this book was described as I Know What You D{Thank you Hachette Children’s Books and Netgalley for providing this in return for an honest review}
When this book was described as I Know What You Did Last Summer meets Point Horror, I instantly wanted to read this book. I absolutely love cheesy, serial killer horror movies and really wanted to see how it would translate over into a young adult book. For the first half of the book, I was really nervous that I was going to be let down with the comparison made about this book to one of my favorite horror movies, but then it really picked up and had me at the edge of my seat. Unfortunately, this book was predictable and the characters weren’t anything special, but I was so engrossed by the plot, it made the book very enjoyable.
The plot of this book was fantastic. I loved the mystery of who was sending the threatening messages to Grace and her friends. The first half of this book was somewhat of a letdown. I found myself being bored at times and the plot seemed like this book was going to be very PG rated; I am not saying that the book needed to be blood and gore everywhere, but I was reading a horror story and I wanted to see something more than just a grim reaper being spray painted over Grace’s and her friend’s tags. I almost wondered why they were so scared for the first half of the book. Then a big event happens at the halfway point that changed the book completely. The book became very suspenseful, mysterious, and fast paced. I was constantly trying to figure out who I thought was behind the events that took place in this book. I was a little disappointed that this book did fall into the clichés of horror films. I did guess the end of the book, which was disappointing since I wanted to be totally blown away. I wish Spradbery would have pointed the finger at more characters so that it would have been more difficult to guess the ending. I also loved that this book was set in a school, which really added to the plot and made the story more original.
The writing of this book was not fantastic, but was not horrible either. I did find myself being confused when there were flashbacks because it was not made clear when the plot went back into present tense, but those scenes were rare, so it did not take away from the book too much. I also wish there was more description in this book. I had a hard time imagining the setting and even what the characters looked like because a lot was not described clearly. However, I did like that the book had special touches that made the design of this book stand out. I liked that the chapter headings had the numbers spray painted, which looked really cool. I also like that the book cover does not give anything away about the book that would ruin the plot.
I was disappointed with the characters in this book. I did not feel like I really knew any of the characters because none of their backgrounds were really explored. I felt I knew the most about Grace, Trick, and Daniel, but the other characters were written pretty vaguely. I never really found myself fearful for the characters in this book, which is bad since I am supposed to be rooting for them to stay alive. I felt like the mystery of the book would have been so much better if Spradbery would have explored the characters backgrounds and made the reader feel like they knew the characters more. I also was surprised that there was a love triangle in this book, which I wish would not have been included because it was too clique and ruined aspect of the plot. I did like that the characters in the books were not portrayed as super virtuous or heroic. The characters were flawed and at time selfish, which I really liked.
Overall, I did enjoy reading this book, but it was nothing special. I love stories like the one presented in this book, which I think really affected how I felt about this book. This book falls into the cliques of having no character development, crappy romance, and being cheesy at times, but those are all the things that make these types of horror movies/books good. I would say that if you are looking for an easy and fun read, than to give The 100 Society a shot. ...more
From all the glowing reviews about this book, I thought that I would have loved it, but unfortunately I thought it was just okay. I didn’t not enjoy rFrom all the glowing reviews about this book, I thought that I would have loved it, but unfortunately I thought it was just okay. I didn’t not enjoy reading this book, but I just thought it was boring at times and lacked depth. I have heard from other readers that the series gets really good after the first three books, but that is a lot to read to get to the good parts of the series. I think I may have went into this book expecting a lot since it is one of many readers favorite book series. I think this series does have a lot of potential, I just wish that it started off amazing for me.
I thought the plot of this book was interesting and I liked that there was a mystery, which really pulled me in and made me want to continue reading. I also liked the world building in this book, with all the intricate vampire social circles and politics, I felt like it made the story unique. The writing was not fantastic, but it was still enjoyable. I liked the ending, which had a little twist, and it intrigued me enough to want to continue with the series. However, this book read a little immature to me, but I am not exactly sure why. Maybe it was the fact that so many really good YA books have come out since this, which really has raised the bar for YA books.
I had a love/hate relationship with Rose. At times, I did like her snarky comments, which really reminded me of Buffy, but sometimes came off as rude. I liked that she was a strong female character, but still had vulnerabilities. However, Rose occasionally came off as really immature and had bad decision making skills. She did not completely put me off to continuing with the series, but I hope that she grows on me a little more throughout the series. I did really like Lissa as a character, but I hope she becomes more independent throughout the series. I really like Christian as a love interest for Lissa and was rooting for them throughout the book. I didn’t feel anything towards Dimitri (like/dislike) until the end, where I ended up really liking his character. I am really glad that there was no insta-love in this book, but I do foresee a possible love triangle between Rose, Mason, and Dimitri.
I also liked that this book did not solely focus on relationships involving romance, but also friendship. I thought that Rose and Lissa were great friends and I really want to see how their friendship grows in the next book of the series. I was very intrigued with the connection that they share and that Rose can feel Lissa’s emotions through their connection. At times I felt like their friendship was really intense, but I am glad that it was explained a little more why they are so close and connected.
Overall, I did not love the book, but I did enjoy it enough to continue on with the series. I hope that I will fall in love with this series like so many other readers have. I would also recommend it to other readers since it is such a loved series in YA. I can’t wait to hopefully be sucked into the world that Mead has created....more
I absolutely love horror movies. I love feeling scared, jumpy and my heart racing…but I have not read a lot of horror books. In fact, I have never reaI absolutely love horror movies. I love feeling scared, jumpy and my heart racing…but I have not read a lot of horror books. In fact, I have never read a really good horror book…until now. I really enjoyed myself reading this book. It got by heart pounding and my adrenaline flowing. I found myself addicted to reading this story so I could find out what was going to happen next. This book would defiantly be good to read during October or if you just want a good scare!
First off, I have to say that if you are looking for gorgeous, poetic writing with deep character development…then look somewhere else. This book is typical horror movie fun. It is fast-paced, with stereotypical characters that get themselves into a scary predicament and then they must solve the mystery of Bloody Mary to save themselves. The pacing of this book was great! It started right off with a séance to summon Mary and it just continues from there. I never found myself bored while reading this and Mary makes many appearances throughout the book.
I would defiantly classify this book as scary. I knew that if any book was going to scare the crap out of me, it would be one revolving around the Bloody Mary myth. Mirrors give me the heeby jeebies and the fact that Mary could inhibit anything with a reflection pretty much made her able to be anywhere. Also, the fact that she could climb out of mirrors reminded me of that one scene in The Ring (you know which one). I would not recommend this to someone that is just looking to feel a little jumpy because this one is going to make you afraid to sleep at night.
My one gripe about this book would be the character development. I find that this is really common in horror movies, but if this book would have made me care more about the friendship in this book…it would have put it over the top. I did not feel like the characters really cared for each other, which made the deaths not mean as much. I did like the main character, Shauna. She was relatable, but was still pretty generic. I wish that we could have seen some other aspects of the characters lives that did not revolve around Bloody Mary.
I did really enjoy the mystery aspect of Mary. I liked the revelations made and was pretty shocked. I absolutely hate stories that have the killer mindlessly killing without reason. I am glad that there appears to be some reason why Mary kills and I am excited to pick up the next book to find out why.
Overall, I would recommend this book. It was a quick, fun read that made it difficult to fall asleep at night. This book would have gotten a higher rating if the character development and plot was deeper, but I took it for what it was and really enjoyed myself. I will be picking up the next book closer to October and hope to delve deeper into the YA horror genre. ...more