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ninebookishlives's reviews
881 reviews
The Truth According to Ember by Danica Nava
funny
lighthearted
3.5
Content Warnings
Graphic: Misogyny, Racism, Cultural appropriation, and Sexual harassment
Detransition, Baby by Torrey Peters
emotional
- Plot- or character-driven? Character
- Diverse cast of characters? Yes
- Flaws of characters a main focus? Yes
4.0
Content Warnings
Moderate: Homophobia and Transphobia
Minor: Miscarriage and Abortion
The Wife Upstairs by Rachel Hawkins
mysterious
3.0
The twists and turns felt familiar and predictable. Despite having no familiarity with Jane Eyre outside of The Janies' version, it all felt too familiar. I kept thinking of two or three other mystery/ suspense novels I've read recently; some published before, some after. It was fine for a pallette cleanser, like a popcorn thriller in the suspense genre.
If I Stopped Haunting You by Colby Wilkens
2.0
I went into this book a bit hesitant after learning about the recent concerns surrounding the author’s background, but I decided to approach it with an open mind and separate the story from its creator. Listening to the audiobook, courtesy of @librofm ALC program, I was happy to discover that both narrators are Indigenous, which added authenticity to the performance. They brought a lot to the table, but even good narration can only do so much.
The story follows four writers on a retreat to a castle in Scotland, where their history and turmoil will be brought up constantly throughout the book. We experience the story through two Indigenous characters: one a widely recognized horror author and another whose lack of tribal connection makes her feel less than an author. Each writer specializes in a different genre—romance, horror, thriller, and mystery—which is a cool idea in theory.
However, the book struggled to balance the romance, mystery, and horror elements. Instead of blending, it felt like no genre got a chance to shine. The romance felt underwhelming, with forced chemistry between the main characters, while the two other friends felt like they were just along for the ride.
When the ghostly horror aspects finally arrived, there were a few intriguing moments, but the suspense fizzled out quickly. And the mystery aspect? It felt more like a side note than a driving force. Penelope, the main character, also often breaks into intense "soap box" moments, especially when addressing the love interest, Storm. These moments became very repetitive and detracted from the story.
Ultimately, I finished it, and I didn’t hate it, but I felt like it needed more focus. It tried to be too many things at once—romance, lit with a message, and a mystery ghost story. I wish it had settled on one and let it shine.
The story follows four writers on a retreat to a castle in Scotland, where their history and turmoil will be brought up constantly throughout the book. We experience the story through two Indigenous characters: one a widely recognized horror author and another whose lack of tribal connection makes her feel less than an author. Each writer specializes in a different genre—romance, horror, thriller, and mystery—which is a cool idea in theory.
However, the book struggled to balance the romance, mystery, and horror elements. Instead of blending, it felt like no genre got a chance to shine. The romance felt underwhelming, with forced chemistry between the main characters, while the two other friends felt like they were just along for the ride.
When the ghostly horror aspects finally arrived, there were a few intriguing moments, but the suspense fizzled out quickly. And the mystery aspect? It felt more like a side note than a driving force. Penelope, the main character, also often breaks into intense "soap box" moments, especially when addressing the love interest, Storm. These moments became very repetitive and detracted from the story.
Ultimately, I finished it, and I didn’t hate it, but I felt like it needed more focus. It tried to be too many things at once—romance, lit with a message, and a mystery ghost story. I wish it had settled on one and let it shine.