Final Girls took some ridiculous turns, its characters made freaking ridiculous choices and were sucOoof I finished and boy do I have regrets.
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Final Girls took some ridiculous turns, its characters made freaking ridiculous choices and were such ridiculously terrible people that it should've been a ton of fun but somehow it was all dreadfully boring and ridiculously repetitive just like this review will continue to be if I tell you how ridiculous I found the end of it.
You can love it and we can still be friends. I swear its true.
But I'd recommend reading this one instead The Only One Left - especially if you haven't read this author before now....more
These stories in the "Creature Feature Collection" have been a bit hit or miss for me ranging from creepfest to snorefest. This one - a folk horror shThese stories in the "Creature Feature Collection" have been a bit hit or miss for me ranging from creepfest to snorefest. This one - a folk horror short - about a young couple dealing with grief, was excellent at the creepiness. Recommended if you like this stuff....more
I had a bit of a struggle getting used to the narrator whose accents didn't work for me and also the writing style which was a lot of telling instead I had a bit of a struggle getting used to the narrator whose accents didn't work for me and also the writing style which was a lot of telling instead of showing. I listened on audio so I stuck with it and eventually - around the 80% mark, both the narrator and the characters grew on me. Both sweet and charming with a lot of external elements forcing stress on them.
I'd recommend listening to a sample first to see if the narrator works for you but I understand if you don't because I never do. Or maybe just give it a read in paper....more
I'm reviewing the audiobook which isn't listed here yet. I follow Niall Harbison's account on social media and feel like I already know all of these dI'm reviewing the audiobook which isn't listed here yet. I follow Niall Harbison's account on social media and feel like I already know all of these dogs and it was a joy reading about their stories and also about Niall's road to recovery in more detail. I think you will get more out of this book if you follow him on Instagram, YouTube or even the hellhole that is Twitter. The audio is read beautifully by the author. Definitely recommended but I believe the book has photos which the audio does not so you might want to check that out first if you're unfamiliar with the dogs. Any way you discover the stories, I think you'll be inspired by these stories of survival, heartbreak and hope....more
This was a cute romance but the heroine was a bit too doormatty for my tastes for most of the story with both her family and her mentor. Woman you areThis was a cute romance but the heroine was a bit too doormatty for my tastes for most of the story with both her family and her mentor. Woman you are grown. All the way grown up. It is ok to put your annoying mother on mute/ignore FOREVER or to finally tell her she's a mess. She needs to hear it. Grrrrr. Anyhow, the professional conflict between the couple seemed a little OTT manufactured and I didn't really buy into it fully. But alas it was still cute. Not as steamy as some people are making it out to be though and it also didn't hit emotionally.
The narration was terrific. No ridiculous sounding men voices - phew.
It floats somewhere between a 3.5 and a 4 for me so guess I'll go with the 4....more
I think it's best if I don't revisit these books. I am sad to say that I found Ruby melodramatic, repetitive and a bit boring. Ruby is just too perfecI think it's best if I don't revisit these books. I am sad to say that I found Ruby melodramatic, repetitive and a bit boring. Ruby is just too perfectly perfect and naive. I finished it but have no desire to reread the rest in the series. I think I'll have to stick to the Lifetime movies which are super melodramatic but also culled so they're never boring. Guess I'll give it a 3 but it's really a 2.5 in my head but now people complain if we don't bump up. People will yell at me no matter what I rate it anyway.
The touristy setting is well done but everything else (and there's really just too much) feels underdone and rushed.
Riley is summoned by an aunt to The touristy setting is well done but everything else (and there's really just too much) feels underdone and rushed.
Riley is summoned by an aunt to the touristy town only to discover she's now stuck being a caretaker to a haunted house. Why doesn't this ever happen to me? I promise you I would spend every day in bliss and I wouldn't complain.
Anyhow, her love interest is the local hunky, anxiety-stricken librarian named Edison. They met on the ferry when she puked on his shoes. And then she screams at him for hogging the bathroom. It was a weirdly uncute, unfunny kind of gross "meet cute". Soon after they fall in insta-love with very little romance development. They both have POV's and his often starts with him recapping and skim recalling their dates after the fact which kind of takes all of the fun out of the development of the actual romance and felt like a cheat. Weird. I would've preferred more pages and/or trimming of some of the other unneeded stuff or perhaps just a complete ditching of the romance and having it developed better in another book once this set up book was done.
There are secrets and surprises and new friends and all of that good cozy stuff that made me think of the show "Ghosts" but none of it hits exactly right here. The humor often felt awkward instead of genuine. The narration was well done but I don't think I liked the story enough to read the next one but never say never.
I listened to this book on audio and never zoned out or felt the urge to put it down so for that it's getting some stars. It's a wild one though. You I listened to this book on audio and never zoned out or felt the urge to put it down so for that it's getting some stars. It's a wild one though. You will have to leave your brain behind. Pretend you're in a Rebecca/VC Andrews kind of world where any kind of wild shit can happen and everyone seems to be lying their pants off. By the time I finished I had given every character the side-eye.
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And I absolutely loved that about this book. It's fun. There are many secrets. And, of course, a suspicious murder or four. There's a stern housekeeper, a sexy handyman/hanger-around, a heroine with a tortured past, strange sounds in the night, enough family secrets to keep everyone happy (ok everyone is me but that's the only one who counts here, lol) and a mansion that is tilting because some brainiac built it upon the edge of a crumbling cliff.
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I made tons of guesses and didn't have a clue who the culprit was until everything was revealed. Love it when that happens. I loved it in all its nonsensical creepy glory and loved that I didn’t have a damn thing figured out right ...more
This book skewers the current state of publishing and nails the toxicity of social media. It’s all pretty awful and accurately portrayed here. If you This book skewers the current state of publishing and nails the toxicity of social media. It’s all pretty awful and accurately portrayed here. If you spend any time on #WriterCommunity Twitter or X or whatever the heck it’s called today you’ll likely recognize much of the behavior. If you spend too much time on Twitter you’re probably very sick of the constant drama and you may not want to read more of it for pages on end. The MC and secondary characters are all basically terrible people but the style is very readable. I found the big reveal a bit predictable and the last act too rushed/chaotic/unsatisfying so much so that I rewound and listened again and was still left with the same feeling. 3.5 rounded up to a 4 because I realize I have wasted too much of my life reading this stuff on Twitter and it has burned me out....more
This book was so very somber. It's a beautifully written story with many layers but a pallor of melancholy hangs ove“The deep sea is a haunted house.”
This book was so very somber. It's a beautifully written story with many layers but a pallor of melancholy hangs over everything. I went in coldish. Sometimes this works, sometimes it doesn't. I knew it was a sad book after seeing a little discussion on the Horror Spotlight chat but it was the wrong book to pick to listen to on the only two sunny days we've had around here. It threw me into a bit of a funk and I had to keep switching it out for something lighter.
Anyhow, Miri's wife heads out to sea on an exploration expedition that was supposed to last three weeks. Instead it lasts six months and now nothing will ever be the same. As the story progresses we get the POV of both Miri and Leah (her wife), we're told the story of their romance, witness Miri's loneliness when Leah is away and watch as things disintegrate in so many ways. There is some subtle but also frighteningly brutal body horror here. I know that doesn't seem to make sense so you'll have to trust me on that.
As I mentioned the writing is extremely beautiful and it's very much literary fiction with a side of horror. Just be prepared to have your heart stomped upon!
Narration Notes: The narration added to the feelings of gloom, despair and sadness. It might've been easier in paper, tbh. The dual narrators do too good of a job expressing the grief that drips from the words....more
This was such a cute romance featuring characters in their late 40's/early 50's. Both introverts who prefer online interactions to reality, they becomThis was such a cute romance featuring characters in their late 40's/early 50's. Both introverts who prefer online interactions to reality, they become guild members and fast friends before they ever meet IRL. I found it hilarious that she is super grumpy and hates people and portrays herself as an elderly butt-kicker so she won't get hit on by her guild members - including her soon-to-be love interest, and they all assume she's in her 80's. There's humor and heart and some pain in the way of shitty parents, toxic people and homophobia.
The narrators were excellent and never tossed me out of the story as some tend to do when they try to raise or lower their voice when character switching. A definite recommend if you want a fun, slow-burn romance.
I had some trouble with The Violence by this writer (wrong book/wrong time) but I highly recommend Camp Scare to middle schoolers and to anyone that lI had some trouble with The Violence by this writer (wrong book/wrong time) but I highly recommend Camp Scare to middle schoolers and to anyone that likes a creepy campground setting and stories about growing up as an outcast and standing up for yourself even when people refuse to believe you. It's about bullying, and mean girls and creepy goings-on and I could not stop listening....more
This was fun on audio. Set in the late 60's (70's? I didn't take notes and am relying on my brain but it had very flower-childy and Manson culty vibesThis was fun on audio. Set in the late 60's (70's? I didn't take notes and am relying on my brain but it had very flower-childy and Manson culty vibes), it's a story about two forgotten women made immortal by two dickish men (Dracula & Mr. Rochester). Bee (Bertha) & Lucy spend their days overseeing Dracula's urns filled with his ashes, so his domineering self doesn't reappear to boss them around. Their evenings are spent at a drive-in. Doesn't sound too bad of a life to me! But then Jane Eyre shows up and the bossy men appear and their quiet life goes sideways.
Adventure and some mayhem follow as Lucy tries to rein in her undying hunger while just doing her best to stay in charge of her own life. This book may infuriate you (ugh, most of these MEN, please walk into the sun already) but it pays off in the end. My only complaint? I finished the book wondering what Mr. Rochester did to Bee to make her immortal. I'm still here feeling a little confused by it. Maybe I missed something (entirely possible because it's been a stressful week). Was it some sort of fungus? Some Lovecraftian thing? A devil's bargain? I'm a little confused but maybe someone can piece it all together better than me....more
Hmmm, I don't have a lot to say about this one. Some of the humor didn't hit, and the main character Chloe was one of the least likable people in the Hmmm, I don't have a lot to say about this one. Some of the humor didn't hit, and the main character Chloe was one of the least likable people in the book (which is FINE except she was boring to read about which was not fine) and the missing girl plot was straight-up strange considering that no one (including her parents) were concerned she was "missing" except for the three kids she was screwing with. Because of this there was absolutely no urgency about the "mystery". I don't know - that bit didn't work for me. It felt like I was reading a silly plot conjured up by the writer and following along like a lemming but I was never able to fall into the story until that stuff was put to bed. Other than all of that, the rest of the book was fun. I liked most of the secondary characters and wish there had been more time spent exploring them instead of trying to find Shara. So I'm giving it a 3 because I liked it and parts of it were sweet and heartwarming and I enjoyed reading about the kids finding themselves and exploring who they wanted to be instead of attempting to be who their uptight school expected them to be. Break the rules kids. Adults don't know everything....more
For some reason (probably because I've been reading a steady diet of them) I assumed this was a gothic horror novel when I requested a copy from my liFor some reason (probably because I've been reading a steady diet of them) I assumed this was a gothic horror novel when I requested a copy from my library. It is absolutely not that but once I started it, it amused me so I kept going and I'm glad I did.
I didn't read the blurb (obviously) and didn't see the comparison to Knives Out so I went in completely blind. This is a story of found family, safe places and a possible murder that shakes everything up. It's a little bit mystery but mostly it's about queer characters finding love and support in the 50's which were even more dreadful than life in the 2020's, alas.
It's often delightful as well as heart crushing and it's filled with quite a few characters who may or may not be capable of murder and one who goes on a journey and finds purpose and hope. If this becomes a series with Andy as the lead, I'll definitely read the next one.
The narration of Andy was excellent but some of the women secondary characters were a little off sounding, not nails down a chalkboard cringe but also not the best . . . It didn't mar my enjoyment of the story though which says a lot about the story....more
Book one ended on a cliffhanger but I read it four months ago and I have no idea what the heck made me go "oh nooooo, not the dreaded cliffhanger" wheBook one ended on a cliffhanger but I read it four months ago and I have no idea what the heck made me go "oh nooooo, not the dreaded cliffhanger" when I finished it, but it doesn't really matter because the author filled me in soon enough. And all without a huge eye-glazing info dump thankfully! Phew!
This is a fun, breezy PNR with no real stakes or painful angst or trauma that features a lot of humor and magic. But alas the coitus interruptus employed to drag out the sexy times over numerous books is a little aggravating here since this heroine is in her 40s and should really know better than to attempt to get wild on a kitchen counter in a house that always has people and spirits barging in. This tactic is so worn out. I had flashbacks to Stephanie and Joe in those early Stephanie Plum books.
This book reads fast, and it feels super busy but there isn't any big plot thing happening. Defiance is fighting her powers and lusting over her wolfy man and running around Salem, MA saving folks. There appears to be a threatening Big Bad coming but it, like the consummation, does not happen in this book so it all felt a bit chaotic. Anyhow, the humor is great when it hits, and I'll definitely be reading more of the series because despite all of my complaining it was an amusing read.
This is book 2 in a series. I think I liked the first book Payback's a Witch a bit better but I'll definitely be reading the next one when it arrives This is book 2 in a series. I think I liked the first book Payback's a Witch a bit better but I'll definitely be reading the next one when it arrives in 2023.
From Bad to Cursed picks up after the events in the previous book so you should definitely give that one a read first or you'll be left wondering about a few things. In this book, two witches with a contentious past are forced to work together when their families choose them to solve a crime that defies all of their witchcraft rules. Forced into constant proximity with each other, Rowan and Isadora slowly become friends who are attracted to each other but they are still enemies because, uh, they want to be? It's always been that way? Their families can't stand each other? There's a lot prejudice in the witchy community? Also, they need to have a few honest conversations, maybe? I don't know. They drove me a little bananas.
This was cute and I loved certain scenes but the conflict keeping the couple from being a couple was a bit underwhelming to me. But maybe not for you? I'm a grouch so it seemed silly to me and it dragged on too long for my impatient butt. The rest of the book was fun though....more
This is an amusing paranormal story about a forty-something woman starting anew after she's lost everything she owns to her greedy ex-husband. FortunaThis is an amusing paranormal story about a forty-something woman starting anew after she's lost everything she owns to her greedy ex-husband. Fortunately, she's just been given an old house in Salem, MA by a complete stranger who willed it to her. Weird right? But I'd take it too. I mean, why question that kind of good shit? Anyhow, she moves in and meets all kinds of interesting characters and soon realizes there is so much more to this story and I'm not going to spoil it for anyone by blabbing all about it.
In the early pages, I was a little annoyed by the humor that felt like it was trying waaaaay too hard for my liking (but I'm grouchy, so there is that) but as the story went along things smoothed out and felt less obnoxious. It was fun and a little bit sexy and there were plenty of surprises, but I have to warn you that it ends on a CLIFFHANGER. Oh, how I despise the cliffhanger because it means I have to follow a series and I am the absolute worst about doing so because I'm easily distracted by shiny and new, and I usually forget everything before I get to the next book. So really, it's more of a me problem than a real problem.
Anyhow, this turned out to be a lot of fun and I'm not sorry I read it....more
Laurie (barksbooks)
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