Book Reviews from July and August 2020
The Weekend Away by Sarah AldersonMy rating: 5 of 5 stars
Published in July 2020
This is easily one of the best books I’ve read this year, and that’s saying a lot as I’ve come across some great books recently!
Rich, fashionable, impulsive Kate takes Orla to vacation with her in Lisbon. Orla’s recently had a daughter after years of fertility treatments, and isn’t quite ready for their old routine of clubbing, snorting lines of coke, drinking way beyond excess, or any of the things her friend wants to get up to. After a night of drinking, Kate persuades two gorgeous men to come home with them, but when Orla wakes up in the morning, she can’t find anyone in the apartment. She begins to wonder if she’s been drugged, and if the two men took Kate, but the problem is, she really can’t remember the night before...
I loved Orla’s internal voice and the fleshed out characters throughout the book. The storyline was twisting and turning and was plausible enough to really shiver along with Orla as she tries to figure out what happened that night. I did not want to put this book down, and the way it ended only left me wanting for more.
My only single complaint from the entire book is that the author mentioned something about “Latin countries” having looser morals. What?! Is this an actual stereotype and why did she write it anyway? It’s cringey, unnecessary, and I would really like to see that corrected.
Besides that one thing, this book kept me glued from page 1. 5 stars and I 100% recommend!
Thanks to NetGallery and Avon Publishing for a free ARC in exchange for an honest review.
The Stepdaughter by Georgina Cross
My rating: 4 of 5 stars
Expected publication date: September 2nd, 2020
Rich, fashionable, impulsive Kate takes Orla to vacation with her in Lisbon. Orla’s recently had a daughter after years of fertility treatments, and isn’t quite ready for their old routine of clubbing, snorting lines of coke, drinking way beyond excess, or any of the things her friend wants to get up to. After a night of drinking, Kate persuades two gorgeous men to come home with them, but when Orla wakes up in the morning, she can’t find anyone in the apartment. She begins to wonder if she’s been drugged, and if the two men took Kate, but the problem is, she really can’t remember the night before...
I loved Orla’s internal voice and the fleshed out characters throughout the book. The storyline was twisting and turning and was plausible enough to really shiver along with Orla as she tries to figure out what happened that night. I did not want to put this book down, and the way it ended only left me wanting for more.
My only single complaint from the entire book is that the author mentioned something about “Latin countries” having looser morals. What?! Is this an actual stereotype and why did she write it anyway? It’s cringey, unnecessary, and I would really like to see that corrected.
Besides that one thing, this book kept me glued from page 1. 5 stars and I 100% recommend!
Thanks to NetGallery and Avon Publishing for a free ARC in exchange for an honest review.
The Stepdaughter by Georgina CrossMy rating: 4 of 5 stars
Expected publication date: September 2nd, 2020
The Stepdaughter kept me guessing all the way to the end and is a great debut novel from Georgina Cross.
Vanessa and Tripp are married, and she stays home full time to care for her stepdaughter, thirteen-year-old Mia. While life looks pretty good on the outside, Mia is furious with Vanessa for a reason you’ll come to know. She’s becoming independent and doesn’t want her stepmother up in her business, but Tripp doesn’t feel like Vanessa should go back to the job that she loves just yet. He wants Vanessa to stay home with Mia until... probably forever.
One day, Mia goes out to their personal pool to swim. The neighbor, Julia, brings her disabled elderly mother, Charlotte, over so Vanessa can watch her while Julia runs errands. In just ten minutes, a fire is started next door and Mia is missing from the pool. What happened that afternoon?
Predictably, everyone has a damn secret that nobody else knows. Or do they? However, the secrets aren’t terribly predictable, and it’s a very fun read.
Thanks to NetGalley and Bookouture for my free e-arc in exchange for an honest review.
You Let Him In by J.A. AndrewsMy rating: 2 of 5 stars
Expected publication date: August 19th, 2020
Dear JA Andrews,
Please keep writing. This is only your second novel, and the first I’ve read. I don’t want to knock your dreams down, but I also want to give an honest review. I think you have the chops and the ideas to be a great writer, so keep on trying. Now, stop reading here until you’re ready, because this will be a bit brutal.
The Pros- I loved the idea of the story. JA Andrews has come up with something kind of unique here. The plot is good- there are no holes of any sort. The characters have distinct voices. The ending is good.
The cons- I just couldn’t get into it. I hated every single character in the book. Jenny is weak, stupid, and materialistic. Michael is a lying liar who lies. Everyone is deeply flawed, but nobody has a single redeeming quality and I had to grit my teeth to get through it because I disliked everyone that much. Almost every other chapter I would scream, “Damn it, Jenny!!!” out of frustration with her character in particular.
However, I really want to give another JA Andrews book a try. If the characters were likable, I think I would really enjoy his writing.
Thanks to NetGalley and Hera for a free e-ARC in exchange for an honest review.
I Can't Sleep by J.E. RowneyMy rating: 4 of 5 stars
This book will be released on October 16, 2020.
This is the first book I’ve read from JE Rowney, and I believe it’s also her first thriller. She totally kills it.
Becky Braithwaite can’t sleep. She is a freshman at Wessex University- Becky has suffered some tragedy, but we don’t know what it is. All we know is that she can’t sleep. She becomes friends with Cally, one of the girls in her dorm, and it seems like maybe Becky will have a promising future. As she and Cally begin to become closer friends, strange things start happening to Becky. She is convinced that someone is stalking her, but nobody believes her and there is no evidence. Is Becky imagining things due to sleep deprivation? Or is someone actually coming for her?
The ending will really surprise you. My only gripe is that I was still left with questions!
Thanks to NetGalley and BooksGoSocial for my free e-ARC In exchange for an honest review.
The Patient by Jasper DeWitt
My rating: 5 of 5 stars
This book was published on July 7, 2020.
Wow!! This book was totally unexpected and I would list it with some of the best I’ve read this year, or maybe ever.
One of the things I enjoyed most about The Patient is the format- if you’re a peruser of Reddit or forums of any kind, you’ll enjoy this. I have a weird attraction to posts which I have to check back to read continuously, because they become like an anthology of sorts, and that’s exactly what the Silent Patient is like. It’s opening will have you glued from the first word. It was in fact published on Reddit first.
It’s just over 2100 pages on my Kindle, but I flew through it. I feel like I was only reading for about an hour, but losing track of time with this book is a possibility. I just couldn’t tear my eyes away.
The twists are probably somewhat what you’d expect, but that doesn’t matter. What matters is how you’ll be gripping the sides of your book (or kindle, or phone) as you reach the conclusion.
5 stars and an ecstatic recommendation!
Thank you to NetGalley and Houghton Mifflin Harcourt for the free arc in exchange for an honest review!
#The Patient #Jasper DeWitt #NetGalley
The Mistress by Jill Childs
My rating: 3 of 5 stars
Expected publication date: September 14th, 2020
The very first chapter of this book, we find out that sweet, soft-spoken schoolteacher Laura kills her married lover, Ralph. It starts out with a bang, but unfortunately starts to become a little repetitive. Page after page was Laura drowning in her sorrows, wondering when she will be caught, and being followed by a strange person. I very nearly DNF’d until halfway through the book, when a new twist came on scene and my ears (eyes?) perked up. I can’t say enough good things about Part 2, as it was pretty much just a collection of jaw drops. I am glad I stuck it out to the ending!
Part Two was five star- great voice, interesting characters, snappy. Part One was two star- slow going and Laura was a bit much. Overall, three stars!
Thanks to NetGalley for the free arc in exchange for an honest review.
The Vow by Debbie Howells
My rating: 3 of 5 stars
Becky Braithwaite can’t sleep. She is a freshman at Wessex University- Becky has suffered some tragedy, but we don’t know what it is. All we know is that she can’t sleep. She becomes friends with Cally, one of the girls in her dorm, and it seems like maybe Becky will have a promising future. As she and Cally begin to become closer friends, strange things start happening to Becky. She is convinced that someone is stalking her, but nobody believes her and there is no evidence. Is Becky imagining things due to sleep deprivation? Or is someone actually coming for her?
The ending will really surprise you. My only gripe is that I was still left with questions!
Thanks to NetGalley and BooksGoSocial for my free e-ARC In exchange for an honest review.
The Patient by Jasper DeWittMy rating: 5 of 5 stars
This book was published on July 7, 2020.
Wow!! This book was totally unexpected and I would list it with some of the best I’ve read this year, or maybe ever.
One of the things I enjoyed most about The Patient is the format- if you’re a peruser of Reddit or forums of any kind, you’ll enjoy this. I have a weird attraction to posts which I have to check back to read continuously, because they become like an anthology of sorts, and that’s exactly what the Silent Patient is like. It’s opening will have you glued from the first word. It was in fact published on Reddit first.
It’s just over 2100 pages on my Kindle, but I flew through it. I feel like I was only reading for about an hour, but losing track of time with this book is a possibility. I just couldn’t tear my eyes away.
The twists are probably somewhat what you’d expect, but that doesn’t matter. What matters is how you’ll be gripping the sides of your book (or kindle, or phone) as you reach the conclusion.
5 stars and an ecstatic recommendation!
Thank you to NetGalley and Houghton Mifflin Harcourt for the free arc in exchange for an honest review!
#The Patient #Jasper DeWitt #NetGalley
The Mistress by Jill ChildsMy rating: 3 of 5 stars
Expected publication date: September 14th, 2020
The very first chapter of this book, we find out that sweet, soft-spoken schoolteacher Laura kills her married lover, Ralph. It starts out with a bang, but unfortunately starts to become a little repetitive. Page after page was Laura drowning in her sorrows, wondering when she will be caught, and being followed by a strange person. I very nearly DNF’d until halfway through the book, when a new twist came on scene and my ears (eyes?) perked up. I can’t say enough good things about Part 2, as it was pretty much just a collection of jaw drops. I am glad I stuck it out to the ending!
Part Two was five star- great voice, interesting characters, snappy. Part One was two star- slow going and Laura was a bit much. Overall, three stars!
Thanks to NetGalley for the free arc in exchange for an honest review.
The Vow by Debbie HowellsMy rating: 3 of 5 stars
Expected publication date: October 15th, 2020
Matt and Amy are two weeks out from their wedding. After telling Amy he’ll be home late, Matt never comes home and Amy is forced to report him to the police.
Told from the perspectives of Amy, her grown daughter Jess, and an unnamed narrator from 1996, this book has so many twists and turns it starts to become outrageous. However, I’m giving three stars for the winding tale and creativity!
View all my reviews
Matt and Amy are two weeks out from their wedding. After telling Amy he’ll be home late, Matt never comes home and Amy is forced to report him to the police.
Told from the perspectives of Amy, her grown daughter Jess, and an unnamed narrator from 1996, this book has so many twists and turns it starts to become outrageous. However, I’m giving three stars for the winding tale and creativity!
View all my reviews
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