Book Reviews
Books to read, book reviews, book downloads, etc.
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Betty by Tiffany McDaniel
About the book Quick thoughts First published: August 18, 2020Genre: historical fiction, coming of ageTrigger warnings: rape, sexual assault, racially-motivated violence, racial slurs, suicidal ideation, self-harm, child abuse, incest, homophobia, murder, abortion, death, animal abuse/crueltyShort description: A young Betty Carpenter, born in 1954 to a Cherokee father and white mother, grows up amidst poverty and violence. Despite the harsh realities, Betty finds solace in nature and her father’s stories. As family secrets emerge, she turns to writing to cope with the pain. Inspired by her mother’s life, Tiffany McDaniel’s novel tells Betty’s poignant and magical story, establishing her as a significant voice in American fiction. Wow, where do I even begin?…
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When She’s Gone by Rea Frey
About the book Quick thoughts Publish date: January 14, 2025 (ARC)Genre: Thriller, MysteryTrigger warnings: violence, murder, mental health issues, body horrorShort description (created with AI): Cora Valentine, a young gymnast, escapes from a kidnapping that becomes a public spectacle, overshadowing her Olympic dreams. Years later, she strives to protect her daughter from the horrors of her past, but on Halloween, her daughter disappears. Cora must confront her trauma and is faced with a desperate choice: to take another child in order to rescue her own. As the haunting memories resurface, Cora realizes the past is not yet finished with her. Frey did a fantastic job of capturing a mother’s desperation and determination.…
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Lock Every Door by Riley Sager
About the book Quick thoughts Publish date: July 2, 2019Genre:Â Thriller, Mystery, HorrorTrigger warnings: violence, murder, mental health issues, body horrorShort description:Jules, broke and newly single, takes a job as an apartment sitter at Manhattan’s elite Bartholomew building. She befriends fellow sitter Ingrid, who warns her about the building’s dark secrets – then mysteriously vanishes. As Jules investigates, she uncovers a disturbing history of disappearances and races to escape before she becomes the next victim. Jules lands a too-good-to-be-true job, ignores every glaring red flag, and goes around the Bartholomew making choices that make you want to yell “girl, watdahek?!” The plot crawls along, then rushes a predictable twist that’s less…
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The Great Gatsby by F. Scott Fitzgerald
Title: The Great Gatsby Author: F. Scott Fitzgerald Genre: Classic, Historical Fiction, Romance My Review Rating: ★★★★ Goodreads Description: Jay Gatsby is the man who has everything. But one thing will always be out of his reach … Everybody who is anybody is seen at his glittering parties. Day and night his Long Island mansion buzzes with bright young things drinking, dancing and debating his mysterious character. For Gatsby – young, handsome, fabulously rich – always seems alone in the crowd, watching and waiting, though no one knows what for. Beneath the shimmering surface of his life he is hiding a a silent longing that can never be fulfilled. And soon this…
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The Great Catsby by B.K. Baxter
Title:The Great Catsby (A NOLA Tail Mystery #1) Author: B.K. Baxter Genre: Cozy Mystery, Thriller My Review Rating: ★★★★ Goodreads Description: Watch what you wish for… Some inheritances are literally death. My life has been turned upside down by my inheritance, but my only complaint is the cat that came along with the new house. I swear he’s judging me as I settle in and try to make new friends in my new small-town Louisiana neighborhood. And just when I start to settle into my new job and get back to reading my classic novels, I’m pulled chapters deep into a mystery. The Beauty Queen in the town has been offed.…
