beccarettenberger's reviews
98 reviews

Chlorine by Jade Song

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adventurous challenging dark emotional medium-paced
  • Plot- or character-driven? A mix
  • Strong character development? Yes
  • Loveable characters? Yes
  • Diverse cast of characters? Yes
  • Flaws of characters a main focus? Yes

5.0

My first five-star read of this year. With a slightly sardonic tone, Jade Song tackles a coming of age story rife with lore and a question of “is this girl really a mermaid?” I loved the flow and the style of writing and would recommend this to anyone that likes reading internal dialogue. 
The Only One Left by Riley Sager

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mysterious tense medium-paced
  • Plot- or character-driven? Plot
  • Strong character development? No
  • Loveable characters? Yes
  • Diverse cast of characters? Yes
  • Flaws of characters a main focus? It's complicated

4.5

Amazing twists! I love a story that keeps me guessing and this did just that. 
Hello, Darkness by Sandra Brown

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4.0

Great little thriller! Love novels that leave me believing the bad-guy perspective is being presented and then does a complete 180. Would not have guessed the ending. Highly recommend. TW: I will state there are themes of sexual violence, incest, and violence against women as a whole. So keep that in mind if deciding to read.
The Boy by Tami Hoag

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4.0

Read this in one sitting on a flight from Utah to Nashville! I really couldn't put it down. 20 pages from the ending and I still had no idea who had committed the heinous crime the book opened on. Tami Hoag has a gift for writing interesting and developed villains that kept me guessing until the very end. There are themes of child violence and physical/emotional/psychological parental abuse present that readers should be aware of before picking this novel up.
Pieces of Her by Karin Slaughter

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5.0

Summary: All mother-daughter relationships are different. Can one that’s been built entirely on lies survive multiple murderous attacks?

Karin Slaughter absolutely slayed (pun intended) this crime/thriller. While the murderous elements were less Who? and more Why? I firmly believe this page-turner would keep anyone guessing.
Falling Under by Danielle Younge-Ullman

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4.0

Definitely a darker novel. Beautiful flowing verses. Recommended for anyone looking for something quick and easy to read if you want a little “steam.”
Circe by Madeline Miller

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5.0

Holy Helios, I loved this novel. Highly recommend to anyone seeking Feminist perspectives and a flawed heroine within Greek god focused literature.
On Earth We're Briefly Gorgeous by Ocean Vuong

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5.0

Have you ever read a book so deeply moving that a single line has made you throw it across the room? If not, this one is it. Ocean Vuong masterfully traverses the bridges between mother and son, grandmother and son, son and self, and relationships. Highly recommend.