bookishgoob's reviews
162 reviews

Little White Lies by Jennifer Lynn Barnes

funny lighthearted mysterious fast-paced

Plot- or character-driven? A mix
Strong character development? Yes
Loveable characters? Yes
Diverse cast of characters? N/A
Flaws of characters a main focus? N/A

4.5

Sawyer Taft lived with her mother for 18 years knowing nothing about her mothers side of the family, or who her father was. One day her estranged grandmother on her mothers side makes Sawyer an offer she can’t refuse: Come and participate in the debutante season and she’ll pay for college.. and maybe Sawyer can find out who her biological father is.

My grandmother is from Mississippi so southern hospitality has always been ingrained in me. The southern-ness of this book cracked me up. The little quips, the backhanded compliments, the nicknames, the fact that “church is optional but brunch is a family affair that must be attended”. This book was equal part entertaining, fun, mysterious, and incredibly funny. A found family element to it, but it was actually her real family she had found and became a part of.

This book felt like Bridgerton, Gossip Girl, Pretty Little Liars, and kind of Gilmore Girls all wrapped into one. The pacing left some to be desired, as the future timeline and the past timeline became the present time line it got kind of muddy and confusing. I loved the relationships between the characters and how they felt like real people that I was hanging out with. I loved Boone’s character. He was hilarious and just so full of love and kindness. I will be honest, though, I hated Sawyer. She was incredibly infuriating and she was rude and disrespectful for no reason other than to asset the fact that she wasn’t from “their world” and that enraged me.

There was several mysteries at play, several scandals too. I enjoyed the scandalous aspect of the “Southern High Society”. All in all, Jennifer Lynn Barnes brought me into another world and hooked me so quickly. Her writing style makes me feel like I’m there with the characters, experiencing these things with them. It’s very exciting to be able to immerse myself in these mysterious and fun worlds and I can’t wait to start book 2!

Content Warnings

Eileen by Ottessa Moshfegh

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dark tense slow-paced

Plot- or character-driven? Character
Strong character development? N/A
Loveable characters? No
Diverse cast of characters? No
Flaws of characters a main focus? Yes

3.75

An older Eileen details her last few days in her home town as a 24 year old.

Sometimes disgusting and outrightly human, Eileen delved deep into the mind of a woman of the 1960’s. It makes you think “can I admit these things about myself when i’m alone?” The way that Eileen willingly admits that she has an obsession with bowel movements, the way that she looks at the teenage boys in the prison while maintaining that she isn’t a pedophile, and her unhealthy obsession with Randy is something so wrong that it is actually right. It’s these deep thoughts that some people have that they will never ever admit. the way she fantasizes about dying, and even killing her father may make you think she is actively insane; but are these not things we think about often? Thinking of how the people around us would react if we disappeared. How we would feel if our parents who abused us just one day dropped dead? I don’t necessarily think Eileen is “unhinged”, we as a culture just don’t view “femininity” to be anything more or less than dainty, submissive, cutesy, quiet, and agreeable. Eileen is none of those things and because of that, the mind automatically jumps to her being unhinged. I feel like this story really encapsulated the human experience and the human brain when we’re left alone. completely. It explores the idea “are these feelings platonic or romantic” when it comes to your first same sex crush. I’m not sure if she really knew or ever figured it out, but it’s something i myself and many other people have gone through. Feeling as though we’d do anything for this person to like us a little bit more, trust us, need us, WANT us. It’s an ostracizing feeling. The way that Eileen was so easily manipulated by Rachel set off alarm bells in my brain. Eileen is so perfectly an adultified person. Someone who was a victim of emotional incest in her youth. forced to be her parents caretakers when she was still learning how to care for herself. The fact that she is so “vulgar” and “disgusting” is so scarily the way an adult who was a victim of adultification would act.

The plot twist was so mind boggling. I thought for sure I had figured out what the plot twist was going to be, but i didn’t and that was exciting. Eileen was such a complicated and real person. An unreliable narrator at its best. I don’t think i’ll ever revisit this book, though. It left me feeling the way requiem for a dream (2000) did. It was off putting, nausea inducing, and downright uncomfortable. The fat shaming/fat phobia really sucked to read, but it was also very telling of Eileen’s no filter personality. The way that she looked at others is no doubt how her parents saw others and forced her to have that same rhetoric as they forced her to care for them. It’s seen especially in the way that Eileen talks about herself, and how near the end she talks about her mom buying her clothes a size too small so she would try and fit normal into those clothes. This book details so greatly the effect that adultification abuse has on children as they turn into adults. The inability to form long lasting, healthy, and real relationships. The inability to decipher right from wrong. The way that they see the world. It’s scary how well it was depicted. Eileen was a really great read. Slow at first, it doesn’t truly pick up until the last chapter “Christmas Eve” but, the foreshadowing is so incredibly important that even though it was slow paced, it had a reason to be slow paced. The pacing wasn’t an issue like it is in other slow paced books. I really enjoyed this read, but I feel like i have to go cleanse my brain to feel normal again.

Triggers: Child Abuse, Rape, Sexual assault, pedophilic thoughts, confinement, fat phobia, death, death of a parent, vomit, feces, incest, murder, suicidal thoughts, homicidal thoughts, miscarriage, toxic friendship, toxic family, abuse, alcoholism, drug use, graphic descriptions of bodily functions (bowel movements, sweat, masturbation, menstruation, not washing hands after the bathroom, etc)

Content Warnings

Window Shopping by Tessa Bailey

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lighthearted fast-paced

Plot- or character-driven? Character
Strong character development? Yes
Loveable characters? N/A
Diverse cast of characters? N/A
Flaws of characters a main focus? It's complicated

3.0

Stella-a 25 year old ex con just being let out of prison and trying to find her footing & Aiden-a well meaning and sweet 30 something who runs an upscale New York department store. They cross paths one day just a few weeks before christmas and the rest….. you’ll have to read to find out.

This short, holiday themed novella was okay. To no fault of the author, I didn’t enjoy it. It was well written, the characters were nice, the story was paced well & I love christmas. But, this story wasn’t for me. I don’t enjoy “insta love” stories and I don’t enjoy when books lean into the pandemic aspect of real life. They mention the pandemic several times, as this is supposed to take place post lockdowns (I still believe we are in a pandemic, but I also have a weak immune system so i’m more at risk than others are so it bothers me when the pandemic is brought up in a way that suggests that are out of it) The pandemic has been such a dark time for so many people, bringing it to a romance novel takes me out of the subject matter. On top of all that, I thought that the relationship was just.. too out there. He meets her in the street one day and then is obsessed with her? like i understand that that can happen but the way it did just didn’t feel as warm and gooey as i was expecting. This is my preference alone. I didn’t hate the book, I enjoyed certain parts of it and I don’t regret reading it, it just hasn’t been my favorite thing i’ve read.

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Hook, Line, and Sinker by Tessa Bailey

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funny lighthearted fast-paced

Plot- or character-driven? Character
Strong character development? Yes
Loveable characters? Yes
Diverse cast of characters? It's complicated
Flaws of characters a main focus? Yes

4.5

Going into this, I was super excited to go back to Westport. It happened One Summer set this story up so well I think. Part of the way through, the first 10-20% I felt betrayed and kind of bored. But as Hannah got back to Westport I started to feel better and more happy. Watching her relationship with Fox unfold was so beautifully done. I am not a huge friends to lovers fan, it usually just feels like there isn’t enough dramatics for me, but once in a while I find one I enjoy and this was one of them. The spicy scenes were sweet and filled with pining and need. The declarations from each of them felt so pure and warranted. I had wanted them together since he was introduced in IHOS. I saw some complaints in other reviews about Hannah basically being a MPDG for Fox. being his therapist and helping him figure himself out rather than step into her “leading lady” roll like she set out to. However, this story takes place over the course of a few weeks. It’s hard to turn yourself from side character to leading lady over night. I do see where they’re coming from with her being “Fox’s therapist” to an extent. But, she was being a supportive friend. I’ve been the support for my friend while still building up my confidence. It wasn’t a roll she was forced into. She had real depth and Love in her character, she wasn’t there to serve Fox’s plot. They were there to serve each other’s. I’m not used to a HEA like this one. Nothing could have prepared me for the tears of joy that came to my eyes and I finished the last page. I absolutely adored this story, the relationships, the drama, the pining, the being unsure of the others feelings. It felt so absolutely real and filled me with butterflies. I am so happy I read this book (also did anyone else picture JJ from outer banks as fox????) but I am so not ready to leave Westport! I hope we get a Christmas novella or something 😭😭😭 The Westport boys and the Bellinger girls will have my heart in flutters for the foreseeable future!

Content Warnings

It Happened One Summer by Tessa Bailey

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funny lighthearted fast-paced

Plot- or character-driven? Character
Strong character development? Yes
Loveable characters? Yes
Diverse cast of characters? No
Flaws of characters a main focus? Yes

4.0

I have to admit, i absolutely hated brendan in the beginning. he was too arrogant, too misogynistic, too brooding and i didn’t like it. he grew on me as he grew on piper. I loved piper immediately. their love story was so cute. It reminded me of an adult version of the movie cow belles. this was a super fun, easy, funny, and quick read. I highly recommend if you’re in the mood for a romcom! It also set up the second book (Hannah’s story) so perfectly I think. These characters were loveable, they made me smile, laugh, and even filled me with butterflies. a perfect book to read after an intense thriller or when you need a pick me up.

Content Warnings

A Flicker in the Dark by Stacy Willingham

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dark tense medium-paced

Plot- or character-driven? A mix
Strong character development? It's complicated
Loveable characters? N/A
Diverse cast of characters? N/A
Flaws of characters a main focus? It's complicated

4.75

H o l y c r a p was this book an absolute RIDE.
A Flicker in the Dark by Stacy Willingham follows Chloe Davis, now in her 30’s still plagued by what her father did when she was a child. As the 20 year anniversary of her fathers crimes nears closer and closer every day, the same pattern of crimes starts happening again. Being girls that she knows, she starts to suspect people around her and her world unravels.

It’s so interesting to me, reading thrillers as often as I do, because I usually know what i’m looking for when it comes to trying to spot who is the person at fault. While I made some guesses in the beginning that turned out to be right, I wasn’t expecting it to unravel the way that it did. The feeling of being in Chloe’s shoes and not knowing who to trust made my heart race. This was such a good example of not giving away too much information, yet still finding things out in unison with the character. Feeling the same sense of uncomfortable tension and trying figure out what’s going on along with the main character is such an awesome way to feel included in the writing. The darkness that creeps inside of her, the feeling of not being able to trust herself wholly when it comes to everyone around her, and the subtle gaslighting she does to herself were all so well written. One of my favorite things about this book was the use of foreshadowing, how it wasn’t so obvious that it ruined the ending early, but it wasn’t so subtle that you didn’t know fully what was going on. This author did such an awesome job of using our minds against us while looking at each of the suspects. I fully enjoyed this book. I gave us just a little less than 5 stars because I would have like to see a little more of the ending scene where the truth comes to light. it seemed just a little rushed to me. Other than that, I have no complaints with this book. It kept me on the edge of my seat, holding my breath, and biting my nails. It definitely feels like a slow start but when it gets going, it GOES. if you’re looking for a thriller that will keep you up all night trying to figure out who did it, this one is definitely for you.

Content Warnings

The Inheritance Games by Jennifer Lynn Barnes

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adventurous mysterious fast-paced

Plot- or character-driven? A mix
Strong character development? Yes
Loveable characters? It's complicated
Diverse cast of characters? It's complicated
Flaws of characters a main focus? It's complicated

5.0

The inheritance games was such a quick and fun read. I had so much enjoyment reading this story. I see on booktok that grayson is the favorite match for avery, but i am a grayson hater! Grayson filled me with so much rage i couldn’t handle it.
The cliff hanger made me want to immediately jump into the second book, and i’m trying to make myself wait and sit with the story for just a little while before going to book number 2.

this was such a good book and if you’re in the mood for a quick paced light hearted mystery, please give this book a chance.

Content Warnings

The Atlas Six by Olivie Blake

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adventurous dark mysterious tense slow-paced

Plot- or character-driven? A mix
Strong character development? Yes
Loveable characters? It's complicated
Diverse cast of characters? Yes
Flaws of characters a main focus? N/A

5.0

I went into this with high hopes, and in the beginning i was worried those hopes were too high. I felt like I had hyped myself up too much to enjoy what was in front of me. However, after some time with it I realized I hadn’t necessarily hyped myself up too much, I was just far too impatient to let the story unfold. The way that the characters each had their own perspective added so much depth and life to the story. The fact that I could hate and love these characters added an element of me being there with them. I loved that these characters weren’t two dimensional what so ever, even the side characters had dimension and purpose. The way that the story unfolded and came together at the end was a perfect mystery answered with a slight cliffhanger for what’s to come. I enjoyed every moment of this book, from the dark academia aesthetic, to the moral ambiguity each character had. I felt like I related so much to libby and reina, and loved parisa and nico. I couldn’t stand callum the whole time but his character still added so much to the story. The questions my mind was going over of “Is he wrong because I think he’s wrong or is he actually morally wrong?” was a constant on the forefront of my mind. People say that they hated the “pretentious” language used, like it wasn’t the entire point. It’s a secret society. Of course it’s pretentious. Anyway, I am so excited for book 2 and I am finding myself feeling so impatient for it! I highly recommend this book if you’re in the mood for secret society, rivals to lovers, and hot people.

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Defy the Night by Brigid Kemmerer

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adventurous emotional hopeful medium-paced

Plot- or character-driven? A mix
Strong character development? Yes
Loveable characters? Yes
Diverse cast of characters? It's complicated
Flaws of characters a main focus? It's complicated

5.0

My goodness! This book had me so entranced with every page. I loved every moment of it from the robin hood-esque premise to the friends-to-lovers-to-enemies-to-partners-to-friends-to-lovers dynamic between the main characters. I loved that there’s wasn’t many true good guys or bad guys; just people fighting for what they thought was right thinking they were the good guys. The dilemmas the king and the prince faced when it came to the rebels made me so intrigued. seeing things from multiple perspectives was a great choice! I love political intrigue, and this book scratched all of those itches. I highly recommend and I absolutely can not wait for the second book to come out!!

Content Warnings

The Chain by Adrian McKinty

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dark tense medium-paced

Plot- or character-driven? Plot
Strong character development? It's complicated
Loveable characters? No
Diverse cast of characters? No
Flaws of characters a main focus? No

3.25

This book had such an interesting premise to it, having a loved one kidnapping forcing you to kidnap someone to get them back and keeping that going on and on and on, but i think in the end it was kind of fumbled. There was far too much information when it came to describing the guns in the book and the military background of one of the characters. On top of that, the first heroin scene was completely out of nowhere and it again was too much information, and that was also brought up many times. I feel like it should have focused more on other things. The reveal was sort of underwhelming a little bit and the small romance subplot seemed very forced. I think the first part of the book was much better than the second part. the first part seemed well thought out and interesting while the second part felt… like the author didn’t know where to go. I gave it a 3.25 because while there were a lot of flaws with it, i did find it enjoyable.

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bookishgoob's reviews 162 reviews

bookishgoob's reviews
162 reviews