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celeste_velocci's reviews
475 reviews
Things We Never Say by Caitlin Weaver
emotional
mysterious
reflective
tense
medium-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? Yes
3.5
Thank you to Caitlin Weaver, Storm Publishing, and Net Galley for the early release of “Things We Never Say”. I recently discovered Caitlin Weaver’s books this year when she debuted her novel “Such A Good Family”. I look forward to reading her future work. Her books are always filled with mystery, distinctive plots, and well written relatable characters.
If you find yourself reaching for a book that includes family drama, marital issues, affluent families, and scandal then this book is for you.
Three women Anna, Rhea, and Maggie get paired up to organize a gala at their children’s elite private school. These women on the surface seem to have not much in common with one another but as friendships grow deeper and information comes to light they realize that they all aren’t very different from one another and they all have something to hide. They are then quick to learn that one can only hide behind a facade for so long.
This book releases at the end of September so definitely add it to your fall tbr!
If you find yourself reaching for a book that includes family drama, marital issues, affluent families, and scandal then this book is for you.
Three women Anna, Rhea, and Maggie get paired up to organize a gala at their children’s elite private school. These women on the surface seem to have not much in common with one another but as friendships grow deeper and information comes to light they realize that they all aren’t very different from one another and they all have something to hide. They are then quick to learn that one can only hide behind a facade for so long.
This book releases at the end of September so definitely add it to your fall tbr!
The Last Party by A.R. Torre
challenging
dark
emotional
mysterious
sad
tense
medium-paced
- Plot- or character-driven? A mix
- Strong character development? No
- Loveable characters? No
- Diverse cast of characters? Yes
- Flaws of characters a main focus? Yes
4.0
Not much bothers me but let me tell you this one did!! Wow. Super dark and twisted , unhinged characters, unreliable narrators , alternating POV’s , short chapters, and being uncomfortable. Without giving too much away …I do recommend this one if you like the dark and twisted. This was difficult for me to comprehend just how despicable and unhinged the main character was. Honestly probably one of most heartless and unhinged main characters I’ve ever read.
This was fast paced, kept me guessing , and made me cringe. If you don’t mind dark and twisty then this one is for you! If you’re looking for a light read then be cautious with this one because it is most definitely not a light thriller.
I love this author and cannot wait to read more of her work! I always say an author is incredibly talented when they dive in and write such a vile character. To be able to get in that mindset is something not all can do and as a reader the feeling of being uncomfortable is exactly what the author had intended I feel. I haven’t felt this way about a character since reading Verity a few years ago.
This was fast paced, kept me guessing , and made me cringe. If you don’t mind dark and twisty then this one is for you! If you’re looking for a light read then be cautious with this one because it is most definitely not a light thriller.
I love this author and cannot wait to read more of her work! I always say an author is incredibly talented when they dive in and write such a vile character. To be able to get in that mindset is something not all can do and as a reader the feeling of being uncomfortable is exactly what the author had intended I feel. I haven’t felt this way about a character since reading Verity a few years ago.
The Paradise Problem by Christina Lauren
emotional
funny
hopeful
inspiring
lighthearted
reflective
relaxing
medium-paced
- Plot- or character-driven? A mix
- Strong character development? Yes
- Loveable characters? Yes
- Diverse cast of characters? No
- Flaws of characters a main focus? Yes
4.5
I am not usually a romance girly but this one was just SO good! It had me laughing out loud at times and smiling! I loved the plot, the characters, the setting , and it had the perfect amount of spice that went great with the story! This is the perfect summer rom-com that’s funny , cute , and even had a lot of life lessons in it especially surrounding family. For sure one of my favorites this year!! If you haven’t read it yet even if you don’t usually read romance I would definitely recommend this one!! This made my heart happy and would love to see how the story continues if there’s a sequel!
Indelible: A Grant County Thriller by Karin Slaughter
challenging
dark
emotional
mysterious
sad
tense
fast-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
Queen Karin Slaughter does it again! I love this series so much I’m going to be sad when it’s over but thankful I have the Will Trent books to read!
This book was so good definitely one of my favorites of the first 4 books in this series! I loved the dual timeline and the explaining of the characters we all know and love in Grant County. It really showed why they are the way they are and where they came from. Looking forward to continuing this series!
No one can write crime fiction quite like Karin Slaughter!!
This book was so good definitely one of my favorites of the first 4 books in this series! I loved the dual timeline and the explaining of the characters we all know and love in Grant County. It really showed why they are the way they are and where they came from. Looking forward to continuing this series!
No one can write crime fiction quite like Karin Slaughter!!
The Doll's House by Lisa Unger
dark
emotional
mysterious
sad
tense
fast-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? Yes
2.0
Thank you NetGalley and Amazon Original Stories for the early release of Lisa Unger's newest short story "The Doll's House". I think this spooky short story will be great for the fall and spooky season. It was fast paced and short. I don't necessarily love supernatural elements in stories and books and this does have somewhat of that element in there. I did not love this but I did not hate it either. I think a lot of people will enjoy this one for the upcoming spooky season it just was not exactly for me. I will still recommend this to readers and fans of Lisa Unger.
The Plus One by S.C. Lalli
adventurous
dark
mysterious
sad
tense
medium-paced
- Plot- or character-driven? A mix
- Strong character development? Yes
- Loveable characters? No
- Diverse cast of characters? No
- Flaws of characters a main focus? Yes
3.0
Thank you NetGalley and William Morrow Books for a copy of The Plus One by S.C. Lalli in return for my honest review of this book. This had all the things I love in a thriller book. Murder mystery, twisted characters, and scandals. I liked it but I did not love it. I did not connect with the characters as much as I had wanted to. It was a bit predictable in my opinion but still an easy read. I felt that the premise of the book was really good it just did not hit for me as much as I thought it would have.
The wedding of the year takes a twisted turn as a murder mystery unfolds when the bride and groom wind up dead the night before their wedding. The setting was amazing as it was a destination wedding. If you like scandalous rich people, a murder investigation, and unreliable characters then this one may be for you. Just because I did not love this one does not mean you won't. It was more adventurous than I thought it would be. I enjoy a twisted psychological thriller rather than an action packed thriller and this one was more action packed than I had anticipated.
This book released last week on 8/13 and is now available to read.
The wedding of the year takes a twisted turn as a murder mystery unfolds when the bride and groom wind up dead the night before their wedding. The setting was amazing as it was a destination wedding. If you like scandalous rich people, a murder investigation, and unreliable characters then this one may be for you. Just because I did not love this one does not mean you won't. It was more adventurous than I thought it would be. I enjoy a twisted psychological thriller rather than an action packed thriller and this one was more action packed than I had anticipated.
This book released last week on 8/13 and is now available to read.
The Empowering ADHD Workbook for Women by Estelle Rose
hopeful
informative
inspiring
lighthearted
reflective
fast-paced
This book was incredibly insightful and comforting. There is always such a stigma around disorders and it was very eye opening to have this book make readers feel seen and heard. Even if you are not diagnosed with ADHD you still may have some qualities or contributing attributes to your personality that mirror ADHD. This book helped detect these qualities and lended a helping hand to readers and say "I see you and I understand you". I also recommend this book to anyone who may have a loved one who is diagnosed with ADHD as it may help you understand more of what is going on in their brain and day to day life.
Big Little Lies by Liane Moriarty
funny
mysterious
tense
fast-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
This book totally cured my reading slump. I absolutely loved this fast paced mystery. It had the best characters and plot. There were so many lessons to be learned and kept you guessing until the very end. I had watched the show before reading the book but didn’t remember all the details. I wish I would have read the book first but it did not take away from the reading experience. It was thrilling , had a twist , and really makes you think and that’s all I can ask for in a mystery thriller!
This book follows three women who are all mothers to five year olds who are in the same kindergarten class. With money and social politics most of the women and parents at the school seem like they have it all together but as time goes on and lines get blurred you’ll see that not everything and everyone has the life they claimed to have. From violence to murder to bullying you’ll see that not just the kindergarten children are getting into trouble and getting picked on - their parents are too. If you haven’t read this one yet and you enjoy a solid mystery thriller I highly recommend this one.
This book follows three women who are all mothers to five year olds who are in the same kindergarten class. With money and social politics most of the women and parents at the school seem like they have it all together but as time goes on and lines get blurred you’ll see that not everything and everyone has the life they claimed to have. From violence to murder to bullying you’ll see that not just the kindergarten children are getting into trouble and getting picked on - their parents are too. If you haven’t read this one yet and you enjoy a solid mystery thriller I highly recommend this one.
The Secret to Money Masterclass by Rhonda Byrne
hopeful
informative
inspiring
lighthearted
reflective
fast-paced
Awesome on audio! I’m big on energy and manifestation and love learning more about it and how to incorporate it into my life and in the life of those around me. Whichever season you are in life I highly recommend this book. Very eye opening and uplifting.
I’ve decided not to rate self improvement books because it is different for each and every reader and how it applies to their personal life.
I’ve decided not to rate self improvement books because it is different for each and every reader and how it applies to their personal life.
The Widow's Husband's Secret Lie: A Satirical Novella by Freida McFadden
funny
mysterious
tense
fast-paced
- Plot- or character-driven? A mix
- Strong character development? No
- Loveable characters? No
- Diverse cast of characters? No
- Flaws of characters a main focus? Yes
3.0
This was funny! It is nothing like what this author usually writes but I enjoyed the parody feel. It was the best mocking of thriller books that we all know and love. As a whole the story was pretty predictable but still had some twists and turns. I enjoyed this it was fun , a palette cleanser , and super fast paced to help toward your reading goal.