celeste_velocci's reviews
475 reviews

Phantasma by Kaylie Smith

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adventurous dark emotional funny inspiring 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

4.5

for never reading fantasy I loved this one so much! I loved the plot , characters , and all of the lessons learned along the way. It was adventurous enough that gave me Hunger Games vibes , the spice and romance was just enough , and I enjoyed the mystery element it had as well. I love how the author thread her journey with anxiety disorders through the main character of this book. If you are like me and really never gravitate towards fantasy this is a good one to read that won’t make you feel completely thrown into a different genre. This is one of those books that took me out of my comfort zone but I’m so glad I read it!
Someone We Know by Shari Lapena

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

4.0

No one does domestic suspense and suburbia quite like Shari Lapena. This one had me guessing until the end. One of my theories was off but my antennas went up correctly for another. 

This street is whacky and I am here for it. Scandal , deceit , murder , affairs you name it it’s being done in this neighborhood. A solid who done it mystery when a neighbor shows up murdered. Who murdered Amanda Pierce? Find out which neighbor isn’t so neighborly after all. 
Rock Paper Scissors by Alice Feeney

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

4.0

I read this one in less than 24 hours because I just could not put it down. It kept me guessing and having theory after theory the entire time while reading. The ending was a bit confusing but overall I liked it. I will be looking into some discussions online and through booksta and booktok to discuss the ending. While it made sense it also left me questioning some things too?? Overall it was a fast paced winter thriller that I’m glad I finally read because it has been sitting on my shelf for so long. 
My Knight Before Christmas by Amanda P. Jones

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inspiring lighthearted relaxing fast-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

2.0

I’m not your typical romance girly so I tend to cringe or roll my eyes at some romance books. I did that during this one but it was cute at the same time. I love a second chance romance but I found myself being annoyed with the characters at the same time! I also thought it would be more Christmas-y than it was. Overall cuteish. 
Along Came a Spider by James Patterson

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adventurous dark mysterious tense fast-paced
  • Plot- or character-driven? Character
  • Strong character development? Yes
  • Loveable characters? Yes
  • Diverse cast of characters? Yes
  • Flaws of characters a main focus? No

4.0

So glad I am finally reading a James Patterson book! Also so happy there’s over 30 books in this series because I am so ready to dive more into it! After watching the new show on Prime I knew I had to see where these amazing characters originated from. 

I love a good crime fiction series and this was a gem! Short chapters , engaging writing , and very fast paced even for how long the book was. For sure recommend this one and it is a great place to start as it’s the first book in James Patterson’s Alex Cross series. 
Nothing Ever Happens Here: A Thriller by Seraphina Nova Glass

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

1.0

I really wanted to love this one. On A Quiet Street by Seraphina Nova Glass is one of my favorite books ever. This one unfortunately did not work for me but I would still recommend it to other thriller readers it may have just not been my cup of tea. There was so many characters to keep track of and I just did not connect with the plot and characters. Big thank you to NetGalley and The Hive for this gifted copy of Nothing Ever Happens Here. 
I'll Be Alone For Christmas by Kristin Mulligan

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adventurous mysterious fast-paced

2.5

 I was loving this and then it kind of lost me. Super fast paced thriller that takes place around Christmas in an isolated cabin in the woods. It gave me more horror vibes than I thought it was going to be. It wasn’t bad just seemed rushed a bit. 
The Housemaid's Wedding by Freida McFadden

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fast-paced

2.0

Meh. Wasn’t expecting much and that’s exactly what I got. A short and sweet story that was fine! I do love this series but I think I’ve heard enough about it lol
The Godchild by Miranda Rijks

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dark mysterious fast-paced
  • Plot- or character-driven? Plot
  • Strong character development? No
  • Loveable characters? No
  • Diverse cast of characters? No
  • Flaws of characters a main focus? Yes

3.0

This gave me major Freida and Lisa Jewell vibes. I really enjoyed the mystery of this but the ending kind of lost me a bit. I figured out some things but I really thought the ending was quite ridiculous but overall it wasn’t bad. Predictable ? Yes at times. It was good for a quick mystery on kindle unlimited. I’ve heard great things about this author so I’m excited to read her other work. 
Blonde Hair, Blue Eyes by Karin Slaughter

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dark emotional mysterious sad tense fast-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? No

4.0

Karin Slaughter is my favorite author and Pretty Girls is one of my all time favorite reads so when I heard she wrote a prequel to Pretty Girls I was sold! This was a crime novella short and to the point. If you have read Pretty Girls then you know exactly what will happen in this novella. It was nice to get the character’s perspective in this novella because we got to see more of the sisters perspectives in Pretty Girls. No one writes crime fiction quite like Karin Slaughter