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kba76's reviews
3157 reviews
13 Little Blue Envelopes by Maureen Johnson
emotional
lighthearted
fast-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
3.0
When Ginny receives a mysterious package from her aunt Peg she is surprised. Not least because Peg died some time ago. So she does what anyone with an ounce of curiosity would do and opens the first envelope.
This starts a rather unexpected train of events, seeing Ginny travel alone to London and then follow her aunt’s curious missives around Europe. She lurches from one bizarre scenario to another, never getting into serious trouble and ending up in a rather fortunate situation by the end.
Escapism at its finest.
The character of Ginny was rather frustrating. She knew nothing and basically followed whoever showed a hint of authority. The situation with her aunt ended well for her, but the woman seemed like the kind of person who would be infuriating in real life!
This starts a rather unexpected train of events, seeing Ginny travel alone to London and then follow her aunt’s curious missives around Europe. She lurches from one bizarre scenario to another, never getting into serious trouble and ending up in a rather fortunate situation by the end.
Escapism at its finest.
The character of Ginny was rather frustrating. She knew nothing and basically followed whoever showed a hint of authority. The situation with her aunt ended well for her, but the woman seemed like the kind of person who would be infuriating in real life!
We Were Warned by Chelsea Ichaso
mysterious
tense
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? No
3.5
A fast-paced thriller for teen readers that relies heavily on their ability to ignore the obvious.
Everyone in the area has heard the legend of Fairport. Home to the brutal killing of Nicolas Blackmore at the hands of his mother, the town has remained deserted as people are convinced the ghost of Mrs Blackmore haunts anyone who dares to set foot inside. Over the years a number of students have met grisly deaths, and now there’s talk of a new resort being built on the area the senior students are determined to visit one last time.
Unfortunately, one ends up dead and then those close to him are convinced they’re being haunted. A second death and things start to seem more suspicious. Could there be someone else using the rumours to hide their nefarious deeds?
Of course there is.
We have a range of suspects…and we’re not given their identity until the last possible minute. Aside from thinking they are crazy to do what they do, this was entertaining though not necessarily memorable.
Thanks to NetGalley for giving me the opportunity to read and review this before publication. If I could give it 3.5 stars, I would.
Everyone in the area has heard the legend of Fairport. Home to the brutal killing of Nicolas Blackmore at the hands of his mother, the town has remained deserted as people are convinced the ghost of Mrs Blackmore haunts anyone who dares to set foot inside. Over the years a number of students have met grisly deaths, and now there’s talk of a new resort being built on the area the senior students are determined to visit one last time.
Unfortunately, one ends up dead and then those close to him are convinced they’re being haunted. A second death and things start to seem more suspicious. Could there be someone else using the rumours to hide their nefarious deeds?
Of course there is.
We have a range of suspects…and we’re not given their identity until the last possible minute. Aside from thinking they are crazy to do what they do, this was entertaining though not necessarily memorable.
Thanks to NetGalley for giving me the opportunity to read and review this before publication. If I could give it 3.5 stars, I would.
The Charlie Method by Elle Kennedy
challenging
emotional
funny
medium-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
3.75
That was definitely not what I expected. Thanks to NetGalley for giving me the opportunity to read and review this before publication.
The Charlie Method focuses on what, for many, is a very unconventional situation. It explores how three people can end up in a relationship together, beyond the ‘trying-it’ fumble that seems to be the norm.
There’s a lot of sex. From the start to the end there’s a lot of activity. Oral sex, sex talk, sexting and actual sex. At the risk of sounding like a knock-off Leah from ‘DNA’ sex features heavily. And there’s no denying it’s good sex. It would be rather disappointing in such a book to have a letdown experience, or even just not that exciting. So, that’s one box ticked.
I liked the book for so many more reasons than that though.
Charlie is a character who feels pressured to act/behave a certain way. She sets herself up feasibly high standards. She gives so much, and doesn’t always have people looking out for her. Given how Will and Beckett look out for her, it’s not hard to see why she works her hardest to make their set-up work.
The book explores many complicated relationships without seeming heavy-handed. There’s the expected humour and sarkiness that brings some of the peripheral characters to life. And it left me with a smile on my face!
The Charlie Method focuses on what, for many, is a very unconventional situation. It explores how three people can end up in a relationship together, beyond the ‘trying-it’ fumble that seems to be the norm.
There’s a lot of sex. From the start to the end there’s a lot of activity. Oral sex, sex talk, sexting and actual sex. At the risk of sounding like a knock-off Leah from ‘DNA’ sex features heavily. And there’s no denying it’s good sex. It would be rather disappointing in such a book to have a letdown experience, or even just not that exciting. So, that’s one box ticked.
I liked the book for so many more reasons than that though.
Charlie is a character who feels pressured to act/behave a certain way. She sets herself up feasibly high standards. She gives so much, and doesn’t always have people looking out for her. Given how Will and Beckett look out for her, it’s not hard to see why she works her hardest to make their set-up work.
The book explores many complicated relationships without seeming heavy-handed. There’s the expected humour and sarkiness that brings some of the peripheral characters to life. And it left me with a smile on my face!
Other People's Houses by Clare Mackintosh
adventurous
lighthearted
mysterious
medium-paced
- Plot- or character-driven? A mix
- Strong character development? No
- Loveable characters? It's complicated
- Diverse cast of characters? Yes
- Flaws of characters a main focus? No
3.75
When a woman’s body is found in a missing kayak, nobody could begin to imagine where things will end up. The woman was an estate agent with a company in Cheshire, in North Wales for a team bonding weekend. Unfortunately, those around her seem to be more closely linked to some unusual events on fancy Cheshire estate The Hill.
A series of burglaries, nothing major taken but each with a similar entry point spark questions with local police. When a young man is found injured at the scene of one of the burglaries it seems someone is increasingly desperate to find whatever they were looking for.
Alongside this we have the developing relationship between Ffion and Leo, his social climbing wife Allie who’s closer to the action than she realises and a decades old cold case involving two murders and a suspected con artist. Before you know it, things are unravelling at a fair old pace…and some are going to get more impacted by these events than they might like.
Thanks to NetGalley for giving me the chance to read and review this before publication.
A series of burglaries, nothing major taken but each with a similar entry point spark questions with local police. When a young man is found injured at the scene of one of the burglaries it seems someone is increasingly desperate to find whatever they were looking for.
Alongside this we have the developing relationship between Ffion and Leo, his social climbing wife Allie who’s closer to the action than she realises and a decades old cold case involving two murders and a suspected con artist. Before you know it, things are unravelling at a fair old pace…and some are going to get more impacted by these events than they might like.
Thanks to NetGalley for giving me the chance to read and review this before publication.
To Have and to Heist by Sara Desai
funny
lighthearted
fast-paced
- Plot- or character-driven? Plot
- Strong character development? No
- Loveable characters? Yes
- Diverse cast of characters? Yes
- Flaws of characters a main focus? Yes
3.25
From start to finish, this was completely ridiculous. The characters were infuriating, the situation they were in was most unlikely and yet I found myself quite entertained by its daftness.
Sumi is fed up of her parents trying to set her up with a husband. She’s in growing debt, her apartment is flooded and when she goes to meet her best friend she ends up implicated in the theft of a very expensive necklace.
The mysterious man who she meets outside the museum on the night in question wasn’t the thief, but he certainly intended to take the necklace. When he turns up with a crazy plan to take back the necklace, Sumi finds herself going along with it. Alongside her ragtag bunch of friends/associates she sets up a wedding planning company and finds herself taking responsibility for the wedding of the daughter of a local mafia boss, just so they can steal the necklace.
This went from crazy to even more crazy early on, and continued in the same vein. Highly improbable, but certainly entertaining.
Sumi is fed up of her parents trying to set her up with a husband. She’s in growing debt, her apartment is flooded and when she goes to meet her best friend she ends up implicated in the theft of a very expensive necklace.
The mysterious man who she meets outside the museum on the night in question wasn’t the thief, but he certainly intended to take the necklace. When he turns up with a crazy plan to take back the necklace, Sumi finds herself going along with it. Alongside her ragtag bunch of friends/associates she sets up a wedding planning company and finds herself taking responsibility for the wedding of the daughter of a local mafia boss, just so they can steal the necklace.
This went from crazy to even more crazy early on, and continued in the same vein. Highly improbable, but certainly entertaining.
Notes on Surviving the Fire by Christine Murphy
challenging
dark
medium-paced
- Plot- or character-driven? Character
- Strong character development? Yes
- Loveable characters? It's complicated
- Diverse cast of characters? No
- Flaws of characters a main focus? Yes
3.75
Notes on Surviving the Fire is a strange read. Sarah finds her best friend, Nathan, dead from a heroin overdose. She’s pretty sure Nathan never did heroin and is determined to try and find out who might have wanted him dead. She needs answers.
Nathan was Sarah’s best friend but it soon becomes clear that she didn’t know everything about him.
Nathan was one of the only ones who believed Sarah when she accused a fellow student of rape. The process of reporting the guy seems to have got her nowhere…and it’s clear that she is just one of a terrifyingly high number of women assaulted on campus.
An unflinching examination of rape culture and the way it is reported/investigated.
Sarah, used to finding patterns in random data, soon learns of a pattern in the number of student deaths on campus. A high number were also accused of rape. Could someone be using publicly accessible information to carry out their own acts of revenge?
Dark, but strangely compelling read. Thanks to NetGalley for giving me the opportunity to read and review this.
Nathan was Sarah’s best friend but it soon becomes clear that she didn’t know everything about him.
Nathan was one of the only ones who believed Sarah when she accused a fellow student of rape. The process of reporting the guy seems to have got her nowhere…and it’s clear that she is just one of a terrifyingly high number of women assaulted on campus.
An unflinching examination of rape culture and the way it is reported/investigated.
Sarah, used to finding patterns in random data, soon learns of a pattern in the number of student deaths on campus. A high number were also accused of rape. Could someone be using publicly accessible information to carry out their own acts of revenge?
Dark, but strangely compelling read. Thanks to NetGalley for giving me the opportunity to read and review this.
Red Riding Hood by David Leslie Johnson, Sarah Blakley-Cartwright
adventurous
tense
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? No
2.0
Valerie is used to the monthly sacrifices the townspeople have to leave out for the Wolf that haunts them. Nobody questions the price they pay for relative peace. But sometimes the price people are expected to pay is too much.
From start to finish this was a hoot - and definitely not to be taken seriously. Overwritten and melodramatic. I can see why the director of Twilight lapped it up!
When Valerie’s sister is killed the whole town seem to lose their heads. The men head out to kill the wolf, and the women are left to throw accusations around.
Before we know it, Valerie doubts everyone she’s ever come into contact with. The Wolf could be her long lost love Peter, who returned just before the trouble started, or it could be Henry, the wealthy man to whom she has been betrothed. Or it could be her grandmother. Or even her mother. You get the gist…
Valerie herself is accused of being a witch and is used by the Wolf hunter as bait. Naturally, there’s a daring rescue that casts further doubt on the identity of the Wolf. By this time I couldn’t have cared who the Wolf was, but at least there was a nod to Grimms’ fairy tales with the suitably dark ending.
From start to finish this was a hoot - and definitely not to be taken seriously. Overwritten and melodramatic. I can see why the director of Twilight lapped it up!
When Valerie’s sister is killed the whole town seem to lose their heads. The men head out to kill the wolf, and the women are left to throw accusations around.
Before we know it, Valerie doubts everyone she’s ever come into contact with. The Wolf could be her long lost love Peter, who returned just before the trouble started, or it could be Henry, the wealthy man to whom she has been betrothed. Or it could be her grandmother. Or even her mother. You get the gist…
Valerie herself is accused of being a witch and is used by the Wolf hunter as bait. Naturally, there’s a daring rescue that casts further doubt on the identity of the Wolf. By this time I couldn’t have cared who the Wolf was, but at least there was a nod to Grimms’ fairy tales with the suitably dark ending.
Black Woods, Blue Sky by Eowyn Ivey
challenging
emotional
informative
mysterious
reflective
medium-paced
- Plot- or character-driven? Character
- Strong character development? Yes
- Loveable characters? It's complicated
- Diverse cast of characters? Yes
- Flaws of characters a main focus? Yes
5.0
An unexpected delight of a book. Strange. Unsettling. Moving.
The story is set in Alaska and our focus is Birdie and her young daughter, Emaleen. Birdie is struggling to get by, working in a bar/diner and trying to look after her young daughter alone. We learn a little of her past, and see that she has people looking out for her. She wants more, but this doesn’t seem likely to happen with her life as it is.
She befriends Arthur, a shy recluse who comes sporadically to the town. Everyone else seems to steer clear of him, but Birdie is intrigued by his tales of life in the remote Northern Flak area. Slowly she and Arthur become closer, and it is no surprise when she makes plans to follow him to his cabin. It’s a chance for a new life.
Arthur’s father, Warren, has his misgivings. The details that would explain Warren’s stance are slow to come our way, but he vows to do what he can to support Birdie and her daughter, and to keep them safe.
Having grown accustomed to being left alone at night while her mum works, Emaleen is used to depending on herself when necessary. The shift to having her mother with her so much more offers Emaleen a different experience. She loves the freedom of life in the cabin and has an instinctive fondness for Arthur and his attempts to look after her.
However, Emaleen soon learns Arthur’s secret and does what she can to protect him.
The idyllic lifestyle Bridie hankered for is not one that lasts. Slowly coming to terms with the impact of her choices weighs hard on Birdie. Emaleen, though only a child, does her best to help…though it is not, ultimately, enough. The first two parts of the book were a truly immersive experience. A testimony to the natural world and its beauty, while ending with a stark reminder of its dangers.
The final part of the book was necessary for Emaleen’s story, though it left me feeling so many were complicit in creating a scenario that should probably never have happened.
The story is set in Alaska and our focus is Birdie and her young daughter, Emaleen. Birdie is struggling to get by, working in a bar/diner and trying to look after her young daughter alone. We learn a little of her past, and see that she has people looking out for her. She wants more, but this doesn’t seem likely to happen with her life as it is.
She befriends Arthur, a shy recluse who comes sporadically to the town. Everyone else seems to steer clear of him, but Birdie is intrigued by his tales of life in the remote Northern Flak area. Slowly she and Arthur become closer, and it is no surprise when she makes plans to follow him to his cabin. It’s a chance for a new life.
Arthur’s father, Warren, has his misgivings. The details that would explain Warren’s stance are slow to come our way, but he vows to do what he can to support Birdie and her daughter, and to keep them safe.
Having grown accustomed to being left alone at night while her mum works, Emaleen is used to depending on herself when necessary. The shift to having her mother with her so much more offers Emaleen a different experience. She loves the freedom of life in the cabin and has an instinctive fondness for Arthur and his attempts to look after her.
However, Emaleen soon learns Arthur’s secret and does what she can to protect him.
The idyllic lifestyle Bridie hankered for is not one that lasts. Slowly coming to terms with the impact of her choices weighs hard on Birdie. Emaleen, though only a child, does her best to help…though it is not, ultimately, enough. The first two parts of the book were a truly immersive experience. A testimony to the natural world and its beauty, while ending with a stark reminder of its dangers.
The final part of the book was necessary for Emaleen’s story, though it left me feeling so many were complicit in creating a scenario that should probably never have happened.
Our Infinite Fates by Laura Steven
emotional
informative
mysterious
reflective
sad
medium-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
4.5
A testimony to love, in its many forms, and the power it has to shape our behaviour. Definitely one best to go into not knowing the precise details of the scenario, though I feel had we known the key details earlier it may have made it easier to connect to the characters.
Our main characters are Evelyn and Arden, two souls who are reincarnated each lifetime and who always find each other only for Arden to kill Evelyn as soon as they turn eighteen. Evelyn never recalls the details of their past lives, but there is always a hint of something that is picked up on right before the crucial moments.
The book starts with showing us some of the past incarnations. We don’t know exactly what’s happening until we catch up to Evelyn in the present where she lives in Abergavenny with her mother and a younger sister. This is a life she likes, though it is not without its hardship. As she approaches the time she knows marks her end, she is determined to find a way to challenge her fate.
As we journey through the book it’s not hard to see the power love holds. At times I felt rather cynical but as we learn more of the reason behind this strange predicament I found myself hoping that they would find a way to succeed where previously they had failed.
Thanks to NetGalley for giving me the opportunity to read and review this prior to publication.
Our main characters are Evelyn and Arden, two souls who are reincarnated each lifetime and who always find each other only for Arden to kill Evelyn as soon as they turn eighteen. Evelyn never recalls the details of their past lives, but there is always a hint of something that is picked up on right before the crucial moments.
The book starts with showing us some of the past incarnations. We don’t know exactly what’s happening until we catch up to Evelyn in the present where she lives in Abergavenny with her mother and a younger sister. This is a life she likes, though it is not without its hardship. As she approaches the time she knows marks her end, she is determined to find a way to challenge her fate.
As we journey through the book it’s not hard to see the power love holds. At times I felt rather cynical but as we learn more of the reason behind this strange predicament I found myself hoping that they would find a way to succeed where previously they had failed.
Thanks to NetGalley for giving me the opportunity to read and review this prior to publication.
Deep End by Ali Hazelwood
lighthearted
medium-paced
- Plot- or character-driven? A mix
- Strong character development? No
- Loveable characters? It's complicated
- Diverse cast of characters? No
- Flaws of characters a main focus? Yes
3.0
A mixed response to this one, and not one I’d be quick to recommend.
The story focuses on Scarlett, a junior diver at Stanford, who is coming back from a potential career-ending injury. She is driven and focused, and not without her issues. When taken under the wing of Pen, a fellow diver and part of Stanford’s golden couple, Scarlett finds herself increasingly attracted to Lukas, an Olympic swimmer.
What nobody else is privy to is that Pen and Lukas have split up. Pen won’t give Lukas what he needs, and conveniently the interest in BDSM is just what Scarlett has always wanted. Pen drunkenly suggests they should get together, and what follows is a disaster waiting to happen.
From the outset the dynamic between Scarlett and Lukas made little sense. Their sexual relationship was based on exploration, but it mainly seemed to consist of her being told what to do. The scenes between them certainly didn’t set the pulse racing!
My main issue was with Pen. A classic spoiled girl who’s used to controlling everything and then sulking when things don’t go her way. She kept Lukas dangling while doing her own thing, and then manipulated a girl she claimed was her friend.
The story focuses on Scarlett, a junior diver at Stanford, who is coming back from a potential career-ending injury. She is driven and focused, and not without her issues. When taken under the wing of Pen, a fellow diver and part of Stanford’s golden couple, Scarlett finds herself increasingly attracted to Lukas, an Olympic swimmer.
What nobody else is privy to is that Pen and Lukas have split up. Pen won’t give Lukas what he needs, and conveniently the interest in BDSM is just what Scarlett has always wanted. Pen drunkenly suggests they should get together, and what follows is a disaster waiting to happen.
From the outset the dynamic between Scarlett and Lukas made little sense. Their sexual relationship was based on exploration, but it mainly seemed to consist of her being told what to do. The scenes between them certainly didn’t set the pulse racing!
My main issue was with Pen. A classic spoiled girl who’s used to controlling everything and then sulking when things don’t go her way. She kept Lukas dangling while doing her own thing, and then manipulated a girl she claimed was her friend.