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thereadingraccoon's reviews
1491 reviews
Middletide by Sarah Crouch
dark
emotional
mysterious
sad
tense
medium-paced
- Plot- or character-driven? A mix
- Strong character development? It's complicated
- Loveable characters? It's complicated
- Diverse cast of characters? Yes
- Flaws of characters a main focus? No
3.0
Middletide is a 90s-era murder mystery about an author who returns to his hometown only to be accused of a crime that mimics the plot of his novel.
Told in dual timelines, Middletide is the story of a small-town police department trying to solve the murder of a local doctor staged to look like a suicide, and the return of a “prodigal son” to his hometown after a setback. When the separate timelines converge, the reader realizes that the murder and the local man are connected in a rather dramatic way.
I enjoyed the slow coming together of the two stories but felt the plot was weak in a couple of major areas. The first issue I had was with the sappy romance between the main character, Elijah, and the girl he left behind, Nakita. I enjoy a good second-chance romance but felt zero chemistry between these two, and their relationship felt oddly chaste and sterile for two people in their thirties. Equally perplexing was his short-lived entanglement with the beautiful local doctor that led to her death. The other area that felt weak was the entire investigation and court case. I found the motive behind the crime disappointing, and the reveal was just kind of dropped on the reader without any “aha” moment. I’m by no means a legal expert, but much of what occurs in the last twenty-five percent of the book seems unrealistic and too easily resolved.
Overall, I enjoyed the pace of this book and the overarching concept, but I felt it fell apart in the details.
Told in dual timelines, Middletide is the story of a small-town police department trying to solve the murder of a local doctor staged to look like a suicide, and the return of a “prodigal son” to his hometown after a setback. When the separate timelines converge, the reader realizes that the murder and the local man are connected in a rather dramatic way.
I enjoyed the slow coming together of the two stories but felt the plot was weak in a couple of major areas. The first issue I had was with the sappy romance between the main character, Elijah, and the girl he left behind, Nakita. I enjoy a good second-chance romance but felt zero chemistry between these two, and their relationship felt oddly chaste and sterile for two people in their thirties. Equally perplexing was his short-lived entanglement with the beautiful local doctor that led to her death. The other area that felt weak was the entire investigation and court case. I found the motive behind the crime disappointing, and the reveal was just kind of dropped on the reader without any “aha” moment. I’m by no means a legal expert, but much of what occurs in the last twenty-five percent of the book seems unrealistic and too easily resolved.
Overall, I enjoyed the pace of this book and the overarching concept, but I felt it fell apart in the details.
The Rom-Commers by Katherine Center
emotional
funny
hopeful
lighthearted
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? No
5.0
The Rom-Commers is a contemporary romance novel about a twenty-something aspiring screenwriter who is hired to fix the script of one of her idols.
Emma Wheeler has put most of her Hollywood aspirations on hold to care for her father after a devastating accident and diagnosis. But an old boyfriend finds her an opportunity to doctor the script of a famous screenwriter, Charlie Yates, who can’t nail the nuances of a romantic comedy. What begins as a reluctant co-writing venture ends up being so much more. However, Emma can’t step away from her family obligations forever, and Charlie is sending some serious mixed signals.
The Rom-Commers is a sweet and funny romance novel that is about more than just the couple. I found myself wanting to highlight so many paragraphs where the characters mused about love, life, death, and taking care of people.
⭐️⭐️⭐️⭐️⭐️
Emma Wheeler has put most of her Hollywood aspirations on hold to care for her father after a devastating accident and diagnosis. But an old boyfriend finds her an opportunity to doctor the script of a famous screenwriter, Charlie Yates, who can’t nail the nuances of a romantic comedy. What begins as a reluctant co-writing venture ends up being so much more. However, Emma can’t step away from her family obligations forever, and Charlie is sending some serious mixed signals.
The Rom-Commers is a sweet and funny romance novel that is about more than just the couple. I found myself wanting to highlight so many paragraphs where the characters mused about love, life, death, and taking care of people.
⭐️⭐️⭐️⭐️⭐️
Red Queen by Juan Gómez-Jurado
adventurous
dark
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? It's complicated
3.75
Prima Facie by Suzie Miller
challenging
dark
emotional
sad
tense
medium-paced
- Plot- or character-driven? A mix
- Strong character development? Yes
- Loveable characters? It's complicated
- Flaws of characters a main focus? No
4.0
Prima Facie is a novel about a London criminal defense barrister that finds herself on the other side of the courtroom after she accuses a co-worker of sexual assault.
Tessa Ensler is young and ambitious and succeeding in the field of criminal law despite her lack of wealth and connections. She believes strongly in the justice system and giving defendants representation. But after she is forcibly raped by fellow barrister she finds out how rarely perpetrators are prosecuted and what she’ll have to sacrifice personally by going to the police.
Prima Facie is not an easy book to read but Suzie Miller provides a nice pace and solid characters while she sheds light on the continued issues around prosecuting date rape cases and victim blaming. The main character being both a brilliant defense attorney but also a nervous victim who is forced to testify about a terrifying ordeal makes for an interesting point of view.
I recommend this one for readers interested in novels about sex crimes and finding justice for victims.
4 stars ⭐️⭐️⭐️⭐️
🎧 audiobook notes: The Prima Facie audiobook is narrated by actress Jodie Comer who does an excellent job conveying all the various emotions that Tessa struggles within the novel
My copy of Prima Facie was provided by Macmillan Audio for review purposes
Past Present Future by Rachel Lynn Solomon
emotional
funny
hopeful
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? No
4.0
Past Present Future is the contemporary young adult follow-up to Today Tonight Tomorrow by Rachel Lynn Solomon. The sequel begins a couple of months after Rowan and Neil’s whirlwind romance as they step into their new chapter as college freshmen.
Neil and Rowan were former academic rivals who fell for each other right as they graduated from high school. But both are heading off to different East Coast colleges, and they are each nervous about leaving Seattle, meeting new people, and navigating a long-distance relationship. Rowan finds herself struggling with her writing for the first time. She has her dream professor but can’t seem to find her voice, and the intimacy with her boyfriend suffers. Neil is excited to make friends right away but questions his choice of major. He is also faced with his difficult relationship with his father and his own mental health.
Past Present Future is the book for anyone who wonders, “Okay, they fell in love… now what?” Neil continues to be the perfect boyfriend. You can’t help but root for each of them as they continue to grow and learn about themselves and each other. I love that there is no love triangle or cheating and that the two remain devoted as they try to figure out how to make this long-distance dynamic work.
I highly recommend the “Rowan & Neil” duology for readers who enjoy contemporary young adult romance.
Lockjaw by Matteo L. Cerilli
dark
mysterious
sad
tense
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? No
3.75
Book Review: Lockjaw by Matteo L. Cerilli
Lockjaw is a small-town horror about young people determined to destroy the monster that has taken over their town.
Bridlington is a small town of nine thousand with a dark past. After another child is lost to the evil that lives in the local abandoned mill, eleven-year-old Paz and her friends decide to take it on once and for all. But the obstacles in their way include the local sheriff, who has declared Paz a liar and troublemaker, and Paz’s own sister, who is resigned to the existence of the monster. Dragged into Paz’s declaration of war on the monster are newcomer Asher and his dog Bird, as well as local eccentric Beetle, who is back home on a break but eager to escape Bridlington again.
Lockjaw isn’t all it appears at first glance. It’s both a paranormal horror novel and an examination of intolerance, bullying, and the very human tendency to look away from injustice under the banner of “minding your own business.” Once you think you understand what’s happening, the author twists the story in a new direction. I recommend it to readers who enjoy paranormal thrillers and social horror novels.
Lockjaw is a small-town horror about young people determined to destroy the monster that has taken over their town.
Bridlington is a small town of nine thousand with a dark past. After another child is lost to the evil that lives in the local abandoned mill, eleven-year-old Paz and her friends decide to take it on once and for all. But the obstacles in their way include the local sheriff, who has declared Paz a liar and troublemaker, and Paz’s own sister, who is resigned to the existence of the monster. Dragged into Paz’s declaration of war on the monster are newcomer Asher and his dog Bird, as well as local eccentric Beetle, who is back home on a break but eager to escape Bridlington again.
Lockjaw isn’t all it appears at first glance. It’s both a paranormal horror novel and an examination of intolerance, bullying, and the very human tendency to look away from injustice under the banner of “minding your own business.” Once you think you understand what’s happening, the author twists the story in a new direction. I recommend it to readers who enjoy paranormal thrillers and social horror novels.
Summer Romance by Annabel Monaghan
emotional
funny
hopeful
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? No
4.75
Summer Romance is a contemporary adult romance about a thirty-something mom of three who navigates love again after the back-to-back losses of her mother and her marriage.
When Summer Romance opens, Ali is living in old sweatpants and barely keeping her house together a year after her husband announced he was leaving. She has never quite recovered from losing her mother and keeps busy doing the bookkeeping for her friend Frannie’s diner and working as a professional organizer. But a chance encounter at the dog park brings an exciting opportunity for love and romance into her life when she least expects it. She’ll have to decide if pursuing a relationship that could end when summer does is worth risking her heart.
This is a sweet and swoony romance between a mom who is finding herself and her voice for the first time, and a fun and thoughtful man. I loved the banter between the characters and their chemistry. It was nice to enjoy a well-written grown-up romance without a bunch of the same old tropes. This couple faces real-life obstacles and must find a way to be together without giving up who they are. I also appreciated the lesson about living in the moment and not regretting loving someone (or a dog) even when you know that you’ll most likely lose them.
I highly recommend Summer Romance!
If Something Happens to Me by Alex Finlay
dark
mysterious
tense
medium-paced
- Plot- or character-driven? Plot
- Strong character development? Yes
- Loveable characters? Yes
- Diverse cast of characters? No
- Flaws of characters a main focus? No
4.0
If Something Happens to Me is a twisty crime thriller about a missing person’s case that gets reopened five years later.
Five years earlier, Ryan Richardson’s girlfriend, Ali, is kidnapped right in front of him while they were parked on a Lover’s Lane in Lexington, Kansas. Ryan’s recollection of what happened is hazy because he was struck on the head and didn’t see who took her or where they went in her car, but he becomes the main suspect in the court of public opinion. But five years later her car, which has remained missing since that night, is found in a nearby lake with two unidentified men, Ali’s purse, and an encrypted note in her writing that says, “If something happens to me.” The story of that night and what happened to Ali is told through alternating points of view: a brand new deputy sheriff, Ryan under a new name on a college trip to Italy, and the head of an organized crime family in Pittsburgh.
This is a fast-paced and enjoyable mystery and thriller with twists and turns.
⭐️⭐️⭐️⭐️
🎧 Audiobook Notes: If Something Happens to Me is narrated by Paul Dateh, Helen Laser, and John Pirhalla, who do an excellent job bringing the three different points of view to life.
Nonna Maria and the Case of the Lost Treasure by Lorenzo Carcaterra
adventurous
lighthearted
mysterious
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? No
3.75
Nonna Maria and the Case of the Lost Treasure is the third book in the cozy mystery series by Lorenzo Carcaterra. In this latest installment, Nonna Maria helps a young lady whose grandfather left her a “treasure map” on his deathbed and tries to keep her friend and local carabinieri Captain Murino from getting assassinated by an organized crime syndicate.
When former mob hitman Il Presidente spots a man in his old line of work on Ischia, he makes sure the man knows that if he does anything to hurt Nonna Maria or the people she cares about, there will be trouble. But Captain Murino of the local carabinieri crossed an organized syndicate when he worked in Naples, and they are out for revenge. While Nonna Maria calls on her friends to help Murino, she is also approached by the granddaughter of an old friend trying to understand a treasure map he left her. Nonna Maria reaches out to her old friend the Pirate and a mysterious figure known as The Magician to help her navigate the beach caves around Ischia to find the treasure.
Like the other books in the Nonna Maria series, this is a low-stress mystery where a widow beloved by her island is able to help her friends using her connections and calling in favors. I loved the details about the Castello Aragonese, its torture museum, and the Cemetery of Dead Nuns, which were deliciously gruesome. I always look forward to the Nonna Maria books because I know I’ll get some sleuthing on a beautiful Italian island.
Better Left Unsent by Lia Louis
emotional
funny
hopeful
lighthearted
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? It's complicated
4.0
Better Left Unsent is a contemporary romance novel about a receptionist at a TV broadcast company whose world is upended when the entire contents of her email drafts folder are sent to her co-workers, friends, family, and an ex-boyfriend.
Twenty-nine-year-old Millie Chandler has been writing bluntly honest, semi-savage, and emotionally vulnerable emails to the people in both her work and personal life for two years without the intention of ever sending them. But overnight, all of the emails were sent like little truth bombs, and Millie is left to face the consequences. Helping her navigate feelings of guilt and remorse are her adorable roommate Ralph, best friends Cate and Petra, and possible love interest Jack.
This is really a book about emotional honesty and how keeping so much of ourselves hidden and secret out of fear and shame is to our detriment. Millie had to have some honest conversations with everyone to get past what happened and start living life on her own terms. There is a lot of cute banter, strong friendships, and I loved the coastal U.K. setting. I did not enjoy the storyline about her parents and the issues they were having in their marriage (ick for including their daughter in this conversation) and felt like it wasn’t really that big of a deal and could have been left out. But it did add to the overall thread about keeping secrets.
Although I didn’t enjoy this one quite as much as some of her previous books, it was still enjoyable and a solid ⭐️⭐️⭐️⭐️ read.