Reviews

Do What Godmother Says by L.S. Stratton

whatshanireads's review against another edition

dark mysterious 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? Yes

4.0

Really enjoyed this read along with the two separate stories that are told. I appreciated the twists, although I saw a few of those coming. The story manages to come together well in the end. If you like psychological thrillers, this may be a good read for you. 

_rae_reads_'s review against another edition

4.0

Rating:⭐️⭐️⭐️⭐️

This book took me on a ride I wasn’t expecting, and that twist at the end? Absolutely chilling. Do What Godmother Says is a psychological thriller that keeps you second-guessing everything, and I loved every minute of it.

The story follows Shanice as she navigates unraveling the story behind a portrait that has been in her family for over 100 years. What starts off as innocent research quickly spirals into something much darker. The way L.S. Stratton builds tension is masterful—you can feel the unease creeping in with every new task, and I found myself holding my breath as things escalated.

I’ll admit, there were moments in the middle where I felt the pacing slowed down a bit, but the payoff was worth it. That final reveal completely flipped my perspective on everything I had just read. I thought I had the ending figured out, but nope—Stratton had other plans.

taz3159's review

Couldn't get into the book. 

daintydoe's review

medium-paced

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

1.0

This book is terrible. The main character repeatedly makes stupid decision after stupid decision. She has absolutely no survival instincts at all nor critical thinking skills. Every single decision she makes puts her in more dangerous situation than the last. From trusting a COMPLETE STRANGER with sensitive information to turning to that same COMPLETE STRANGER over her own grandmother smfh. I was enraged reading this book, especially since the author used anxiety as an excuse for the main character being dense as rocks. I understand 2 or 3 bad decisions to move the story along but Jesus Christ EVERY SINGLE DECISION this character makes is seriously lacking any critical thinking skills. I DO NOT RECOMMEND this book.

imanin10's review against another edition

adventurous challenging dark emotional mysterious sad tense slow-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? Yes

5.0

minisupernovax's review against another edition

2.5

This was very predictable. The premise was interesting but I was mainly just interested in Essie's storyline

hoxma's review against another edition

slow-paced

• Plot- or character-driven? A mix
• Strong character development? No
• Loveable characters? No

2.5

Think I had the wrong idea about what this book was going to be. In the end, it was a very predictable rather uneventful thriller that had themes, like the occult, that factored in so minimally. All of the twists could be seen coming a mile away. I don't know, it just was not what I was expecting and found it to be rather boring. I did not like Shanice and her inner monologue. This one is just a miss for me, maybe because I expected different. 

booksbyj's review

dark mysterious tense medium-paced

5.0

This was such a good mystery and thriller and it honestly had everything I could ask for from multiple perspectives, to different timelines, and a focus on black culture and art from the Harlem renaissance. This was such an interesting read and it really kept me on my toes. I read the audiobook and it was SOO well done!

tassssm13's review against another edition

dark emotional hopeful mysterious tense medium-paced

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

4.5

laurahawkins2010's review against another edition

challenging dark emotional 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? Yes

4.0