bbethcasas's reviews
162 reviews

Falling by T.J. Newman

emotional tense medium-paced

5.0

I can’t believe I waited so long to read this book! It was extremely hard to put down once I started reading. Very relevant to our world today! I HIGHLY recommend this book to anyone who enjoys edge of your seat, goosebump inducing thrillers! Oh, and I cried tears, too!  Can’t wait to read the next one! 

The Return of Ellie Black by Emiko Jean

dark mysterious tense medium-paced

• Strong character development? Yes
• Loveable characters? It's complicated
• Diverse cast of characters? Yes

4.0

A great read! Terrifying concept all the way around! I recommend to those who love crime thrillers with strong female detective leads! 

Crying in H Mart by Michelle Zauner

emotional funny sad medium-paced

5.0

A beautiful, honest remembrance of the author’s difficult relationship with her mother. I was so able to relate on multiple levels, initially able to see my relationship with my daughter growing up, while later seeing more parallels with my own mother and myself reflected in the pages of the book. Don’t sleep on this somewhat under appreciated memoir. You’ll definitely need Kleenex! 

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Content Warnings

Graphic: Cancer, Chronic illness, Terminal illness, Grief, and Death of parent

The Wilds by Sarah Pearse

dark emotional mysterious tense slow-paced

• Strong character development? It's complicated

4.0

I loved this trilogy. Sarah Pearse comes across as a much more prolific author to me. I would like to get to the bottom of her mysteries a little more quickly, but probably the longer, one tiny clue at a time way is more realistic. Elin Warner is a believable character as the detective in this trilogy with a life outside of work that is filled with its own troubles that bleed over into her professional life. I would recommend this book to other readers who enjoy mysteries and female heroes! 

The Retreat by Sarah Pearse

dark mysterious sad tense fast-paced

• Plot- or character-driven? A mix
• Loveable characters? It's complicated
• Diverse cast of characters? Yes

4.5

I do love me some Sarah Pearse! Her characters are so unpredictable and have so many layers! You might think you know a character and get a little defensive for them when someone gives them some lip, just to find out they did some HORRIBLE thing! Be careful who you trust and rally behind in this book….we all have a skeleton or two in our closets! 😉    Be ready for a page turning mystery that will keep you reading until the wee hours of the morning trying to figure out who did it and why? Great read! 

Home Before Dark by Riley Sager

4.0

A Welcome Reunion: A Short Story by Lucinda Berry

dark emotional mysterious sad tense medium-paced

4.0

I loved the shock factor of this book! There were several times I was surprised at just how dastardly Janie was and how low and gruesome she could be! I wasn’t surprised by Hannah’s response. If you mess with my cubs, you get the most destructive grizzly bear behavior out of me, too! There was so much action packed into these 82 pages! Highly recommend! 

What You Are Looking For is in the Library by Michiko Aoyama

funny hopeful inspiring reflective medium-paced

3.0

Five short stories, of library patrons who each come to the library in search of something. The librarian has a special knack for knowing what they need and suggesting the book that will lead them to discover their destiny on their own! She also throws in a little free gift that adds its own little touch of magic! 🪄 

The Extraordinary Life of Sam Hell by Robert Dugoni

emotional funny hopeful inspiring lighthearted reflective sad tense medium-paced

• Plot- or character-driven? A mix
• Strong character development? Yes
• Loveable characters? Yes
• Diverse cast of characters? Yes

5.0

The Coworker by Freida McFadden

mysterious reflective medium-paced

• Strong character development? Yes
• Loveable characters? It's complicated
• Diverse cast of characters? Yes
• Flaws of characters a main focus? Yes

4.0

Natalie is an outstanding employee for her company and most things seem to be going her way. The only thing seemingly uncomfortable for her is her unusual coworker, Dawn. Dawn can be downright odd, at times, and suck the air right out of the room. Natalie is over Dawn and tries to avoid her, but Dawn cannot take a hint! Natalie even starts leaving Dawn’s name off the lunch invitations with her friend Kim and THEN, even “forgets” to invite her to work meetings or tells her the wrong time!  
Dawn starts to catch on and decides to make Natalie pay. She reports her to the boss, and then the REAL fun begins! 
I had loss faith in Freida after the last couple of her books I’d read. But I was very pleasantly surprised with this book!! 
Way to go, Freida McFadden!!