booklistqueen's reviews
384 reviews

I'm Glad My Mom Died, by Jennette McCurdy

dark emotional funny reflective sad fast-paced

5.0

 Both vulnerable and hilarious, Jennette McCurdy's tell-all memoir sends a poignant message of the dangers of child acting. McCurdy brilliantly embraces her inner child by describing how desperately she wanted to please her mom by acting, even if it lead to an eating disordered and a chaotic relationship with her family. McCurdy idolized her mother so much that she didn't fully understand the abuse she underwent until attending therapy after her mother's death.

With its brash cover and title, McCurdy's memoir has been on top of the bestseller lists since it was released, and for good reason. In this excellent memoir, McCurdy perfectly vocalizes the childlike desire to please your mother, assuming that your mom must only want what's best for you. From being forced to fulfill her mother's dream of acting to being taught anorexia, McCurdy gives an in-depth look at abuse by a narcissistic codependent mother and the mental and physical effects that had on her life. 

Traffic Secrets: The Underground Playbook for Filling Your Websites and Funnels with Your Dream Customers, by Russell Brunson

informative medium-paced

4.0

 In the third book of his Underground series, Russell Brunson, co-founder of Click Funnels, explains how you can direct traffic into your sales funnel. Using his Dream 100 technique, Brunson teaches timeless marketing tactics that will work no matter what platform and that can adapt as algorithms change. Brunson focuses on the bigger picture but gives plenty of examples to showcase how to adapt the techniques to different platforms, knowing that when the platforms eventually change, you'll know how to adapt with it.

I love reading books about blogging, and I randomly picked Traffic Secrets up at Barnes and Noble, without having read the first two books. Since I don't actually sell anything or run sales funnels, Brunson's book didn't quite apply to me. Yet, since his techniques are more about the overarching process than about the minute details, I still learned a lot about marketing and think I will see positive benefits in my business for years to come. 

My Story, by Elizabeth Smart, Chris Stewart

dark hopeful sad medium-paced

4.0

 In 2002, 14-year-old Elizabeth Smart became a household name when she was kidnapped from her Utah home in the middle of the night. For 9 months she was held captive and abused by Brian David Mitchell and his wife Wanda Barzee. In her memoir, Smart recalls how her faith allowed her to maintain hope through her traumatic ordeal and how she was able to forge a new life afterward.

I vividly remember when Elizabeth Smart's kidnapping captivated the nation shortly after the Salt Lake Winter Olympics. I'm glad I listened to the audiobook version because I enjoyed how thick her sarcasm came through. Smart explains the entire timeline of her kidnapping, helping you understand the mental conditioning that kept her from trying to escape. All in all, it's a heartbreaking story that thankfully has a happy ending. 

Crown of Midnight, by Sarah J. Maas

adventurous emotional funny mysterious fast-paced

4.0

 In the sequel to Throne of Glass, Celaena Sardothien finds being the king's assassin no easy task. Secretly working against the evil king, Celaena finds herself unsure whom she can trust, weary even of her closest allies: Crown Prince Dorian, Captain of the Guard Chaol, and Princess Nehemia. When an unspeakable tragedy occurs, Celaena must decide where her loyalties truly lie.

Crown of Midnight was an excellent sequel, keeping the excitement of the first book without just copying it. The fast-paced plot keeps you turning pages, as you ride Celaena with her ups and downs and she relaxes in love but is gripped by betrayal. Maas does a great job of foreshadowing future events, leaving you in anticipation of the next books in the series. 

The Pioneers: The Heroic Story of the Settlers Who Brought the American Ideal West, by David McCullough

informative slow-paced

3.0

 David McCullough chronicles the lives of rarely heard of settlers in the Ohio Valley. Among the pioneers willing to brave the newly opened Northwest Territory, Manasseh Cutter and General Rufus Putnam felt lured forth by the promise of freedom of religion, universal free education, and the prohibition of slavery.

After covering such historical figures as Truman, John Adams, and The Wright Brothers, I was less than impressed with the extraordinarily narrow focus of The Pioneers. While it contained some interesting details, the book was basically an in-depth history of Marietta, Ohio, making for a rather dull read, even for an Ohio girl like me. 

Greenlights, by Matthew McConaughey

adventurous funny hopeful lighthearted medium-paced

4.5

 Academy Award-winning actor Matthew McConaughey offers a memoir on his approach to getting the most satisfaction out of life. McConaughey poured over decades of his diaries to share the highs and lows of his life and the funny stories that shaped him along the way.

Have you ever watched Matthew McConaughey's Lincoln car commercials where he waxes philosophical in his slight Texas drawl? Apparently, that's his actual personality. McConaughey is an interesting character and knows exactly how to tell a story. You should definitely listen to the audiobook; McConaughey's narration brings depth to the text, and I don't think I would have liked it as much if I had read the printed copy. 

The Other Boleyn Girl, by Philippa Gregory

informative sad tense slow-paced

3.5

 At fourteen, Mary Boleyn catches the eye of King Henry VIII. At her family's urging, she becomes the king's mistress, bearing him two children. Yet, when the king's attention drifts to Mary's sister, Anne, Mary is forced to step aside by her family's ambitions. Eventually, Mary decides she will no longer be a pawn, choosing instead to follow her heart.

I found The Other Boleyn Girl surprisingly gripping considering it revolves around the world of courtiers where the way to power is by sleeping with the king. Gregory brings history to life, painting a real-life game of thrones that changed history. Mary was an excellent choice as a protagonist, showcasing the limited freedom even upper-class women possessed, and growing from a naive girl to a fierce woman refusing to play other people's games. 

The Mostly True Story of Tanner and Louise, by Colleen Oakley

adventurous funny lighthearted medium-paced

3.0

 Tanner Quimby would rather sit around playing video games all day, but life takes money. So she finds a job as the live-in caregiver of an elderly woman. Indignant that her daughter is forcing a nanny upon her, Louise wants nothing to do with Tanner. When Tanner begins to wonder if Louise is actually an infamous jewel thief, they set out on an adventure to outrun the mistakes of their paths.

Even though I loved The Invisible Husband of Frick Island, Oakley's last novel, I had a really hard time getting into this cheesy light-hearted story. I will say that I enjoyed Louise's sense of humor but Tanner wasn't a great protagonist, veering more toward annoying than likable. Readers seem to be raving about this one on Goodreads, but I wasn't impressed with the story or the writing.

I received a complimentary copy of this book from Berkley Publishing Group. Opinions expressed in this review are completely my own. 

Whisper Network, by Chandler Baker

challenging dark mysterious tense slow-paced

3.5

 For years, whispers about how he treats women have followed Ames as he has moved up the corporate ladder at TruViv, Inc. Working alongside Ames, Sloane, Ardie, and Grace each have their own perceptions of him. When the CEO dies, the board is eyeing Ames for promotion and the three women are eying him for another reason: his inappropriate advances toward a new hire. At what point is enough, enough?

Although there is an overarching suspicious death investigation, I'd classify Whisper Network as a drama more than a thriller. I liked how Baker tackled the #MeToo movement (and loved her author's note), showcasing some of the gray areas and hesitations when it comes to reporting workplace conduct. However, the unique formatting slowed the story way down, making this slow-burn mystery a little too slow for my taste. 

The Bandit Queens, by Parini Shroff

dark funny reflective fast-paced

5.0

 Five years ago, Geeta's no-good husband simply walked away and she never heard from him again. However, in her small Indian village, the rumor persists that Geeta killed him. Geeta doesn't mind since no one wants to mess with a black widow. Until women start asking Geeta for advice on how to off their own husbands and they won't take no for an answer.

It's been a long time since a book made me laugh this hard. Shroff's dark sense of humor eases the very weighty topic of gender expectations and limitations in Indian society. Heartwarming and hilarious all at once, The Bandit Queens has a well-rounded story and witty characters that make for an enjoyable, yet thought-provoking, read. Easily five stars from me, I'll be shocked if one of the celebrity book clubs doesn't choose it in January.

I received a complimentary copy of this book from Ballantine Books. Opinions expressed in this review are completely my own.