Scan barcode
joyceheinen's reviews
143 reviews
Darling Girls by Sally Hepworth
dark
emotional
fast-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
5.0
We meet three women, that grew up in a foster home together. Now all grown up, they learn of a body being found under the home they lived in for years, Wild Meadows.
Jessica went to Wild Meadows when she was only four years old. She became attached to Miss Fairchild and was disappointed when at thirteen, a new girl arrived. This was Norah. She came to miss Fairchild when she was eleven. Norah had been to many foster homes, being treated badly. The third girl, Alicia, only came to Wild Meadows temporarily. She was in the care of her grandmother, but she fell ill and Alicia needed a home. Twelve year old Alicia is clearly not Miss Fairchild’s favorite.
Now as adults, Jessica is married and runs a home organization business. Nora still struggles with her past, which made her very violent. Alicia is now a social worker, taking care of foster children herself.
Miss Fairchild is an awful person. She treats the girls poorly, has strange rules and suffers from severe mood swings. But because of their common enemy, the three girls became sisters, and still are in adulthood.
The story is being told through alternating timelines, twenty five years apart. And we follow the story from different perspectives as well. This really works for this story. We get to know the girls and meet them again as damaged, traumatized women. The story is compelling and so are the characters.
The book has some really strong reveals and twists, but just when you think the story is about to wrap up, Sally Hepworth gives us one final twist. And I loved it! I really can’t fault this book, it’s such a good story. I had read from Hepworth before, and I found that book to be just okay. But this book really blew my mind. It’s definitely a new favorite for me. And now I do want to read more of Hepworth’s books.
Jessica went to Wild Meadows when she was only four years old. She became attached to Miss Fairchild and was disappointed when at thirteen, a new girl arrived. This was Norah. She came to miss Fairchild when she was eleven. Norah had been to many foster homes, being treated badly. The third girl, Alicia, only came to Wild Meadows temporarily. She was in the care of her grandmother, but she fell ill and Alicia needed a home. Twelve year old Alicia is clearly not Miss Fairchild’s favorite.
Now as adults, Jessica is married and runs a home organization business. Nora still struggles with her past, which made her very violent. Alicia is now a social worker, taking care of foster children herself.
Miss Fairchild is an awful person. She treats the girls poorly, has strange rules and suffers from severe mood swings. But because of their common enemy, the three girls became sisters, and still are in adulthood.
The story is being told through alternating timelines, twenty five years apart. And we follow the story from different perspectives as well. This really works for this story. We get to know the girls and meet them again as damaged, traumatized women. The story is compelling and so are the characters.
The book has some really strong reveals and twists, but just when you think the story is about to wrap up, Sally Hepworth gives us one final twist. And I loved it! I really can’t fault this book, it’s such a good story. I had read from Hepworth before, and I found that book to be just okay. But this book really blew my mind. It’s definitely a new favorite for me. And now I do want to read more of Hepworth’s books.
How To Solve Your Own Murder by Kristen Perrin
adventurous
mysterious
medium-paced
- Plot- or character-driven? Plot
- Strong character development? Yes
- Loveable characters? No
- Diverse cast of characters? No
- Flaws of characters a main focus? Yes
3.0
In “How to Solve Your Own Murder” we follow Annie, who is on her way to her great-aunt Frances. When she arrives, Frances is found dead. We also follow the storyline of a young Frances, who visits a fortune teller, who tells her Frances will someday be murdered. This turns her life upside down and her whole life she is trying to find out who will murder her. But, it’s too late. Now it’s up to Annie to find out who had it in for her great-aunt.
I always enjoyed dual timelines. We follow the present, where Annie is trying to figure out what happened to Frances. And we go back in time, where Frances is young and finds out about her fate, which eventually controls her life. Because Frances documented everything in a diary, Annie does get some help, but she still has to try and solve the mystery herself. And she learns that the people in this town have many secrets.
“How to Solve Your Own Murder” has an interesting premise and it does start out great. The mystery is fun to dive into. I never really got invested into any of the characters and felt like most of them were very naïve people. And am I the only one that thinks that the request in Frances’s will was kind of ridiculous and it could potentially put the people involved in danger? Even though I like an amateur sleuth story, they mostly choose to do so themselves. Annie is somehow forced in that role, even though she would have probably gone in that direction herself. It still feels a bit weird. Because more people are put in this position in trying to solve the murder, the stakes are higher.
I’m okay with authors being detailed. Especially in describing surroundings or settings. But I really don’t care about what people are wearing. The characters in this story seem to be obsessed by other people’s appearances. I did not enjoy that.
I think “How to Solve Your Own Murder” is an okay mystery, nothing surprising or ground-breaking. Had a good time reading it, but will probably forget about it within a week.
I always enjoyed dual timelines. We follow the present, where Annie is trying to figure out what happened to Frances. And we go back in time, where Frances is young and finds out about her fate, which eventually controls her life. Because Frances documented everything in a diary, Annie does get some help, but she still has to try and solve the mystery herself. And she learns that the people in this town have many secrets.
“How to Solve Your Own Murder” has an interesting premise and it does start out great. The mystery is fun to dive into. I never really got invested into any of the characters and felt like most of them were very naïve people. And am I the only one that thinks that the request in Frances’s will was kind of ridiculous and it could potentially put the people involved in danger? Even though I like an amateur sleuth story, they mostly choose to do so themselves. Annie is somehow forced in that role, even though she would have probably gone in that direction herself. It still feels a bit weird. Because more people are put in this position in trying to solve the murder, the stakes are higher.
I’m okay with authors being detailed. Especially in describing surroundings or settings. But I really don’t care about what people are wearing. The characters in this story seem to be obsessed by other people’s appearances. I did not enjoy that.
I think “How to Solve Your Own Murder” is an okay mystery, nothing surprising or ground-breaking. Had a good time reading it, but will probably forget about it within a week.
Pan's Labyrinth: The Labyrinth of the Faun by Guillermo del Toro, Cornelia Funke
adventurous
dark
mysterious
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? Yes
4.5
It does not happen often that I prefer the movie over the book, but in this case I did. But there is a reason for it. “Pan’s Labyrinth” was a movie before it became a novel. Director Guillermo del Toro asked author Cornelia Funke to translate his masterful film to a book. Not for all ages in my opinion, like the synopsis says, but middle-grade or young adult would be more appropriate.
We meet Ofelia, a young girl who loves fairytale stories. Together with her mother Carmen she moves into a house in the woods, with her mother’s new husband Vidal, who Ofelia calls “the Wolf”. Carmen is expecting a baby with Vidal, but Ofelia believes Vidal doesn’t really love her mother and only wants a son to carry on his bloodline. Because Ofelia never feels welcome in her new home, she starts exploring her new ‘neighborhood’. Where she meets Pan, a Faun and the keeper of a secret labyrinth. He believes Ofelia is the long-lost princes Moanna and he gives her task, so she can return to her family. And so a journey begins.
The story is beautifully written and it’s accompanied by amazing illustrations. Because I have already seen the movie, it was easy for me to imagine all the creatures, the surroundings and characters of the book. But I felt like the book was missing something that the movie did have and I cant quite put my finger on it. Even though I still believe this book is fantastic and a wonderfully written tale, I believe the film conveys the right atmosphere to the audience better than the book did.
I would definitely recommend this book to fantasy lovers, this is the type of fantasy that even I love.
We meet Ofelia, a young girl who loves fairytale stories. Together with her mother Carmen she moves into a house in the woods, with her mother’s new husband Vidal, who Ofelia calls “the Wolf”. Carmen is expecting a baby with Vidal, but Ofelia believes Vidal doesn’t really love her mother and only wants a son to carry on his bloodline. Because Ofelia never feels welcome in her new home, she starts exploring her new ‘neighborhood’. Where she meets Pan, a Faun and the keeper of a secret labyrinth. He believes Ofelia is the long-lost princes Moanna and he gives her task, so she can return to her family. And so a journey begins.
The story is beautifully written and it’s accompanied by amazing illustrations. Because I have already seen the movie, it was easy for me to imagine all the creatures, the surroundings and characters of the book. But I felt like the book was missing something that the movie did have and I cant quite put my finger on it. Even though I still believe this book is fantastic and a wonderfully written tale, I believe the film conveys the right atmosphere to the audience better than the book did.
I would definitely recommend this book to fantasy lovers, this is the type of fantasy that even I love.
The Road by Cormac McCarthy
challenging
dark
emotional
slow-paced
- Plot- or character-driven? Character
- Strong character development? It's complicated
- Loveable characters? Yes
- Diverse cast of characters? No
- Flaws of characters a main focus? Yes
4.0
In this gripping story by Cormac McCarthy, a father and sone are on their way to the cost. All they have in their possession is a shopping cart with a few belongings and a gun. Fortunately, they still have each other, because the road is long and life is hard.
In “The Road”, the world no longer looks as we know it. There is no more harvest, houses and stores have been looted, the only holdout is the road to the coast. Even though the father is almost certain there is nothing at the coast, there is still a glimmer of hope for his son.
Father and son continue to follow the road, but at the same time must be careful not to be seen by anyone else. Because it is every man for himself, you never know when someone has bad intentions. The father explained to his son that they carry the fire and therefore belong on the good side. On the bad side you have the people who steal or worse: kill other people.
In a world that has almost perished, everything is allowed. There a no more laws. The book is gripping, terrifying and emotional. As a reader, you get a certain picture of humanity as father and son try to survive in this post-apocalyptic world. Do you choose to survive for yourself or are there other options? Is there light at the end of the tunnel or is it hopeless?
The names of the father and son are never mentioned, yet the story feels personal and close. It is as if, as a reader, you are walking with them to the shore. You hope for the father and son that there is more than the road. The father has already seen a lot and his son, despite everything, is still innocent. The young boy knows nothing else, he was raised in this world.
It’s not a very spectacular book, it’s focused on the characters, not so much on the plot. It’s a slow book, which may scare you. There is some repetition here and there and there are some moments that drag a little bit. But for the rest, “The Road” is a fantastic book.
In “The Road”, the world no longer looks as we know it. There is no more harvest, houses and stores have been looted, the only holdout is the road to the coast. Even though the father is almost certain there is nothing at the coast, there is still a glimmer of hope for his son.
Father and son continue to follow the road, but at the same time must be careful not to be seen by anyone else. Because it is every man for himself, you never know when someone has bad intentions. The father explained to his son that they carry the fire and therefore belong on the good side. On the bad side you have the people who steal or worse: kill other people.
In a world that has almost perished, everything is allowed. There a no more laws. The book is gripping, terrifying and emotional. As a reader, you get a certain picture of humanity as father and son try to survive in this post-apocalyptic world. Do you choose to survive for yourself or are there other options? Is there light at the end of the tunnel or is it hopeless?
The names of the father and son are never mentioned, yet the story feels personal and close. It is as if, as a reader, you are walking with them to the shore. You hope for the father and son that there is more than the road. The father has already seen a lot and his son, despite everything, is still innocent. The young boy knows nothing else, he was raised in this world.
It’s not a very spectacular book, it’s focused on the characters, not so much on the plot. It’s a slow book, which may scare you. There is some repetition here and there and there are some moments that drag a little bit. But for the rest, “The Road” is a fantastic book.
She's Not Sorry by Mary Kubica
mysterious
tense
fast-paced
- Plot- or character-driven? Plot
- Strong character development? No
- Loveable characters? It's complicated
- Diverse cast of characters? No
- Flaws of characters a main focus? No
4.5
Before I started reading “She’s Not Sorry”, I had only read one other book by Mary Kubica: “Local Woman Missing”. I really liked that book, but I love her newest release!
Meghan Michaels is an ICU-nurse and a single mom, who’s recently divorced. One day, new patient Caitlin arrives at the hospital, who is in a coma and suffering from a severe brain injury. Where Meghan normally succeeds in staying emotionally detached from her patients, she is pulled into Caitlin’s and her family’s life. Questioning what really happened to her and maybe somebody did this to her.
The book is split up in two parts. When I was reading the first half of the book, I felt a lot was happening. It felt a bit all over the place and I had no clue why these random events were happening. With a mid-way twist, that totally caught me off-guard, the pieces of the puzzle starting falling into place. And that made the book so much better. The first half started making more sense.
“She’s Not Sorry” is an easy to read book, you can fly through it, as did I. The story has tension and raises so many questions, that you will get answers to eventually. There are many twists and turns and I was surprised. This book is impossible to put down.
Meghan is an interesting character to read from, we follow the story through her POV. You can relate to her at the start of the book, with her being a single mom, working hard to provide for her daughter. You do question some decisions she makes and because the characters still stays a bit on the surface, you never really understand why she becomes so fixated on Nat, an old school friend that she hasn’t seen for 20 years. And the fact that Meghan is constantly concerned about her daughter Sienna, when there is really no reason for it. Making you believe that something bad is going to happen to her.
I really loved reading “She’s Not Sorry”, the first chapter sucks you in. The first half of the book doesn’t make a lot of sense because so much is going on. But once you’ve reached the second half, you are in for a treat. So many surprises.
Meghan Michaels is an ICU-nurse and a single mom, who’s recently divorced. One day, new patient Caitlin arrives at the hospital, who is in a coma and suffering from a severe brain injury. Where Meghan normally succeeds in staying emotionally detached from her patients, she is pulled into Caitlin’s and her family’s life. Questioning what really happened to her and maybe somebody did this to her.
The book is split up in two parts. When I was reading the first half of the book, I felt a lot was happening. It felt a bit all over the place and I had no clue why these random events were happening. With a mid-way twist, that totally caught me off-guard, the pieces of the puzzle starting falling into place. And that made the book so much better. The first half started making more sense.
“She’s Not Sorry” is an easy to read book, you can fly through it, as did I. The story has tension and raises so many questions, that you will get answers to eventually. There are many twists and turns and I was surprised. This book is impossible to put down.
Meghan is an interesting character to read from, we follow the story through her POV. You can relate to her at the start of the book, with her being a single mom, working hard to provide for her daughter. You do question some decisions she makes and because the characters still stays a bit on the surface, you never really understand why she becomes so fixated on Nat, an old school friend that she hasn’t seen for 20 years. And the fact that Meghan is constantly concerned about her daughter Sienna, when there is really no reason for it. Making you believe that something bad is going to happen to her.
I really loved reading “She’s Not Sorry”, the first chapter sucks you in. The first half of the book doesn’t make a lot of sense because so much is going on. But once you’ve reached the second half, you are in for a treat. So many surprises.
Find Her by Tessa Bailey
lighthearted
fast-paced
- Plot- or character-driven? N/A
- Strong character development? No
- Loveable characters? No
- Diverse cast of characters? No
- Flaws of characters a main focus? No
1.0
It’s a novella, only a little over 50 pages long. And only so much can happen in a short romance story like this. I got this as a gift with another book purchase and I’m glad I never paid for it. Because what the actual fuck. This is really bad.
First of all, this book reads like fan fiction. Like a teenage fangirl wrote it. Hope feels ‘in love’ with Johnny, when she attends his concert and he stops playing in the middle of his song when he spots her in the audience. And when they meet backstage, let’s just say, there is a lot of spice. Johnny really forces himself on her and Hope is just a naïve groupie. After meeting just a few hours ago, they already love each other. And he’s actually telling himself, that “I need to take it slow with her”. Well, that’s the total opposite of what you’ve been doing, Johhny!
This books feels so unrealistic, the characters are caricatures and it’s poorly written. Worst book I read all year.
First of all, this book reads like fan fiction. Like a teenage fangirl wrote it. Hope feels ‘in love’ with Johnny, when she attends his concert and he stops playing in the middle of his song when he spots her in the audience. And when they meet backstage, let’s just say, there is a lot of spice. Johnny really forces himself on her and Hope is just a naïve groupie. After meeting just a few hours ago, they already love each other. And he’s actually telling himself, that “I need to take it slow with her”. Well, that’s the total opposite of what you’ve been doing, Johhny!
This books feels so unrealistic, the characters are caricatures and it’s poorly written. Worst book I read all year.
The Reappearance of Rachel Price by Holly Jackson
dark
mysterious
tense
medium-paced
- Plot- or character-driven? A mix
- Strong character development? Yes
- Loveable characters? No
- Diverse cast of characters? No
- Flaws of characters a main focus? Yes
3.5
I’m a big fan of Holly Jackson’s “A Good Girl’s Guide to Murder” series. Her 2023 novel, “Five Survive” was a huge disappointment, but I was still excited to read her 2024 release “The Disappearance of Rachel Price. And even though it took me a while to get into it, I’m glad I read it, because it’s a lot better than “Five Survive’.
The story is told entirely from the perspective of Bel, in third person. She was only 2-years-old when her mom Rachel Price went missing. So it’s obvious she has no recollection of what happened that day. The book is more about the plot and the characters and their development is secondary. However, it is immediately apparent that Bel suffers more from the sudden disappearance of her mother than she wants to admit. Bel feels like she and her father are a team, and their life has always been overshadowed by the disappearance of Rachel. And when she returns, it makes life even more difficult. And listening to Rachel’s story about the happenings, Bel evades questions about her mother’s disappearance.
It's a pretty big book and it took me a while to get into it. It takes some time for the mystery to become interesting. But when it does, it really does it well. Jackson manages to create a twisty, unpredictable mystery. This family has a lot of secrets. Towards the end, it becomes nail-biting exciting. But this is also the point where some plot twists/ plot points are less credible.
“The Reappearance of Rachel Price” is an interesting mystery for the most part. You have to push trough at first, but once you do, you’re in for a treat. I’m glad Jackson delivered again.
The story is told entirely from the perspective of Bel, in third person. She was only 2-years-old when her mom Rachel Price went missing. So it’s obvious she has no recollection of what happened that day. The book is more about the plot and the characters and their development is secondary. However, it is immediately apparent that Bel suffers more from the sudden disappearance of her mother than she wants to admit. Bel feels like she and her father are a team, and their life has always been overshadowed by the disappearance of Rachel. And when she returns, it makes life even more difficult. And listening to Rachel’s story about the happenings, Bel evades questions about her mother’s disappearance.
It's a pretty big book and it took me a while to get into it. It takes some time for the mystery to become interesting. But when it does, it really does it well. Jackson manages to create a twisty, unpredictable mystery. This family has a lot of secrets. Towards the end, it becomes nail-biting exciting. But this is also the point where some plot twists/ plot points are less credible.
“The Reappearance of Rachel Price” is an interesting mystery for the most part. You have to push trough at first, but once you do, you’re in for a treat. I’m glad Jackson delivered again.
Project Hail Mary by Andy Weir
adventurous
challenging
informative
tense
slow-paced
- Plot- or character-driven? A mix
- Strong character development? Yes
- Loveable characters? No
- Diverse cast of characters? Yes
- Flaws of characters a main focus? No
3.0
Let me just start with telling you that I don’t get the hype. I understand why people may like this book, but I don’t think it’s one of the best science fiction books ever written. Because that’s how this book is being marketed.
We meet Ryland Grace, who is the only survivor on a space mission. Waking up, remembering nothing, he is trying to figure out what the mission is all about and finding his way back.
I really enjoy science fiction, but “Project Hail Mary” was not it for me. I don’t mind complex stories, but there is so much scientific information that it started feeling like a text book, more than a novel. I listened to the audiobook, and I’m glad I did. Because I don’t think I would be able to get through a physical copy. I think that this kind of sci-fi is better in movie form for me, because I would love to see this being turned into one. But if was a bit dry and dragging for my liking as a novel.
I still really liked the story, it was interesting. But I never felt fully invested in the story and the main character. And that’s mainly why I struggled with this book.
We meet Ryland Grace, who is the only survivor on a space mission. Waking up, remembering nothing, he is trying to figure out what the mission is all about and finding his way back.
I really enjoy science fiction, but “Project Hail Mary” was not it for me. I don’t mind complex stories, but there is so much scientific information that it started feeling like a text book, more than a novel. I listened to the audiobook, and I’m glad I did. Because I don’t think I would be able to get through a physical copy. I think that this kind of sci-fi is better in movie form for me, because I would love to see this being turned into one. But if was a bit dry and dragging for my liking as a novel.
I still really liked the story, it was interesting. But I never felt fully invested in the story and the main character. And that’s mainly why I struggled with this book.
Next of Kin by Kia Abdullah
dark
mysterious
sad
tense
fast-paced
- Plot- or character-driven? A mix
- Strong character development? Yes
- Loveable characters? No
- Diverse cast of characters? Yes
- Flaws of characters a main focus? Yes
4.0
When I read the synopsis, it reminded me a lot of an older episode of “CSI: Crime Scene Investigation”, where a father left his son in the car on the hottest day of the year, forgetting he was with him. This book does its own thing, but also has a lot of similarities. And some I cannot see passed.
We meet Leila, a successful architect with her own business. She and her sister Yasmine have grown up together, without their parents for the most part, with Leila being the caregiver at 18 when Yasmine was only 11 years old. When Yasmine’s husband Andrew asks Leila to drop off three-year-old Max to day care, she does not hesitate. When Leila is at work, she receives a phone call from Andrew that Max never arrived at daycare. And then Leila remembers that Max is still in her car. When she runs to check on him, he is dead. Leila is accused of manslaughter and has to go to trial. But many secrets unravel while Leila awaits her fate.
The story is really strong and the twists are good and surprising. If you did not see that aforementioned episode of “CSI: Crime Scene Investigation”. It follows the major plot lines, but changes the family situation and dynamics. And it still does its own thing, it's not a copy of this episode. That is okay with me, there are many books and movies that have very similar plots. But some crucial details in this book are also in that TV-episode, that it just can’t be a coincidence anymore.
Off course, the book is way more in depth and it doesn’t only focus on the incident, but also on the family dynamics. The bond between the two sisters, their partners, the investigation by the detective. The book is divided into three parts. The incident, the courtroom and the aftermath. That courtroom part is what makes this book so good. I was super invested and this is something I especially enjoyed reading about.
If I hadn’t seen the “CSI: Crime Scene Investigation” episode, I would most definitely give this book a five-star rating and I would be more shocked by the twist. But because Kia Abdullah’s story has certain similarities with this episode, that I feel cannot be a coincidence, the book loses one full star in its final rating.
We meet Leila, a successful architect with her own business. She and her sister Yasmine have grown up together, without their parents for the most part, with Leila being the caregiver at 18 when Yasmine was only 11 years old. When Yasmine’s husband Andrew asks Leila to drop off three-year-old Max to day care, she does not hesitate. When Leila is at work, she receives a phone call from Andrew that Max never arrived at daycare. And then Leila remembers that Max is still in her car. When she runs to check on him, he is dead. Leila is accused of manslaughter and has to go to trial. But many secrets unravel while Leila awaits her fate.
The story is really strong and the twists are good and surprising. If you did not see that aforementioned episode of “CSI: Crime Scene Investigation”. It follows the major plot lines, but changes the family situation and dynamics. And it still does its own thing, it's not a copy of this episode. That is okay with me, there are many books and movies that have very similar plots. But some crucial details in this book are also in that TV-episode, that it just can’t be a coincidence anymore.
Off course, the book is way more in depth and it doesn’t only focus on the incident, but also on the family dynamics. The bond between the two sisters, their partners, the investigation by the detective. The book is divided into three parts. The incident, the courtroom and the aftermath. That courtroom part is what makes this book so good. I was super invested and this is something I especially enjoyed reading about.
If I hadn’t seen the “CSI: Crime Scene Investigation” episode, I would most definitely give this book a five-star rating and I would be more shocked by the twist. But because Kia Abdullah’s story has certain similarities with this episode, that I feel cannot be a coincidence, the book loses one full star in its final rating.