Scan barcode
justinkhchen's reviews
517 reviews
Incidents Around the House by Josh Malerman
tense
4.25
Relentlessly atmospheric, experimental with obvious flaws, Incidents Around the House is unapologetically written for the devoted horror fans; immediate point of reference comes to mind is the 2022 horror film Skinamarink, which utilizes a similar overarching tropes: intentionally obscure narrative through a child's POV. While the novel successfully delivers on scares, tension, and a sense of dread, I can also see it being criticized for being overly vague, lacking a traditional narrative arc, and an inconclusive ending — some of which I actually consider to be the story's strength, while others might be areas where the novel should've gone through a few more rounds of refinement.
One of my favorite Josh Malerman stories is A House at the Bottom of a Lake, and this feels like a continuation of that writing style — where the horror element can be interpreted both literally and metaphorically. With the concept of innocence and parenthood being repeatedly brought up, it is easy to make correlation between these subject matters and the supernatural presence (the writing even encourages it at times). But then there will be outlier scenes where they can only be read as one way rather than open for analysis... The lack of consistency is where I bump into some frustrations with Incidents Around the House's narrative — I wish the author's intent is made a little more clear.
Still, I commend Josh Malerman for pushing the boundary and writing outside the box, as Incidents Around the House contains some of the more original, grotesque imagery, and genuinely chilling sequences (people you are talking to is not who you think they are never cease to scare me). Yes, while this novel (at least my experience with it) has trouble deciding whether to be metaphorical or literal, and would potentially work better as a novella, it is already one of the more memorable reads of this year!
**This ARC was provided by the publisher via NetGalley in exchange for an honest review. Much appreciated!**
One of my favorite Josh Malerman stories is A House at the Bottom of a Lake, and this feels like a continuation of that writing style — where the horror element can be interpreted both literally and metaphorically. With the concept of innocence and parenthood being repeatedly brought up, it is easy to make correlation between these subject matters and the supernatural presence (the writing even encourages it at times). But then there will be outlier scenes where they can only be read as one way rather than open for analysis... The lack of consistency is where I bump into some frustrations with Incidents Around the House's narrative — I wish the author's intent is made a little more clear.
Still, I commend Josh Malerman for pushing the boundary and writing outside the box, as Incidents Around the House contains some of the more original, grotesque imagery, and genuinely chilling sequences (people you are talking to is not who you think they are never cease to scare me). Yes, while this novel (at least my experience with it) has trouble deciding whether to be metaphorical or literal, and would potentially work better as a novella, it is already one of the more memorable reads of this year!
**This ARC was provided by the publisher via NetGalley in exchange for an honest review. Much appreciated!**
Deception by Amanda Quick
medium-paced
3.75
Delightful, but not a new favorite, Deception has the foundation of an adventure-driven historical romance I've come to expect from Amanda Quick, but the final outcome feels a little tame comparing to other titles I picked up prior.
The positives: I really enjoy both the hero and heroine: Jared as a levelheaded, punctual 'pirate' completely turns the stereotype (crass, big emotions) we've come to expect on its head, and the fact he's described to look exactly like a typical pirate adds the additional comical touch. Staying true to Amanda Quick's preference for strong female heroine, Olympia's book-smart more than compensates for her lack of real-life experience, and she's often more than willing to stand her ground rather than becoming frazzled or annoyingly ignorant. I also pick up narrative cues from Mary Poppins (Jared being a tutor to a chaotic household) and The Sound of Music (heroine softening a stoic hero)—which are all inspired reference points I appreciate. Lastly, I was pleasantly shocked by certain 'reveals'—did not expect such subject matter being highlighted with such nonjudgmental attitude from a 90s publication!
The letdown: Amanda Quick historical romances is for me either a spirited romp, or woven with an engaging mystery; while Deception IS centering around treasure hunting, the progression is placid and static (lots of reviewing/decoding paper materials). Even the obstacles encountered throughout are low-stake, and I find the villain reveal to be particularly obvious, and the least interesting out of all the potentials. While I like both Jared and Olympia, their romance lacks spark—it is almost too levelheaded in a story that is already filled with talking and not enough action.
Deception is still plenty readable, as it fulfills my thirst for a decent historical romance. But as far as Amanda Quick's titles go, this one will rank low among others I've read (not by a large margin, I should emphasize). A little more 'domestic' and less adventurous, but the decent premise and a collection of colorful secondary characters (I ship Mrs. Bird and Graves!) still make this one worthwhile overall.
***Historical Hellions Book Club | August 2024 Selection***
The positives: I really enjoy both the hero and heroine: Jared as a levelheaded, punctual 'pirate' completely turns the stereotype (crass, big emotions) we've come to expect on its head, and the fact he's described to look exactly like a typical pirate adds the additional comical touch. Staying true to Amanda Quick's preference for strong female heroine, Olympia's book-smart more than compensates for her lack of real-life experience, and she's often more than willing to stand her ground rather than becoming frazzled or annoyingly ignorant. I also pick up narrative cues from Mary Poppins (Jared being a tutor to a chaotic household) and The Sound of Music (heroine softening a stoic hero)—which are all inspired reference points I appreciate. Lastly, I was pleasantly shocked by certain 'reveals'—did not expect such subject matter being highlighted with such nonjudgmental attitude from a 90s publication!
The letdown: Amanda Quick historical romances is for me either a spirited romp, or woven with an engaging mystery; while Deception IS centering around treasure hunting, the progression is placid and static (lots of reviewing/decoding paper materials). Even the obstacles encountered throughout are low-stake, and I find the villain reveal to be particularly obvious, and the least interesting out of all the potentials. While I like both Jared and Olympia, their romance lacks spark—it is almost too levelheaded in a story that is already filled with talking and not enough action.
Deception is still plenty readable, as it fulfills my thirst for a decent historical romance. But as far as Amanda Quick's titles go, this one will rank low among others I've read (not by a large margin, I should emphasize). A little more 'domestic' and less adventurous, but the decent premise and a collection of colorful secondary characters (I ship Mrs. Bird and Graves!) still make this one worthwhile overall.
***Historical Hellions Book Club | August 2024 Selection***
Hiding Him by Adam Hattan
lighthearted
4.0
Comforting like a warm hug, I've been following Adam Hattan's YouTube channel for years, so it definitely piqued my interest when he announced he was venturing into writing — I'm happy to say Hiding Him is a worthy first-time effort that encapsulates the positivity and casual humor that have been a staple in his online presence.
As a longtime viewer to Adam's content, there's an extra layer of delights as there are numerous recurring video references sprinkled throughout. The coming-of-age story, while nothing groundbreaking, is heartwarming and flows nicely from one event to the next, and the romance definitely contains a dash of steam here and there!
One thing to note for non-British readers, be aware of the British terms utilizes throughout (such as sixth form), as some Googling might be necessary. (bigger publishing houses would usually re-edit for international market, but unsure if there's plan for it for this novel).
Overall, Hiding Him is a great extension to Adam Hattan's body of work, one that feels genuine, and demonstrate he can tell an engaging story. Excited to see where this direction will take him down the road (hopefully an adult romance is in the cards)!
**This ARC was provided by the publisher via NetGalley in exchange for an honest review. Much appreciated!**
As a longtime viewer to Adam's content, there's an extra layer of delights as there are numerous recurring video references sprinkled throughout. The coming-of-age story, while nothing groundbreaking, is heartwarming and flows nicely from one event to the next, and the romance definitely contains a dash of steam here and there!
One thing to note for non-British readers, be aware of the British terms utilizes throughout (such as sixth form), as some Googling might be necessary. (bigger publishing houses would usually re-edit for international market, but unsure if there's plan for it for this novel).
Overall, Hiding Him is a great extension to Adam Hattan's body of work, one that feels genuine, and demonstrate he can tell an engaging story. Excited to see where this direction will take him down the road (hopefully an adult romance is in the cards)!
**This ARC was provided by the publisher via NetGalley in exchange for an honest review. Much appreciated!**
Craft: Stories I Wrote for the Devil by Ananda Lima
emotional
medium-paced
4.25
Imaginative and heartfelt, Craft is a solid collection of interconnected short stories touching upon themes of immigration, familial bond, and writing as a craft. While its marketing places a lot of emphasis on this Devil character, his role is often more of a prompter for broader discussion, rather than a well-rounded presence driving the plot. In addition, I would also label Craft squarely as literary fiction, with supernatural elements featured in a few stories; if you're picking this up expecting a true horror experience — you might be a little taken aback by its subtlety.
Still, as a short stories collection this is one of the stronger ones that feels diverse but still maintains a cohesive core. I really enjoyed most of what I've read, and there are some truly unique standouts (the one about a vending machine selling little people is particularly memorable).
PS: Note the framing story does take place during COVID for a few chapters, in case this may potentially be a trigger for some.
**This ARC was provided by the publisher via NetGalley in exchange for an honest review. Much appreciated!**
Still, as a short stories collection this is one of the stronger ones that feels diverse but still maintains a cohesive core. I really enjoyed most of what I've read, and there are some truly unique standouts (the one about a vending machine selling little people is particularly memorable).
PS: Note the framing story does take place during COVID for a few chapters, in case this may potentially be a trigger for some.
**This ARC was provided by the publisher via NetGalley in exchange for an honest review. Much appreciated!**
If Something Happens to Me by Alex Finlay
adventurous
fast-paced
- Plot- or character-driven? Plot
3.25
A decent, disposable thrill ride, If Something Happens to Me was fast-moving and kept my attention throughout, but there were also countless moments where I was thrown off by its lax on logic and common sense. So even though I enjoyed the overall plot progression and the subject matter featured (revenge, hidden identities, double agent, parental love), the ridiculous ease at how tasks were accomplished made the moment-to-moment experience absent of intricacy and downright silly (a character who was living in hiding had his photo publicly displayed near his residence, police / FBI freely sharing case details with civilians, and not to mention plot convenience like characters simply bumping into each other).
The audiobook is very sleekly produced, and the narrators' performance adds the needed human warmth to an otherwise very task-oriented writing. With this being my first Alex Finlay read, I can see the reason behind his popularity: the story is extremely eventful and 'busy', so there is never a dull moment. But my suspense of disbelief can only stretch so far, and the liberty he's taken in his storytelling is a little beyond my personal tolerance. Not (yet) a must-read author, but can make for a fine library loan when I'm desperate for something easily digestible and thinking-free.
The audiobook is very sleekly produced, and the narrators' performance adds the needed human warmth to an otherwise very task-oriented writing. With this being my first Alex Finlay read, I can see the reason behind his popularity: the story is extremely eventful and 'busy', so there is never a dull moment. But my suspense of disbelief can only stretch so far, and the liberty he's taken in his storytelling is a little beyond my personal tolerance. Not (yet) a must-read author, but can make for a fine library loan when I'm desperate for something easily digestible and thinking-free.
The Haunting of Velkwood by Gwendolyn Kiste
mysterious
medium-paced
4.0
Deeply atmospheric, if a little emotionally detached, The Haunting of Velkwood is all about the melancholic mood, and its unique premise of a neighborhood being 'stuck' in an unidentifiable dimension. Even though thematically the story has shades of Silent HIll 2 and The Grudge, where the negative energy from a traumatic event physically marks a place, the execution remains pleasingly original and provocative — I particularly appreciate the choice in not providing concrete explanation to strange phenomena, further enhancing its otherworldly feel.
The character portrayal of The Haunting of Velkwood is where I have conflicting thoughts. While the sense of being weighted down by one's guilt is vividly conveyed, the more emotive scenes comes across as awkwardly stilted and robotic — which makes subplots such as friendship bond and forbidden romance a little difficult to resonate. However I can see it being justified as a stylistic choice, as the almost 'uncanny valley' delivery adds to the overall off-kilter vibe (like in Twin Peaks), but with the story's closure being linked so tightly to human emotion, I question if the scale is skewed too close to the 'weird' spectrum for its own good.
Still, I applaud The Haunting of Velkwood for its originality and vivid scene-setting. If you want to indulge in an introspective, lyrically eerie slow burn (and enjoy the various references mentioned), this one is worth picking up.
The character portrayal of The Haunting of Velkwood is where I have conflicting thoughts. While the sense of being weighted down by one's guilt is vividly conveyed, the more emotive scenes comes across as awkwardly stilted and robotic — which makes subplots such as friendship bond and forbidden romance a little difficult to resonate. However I can see it being justified as a stylistic choice, as the almost 'uncanny valley' delivery adds to the overall off-kilter vibe (like in Twin Peaks), but with the story's closure being linked so tightly to human emotion, I question if the scale is skewed too close to the 'weird' spectrum for its own good.
Still, I applaud The Haunting of Velkwood for its originality and vivid scene-setting. If you want to indulge in an introspective, lyrically eerie slow burn (and enjoy the various references mentioned), this one is worth picking up.
The Novelist by Jordan Castro
funny
lighthearted
reflective
4.0
A surprisingly engaging stream of consciousness journey about (not) writing a novel, The Novelist follows the protagonist inability to work on his novel, distractions ranging from external sources (email / social media), bodily requirements (never have I imagined musing on wiping after number two could make for such engrossing read), to something more psychological and intangible.
As a creative person myself, I'm impressed at the way Jordan Castro so effortlessly articulates these in-between moments: the sense of being at the cusp of something great but still formless, frantically seeking references / precedents for reassurance in our instincts, and the eventual existential crisis at our own incompetence for a thing that have yet to come to fruition. I particularly appreciate all the sidetracked scenes (process of making coffee, spiraling about organic versus inorganic food), as they come across quite relatable and offer a nice dose of levity. The narrative did lose me at a few spots (there's a 'rant' segment that I found to be a little philosophically indulgent), and I'm sure I missed quite a few literary subtexts along the way (only after the fact did I become aware of the connection to Tao Lin's work).
All in all, this is a nice change of pace from the plot-focused fiction I've been reading lately!
As a creative person myself, I'm impressed at the way Jordan Castro so effortlessly articulates these in-between moments: the sense of being at the cusp of something great but still formless, frantically seeking references / precedents for reassurance in our instincts, and the eventual existential crisis at our own incompetence for a thing that have yet to come to fruition. I particularly appreciate all the sidetracked scenes (process of making coffee, spiraling about organic versus inorganic food), as they come across quite relatable and offer a nice dose of levity. The narrative did lose me at a few spots (there's a 'rant' segment that I found to be a little philosophically indulgent), and I'm sure I missed quite a few literary subtexts along the way (only after the fact did I become aware of the connection to Tao Lin's work).
All in all, this is a nice change of pace from the plot-focused fiction I've been reading lately!
Listen for the Lie by Amy Tintera
funny
lighthearted
fast-paced
4.25
A whodunit in a podcast world, Listen for the Lie is almost purposely-written for audible production, because I found a lot of my enjoyment stemmed from its flashy audiobook production, featuring multiple narrators, sound effects, and a complete sonic branding for its fabricated podcast. And in the midst of it all, the mystery also delivered, with compelling characters and clever misdirection — even if the final outcome was less than suprising.
Going into it expecting a typical mystery thriller (based on its marketing and premise), I did not anticipate the amount of time the novel subverted my expectation: the story's immediate tone was a lot more chilled and kooky, with the larger-than-life characters seemed more fitting in a cozy mystery. Then a romance-novel-quality tension was escalating between certain characters (there was even some steam!). And just when I was ready to categorize this novel a 'cozy mystery romance', it became shades dark (subject matter-wise), and grim.
Listen for the Lie was pure entertainment — I even stayed up late just to get to the end! if I were to read it physically, the tonal shifts might be annoyingly jarring, but in audio the production itself helped in blending the genre-bending details into a coherent whole. No groundbreaking twist or literary masterpiece here, but rather a well-assembled mystery with a good dose of humor and romance.
**The Book Troop Book Club June 2024 Selection**
Going into it expecting a typical mystery thriller (based on its marketing and premise), I did not anticipate the amount of time the novel subverted my expectation: the story's immediate tone was a lot more chilled and kooky, with the larger-than-life characters seemed more fitting in a cozy mystery. Then a romance-novel-quality tension was escalating between certain characters (there was even some steam!). And just when I was ready to categorize this novel a 'cozy mystery romance', it became shades dark (subject matter-wise), and grim.
Listen for the Lie was pure entertainment — I even stayed up late just to get to the end! if I were to read it physically, the tonal shifts might be annoyingly jarring, but in audio the production itself helped in blending the genre-bending details into a coherent whole. No groundbreaking twist or literary masterpiece here, but rather a well-assembled mystery with a good dose of humor and romance.
**The Book Troop Book Club June 2024 Selection**
Man from Primrose Lane by James Renner
emotional
mysterious
4.25
A slightly bloated sci-fi thriller head trip, but impressive nevertheless, I picked up The Man from Primrose Lane based on a very casual recommendation, plus my immediate intrigue towards the curious title; had I done a bit more research (literally by looking at its GR tags), I would've been more mentally prepped with where the narrative ended up. If you're a fan of Blake Crouch (particularly Dark Matter and Recursion), as well as The Other Side of Night by Adam Hamdy, this one will be right up your alley.
(The novel was at one point being developed as a film adaptation with Bradley Cooper starring—that would've been SO good!)
I particularly love the exploration on obsession, how it eats away at one's normality, and the blurred morality of intent behind such act (the obsession of a stalker towards its victim versus the obsession of a husband at finding his wife's murderer — are they one and the same?). With well-articulated heavy emotions (depression, grief, etc.), I was thoroughly invested in the character journey throughout the first 2/3 of The Man from Primrose Lane, and this was in addition to the central mystery that was piling up nicely with ghastly visuals and perplexing clues.
In retrospect, I appreciate the more outlandish direction of the final 1/3, but in the moment I was thrown off by the speculative sci-fi details, and found them to be unnecessarily wordy and impacting pacing. There were also plot details where the author had tipped over the logic he set up from intricate to convoluted, to the point it was difficult keeping track of who, what, and when.
Even with flaws (some inflated due to my ignorance), The Man from Primrose Lane is passionately written (almost to a manic degree), and I really enjoy its stylish execution (DO NOT do the audiobook with this title — James Renner often switches scene mid character dialog —which on paper I find to be quite a creative accomplishment, but has to be confusing by ears). Not one of my top recommendation for stories featuring this trope, but it's close.
(The novel was at one point being developed as a film adaptation with Bradley Cooper starring—that would've been SO good!)
I particularly love the exploration on obsession, how it eats away at one's normality, and the blurred morality of intent behind such act (the obsession of a stalker towards its victim versus the obsession of a husband at finding his wife's murderer — are they one and the same?). With well-articulated heavy emotions (depression, grief, etc.), I was thoroughly invested in the character journey throughout the first 2/3 of The Man from Primrose Lane, and this was in addition to the central mystery that was piling up nicely with ghastly visuals and perplexing clues.
In retrospect, I appreciate the more outlandish direction of the final 1/3, but in the moment I was thrown off by the speculative sci-fi details, and found them to be unnecessarily wordy and impacting pacing. There were also plot details where the author had tipped over the logic he set up from intricate to convoluted, to the point it was difficult keeping track of who, what, and when.
Even with flaws (some inflated due to my ignorance), The Man from Primrose Lane is passionately written (almost to a manic degree), and I really enjoy its stylish execution (DO NOT do the audiobook with this title — James Renner often switches scene mid character dialog —which on paper I find to be quite a creative accomplishment, but has to be confusing by ears). Not one of my top recommendation for stories featuring this trope, but it's close.
Darling Girls by Sally Hepworth
fast-paced
3.5
An ideal wine mom mystery, Darling Girls is a stress-free reading experience with broad appeal; even with its narrative touching upon subject matters such as domestic violence or drug abuse, it is always through the gentrified lens of glossy entertainment, rather than depicting the frank, ugly reality.
The 'thrills' are mostly derived from information being intentionally withheld, rather than action taking place in its plot (characters did very little other than conversing among each others in different environments), but overall I was entertained by most of its maneuvers (except for one instance where a concealed identity was pretty obvious early on), and the fiery personalities / bonding of the three sisters (which really came to life via its audiobook). The pivotal villain was unfortunately cartoonish and garishly depicted, lacking any compelling nuances (which, could be an intentional choice to lessen the true brutality of their action).
Darling Girls is a fine choice if you're seeking a surface level thrill, with sensationalized melodrama that is involving without graphic violence or gore on page. Even though personally speaking this is overall too low-stake and action-less for my usual preference, the short chapters and lively narration elevates the experience overall.
**This ARC was provided by the publisher via NetGalley in exchange for an honest review. Much appreciated!**
The 'thrills' are mostly derived from information being intentionally withheld, rather than action taking place in its plot (characters did very little other than conversing among each others in different environments), but overall I was entertained by most of its maneuvers (except for one instance where a concealed identity was pretty obvious early on), and the fiery personalities / bonding of the three sisters (which really came to life via its audiobook). The pivotal villain was unfortunately cartoonish and garishly depicted, lacking any compelling nuances (which, could be an intentional choice to lessen the true brutality of their action).
Darling Girls is a fine choice if you're seeking a surface level thrill, with sensationalized melodrama that is involving without graphic violence or gore on page. Even though personally speaking this is overall too low-stake and action-less for my usual preference, the short chapters and lively narration elevates the experience overall.
**This ARC was provided by the publisher via NetGalley in exchange for an honest review. Much appreciated!**