mpurdy's reviews
217 reviews

Don't Let the Forest In by C.G. Drews

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challenging dark emotional mysterious reflective sad tense medium-paced
  • Plot- or character-driven? Character
  • Strong character development? It's complicated
  • Loveable characters? It's complicated
  • Diverse cast of characters? No
  • Flaws of characters a main focus? Yes

3.5

A Song to Drown Rivers by Ann Liang

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4.0

The ending ripped my heart out and I am not sure I will recover.
Counting the Cost by Jill Duggar

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challenging dark emotional informative inspiring reflective sad tense medium-paced

3.5

My 2nd audio book of the year was one I have been wanting to check out for a while. As someone who grew up watching various shows on TLC, I frequently watched 19 kids and counting. As an only child, I couldn't wrap my head around having 18 siblings.

As an adult, I still can't fully wrap my head around it. Seeing various things that have come out about the family. I found myself wanting to understand how the kids impacted felt and how they had grown. We all have read and seen discussions about how being recorded constantly during the developing years can be traumatic and how extreme religious lifestyles can affect those (specifically women) involved.

I felt it took a lot of courage to write this book and for Jillian to share very intimate and hurtful moments. I do feel like she still has a lot of trauma that needs to be dealt with. Though I can also see how that can be hard when her and her husband have strict religious views deeply ingrained in them. When leaving a cult and having to leave loved ones who don't view their lifestyle as hurtful, they bring unique barriers in itself. 

As an outsider looking in, it feels easy to be irritated that Jillian defends her parents. I felt as if it was black and white and that cutting them off specifically, Jim Bob was a necessary step. He made choices that I felt were unforgivable, but each person's journey is unique, and we all deal with our trauma differently. 

I don't normally rate memoirs, so in this case, my 4 star is based on the quality of the audio book and the outline the story takes. I feel Jillian did great reading in the audio version. The outline was easy to follow. I just wish we had more talk with her siblings. Maybe there wasn't really any. I just wanted, I think, more commentary on the dynamics. Especially with the treatment her eldest brother received given the life choices he made. I wanted to have more insight on why Jim Bob stood by him. Was his motivation really all for the show?
For Better or Hearse by Ava Hunter

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dark emotional funny inspiring reflective medium-paced
  • Plot- or character-driven? A mix
  • Strong character development? Yes
  • Loveable characters? Yes
  • Diverse cast of characters? No
  • Flaws of characters a main focus? It's complicated

4.0

Ava Hunter is not a new author for me as earlier this year I read Rope the Moon and absolutely fell in love with her writing. So, if you haven't read that series, you should definitely check it out! To make things even better, not only is Tame the Heart and Rope the Moon on KU, but so is For Better or Hearse along with the companion novel Babymoon or Bust. Best believe I am downloading Babymoon or Bust shortly after this post. I had no idea it was a companion novel until after reading. 

I loved the concept in this one a grief/death duola goes on a 2 week getaway with a client only to find out she will be spending time with the man she ruined his wedding 3 years earlier. At first, I was nervous about how this was going to go, but there were so many touching moments that captured my heart! We also get a grump/grumpy romance with a type one diabetes rep!

I had a wonderful time with this one and hope you all will pick this one up for your spooky fall tbrs!

Origins of an Academy Bully by Caroline Peckham, Susanne Valenti

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challenging dark emotional informative mysterious sad tense medium-paced
  • Plot- or character-driven? Character
  • Strong character development? N/A
  • Loveable characters? Yes
  • Diverse cast of characters? Yes
  • Flaws of characters a main focus? Yes

4.0

Remina by Junji Ito

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dark mysterious sad tense fast-paced
  • Plot- or character-driven? Plot
  • Strong character development? No
  • Loveable characters? No
  • Diverse cast of characters? No
  • Flaws of characters a main focus? It's complicated

3.0

Honestly initially I was intrigued in the plot and what was actually going on then it just kept repeating the same thing and having a super predictable ending with the villain figure.  The only thing saving this for me was the amazing art. But I still have so many unanswered questions.
Women Who Think Too Much: How to Break Free of Overthinking and Reclaim Your Life by Susan Nolen-Hoeksema

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3.0

I don't feel like this gave me really any helpful tips 😕 except verbally tell myself no when I spiral and to go to therapy. Also the way the author describes women is not great 
The Golden Spoon by Jessa Maxwell

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3.5

I finally finished this book and was so disappointed. I wanted it to be so much more and the beginning was promising but the ending was rushed and just didn't deliver for me.
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