parksidereads's reviews
462 reviews
Cult Classic by Sloane Crosley
funny
mysterious
reflective
medium-paced
- Plot- or character-driven? Character
- Strong character development? Yes
- Loveable characters? It's complicated
- Diverse cast of characters? No
- Flaws of characters a main focus? Yes
3.5
I can safely say I have never read anything like Cult Classic. Andrew Sean Greer classified it as a Romantic Thriller and part of me wants to say, yes that is dead on, but another part of me feels in this world, through this lens does true romance really exist?
When the recently engaged Lola runs into an ex-boyfriend, and then another, and another she must contend not only with the viability of her current relationship but with the fact her best friend and former boss have an unhealthy investment in the outcome. As past and present continue to converge Lola is forced to surrender herself to the conspiring of one very contemporary cult and as a result, we unravel a story of love, memory, morality, and mind control that challenges our concept of romance.
Written in a sharp, funny, wry voice Lola is a character you cannot help but get behind. Her mind works in a peculiar way and I honestly could not imagine anyone else landing themselves where she ends up. At one point in the book Lola finds herself thinking “One thing this atrium could use was chairs. Maybe something cute, like a banquette upholstered with the pubes of my former lovers”. Like what? Could you imagine? Who thinks like that? Lola, Lola thinks like that and I love every bit of the little absurdities she throws at me.
If you like books that raise the middle finger to the confines of traditional tropes this book is for you.
This book was gifted by MCD through GoodReads giveaways win. All opinions are my own.
When the recently engaged Lola runs into an ex-boyfriend, and then another, and another she must contend not only with the viability of her current relationship but with the fact her best friend and former boss have an unhealthy investment in the outcome. As past and present continue to converge Lola is forced to surrender herself to the conspiring of one very contemporary cult and as a result, we unravel a story of love, memory, morality, and mind control that challenges our concept of romance.
Written in a sharp, funny, wry voice Lola is a character you cannot help but get behind. Her mind works in a peculiar way and I honestly could not imagine anyone else landing themselves where she ends up. At one point in the book Lola finds herself thinking “One thing this atrium could use was chairs. Maybe something cute, like a banquette upholstered with the pubes of my former lovers”. Like what? Could you imagine? Who thinks like that? Lola, Lola thinks like that and I love every bit of the little absurdities she throws at me.
If you like books that raise the middle finger to the confines of traditional tropes this book is for you.
This book was gifted by MCD through GoodReads giveaways win. All opinions are my own.
The Scourge Between Stars by Ness Brown
adventurous
emotional
fast-paced
- Plot- or character-driven? Plot
- Strong character development? Yes
- Loveable characters? Yes
- Diverse cast of characters? Yes
- Flaws of characters a main focus? No
3.75
StoryGraph standard question, do you find the cast of characters loveable? Me, does a droid count?
This is a fast romp through space, perfect for lovers of space horror. Although I had a lot of fun with it I would really have loved to see it more developed and turned into a novel. I felt the story lines and horror scenes had so much potential to be pushed so much farther.
But don't get me wrong, I still had a lot of fun with this book.
This is a fast romp through space, perfect for lovers of space horror. Although I had a lot of fun with it I would really have loved to see it more developed and turned into a novel. I felt the story lines and horror scenes had so much potential to be pushed so much farther.
But don't get me wrong, I still had a lot of fun with this book.
Maeve Fly by CJ Leede
dark
emotional
medium-paced
- Plot- or character-driven? Character
- Strong character development? Yes
- Loveable characters? No
- Diverse cast of characters? No
- Flaws of characters a main focus? Yes
5.0
obFUCKINGsessed with Mave.
Content Warnings
Graphic: Murder, Sexual violence, Gore, and Violence
The Devil Takes You Home by Gabino Iglesias
dark
emotional
medium-paced
- Plot- or character-driven? Character
- Strong character development? Yes
- Loveable characters? It's complicated
- Diverse cast of characters? Yes
- Flaws of characters a main focus? Yes
3.75
Wow. I just finished The Devil Takes You Home and knew I needed to immediately tap into my emotional state before it fades away. There are tears in my eyes. This book was brutal on so many levels and the ending was devastating. "Something brings the fucked citizens of the world together, suffering makes us family" and with that suffering from racism, grief, poverty, inequality, and just being stuck, violence and crime are birthed. This book is the result of that conception.
We Love to Entertain by Sarah Strohmeyer
medium-paced
- Plot- or character-driven? A mix
- Strong character development? No
- Loveable characters? No
- Diverse cast of characters? No
- Flaws of characters a main focus? It's complicated
3.0
Little Lovely Things by Maureen Joyce Connolly
dark
emotional
sad
tense
fast-paced
4.0
Dark. Emotional. Compulsive. Fast-Paced.
A mother's chance decision leads to a twist of fate that is every parent's worst nightmare - her children haven been taken, and the police have no leads.
Little Lovely Things is the story of a family shattered by an unthinkable tragedy. Played out in multiple narrative voices, the novel explores how the lives of those affected fatefully intersect, and highlights the potential catastrophe of the small decisions we make every day.
This emotionally charged plot driven novel has limited character development, (mainly just enough to make the story compelling) but makes up in a dramatic twisty and dark plot that will keep you glued to the pages well into the night... which is why this was a 3.5🌟 read for me. As a mother, I will always connect to the pain of another mother, fictional or not, which is why my only objection to this book is I’d love to see a deeper character development of Claire.
Trigger warnings - If you are sensitive to child abduction, child-harm, or not so happy endings this book is not for you. The best way for a thriller to capture my inner fears is to harness those fears all parents hold. If this one sounds too intense for you, but you’re still wanting to tap into that fear I suggest Fierce Kingdom.
A mother's chance decision leads to a twist of fate that is every parent's worst nightmare - her children haven been taken, and the police have no leads.
Little Lovely Things is the story of a family shattered by an unthinkable tragedy. Played out in multiple narrative voices, the novel explores how the lives of those affected fatefully intersect, and highlights the potential catastrophe of the small decisions we make every day.
This emotionally charged plot driven novel has limited character development, (mainly just enough to make the story compelling) but makes up in a dramatic twisty and dark plot that will keep you glued to the pages well into the night... which is why this was a 3.5🌟 read for me. As a mother, I will always connect to the pain of another mother, fictional or not, which is why my only objection to this book is I’d love to see a deeper character development of Claire.
Trigger warnings - If you are sensitive to child abduction, child-harm, or not so happy endings this book is not for you. The best way for a thriller to capture my inner fears is to harness those fears all parents hold. If this one sounds too intense for you, but you’re still wanting to tap into that fear I suggest Fierce Kingdom.
Come Closer by Sara Gran
tense
medium-paced
- Plot- or character-driven? Plot
- Strong character development? It's complicated
- Loveable characters? It's complicated
- Diverse cast of characters? No
- Flaws of characters a main focus? It's complicated
5.0
Yes, I’m trying to give this book more than 5 stars. I love it that much and feel deeply and personally insulted if someone doesn’t like it, seriously I have a compulsive need to explain it to them because they obviously missed something. I think about one scene in this book nearly every day (this isn’t an exaggeration or a book reviewer fib, I do, it haunts my psyche).
Official review, written Apr 12, 2021:
Hey horror buddies. If you haven’t read Come Closer by Sara Gran, then what the fuck are you doing with your life? Stop what you’re doing right now, grab yourself a copy, and read it. It’s just under 200 pages, so it will not take you long to right your wrongs. Trust me, you will thank me later. Or maybe not, maybe you will curse me as you’re lying awake at night wondering if anyone else can her the tap, tap, tapping on the walls.
I have recently discovered I’m obsessed with novellas, especially when it comes to horror. There are some fantastic horror authors in the industry that can really pack a pretty hard punch in under 200 pages, and Sara Gran is one of them. How she was able to get SO MUCH jammed into this little story is simply AMAZING.
Vivid. Memorable. Unnerving.
A unique take on possession told through the eyes of the protagonist Amanda. Her story will creep under your skin and never leave, ever. I am writing this review 5 months after finishing the novella. I still remember it as if it were yesterday. If you know me, this is significant. I have full on mom brain mode. I am lucky if I remember what I read yesterday. I look at everyone differently now. When I see hate in the world, I think of those hateful actions and think about the aggressor, and if I’m seeing the “REAL” them, if they’re still in control.
‼️ UPDATE ‼️
It’s been about a year since I’ve read this book (It’s March 2022). I still think of it, one scene in particular. This book is like a parasite that burrows its self inside your brain, wiggling out when you least expect it and terrifying you all over again… guys I love this book so much.
Official review, written Apr 12, 2021:
Hey horror buddies. If you haven’t read Come Closer by Sara Gran, then what the fuck are you doing with your life? Stop what you’re doing right now, grab yourself a copy, and read it. It’s just under 200 pages, so it will not take you long to right your wrongs. Trust me, you will thank me later. Or maybe not, maybe you will curse me as you’re lying awake at night wondering if anyone else can her the tap, tap, tapping on the walls.
I have recently discovered I’m obsessed with novellas, especially when it comes to horror. There are some fantastic horror authors in the industry that can really pack a pretty hard punch in under 200 pages, and Sara Gran is one of them. How she was able to get SO MUCH jammed into this little story is simply AMAZING.
Vivid. Memorable. Unnerving.
A unique take on possession told through the eyes of the protagonist Amanda. Her story will creep under your skin and never leave, ever. I am writing this review 5 months after finishing the novella. I still remember it as if it were yesterday. If you know me, this is significant. I have full on mom brain mode. I am lucky if I remember what I read yesterday. I look at everyone differently now. When I see hate in the world, I think of those hateful actions and think about the aggressor, and if I’m seeing the “REAL” them, if they’re still in control.
‼️ UPDATE ‼️
It’s been about a year since I’ve read this book (It’s March 2022). I still think of it, one scene in particular. This book is like a parasite that burrows its self inside your brain, wiggling out when you least expect it and terrifying you all over again… guys I love this book so much.
River of Teeth by Sarah Gailey
adventurous
medium-paced
- Plot- or character-driven? Character
- Strong character development? Yes
- Loveable characters? Yes
- Diverse cast of characters? Yes
- Flaws of characters a main focus? No
4.0
Finna by Nino Cipri
adventurous
emotional
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
really really enjoyed Finna. It had so much heart.
This story takes place in an IKEA like big box store and things get a little wild when employees Ava and Jules discover it's labyrinth like layout is the perfect setting for wormholes when on a not so average workday an elderly customer slips into an alternate dimension and they are tasked to go find her. The two brave carnivorous furniture, doppelgänger employees, and navigating what their relationship to each other should look like amidst their recent breakup.
This book about capitalism and navigating changing relationships and it’s an adventurous, fun, quick read that is so incredibly heartfelt it leaves you yearning for more. I am so incredibly happy this readathon helped me discover Nino Cipri and I cannot wait to read more of their books.
This story takes place in an IKEA like big box store and things get a little wild when employees Ava and Jules discover it's labyrinth like layout is the perfect setting for wormholes when on a not so average workday an elderly customer slips into an alternate dimension and they are tasked to go find her. The two brave carnivorous furniture, doppelgänger employees, and navigating what their relationship to each other should look like amidst their recent breakup.
This book about capitalism and navigating changing relationships and it’s an adventurous, fun, quick read that is so incredibly heartfelt it leaves you yearning for more. I am so incredibly happy this readathon helped me discover Nino Cipri and I cannot wait to read more of their books.
Your Driver Is Waiting by Priya Guns
slow-paced
- Plot- or character-driven? Character
- Strong character development? No
- Loveable characters? No
- Diverse cast of characters? Yes
- Flaws of characters a main focus? It's complicated
2.5