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per_fictionist's reviews
1162 reviews
None of This Is True by Lisa Jewell
dark
tense
fast-paced
Coming to Netflix in May: Hi! I’m Your Birthday Twin!
In June 2019, popular podcaster Alix Summer branched out into a one-off project, which she called Hi! I’m Your Birthday Twin!, about a local woman who was born on the same day as her. Within weeks, Summer’s life was in shreds and two people were dead.
Every trope in a thriller, Lisa Jewell does it better! I am always looking out for mysteries in podcast format so when I came across the premise of None of This is True, I knew I had found my calling! And honestly I couldn't have been more right. I am not going to give much away with the synopsis but PICTURE THIS : Two strangers sitting side by side celebrating their birthdays, these strangers lives couldn't have been more different. So, when one of them approaches the other offering to be a guest on their podcast, there is no reason for her to say no. WHAT UNFOLDS IS AN UNSETTLING AND UNPREDICTABLE TWIST THAT LEAVES YOU GASPING!
With an unreliable cast, a spine-chilling tale that unfolds and a compelling narrative technique - in the form of a podcast, None of this is true never dulls for a beat. There is so much TRAUMA and so much to unpack and yet Jewell wraps up the book with such ease and a satisfying climax.
In June 2019, popular podcaster Alix Summer branched out into a one-off project, which she called Hi! I’m Your Birthday Twin!, about a local woman who was born on the same day as her. Within weeks, Summer’s life was in shreds and two people were dead.
Every trope in a thriller, Lisa Jewell does it better! I am always looking out for mysteries in podcast format so when I came across the premise of None of This is True, I knew I had found my calling! And honestly I couldn't have been more right. I am not going to give much away with the synopsis but PICTURE THIS : Two strangers sitting side by side celebrating their birthdays, these strangers lives couldn't have been more different. So, when one of them approaches the other offering to be a guest on their podcast, there is no reason for her to say no. WHAT UNFOLDS IS AN UNSETTLING AND UNPREDICTABLE TWIST THAT LEAVES YOU GASPING!
With an unreliable cast, a spine-chilling tale that unfolds and a compelling narrative technique - in the form of a podcast, None of this is true never dulls for a beat. There is so much TRAUMA and so much to unpack and yet Jewell wraps up the book with such ease and a satisfying climax.
Mr. Fixer Upper by Lucy Score
Mr. Fixer Upper" by Lucy Score is a captivating romance which features Gannon King and his twin sister, Cat, as the faces of a prime-time TV show that revamps houses for people facing challenging life situations.
Mr. Fixer Upper was my first experience with Lucy Score's work, and it has left me eager to read more of her romances (I can already see a lengthy list of titles staring at me but I will probably start with the Knock Me Out series
At the heart of the story is Paige St. James, the heroine who keeps everything on set running smoothly. . As a skilled troubleshooter and organizer, Paige consistently exhibits a composed and collected attitude, even in high-pressure situations. I absolutely loved Paige right off the hook and as the story progressed, I could see a lot of myself in her and it made her love me even more. No she isn't the perfect MC, and she does have some opinions that I would love her to re-consider but we love Paige in this house, okay? Score's storytelling does an excellent job of highlighting the inequalities women face, providing a deep understanding of why Paige feels the need to maintain a certain image and persona.
Gannon King starts off as a somewhat unlikeable hero, but his character development throughout the story is compelling. By the end of the book, Gannon evolves into a tender-hearted figure, especially when it comes to his feelings for Paige, which is the kind of fictional men we love (a bit of grovelling for the women he loves, is a MUST). His willingness to humble himself for the woman he loves is a refreshing take on masculinity.
The inclusion of social themes such as the pay gap, gender stereotypes, and sexual harassment within the workplace is masterfully done and adds a meaningful dimension to the story. Lucy Score's ability to incorporate these important issues into a hot romance sets a high standard in the genre.
funny
relaxing
medium-paced
- Plot- or character-driven? Character
3.5
"Make me a list, and I will fix or remove every single obstacle"
Mr. Fixer Upper" by Lucy Score is a captivating romance which features Gannon King and his twin sister, Cat, as the faces of a prime-time TV show that revamps houses for people facing challenging life situations.
Mr. Fixer Upper was my first experience with Lucy Score's work, and it has left me eager to read more of her romances (I can already see a lengthy list of titles staring at me but I will probably start with the Knock Me Out series
At the heart of the story is Paige St. James, the heroine who keeps everything on set running smoothly. . As a skilled troubleshooter and organizer, Paige consistently exhibits a composed and collected attitude, even in high-pressure situations. I absolutely loved Paige right off the hook and as the story progressed, I could see a lot of myself in her and it made her love me even more. No she isn't the perfect MC, and she does have some opinions that I would love her to re-consider but we love Paige in this house, okay? Score's storytelling does an excellent job of highlighting the inequalities women face, providing a deep understanding of why Paige feels the need to maintain a certain image and persona.
Gannon King starts off as a somewhat unlikeable hero, but his character development throughout the story is compelling. By the end of the book, Gannon evolves into a tender-hearted figure, especially when it comes to his feelings for Paige, which is the kind of fictional men we love (a bit of grovelling for the women he loves, is a MUST). His willingness to humble himself for the woman he loves is a refreshing take on masculinity.
The inclusion of social themes such as the pay gap, gender stereotypes, and sexual harassment within the workplace is masterfully done and adds a meaningful dimension to the story. Lucy Score's ability to incorporate these important issues into a hot romance sets a high standard in the genre.
Killingly by Katharine Beutner
dark
mysterious
tense
slow-paced
- Plot- or character-driven? A mix
- Strong character development? It's complicated
- Loveable characters? Yes
- Diverse cast of characters? Yes
- Flaws of characters a main focus? No
4.25
Not many traces of Bertha can be found at Mount Holyoke College, besides a slim file in the archives with a copy of her transcript, some newspaper clippings, and Florence’s letter from 1915. After she was gone, Bertha seems to have disappeared from the communal memory of Mount Holyoke College as swiftly and completely as she had from its campus.
an excerpt from Mount Holyoke After Bertha
"Killingly" by Katharine Beutner is a hauntingly beautiful and richly textured novel that transports readers to the late 19th century, exploring the mysterious disappearance of a Mount Holyoke student. As a ardent fan of historical fiction, I found myself immediately drawn into the world Beutner meticulously constructs, where the line between reality and fiction artfully intertwines.
The novel centers around the true story of Bertha Mellish, a student who vanished in 1897 from the campus. However, Beutner skillfully transforms this historical incident into a rich fictional tale that examines the intricate psychological and social dynamics of that era. Through the character of Agnes, Bertha’s closest friend in the novel, who is a product of Beutner's imagination, she provides a lens through which the reader can explore the fictionalized story hile maintaining a strong connection to the authentic experiences of women during that period.
Beutner brilliantly captures the suffocating atmosphere of a women’s college at the turn of the twentieth century. From the intense friendships and the passionate crushes, the novel also captures the darker aspects of this world, including the casual racism and the deeply rooted prejudices that shaped the lives of these young women - all the while being a part of the fabric of their academic life. One of the most intriguing aspects of the novel is its exploration of the constraints placed on women, epecially in relation to their sexuality and reproductive rights inviting a discourse on women's history.
Shaped as a fictionalized mystery within a historical disappearnce, that we fortunately get a closure to, unlike the real Berth Mellish who still remains untraced. It’s a story about the ways in which society’s expectations can shape and even destroy lives, but it’s also a story about the resilience and complexity of women’s inner worlds.
"Killingly" is a powerful and unsettling novel that will stay with me for a long time.
an excerpt from Mount Holyoke After Bertha
"Killingly" by Katharine Beutner is a hauntingly beautiful and richly textured novel that transports readers to the late 19th century, exploring the mysterious disappearance of a Mount Holyoke student. As a ardent fan of historical fiction, I found myself immediately drawn into the world Beutner meticulously constructs, where the line between reality and fiction artfully intertwines.
The novel centers around the true story of Bertha Mellish, a student who vanished in 1897 from the campus. However, Beutner skillfully transforms this historical incident into a rich fictional tale that examines the intricate psychological and social dynamics of that era. Through the character of Agnes, Bertha’s closest friend in the novel, who is a product of Beutner's imagination, she provides a lens through which the reader can explore the fictionalized story hile maintaining a strong connection to the authentic experiences of women during that period.
Beutner brilliantly captures the suffocating atmosphere of a women’s college at the turn of the twentieth century. From the intense friendships and the passionate crushes, the novel also captures the darker aspects of this world, including the casual racism and the deeply rooted prejudices that shaped the lives of these young women - all the while being a part of the fabric of their academic life. One of the most intriguing aspects of the novel is its exploration of the constraints placed on women, epecially in relation to their sexuality and reproductive rights inviting a discourse on women's history.
Shaped as a fictionalized mystery within a historical disappearnce, that we fortunately get a closure to, unlike the real Berth Mellish who still remains untraced. It’s a story about the ways in which society’s expectations can shape and even destroy lives, but it’s also a story about the resilience and complexity of women’s inner worlds.
"Killingly" is a powerful and unsettling novel that will stay with me for a long time.