readingmaria's reviews
521 reviews
White Horse by Erika T. Wurth
dark
emotional
mysterious
medium-paced
- Plot- or character-driven? Plot
- Strong character development? Yes
- Loveable characters? No
- Diverse cast of characters? Yes
- Flaws of characters a main focus? It's complicated
3.0
A good debut, but I think the writing style just wasn’t for me. It seemed a bit choppy with sudden jumps in time, and I feel like the things that happened from Michael and that one dinner, the outcome just wasn’t explained or connected well in my view (this, and a few other things). Regardless, I really did like this as a debut, and I’m holding out on Erika coming up with a fabulous second novel. The story was really cool, just the execution wasn’t my favourite.
Hemlock Island by Kelley Armstrong
dark
tense
medium-paced
- Plot- or character-driven? Plot
- Strong character development? No
- Loveable characters? No
- Diverse cast of characters? It's complicated
- Flaws of characters a main focus? It's complicated
2.5
Ok let me start off by saying - wow, was this terrifying for most of the book! If you’re looking for spooky season horror ghost vibes, this is for you!
With that being said - yes, I think this book delivers on the creep factor. But the characters, the dialogue….blah. I was bored for those parts. I also felt really dumb at times, because they kept referring to things that others said, but like I never actually remember reading what was said (when in fact, it wasn’t revealed until later). I just don’t think that was really necessary, the whole intrigue of why the three women weren’t exactly friends anymore. It just felt really forced and useless to the book.
Oh, and diverse characters being thrown in just to have diverse characters? Not that cool. And was it just me, or was the one whole land conversation with Laney giving stealing-our-Indigenous-land vibes? Idk, with the BIPOC/LGBTQ+ characters seemingly forced, i just find myself questioning everything.
With that being said - yes, I think this book delivers on the creep factor. But the characters, the dialogue….blah. I was bored for those parts. I also felt really dumb at times, because they kept referring to things that others said, but like I never actually remember reading what was said (when in fact, it wasn’t revealed until later). I just don’t think that was really necessary, the whole intrigue of why the three women weren’t exactly friends anymore. It just felt really forced and useless to the book.
Oh, and diverse characters being thrown in just to have diverse characters? Not that cool. And was it just me, or was the one whole land conversation with Laney giving stealing-our-Indigenous-land vibes? Idk, with the BIPOC/LGBTQ+ characters seemingly forced, i just find myself questioning everything.
Everyone Here Is Lying by Shari Lapena
dark
mysterious
tense
medium-paced
- Plot- or character-driven? Plot
- Strong character development? No
- Loveable characters? No
- Diverse cast of characters? No
- Flaws of characters a main focus? Yes
3.5
So, I think this book was SO STRONG until the 200 page mark. I really don’t think the turn it takes and the ending was the best direction, it kind of fell flat for me and I just honestly think it was so unnecessary. With that being said, I really was hooked for most of the book and I definitely want to read more from this author!
The Woman in Me by Britney Spears
challenging
dark
emotional
informative
inspiring
reflective
sad
medium-paced
5.0
Britney has my entire heart 🌹😭💜 I can’t remember the last time I read a book and finished in the same day.
Ok sure, the writing isn’t groundbreaking, but you know what, who cares? We all know it was a ghostwriter, as every celebrity uses one, but despite it I think the writer did a great job at keeping Britney’s voice and her words consistent throughout the entire memoir.
When we reach the part that covers the conservatorship, oh man. Those chapters were so rough to read. How her asshole dad fucked with her mind, the emotional abuse, her loss of love for life. I cannot imagine how hard it was for Britney to convey her words to a ghostwriter, then (most likely?) read what was written afterwards, reliving those dark years. Personally, I don’t care if Britney ever goes on tour again, I just want her to live her life and be HER.
Britney barely touches on Christina (really only mentions her a couple times, and once to say how she felt about the tour with Justin), which are her feelings that she’s totally allowed to have. She WAS a young woman at the time, at the top of the world, going through a public breakup after a traumatic abortion she didn’t feel like she should have done….
Jamie Lynne was mentioned a lot, especially towards the end. Her mother’s book tour…ya, she went there. Kevin’s tragic rap career. Post partum depression. How she got her start. The control she had with her music at the beginning. The paparazzi. Her disastrous Vegas run. Everything you could possibly want to read about Britney is in here.
If you’re a fan of hers, got caught up in the #FreeBritney movement, or just plain curious about this memoir - go for it. Read it and learn about Britney, especially that last part on her conservatorship. Her story is one of resiliency and healing.
Ok sure, the writing isn’t groundbreaking, but you know what, who cares? We all know it was a ghostwriter, as every celebrity uses one, but despite it I think the writer did a great job at keeping Britney’s voice and her words consistent throughout the entire memoir.
When we reach the part that covers the conservatorship, oh man. Those chapters were so rough to read. How her asshole dad fucked with her mind, the emotional abuse, her loss of love for life. I cannot imagine how hard it was for Britney to convey her words to a ghostwriter, then (most likely?) read what was written afterwards, reliving those dark years. Personally, I don’t care if Britney ever goes on tour again, I just want her to live her life and be HER.
Britney barely touches on Christina (really only mentions her a couple times, and once to say how she felt about the tour with Justin), which are her feelings that she’s totally allowed to have. She WAS a young woman at the time, at the top of the world, going through a public breakup after a traumatic abortion she didn’t feel like she should have done….
Jamie Lynne was mentioned a lot, especially towards the end. Her mother’s book tour…ya, she went there. Kevin’s tragic rap career. Post partum depression. How she got her start. The control she had with her music at the beginning. The paparazzi. Her disastrous Vegas run. Everything you could possibly want to read about Britney is in here.
If you’re a fan of hers, got caught up in the #FreeBritney movement, or just plain curious about this memoir - go for it. Read it and learn about Britney, especially that last part on her conservatorship. Her story is one of resiliency and healing.
The Resting Place by Camilla Sten
dark
mysterious
tense
fast-paced
- Plot- or character-driven? Plot
- Strong character development? It's complicated
- Loveable characters? No
- Diverse cast of characters? No
- Flaws of characters a main focus? It's complicated
4.0
A solid thriller full of lies, deception, and a terrible secret. This book is definitely all about the characters and their stories. It’s so much different than The Lost Village, which was more horror, so if you’re expecting that from this book…don’t! This is a thriller suspense novel that will have you at the edge of your seat right from page 1.
Jawbone by Meghan Greeley
medium-paced
4.0
Such a quiet book that says so much about life, friendships, living to our fullest selves. This short book is packed with beautiful writing, and it’s definitely one that will sit with you for a while, and deserves a reread at some point in the future. A dazzling debut (as the back cover says) indeed! I loved how everything comes together in the end.
She Started It by Sian Gilbert
dark
mysterious
tense
fast-paced
5.0
WOW I CANNOT BELIEVE THIS STORY. So many layers here! Mean girls club gets what’s coming to them, but is it taken too far? I NEED TO KNOW WHAT HAPPENS NEXT! What a cliffhanger of an ending though. So many thoughts going through my head. Utterly gripping!
Horrorstör by Grady Hendrix
challenging
mysterious
tense
medium-paced
5.0
Perfectly packaged book that’s amazing for spooky season reading! Definitely fun, creeped me out, and had me going until the very end. Reads like a movie, but I loved that about this book. Highly recommend!
The Unfortunate Side Effects of Heartbreak and Magic by Breanne Randall
dark
lighthearted
mysterious
slow-paced
- Plot- or character-driven? Plot
2.5
Ok, part of me really wanted to like this book, and I did! I think the small town setting and magic and whimsy were all really neat. But between Seth and Sadie and a couple of other characters that read more like 40 year old immature children, plus the long dragging on story, PLUS the overdramatic scenes, PLUS the book just having too much side plots packed into it kind of ruined the fun for me. It could’ve been great, but it just ended up sucking.
River Mumma by Zalika Reid-Benta
adventurous
funny
mysterious
tense
medium-paced
- Plot- or character-driven? Plot
- Strong character development? Yes
- Loveable characters? Yes
- Diverse cast of characters? Yes
5.0
This book! My highly anticipated CanLit book of 2023 did NOT disappoint. I think Zalika’s writing style really shone wonderfully in this book that’s perfectly atmospheric for the fall season.
So much action is jammed into this impossible 24 hour quest that Alicia, Heaven, and Mars are on-to find River Mummy’s comb, or else she’ll be gone from this world and her rivers with her, impacting so many lives.
Magical realism, Jamaican folklore, and an epic-like tale is wrapped up into this beautiful book that’s a must-read. And can we talk about this fictionalized Drake figure? I love it 😂. The setting is perfect for us Torontonians to know exactly where what happens - I LOVE this book. I can’t wait for more book from Zalika Reid-Benta 💜
So much action is jammed into this impossible 24 hour quest that Alicia, Heaven, and Mars are on-to find River Mummy’s comb, or else she’ll be gone from this world and her rivers with her, impacting so many lives.
Magical realism, Jamaican folklore, and an epic-like tale is wrapped up into this beautiful book that’s a must-read. And can we talk about this fictionalized Drake figure? I love it 😂. The setting is perfect for us Torontonians to know exactly where what happens - I LOVE this book. I can’t wait for more book from Zalika Reid-Benta 💜