readwithamey_'s reviews
41 reviews

Mad Honey by Jennifer Finney Boylan, Jodi Picoult

emotional informative mysterious reflective tense medium-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? It's complicated

4.0

This book actually exceeded my expectations! I was surprised how much I enjoyed this book! This is my first Jodi Picoult book and will not be my last! The book is incredibly well-written and the characters are well developed, I was able to actually connect and care for each of the characters. Mad honey explores a lot of important topics, I would recommend looking at the trigger warnings. I loved the multiple twists in the book, they literally had me shouting ‘holy shit’ because I did not see them coming. 

I really enjoyed the use of the dual timelines from both Olivia’s and Lily’s perspectives, I appreciated being able to have more insight to each of their histories. However, the chapters were longer than I usually like but I barely noticed because I was so hooked. I also wasn’t a fan of all the bee facts at the start of Olivia’s chapters. I enjoyed them at the very start but I didn’t really care about the bee facts I just wanted to get back to the story. I think the book could have been about 80-100 pages shorter if the facts were taken out. 

Overall, I really enjoyed this book and highly recommend it! It’s an engaging and interesting read with plenty of social topics to get you thinking and twists to keep you on your toes! 

(TW: domestic violence, child abuse, gender violence, suicide)

Believe Me by Ryan Carter, Dreda Say Mitchell, Dreda Say Mitchell

adventurous dark mysterious tense 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? N/A

4.0

This book definitely lived up to my expectations! Believe me is an engaging psychological thriller with plenty of unexpected twists and turns. I found the book quite fast paced and easy to read especially with the use of dual timelines between the present and 25 years earlier. I also really enjoyed the discussion around women’s healthcare and invisible illnesses throughout the book, I found it very relatable.

The final twist completely shocked me and I did not see it one bit. I would highly recommend to anyone who loves a thriller that will keep you on your toes and second guessing! 

We Had to Remove This Post by Hanna Bervoets

slow-paced

• Strong character development? No
• Loveable characters? No
• Diverse cast of characters? No

1.0

This book was absolutely terrible in every way. The description / blurb was more interesting than the entire book. The premise of the novella was intriguing and had so much potential, but ended up being a massive heap of disappointment. There was so much fascist, antisemitism and unnecessary racial slurs throughout the 150ish pages of the book it was unbearable. I lost interest in the story and the characters within the first 20-30 pages so I’m glad this wasn’t any longer. And the author didn’t even finish the book.. it just came to an abrupt and confusing end.. maybe she was just as bored writing it as I was reading it.

I don’t have much else to say about the book other than don’t read it 🤣 if you decide to brave reading it, I would highly recommend checking the trigger warnings, cos I think the list is longer than the book itself.

The Silent Patient by Alex Michaelides

dark mysterious tense medium-paced

• Plot- or character-driven? A mix
• Strong character development? Yes
• Loveable characters? No
• Diverse cast of characters? N/A
• Flaws of characters a main focus? Yes

3.0

Well I can definitely see why this book is so popular and I really enjoyed reading this!.. However I wouldn’t say it was one of my favourites because I think it lacked a little bit in the thrill department. I found this to be such an easy and intriguing read, and I didn’t want to put the book down, because I was desperate to find out why Alicia was silent for so long.

The story is told from the POV of Theo, and also had several diary entries from Alicia, which I really enjoyed as you got to understand Alicia’s mindset leading up to the murder. The more I read the book the more I realised that Theo was unhinged so it was interesting to see that develop. The other secondary characters weren’t that interesting, I think they could have done with abit more development  or personality but it didn’t massively impact the story.

The twist.. I wasn’t expecting the twist and it went in a completely different direction to what I thought it would so I was definitely intrigued.. but did I love the twist… no. It didn’t give much drama or add to the thrill element as much as I wanted it too. However it made a lot of sense by the end of the book.

Overall, I would recommend this book, I would lower your expectations if you are expecting a drama filled thriller, as I would say it’s more of a standard fiction. It’s well-written, gripping and an easy read, I’ll definitely be checking out his other books!

Confessions of a Forty-Something F**k Up by Alexandra Potter

funny hopeful inspiring lighthearted reflective fast-paced

• Plot- or character-driven? Character
• Strong character development? Yes
• Loveable characters? Yes
• Diverse cast of characters? Yes
• Flaws of characters a main focus? It's complicated

4.0

If you love Bridget Jones you’ll love this book! I honestly loved it from the start. It’s pretty relatable to me even as a 30 year old, there are a lot of things in life I thought I would have done by now, but this book emphasises that not everyone’s lives are the same and to stop comparing. This was a witty, funny, heart-warming and cheesy at parts but is such an easy read. The chapters vary between slightly longer ones to short snappy ones, and I loved the list of things to be grateful for at the end of each one! Definitely made me want to start doing that more often!

All the characters were incredibly well written, they all had great back stories, personalities and their own quirks. Nell is witty and fiesty, and incredibly funny! I loved her friendship with Cricket, I thought it was so sweet and I definitely need a Cricket in my life! The friendship triangle between Nell, Fiona and Anabel definitely reminded me of the film ‘Bridesmaids’ with Annie, Lilian and Helen! I spent most of the book calling Anabel a b!tch.. 🤣 Edward… he drove me insane with his house rules.. but I loved him he was so sweet and honestly I was secretly rooting for him 😏

I highly recommend this book! It’s got humour it’s got romance, it’s got everything you need for a great book! And I think everyone should read this book atleast once! 🩷

The House Across the Lake by Riley Sager

challenging dark mysterious tense medium-paced

• Plot- or character-driven? Character
• Strong character development? Yes
• Loveable characters? It's complicated
• Diverse cast of characters? N/A
• Flaws of characters a main focus? Yes

4.0

This was my first Riley Sager novel and I can definitely say that it did not disappoint! Wow! I do however have some mixed feelings which we will get into.

The first half of the book was slow-paced but still enjoyable and interesting. I really enjoyed the way the book alternated between Before and Now timelines, as it would give you a small glimpse of what to expect further into the book. There were so many unexpected twists, I can’t say too much without spoiling the book! I am not a fan of the twist toward the 70-80% mark, I just thought it made it too far fetched and bloody ridiculous but I didn’t let it stop me from enjoying the book.

Overall I found this to be a gripping read with a lot of psychological suspense, and shocking twists that I didn’t see coming. Highly recommend! Can’t wait to read another of Riley Sagers books!

The Seven Deaths of Evelyn Hardcastle by Stuart Turton

slow-paced

• Plot- or character-driven? A mix
• Strong character development? It's complicated
• Loveable characters? No
• Diverse cast of characters? Yes
• Flaws of characters a main focus? N/A

2.0

This book was so painfully boring, hard to read and is massively overhyped. Firstly, there were way too many characters to try remember.. what book needs 30 characters in it! I couldn’t keep track of who everyone was and what role they played. I lost track of what was actually going on for the majority of the book because the twists just confused the hell out of me. The constant switching back and forth between the hosts only confused me further. This book did not need to be 507 pages long, a lot of the unnecessary gibberish could have been cut out.

Another issue for me was that the book to be quite fatphobic, there were constant negative references to Mr Ravencourt being overweight.. which as a larger girl really wound me up.

I don’t have much else to say about the book because I don’t want to waste anymore energy on it and I want to forget it ever existed 🤣 I don’t know if I’m just not smart enough for this book, but for me it was just unnecessarily over-complicated and frustrating.

Don't Let Her Stay by Nicola Sanders

challenging dark mysterious tense fast-paced

• Plot- or character-driven? Character
• Strong character development? Yes
• Loveable characters? No
• Diverse cast of characters? N/A
• Flaws of characters a main focus? Yes

4.0

WOW this was a wild ride. If you look up gaslighting in the dictionary you would see this book! This book drove me abit insane! I got whiplash from the twists.. Joanne was not the only one going crazy! The last 20% of the book threw me completely.. I didn’t know who to believe, and just when I thought I knew who to believe.. BANG another twist..

This book was really well written, and the short chapters made it a fast paced and gripping read. The characters were also well written, I wanted to strangle Chloe so much, she infuriated me so much! Richard is just an ass and a gaslighter (like father like daughter), and Joanne has no backbone whatsoever.. wake up woman!! 

Overall this was an entertaining read that had me on the edge of my seat. I highly recommend it to anyone who loves a psychological thriller! Definitely won’t be my last Nicola Sanders book! 

You Made a Fool of Death with Your Beauty by Akwaeke Emezi

emotional hopeful sad tense medium-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

3.5

I’m very picky about my romance books but this actually happened to be one I enjoyed for the most part. I was expecting a light and fun romance but it ended up being a moving and intense story of love, grief and second chances. And I’m happy to report that I didn’t find it to be overly cheesy like most romances! I loved the forbidden love plot of this book and it was a slow burn which did have me frustrated at times! I loved Feyi, Joy and Alim! I loved their backstories and there development throughout the book! I also loved the LGBTQ representation in the book.

My main issue was with the romance element, personally it felt very rushed. Feyi and Alim went from attraction to love in a short period of time which felt abit unrealistic to me. But equally I loved them together and thought they were cute 🥰

I also felt that they could of discussed Feyi’s late husband Jonah a lot more, he was an important part of the book but I didn’t feel any connection to him because there was no backstory or development there. The book ended with so many questions being left unanswered, it finished without really giving any closure or resolution which frustrated me.

Overall, I think this is a beautifully written book that explores really important themes (grief, love, friendship). I found it a really refreshing read and would recommend this to anyone who loves a slow burn romance 🩷

What Lies Between Us by John Marrs

dark mysterious tense fast-paced

• Plot- or character-driven? A mix
• Strong character development? Yes
• Loveable characters? It's complicated
• Diverse cast of characters? Yes

4.5

WTF JOHN MARRS!?! I feel like I need therapy after this book 😱 This book felt like a rollercoaster, it had me hooked from the very first chapter. It was compelling, fast-paced, dark, twisted and just completely demented! From start to finish, there were constant twists and turns that I never even predicted, I was on the edge of my seat the entire time. I was constantly torn between both of the characters, and who was right or wrong. Maggie and Nina’s relationship is incredibly dysfunctional and they are both as crazy as each other.

The book was amazingly written, I loved the alternating POVs between Maggie and Nina, and also the alternating timelines. The chapters were also short and sweet which made it so easy to read.

This was my first John Marrs book and it definitely will not be my last! I highly recommend this book to anyone who loves a psychological thriller with disturbing twists and turns!

I would also recommend checking the trigger warnings for this before reading!