Top Ten Tuesday: Reads that Left Me With a Book Hangover

Top Ten Tuesday is a book blog meme hosted by That Artsy Reader Girl. This week's topic is Recent Reads that Left Me With a Book Hangover. I've included novels that I could not stop thinking about after reading.

Long Bright River by Liz Moore - Set amongst the Philadelphia opioid crisis, Long Bright River portrays the heartache and devastation that addiction causes. 

The Turn of the Key by Ruth Ware - The Turn of the Key is a fantastic, atmospheric mystery that really stuck with me. It has a great gothic vibe with a modern twist.

Here There Are Monsters by Amerind Berube - Not to be dramatic, but Here There Are Monsters really fucked me up. It's definitely a novel for those that enjoy dark, twisted storylines.

Dark Matter by Blake Crouch - Dark Matter is a mind-bending, sci-fi that basically left me questioning my entire existence. 

Stillhouse Lake by Rachel Caine - I was surprised with how much I enjoyed Stillhouse Lake. It's a heart-pounding thriller that left me gasping for breath. 

Wilder Girls by Rory Power - I've talked about Wilder Girls sooo much but that's because it was sooo good. It's a YA horror that I didn't know I needed!

Verity by Colleen Hoover - Verity is different from Hoover's other work in that it's dark, psychologically twisting and very steamy. 

Room by Emma Donoghue - I don't believe I'm exaggerating when I say that Room is a genius piece of work. The story is shocking and perfectly put together.

Ninth House by Leigh Bardugo - Another book I'm always raving about, Ninth House is Bardugo's first adult work. It's creepy, dark, and awesome.

What If It’s Us by Becky Albertalli - And ending this list on a completely different genre, What If It's Us is a really cute, realistic love story that left me all AWW and also a little sad inside.

What's on your list? Let me know in the comments below.

The Caretakers by Eliza Maxwell

The Caretakers

by Eliza Maxwell
Published: Lake Union Publishing, 2020
Genre: Mystery, Thriller
Amazon, Goodreads

“Keep my secrets,” it whispers in her ear. “For my secrets are yours.”

About the book

Filmmaker Tessa Shepherd helped free a man she believed was wrongly imprisoned for murder. When he kills again, Tessa’s life is upended.

She’s reeling with guilt, her reputation destroyed. Worse, Tessa’s mother has unexpectedly passed away, and her sister, Margot, turns on her after tensions from their past escalate. Hounded by a bullying press, Tessa needs an escape. That’s when she learns of a strange inheritance bequeathed by her mother: a derelict and isolated estate known as Fallbrook. It seems like the perfect refuge.

A crumbling monument to a gruesome history, the mansion has been abandoned by all but two elderly sisters retained as caretakers. They are also guardians of all its mysteries. As the house starts revealing its dark secrets, Tessa must face her fears and right the wrongs of her past to save herself and her relationship with Margot. But nothing and no one at Fallbrook are what they seem.

Review

The Caretakers is a captivating mystery that illustrates the bond between sisters and the impact secrets can have.

Tessa, a filmmaker with a strained relationship with her sister Margot, attends the release of inmate Oliver Barlow who, after 14 years in prison, is free thanks to Tessa’s film which showed lack of circumstantial evidence in Oliver’s trial.

Several months later, Tessa receives the shock of her life when Oliver kidnaps Chief Winters’s daughter and proclaims to have killed her. The next day Tessa experiences a death in her family, leading her back home to her estranged sister and the revelation that their mother was adopted. Facing the blowout from Oliver’s actions, Tessa travels to a remote home in the Pennsylvania woods that is now hers. 

Kitty and Deirdre, sisters whose mother once worked for a wealthy family, live on the old estate as caretakers. Yet, they both old dark secrets about what really happened in the murder of their benefactors. 

The stories of Tessa and Margot and Kitty and Deirdre slowly come together in a surprising, yet satisfying, way.

The Caretakers has multiple storylines and, at times, it’s confusing why these plots would be included together but I promise it’ll come together in the end!

I found it very difficult to pull away from this novel; the dramatic suspense was timed skillfully and the writing very gripping. Along with the action, I also appreciated the complex family relationship with both set of sisters. Though there were a few scenes that I foresaw, the novel is filled with good ole twists and turns to keep the storyline interesting.

I’d recommend The Caretakers to any mystery/thriller fans. 

A Heart So Fierce and Broken by Brigid Kemmerer

A Heart So Fierce and Broken

by Brigid Kemmerer
Published: Bloomsbury, 2020
Pages: 464
Genre: Fantasy, Young Adult
Amazon, Goodreads

“Choices are never easy. There are good and bad options, but the most dangerous is not to make any choice at all.”

About the book

The curse is finally broken, but Prince Rhen of Emberfall faces darker troubles still. Rumors circulate that he is not the true heir and that forbidden magic has been unleashed in Emberfall. Although Rhen has Harper by his side, his guardsman Grey is missing, leaving more questions than answers.

Rumored to be the heir, Grey has been on the run since he destroyed Lilith. He has no desire to challenge Rhen--until Karis Luran once again threatens to take Emberfall by force. Her own daughter Lia Mara sees the flaws in her mother’s violent plan, but can she convince Grey to stand against Rhen, even for the good of Emberfall?

Review

It’s been a hot minute since I’ve been this conflicted about an anticipated read.

A Heart So Fierce and Broken picks up where the first installment left off; Rhen and Harper’s struggle to unify the kingdom and Grey hiding as a stablehand. 

I assumed the book would focus on Grey and Rhen’s new relationship as brothers but it I was surprised to find 95% of the story centered around Grey and Lia Mara, a princess of Shyl Shallow. I’m not necessarily mad about the romance but it took up the majority of the plot. To me, it seemed like the escalating political tension with romance and magic didn’t meld correctly to form a coherent story. I also felt a bit bored at times while reading; the writing didn’t flow like in A Curse So Dark and Lonely.

Though A Heart So Fierce and Broken did contain the same in-depth character development that made the first installment shine, ultimately I felt like the book was just OK. 

WWW Wednesday (2/12/20)

In this weekly meme, I will answer three questions:


What are you currently reading?

What did you recently finish?

What do you think you'll read next?


This meme is held by samannelizabeth.wordpress.com. Just answer the three questions below and leave a link to your post in the comments for others to look at. No blog? No problem! Just leave a comment with your responses. Please, take some time to visit with other participants and see what others are reading.

What are you currently reading?

I'm currently reading A Heart So Fierce and Broken, the follow-up to A Curse So Dark and Lonely. I loved the first installment so I'm hoping for good things with this book.

What did you recently finish?

I recently finished The Tenth Girl, which I really enjoyed! Click here for my full review. I also read The Chelsea Girls, which I liked but didn't care for the ending, and an ARC from Netgalley called They Did Bad Things which was a heart-thumping thriller. Click here for the full review on They Did Bad Things.

What do you think you'll read next?

I recently purchased Bring Me Their Hearts which I've had on my TBR for a while. I also borrowed The Escape Room from my local library; I'll most likely be reading it next.

What does your WWW Wednesday look like? Let me know in the comments below.

Top Ten Tuesday: Love Freebie (Historical Fiction)

Top Ten Tuesday is a book blog meme hosted by That Artsy Reader Girl. This week's topic is Love Freebie, and I'll be discussing my favorite historical fiction. My favorite aspect of historical fiction is the unique setting and time period I wouldn't usually be exposed to. Let's get to it!

The Bear and the Nightingale by Katherine Arden - I was blown away by this story which is set in medieval Russia and combined with mythology. The writing is great and storyline very unique. Click here for my full review. My rating: ★★★★★

The Book Thief by Markus Zusak - The Book Thief is one tear-jerker/emotional ride that stays with you for a long time. I've been staying away from WWII stories; there's just so many books with the setting and I've been burnt out from the subject. However, The Book Thief is still a novel I'd recommend to anyone. It's fantastic! My rating: ★★★★

Burial Rites by Hannah Kent - This book is one I've been recommending to anyone who'll listen forever. I read it several years ago, and it's still stuck with me. It's bleak, depressing and stunning. It follows the final days of a young woman accused of murder in 1800 Iceland. My rating: ★★★★★

Fountains of Silence by Ruta Sepetys - Madrid. 1957. The son of an oil tycoon and a young woman living in Spain during the time of Franco's dictatorship. I've mentioned this book sooo many times, so it shouldn't be a surprised I'd mention it. Great novel! Click here for my full review. My rating: ★★★★★

Gone With the Wind by Margaret Mitchell - A classic set in 1936 during the American Civil War, I consider Gone With the Wind to be one of the first feminist novels published. Scarlett is a strong woman who fights to claw her way out of poverty. My rating: ★★★★★

The Help by Kathryn Stockett - I'm not going to give a synopsis of The Help since everyone and their mother has either read the book or watched the movie, both of which were fantastic. My rating: ★★★★★

Love in the Time of Cholera by Gabriel Garcia Marquez - Spanning a time period of fifty years, this book is an ultimate romance focusing on how true love never dies. I cried really hard at the end of the novel which was completely unexpected. My rating: ★★★★

The Snow Child by Ivey Eowyn - Alaska, 1920. A mysterious little girl seems to be a child of the woods and is found by an older couple. As they struggle to understand her, they eventually learn something that transforms them all. The setting and storyline are creative in the novel. I really enjoyed this one. My rating: ★★★★

The Steep & Thorny Way by Cat Winters - Set in 1923 Oregon, the book is a historical paranormal read that deals with social injustice. Check out the full review here. My rating: ★★★★

The Wonder by Emma Donoghue - In 1859, English nurse Lib is sent to the Irish Midlands to observe what others are calling a miracle — a girl who is said to have survived without food for months. The book is really interesting and fascinating My rating: ★★★★★

What are your favorite historical fiction books? Let me know in the comments below!

They Did Bad Things by Lauren A. Forry

They Did Bad Things

by Lauren A. Forry
Published: Arcade Crimewise, 2020
Pages: 288
Genre: Thriller
Amazon, Goodreads

You’re not afraid of doing bad things. You’re afraid of getting punished for them.

About the book

In 1995, six university students moved into the house at 215 Caldwell Street. Months later, one of them was found dead on the sofa the morning after their end-of-year party. His death was ruled an accident by the police. The remaining five all knew it wasn’t, and though they went on with their lives, the truth of what happened to their sixth housemate couldn’t stay buried forever.

Twenty years later, all five of them arrive—lured separately under various pretenses—at Wolfheather House, a crumbling, secluded mansion on the Scottish isle of Doon. Trapped inside with no way out and no signal to the outside world, the now forty-somethings fight each other—and the unknown mastermind behind their gathering—as they confront the role they played in their housemate’s death. They are given one choice: confess to their crimes or die. 

Review

They Did Bad Things is heart-pounding, modern version of Agatha Christie’s And Then There Were None.

It opens with Hollis, a detective taking a vacation on a remote island. He arrives at what he believes to be a bed and breakfast but what he finds is shocking: his four former college flatmates who, along with him, led a part in the murder of classmate. Finding themselves trapped at the house, the five guests are slowly murdered off while trying to uncover who was really to blame for Callum’s murder.

The story alternates perspectives and timelines to keep readers guessing on what really happened 20 years ago. This structure of writing kept the suspense up in the novel and kept readers on their toes. I never would have guessed the true identity of the narrator. 

They Did Bad Things was an entertaining and thrilling read that shows that no one is ever completely innocent.

The Tenth Girl by Sara Faring

The Tenth Girl

by Sara Faring
Published: Imprint, 2019
Pages: 460
Genre: Thriller, Young Adult
Amazon, Goodreads

“Isn’t it kind of beautiful to experience primal fear? To feel your pulse quicken because a pile of well-laid stones catch shadows and carry sound in unusual ways? How often are we so bored and anesthetized by our routines - in our safe surroundings - that we lose all sense of what’s magical about our existence.”

About the book

At the very southern tip of South America looms an isolated finishing school. Legend has it that the land will curse those who settle there. But for Mavi—a bold Buenos Aires native fleeing the military regime that took her mother—it offers an escape to a new life as a young teacher to Argentina’s elite girls.

Mavi tries to embrace the strangeness of the imposing house—despite warnings not to roam at night, threats from an enigmatic young man, and rumors of mysterious Others. But one of Mavi’s ten students is missing, and when students and teachers alike begin to behave as if possessed, the forces haunting this unholy cliff will no longer be ignored... and one of these spirits holds a secret that could unravel Mavi’s existence.

Review

The Tenth Girl is a haunting, psychological thriller that combines historical fiction, Patagonia mythology and the paranormal.

The plot is what drew me into the novel: a haunted boarding school in remote South America where, several years earlier, a mysterious illness killed off almost all of the staff and students.

In 1978, the Vaccaro School is reopened and is where Mavi takes a job as an English teacher for a fresh start. Once she arrives, she discovers a sinister building with odd rules; no one is allowed out of their bedrooms at night as it’s unsafe. Mavi attempts to take her job in stride but can’t ignore the change in the other teachers and students… they begin acting like they’re possessed. This, combined with stranger rumors of “The Others,” leads Mavi on a mission to save those she cares about, but the truth could change her very core.

The writing is very eerie and disturbing. The author does a stellar job of painting vivid, hair-rising depictions of this creepy boarding school that obviously holds very dark secrets. The unique setting, 1978 Argentina, and the touch of mythology really makes the book unique.

At its core, the story is about forgiving yourself in order to set yourself free from the guilt and shame that can trap us all and learning to live your life. This revelation is one example of how this book shocked me. I went into The Tenth Girl thinking it was a creepy ghost story but it completely turned me around, upside down and inside out. Along with the general weirdness of the storyline, the novel has substantial character development that requires readers to consider the inner wall he or she may be hiding behind as well.

The promised HUGE twist at the end is one that readers will not be able to guess. It definitely gives me vibes of this one popular horror movie but I don’t want to say the name of it because of potential spoilers. 

The Tenth Girl is crazily original, and I guarantee it’ll be something you’ve never read before. There are mixed reviews for this book; it seems like you’ll either love it or hate it. I really enjoyed it, though I must admit the pacing drags a bit in the middle but then picks back up towards the end. There's also some saying that the mythology incorporated into the novel isn't accurate which that, along with the slow pacing mentioned earlier, leads me to give this a slightly lower rating.

WWW Wednesdays (2/5/20)

In this weekly meme, I will answer three questions:


What are you currently reading?

What did you recently finish?

What do you think you'll read next?


This meme is held by samannelizabeth.wordpress.com. Just answer the three questions below and leave a link to your post in the comments for others to look at. No blog? No problem! Just leave a comment with your responses. Please, take some time to visit with other participants and see what others are reading.

What are you currently reading?

I'm currently reading The Tenth Girl which is a creepy ass paranormal mystery set at a remote boarding school in Argentina.

What did you recently finish?

A Curse So Dark and Lonely - I'm not much one for retellings, but I loved this book. It had great character development. Check out the full review here. My rating: ★★★★★

The Girl the Sea Gave Back - This book had a lot of potential but I fell like it fell flat. The world and characters needed to be fleshed out. My rating: ★★

What It Seems - I got this ARC from Netgalley. It was a great read that shows readers the importance of finding your truth and not being afraid of showing the world who you are. Read my full review here. My rating: ★★★★★

What do you think you'll read next?

Next I'll be picking up A Heart So Fierce and Broken, the follow up to A Curse So Dark and Lonely. I also want to dive into The Cure for Dreaming, which I recently purchased.

What does your WWW Wednesday look like? Let me know in the comments below!

Top Ten Tuesday: Books on My TBR That I Predict Will Be 5 Stars

Top Ten Tuesday is a book blog meme hosted by That Artsy Reader Girl. This week's topic is Books on My TBR That I Predict Will Be 5-Star Reads. My list is a mixture of new releases and novels I've had on my TBR forever. 

Burn Our Bodies Down by Rory Power - I absolutely LOVED Wilder Girls. It was creepy and sinister and completely unexpected. Power's new novel, Burn Our Bodies Down which comes out in July, focuses on Margot, a young woman who wants to know her past. She finds a picture pointing her to a town called Phalane. I guess some weird shit happens once she gets there. The description is intriguing, and I'm really looking forward to getting my hands on a copy.

The Splendid and the Vile by Erik Larson - Larson writes awesome non-fiction novels that really makes you feel like you're actually there. His work is engaging and well-researched. Larson's latest work will be a profile on Winston Churchill. 

Nine Perfect Strangers by Liane Moriarty - I really enjoyed Big Little Lies so I'm looking forward to reading more of Moriarty's work. This novel centers around nine people gathered at a remote health resort where apparently some stuff goes down.

The Girl in the Tower by Katherine Arden - The second installment in the Winternight Trilogy, I'm expecting The Girl in the Tower to be a fantastic, mystical read just like the first novel.

A Northern Light by Jennifer Donnelly - I've seen good reviews for this novel and, even though it's older (2004), I'm still looking forward to reading it. A sixteen-year-old who works at a motel finds a stack of burning letters which may hold the truth behind another young woman's murder.

The Cure for Dreaming by Cat Winters - Cat Winters writes in-depth historical novels with super interesting storylines and inspiring illustrations. I recently purchased The Cure for Dreaming, so I'll be picking it up soon.

You by Caroline Kepnes - There's a lot of hype surrounding this novel and, as most everyone knows, inspired the Netflix series. The novel is unique in that it's from the stalker's perspective so I'll be hopefully picking it up soon. I've been wanting to read it for several years now but it hadn't been at my local library and I hadn't gotten around to purchasing it yet.

Recursion by Blake Crouch - I read Dark Matter by this author and it completely blew my mind. Based on that novel alone, when I saw Recursion on sale at Amazon, I just had to get it. A Goodreads Choice 2019 winner, the story follows a New York City cop who is investigating a phenomenon in which victims are driven made with memories of a life they've never lived. I imagine it'll be just as crazy and mind-bending as his other work.

Little Darlings by Melanie Golding - I've seen good reviews for Little Darlings. From what I understand, a woman believes her child has been switched with a creature. It sounds dark and weird AF which is what I love.

Artemis by Andy Weir - I loved The Martin and have yet to read more of Weir's work. Artemis was a Goodreads 2017 winner. I know it's a sci-fi but that's pretty much it.

What does your list look like?

What It Seems by Emily Bleeker

What It Seems

by Emily Bleeker
Published: Lake Union Publishing, 2020
Genre: Thriller
Amazon, Goodreads

“It’s about feeling worthy enough to have something better.”

About the book

Adopted by her controlling foster mother at the age of eight, twenty-year-old Tara has seen little of the outside world. Lonely, punished for the slightest offense, her only distraction comes from watching the Feely family’s online videos. They’re an affectionate vlogging quintet and an internet sensation. Most important, they are Tara’s mental refuge. Then the opportunity arises for them to be something more. When Tara accepts an internship with the close-knit clan, they’re her escape.

Daring to run away, and defying Mother’s rules, Tara is welcomed into the loving fold. But the more Tara gets to know them, the more she realizes that not everything is as it seems. As secrets slowly surface, the image of the perfect family begins to crack. For Tara, it’s another trap.

To claim a life of her own, she’ll need a new escape plan. Because as the show’s popularity explodes, reaching even more fascinated viewers, Tara can’t shake the feeling that Mother is among their ranks. She’s watching. She’s waiting. She’ll never let her go.

Review

What It Seems is a fantastic, character-driven novel about stepping out of your shell and finding yourself as a person.

The story centers around twenty-year-old Tara, whose controlling mother physical and emotionally abuses her and forces her to provide their income: stealing and selling the stolen items online. Forbidden from conversing with others and locked inside her bedroom nightly, Tara’s only escape from her life is YouTube channel featuring the Feelys, a popular, seemingly perfect family. The Feely family puts out an ad for an intern, and Tara applies in hopes of breaking free from her prison. In order to pursue her dream, Tara will have to learn to speak her truth and come to terms with her past.

There are two aspects that I love about this book: shattering the perfect image that is constantly portrayed on social media and overcoming adversity to be who you were meant to be. Tara learns that the Feely’s life isn’t all that it’s cracked up to be, and she discovers herself through the process. 

The only part of the story that annoyed me was how long Tara held on to her secret; yet, this also shows how guilt and shame can really erect a wall around us and keep us from connecting to others. When I was little, I was PAINFULLY shy. At times I would be asked a question and I’d say whatever to stop the conversation from continuing, even though what I’d say wouldn’t be true or make sense. Even though it would have made Tara’s situation much easier to be up front at the beginning, her trauma made her clam up and unable to share her truths with those around her. 

I really enjoyed this book. There’s not much action as it is more character-driven, but it’s definitely worth the read.