A Case of Need

A Case of Need

By Michael Crichton
Published: Open Road Media Mystery and Thriller, 2013
Pages: 434
Genre: Thriller, Mystery
Amazon, Goodreads

"Is fire always right?"

"No," he said. "But it is always hot and compelling."

About the book: In 1960s Boston, the Randall family is a highly esteemed family of doctors. The medial community goes into a frenzy when surgeon JD Randall's daughter dies from a botched, illegal abortion. Is it malpractice or something more sinister?

A Case of Need is a solid medical drama thriller for those who enjoy the genre and subject. It was written by Michael Crichton after he finished medical school in 1968. As a debut, it's an alright book. A Case of Need is certainly not Jurassic Park or Congo, but it's not bad for a free ebook on Amazon.

This novel is not something I'd be dying to read, nor did it keep me up at night. The characters were well-written, and, honestly, every time I read a Michael Crichton book I learn something new. Some say his books are dated but I imagine they were cutting edge when first published. I don't mind reading "outdated" books because it reminds me how far technology has come these days.

I wouldn't say A Case of Need is very suspenseful, but I would recommend it to those who like medical dramas like Grey's Anatomy. I thought it was OK and something I enjoyed reading while searching for the right book to read.

RATING (out of five puppies):

Verity

Verity

By Colleen Hoover
Published: Hoover, Inc., 2018
Pages: 333
Genre: Thriller
Amazon, Goodreads

"Find what you love and let it kill you" - Charles Bukowski

My only thought after reading this novel: What. The. Fuck. Verity is a disturbing, bone-chilling, steamy psychological thriller that will keep you up at night.

Lowen Ashleigh is a down-on-her-luck writer presented with a one in a life deal: to finish an immensely popular book series written by Verity Crawford, who was left as an invalid following a terrible car accident. Lowen travels to the family's home to sort through Verity's office to find documents to help her in her work. However, Lowen stumbles across an autobiography of Verity's in which the author uncovers dark, horrible truths about her life. Once Lowen starts developing feelings for Verity's husband Jeremy, she must decide whether to give the manuscript to Jeremy even if it will change his life forever.

OK, so Verity is really, really fucked up. And I really, really like that. Trigger warning: This book contains graphic scenes and has moments of child abuse.

Hoover writes gripping characters set in a dark, creepy atmosphere, and her writing is so addicting and compelling. This is actually the first novel of hers that I've read, so I'm unable to compare it to her other work, which by what I read online is vastly different from Verity.

Everything and everyone is shady in this novel. Also, am I the only one who thinks Jeremy is a little too perfect?! I don't reveal spoilers in my reviews, but I'll just let leave that last sentence there for those who have read it.

I feel like this review is lacking, but I honestly cannot even wrap my head around Verity. Like, just go read it if you like fucked up stories about fucked up characters doing fucked up things. (I know I do!)

RATING (out of five puppies):

A Very Large Expanse of Sea

A Very Large Expanse of Sea

By Tahereh Mafi
Published: Harper, 2018
Pages: 310
Genre: Young Adult
Amazon, Goodreads

The more I got to know people, the more I realized we were all just a bunch of frightened idiots walking around in the dark, bumping into each other and panicking for no reason at all.

A Very Large Expanse of Sea is an emotional rollercoaster that everyone should read.

Shirin is a Muslim teenager starting over in a new high school a year after 9/11. Constantly faced with a never-ending tirade of racist comments and questions, she's learned to put up a wall around her and block out everyone else, waiting for the day that she can finally leave the small-mindedness of high school. That all changes when she meets Ocean James, who truly seems to want to get to know her. Shirin knows their worlds can't mesh together, but she finds herself wanting, for the first time, to take down her barricades and let someone in.

This novel is a gripping story about identity, loneliness and truth. I live in a small town in the midwest; there's little to no diversity here and there are many Trump supporters who proudly wave the confederate flag. Though set in 2002, A Very Large Expanse of Sea is relevant in 2019. I feel like all the horrible things Shirin faced could happen here, in my town. In a way, I connect with Shirin; I'm also a loner who prefers to get lost in books rather than face people (I'm definitely not a people person). I remember spending lunch time alone and dragging myself through each day with as little contact with others as possible because people can be real assholes.

The characters are wonderfully written, especially Shirin and Ocean. Shirin is a blunt, funny character that I would have loved to be friends with and Ocean is kind, sweet and innocent. They have a real connection, a spark that makes their romance seem very real. Shirin's relationship with her family is also touching; you can tell how much they love each other.

Shirin's story is similar to so many other YA themes: a loner girl falls for the popular jock. A Very Large Expanse of Sea is so much more than those stereotypical books, like how Shirin is so much more than what meets the eye. She's also creative, she makes and alters clothes, and passionate, she loves music and breakdancing. It's through her relationship with Ocean that she learns to open up and give others a chance. That's what I love much about this book: how Shirin and Ocean's romance is a major factor in the story but it's not the ENTIRE story. This story is actually about Shirin learning not to let others define her.

I loved A Very Large Expanse of Sea and encourage you all to read it, too!

RATING (out of five puppies):

Renegades

Renegades

By Marissa Meyer
Published: Feiwel and Friends, 2017
Pages: 552
Genre: Young Adult, Fantasy
Amazon, Goodreads

All revolutions come with death. Some must die so that others might have life. It is a tragedy, but it is also a truth.

Renegades fell short of my expectations. Truthfully, I almost didn't pick up this novel but I saw the author is Marissa Meyer (I really enjoyed the Lunar Chronicles) so I decided to give it a shot.

In Renegades, some humans - called prodigies - have superpowers, and a strong number of these prodigies form a group called Renegades, who established order and peace following the destruction of society. Not everyone is grateful for the Renegades' work, such as Nova, whose family was murdered by a rival gang and the Renegades failed to help. Nova, who aligns with the group the Anarchists, infiltrates the Renegades to avenge her family. Yet, she discovers the world as she knows it may not be all that she thought it was and she must choose between her "anarchy" family or the ones she always believed to be her enemies but may be the true good guys.

OK, so the plot and world of Renegades are very original. I liked the superhero concept and the characters are enjoyable. However, the writing is very so-so and kind of boring. At times the dialogue felt too comic-bookish and lame. The introduction was sooo long, I kept wondering when the actual story was going to begin. There was no climax or resolution, and it was too long.

I also rolled my eyes at the romance between Adrian and Nova. I could tell from the first time they bumped into each other at the parade that there was going to be some kind of forced, Romeo and Juliet situation going on (minus the deaths). I didn't feel any spark between them. Don't get me wrong, I enjoy YA and fantasy but it seems like the romance aspect tends to overshadow the novels at times.

Renegades might be just the book for those who enjoy superheroes; however, it wasn't meant for me.

RATING (out of five puppies):

The Butterfly Garden

The Butterfly Garden

By Dot Hutchison
Published: Thomas and Mercer, 2016
Pages: 288
Genre: Thriller, Mystery
Amazon, Goodreads

"Why do you mark us?"
"Because a garden must have its butterflies."

Wow, talk about taking me by surprise! The Butterfly Garden is an engaging, wonderfully written novel about a man who kidnaps teenagers and holds them against their will in a beautiful garden that holds gruesome secrets.

I absolutely loved the characters. They're all so well-written and eloquent, even the antagonist of the story - the Gardener and his cruel son Avery. I felt deeply for all of the girls stuck in the Gardner's sick fantasy... Maya, Lyonette, Bliss are all characters that I could FEEL them, feel what they were feeling and feel their heartbreak when one of the other girls went "away."

The Butterfly Garden is filled with horrors, a place constructed by a mentally unstable man who creates a garden within a garden to keep young girls and rapes them and then preserves them. The novel truly exhibits how something utterly beautiful can also be horrendous.

I loved this novel. It's truly a gem that I would not have bothered taking a second glance at until I saw a Goodreads review from someone I follow. I hope that my readers that enjoy thrillers give The Butterfly Garden a chance.

RATING (out of five puppies):

Broken Things

Broken Things

By Lauren Oliver
Published: Harper, 2018
Pages: 408
Genre: Young Adult, Thriller
Amazon, Goodreads

Wishes really did come true in Lovelorn. Which could be a good thing or a bad thing, depending on who was doing the wishing.

Growing up my friends and I were obsessed with Harry Potter, to the point where we would vividly pretend that we were there, in that world. Sometimes it was all I thought about, and it was all we talked about. Broken Things reminds me of that, of the fantasies of childhood and how those fantasies change once we start adulthood. My BFF and I always believed we were in Harry Potter world (as dumb as that sounds) while eventually our other two friends kept telling us it was just pretend.

I really enjoyed Broken Things, I think for that reason. It takes place five years after Brynn and Mia are accused of killing their best friend, Summer. Once untied, they dive back into the mystery of Summer's death and realize it's in the book they were all obsessed with that's set in the fictional world of Lovelorn. Brynn and Mia must battle their own painful memories and secrets before getting to the truth: who really killed Summer?

Broken Things is compelling and addicting. I found the characters to be well-written and very alive. The first chapter is beautifully crafted; it drew me in on the first line. The plot is really interesting too. I've read three other Lauren Oliver books, and she seems very creative. Usually her novels are a hit or miss for me, but I really liked Broken Things.

I know there are some negative reviews on Goodreads about this novel... I did believe that Brynn and Mia had too close of narration styles; I was lost at times with whose point of view I was reading. However, I found Broken things a good read and would recommend it to those who enjoy young adult psychological thrillers.

RATING (out of five puppies):

The Slender Man

The Slender Man

By Dexter Morgenstern
Published: 2017
Pages: 243
Genre: Horror, Young Adult
Amazon, Goodreads

Just out of the corner of my eye stands a dark figure, but I'm not sure what it is. It's like a shadow, but its movements are violent and jagged, like electricity. 

Alyssa's life in a small town in North Carolina takes a jolting turn when a school bus accident leaves several children dead, all almost except her little brother. Things soon take a turn for the worst when Alyssa begins seeing strange, dark shapes and the crash victims' older siblings start exhibiting signs of an even stranger illness. Will Alyssa have the strength and courage to defeat this evil force to save those she loves or will she become the latest victim?

OK, so I love the concept of this novel, and the writing is solid. I've been interested in Slender Man for a while. I thought I'd come across this book in Barnes and Nobel, but the one I saw was actually a similar book with the same name. However, I decided to give this a try and I'm glad I did.

The Slender Man has a good plot and characters. This book is better than the usual self-published variety. Yet, there are some issues with the novel. What The Slender Man needs most is a good editor to clean up grammatical errors and assist in areas of the book that I felt were vague. There were parts, specifically when Alyssa is battling the Slender Man in the forest, where a clear picture wasn't painted for the reader; I felt like the scenes could have been better described.

I still enjoyed reading The Slender Man, and I'd recommend it to anyone interested in the subject or young adult horror.

RATING (out of five puppies):