There are no words (more than 50 for sure) for how much I loved this one. It's so beautifully written and you find yourself rooting for nearly all theThere are no words (more than 50 for sure) for how much I loved this one. It's so beautifully written and you find yourself rooting for nearly all the characters despite what life throws at them.
It's truly wonderful.
I know i've said this about others but I could see this being made into a movie and I assure you i'd be there on opening night, even though I know it wouldnt be able to do this book justice.
I had heard nothing but great things about this book and went into it fairly blind because of it. Pretty quickly I realized that the cast of characterI had heard nothing but great things about this book and went into it fairly blind because of it. Pretty quickly I realized that the cast of characters would each play a crucial role. Written such that you, the reader, see the story play out from a variety of perspectives, understanding the happenings can be jarring at first but pretty quickly you get the hang of the cadence.
It is a bit slow at times and so took me several weeks to read through, but I found it difficult to put down towards the end.
I can honestly say that by the end there were characters I wasn't sure how to feel about - something I find refreshingly different from other reads where it's clear that either should like or dislike someone. Props to Mr Towles for this choice.
All in all, this is one we're going to be hearing about for a while and I could see being adapted for the big screen. Was it the best book I've ever read? No, probably not. Will I be thinking about it for some time to come? Absolutely. ...more
I've been waiting for this book to hit shelves for a while now. I was just so intrigued by the premise...but also so curious. How would a story be tolI've been waiting for this book to hit shelves for a while now. I was just so intrigued by the premise...but also so curious. How would a story be told by someone in a coma???
Y'all, let. me. tell. you. I was NOT disappointed. Seriously, I read this all in one day because I couldn't put it down.
Sometimes a book can be really really great but then a weird twist is thrown in at the end for dramatic purposes or to throw the reader off of their expectations and it'll just make the story a little less enjoyable. Sometimes I Lie has a big twist about 3/4 of the way through that I at first had a little trouble coming to terms with/making sense of...but once you wrap your brain around it and rethink the way you were looking at the characters, it makes this story all the more crazy and amazing.
Should you buy it?: I loved this one and I think it's one that many suspense lovers will enjoy equally as much so I'm going to go with a definite yes for this one. I wouldn't be surprised if we keep hearing about how great this one is as we go through out the rest of the year.
I've been wanting to read this book ever since I first saw the cover on a shelf probably at least a year ago. Why I didn't pick it up, I have no clue.I've been wanting to read this book ever since I first saw the cover on a shelf probably at least a year ago. Why I didn't pick it up, I have no clue. Eventually, I had to have it. I read a few reviews, saw that most people thought it was pretty good, and figured it was finally time.
Long story short, I should've picked this one up ages ago.
For some reason I love domestic thrillers. There's something so "close to home" about the relationship between the protagonist and antagonist and how they coexist that gets me. I swear, every review I write makes me out to be some sort of crazy person but the more insane and psychopathic the characters, the more I tend to love them. Make of that what you will.
The best thing about this book is that it's not just one antagonist - at some point, everyone in the cast seems to play that role. It makes for a very interesting dynamic and one that was never at any point boring or predictable. I also found that at various points each character played a role where you felt a level of endearment toward them - any author that can make me both love and hate a character within the span of 400 pages is truly talented in my eyes.
What did I think?: Honestly, this is one of my favorite books that I've read in a long time. I was impressed not just with the story but also the flow of writing and how the different perspectives didn't feel clunky or irritating. I was left with cliff-hangers that kept me up well past my bedtime.
Who should read it?: If you enjoy thrillers and enjoy the unique relationships that can exist between characters that genuinely dislike one another, this is going to be a good choice for you. I can't recommend it enough, especially if you're a fan of legal or courtroom dramas as it has enough of that to qualify but not enough that you feel bogged down in it.
It's been a while since I read a book that I couldn't put down - like, couldn't even consider putting it down because I just HAD to knHoly moly y'all.
It's been a while since I read a book that I couldn't put down - like, couldn't even consider putting it down because I just HAD to know what happened. A woman looking out a window, what could be so great? Pause here, because the answer is EVERYTHING!!!!
On the surface, The Woman in the Window is just a book about a woman who believes she's witnessed a murder while spying on her neighbors through the window. In reality though, it's so much more than that. She's unable to leave her house, so when her own safety is threatened she feels there's so much out of her power. Plus, some questionable conversations have her questioning her own grasp on what's really going on.
What did I think?: This is hands down one of the best books I've read in a long time. I hadn't heard that much about it but when it came up as a January choice in Book of the Month Club I thought it sounded good. Now, I'll be recommending it to everyone because like I said, it really was that amazing.
Who should read it?: If you enjoy thrillers and/or psychological suspense, you absolutely can't miss this one. It's not overly cliche, it's gotta short chapters that make it so easy to just read one (or 8) more chapters when you know you should be sleeping, and will leave you guessing for most if not all of the story.
Have you ever read a book that resonated with you more so than usual because you read it at the right time in your life? For me, this was that book. AHave you ever read a book that resonated with you more so than usual because you read it at the right time in your life? For me, this was that book. At the time of reading it, I've been laid up for 6 weeks after ankle surgery which has given me more than enough time to think about what sort of direction I want for 2018. As someone that's always enjoyed time alone but makes a living from the internet, finding silence within noise is something that's important to me...and I've never read a better approach on the matter than this book.
Silence In The Age of Noise is a collection of thoughts on the matter - some more profound than others, but all make clear the overarching point. There's something powerful to be gained from finding the quiet within ourselves.
What did I think?: I found that this book, despite it being short and easy to read, was best enjoyed slowly so that I could savor every point and linger on the moments that truly resonated. That being said, I couldn't put it down and finished it within a single day.
Who should read it?: This is one of those books that I truly believe everyone should give a shot. It's not going to be for everyone, and some still might read it and get nothing out of it. I can't speak highly enough about it.
I had been waiting to get my hands on this one for quite a while. I'd heard so many good things, seen it on the shelf every time I stepped into a bookI had been waiting to get my hands on this one for quite a while. I'd heard so many good things, seen it on the shelf every time I stepped into a bookstore, and for whatever reason had never had the chance to dive in. Fast-forward to recently when I finally got a copy and I flew through it in a matter of hours - yes, it really was that good.
If you follow my reviews, you probably by now know how much I love a good villain. Honestly, the creepier the better to me but if they have a way of masterminding great plots without anyone catching on then wooooooobuddy I'm going to love them. I'm not giving anything away when I say that this book is full of masterminds and I found it to be utterly brilliant.
The Couple Next Door is, quite simply, about a couple who goes next door to have dinner with their neighbors and opts to leave their baby at home while checking in periodically to make sure she's alright. Unfortunately, this plan all comes crashing down when the baby goes missing and no one seems to have any idea who could have taken her.
Want to stay up because you can't put down a book? Here's your pick.
What did I think?: This was one of the best books I've read recently in terms of pacing. The short chapters that left me on the edge of my seat made it darn near impossible to put down meaning I really just read it without stopping - of course, now I'm tired which is the clearest sign of a great book.
Should you read it?: Usually I use this section to explain to you whom I think would most like this book if they picked it up, why you should give it a chance, perhaps who the target audience should most be. But this time I'm just going to say yes, yes you absolutely should read it.
If you know me well, you know that I would read gibberish and probably love it as long as Karin Slaughter wrote it. So to say that I enjoyed this bookIf you know me well, you know that I would read gibberish and probably love it as long as Karin Slaughter wrote it. So to say that I enjoyed this book...it'd be an understatement. I thought it was brilliant just as her other works are, and at over 500 pages long the fact that it was over too quickly is really saying something.
I can't resist a good thriller - and by "good thriller" I don't mean pew-pew-oh-no-dead-people, I mean overly graphic make you never want to recommend this to your sweet mother thriller - and this is a THRILLER. It starts off fast paced and just when you start to think it's slowing down, something else throws you for a loop.
But my defining point for what makes a thriller exceptional? It's unpredictable. I can say with absolute certainty that I foresaw very few moments. Were there things that were a bit predictable? Sure, such is life. But the main points where you feel like an idiot for not seeing it sooner? Man, oh man, are those the best.
What did I think?: I think it's safe to say this will be a long-time favorite. There will be a book hangover because I know it'll take a while before anything compares. And there will definitely be an empty void in my life until Karin Slaughter's next book is in my hands (please, soon, please.)
Who should read it?: You. Okay, maybe not that simple. But if you are drawn in by graphic horrors of murder, terror, rape, and nightmares (wow, I sound like a legitimate crazy person), you'll enjoy this. It's not the type of book that'll have you double checking to make sure your doors are locked at night, but only because you know you'll be up all night anyway needing to know what happens next in this book. Read it.
To be totally honest with you, I wasn't sure what to expect from this book - I just really loved the cover and every time I saw someone recommend it ITo be totally honest with you, I wasn't sure what to expect from this book - I just really loved the cover and every time I saw someone recommend it I kept thinking "I'm gonna read that because of that cover." Fast forward to now, and maybe I should start reading beautifully-covered books more often!
The Seven Husbands of Evelyn Hugo is exactly what it sounds like...okay, maybe not EXACTLY but for the most part it's Evelyn Hugo discussing her 7 (yes, 7) marriages. If that sounds like a lot, you'd be right. If it sounds boring, you could not be more wrong. There are secrets and scandals and manipulations that even a true villain would respect. And boy oh boy did I not see that ending coming.
I generally dread the endings of books, not because I don't want them to end but because I feel like at least half the time they're a letdown - all of that build up just to feel like the author didn't know what to do with them. But this book, thank you dear Taylor Jenkins Reid, is one that will forever live on in my short list of perfectly executed endings.
What did I think?: Despite having no idea what I was getting into, this not being a book I would normally gravitate toward, and never having been married myself, I couldn't put this book down. Each character was just likable enough and just realistic enough to be endearing, and every moment felt like it was one that could really be lived. All in all, a fantastic telling of a life in the spotlight.
Should you read it?: If you enjoy stories of classic Hollywood, thrive off of stories of love gone sour, or just want to get wrapped up in the life of someone far more dramatic than yourself, pick this one up. Not only is it being praised across the internet, but it's one that will be hard to forget once you know what it's all about. ...more
I'll agree that the trend for writing lots of characters with lots of different viewpoints has become almost annoyingly prominent, but since I loved TI'll agree that the trend for writing lots of characters with lots of different viewpoints has become almost annoyingly prominent, but since I loved The Girl On The Train of course I'm gonna stick it out. However, it's only fair that I say that even by the end of reading this one I was still a bit confused as to how some of the characters really fit into the story.
The premise to this book was one that I found fascinating - a woman is interested in learning and writing about why so many women come to this one area of the river in order to kill themselves. Or maybe it's more complicated than that - maybe these women aren't seeking to end their own lives but somehow each find the ends of their roads meeting in this same spot. Either way, when one day this very woman's own body is found in the river things get far, far more complicated. Secrets emerge, loyalties are questioned, and even what was once thought to be so simply within this small town is turned upside down.
This has been cast into the same pool as Hawkins' last book, The Girl On The Train, which is perhaps a bit unfair to this one in that they're truly nothing alike. They share very little in common, and I'm not sure I would have even pointed them as being written by the same author had I not known it beforehand. Even still, Into the Water hold's it's own and is a solid story that kept me flipping pages far after my bedtime had passed.
What did I think?: Because I loved The Girl on the Train so much, picking up this one was a no-brainer. I was constantly surprised by the choices the characters made, and because I was often confused as to where some characters fit into the story, it was interesting to read an entire book and feel almost no attachment to anyone.
Who should read it?: The easy route would be to say that if you enjoyed The Girl on the Train then you should check this one out, but I think this one might not reach as many of those readers as one might think. However, if you're someone who enjoys slow-unfolding mysteries, are fascinated by the psychology of those affected by suicide, or just want to see what other craziness Paula Hawkins has been packing away inside that head of hers, I encourage you to give this one a read.
Woah, woah, WOAH! Pump the brakes just a second...what the actual heck did I just read???
Sarah Pinborough's "Behind Her Eyes" was yet another pick froWoah, woah, WOAH! Pump the brakes just a second...what the actual heck did I just read???
Sarah Pinborough's "Behind Her Eyes" was yet another pick from Book Of The Month Club where it looked like the best of the bunch, but that I hadn't heard enough of to be hyped about. It was marketed as as fast paced with an ending like you would never expect. And while I generally shy away from those based on terrible marketing alone, I have to say that this one lived up to what it says.
I truly, truly didn't see the ending coming.
I started out this year and spend much of the past several months reading through the Harry Potter series for the first time, so now that I'm choosing other books to read I want them to be really worth my time. Again, this one lives up to every bit of those standards. It was past paced, easy to read without losing in its complexity, and was one of those that I just knew was going to be hard to put down.
Although it's the story of a woman who is sleeping with a married man, it's far more interesting than that. When that man's wife befriends her, life becomes a whole hell of a lot more complicated...and thankfully for us, the readers, a solid amount of crazy never hurt when it comes for making a good story.
(As an aside, it's really hard to even write a synopsis for this one without spoiling something so please please check it out for yourself!)
What did I think?: I loved this story and not just because I love dark and emotional books, but because the telling of this story was so well done. Even if you're not normally into those books that are almost so creepy you can't sleep at night, I encourage you to check it out. It likely won't give you nightmares, but it might have you thinking twice about those people whom you call your closest friends.
Who should read it?: If you're like me and can't turn down a good thriller, I'd imagine this one is already on your list. This might not be a beach read, but it's perfect if you're looking for a book that I promise you won't want to put down until you know how it all turns out.
To be honest with you, this book wasn't even on my radar. I was having lunch with someone when we got around to talking about my love for Crime MysterTo be honest with you, this book wasn't even on my radar. I was having lunch with someone when we got around to talking about my love for Crime Mystery Fiction and they suggested this as their favorite of those type books. Lo and behold, they have a copy of it and I read it that very day. At only a little over 100 pages, it's easy to read and the fast-pace of it makes it all fly by. Oh, and not to mention that it really is that good!
Double Indemnity is about an insurance salesman who meets a woman interested in taking out accidental insurance on her husband. His attraction to her clouds his usual judgement and next thing he knows he's wrapped up in a murder plot that just might do him in. But it's not as simple as that. (It rarely ever is, right?) As love and loyalty to one's work complicated things even more, this story becomes all that much more exciting. There's affairs, death, family troubles, more death, love, DEATH...yeah, it's good.
I wasn't expecting to read this book, but it's going to be remembered as one of my all time favorites thanks to my friend randomly recalling a book they read back in college. Brains are weird.
What did I think?: I was pleasantly surprised by this story and couldn't put it down until I knew how it all ended. Thankfully I had a rainy Saturday and a broken leg so I could afford to get lost in a story like this.
Who should read it?: If you like crime and/or mysteries, or even more the femme fatale style of writing then I think you'll enjoy this one. Apparently many people read this back in school, have seen the movie or the play version - I had not, sadly - and reading back through it as an adult made it all that much more enjoyable. I highly recommend it, especially if you're looking for an action packed, easy read.
I ordered this one on a whim after seeing several other people recommend it - the premise seemed okay, interesting enough to pique my interest but notI ordered this one on a whim after seeing several other people recommend it - the premise seemed okay, interesting enough to pique my interest but not enough that I found myself rushing out to grab it. When I was able to get it for free on black friday with another purchase I was making, I figured it was as good a time as any to see what everyone else has been talking about.
Whoo buddy, let me tell you I should have picked this one up a looooong time ago because it's hands down one of my all-time favorites. Don't believe me? I've already lent it to someone so that they can read it, which I only do when I really really love something.
The Woman In Cabin 10 is about a travel journalist who has the opportunity to write about the maiden voyage of a new privately owned ship that was built for luxury travel. Unfortunately, right before she is set to leave she is traumatized by a frightful event and when faced with some questionable circumstances she's forced to question what's real and what's not. The problem? If you're questioning your own sanity, it can be hard to convince others as well.
This book is marketed as a thriller, and I didn't find it to be exceptionally thrilling but it was suspenseful enough that I had a hard time putting it down.
What did I think?: Is it the best book I've ever read? No. By the end had I figured it out? Yes. Do I still think it's one of my favorite books? Yes, I still really enjoyed reading it and in this case I was pretty happy that things worked out in the way I had thought.
Who should read it?: If you like thrillers and suspense, this is one that you should definitely check out. It's not completely different from a lot of other things that have been popular recently, but it's fresh enough that I still think it's fun and enjoyable.
How I feel about this book is perhaps a bit overly complex. On the one hand, it's well written, entertaining, and it got me thinking about things far How I feel about this book is perhaps a bit overly complex. On the one hand, it's well written, entertaining, and it got me thinking about things far more deeply than I thought I would. But on the other hand it wasn't what I was expecting. After picking it up and seeing that it was very science based, I wasn't expecting quite so much explicit sex.
Still though, I want to stress that it's still a great and emotionally deep story.
How Not To Fall is the story of Anna, a girl who is about to head off to New York to attend medical school, and Charles, a post-doc in the lab Anna works in. Although their relationship starts as a strictly professional one, as Anna is soon to leave the relationship takes a turn and they realize that they might mean more to one another than they had previously realized.
Or, as they so annoyingly call it, they have "a thing." Sometimes, as if that wasn't annoying enough, they refer to it as "a sexy thing." It's a bit distracting but not awful.
I'll be honest. I was disappointed when I realized this story wasn't what I had hoped. But as I continued to read (I'm weird and have a hard time just quitting on books), I realized that it's depth is actually surprising. Have you ever stopped to think about the fact that if you lived your life as if it were your last day on earth that you might be too freaked out to actually enjoy it? I hadn't but this story is just that. How do you enjoy something when you know that it must eventually end?
What did I think?: I really wasn't expecting to enjoy this book so much, but I actually really did like it. I'm not one for explicit sex usually in terms of my literary choices, but since this one went beyond that I was pleasantly surprised by how enjoyable I found it to be.
Who should read it?: If you want 50-shades but with more emotional depth, this is a step in the right direction. It's sexy without being terribly vulgar, and it's playful in a way that is oddly endearing. Not to mention it's easy to read and leaves you feeling like things came to a sufficient end.
*I was provided with a copy of this book in order to conduct this honest review.*
I'm going to start this by saying that this is one of the best books I've read in a while. Yes, I'm a suspense junkie, but I thought this one was espeI'm going to start this by saying that this is one of the best books I've read in a while. Yes, I'm a suspense junkie, but I thought this one was especially well done. If ever I find myself trying to piece things together as I go and feel like I just can't quite figure it out, I know it's something that I enjoy.
Good as Gone is the story of Julie, a girl who was kidnapped from her home as a child, and her family. As the events of Julie's disappearance unfold around them, their bonds as a family are questions, as well as their own personal identities and motives. What does it mean to be a family? What does it mean to even be yourself when being you isn't easy?
If you like suspense novels, this one is fast paced and easy to get through. I finished it in a couple nights and found it truly hard to put down. I liked the shifting of perspectives as I felt it allowed me to get a better glimpse into what everyone was feeling. Even if given a single perspective option, I think I'd still prefer to do it as the author did. It never felt forced or awkward or confusing, only highly enjoyable.
What did I think?: I really did love this book. It'll go to the top of my list in regards to books I recommend, and it'll be hard to top when choosing my next book. I thought the characters were fantastically multi-faceted, and if staying up until 2am reading is any proof of a good book then this one passes that test.
Who should read it?: If you enjoy suspense novels or stories of kidnappings, then I recommend this one for you. It's not action packed necessarily, more a reverse telling of a truly life changing event.
*I was provided with a copy of this book in order to conduct this honest review.*
Apparently I'm in the minority here based on other reviews I've seen because I absolutely loved this book. No, it's not action packed but it's wonderfApparently I'm in the minority here based on other reviews I've seen because I absolutely loved this book. No, it's not action packed but it's wonderfully written in a nothing-happens-but-we-continue-to-exist-regardless sort of way....which is important and terribly difficult to portray.
Talk about a slice of life feeling. I immediately saw a parallel to Catcher In The Rye (which I also loved), and later learned that it was a big influence for the author. Warp is the story of several boys but focuses on one in particular, Hollis, who simply doesn't seem to know quite where he fits in. Whether it's tagging along with friends or branching out on his own, nothing ever feels quite right. And yet, life goes on.
Now I should add that I've never read any other of Lev Grossman's books. I know that he is well known for his work, but this was my first glimpse. After reading this, I would definitely be interested in picking up his other works someday.
I know this book isn't going to be for everyone, and if you're looking for something fast paced and exciting you're not going to love it. However, it's short and if you're looking for some existential, philosophical something to make you ponder your own existence then I highly recommend you check it out.
What did I think?: I really enjoyed this story, and for all the reasons that others seem to not have liked it. I thought it was fun in it's simplicity, it made me think (and really think, not just about silly plot points), and it's one that the more I thought about it's meaning the more it's come to mean to me as a reader. I'll be recommending it - no, not to everyone, but I think to a lot of people who I feel can also appreciate it in the way that I have.
Who should read it?: If you enjoyed Catcher in the Rye, I really think you should pick this story up - it's not the same of course, but you'll get the same vibe. Or if you're just looking for a short and easy read that is perfect for a rainy fall night, you'll probably have a hard time putting this one down.
*I was provided with a copy of this book in order to conduct this honest review.*
I picked this book up on a discount rack probably over a year ago primarily because I liked the cover. It then sat on my shelf as I chose books aroundI picked this book up on a discount rack probably over a year ago primarily because I liked the cover. It then sat on my shelf as I chose books around it to read, always thinking that maybe I would get to it next but never actually doing then. Then one day I went to choose a book and thought, 'hey, why not?'
...and I am SO glad I did.
This book is the story of a man living in San Francisco working for a company that is striving to create the first intelligent computer. He's not an engineer and doesn't even consider himself worthy of the "nerd" title, but he finds himself on the team because the program is based upon the personality of his deceased father. As he uncovers more and more about his own past through this work, he is forced to face whether he's living a life currently that is best for him.
Now, I do live in San Francisco so was able to picture the setting and places pretty well but I don't think not being familiar with the city would take away from the books readability. I would say though that if you're easily offended by slight sexual content, this one might not be for you. But if you enjoy stories that aim to answer deep philosophical questions in a fun and endearing way, I highly recommend that you pick it up rather than letting it sit around on a shelf.
What did I think?: I liked this book more than I even expected to and found myself thinking more deeply because of it. It's not heavy in a philosophical sense, but it will get you thinking and feeling for the characters and what they're experiencing.
Who should read it?: If you live or love San Francisco, the setting is so well done that it in itself is worth looking at. But really, I think this is one of those books that's perfect for your vacation or lazy day - not too deep but slightly above a cheesy beach read.
Loading...
