Dennis's Updates en-US Fri, 11 Apr 2025 23:04:37 -0700 60 Dennis's Updates 144 41 /images/layout/goodreads_logo_144.jpg ReadStatus9299221393 Fri, 11 Apr 2025 23:04:37 -0700 <![CDATA[Dennis started reading 'The Devils']]> /review/show/7019261309 The Devils by Joe Abercrombie Dennis started reading The Devils by Joe Abercrombie
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Review7073723537 Fri, 11 Apr 2025 13:32:11 -0700 <![CDATA[Dennis added 'Parents Weekend']]> /review/show/7073723537 Parents Weekend by Alex Finlay Dennis gave 3 stars to Parents Weekend (Hardcover) by Alex Finlay
bookshelves: 2025, thriller, whodunnit
3.5 stars

Alex Finlay is an auto-read for me, so I was eager to dive into Parents Weekend—especially with the return of FBI Agent Sarah Keller, a familiar face from Every Last Fear and The Night Shift.

Set at a small Northern California college, the story kicks off during Parents Weekend when five freshmen mysteriously vanish. At first, everyone assumes they're just off partying, but as silence stretches into a second day, panic sets in. Search efforts begin, media descends, and suspicions rise. The missing students—nicknamed “The Five”—come from vastly different families, and secrets begin to surface. Are their parents' pasts catching up with them, or is the danger closer to home?

Told through multiple POVs and dual timelines, this is a fast-paced, drama-heavy mystery perfect for fans of ensemble casts. While I found the twists predictable and the vibe a bit too familiar to Finlay’s earlier work, it was still an engaging read. Keller remains a standout, and I’d happily follow her into another investigation. ]]>
Review7128881750 Mon, 07 Apr 2025 20:45:29 -0700 <![CDATA[Dennis added 'The Ones We Love']]> /review/show/7128881750 The Ones We Love by Anna Snoekstra Dennis gave 2 stars to The Ones We Love (Hardcover) by Anna Snoekstra
bookshelves: 2025, slow-burn, thriller
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ReadStatus9270168286 Fri, 04 Apr 2025 08:26:00 -0700 <![CDATA[Dennis started reading 'The Missing Half']]> /review/show/6982698268 The Missing Half by Ashley Flowers Dennis started reading The Missing Half by Ashley Flowers
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Review7101791495 Fri, 04 Apr 2025 05:47:34 -0700 <![CDATA[Dennis added 'We Live Here Now']]> /review/show/7101791495 We Live Here Now by Sarah Pinborough Dennis gave 5 stars to We Live Here Now (Hardcover) by Sarah Pinborough
bookshelves: 2025, horror, domestic-thriller, psychological-thriller
Say what you want about Sarah Pinborough, but she NEVER tells a regurgitated novel. Ever. Her newest novel, WE LIVE HERE NOW, has been on my anticipated 2025 reads list since I've heard about it a few months ago, and IT LIVES UP TO THE HYPE BOOKSTAFAM!

After a near-fatal accident leaving our protagonist in a coma, Emily moves with her husband Freddie to a grand but unsettling country house called Larkin Lodge. This home is very different from their flat in London, but part of the dream Emily and Freddie always wanted. However, Larkin Lodge isn't what they thought it would be. Strange things begin to happen—only when Emily's alone—making her question whether it’s the house or her fragile health playing tricks on her. As the eerie events escalate and her marriage begins to unravel, Emily grows convinced the house is hiding a dark secret—and so is Freddie.

Don't even begin to assume you know how this story will evolve, because YOU WILL NOT. I was hoping the story would not play out how I assumed it would and it completely threw me for a loop. It is vaguely familiar to a very popular horror movie but if I told you, I'd be spoiling the entire story, so DM me if you'd want to know more about my thoughts after you finish. This book is my favorite Sarah Pinborough yet! I loved the compelling and claustrophobic sense of the storytelling, I loved that the suspense oozed from chapter to chapter, and I loved being able to question what I thought was going to happen the entire time. WE LIVE HERE NOW will be in my top reads of 2025 for sure.

RANKINGS:
1. We Used to Live Here (loved!)
2. Insomnia (really enjoyed)
3. Dead to Her (very much enjoyed)
4. Cross Her Heart (did not like)
5. Behind Her Eyes (the ending ruined it for me) ]]>
Rating843541296 Thu, 03 Apr 2025 18:43:59 -0700 <![CDATA[Dennis liked a review]]> /
The French Honeymoon by Anne-Sophie Jouhanneau
"I loved the premise here and the tagline about Paris not always being a good idea was intriguing to me. You figure out almost immediately that none of the characters are very likable or even decent people but in a thriller, who cares? I found the pacing to be pretty fast and while some twists were surprising some weren’t but that was ok for me. I was assuming this would be about four stars for me until the ending and now I’m def bumping it down. I hate an ambiguous ending where you’re not sure what happened and that’s what we were given here. It could be seen as two different outcomes and I don’t like that at all, I want clear and concise answers. Blah. But if you enjoy that type of thing the rest of this was a pretty fun popcorn style wild thriller! The ending was just disappointing for me. "
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ReadStatus9265027387 Wed, 02 Apr 2025 20:35:57 -0700 <![CDATA[Dennis wants to read 'Future Saints']]> /review/show/7458263488 Future Saints by Ashley Winstead Dennis wants to read Future Saints by Ashley Winstead
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ReadStatus9264039388 Wed, 02 Apr 2025 15:46:19 -0700 <![CDATA[Dennis started reading 'We Live Here Now']]> /review/show/7101791495 We Live Here Now by Sarah Pinborough Dennis started reading We Live Here Now by Sarah Pinborough
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Review6982666726 Tue, 01 Apr 2025 10:44:49 -0700 <![CDATA[Dennis added 'Fun for the Whole Family']]> /review/show/6982666726 Fun for the Whole Family by Jennifer E. Smith Dennis gave 4 stars to Fun for the Whole Family (Hardcover) by Jennifer E. Smith
bookshelves: 2025, family-drama, literary-fiction, drama, contemporary, character-driven
Jennifer E. Smith's upcoming novel, FUN FOR THE WHOLE FAMILY, is getting lots of buzz right now, and for good measure. This author's last book, The Unsinkable Greta James, was a very popular novel a few years back and readers are hungry for something new. Thank you to @prhaudio for providing me with a gifted ALC as I chose to take my journey with this book via audiobook route.

Once inseparable, the four Endicott siblings—Gemma, Connor, Roddy, and Jude—drifted apart after a childhood shaped by their absent, free-spirited mother. Years later, an unexpected message from Jude, now a famous actress, reunites them in North Dakota, where long-buried tensions, life-altering decisions, and Jude’s three shocking secrets threaten to change everything.

This genre typically isn't my sort of read, but I enjoyed listening to it while working. This heartfelt, character-driven novel follows four estranged siblings reuniting after years apart, weaving together past and present timelines to explore their complex bond. Smith masterfully develops each sibling’s unique voice, making them feel authentic and easy to connect with, while balancing humor, heartbreak, and plenty of family drama. A beautifully narrated, slow-burn story filled with emotion, this is a must-read for fans of rich, character-driven family sagas. I immediately texted my family chat after wrapping this one up! ]]>
UserChallenge57202658 Mon, 31 Mar 2025 09:20:56 -0700 <![CDATA[ Dennis has challenged himself to read 125 books in 2025. ]]> /user/show/67496521-dennis 11627
He has read 51 books toward his goal of 125 books.
 
Create your own 2025 Reading Challenge » ]]>