This Might Hurt, by Stephanie Wrobel

Tags

Book Reviews, netgalley, thismighthurt, Thriller Novels

Title: This Might Hurt

Author: Stephanie Wrobel

Rating: 3/5

Blurb (taken from Goodreads):

From the USA Today bestselling and Edgar-nominated author of Darling Rose Gold comes a dark, thrilling novel about two sisters–one trapped in the clutches of a cult, the other in a web of her own lies.

Welcome to Wisewood. We’ll keep your secrets if you keep ours.

Natalie Collins hasn’t heard from her sister in more than half a year.

The last time they spoke, Kit was slogging from mundane workdays to obligatory happy hours to crying in the shower about their dead mother. She told Natalie she was sure there was something more out there.

And then she found Wisewood.

On a private island off the coast of Maine, Wisewood’s guests commit to six-month stays. During this time, they’re prohibited from contact with the rest of the world–no Internet, no phones, no exceptions. But the rules are for a good reason: to keep guests focused on achieving true fearlessness so they can become their Maximized Selves. Natalie thinks it’s a bad idea, but Kit has had enough of her sister’s cynicism and voluntarily disappears off the grid.

Six months later Natalie receives a menacing e-mail from a Wisewood account threatening to reveal the secret she’s been keeping from Kit. Panicked, Natalie hurries north to come clean to her sister and bring her home. But she’s about to learn that Wisewood won’t let either of them go without a fight.

Review:

Sometimes, I come across books that I find really hard to rate.

Do I rate it high because I really enjoyed some of the parts that left me sitting at the edge of my seat? Do I rate it low because of the parts that made me put the book down because it didn’t interest me? Do I base it on the fact that it took me a full month to read while I usually knock back one book per week?

I decided to go in the middle with 3 stars. The pace of this book is brutal: most of the book alternates between the current time and between the past, with several chapters describing the past of an unnamed character. Yes, this character is eventually revealed, but the narration makes it seem like I was following someone, with just enough hints to confuse the heck out of me. I like these insertions of unknown, mysterious characters, but when they are the protagonist for pages and pages on end, I want to know who I am connecting with.

Therefore, all the big reveals went flat. I had my doubts after a while about the mysterious character, but by then I had slightly lost interest. The rest of the book unfurled the same way. I suppose it is important to mention that I grew to despise some of the characters because of their mindset, which is a sign of well-developed villains.

All that being said, this was a decent little book that gave me decent little goosebumps at times. Because it’s such a slow burn, the horror aspect of the thriller genre comes through quite well, and it left me with a gnawing sense of foreboding throughout my reading. I didn’t hate it, I but didn’t love it.

I’d like to thank Simon & Schuster Canada for the free ARC in exchange for an honest review.

The Heights, by Louise Candlish

Tags

Book Reviews, Louise Candlish, netgalley, theheights, Thriller Novels

Title: The Heights

Author: Louise Candlish

Rating: 5/5

Blurb (taken from Goodreads):

The Heights is a tall, slender apartment building among warehouses in London. Its roof terrace is so discreet, you wouldn’t know it existed if you weren’t standing at the window of the flat directly opposite. But you are. And that’s when you see a man up there—a man you’d recognize anywhere. He may be older now, but it’s definitely him.

But that can’t be because he’s been dead for over two years. You know this for a fact.

Because you’re the one who killed him.

Review:

I always feel quite lucky when a book gives me a solid plot twist that actually catches me off guard. What a treat to have enjoyed a book that gave me several of them!

I was quite surprised when I found out that The Heights is over four hundred pages (according to Goodreads), because I read it in two days. It was one of those that kept me up at night just so I could read a handful more pages, and then made me get up before the sun so I could continue it. The protagonist is an unreliable narrator and I have rarely seen a thriller execute the concept as well as this one. I really believed Ellen throughout the story, and the jarring shift to her husband’s point of view made the balance in narration excellent.

I was surprised at first to read the style. I found a book within a book – as the reader, we are reading both Ellen’s story as she narrates it for her memoir, but also seeing beyond the pages when reading her husband’s point of view. It was a clever shift in styles and I ended up enjoying it immensely.

The ending was superb. Without saying too much, I thought we had reached the end at some point before realizing I still had about 10% left of the book: just long enough for Candlish to throw another twist my way!

This was a compelling story from beginning to end. I recommend picking it up on publishing day, March 1st, 2022.

I’d like to thank Simon & Schuster Canada, as well as Netgalley, for the free advanced copy of this book in exchange for an honest review.

The Ballerinas, by Rachel Kapelke-Dale

Tags

ballerinas, Book Review, netgalley, theballerinas

Title: The Ballerinas

Author: Rachel Kapelke-Dale

Rating 4/5

Blurb (taken from Goodreads):

Dare Me meets Black Swan and Luckiest Girl Alive in a captivating, voice-driven debut novel about a trio of ballerinas who meet as students at the Paris Opera Ballet School.

Fourteen years ago, Delphine abandoned her prestigious soloist spot at the Paris Opera Ballet for a new life in St. Petersburg––taking with her a secret that could upend the lives of her best friends, fellow dancers Lindsay and Margaux. Now 36 years old, Delphine has returned to her former home and to the legendary Palais Garnier Opera House, to choreograph the ballet that will kickstart the next phase of her career––and, she hopes, finally make things right with her former friends. But Delphine quickly discovers that things have changed while she’s been away…and some secrets can’t stay buried forever.

Moving between the trio’s adolescent years and the present day, The Ballerinas explores the complexities of female friendship, the dark drive towards physical perfection in the name of artistic expression, the double-edged sword of ambition and passion, and the sublimated rage that so many women hold inside––all culminating in a twist you won’t see coming, with magnetic characters you won’t soon forget.

Review:

When I requested this book, I anticipated a cute read about young ballerinas. About ten percent of this book met this expectation – the rest is a story chock full of intrigue and drama and a commentary on the evolution of friendship, on feminism, and on the choices that impact our growth… and I loved it.

The strength behind this book is that it is so honest about the characters’ flaws. All of the main characters grow so beautifully throughout the story – it doesn’t gloss over the difficulties of being a ballerina, of growing, of making bad choices, of becoming someone you don’t love, or of simply the difficulty of being a woman. It addresses all of these subjects dead on and doesn’t shy away from exposing the ugly truths behind the spotlight. It’s the first time I have read a book that made me feel like feminism is extremely important; necessary, even, without openly saying so… bravo!

I would say this book lost a star because it took such a long time to really capture my attention. It didn’t become a real page turner until later in the book. I’m really glad I finished it but I wished the beginning had been shortened.

I’d like to thank St. Martin’s Press for the free copy of this book in exchange for an honest review.

The Beautiful Ones, by Silvia Moreno-Garcia

Tags

Book Reviews, netgalley, Romance Novel, thebeautifulones

Rating: 5/5

Blurb (taken from Goodreads):

From the New York Times bestselling author of Mexican Gothic comes a sweeping romance with a dash of magic.

They are the Beautiful Ones, Loisail’s most notable socialites, and this spring is Nina’s chance to join their ranks, courtesy of her well-connected cousin and his calculating wife. But the Grand Season has just begun, and already Nina’s debut has gone disastrously awry. She has always struggled to control her telekinesis—neighbors call her the Witch of Oldhouse—and the haphazard manifestations of her powers make her the subject of malicious gossip.

When entertainer Hector Auvray arrives to town, Nina is dazzled. A telekinetic like her, he has traveled the world performing his talents for admiring audiences. He sees Nina not as a witch, but ripe with potential to master her power under his tutelage. With Hector’s help, Nina’s talent blossoms, as does her love for him.

But great romances are for fairytales, and Hector is hiding a truth from Nina—and himself—that threatens to end their courtship before it truly begins. The Beautiful Ones is a charming tale of love and betrayal, and the struggle between conformity and passion, set in a world where scandal is a razor-sharp weapon.

Review:

Several years ago, I fell in love with Pride and Prejudice. Most recently, I fell in love with Bridgerton. This weekend, I had the pleasure of falling for The Beautiful Ones. Gorgeous gowns, lavish parties, dramatic romance and a quirky heroine that I’d just love to befriend; all three of these stories fit the bill and I quite confidently recommend The Beautiful Ones to anyone who enjoys these other two.

This is the second book from Silvia Moreno-Garcia that I have the pleasure of reading, and while I truly enjoyed Mexican Gothic, this one was my favourite. It’s a dramatic tale that keeps you on the edge of your seat with a whirlwind of betrayal and manipulative actions that would have kept Lady Whistledown quite occupied (okay, enough Bridgerton references for one post!) This is a romance novel (dare I call it a love triangle if it’s much more complex than that?) at its core and there’s plenty of angst and pining, and it’s just a good old-fashioned, slow-burn love story.

The strength of this book is definitely the characters, however. It’s more character-driven than plot-driven like Mexican Gothic was, but I adored it. The three point of views (Nina’s, Hector’s and Valérie’s) were excellent; all characters were very well developed and I loved all three for wildly different reasons. I loved Nina’s youthful energy and Hector’s internal struggles, but Valérie was just such a gorgeous antagonist that I think she was my favourite.

I am hoping more and more to see Silvia Moreno-Garcia’s books on the big screen, someday. I would most definitely see this one as a popular film; although reading this novel already treated me to a film in my own mind, sort of – thanks to the beautifully written prose.

I’d like to thank Macmillan-Tor/Forge for the free ARC of this book in exchange for an honest review.

#thebeautifulones

#netgalley

One by One, by Ruth Ware

Tags

Book Reviews, locked room mysteries, Ruth Ware

Rating: 5/5

Blurb (taken from Goodreads):

Getting snowed in at a beautiful, rustic mountain chalet doesn’t sound like the worst problem in the world, especially when there’s a breathtaking vista, a cozy fire, and company to keep you warm. But what happens when that company is eight of your coworkers…and you can’t trust any of them?

When an off-site company retreat meant to promote mindfulness and collaboration goes utterly wrong when an avalanche hits, the corporate food chain becomes irrelevant and survival trumps togetherness. Come Monday morning, how many members short will the team be?

Review:

There are so many one to three star reviews for this book, but I really loved it, so I’m writing a short review for what I consider an excellent book.

“And Then There Were None” by Agatha Christie is one of my favourite books. It’s one of the first books that I read that really blew me away; where the twist was so unexpected that I had to put the book down, and then pick it back up to reread it to pick apart all the clues I had missed. Maybe that’s why I liked “One by One” so much – a locked room mystery that kept me guessing until I confirmed my suspicions. Was Ware’s book at the same level as Christie’s? No, but both mysteries kept me hooked and had me flipping pages so quickly that I would say they do merit being compared.

I loved the setting; I could really picture the chalet and the atmosphere that Ware built. I liked the characters and the relationships. I even liked the company, Snoop – someone fund this app, please!!

So here is to a short review… I can’t type much more or else I’ll blurt out the ending of the book and I don’t want to do that. Overall: it’s a neat mystery, I liked it, I recommend it!

All That Really Matters, by Nicole Deese

Tags

allthatreallymatters, Book Reviews, netgalley, Romance Novel

Rating 5/5

Blurb (taken from Goodreads):

Molly McKenzie’s bright personality and on-trend fashion and beauty advice have earned her an impressive social media following, as well as a big paycheck each month. When her manager-turned-boyfriend says she has an audition to appear as a host on a makeover show that nominates underprivileged youth, her dream of further fame seems to be coming true. There’s just one catch: she has little experience interacting with people in need.

When her manager-boyfriend convinces her to partner with a local organization, she begins volunteering with a summer youth program. The program’s director, Silas Whittaker, challenges her at every turn, but she swiftly grows more attached to the kids–and him–every day.

As Molly experiences an acceptance unlike anything she’s known, she wrestles with the lies she’s been believing about herself for years. She thought she knew what mattered most in life, but maybe she’s had it wrong this whole time, and there’s more to being truly seen than what she’s built her entire life on.

Review:

This was a very sweet and wholesome book that made me cry at the end. Honestly, this is what the world needs during these hard times; you won’t hear higher praise from my lips (finger?) at this time. I could really escape within these pages and follow a heartwarming story that doesn’t shy away from discussing the hard topics.

I have been watching Schitt’s Creek recently and I imagined the protagonist to speak/look like Alexis, which was a great visual throughout. Honestly though, Molly was a great character and her development was believable and (yes, I will repeat myself) quite wholesome. The romance came naturally throughout the story and didn’t feel forced at all.

If the blurb inspires you then I highly recommend to pick this book up. Sometimes, a blurb doesn’t reflect enough of the story, or it says too much, but this blurb was the perfect balance. If you like this blurb, you’ll like this book: it’s that simple.

So I just realized that this book actually came out today so it’s really the perfect time to snag your own copy. I’d like to thank Bethany House Publishers for the copy of this book in exchange for an honest review.

Everything I Never Told You, by Celeste Ng

Tags

Book Review, Celeste Ng, everythinginevertoldyou

Rating: 5/5

Blurb (taken from Goodreads):

Lydia is dead. But they don’t know this yet.

So begins the story in this exquisite debut novel about a Chinese American family living in a small town in 1970s Ohio. Lydia is the favorite child of Marilyn and James Lee, and her parents are determined that Lydia will fulfill the dreams they were unable to pursue. But when Lydia’s body is found in the local lake, the delicate balancing act that has been keeping the Lee family together is destroyed, tumbling into chaos.

A profoundly moving story of family, secrets, and longing, Everything I Never Told You is both a gripping page-turner and and a sensitive family portrait, uncovering the ways in which mothers and daughters, fathers and sons, and husbands and wives struggle, all their lives, to understand one another.

Review:

I very rarely review books that aren’t from Netgalley but I feel like this one deserved a short blurb. I loved Little Fires Everywhere (Ng’s latest book) so I was very excited about this one and boy did it deliver. Her books have a way of really hitting home that life is hard, but it is done in such a beautiful way. People aren’t perfect; people are messy; and this book can explore just how much families can depend on and hurt each other through their love for one another.

I read this book in only about two days – the writing just flows so beautifully. The mystery kept me on the edge of my seat while the truth that bled through the pages made me cry more than once.

I would say that this book deals with very hard topics so please bear that in mind before picking it up. If your mental health is doing well these days and you want a gripping read, however, I strongly recommend this book.

The Ladies of the Secret Circus, by Constance Sayer

Tags

Book Reviews, netgalley, theladiesofthesecretcircus

Rating: 4/5

Blurb (taken from Goodreads):

Paris, 1925: To enter the Secret Circus is to enter a world of wonder-a world where women tame magnificent beasts, carousels take you back in time, and trapeze artists float across the sky. But each daring feat has a cost. Bound to her family’s strange and magical circus, it’s the only world Cecile Cabot knows-until she meets a charismatic young painter and embarks on a passionate love affair that could cost her everything.

Virginia, 2005: Lara Barnes is on top of the world-until her fiancé disappears on their wedding day. Desperate, her search for answers unexpectedly leads to her great-grandmother’s journals and sweeps her into the story of a dark circus and a generational curse that has been claiming payment from the women in her family for generations.

Review:

After reading Erin Morgenstern’s The Night Circus, I will love books set in circuses for the rest of my life… which is great. What is less great is that I’ll spend the rest of my life comparing any novel set in a circus to The Night Circus, and everything else unfortunately pales in comparison.

That being said, there is something about Sayer’s circus that worked well: it’s a place I would never want to visit despite the attraction of the concept of a secret circus.

This novel’s blurb makes this book seem like a romance, but what it doesn’t tell you is that the romance takes a step back to allow for magical realism, horror, and a lovely mystery that will keep you guessing until the end.

I genuinely felt like Sayer gives us strong characters that develop through the novel. I like the fact that Lara was thirty years old. For some reason, I thought this would be a YA book, with the heroine a teenager, but I appreciated that this was a woman basically my own age. Also, I feel like Lara grows through the book, and by the end, she has lived through and seen enough to make decisions that the Lara from the early pages would not. I do wish I had heard a bit more from Cecile and less from Lara – from the synopsis I would have assumed the opposite, but Lara is very much the main character of this book.

The pacing is what made me remove a star. I feel like there are a lot of unnecessary details that make some chapters drag. These details could’ve been removed to make way for more content regarding the world building of the circus itself, in my opinion.

That being said, this book is hitting the shelves in only a few days, so I recommend you grab a copy! I’d like to thank Redhook Books for the free copy of this book in exchange for an honest review.

#netgalley #TheLadiesoftheSecretCircus

Bad Ideas, by Missy Marston

Tags

Book Reviews, Ontario authors, Read The North

Rating: 4/5

Blurb (taken from Goodreads):

Wildly funny and wonderfully moving, Bad Ideas is about just that — a string of bad ideas — and the absurdity of love

Trudy works nights in a linen factory, avoiding romance and sharing the care of her four-year-old niece with Trudy’s mother, Claire. Claire still pines for Trudy’s father, a St. Lawrence Seaway construction worker who left her twenty years ago. Claire believes in true love. Trudy does not. She’s keeping herself to herself. But when Jules Tremblay, aspiring daredevil, walks into the Jubilee restaurant, Trudy’s a goner. 

Loosely inspired by Ken “the Crazy Canuck” Carter’s attempt to jump the St. Lawrence River in a rocket car, and set in a 1970s hollowed-out town in eastern Ontario, Bad Ideas paints an indelible portrait of people on the forgotten fringes of life. Witty and wise, this is a novel that will stay with you a long time.

Review:

Three cheers for authors living in eastern Ontario!! Yay!!

Coming from a small, eastern Ontario village myself, the setting for this book was so FAMILIAR. I’ve been to Cornwall and to Brockville, and the made up town Preston Mills was just perfectly described. I recognized it while it was also fully fictional.

This book is slow paced, it’s picturesque, it’s dark and gritty and funny and real… but it’s also like reading a portrait. Life is slowly unravelling, with its ups and downs… and then the ending just catapults right into you, and there you are, gobsmacked. I wish there had been another chapter to wrap up all the loose ends, but I am also really glad it ended the way it did. Wow.

Good job, Missy Marston! I enjoyed this book.

Strangers, by C.L. Stone

Tags

Book Reviews, CL Taylor, netgalley, strangers

Title: Strangers

Author: C.L. Taylor

Rating: 4/5

Blurb (taken from Goodreads):

Ursula, Gareth and Alice have never met before.

Ursula thinks she killed the love of her life.

Gareth’s been receiving strange postcards.

And Alice is being stalked.

None of them are used to relying on others – but when the three strangers’ lives unexpectedly collide, there’s only one thing for it: they have to stick together. Otherwise, one of them will die.

Three strangers, two secrets, one terrifying evening.

The million-copy bestseller returns with a gripping new novel that will keep you guessing until the end.

Review:

This novel is a neat little intrigue with an even neater twist at the end. I appreciated a lighter mystery after my last novel, one that has just the right touch of suspense to keep me reading when I should really have been heading to bed.

This book focuses a lot on its characters’ personal development and I really liked that all of them were flawed. I loved them through their faults, from mass-texting someone you love to stuffing your face with burgers when you’re having a really bad day (and then low-key hate yourself for it).

I appreciated the guessing game. Honestly, I’m relieved that this book allowed me to really get lost into the story with a slow burn type of book. Thanks for the good story, C.L. Taylor! I didn’t see the end coming at all, which was nice, too.

I’d like to thank Avon Books UK for the free copy of this book in exchange for an honest review.