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Eleanor & Park
Eleanor & Park
Rainbow Rowell | 2016 | Young Adult (YA)
"Heartwarming, romantic and great fun." - Closer

I very much agree with this statement. The storyline is very heartwarming and credible, I believed every word. It is a really great, quirky story of which is incredibly easy to fall in love with.

I really like the way in which the themes are introduced, it's obvious yet subtle at the same time. The more serious of the themes like abuse and poverty are handled beautifully and delicately, the concept of family is important to the novel itself of which I really admire and like and the relationships between the family members are a part of what makes the novel so warm. The slow but blooming relationship between Eleanor and Park is lovely, it made me smile, feel happy and content. The novel itself is definitely relatable due to secondary school being a big part of the novel as well as the love story between the two teens.

The characters Eleanor and Park are definitely likable and admirable due to their love and how they develop throughout the novel. I think that the fact that Eleanor is so defensive and loyal to her family is kind of heartbreaking considering her situation and I really sympathised for her and was angry for her too. I really liked how Park was the key to open Eleanor up to make her feel like a normal human being again, the thing about Park that fascinated me the most was that he was convinced she was being different on purpose, it made me realise that too much time is spent on trying to be different and trying to be unique when all that really matters is that you are yourself and stay true to that - a very clear message of the story as a whole. I found all characters credible and I really sympathised with them.

I loved the book overall however I did find that it lacked a hook in the beginning, therefore, it was quite a slow start although once you got further into the book that is when the story unraveled a little more and encouraged my further reading and enjoyment.

Overall, a brilliant novel of which I thoroughly enjoyed.
  
You Were There Too
You Were There Too
Colleen Oakley | 2020 | Contemporary, Romance
6
6.0 (1 Ratings)
Book Rating
Mia and Harrison move to tiny Hope Springs from Philadelphia, each hoping to escape their own problems. Here they have a picture-perfect house and a supposedly matching perfect life. But Mia is struggling with infertility and her husband has his own hidden demons. Plus Mia has a secret: at night, she has recurring dreams about another man. So imagine her surprise when she runs into him--in the flesh--in Hope Springs. Even more surprising? He tells her he dreams of her, too.

This was an odd and intense read--nothing like what I expected, though I'm not sure what I was expecting, really. In fact, it was so serious at times, I had to read it in chunks. It was too much to take in, Mia's miscarriages and her emotions, the dreams and what they could mean. I don't really mean this in a bad way, either. The feelings in this book are just strong and extremely well-done.

I really liked the idea of dreams in the novel and how they are presented. I mean, what would you do if you were suddenly face to face with your fantasy, with someone who had been in your dreams for over a decade? What a particular situation.


"It's only that--at times--he feels so real. And has for the ten or more years that he's been starring in my nighttime reveries."


For me, where this book went off the rails, is when it started to meander. Oliver--Mia's dream guy in real life--and Mia join forces to try to figure out what their dreams mean. Mia laments about the men in her life. And then the book takes a turn and is just so damn sad. I felt betrayed, honestly, by its outcome. While I feel that it was very well-written--the way infertility is portrayed is well-done in a lot of ways--I felt as if I read an entire book for nothing. Why, I wondered, did we go through all that?

So, while I found the book to be quite captivating and emotional, what was going to be a 4-star read fell down to 3. Alas.
  
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Kristy H (1252 KP) rated Believe Me in Books

Sep 26, 2019  
Believe Me
Believe Me
J.P. Delaney | 2018 | Fiction & Poetry
7
8.8 (4 Ratings)
Book Rating
Claire Wright is young British actress. But she's struggling in New York City--she's in an acting program, but she has no green card and no job or money. So when she's offered questionable work by a law firm, Claire agrees. She serves as a decoy to trap cheating husbands and catch them on tape. But when one of Claire's clients is violently murdered, the police need a suspect. They seem to be considering her husband, whom Claire saw--in the name the job--just that evening. They want Claire to try to lure him into a confession. Claire is sure she can do this: she's a great actress. But soon she's wondering who the police really suspect.

This one got off to a slow start, but once it picked up, it drew me in. After reading Delaney's recent book, THE PERFECT WIFE, which I really enjoyed, I knew I had to go back and read this one. I'm glad I did. It was just a fun, twisted ride, and an enjoyable quick read.

There's no one to really root for in this tale, but that's okay, because the journey is interesting enough to keep you hooked. Claire is a fascinating character: you're never sure how much to trust her, what's she's telling us, or what she's doing. At first, I found the confusion a little off-putting, but I soon learned to go with it and just enjoy the ride. And what a crazy one it is.


"I want to be other people. I've never wanted anything else."


This is a dark, bewildering read with some great twists and turns. There's a literary aspect with the work of the poet Baudelaire woven throughout. Claire is a focused actress and the whole "decoy" idea is turned on its head several times. I don't want to tell more and ruin anything. Just know that this book kept pleasantly surprising me, and I loved that--even when I thought I had things figured out--I was never sure where things were going.

If you're looking for a crazy, quick thriller that will keep you on your toes, you'll definitely enjoy BELIEVE ME. 3.5+ stars.
  
The Book Of Mirrors
The Book Of Mirrors
E.O. Chirovici | 2017 | Fiction & Poetry, Mystery, Thriller
8
8.7 (3 Ratings)
Book Rating
This novel may have been slow but I found its mystery so enticing that I loved moving and learning with each character. So many theories run through this novel that youÂ’re never sure what to think, itÂ’s a great classic murder mystery.

ItÂ’s only taken me almost a year to knock this book off my Netgalley shelf, but I finally got there! IÂ’d seen lots of hype for this one at the beginning of 2017 but I still didnÂ’t feel inclined to pick it up back then. Now IÂ’ve read it, IÂ’m glad that I waited. I think this one would have disappointed me if I had read it in its prime due to its slow nature, but I can appreciate slow books far more now than I could back then.

Like so many other reviewers, I did think this one was pretty slow paced, but I actually quite liked that about the plot. A cold case of over 20 years isnÂ’t going to get solved overnight, so it was practical that it took a while to find out what really went on that night. I do think there were some sections of the book that were unnecessary and added to the slowness of the plot, for example when one narrator gets on a plane and thereÂ’s a whole segment about an irrelevant salesman talking to him and flirting with a girl. That bit wasnÂ’t needed in any way for the plot to progress and did just feel like filler bumf, but IÂ’ve read books with far worse filler scenes.

This story is told in a few different ways. ItÂ’s told in the perspective of 3 different people and then also as a book within a book. I really liked the way this was laid out and think having the 3 different tones of voice gave the story some character it could have missed out on had it just stayed with the one narrator.

Each character in this was interesting in their own way, and I liked that each person had their own story to tell while also moving the main mystery along.

In terms of plot, this one wasnÂ’t the most innovative or astounding, but there was something enchanting about it. There were a few different theories as to Professor WeiderÂ’s demise and I liked that it kept you guessing all along. I was actually quite surprised and impressed by the end of the book, the conclusion to the mystery was cleverly thought out and well executed.

Looking at the reviews of this book I think people are being a little harsh. There are lots of books that are slow mysteries but this one seems to be pissing people off more than most. I know itÂ’s down to everyoneÂ’s own opinion but I donÂ’t see what the big issue with this one was. Personally, I enjoyed it.

<i>Thanks to Netgalley and Arrow for giving me the opportunity to read this in exchange for an honest review.</i>
  
Up In Smoke (Redwood Bay Fire #4)
Up In Smoke (Redwood Bay Fire #4)
HJ Welch | 2025 | Contemporary, LGBTQ+, Romance
10
10.0 (1 Ratings)
Book Rating
so very VERY awesome!
I was gifted my copy of this book.

I will start by saying this: I wanted to give this book so many MORE than 5 stars, but most review sites will only let you do 5. I gave the previous 3 books 5 stars but this book is way WAY above those! So, while this is tagged as a 5 star read, it really should have more!

This book deals with some difficult subjects from both guys: lost of a sibling as a child, distancing parents, drug/alcohol abuse; and recovery from these, attempted suicide and suicidal thoughts.

All topics are dealt with sensitively, and with research. Some things are on page, and you need to be mindful of that, if you have triggers. But I honestly think we needed to get into Jesse's mind at his lowest point, so we could really appreciate how far he comes and cheer him on!!

I loved that Rico thinks outside the box to be able to help Jesse. Loved that once they both admit they are emotionally in for real, it takes time for the physical stuff to come. I loved that, I really did. So I'm gonna say this is probably one of Ms Welch's less steamy books, but it's not really about that, it's more about the emotional connection for these two.

And that emotion made me cry at times, it really did. Jesse at his worst, and his best. Such extremes of emotion that really pushed me. When he was tempted, and how he overcame the threat. How Rico felt when he finally let Jesse in. How both men felt they didn't deserve the other for a long time.

I loved that Jesse was adamant he be called Jay in the beginning, but after he comes home, he's just Jesse to Rico and that was that! Made me chuckle, did that fact.

Loved that we get to catch up with the previous couples, and the whole of the One Thirteen crew, and I had to chuckle a bit at the way Jesse met them all at once! Not why he met them then, just the way they all crowded him and Rico to say hello.

Loved the found family at the club Jesse finds himself dancing at! Those guys and gals are amazing!

It's also a longer book than Ms Welch usually writes, but you do need those extra pages to fully appreciate the awesomeness that this book is!

I'm struggling with this review, because I want to rant and rave and go on and on and ONNNNNNNNNNNNNNNNNNNNNNNNNNNNN about it, but a coherent review that does not make.

So!

To sum up, in case you didn't get it in the beginning, I bloody LOVED this book, and I loved it so much that I filed it on my Masterpiece shelf. Because I do think that this is quite possibly Ms Welch's best book so far!! (under either author name!!)

Well done, Ms Welch, so very VERY well done!

5 full and so very shiny stars

*same worded review will appear elsewhere
  
Hillbilly Elegy (2020)
Hillbilly Elegy (2020)
2020 | Drama
Glenn Close - deserving of the Oscar nom (0 more)
Choppy story telling failed to engage me fully (0 more)
General Shoutiness and a glowering Glenn Close
I missed Ron Howard's "Hillbilly Elegy" when it came out at the end of last year, but principally wanted to catch up on it to see Glenn Close's Oscar nominated performance before Sunday's Oscars.

Positives:
- When this film started, I suspected that the Glenn Close nomination might be another 'Judi Dench in Shakespeare in Love' - - where her acceptance speech is longer than the time spent on screen! But no. Because of the flashback format deployed in the film, she actually gets a good amount of air time. And it's a really solid and impressive performance.
- The supporting cast is also good. Amy Adams is given a lot to do with a challenging role, and (just about) pulls it off. And young Owen Asztalos as the younger J. D. particularly impressed me.

Negatives:
- Although it's based on J. D. Vance's true life story, I really struggled to get very invested in the story. The choppy nature of the narrative - hopping repeatedly between 'the present' and multiple flashback timelines - really doesn't help with this.
- The whole J. D. / Usha romance element almost felt like it belonged in a different film. In fact, I found it frustrating that I found the elements with J. D.'s struggles at college, with the emerging love and guidance of Usha, as a more compelling narrative than the druggie mother lead story. Perhaps the movie was just trying to be too ambitious?
- Apart from one 'personal decision' scene in a motel bedroom, there's not much of an "up-side" to the story for the viewer to take away. It's not a movie that I found a positive experience.

Viewer Advisory;
If you've had any history of life in a dysfunctional family, there is a lot of shouting, slapping and general tension in this movie which you might find disturbing.

Summary Thoughts:
So, I came to this to see the performance of Glenn Close, and it's very good. I would personally be surprised if she takes the Oscar for this. However, having been nominated eight times before and never won, the 'sympathy vote' may play here.

But one of my bellweathers for a movie is to think whether I'll remember it in six months time. I'm afraid this one is unlikely to pass the test. If you say "Hillbilly Elegy" to me in October, I'll probably recall a whole lot of shouty people and Glenn Close glowering at me from the screen. That's not a wholly great recommendation for a movie. Sorry Mr Howard, but this one's a 'miss' for me.

(For the full graphical review, please see the One Mann's Movies review here - https://bob-the-movie-man.com/2021/04/21/hillbilly-elegy-review/ ).
  
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B(
Before (Betwixt, #0.5)
10
10.0 (1 Ratings)
Book Rating
Disclaimer: I received an e-copy from the author in exchange for an honest review.

"Before" is an aptly-titled prequel to "Betwixt", and here we get to learn more about Dale and what happened in his life prior to the events of "Betwixt." I must say, when I initially read "Betwixt," I found myself wanting to know more about Dale's history and how he got to be the way he was: moody, stand-offish, an outcast from the school, etc. Thankfully, Melissa read my mind and gave us this prequel!

Dale is the second child of a loving couple who only want what's best for him, but he sees it as a bunch of rules to keep him down, all based around what his dad's congregation would think if the preacher's son went off the rails. Funny thing, that's exactly what all the rules make him do, and he just gets wilder and more reckless the more they try to tie him down. He's tired of being compared to his older sister, the model of normalcy and obedience, and he's determined to make his own decisions, no matter the consequences. His friends (if you can call them that) encourage this behavior in him, and it isn't long before things spiral out of control.

If you enjoyed "Betwixt" or have a desire to read it but haven't gotten around to it yet, I would definitely recommend you read this one. Dale's story is really interesting, and it helps set up his involvement in "Betwixt" and also explains more about why he chooses to play the part he does in that story. Well done!!

5 stars =)
  
Timber Lake (A Snowy Range Mystery #2)
Timber Lake (A Snowy Range Mystery #2)
Nya Rawlyns | 2015 | Contemporary, LGBTQ+, Mystery
8
8.5 (2 Ratings)
Book Rating
Timber Lake (A Snowy Range Mystery #2) by Nya Rawlyns
Timber Lake is the second book in the Snowy Range Mystery series, although it can be read as a standalone.

The story starts off with Michael and Sonny (Seamus) bumping into each other at a rodeo. There is instant attraction between them, but apart from a hot kiss, nothing happens. Then they meet again, but this time in a work capacity. Sparks once again fly, but not always in a good way. These two need to learn how to work together in harsh conditions, and maybe how to love together!

This is a very different story to the first. I was expecting it to follow on in some way from book one, but it is a completely separate story. There is a lot of angst in this book, as the two MC's are looking at life and each other in very different ways. Just when you think they are working things out, there is some confusion/disagreement, that sets things off again.

I found this book to be very well written, with no editing or grammatical errors to disrupt my reading flow. The characters are well rounded (whether they annoy you or not!). The descriptions are enough to make picturing the scenes in your mind very easy.

If you like a bit of mystery with your romance, then I can definitely recommend this book/series.

* A copy of this book was provided to me with no requirements for a review. I voluntarily read this book, and the comments here are my honest opinion. *

Merissa
Archaeolibrarian - I Dig Good Books!