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The Time of My Life
8.5
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Book
Denver is determined to realize his lifelong dream of becoming a singer. That's why entering in The...
Contemporary M_M Romance
Found Innocent (Detective Madison Knight Series Book 4)
Book
She wanted to leave her past behind, but it may have followed her… A young woman’s remains...
series crime fiction mystery police procedural Carolyn Arnold
There aren’t many books that make me laugh out loud, but The Split did just that - and more than once. It doesn’t seem like it’s going to be a book with much to laugh about. I mean, Ally is dumped by her girlfriend who is already seeing someone else, she’s having a career crisis after managing to escape teaching, and she moves back in with her dad in Sheffield - which is a long way from London. At the last minute, Ally impulsively takes the cat - Emily’s cat. I think this surprises Ally too, as the cat doesn’t seem to like anyone, least of all Ally.
So not the cheeriest subject, but the way it was written - and the narration by Imogen Church - was what made me empathise with Ally. And the situations Ally found herself in were so relatable. I felt really mean laughing at her and Jeremy going out for their first few runs, but they were hilarious (and I’ve been there too!).
I even found myself talking to Ally (should I own up to this, and the fact that I was wearing headphones at the time?!), and was helpfully reminded by the 17 year old, that telling a fictitious character not to email her ex-girlfriend was pretty pointless. I stand by what I said though!
I loved this book, and it brightened my day for a week of dog walks and (the dreaded) dinner preparation!
Recommended!
Many thanks to Quercus for my original e-copy (even though I listened to it on Audible!).
So not the cheeriest subject, but the way it was written - and the narration by Imogen Church - was what made me empathise with Ally. And the situations Ally found herself in were so relatable. I felt really mean laughing at her and Jeremy going out for their first few runs, but they were hilarious (and I’ve been there too!).
I even found myself talking to Ally (should I own up to this, and the fact that I was wearing headphones at the time?!), and was helpfully reminded by the 17 year old, that telling a fictitious character not to email her ex-girlfriend was pretty pointless. I stand by what I said though!
I loved this book, and it brightened my day for a week of dog walks and (the dreaded) dinner preparation!
Recommended!
Many thanks to Quercus for my original e-copy (even though I listened to it on Audible!).
ClareR (6054 KP) rated True Story in Books
Jan 16, 2022
I thoroughly enjoyed this highly original book. It’s written as a series of emails, transcripts of audio interviews, successive drafts of annotated college admission essays and screenplays (some of which are written when the main female character was a child). True Story tells the story of a young woman who, when too drunk to defend herself, is sexually assaulted in the backseat of a car by two boys on the local lacrosse team. Or was she? Because they deny it, and the fact that they went to the local private school and were seemingly sober (or more so than she was), seems to help people side with them and call her a liar. They gaslight her, make her doubt herself, and the damage this causes her, follows her into adulthood. She finds herself in a very damaging relationship that she struggles to escape from.
Out of all the boys on the lacrosse team, Nick also struggles with the consequences of that night. Whilst he wasn’t in the car, he feels the guilt of those boys’ actions, and he slips into alcoholism as a result (there may well be other reasons as well, but this is what I read into it).
I think I probably inhaled this book. It’s one of those that you start and then find it very difficult to put down. I loved the jumps in presentation, particularly the screenplays. I was urging Alice to stand up for herself and walk out of her dangerous relationship.
It’s a fascinating novel that I’d most definitely recommend.
Out of all the boys on the lacrosse team, Nick also struggles with the consequences of that night. Whilst he wasn’t in the car, he feels the guilt of those boys’ actions, and he slips into alcoholism as a result (there may well be other reasons as well, but this is what I read into it).
I think I probably inhaled this book. It’s one of those that you start and then find it very difficult to put down. I loved the jumps in presentation, particularly the screenplays. I was urging Alice to stand up for herself and walk out of her dangerous relationship.
It’s a fascinating novel that I’d most definitely recommend.
True Love (Songbird, #5)
10.0
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Book
One night can change everything… Nessa Sloan has been in love with Jimmy Baker since the ninth...
Contemporary Romance
Debbiereadsbook (1617 KP) rated Shifter Woods: Claw (Esposito County Shifters #4) in Books
May 9, 2023
blinder of a plot twist!
Independent reviewer for Archaeolibrarian, I was gifted my copy of this book.
This is book 4 in the Esposito County Shifters series, but I have not read them all. They can all be read as stand alones.
Angela runs after discovering her abusive boyfriend sells her out to the mob. Something guides her to Esposito County and Matt saves her. There is a familiar scent to Angela that Matt can't place, but he knows one thing: he will do anything to keep her safe, and make her his.
I liked this a lot. It takes a darker edge than Growl (book 3) but plays another blinder of a plot twist for Matt and Angela that I did not see coming!
It's steamy and smexy, yes but this had less of a *MINE* moment that some shifter books have and more of an *I know you, but can't place you* and the feelings for both Matt and Angela creep up on them. Oh, don't get me wrong, Matt has that drive to protect Angela right from the start, but he wasn't sure what it meant. I loved that it takes time, you know? The rapid fall-in-loves books are all well and good, but I especially liked that particular book isn't like that.
I loved that the other shifters in town pulled together to sort out Angela's problem, and I love that Matt asked if he could deal with it personally.
A thoroughly enjoyable 4 star read.
*same worded review will appear elsewhere
This is book 4 in the Esposito County Shifters series, but I have not read them all. They can all be read as stand alones.
Angela runs after discovering her abusive boyfriend sells her out to the mob. Something guides her to Esposito County and Matt saves her. There is a familiar scent to Angela that Matt can't place, but he knows one thing: he will do anything to keep her safe, and make her his.
I liked this a lot. It takes a darker edge than Growl (book 3) but plays another blinder of a plot twist for Matt and Angela that I did not see coming!
It's steamy and smexy, yes but this had less of a *MINE* moment that some shifter books have and more of an *I know you, but can't place you* and the feelings for both Matt and Angela creep up on them. Oh, don't get me wrong, Matt has that drive to protect Angela right from the start, but he wasn't sure what it meant. I loved that it takes time, you know? The rapid fall-in-loves books are all well and good, but I especially liked that particular book isn't like that.
I loved that the other shifters in town pulled together to sort out Angela's problem, and I love that Matt asked if he could deal with it personally.
A thoroughly enjoyable 4 star read.
*same worded review will appear elsewhere
Debbiereadsbook (1617 KP) rated Killing Me Softly (To Love a Psycho #3) in Books
Oct 2, 2025
oh so deadly!
Independent reviewer for Archaeolibrarian, I was gifted my copy of this book.
This is book 3 in the To Love A Psycho, and you CANNOT read it as a stand alone, you MUST )MUST MUST MUST!!!!) read the previous two books before this one.
I'm going to be very vague in this review, and try really hard not to give spoilers!
Kenny and Aaron, these two have not had it easy and it's really only fitting that the last book is quite possibly the worse for them!
I did not, absolutely never, ever, see that one coming at me! I don't read reviews before I read a book, but I will read them after I've read a book and before I write my review. I just want to see whether other readers felt as I did and I'm pleased to say, many were blindsided just as much as me!
Jack has been a side character who grew on me greatly. I loved that Aaron and Jack were able to become friends. They really both love Kenny, if not in the same way.
It's dark and oh so deadly, I had to keep putting it down and come back to it. I had to catch my breath, almost, before the next thing was thrown at these two, and someone else died!
I'm gonna wrap up. If you like your books twisted and deeply psychological, one for you. It pushed me to my very limits but I'm glad I read them!
5 full and shiny stars
*same worded review will appear elsewhere
This is book 3 in the To Love A Psycho, and you CANNOT read it as a stand alone, you MUST )MUST MUST MUST!!!!) read the previous two books before this one.
I'm going to be very vague in this review, and try really hard not to give spoilers!
Kenny and Aaron, these two have not had it easy and it's really only fitting that the last book is quite possibly the worse for them!
I did not, absolutely never, ever, see that one coming at me! I don't read reviews before I read a book, but I will read them after I've read a book and before I write my review. I just want to see whether other readers felt as I did and I'm pleased to say, many were blindsided just as much as me!
Jack has been a side character who grew on me greatly. I loved that Aaron and Jack were able to become friends. They really both love Kenny, if not in the same way.
It's dark and oh so deadly, I had to keep putting it down and come back to it. I had to catch my breath, almost, before the next thing was thrown at these two, and someone else died!
I'm gonna wrap up. If you like your books twisted and deeply psychological, one for you. It pushed me to my very limits but I'm glad I read them!
5 full and shiny stars
*same worded review will appear elsewhere
The Measure of Enough
Book
Thirty-four-year old social worker, Kacee Robinson, runs a non-profit agency helping women and...
Psychological Women's Fiction
Phillip McSween (751 KP) rated The Hate U Give (2018) in Movies
Feb 11, 2019
Masterpiece, One of the Best of 2018
After witnessing a murder, black high school student Starr Carter (Amandla Stenberg) decides to stand up against racism while dealing with her own internal conflict of self-identity.
Acting: 10
Beginning: 8
The toughest part about critiquing is having to say something isn’t perfect, but not really having any ideas as to how to fix it. The beginning was…good. Characters are introduced as you meet the Carter family for the first time. It definitely could have been better, however. I felt it dragged on for slightly too long, but at the same time I understand director George Tillman Jr. was going for an emotional connection. While it could’ve been better, it is solid enough of a start to get you into the movie.
Characters: 10
The film revolves around Starr and her family. Each family member contributes to the overall dynamic of the story. You can see how Starr is shaped by her strong father Maverick (Russell Hornsby) who is all about standing up for what’s right and protecting the family at all costs. Her mother Lisa (Regina Hall) just wants Starr to have a better life than herself growing up. Starr recognizes that and tries to embrace it, but also feels guilty while doing so. It was therapeutic watching Starr evolve into a woman after feeling so powerless in the earlygoings of the film. All of these characters, even those outside of the Carter family, have depth and add value to the story.
Cinematography/Visuals: 10
Conflict: 10
Genre: 8
Memorability: 10
The Hate U Give is packed with twists and turns that you don’t expect or see coming. It really is a small world that we live in, too small to go around hating each other. The film succeeds by showing us just how small this world is. There are a number of memorable scenes that remain etched in my brain long after watching the movie. It’s one of those films that stays with you, leaving you with cause for much thought.
Pace: 9
There were a few spots where the build-up was a bit slow, but it’s not a major issue that impacts the movie as a whole. This goes back to what I was mentioning in the beginning. Not perfect, but I’m not sure how much I would have done differently than Tillman Jr. For the most part, the movie is highly entertaining and has a consistent flow.
Plot: 10
Resolution: 10
Ended just the way it should, not with some fairytale conclusion, but reality. Thank God for justice, but the movie leaves us with the full understanding that there is still work yet to be done. Very strong messaging.
Overall: 95
The Hate U Give is not your typical race war movie as it pushes for peace in coexistence and challenges the ideas of self-identification. The dynamics involved here are truly interesting as you see a black vs. white vs. hood life going on and what happens when lines cross. With a solid cast and story, it is not a surprise that this is one of my favorite films of 2018.
Acting: 10
Beginning: 8
The toughest part about critiquing is having to say something isn’t perfect, but not really having any ideas as to how to fix it. The beginning was…good. Characters are introduced as you meet the Carter family for the first time. It definitely could have been better, however. I felt it dragged on for slightly too long, but at the same time I understand director George Tillman Jr. was going for an emotional connection. While it could’ve been better, it is solid enough of a start to get you into the movie.
Characters: 10
The film revolves around Starr and her family. Each family member contributes to the overall dynamic of the story. You can see how Starr is shaped by her strong father Maverick (Russell Hornsby) who is all about standing up for what’s right and protecting the family at all costs. Her mother Lisa (Regina Hall) just wants Starr to have a better life than herself growing up. Starr recognizes that and tries to embrace it, but also feels guilty while doing so. It was therapeutic watching Starr evolve into a woman after feeling so powerless in the earlygoings of the film. All of these characters, even those outside of the Carter family, have depth and add value to the story.
Cinematography/Visuals: 10
Conflict: 10
Genre: 8
Memorability: 10
The Hate U Give is packed with twists and turns that you don’t expect or see coming. It really is a small world that we live in, too small to go around hating each other. The film succeeds by showing us just how small this world is. There are a number of memorable scenes that remain etched in my brain long after watching the movie. It’s one of those films that stays with you, leaving you with cause for much thought.
Pace: 9
There were a few spots where the build-up was a bit slow, but it’s not a major issue that impacts the movie as a whole. This goes back to what I was mentioning in the beginning. Not perfect, but I’m not sure how much I would have done differently than Tillman Jr. For the most part, the movie is highly entertaining and has a consistent flow.
Plot: 10
Resolution: 10
Ended just the way it should, not with some fairytale conclusion, but reality. Thank God for justice, but the movie leaves us with the full understanding that there is still work yet to be done. Very strong messaging.
Overall: 95
The Hate U Give is not your typical race war movie as it pushes for peace in coexistence and challenges the ideas of self-identification. The dynamics involved here are truly interesting as you see a black vs. white vs. hood life going on and what happens when lines cross. With a solid cast and story, it is not a surprise that this is one of my favorite films of 2018.
