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First Love (2019)
6.7
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First Love (2019) Toronto International Film Festival Never mind a New York minute: it's in a...
Miike First love Japanese
Merissa (13780 KP) rated Missing Piece (Neon Scars #2) in Books
Sep 5, 2025
MISSING PIECE is the second book in the Neon Scars series, and the story actually begins before book one, before running on an almost parallel timeline. Adam is a recovering addict, celebrating 30 days sober when we first meet him. Vincent is an old vampire, although not as old as Marcus, who takes Adam after Adam sees too much. Originally, he takes him as a 'trial' (which is explained in the story), but Adam is so much more, and Vincent doesn't know what to do with him!
I thoroughly enjoyed the first book and was looking forward to this one. I was NOT disappointed. Both Adam and Vincent are complex characters, with plenty of baggage to carry. I loved finding out more about Petrov, Luka, and Matteo, and hope to see more of them in the future.
I would say this is a slow-to-medium-paced story, but it does have both action and down times to catch your breath, as well as s3xy times for Adam and Vincent. Theirs is a complicated relationship, to say the least, especially as Vincent is still bothered about how he is perceived by the other vampires. And although Adam is slightly broken, he still knows where to draw his line in the sand. I loved that!
All in all, I would say read book one to get the full experience, although you don't necessarily have to. I enjoyed every word and look forward to reading more, both in this series and by this author. Definitely recommended by me.
** Same worded review will appear elsewhere. **
* A copy of this book was provided to me with no requirements for a review. I voluntarily read this book; the comments here are my honest opinion. *
Merissa
Archaeolibrarian - I Dig Good Books!
Sep 5, 2025
I thoroughly enjoyed the first book and was looking forward to this one. I was NOT disappointed. Both Adam and Vincent are complex characters, with plenty of baggage to carry. I loved finding out more about Petrov, Luka, and Matteo, and hope to see more of them in the future.
I would say this is a slow-to-medium-paced story, but it does have both action and down times to catch your breath, as well as s3xy times for Adam and Vincent. Theirs is a complicated relationship, to say the least, especially as Vincent is still bothered about how he is perceived by the other vampires. And although Adam is slightly broken, he still knows where to draw his line in the sand. I loved that!
All in all, I would say read book one to get the full experience, although you don't necessarily have to. I enjoyed every word and look forward to reading more, both in this series and by this author. Definitely recommended by me.
** Same worded review will appear elsewhere. **
* A copy of this book was provided to me with no requirements for a review. I voluntarily read this book; the comments here are my honest opinion. *
Merissa
Archaeolibrarian - I Dig Good Books!
Sep 5, 2025
Ryan Gosling: Hollywood's Finest
Book
Acclaimed for his good looks as much as his searing acting ability, Canadian actor Ryan Gosling...
Darling Days
Book
I WAS BORN, SEPTEMBER 1985, IN THE VORTEX OF THE LOWER EAST SIDE OF NEW YORK: THERE WERE FEW RULES...
Bobby Gillespie recommended John Phillips (John the Wolfking of L.A.) by John Phillips in Music (curated)
Hit So Hard: A Memoir
Book
A stunningly candid and inspiring memoir of recovery from addiction and the '90s, by Hole drummer...
Music biography
Tsuro - The Game of the Path
Entertainment and Games
7.0
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App
A simple tile laying game where the goal is to stay alive the longest. Each tile you play moves your...
BoardGameApp
Kristy H (1252 KP) rated Bad Habits in Books
Feb 18, 2021
Claire "Mac" Woods is now a well-respected professor in academia--making her the person she's always dreamed of becoming. But ten years ago, she was just Mac. A poor student at university: part of The Project, with her best friend Gwen Whitney. When Gwen moved to Mac's hometown, her life changed. Through the lens of Gwen's wealthy life, Mac saw another future for herself than one with an addict mom; a sick sister; and a deadbeat dad. But while part of The Project, Gwen and Mac are sucked into the power dynamics of a married professor couple, with disastrous consequences. Meeting by accident a decade later, the two are hashing things out--but will uncovering long buried secrets do anyone any good?
This was a well-done and suspenseful book, but it took me a while to get into it for some reason. Mostly by design, the characters are incredibly unlikable and nearly impossible to feel any attachment for. Even Mac, our supposed protagonist, has her irritating and questionable moments. I think of this book as dark and twisted people doing dark and twisted things. But, there's some delight in that, sometimes, right? Because Gentry gives us really twisted people and what happens can be really dark.
If you're someone who came up in academia, this book will really hit home, as most of our characters' motivations center around getting ahead in that world. Mac envies Gwen and her "easy" life more than anything. And the two professors? Well, I'm not sure I can even *explain* them without giving away any spoilers. Let's just say it's a cutthroat world out there.
There are certainly some twists here--more at the end, where things pick up. There's an "event" that we know happened, and we don't really find out what transpired until near the book's conclusions. At times this is suspenseful; at others, frustrating. Is the power grab that's happening really worth it all? Only our characters can truly say, I suppose.
Overall, this a dark and sometimes slow-moving novel, but it has its share of surprises. It will be especially intriguing if you love academia-themed novels and power-grabbing characters. 3 stars.
This was a well-done and suspenseful book, but it took me a while to get into it for some reason. Mostly by design, the characters are incredibly unlikable and nearly impossible to feel any attachment for. Even Mac, our supposed protagonist, has her irritating and questionable moments. I think of this book as dark and twisted people doing dark and twisted things. But, there's some delight in that, sometimes, right? Because Gentry gives us really twisted people and what happens can be really dark.
If you're someone who came up in academia, this book will really hit home, as most of our characters' motivations center around getting ahead in that world. Mac envies Gwen and her "easy" life more than anything. And the two professors? Well, I'm not sure I can even *explain* them without giving away any spoilers. Let's just say it's a cutthroat world out there.
There are certainly some twists here--more at the end, where things pick up. There's an "event" that we know happened, and we don't really find out what transpired until near the book's conclusions. At times this is suspenseful; at others, frustrating. Is the power grab that's happening really worth it all? Only our characters can truly say, I suppose.
Overall, this a dark and sometimes slow-moving novel, but it has its share of surprises. It will be especially intriguing if you love academia-themed novels and power-grabbing characters. 3 stars.
Pinball Arcade
Games
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Winner of the Best Mobile Game of 2012 on G4TV! Pinball Arcade by FarSight Studios features exact...
Merissa (13780 KP) rated The Boy Who Fell to Earth in Books
Dec 18, 2017
The Boy Who Fell to Earth by A. Zukowski
The Boy Who Fell to Earth is an angst-ridden book that tells of the rises and falls of being a drug-addict child who has slipped through the cracks (by his own intention and actions). Sasha has had a very troubled childhood, and he faces the reaper the night he is dumped on Jay's lawn. Although Jay doesn't have a lot, he still has a whole lot more than Sasha. The attraction between these two is instantaneous, and that posed a bit of a problem to me. Whilst Sasha appears a lot older than his years - and rightly so! - Jay seems quite immature by comparison. I know it is a case of opposites attract, but there were instances when I just couldn't quite believe his words or actions.
There is a lot that goes on in this book, and you will be rooting for Jay and Sasha all the way through - even with Jay's immaturity. It is easy to forget the ages of Jay and Sasha, even though they are mentioned frequently. It is almost like your brain doesn't want to admit that this can happen to young adults, and instead tricks you into thinking they are older than they are. The reminders of their ages was always well written, placed somewhere natural, rather than just telling you out of the blue.
I think this book is a marmite book. I think some people will love it, and some will dislike it. As for me, I'm pondering on it. There was a lot that I liked, and a lot that I didn't. None of what I didn't like was a fault of the writing or the author. It was, plain and simple, the darkness of what was happening. I read 'dark' books, but this one is a slice of reality that you can't just ignore as 'another book'.
I would recommend trying this book, although be aware that some of the subjects mentioned may be triggers for some. You will enjoy it, or you won't, but don't miss out on the opportunity of finding out for yourself. I wish Jay and Sasha every happiness because they surely deserve it!
* A copy of this book was provided to me with no requirements for a review. I voluntarily read this book, and my comments here are my honest opinion. *
Merissa
Archaeolibrarian - I Dig Good Books!
There is a lot that goes on in this book, and you will be rooting for Jay and Sasha all the way through - even with Jay's immaturity. It is easy to forget the ages of Jay and Sasha, even though they are mentioned frequently. It is almost like your brain doesn't want to admit that this can happen to young adults, and instead tricks you into thinking they are older than they are. The reminders of their ages was always well written, placed somewhere natural, rather than just telling you out of the blue.
I think this book is a marmite book. I think some people will love it, and some will dislike it. As for me, I'm pondering on it. There was a lot that I liked, and a lot that I didn't. None of what I didn't like was a fault of the writing or the author. It was, plain and simple, the darkness of what was happening. I read 'dark' books, but this one is a slice of reality that you can't just ignore as 'another book'.
I would recommend trying this book, although be aware that some of the subjects mentioned may be triggers for some. You will enjoy it, or you won't, but don't miss out on the opportunity of finding out for yourself. I wish Jay and Sasha every happiness because they surely deserve it!
* A copy of this book was provided to me with no requirements for a review. I voluntarily read this book, and my comments here are my honest opinion. *
Merissa
Archaeolibrarian - I Dig Good Books!