There's Someone Inside Your House There’s Someone Inside Your House by Stephanie Perkins YA Horror, 2017 by Dutton Books for Young Readers, 304 What I Didn’t Like: Inconsistencies. In a book like this, where readers are looking for every clue about who might be the killer, you have to get the details right. I swear... Continue Reading →
Fear No Evil Fear No Evil by James Patterson A Mystery/Thriller, 2021 by Little Brown, 400 Pages What I Didn’t Like: Rushed ending. Not a cliffhanger, although Patterson is no stranger to those. This felt like you should still have another 100 pages coming and instead … poof, the ending appeared. It was weird. Is it... Continue Reading →
Little White Lies Little White Lies by Jennifer Lynn Barnes YA Mystery/Thriller, 2018 from Little Brown, 390 Pages What I Didn’t Like: Sawyer’s mother. The main idea behind this story never would’ve happened if she was a slightly more attentive parent or was honest with her child. I’m a bit tired of that stereotype. Pacing was... Continue Reading →
But this particular day the prompt spoke to me in a different way.
Nine Perfect Strangers Nine Perfect Strangers by Liane Moriarty Mystery/Thriller, 2018 from Flatiron Books, 453 Pages What I Didn’t Like: Genre confusion. Most of this novel reads like contemporary fiction with no mystery (and certainly no thrill) whatsoever. I checked (and rechecked) to make sure the genre was listed as mystery/thriller and it is. It’s... Continue Reading →
Churro and the Magician Churro and the Magician by Gaston Caba Childrens’ Graphic Novel, Coming in February 2022 from Clarion Books, 32 Pages What I Didn’t Like: There’s absolutely no words (I’m coming back to this point, I promise). Not even a name. If it weren’t for the title we wouldn’t know this bunny was... Continue Reading →
Ash Princess Ash Princess by Laura Sebastian YA Fantasy, Ember 2018, 432 Pages What I Didn’t Like: Characters who fit their cliches. I wanted someone to break out of their expected role and I’m still waiting on that. No surprises yet, just people behaving as you’d expect for the role they’re written into. I want more... Continue Reading →
Shadow Crusade Shadow Crusade by Jessaca Willis YA Fantasy, Independently Published in 2020, 356 Pages What I Didn’t Like: Slower pace than I was expecting. I honestly think this has a lot to do with this being the first book in the trilogy. It’s setting up the world, which takes time. The back half of... Continue Reading →
Without further ado, I bring you my first piece in the Idea Journal for 2022.
Just Right Jillian Just Right Jillian by Nicole D Collier MG Contemporary, Coming in February 2022 from Clarion Books, 224 Pages What I Didn’t Like: I wanted a bit more of the other characters. Granted, this is Jillian’s story (obviously) and we do get a little of the others. But if I said I wasn’t... Continue Reading →
