Wish You Were Here by Jodi Picoult A Contemporary, 2021 by Ballantine, 310 Pages What I Didn’t Like: Content warning of sorts: if you’re not in the frame of mind to read about the COVID pandemic, skip this one. I’ve never been one to enjoy cheating of any kind in a book. Consider that a... Continue Reading →
Ember Queen by Laura Sebastian YA Fantasy, 2020 by Delacorte Books, 512 Pages What I Didn’t Like: This isn’t really a negative, more of a note or warning. The book does very little fill-in of the previous books. To get the most out of this one you definitely want to read them in order and... Continue Reading →
Under Central Park: The Amulet’s Secret by Diana Wurfbain Spinola MG Fantasy, Independently Published in 2022, 415 Pages What I Didn’t Like: Firstly, I’ll say this didn’t feel like a middle grade novel. 415 pages is a lot for a middle grade novel, the title is a mouthful, and we start the book by following... Continue Reading →
The Institute by Stephen King A Horror, 2019 by Scribner, 561 Pages What I Didn’t Like: I like originality so when it felt like The Shining or Clockwork Orange I rolled my eyes. The character we meet and love first takes a big chunk of the book OFF. I spent a lot of time wondering... Continue Reading →
Have You Seen Her by Catherine McKenzie A Mystery/Thriller, 2023 by Atria Books, 336 Pages What I Didn’t Like: Slow start. This book is a mystery/thriller and it does pick up speed, but the beginning “before” chapters are dry and slow. I didn’t have anyone to root for. I didn’t particularly like or trust any... Continue Reading →
A Very Dinosaur Birthday by Adam Wallace Childrens Fantasy, 2023 by Thomas Nelson, 40 Pages What I Didn’t Like: If you’re offended by farts or the mention of dinosaur bum, maybe avoid this one. What I Did Like: The rhymes give a great cadence to the story. The illustrations are adorable. The story itself is... Continue Reading →
Ashes of Hope and Hunger by Dawn Christine Jonckowski YA Science Fiction, Independently Published in 2021, 270 Pages What I Didn’t Like: There are characters here that are not good people. It’s the point, of course, but worth earning readers about. Some of these characters will make you mad. You’ll want more. I mean, there... Continue Reading →
Something Wicked This Way Comes by Ray Bradbury A Horror, 1962 by Harper, 293 Pages What I Didn’t Like: The entire rant about fatherhood made me angry, honestly. It tried to suggest motherhood was all simple and easy while fathers find themselves awake all night. Stereotypes and cliches like that pull me right out of... Continue Reading →
Those Beneath by Almedia Ryan YA Fantasy, 2023 by Lost Boys Press, 329 Pages What I Didn’t Like: I never feel like a story needs an epilogue that wraps everything up nicely so I didn’t need this one either. But many readers like that! I wanted a bit more from the big confrontation that is... Continue Reading →
The Magicians by Lev Grossman A Fantasy, 2009 by Viking, 409 Pages What I Didn’t Like: Personally, I felt like the start of the lessons took a slow turn which was unfortunate. Just when you should be getting excited to learn magic along with this character, it felt like it was dragging instead. This book... Continue Reading →
