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13rebecca13's reviews
500 reviews
We Play Games by Sarah A. Denzil
dark
mysterious
tense
medium-paced
- Plot- or character-driven? Plot
- Strong character development? No
- Loveable characters? No
- Diverse cast of characters? No
- Flaws of characters a main focus? Yes
4.0
I love a good audiobook and this one is up there for me in terms of entertainment.
Narrated by a full cast with music, mixed media such as news reports and online chat comments, I was enthralled from the beginning.
Effie and Ben May have just moved to the gated community of Ivy Oaks. The two are married but also have their own little games they like to play. They seduce married couples in order to scam them, usually out of money, then move on to find their next mark.
They have one rule "No lies, no ties" but when they beginning to lose focus and start turning on each other, what will happen in this cat and mouse game?
This was a bit of a slow starter for me but when the scene was set, I found it hard to stop listening. Ben was a character I loved to hate and Dan Stevens voice was perfect to bring him to life. Billie Piper's Effie was just as good. The whole cast were fantastic.
The twists and turns throughout kept my interest and I thought the ending and epilogue tied it together perfectly. Highly recommend!
Narrated by a full cast with music, mixed media such as news reports and online chat comments, I was enthralled from the beginning.
Effie and Ben May have just moved to the gated community of Ivy Oaks. The two are married but also have their own little games they like to play. They seduce married couples in order to scam them, usually out of money, then move on to find their next mark.
They have one rule "No lies, no ties" but when they beginning to lose focus and start turning on each other, what will happen in this cat and mouse game?
This was a bit of a slow starter for me but when the scene was set, I found it hard to stop listening. Ben was a character I loved to hate and Dan Stevens voice was perfect to bring him to life. Billie Piper's Effie was just as good. The whole cast were fantastic.
The twists and turns throughout kept my interest and I thought the ending and epilogue tied it together perfectly. Highly recommend!
EXODAI: A Shockingly Honest Memoir of Love, Obsession and Torture by Elizabeth Hendrick
emotional
reflective
fast-paced
5.0
Whenever I read a memoir or non-fiction book, I tend to read them slower than fiction and I am probably not in the minority when I say this. However, when I started reading Exodai, all of a sudden it was 2 hours later and I was halfway through. This is probably one of my favourites.
This book follows Elizabeth's life as a Christian, coming to terms with her sexuality which didn't align with the Christian values. She then discovers the world of BDSM in Tokyo. The novel runs much deeper and at times my heart ached.
There is a lot of discovery, self-reflection, realisation and it felt very eye-opening to me. Elizabeth poses the question of, where is the line? When does BDSM stop being BDSM and be real torture and how to do you know if you are submitting for the right reasons? The relationship with Tomo was hard to read.
This is such a brutally honest memoir with a lot of thought provoking and emotional aspects. It takes a lot to share a story like this so openly and publicly, thank you for sharing it with us, Elizabeth.
This book follows Elizabeth's life as a Christian, coming to terms with her sexuality which didn't align with the Christian values. She then discovers the world of BDSM in Tokyo. The novel runs much deeper and at times my heart ached.
There is a lot of discovery, self-reflection, realisation and it felt very eye-opening to me. Elizabeth poses the question of, where is the line? When does BDSM stop being BDSM and be real torture and how to do you know if you are submitting for the right reasons? The relationship with Tomo was hard to read.
This is such a brutally honest memoir with a lot of thought provoking and emotional aspects. It takes a lot to share a story like this so openly and publicly, thank you for sharing it with us, Elizabeth.
The Housemaid by Freida McFadden
mysterious
tense
fast-paced
- Plot- or character-driven? A mix
- Strong character development? No
- Loveable characters? No
- Diverse cast of characters? No
- Flaws of characters a main focus? Yes
4.0
I am so pleasantly surprised! I have read a couple of Freida McFadden books and I didn't really enjoy them. I knew there was massive hype surrounding The Housemaid so I'd try for third time lucky. I am so glad I did!
There were a few minor things I didn't like. A little bit of obvious foreshadowing at the beginning which felt as subtle as a brick and a few unbelievable moments throughout but all in all, I was very entertained.
Millie Calloway has recently been released from prison following her ten year sentence. After losing her waitress job and then her home due to lack of employment, she is now living in her car and needs a new job before her parole officer finds out. Enter Nina Winchester.
Nina interviews Millie for the role of her housekeeper and light nanny duties for her nine-year-old daughter. Millie is shocked to receive a job offer with her criminal background.
Soon she discovers that the Winchester home and Nina are not quite what they seem.
This is such a fun thriller. I thought I knew where it was going a few times but the twists kept coming and I ended up devouring this in a day. I can't wait to read The Housemaid's Secret now!
There were a few minor things I didn't like. A little bit of obvious foreshadowing at the beginning which felt as subtle as a brick and a few unbelievable moments throughout but all in all, I was very entertained.
Millie Calloway has recently been released from prison following her ten year sentence. After losing her waitress job and then her home due to lack of employment, she is now living in her car and needs a new job before her parole officer finds out. Enter Nina Winchester.
Nina interviews Millie for the role of her housekeeper and light nanny duties for her nine-year-old daughter. Millie is shocked to receive a job offer with her criminal background.
Soon she discovers that the Winchester home and Nina are not quite what they seem.
This is such a fun thriller. I thought I knew where it was going a few times but the twists kept coming and I ended up devouring this in a day. I can't wait to read The Housemaid's Secret now!
Baby, One More Time by Camilla Isley
emotional
hopeful
lighthearted
fast-paced
- Plot- or character-driven? A mix
- Strong character development? Yes
- Loveable characters? Yes
- Diverse cast of characters? No
- Flaws of characters a main focus? N/A
4.0
I read and loved Not In A Billion Years so I was very excited for the next book in the series. You don't need to have read NIABY first but I'd recommend it to get familiar with the characters. Blake, the female main character (FMC) is best friends with Marissa, the FMC in Baby One More Time.
Marissa Mayers is almost 34 and has been chronically single since she was ghosted by her high school boyfriend on their prom night. Sixteen years later, she still has trust issues so has never allowed herself to get close to anyone. I usually don't enjoy this in a book. I am very much a "it's been years, get over it!" type of person but I overlooked it here because I liked the plot.
Marissa decides to go it alone and have a baby via IVF. She gets to the clinic and in place of her regular doctor who is at a conference, a new doctor will be treating her. Dr. John Raikes, Marissa's ex-boyfriend who has recently divorced his wife and moved back to the city with his daughter Nora.
I don't usually enjoy a pregnancy trope but this had a bit of a twist. Isley writes beautiful characters and I always find it hard to put her books down!
If you like the single dad or second chance romance tropes, this is for you. Can't wait for the next in the series!
Marissa Mayers is almost 34 and has been chronically single since she was ghosted by her high school boyfriend on their prom night. Sixteen years later, she still has trust issues so has never allowed herself to get close to anyone. I usually don't enjoy this in a book. I am very much a "it's been years, get over it!" type of person but I overlooked it here because I liked the plot.
Marissa decides to go it alone and have a baby via IVF. She gets to the clinic and in place of her regular doctor who is at a conference, a new doctor will be treating her. Dr. John Raikes, Marissa's ex-boyfriend who has recently divorced his wife and moved back to the city with his daughter Nora.
I don't usually enjoy a pregnancy trope but this had a bit of a twist. Isley writes beautiful characters and I always find it hard to put her books down!
If you like the single dad or second chance romance tropes, this is for you. Can't wait for the next in the series!
Once Upon An Algorithm by Clara O’Connor
hopeful
fast-paced
- Plot- or character-driven? Plot
- Strong character development? No
- Loveable characters? No
- Diverse cast of characters? No
- Flaws of characters a main focus? Yes
2.0
This book is marketed a spicy, STEM romance and it just felt way off mark for me.
LA-born, London-based Leonie Durant is in her late thirties and painfully single. One of her best friends is recently engaged and her group of girl friends all head to Paris to celebrate. Leonie is a planner and a list girl but her friends urge her to try something different. They sign her up to a dating app called OPP/ATT where you input what you like and the algorithm recommends opposites that would suit you. Leonie reluctantly agrees to meet Jack.
When she gets back to London and is helping her stepbrother with his app/tech start-up, who is there too? Yep, Jack.
When I first started this book, I got all the romcom vibes, I LOVED the set up but it quickly went downhill for me. It was very work-based and I found myself losing interest. The biggest disappointment for me was that Jack (spoiler alert) was married. When reading a romance, I am looking for the perfect book boyfriend so having a "cheater" of sorts instantly puts me off. I know the relationship is described as them not being properly together but I couldn't get past it.
The spice was also non-existent and any scenes that did happen were closed door.
I did love Leonie's friend group and it was an easy read. I flew through it in a day(!) but unfortunately, it just missed the mark for me personally.
LA-born, London-based Leonie Durant is in her late thirties and painfully single. One of her best friends is recently engaged and her group of girl friends all head to Paris to celebrate. Leonie is a planner and a list girl but her friends urge her to try something different. They sign her up to a dating app called OPP/ATT where you input what you like and the algorithm recommends opposites that would suit you. Leonie reluctantly agrees to meet Jack.
When she gets back to London and is helping her stepbrother with his app/tech start-up, who is there too? Yep, Jack.
When I first started this book, I got all the romcom vibes, I LOVED the set up but it quickly went downhill for me. It was very work-based and I found myself losing interest. The biggest disappointment for me was that Jack (spoiler alert) was married. When reading a romance, I am looking for the perfect book boyfriend so having a "cheater" of sorts instantly puts me off. I know the relationship is described as them not being properly together but I couldn't get past it.
The spice was also non-existent and any scenes that did happen were closed door.
I did love Leonie's friend group and it was an easy read. I flew through it in a day(!) but unfortunately, it just missed the mark for me personally.
One Last Breath by P.S. Cunliffe
dark
mysterious
tense
medium-paced
- Plot- or character-driven? A mix
- Strong character development? No
- Loveable characters? No
- Diverse cast of characters? No
- Flaws of characters a main focus? N/A
4.0
As soon as I started reading One Last Breath, I was instantly gripped. The novel opens with a woman climbing out of a well, only to be pushed back in.
We soon discover that the woman is thirty-two-year-old Jessie, a true crime documentary maker, whose friend Amy was found dead in the same well back when they were teenagers. Her documentary on Amy's murder ended up getting Amy's boyfriend at the time, Connor, released from prison as it was proven that he did not kill her.
Jessie is now back in her hometown with five-year-old daughter Freya to visit her father. Only there has been another murder. This time of a teenage boy and Jessie is convinced that Evan's death is related to Amy's, even though they are so unalike. Against advice of the police, she starts doing her own investigating which, as we know, does not end well for her.
The story is told in flashbacks of the days counting down to Jessie coming to be in the well, her being in the well and her husband Martin in the early hours of the morning rushing to get to his father-in-law's house. It has bit of mixed media too, with transcripts from some episodes of Jessie's documentary, Born Killer.
There are so many characters in this book and I felt like I trusted none of them, convinced each of them were responsible at different points. The urgency that I want from a thriller is there and it is very clever. There are so gross depictions of injuries that had me grimacing and you really feel the claustrophobia of Jessie being trapped in the well. This is a very entertaining thriller!
We soon discover that the woman is thirty-two-year-old Jessie, a true crime documentary maker, whose friend Amy was found dead in the same well back when they were teenagers. Her documentary on Amy's murder ended up getting Amy's boyfriend at the time, Connor, released from prison as it was proven that he did not kill her.
Jessie is now back in her hometown with five-year-old daughter Freya to visit her father. Only there has been another murder. This time of a teenage boy and Jessie is convinced that Evan's death is related to Amy's, even though they are so unalike. Against advice of the police, she starts doing her own investigating which, as we know, does not end well for her.
The story is told in flashbacks of the days counting down to Jessie coming to be in the well, her being in the well and her husband Martin in the early hours of the morning rushing to get to his father-in-law's house. It has bit of mixed media too, with transcripts from some episodes of Jessie's documentary, Born Killer.
There are so many characters in this book and I felt like I trusted none of them, convinced each of them were responsible at different points. The urgency that I want from a thriller is there and it is very clever. There are so gross depictions of injuries that had me grimacing and you really feel the claustrophobia of Jessie being trapped in the well. This is a very entertaining thriller!
Faking with Benefits by Lily Gold
medium-paced
- Plot- or character-driven? Plot
- Strong character development? Yes
- Loveable characters? No
- Diverse cast of characters? Yes
- Flaws of characters a main focus? Yes
1.0
I'm never listening to BookTok again. The plot was stupid and juvenile and then when I got to the epilogue it got even more stupid. I read all 562 pages, I lost count at how many times I rolled my eyes and I liked almost nothing. The spice wasn't even saving it. Josh's character was the only good thing about the whole book.
Nora Goes Off Script by Annabel Monaghan
emotional
hopeful
inspiring
lighthearted
medium-paced
- Plot- or character-driven? Plot
- Strong character development? Yes
- Loveable characters? Yes
- Diverse cast of characters? Yes
- Flaws of characters a main focus? No
5.0
I absolutely LOVED this book. I have recently fallen in love with romance novels but the majority of the ones I am picking up have the characters aged in their twenties. As a mum-of-two in my thirties, this felt like a breath of fresh air to me.
Nora Hamilton is a 39-year-old mum to Bernadette and Arthur. Her life involves running, the kids activities and writing screenplays. She has split from her jobless husband Ben who happily spent Nora's money or put things on credit card. She feels free and relieved to just be on her own.
Nora normally writes Hallmark-style movies but her latest is being made into a big movie with a proper cast and is based on her own life, marriage and divorce. Previous "Sexiest Man Alive" winner, 40-year-old actor Leo Vance will be playing the role of Ben and due to Nora's stunning home, it will also be shot there. After three days of shooting, Leo decides that he likes slow living and asks Nora if he can stay in her "teahouse" located at the bottom of her garden for a week and he will pay her $1,000 per day to stay.
Nora isn't fussed. Her life is busy enough and the money would definitely help. But Leo wants to tag along to normal things like food shopping, Arthur's school play rehearsals and Bernadette's football game, and the two develop a relationship. He is an A-list actor and she is a normal mum-of-two, can this relationship be sustained?
This book was perfect. I loved that Nora being a mum was a focus of the book and she didn't just forget about her kids or they ended up being unmentioned when the romance started. They were always her main focus. The relationship and attraction wasn't instant, it didn't go from 0-100 so you could feel the build up. It has brilliant pacing and development and I just enjoyed every second of it.
Nora Hamilton is a 39-year-old mum to Bernadette and Arthur. Her life involves running, the kids activities and writing screenplays. She has split from her jobless husband Ben who happily spent Nora's money or put things on credit card. She feels free and relieved to just be on her own.
Nora normally writes Hallmark-style movies but her latest is being made into a big movie with a proper cast and is based on her own life, marriage and divorce. Previous "Sexiest Man Alive" winner, 40-year-old actor Leo Vance will be playing the role of Ben and due to Nora's stunning home, it will also be shot there. After three days of shooting, Leo decides that he likes slow living and asks Nora if he can stay in her "teahouse" located at the bottom of her garden for a week and he will pay her $1,000 per day to stay.
Nora isn't fussed. Her life is busy enough and the money would definitely help. But Leo wants to tag along to normal things like food shopping, Arthur's school play rehearsals and Bernadette's football game, and the two develop a relationship. He is an A-list actor and she is a normal mum-of-two, can this relationship be sustained?
This book was perfect. I loved that Nora being a mum was a focus of the book and she didn't just forget about her kids or they ended up being unmentioned when the romance started. They were always her main focus. The relationship and attraction wasn't instant, it didn't go from 0-100 so you could feel the build up. It has brilliant pacing and development and I just enjoyed every second of it.
First Lie Wins by Ashley Elston
mysterious
tense
medium-paced
- Plot- or character-driven? Plot
- Strong character development? No
- Loveable characters? No
- Diverse cast of characters? No
- Flaws of characters a main focus? Yes
4.0
I was always a massive thriller reader but recently found myself getting less excited by them. I think I'd maybe read too many and could see the formula early on which dampened my experience. First Lie Wins was like a breath of fresh air and really reinstated my love of thrillers.
Evelyn "Evie" Porter is in a new relationship with Ryan Sumner. However, Evie is not real. Ryan thinks he is her boyfriend, but really he is Evie's next job.
Her boss, known only as Mr Smith who she has never met, has been assigning Evie (real name Lucca Marino) to jobs where she is tasked to seek out intel and other information from politicians to businessmen, giving her a new identity each time to do so.
When Ryan's friend James turns up at a party with his new girlfriend "Lucca Marino", Evie quickly realises that Mr Smith is out to get her but in this game of cat and mouse, Evie is always one step ahead.
This book is so clever and is meticulously and intricately planned out. The timeline switches between present day as Evie Porter but is interspersed with chapters from Evie's past aliases and jobs. You can see it all play out in your minds eye and it is such an entertaining read.
I would say that I probably wanted it to end about half a page earlier than it did but that's absolutely a personal thing. I highly recommend this book!
Evelyn "Evie" Porter is in a new relationship with Ryan Sumner. However, Evie is not real. Ryan thinks he is her boyfriend, but really he is Evie's next job.
Her boss, known only as Mr Smith who she has never met, has been assigning Evie (real name Lucca Marino) to jobs where she is tasked to seek out intel and other information from politicians to businessmen, giving her a new identity each time to do so.
When Ryan's friend James turns up at a party with his new girlfriend "Lucca Marino", Evie quickly realises that Mr Smith is out to get her but in this game of cat and mouse, Evie is always one step ahead.
This book is so clever and is meticulously and intricately planned out. The timeline switches between present day as Evie Porter but is interspersed with chapters from Evie's past aliases and jobs. You can see it all play out in your minds eye and it is such an entertaining read.
I would say that I probably wanted it to end about half a page earlier than it did but that's absolutely a personal thing. I highly recommend this book!
Notes on a Murder by B P Walter
dark
mysterious
tense
slow-paced
- Plot- or character-driven? Plot
- Strong character development? No
- Loveable characters? No
- Diverse cast of characters? Yes
- Flaws of characters a main focus? Yes
3.0
I have read a few books by B. P. Walter; A Version Of The Truth which I thought was okay, The Locked Attic which I did not enjoy and The Dinner Party which I LOVED, so I was unsure how I would feel about Notes On A Murder.
Initially, I was intrigued as to where the story was going to go. It's 1997 and 21-year-old Oliver is off to spend his summer in Greece with his parents and older brother. He meets Alastair and develops a summer relationship with him. The two bump into Oliver's father's "business associate", find themselves invited to lunch on his island but are really plunged into a deeper situation.
Oliver flees Greece and two decades later, whilst attending a wellness centre, Alastair shows up. But how? Oliver was sure he was dead.
I understand what Walter wanted to do with this book and it is a very entertaining read but it fell a little short for me. I don't mind a slow burn as long as there are little nuggets for me to pick up on. This felt very slow at the beginning then when the twists were revealed, they were so consecutive with no breathing space.
I also struggled to connect with the characters. I didn't get a chance to understand their personalities and get into their psyches.
As I mentioned, I was entertained. I love a dual timeline and it is clear that Walter is very clever but I wanted a bit more.
Initially, I was intrigued as to where the story was going to go. It's 1997 and 21-year-old Oliver is off to spend his summer in Greece with his parents and older brother. He meets Alastair and develops a summer relationship with him. The two bump into Oliver's father's "business associate", find themselves invited to lunch on his island but are really plunged into a deeper situation.
Oliver flees Greece and two decades later, whilst attending a wellness centre, Alastair shows up. But how? Oliver was sure he was dead.
I understand what Walter wanted to do with this book and it is a very entertaining read but it fell a little short for me. I don't mind a slow burn as long as there are little nuggets for me to pick up on. This felt very slow at the beginning then when the twists were revealed, they were so consecutive with no breathing space.
I also struggled to connect with the characters. I didn't get a chance to understand their personalities and get into their psyches.
As I mentioned, I was entertained. I love a dual timeline and it is clear that Walter is very clever but I wanted a bit more.