grettypop's reviews
684 reviews

Penpal by Dathan Auerbach

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challenging dark mysterious sad 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? No

3.0

I have a hard time rating this book. This is a collection of short stories that was put together to make this novel, and knowing that kind of allows me to forgive just how clunky and undeveloped the writing was.... Kind of. The story didn't read like a whole novel. It was very choppy, we kept jumping back and forth in time (which is fine) but so much was left unanswered, not addressed. It didn't feel like a complete novel.

What was the MC's name? Where was his dad? What'd his mom do? How old is he now that he's looking back? etc etc etc.
Greenlights by Matthew McConaughey

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adventurous emotional funny hopeful inspiring lighthearted reflective fast-paced

5.0

Notes on an Execution by Danya Kukafka

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adventurous challenging dark emotional mysterious reflective sad tense fast-paced
  • Plot- or character-driven? A mix
  • Strong character development? Yes
  • Loveable characters? It's complicated
  • Diverse cast of characters? Yes
  • Flaws of characters a main focus? Yes

5.0

I'd say this book is more literary fiction AND thriller, rather than just thriller. I loved the writing style, it felt like a quick read that kept me engaged the whole time. The book questions the theme of inherent evil vs learned helplessness. Were we born bad? Or did our circumstances make us so? Could ONE little change of action result in an entirely different outcome for a whole group of people? Can you change someone, who already walked down the path of evil?

I guess I'd have to read Ansel's theory to get the answers.
The Identicals by Elin Hilderbrand

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emotional hopeful inspiring reflective relaxing medium-paced
  • Plot- or character-driven? Character
  • Strong character development? Yes
  • Loveable characters? Yes
  • Diverse cast of characters? No
  • Flaws of characters a main focus? Yes

4.5

4.5 stars

LOVED every second of this book ---- except the ending. That felt too rushed, and left too much to the imagination.

The entire story was feel-good. About healing your own trauma, generational trauma, forgiveness and change, and the power of family and friends. Every single thing happened in the book the way I wanted it to, and I loved every moment.

My only critique is I would've loved to see how some characters end up. It was also a long long build up.... Just to cut it short and rush the last two chapters, not giving me the emotional resolve that I needed.

Still, highly recommend! 
The Castaways by Elin Hilderbrand

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adventurous challenging dark emotional funny hopeful inspiring mysterious reflective medium-paced
  • Plot- or character-driven? Character
  • Strong character development? Yes
  • Loveable characters? Yes
  • Diverse cast of characters? No
  • Flaws of characters a main focus? Yes

4.0

The Castaways was a quick, engaging read. We're following 4 couples on Nantucket, including the Chief of Police, Ed (who appears in a ton of other books). One of the couples turns up dead. They've drowned under mysterious circumstances, after a year of falling out, having affairs, and leaving the harbor under rocky circumstances. While the gang investigates the death, they're also coming to terms with their own shortcomings - affairs, wishes of 'what could've been', orphaned kids, drug abuse....

This book has it all.

The 3 surviving couples navigate not only losing their friends (and lovers, in some instances...) but also their own grief, lives, and forgiveness. I ate this book up - although, this is a heavier read.
Razorblade Tears by S.A. Cosby

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challenging dark emotional inspiring reflective sad tense medium-paced
  • Plot- or character-driven? Character
  • Strong character development? Yes
  • Loveable characters? It's complicated
  • Diverse cast of characters? Yes
  • Flaws of characters a main focus? It's complicated

4.0

And incredibly heart-felt story of love, loss, forgiveness, and the roads not taken.

I knew this book would be a hard one to read, and I was right. The prejudices of the fathers and all characters, the palpable hatred and racism, judgement, harsh language, violence... S.A. Cosby is an incredible author who is not afraid to take you to the darkest places.

I wanted this story to go THERE and it absolutely did. I'm still in shock about the ending.
Pines by Blake Crouch

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adventurous challenging dark emotional mysterious reflective tense fast-paced
  • Plot- or character-driven? A mix
  • Strong character development? Yes
  • Loveable characters? It's complicated
  • Diverse cast of characters? N/A
  • Flaws of characters a main focus? No

5.0

I mean.... anxiety in a book. At no point did I see where this story was going. I couldn't tell what was real, who was where, what year it was... All of it was just a giant mindfuck. And I've loved every second of it!

Blake Crouch has a fucked up mind, but it is brilliant. This book had me angry, scared, confused, giddy.. And finally, when all was revealed, I was shook. 

Fantastic start to a promising series! 
Murder in the Family by Cara Hunter

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challenging dark emotional informative mysterious reflective tense fast-paced
  • Plot- or character-driven? A mix
  • Strong character development? It's complicated
  • Loveable characters? No
  • Diverse cast of characters? Yes
  • Flaws of characters a main focus? Yes

4.0

This book is best consumed as a physical book, where you can mark up all the pages and really take notes/guess on who, what, where how. This book had twists I didn't see coming, and I honestly read it in two sittings. Loved the way the story was told, through 6 episodes and other email/text correspondence in between.
Great read, would definitely recommend if you like a good whodunit.
This Could Be Us by Kennedy Ryan

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adventurous challenging emotional hopeful inspiring reflective tense medium-paced
  • Plot- or character-driven? Character
  • Strong character development? Yes
  • Loveable characters? Yes
  • Diverse cast of characters? Yes
  • Flaws of characters a main focus? Yes

5.0

I absolutely adored this book. Kennedy Ryan never misses, but this was probably my favorite book by her thus far.

Romance, but make the fmc her own love interest. And yes, there is a male lead in there, but this isn't about him. This story is about self-love, healing, getting through a really tough time, and learning to make the most of what you have.

I laughed, cried, giggled, and screamed through this book. No one makes you feel in your feels quite like Kennedy Ryan! 
A Court of Thorns and Roses by Sarah J. Maas

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4.0

My 3rd time re-reading this, this time in kindle format. This book still holds up and gives me the same excitement as it did before.