michelles_book_nook's reviews
256 reviews

People to Follow by Olivia Worley

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adventurous mysterious tense medium-paced
  • Plot- or character-driven? A mix
  • Strong character development? Yes
  • Loveable characters? No
  • Diverse cast of characters? Yes
  • Flaws of characters a main focus? Yes

3.0

⚠️ CW: murder, sexual assault and grooming ⚠️ If you're a fan of reality TV then this one is for you! They're used to being followed, but not like this. Ten social media stars think they're about to join the cast of a hot new reality show. But the production crew never shows up, and the influencers find themselves stranded on a deserted Caribbean island with no contact with the outside world, except for messages from the mysterious 'Sponsor', who is threatening to expose their darkest secrets. When one of them winds up dead, things start to get more real than they ever bargained for. And with the body count rising, the influencers must figure out who is trying to get them cancelled before their number one follower strikes again. This book had a really good hook and delivered the thrilling storyline that I wanted. Unfortunately though I just didn't seem to like any of the characters which dropped down my rating. Also with so many characters I did struggle to keep track at certain points but I think that's more of a me problem than a problem with the book. Despite this I did find it really interesting though and it kept me guessing until the end as to who the 'sponsor' could be. Overall, I really enjoyed this one and recommend it if you're looking for a thrilling remote island getaway.
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Saving Noah by Lucinda Berry

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challenging dark emotional medium-paced
  • Plot- or character-driven? A mix
  • Strong character development? It's complicated
  • Loveable characters? It's complicated
  • Diverse cast of characters? N/A
  • Flaws of characters a main focus? Yes

5.0

⚠️ CW: paedophilia, sexual assault, rape and suicide ⚠️ This is one of the most difficult, uncomfortable, emotional and thought provoking books I've ever read. Meet Noah, an honor roll student, award-winning swimmer and small-town star destined for greatness. There weren’t any signs that something was wrong until the day he confesses to molesting two little girls during swim team practice. He’s sentenced to 18 months in a juvenile sexual rehabilitation center. His mother, Adrianne, refuses to turn her back on him despite his horrific crimes, but her husband won’t allow Noah back into their home. In a series of shocking and shattering revelations Adrianne is forced to make the hardest decision of her life, but just how far will she go to protect her son? This book is so incredibly hard to review, it challenges everything you think you know about teenage sexual offenders. I was in a weird state of not being able to put it down but also needed time to process it as I read it, and even now I still can't stop thinking about it and the immensely thought provoking topics that it tackles. It's so disturbing and uncomfortable and truly takes you on an emotional rollercoaster, and is written in such an intelligent and captivating way that makes you question your own beliefs and what you'd do in Adrianne's situation. Even now, I'm still conflicted on my thoughts but it's definitely a book that will stay with me for a long time and likely become a classic in relation to complex psychological mother and son relationships alongside Lionel Shriver's We Need To Talk About Kevin. Overall, I highly recommend reading this book but please research it first because its not a book you want to dive into blindly.
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Something is wrong with Micah by Jamison Hill

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

4.0

⚠️ CW: ableism, parental death, grief, medical trauma and brief mentions of suicide ⚠️ As someone who is also a disabled wheelchair user with complex health conditions, this book meant so much more to me than I thought it would. In the wake of a devastating car accident, sixteen-year-old Micah Hunter’s world begins to unravel. A mysterious illness leaves him unable to pursue the football dreams that he once shared with his father. At the peak of his illness, Micah bumps his wheelchair into Evie Thompson, a headstrong fifteen-year-old living with her own challenges. Coming of age and coming to terms with their disabilities, Micah and Evie find solace and companionship in each other. As their connection deepens, Evie helps Micah discover the truth about his illness, allowing him to reconnect with his past. But, in doing so, Micah fails to discover Evie’s deteriorating health, which she keeps hidden. When Micah finally realizes the gravity of her situation, he must make the most difficult decision of his life, get Evie the help she needs or respect her wishes and risk losing her forever. This book is filled with amazing disabled and chronic illness representation and does an incredible job of expressing the whirlwind of emotions that you go through when becoming disabled or chronically later in life and the grief you experience for your 'old life'. Some parts were really hard to read, especially the medical trauma as it really hit hard for me, but they were all unfortunately very common experiences for disabled and chronically ill people and I think they were handled and written about so well. Overall, I highly recommend this book!
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Dear Child by Romy Hausmann

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

4.0

⚠️ CW: kidnapping, rape, sexual assault, violence, murder, physical abuse, emotional abuse, child abuse, mental health, suicide and child death ⚠️ If you're looking for a fast paced thriller that will leave your mind reeling at the end because of all the twists and turns then this one is for you! A windowless shack in the woods. Lena's life and that of her two children follows the rules set by their captor, the father, meals, bathroom visits and study time are strictly scheduled and meticulously observed. He protects his family from the dangers lurking in the outside world and makes sure that his children will always have a mother to look after them. One day Lena manages to flee, but the nightmare continues. It seems as if her tormentor wants to get back what belongs to him. And then there is the question whether she really is the woman called 'Lena', who disappeared without a trace over thirteen years ago. The police and Lena's family are all desperately trying to piece together a puzzle that doesn't quite seem to fit. This book had me gripped from start to finish and I just could not put it down and even when I did, it was still living in my head rent free. The twists and turns were so incredible and the multiple pov's made it feel almost claustrophobic and so chilling. The only reason I dropped it down a star is because I kept losing track slightly due to some translation issues. Overall, I highly recommend this book but please read over the CW's beforehand because it is a hard hitting read.
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The Creeper by A.M. Shine

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dark mysterious tense slow-paced
  • Plot- or character-driven? Plot
  • Strong character development? It's complicated
  • Loveable characters? No
  • Diverse cast of characters? No
  • Flaws of characters a main focus? It's complicated

3.0

⚠️ CW: torture, murder and mentions of incest ⚠️ If you're looking for a chilling horror surrounding superstitions then this one is for you. Renowned academic Dr Sparling seeks help with his project on a remote Irish village. Historical researchers Ben and Chloe are thrilled to be chosen - until they arrive. The village is isolated and forgotten. There is no record of its history or its stories. There is no friendliness from the locals, only wary looks and whispers. The villagers lock down their homes at sundown. It seems a nameless fear stalks the streets, but nobody will talk except for one little girl. Her words strike dread into the hearts of the newcomers. Three times you see him. Each night he comes closer. That night, Ben and Chloe see a sinister figure watching them. He is the Creeper. He is the nameless fear in the night. Stories keep him alive. And nothing will keep him away. This book was such a good read and really gave me that eerie, chilling feel throughout that I loved. The plot was so intriguing and really held my attention with the twists and turns. However, I didn't like any of the characters. I found them all to be quite irritating and they didn't seem to have much depth in my opinion. Despite this though I still really enjoyed this read and the lore behind the Creeper. Overall, this was a good read and if you're in to atmospheric and chilling horrors then I recommend giving this one a go.
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Heartstopper Volume 5 by Alice Oseman

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emotional hopeful lighthearted fast-paced
  • Plot- or character-driven? A mix
  • Strong character development? Yes
  • Loveable characters? Yes
  • Diverse cast of characters? Yes
  • Flaws of characters a main focus? N/A

5.0

Bloodline by Jess Lourey

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challenging dark tense medium-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? It's complicated

4.0

⚠️ CW: violence, racism, sexism, classism, kidnapping, rape, incest and brief mentions of cancer and parental death ⚠️ If you liked The Stepford Wives and enjoy dark and thrilling storylines then this one is for you! In a tale inspired by real events, pregnant journalist Joan Harken is cautiously excited to follow her fiancé back to his Minnesota hometown. After spending a childhood on the move and chasing the screams and swirls of news-rich city life, she’s eager to settle down. Lilydale’s motto - “Come Home Forever” - couldn’t be more inviting. And yet something is off in the picture-perfect village. The friendliness borders on intrusive. Joan can’t shake the feeling that every move she makes is being tracked. An archaic organization still seems to hold the town in thrall. So does the sinister secret of a little boy who vanished decades ago. And unless Joan is imagining things, a frighteningly familiar figure from her past is on watch in the shadows. Her fiancé tells her she’s being paranoid. He might be right. Then again, she might have moved to the deadliest small town on earth. This book was so good, and makes you feel uncomfortable from the very beginning as if at any second everything will fall apart and just when you think you've figured it out it hits you with another mind blowing twist. It's difficult to review without giving spoilers but it's one of those reads that really gets in your head. Overall, I highly recommend this book.
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Heartstopper Volume 4 by Alice Oseman

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5.0

The Vanishing Season by Dot Hutchison

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

5.0

⚠️ CW: kidnapping, domestic abuse, narcissism, child death, cancer and mentions of rape and murder ⚠️ It is a very rare occurrence for me to give every book in a series 5 stars but this series absolutely deserves it and this was the perfect ending! 8 year old Brooklyn Mercer has gone missing and as accustomed as FBI agents Eliza Sterling and Brandon Eddison are to such harrowing cases, this one has struck a nerve. It marks the anniversary of the disappearance of Eddison’s own little sister. Disturbing, too, is the girl’s resemblance to Eliza, so uncanny they could be mother and daughter. With Eddison’s unsettled past rising again with rage and pain, Eliza is determined to solve this case at any cost. But the closer she looks, the more reluctant she is to divulge to her increasingly shaken partner what she finds. Brooklyn isn’t the only girl of her exact description to go missing. She’s just the latest in a frightening pattern going back decades in cities throughout the entire country. In a race against time, Eliza’s determined to bring Brooklyn home and somehow find the link to the cold case that has haunted Eddison, and the entire Crimes Against Children team, since its inception. This book was yet again another hard hitting rollercoaster from Dot Hutchison, but as well as it being just as haunting and gripping as the others in this series I particularly loved the character development within the team and the found family aspect especially with how the storyline wrapped up at the end. This is easily a series that will stay with me for a long time and I can't wait to read more by this author. Overall, if you're a lover of dark thrillers and crime fiction then I highly recommend this series but make sure to check the CW's for each book as they do contain some graphic topics and content.
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The Summer Children by Dot Hutchison

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

5.0

⚠️ CW: murder, domestic abuse, child abuse, sexual abuse, paedophilia, rape and sexual assault ⚠️ I think at this stage it's safe to say that Dot Hutchison has become one of my favourite authors! 😍 When Agent Mercedes Ramirez finds an abused young boy on her porch, covered in blood and clutching a teddy bear, she has no idea that this is just the beginning. He tells her a chilling tale of an angel that killed his parents and then brought him here so Mercedes could keep him safe. His parents weren’t just murdered. It was a slaughter, a rage kill like no one on the Crimes Against Children team has seen before. But they’re going to see it again. An avenging angel is meting out savage justice, and she’s far from through. One by one, more children arrive at Mercedes’ door with the same horror story. Each one a traumatized survivor of an abusive home. Each one chafing at Mercedes’ own scars from the past. And each one taking its toll on her life and career. Now, as the investigation draws her deeper into the dark, Mercedes is beginning to fear that if this case doesn’t destroy her, her memories might. This was one hell of a read. It had me hooked and feeling a rollercoaster of emotions all the way to the end. I've said it before and I'll say it again, the way Dot Hutchison is able to write such dark and gut wrenching situations is so hauntingly beautiful. Overall, I highly recommend this book and the series as a whole but please check the CW's before reading.
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