michelles_book_nook's reviews
258 reviews

The Close by Jane Casey

Go to review page

challenging dark emotional mysterious 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? It's complicated

4.0

⚠️ CW: murder, domestic violence, abuse of vulnerable people, trafficking, paedophilia and rape ⚠️ If you're looking for a read that is intensely gripping from start to finish then you need to read this book! This book follows DS Maeve Kerrigan as she goes undercover with DI Josh Derwent as a couple who are dog sitting for a friend in a seemingly picture perfect suburban street of well-kept houses with pristine lawns, chatty neighbours and playing children. But there are dark secrets behind the neat doors and hidden dangers that include a ruthless criminal who will stop at nothing, and it is up to Maeve and Josh to uncover the truth. And as they try to gather the evidence they need while the lines between professional and personal continue to blur they have no idea of the danger they face because someone on Jellicoe Close has murder on their mind. This book had me absolutely hooked from the very first chapter and even when I wasn't reading it I couldn't stop thinking about it. It is a very dark and intense storyline that will leave you feeling so uneasy and like you're being watched but it's dangerously addictive and you won't be able to put it down. The only reason I dropped it down a star is because it is part of a crime fiction series and while you can read it as a standalone book I think I would have preferred to read it in series order so that I knew more about Maeve's back story. Overall, I highly recommend this book if you're a dark crime fiction fan! 
Expand filter menu Content Warnings
The Game by Scott Kershaw

Go to review page

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

4.0

⚠️ CW: kidnapping, domestic abuse, animal abuse, misogyny, addiction, miscarriage, stillbirth, violence, homophobia, racism, rape, suicide, murder and brief mentions of child abuse ⚠️ If you like the movies Taken and Saw, and you want a dark, tense and twisty read then this one is for you! Across the globe five strangers receive a horrifying message from an unknown number. The people they love the most are in danger and to save them they must play The Game. A sinister contest that only has a single rule, there can only be one winner. If you lose then your loved one will die. But what is The Game, and why have they been chosen? There's only one thing each of them knows for sure - they'll do anything to win. This book had me so incredibly gripped that I didn't want it to end. It kept me guessing until the very last page and the huge twist left me gobsmacked. I absolutely loved the alternating pov's between all of the characters that gave you small breadcrumbs of their individual stories to follow and piece together throughout, and their flawed personalities and back stories made it all the more riveting! The only reason I dropped it down a star is because I felt that the climax of the story was a bit rushed and I wanted a bit more from the 'post game' part. Overall, I highly recommend this book but please check the content warnings before going into it because it is quite a bit more graphic than your standard thriller in my opinion.
Expand filter menu Content Warnings
Felix Ever After by Kacen Callender

Go to review page

emotional hopeful reflective 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: drug use, transphobia, dead naming, bullying, homophobia and classism ⚠️ If you're looking for an emotional but beautiful read that will have you sobbing one minute and getting lost in pure queer joy and love the next then this book is for you! Felix Love has never been in love. He desperately wants to know what it's like and why it seems so easy for everyone else but him. What's worse is that even though he is proud of his identity he also secretly fears that he's one marginalisation too many as a black, queer and transgender person in NYC just looking for his own happily ever after. Until one day an anonymous student begins sending him transphobic messages after publicly posting his dead name and photos of him before he transitioned. And this is when Felix decides to come up with a plan for revenge, however what he didn't count on was his catfish scenario landing him in a quasi-love triangle. But as he navigates his complicated feelings, Felix begins a journey of questioning and self-discovery that helps redefine how he feels about himself. This book is absolute perfection and I could rave about it all day. It's the perfect story of identity, falling in love and recognising your worth but it is written in a way that is so real and raw. My favourite thing is how it shows that journey's of self-discovery aren't linear and even though it can be messy it doesn't make it any less beautiful. Overall, this book really got me in the feels and I cannot recommend it highly enough.
Expand filter menu Content Warnings
Insomnia by Sarah Pinborough

Go to review page

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? Yes

4.0

⚠️ CW: mental health, childhood trauma and murder ⚠️ If you want a read that will blow your mind and keep you up at night then you need to read this book! From the outside, Emma has the dream life. A loving husband, a beautiful house and two gorgeous children. But something is keeping Emma awake, scratching at her sanity at 1am. She's tried so hard to bury the past to protect her family, but witching hour loves a secret. And Emma's is the stuff of nightmares. This book was such a gripping and heart pounding read that I just couldn't put down and ended up binging. It is one of those reads that keeps you guessing until the very end when it reaches a jaw dropping climax! All of the characters start off being a bit unlikeable but then as you get to know them and all of the aspects of past and present you realise that you can't trust anyone and constantly second guess yourself at the end of every chapter. Overall, I highly recommend this read if you're a thriller lover.
Expand filter menu Content Warnings
Make Me Clean by Tina Baker

Go to review page

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

4.0

⚠️ CW: murder, parental death, domestic abuse, workplace bullying, homophobia, racism, drug abuse and mentions of miscarriage ⚠️ If you're looking for a dark, witty and gripping read then this book is definitely for you! This book follows Maria, a good woman and a good cleaner. She cleans for Elsie, a humorous elderly lady with Dementia, who has a terribly abusive husband. She also cleans for Brian, a sweet but work stressed gentleman, who has a horribly harassing boss. And, she cleans for Mr Balogan, a mysterious man of few words, who has a pair of awfully offensive neighbours. But if you're thinking of hiring her, you should probably know that Maria might have killed the terrible husband, the horrible boss and the awful neighbours. She may have also murdered the man she loved. She didn't set out to kill anyone but her clients hired her to clean up their lives, and she takes her job incredibly seriously. The trouble is, murder can't be washed out. You can only sweep it under the carpet and pray no one looks too closely. This book had me absolutely hooked from the very beginning and if I could I would have read in it one sitting! It starts off with Maria being this slightly strange but witty woman who you get a sense has been through a lot in life and as the story unfolds it truly shows how much she has experienced in her life and how much trauma she holds as she fights through everyday just wanting to be loved and wanting to have somewhere to call home. By the end of the book I really had a soft spot for her and the ending was just a perfect little twist. It is a slightly slower paced read but I loved it so much. Overall, I highly recommend this read!
Expand filter menu Content Warnings
This Wicked Fate by Kalynn Bayron

Go to review page

adventurous challenging emotional mysterious sad 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

4.0

⚠️ CW: parental death ⚠️ Sometimes sequels turn out to be disappointments but this was so beautifully captivating and gave the best end to this amazing story! This book picks up right where we left off in This Poison Heart and follows Bri as she embarks on a journey to rescue her mother, but to do that she must do the impossible and find the last fragment of the Absyrtus Heart. However, nothing about her journey will be simple as she has to turn to her blood relatives to learn the secrets of their powers and take her rightful place among their ancient lineage. And with dark forces at play and deadly botanicals creeping up of her she must harness her power to change the most dangerous of fates ahead of her. I honestly could not put this book down! It was just so good. It continues with its intoxicating mix of fantasy and greek mythology that adds such an interesting magical realism twist as well as being filled with great bipoc and LGBTQIA+ representation. I did find this one to be a bit slower than the first though which is why I dropped it down a star but with so much going on it definitely felt necessary in parts. Overall, I highly recommend this series if you're a YA fantasy lover!
Expand filter menu Content Warnings
This Poison Heart by Kalynn Bayron

Go to review page

adventurous challenging mysterious 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? Yes

5.0

⚠️ CW: parental death, murder and kidnapping ⚠️ Wow this book really took me by surprise and was such an easy 5⭐️ as well as being one of my favourite books I've read so far this year! This book follows a young adopted Brooklyn teen called Briseis who has a secret gift, she can grow an apple tree from seed in a heartbeat and flowers bloom at her touch but she's always had to be extra careful with her magic. Yet when she inherits an old house from her aunt she suddenly has the privacy to test her powers for the first time ever. But as she starts to work her magic to bring the rambling grounds of her birth family home back to life she finds out she has also inherited generations of secrets including a hidden garden that is overgrown with the world's most deadly poisonous plants. And as she begins to investigate more she discovers the true extent of the dark legacy that lies in wait for her. This book had me hooked from the very beginning! It's an intoxicating mix of fantasy and greek mythology all intricately weeved into a compelling coming of age story about knowing where you come from and stepping into your power as well as being filled with amazing LGBTQ+ and bipoc representation. I honestly couldn't put this book down and stayed awake all night reading it. I absolutely loved the characters and how they grew throughout the book, especially Bri and Marie. I could rave about this book all day but it's tough without dropping spoilers so all I will say is if you're into YA fantasy and greek mythology then you need to read this book. Overall, I cannot recommend this read highly enough and don't be surprised if you see this in my top 10 reads at the end of the year! 
Expand filter menu Content Warnings
In Too Deep by Simon McCleave

Go to review page

challenging dark 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? Yes
  • Flaws of characters a main focus? It's complicated

5.0

⚠️ CW: gun violence, death, murder, domestic violence, homophobia, misogyny, suicide, mentions of sexual assault and animal cruelty ⚠️ If you're looking for an incredible action packed thriller that will keep you guessing until the very end then you need to read this book! This book follows ex-police negotiator Laura Hart as she rejoins the force as a DI. On her first day an anonymous tip off leads to the discovery of a skeleton in a crumbling castle ruin near Beumaris, Anglesey. Laura can't wait to prove herself by solving the case and when the investigation leads to the MI5 and the Real IRA she knows she's on the trail of something truly explosive. But some people will do anything to stop their secrets coming out. And with the threat drawing in and her family yet again in danger this time Laura starts to wonder if she's in too deep. I absolutely adored this book and how it followed on from book 1, as well as giving us an amazing new case to be gripped by! The story is told through a dual timeline that really immerses you deep into the storyline and the characters. It is one of those books that you really need to concentrate on while reading though because it has a lot of plot points, characters and twists but trust me it is so worth it. Overall, I cannot recommend this book highly enough and I can't wait to get my hands on book 3 when it comes out in June!
Expand filter menu Content Warnings
Frankenstein: The 1818 Text by Mary Shelley

Go to review page

dark sad tense slow-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? It's complicated

3.0

⚠️ CW: murder, child death and suicidal ideations ⚠️ If classics are your thing then this one will probably be high up on your list but unfortunately it just wasn't for me and I appreciate that may be somewhat of an unpopular opinion 🙈 This book follows Victor Frankenstein who succeeds in giving life to one of his creations. However, rather than it being the perfect specimen he'd imagined it to be, it became a hideous creature that Victor and the townspeople rejected and tried to drive away but this led to the monster seeking revenge through murder and terror. This book really fell quite flat with me and even though it's a good read I felt that the biggest barrier was the language. And yes, I know this book was written in 1818 and a lot has changed since then but I feel like some classics really stand the test of time and can still be understood and enjoyed across generations and while I'm not saying I didn't enjoy this book, it was just a difficult one because I felt I needed to keep flipping to the glossary to understand certain words and phrases. Overall, this is a good literary gothic horror and I'm glad I can tick it off of my list but this may be one of the few books where I recommend choosing the film or tv adaptation instead.
Expand filter menu Content Warnings
A Truth for a Truth by Carol Wyer

Go to review page

dark 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? Yes
  • Flaws of characters a main focus? Yes

5.0

⚠️ CW: murder, sex trafficking, paedophilia and mentions of rape ⚠️ Carol has done it again and given us another incredible page turning crime thriller! This book is the fourth installment in the DI Kate Young series and follows Kate as she finally confronts her boss, Superintendent John Dickson, who she has known for years is a violent and evil man but their encounter ends in an accidental shooting which she is forced to cover up before anyone can pin it on her. With new revelations about the dark disease of corruption taking place in the police force Kate sets up a trail of evidence to make it seem that Dickson has conveniently vanished. But she knows the corruption doesn't end with him, and as she heads up the team investigating his disappearance she must also pursue other loose ends. Yet as the noose tightens around Kate she finds herself targeted by traffickers, more corrupt cops and even her own team as she battles to stay one step ahead and hopes she can get some justice while also getting away with murder. This book was so amazing and I binged it in two sittings because I just couldn't put it down! I was absolutely hooked from the start from the untrustworthy, morally grey characters to the immense plot that just kept me guessing until the very end when it left me in awe and desperately needing the next book immediately. Overall, I cannot recommend this book highly enough and if you love thrilling crime fictions then you'll adore this series!
Expand filter menu Content Warnings