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soobooksalot's reviews
968 reviews
After Life by Gayle Forman
challenging
emotional
reflective
tense
medium-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? Yes
3.0
Amber Crane was killed in a bicycle accident seven years ago. Today, she returned home.
Thank you to HarperCollins Canada for my gifted copy of After Life for review!
This is the first book I've read by Gayle Forman, and it had the feel of one I would have loved as a teenager. I also enjoyed through adult eyes, but also appreciated the nostalgia.
I liked the premise of After Life. But the execution itself was off-balance for me. It's told from multiple viewpoints and timelines.
It was firmly rooted in family drama, with a few twists and reveals, and elements of faith and belief systems.
I think I was looking for answers too literally in this one.
Regardless, I do recommend it for an interesting YA read.
For release today, Jan. 7.
Thank you to HarperCollins Canada for my gifted copy of After Life for review!
This is the first book I've read by Gayle Forman, and it had the feel of one I would have loved as a teenager. I also enjoyed through adult eyes, but also appreciated the nostalgia.
I liked the premise of After Life. But the execution itself was off-balance for me. It's told from multiple viewpoints and timelines.
It was firmly rooted in family drama, with a few twists and reveals, and elements of faith and belief systems.
I think I was looking for answers too literally in this one.
Regardless, I do recommend it for an interesting YA read.
For release today, Jan. 7.
Content Warnings
Moderate: Child death, Death, Infidelity, Grief, and Lesbophobia
The Three Lives of Cate Kay by Kate Fagan
challenging
emotional
reflective
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
4.5
Somehow, I want to read The Very Last.
It's the book-within-a-book in The Three Lives Of Cate Kay. Knowing what I know now, that it holds clues for the characters and storyline as a whole.
Thank you to Simon & Schuster Canada for my gifted copy for review!
The Three Lives Of Cate Kay is author Kate Fagan's latest novel, and it has so very much to say.
Annie and Amanda have been best friends since childhood. They have big dreams of conquering Hollywood someday, together. Annie is in love with Amanda, but she's certain the feeling isn't reciprocated.
When Amanda suffers a life-altering injury, Annie's reaction sets the rest of the novel's action into play.
Initially, reading this took much concentration. We hear from characters we haven't been introduced to yet. It's not a long read, but it's with complexity - there are multiple voices, timelines, identities, even footnotes.
Eventually, I became fully immersed in the characters' vulnerabilities and ambitions.
The Three Lives Of Cate Kay is one I could easily reread and take so much more from it. I don't say this lightly, as I don't often reread books. So many references, nuances, outright clues I would likely pick up on more once knowing how the whole story plays out.
I can't get this book out of my head. Recommended, and a great start to my 2025 reading!
For release on Jan. 7.
It's the book-within-a-book in The Three Lives Of Cate Kay. Knowing what I know now, that it holds clues for the characters and storyline as a whole.
Thank you to Simon & Schuster Canada for my gifted copy for review!
The Three Lives Of Cate Kay is author Kate Fagan's latest novel, and it has so very much to say.
Annie and Amanda have been best friends since childhood. They have big dreams of conquering Hollywood someday, together. Annie is in love with Amanda, but she's certain the feeling isn't reciprocated.
When Amanda suffers a life-altering injury, Annie's reaction sets the rest of the novel's action into play.
Initially, reading this took much concentration. We hear from characters we haven't been introduced to yet. It's not a long read, but it's with complexity - there are multiple voices, timelines, identities, even footnotes.
Eventually, I became fully immersed in the characters' vulnerabilities and ambitions.
The Three Lives Of Cate Kay is one I could easily reread and take so much more from it. I don't say this lightly, as I don't often reread books. So many references, nuances, outright clues I would likely pick up on more once knowing how the whole story plays out.
I can't get this book out of my head. Recommended, and a great start to my 2025 reading!
For release on Jan. 7.
Content Warnings
Moderate: Alcoholism, Infidelity, Grief, Lesbophobia, Alcohol, and Injury/Injury detail
What the Woods Took by Courtney Gould
adventurous
challenging
dark
emotional
reflective
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? Yes
3.5
What The Woods Took went into the unexpected.
Thank you to St. Martin's Press for my eARC for review!
Teenagers Devin, Ollie, Sheridan, Hannah, and Aiden have been labelled as "troubled". They have been forceably sent to the Revive Teen Rehabilitation Program to hike, camp, and survive their way to better life choices.
I was expecting a straightforward plot with an inside look at the TTI and wildnerness programs for struggling youth.
What The Woods Took started out that way, but veered in a whole other direction.
The Idaho forests have an eerie, unnatural quality to them - void even of animal sounds. Sights from the teen's past traumas emerge from the shadows. I was constantly second-guessing as to who - or what - could be trusted.
This was my first read from author Courtney Gould, and I easily enjoyed her writing style and the elements incorporated.
Released Dec. 10.
Thank you to St. Martin's Press for my eARC for review!
Teenagers Devin, Ollie, Sheridan, Hannah, and Aiden have been labelled as "troubled". They have been forceably sent to the Revive Teen Rehabilitation Program to hike, camp, and survive their way to better life choices.
I was expecting a straightforward plot with an inside look at the TTI and wildnerness programs for struggling youth.
What The Woods Took started out that way, but veered in a whole other direction.
The Idaho forests have an eerie, unnatural quality to them - void even of animal sounds. Sights from the teen's past traumas emerge from the shadows. I was constantly second-guessing as to who - or what - could be trusted.
This was my first read from author Courtney Gould, and I easily enjoyed her writing style and the elements incorporated.
Released Dec. 10.
Content Warnings
Minor: Addiction, Child abuse, Death, Drug abuse, Drug use, Emotional abuse, Sexual assault, Suicidal thoughts, Suicide, Violence, and Death of parent
Most Wonderful by Georgia Clark
emotional
funny
hopeful
lighthearted
reflective
fast-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
4.0
Content Warnings
Moderate: Alcoholism, Homophobia, Death of parent, Lesbophobia, Outing, and Alcohol
You Better Watch Out by James S. Murray, Darren Wearmouth
adventurous
dark
mysterious
tense
medium-paced
- Plot- or character-driven? A mix
- Strong character development? N/A
- Loveable characters? N/A
- Diverse cast of characters? N/A
- Flaws of characters a main focus? Yes
3.5
You Better Watch Out is a fun, seasonal horror/thriller.
It opened with a setting/premise I didn't expect - a replicated town inhabited by kidnap victims. Where are they, who put them there, and for the love of mac and cheese, why?
There's a ton of action in this ruthless tale, and it would make a great Christmas horror movie. (A favourite genre of mine.) And while I didn't particularly connect with any of the characters, the great twist ending made up for it.
Recommended!
It opened with a setting/premise I didn't expect - a replicated town inhabited by kidnap victims. Where are they, who put them there, and for the love of mac and cheese, why?
There's a ton of action in this ruthless tale, and it would make a great Christmas horror movie. (A favourite genre of mine.) And while I didn't particularly connect with any of the characters, the great twist ending made up for it.
Recommended!
Content Warnings
Moderate: Kidnapping, Murder, and Injury/Injury detail
With Love, from Cold World by Alicia Thompson
emotional
funny
lighthearted
medium-paced
- Plot- or character-driven? A mix
- Strong character development? N/A
- Loveable characters? Yes
- Diverse cast of characters? Yes
- Flaws of characters a main focus? Yes
3.5
Middletide by Sarah Crouch
dark
mysterious
reflective
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? Yes
4.0
Content Warnings
Moderate: Alcoholism, Child death, Mental illness, Suicide, Grief, Car accident, Death of parent, and Alcohol
The Christmas Guest by Peter Swanson
challenging
dark
tense
fast-paced
- Plot- or character-driven? Character
- Strong character development? Yes
- Loveable characters? It's complicated
- Diverse cast of characters? N/A
- Flaws of characters a main focus? Yes
4.0
Content Warnings
Moderate: Mental illness, Murder, Alcohol, and Injury/Injury detail
The Holiday Honeymoon Switch by Julia McKay
funny
hopeful
inspiring
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? Yes
4.0