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soobooksalot's reviews
968 reviews
The Teacher by Freida McFadden
dark
mysterious
tense
fast-paced
- Plot- or character-driven? Character
- Strong character development? Yes
- Loveable characters? No
- Diverse cast of characters? N/A
- Flaws of characters a main focus? Yes
3.0
You Can't Take It With You by Marcus Hawke
challenging
dark
mysterious
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
4.5
"In Aeternum Vive."
You Can't Take It With You is a story of aging, mortality, a life lived, and a life lived again in another form.
Thank you to author Marcus Hawke and Hawke Haus Books for my gifted ARC for review!
I have now read a number of books by Hawke, and You Can't Take It With You ranks up there next to my favourites Grey Noise and Acts Of Violence.
Hawke brings nonagenerian and eventual vampire Montgomery Nolan alive (sorry, I said it), from his early life, time with true love of Françoise, not-love-but-wife Ellen, to the seduction of eternal life in New York City.
It's a fascinating portrait returning to the desires and functionality of an earlier life, but also the new craving for blood.
Horror fans, don't miss this sanguinous Christmas story!
Released on Nov. 26
You Can't Take It With You is a story of aging, mortality, a life lived, and a life lived again in another form.
Thank you to author Marcus Hawke and Hawke Haus Books for my gifted ARC for review!
I have now read a number of books by Hawke, and You Can't Take It With You ranks up there next to my favourites Grey Noise and Acts Of Violence.
Hawke brings nonagenerian and eventual vampire Montgomery Nolan alive (sorry, I said it), from his early life, time with true love of Françoise, not-love-but-wife Ellen, to the seduction of eternal life in New York City.
It's a fascinating portrait returning to the desires and functionality of an earlier life, but also the new craving for blood.
Horror fans, don't miss this sanguinous Christmas story!
Released on Nov. 26
I Might Be in Trouble by Daniel Aleman
challenging
dark
emotional
lighthearted
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
4.75
I didn't expect to inhale I Might Be In Trouble in two sittings.
It's one that can't easily be described. But do know it's completely addictive!
Thank you to Grand Central Publishing for my gifted ARC for review.
David Alvarez is a best selling author - well, his debut novel was a best seller, not his second. He's a single gay man in New York City, struggling financially until he can get another book contract. His family is dense and unsupportive, and he longs for a relationship like the one he had with Jeremy.
In the meantime, dates will do. And one goes entirely sideways when he wakes up in the elegant Plaza hotel next to a dead man.
What ensues alongside his literary agent Stacey is darkly humorous and tense. Choices are made, and they're not necessarily wise ones.
It's truly the characters that made this one for me. Author Daniel Aleman made David, Stacey et al. absolutely pop off the page, despite the craziest of situations.
I Might Be In Trouble is not farce - we get to know David and his struggles, learn of his heartbreak of loss, creative ruminating, and feeling that a gay man is never truly accepted in society.
Absolutely recommended!
For release on Dec. 3.
It's one that can't easily be described. But do know it's completely addictive!
Thank you to Grand Central Publishing for my gifted ARC for review.
David Alvarez is a best selling author - well, his debut novel was a best seller, not his second. He's a single gay man in New York City, struggling financially until he can get another book contract. His family is dense and unsupportive, and he longs for a relationship like the one he had with Jeremy.
In the meantime, dates will do. And one goes entirely sideways when he wakes up in the elegant Plaza hotel next to a dead man.
What ensues alongside his literary agent Stacey is darkly humorous and tense. Choices are made, and they're not necessarily wise ones.
It's truly the characters that made this one for me. Author Daniel Aleman made David, Stacey et al. absolutely pop off the page, despite the craziest of situations.
I Might Be In Trouble is not farce - we get to know David and his struggles, learn of his heartbreak of loss, creative ruminating, and feeling that a gay man is never truly accepted in society.
Absolutely recommended!
For release on Dec. 3.
Content Warnings
Moderate: Drug use, Infidelity, Mental illness, Sexual content, Grief, Car accident, Death of parent, and Alcohol
The Most Wonderful Crime of the Year by Ally Carter
emotional
funny
hopeful
lighthearted
mysterious
tense
fast-paced
- Plot- or character-driven? A mix
- Strong character development? Yes
- Loveable characters? Yes
- Diverse cast of characters? N/A
- Flaws of characters a main focus? Yes
4.5
Strange, Spooky and Supernatural: Curious Tales of Fascinating People, Places and Things by Mike Browne
dark
informative
mysterious
medium-paced
3.5
William by Mason Coile
challenging
dark
informative
mysterious
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? Yes
4.0
Content Warnings
Moderate: Infidelity, Murder, Pregnancy, and Injury/Injury detail
Wish I Were Here by Melissa Wiesner
emotional
funny
hopeful
mysterious
reflective
relaxing
fast-paced
- Plot- or character-driven? A mix
- Strong character development? Yes
- Loveable characters? Yes
- Diverse cast of characters? N/A
- Flaws of characters a main focus? Yes
4.0
Love finding a new-to-me author whose writing completely clicks.
Thank you to Hbg Canada for my gifted copy of Wish I Were Here by Melissa Weisner for review!
This rom-com is the opposites-attract tale of Catherine and Luca. Catherine has a PhD in mathematics and does everything by the rules, structured and scheduled.
Luca is the doorman in her apartment building, and much more lackadaisical about the elements that make up Catherine's every day. He loses deliveries, forgets service requests, sleeps in the lobby on shift. Or so it all appears.
Cat lands a faculty role at the local university, but can't start teaching as her identity has inexplicably disappeared from all documentation.
It's the characters that immediately drew me into this one. Everyone, from main characters to supporting, has charm. Witty banter, found family, and interesting reveals make this a book I definitely recommend.
Released on Oct. 15.
Thank you to Hbg Canada for my gifted copy of Wish I Were Here by Melissa Weisner for review!
This rom-com is the opposites-attract tale of Catherine and Luca. Catherine has a PhD in mathematics and does everything by the rules, structured and scheduled.
Luca is the doorman in her apartment building, and much more lackadaisical about the elements that make up Catherine's every day. He loses deliveries, forgets service requests, sleeps in the lobby on shift. Or so it all appears.
Cat lands a faculty role at the local university, but can't start teaching as her identity has inexplicably disappeared from all documentation.
It's the characters that immediately drew me into this one. Everyone, from main characters to supporting, has charm. Witty banter, found family, and interesting reveals make this a book I definitely recommend.
Released on Oct. 15.
Sleep Tight by J.H. Markert
challenging
dark
mysterious
tense
medium-paced
- Plot- or character-driven? A mix
- Strong character development? No
- Loveable characters? It's complicated
- Diverse cast of characters? N/A
- Flaws of characters a main focus? Yes
2.5
There's a lot going on that may prevent sleeping tight.
Sleep Tight has many a thriller/horror trope, and it's a rather varied read.
Behold:
- serial killer known as Father Silence, on death row.
- a copycat/follow-up killer many years later.
- Father Silence's only surviving victim speaks from a mental hospital.
- religion and cults.
- eyeballs as a signature.
- query DID diagnosis.
- kidnapped children and murdered parents.
- cheating psychologist husband and addict detective spouse.
- unreliable characters with hidden memories.
It's kind of all here! It's quite a cinematic read with the aforementioned items going on.
Not a standout for me in the genre, but a solid read.
Sleep Tight has many a thriller/horror trope, and it's a rather varied read.
Behold:
- serial killer known as Father Silence, on death row.
- a copycat/follow-up killer many years later.
- Father Silence's only surviving victim speaks from a mental hospital.
- religion and cults.
- eyeballs as a signature.
- query DID diagnosis.
- kidnapped children and murdered parents.
- cheating psychologist husband and addict detective spouse.
- unreliable characters with hidden memories.
It's kind of all here! It's quite a cinematic read with the aforementioned items going on.
Not a standout for me in the genre, but a solid read.
Content Warnings
Moderate: Animal death, Child death, Confinement, Drug abuse, Drug use, Infidelity, Mental illness, Blood, Kidnapping, Grief, Death of parent, and Murder
Haunted Ever After by Jen DeLuca
emotional
funny
hopeful
lighthearted
mysterious
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
4.25
Content Warnings
Moderate: Emotional abuse, Hate crime, Sexual content, Grief, and Alcohol
Feast While You Can by Onjuli Datta, Mikaella Clements
challenging
dark
emotional
mysterious
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? Yes
2.5
Feast While You Can is difficult to describe.
It jumps right in from page one, punctuated dialogue from the get go. It's a bit of a frenzy and it doesn't let up.
Thank you Grand Central Publishing for my gifted copy for review!
Angelina lives in the sleepy, small town of Cadenze. One that isn't particularly tolerant of queer women. Not to mention, a monsterous presence that has inhabited the town for centuries has awakened. The thing from the pit.
Enter Jagvi, Angelina's brother's ex-girlfriend. Angelina and Jagvi have been interested in each other for years, but their ties to brother Patrick have held things back.
What follows is unconventional, sexy, and eerie. Authors/spouses Mikaella Clements and Onjuli Datta have done it up right.
Difficult to describe can be great - if it's your genre, recommended!
For release Oct. 29.
It jumps right in from page one, punctuated dialogue from the get go. It's a bit of a frenzy and it doesn't let up.
Thank you Grand Central Publishing for my gifted copy for review!
Angelina lives in the sleepy, small town of Cadenze. One that isn't particularly tolerant of queer women. Not to mention, a monsterous presence that has inhabited the town for centuries has awakened. The thing from the pit.
Enter Jagvi, Angelina's brother's ex-girlfriend. Angelina and Jagvi have been interested in each other for years, but their ties to brother Patrick have held things back.
What follows is unconventional, sexy, and eerie. Authors/spouses Mikaella Clements and Onjuli Datta have done it up right.
Difficult to describe can be great - if it's your genre, recommended!
For release Oct. 29.