2 Bloggers 1 Book - It by Stephen King

 

So, I take total responsibility for this one as it was my idea for Stormi and I to buddy read it.  I remember reading the book when I was a teen and loving it. I figured it was time for a reread so I could see if I still felt the same way - spoiler, I do not.  So read on for all my snarky thoughts and then hop over to Stormi's @ StormReads and see what she thought. 

 

TITLE: It

AUTHOR: Stephen King

PUBLISHER: Viking

PUBLISHING DATE: September 15, 1986

PAGES: 1142 (too many)   

SOURCE: Own

FROM GOODREADS: It began for the Losers on a day in June of 1958, the day school let out for the summer. That was the day Henry Bowers carved the first letter of his name on Ben Hanscom's belly and chased him into the Barrens, the day Henry and his Neanderthal friends beat up on Stuttering Bill Denbrough and Eddie Kaspbrak, the day Stuttering Bill had to save Eddie from his worst asthma attack ever by riding his bike to beat the devil. It ended in August, with seven desperate children in search of a creature of unspeakable evil in the drains beneath Derry. In search of It. And somehow it ended. 

Or so they thought. Then. 

On a spring night in 1985 Mike Hanlon, once one of those children, makes six calls. Stan Uris, accountant. Richie "Records" Tozier, L.A. disc jockey. Ben Hanscom, renowned architect. Beverly Rogan, dress designer. Eddie Kaspbrak, owner of a successful New York limousine company. And Bill Denbrough, bestselling writer of horror novels, Bill Denbrough who now only stutters in his dreams. 

These six men and one woman have forgotten their childhoods,have forgotten the time when they were Losers...but an unremembered promise draws them back, the present begins to rhyme dreadfully with the past, and when the Losers reunite, the wheels of fate lock together and roll them towards the ultimate terror. 

MY THOUGHTS: So let me provide you with a little backstory which will explain why I might have such fond memories of this book.  Because after reading it this time around, and suffering through it for three months, it is no longer a fave.

This book was published when I was a sophomore in high school.  I remember my Mom and Dad going out of town one weekend, and I desperately wanted to go.  However, it was a parent's trip and I later learned they were trying to save their marriage (which worked for a while I guess).  I was a "Daddy's Girl" so while he was out of town, he went and purchased a new book by my favorite author which had just been released - It.  I also wish I still had that copy because it was a first edition but unfortunately, boxer #3 ate it one day while I was at work.  Hope he liked it more than I did this time around.

So, I won't rehash the story of It.  I figure anyone who is interested has either read the tome or else have seen the old/new movies.  A group of kids battling the evil lurking in their hometown when they were kids, and again, 27 years later as adults.  I feel like I know more about these kids than I do some of my family members and about 600 pages in, Pennywise the Clown couldn't die soon enough.  I had a few favorite characters but by the end, I didn't care what happened to any of them.  And the ending, SPOILER ALERT: Aliens?  I know a lot of people criticize King for his endings but I'm starting to think whenever he had no idea how to wrap things up, he pulls an alien out of his hat.  

So needless to say, this book did not stand up for me.  My rating is heavily bolstered by my sentimental feelings and reminders of my father, who is the basis for my love of horror.  If you are interested in the book and haven't read it yet, go watch the movie.  The remake was done really well and even the original stands the test of time in my opinion.  Basically, I'm just relieved I finished this time around.

MY RATING: 3 GENEROUS PAWS

Feed Your TBR - We Ate the Dark

 

Can't Wait Wednesday, which I have adapted to better suit my blog as "Feed Your TBR" is a weekly meme hosted at Wishful Endings to spotlight highly anticipated books.  It is based on the Waiting on Wednesday meme which used to be hosted by Jill at Breaking the Spine. 

 MARCH 5, 2024

FROM GOODREADS: Five years after Sofia Lyon disappeared, her remains are found stuffed into the hollow of a tree bursting through the floorboards of an abandoned house in the woods. The women who loved her flock home to the North Carolina hills to face their grief.

Frankie, Sofia’s twin, is in furious mourning. Poppy is heartbroken. Cass has never felt more homesick. And Marya knows something the rest of them don’t. Determined to find Sofia’s murderer, they share more than a need to see justice done for their friend. Each woman is haunted, bound to the next by something both cruel and kind, and now stalked by a shadowy presence they’ve yet to understand. Only to question, and to fear.

As Sofia’s secrets unravel, so do those of the woods, and the women soon realize that Sofia might not be who they thought she was at all. And that whoever—or whatever—killed her is coming after them.

WHY I CAN'T WAIT: I stumbled across this when browsing a new release list last week and immediately added it to the wishlist.  I love the atmospheric cover and I want to learn more about why Sophia was found dead stuffed inside a tree.  What a way to dispose of a body!

WHAT BOOK CAN'T YOU WAIT FOR THIS WEEK???

2 Bloggers 1 Series - Ghostly Echoes (Jackaby #3)

 

Stormi and I were so eager to find out what happened to Jenny, we decided to jump right in and read book three in November.  Did our luck with this series continue, or were we disappointed?  Read on to find out and then hop over to Stormi's at Storm Reads to see hers! 

 

TITLE: Ghostly Echoes (Jackaby #3)

AUTHOR: William Ritter

PUBLISHER: Algonquin Young Readers

PUBLISHING DATE: August 23, 2016/span>

PAGES: 352   

SOURCE: Library

FROM GOODREADS: Jenny Cavanaugh, the ghostly lady of 926 Augur Lane, has enlisted the investigative services of her fellow residents to solve a decade-old murder—her own. Abigail Rook and her eccentric employer, Detective R. F. Jackaby, dive into the cold case, starting with a search for Jenny’s fiancé, who went missing the night she died. But when a new, gruesome murder closely mirrors the events of ten years prior, Abigail and Jackaby realize that Jenny’s case isn’t so cold after all, and her killer may be far more dangerous than they suspected. 

Fantasy and folklore mix with mad science as Abigail’s race to unravel the mystery leads her across the cold cobblestones of nineteenth-century New England, down to the mythical underworld, and deep into her colleagues’ grim histories to battle the most deadly foe she has ever faced.

MY THOUGHTS: I really loved the first two books in this series and after finishing book two and learning the next installment would finally delve into who killed Jenny, Jackaby's ghostly bestie and technical owner of his home, I couldn't wait.  However, I am sad to say that while I did like this book and still plan on finishing this series soon, this book turned out to be a disappointment.

Jackaby, Rook and the gang are quickly immersed into the mystery of Jenny's murder directly from the beginning of the book.  Jenny is becoming more unstable as the investigation progresses and she gets more and more frustrated, which leads to her and Rook trying some questionable practices to try to move things along.  Rook's heart is in the right place, but I knew right from the start what they were doing was going to backfire on them.

I found this book kind of confusing.  We learn of a secret society working to advance technology and what lines they are willing to cross to make it advancement happen.  We also learn about some more nefarious entities and just how far they will go to use the advancements for their own benefit.  We meet the Ferryman and travel to a different realm and unfortunately, even though Charlie, one of my favorite characters, did make an appearance, his role was minor and I missed him.

Overall, I am hoping this book provided a lot of set up for the next and final installment in this main series and that once I read that one, I will find this one more enjoyable.  However, on it's own merits, I can't rate this one as high as the earlier ones and it even lost a rating point due to some really creepy and really sad animal experiment.

MY RATING: 3 PAWS

Ho! Ho! Ho! Update #2 - A Quirky Little Tale

 

TITLE: The Christmas Guest

AUTHOR: Peter Swanson

PUBLISHER: William Morrow

PUBLISHING DATE: September 28, 2023

PAGES: 104   

SOURCE: E-ARC

FROM GOODREADS: Ashley Smith, an American art student in London for her junior year, was planning on spending Christmas alone, but a last-minute invitation from fellow student Emma Chapman brings her to Starvewood Hall, country residence of the Chapman family. The Cotswold manor house, festooned in pine boughs and crammed with guests for Christmas week, is a dream come true for Ashley. She is mesmerized by the cozy, firelit house, the large family, and the charming village of Clevemoor, but also by Adam Chapman, Emma's aloof and handsome brother. 

But Adam is being investigated by the local police over the recent brutal slaying of a girl from the village, and there is a mysterious stranger who haunts the woodland path between Starvewood Hall and the local pub. Ashley begins to wonder what kind of story she is actually inhabiting. Is she in a grand romance? A gothic tale? Or has she wandered into something far more sinister and terrifying than she'd ever imagined? 

Over thirty years later the events of that horrific week are revisited, along with a diary from that time. What began in a small English village in 1989 reaches its ghostly conclusion in modern-day New York, many Christmas seasons later.

MY THOUGHTS: I read this novella in one sitting and if at all possible, that's how I would recommend it be consumed.  While Swanson has been hit or miss for me in the past, The Christmas Guest really worked for me and was an enjoyable holiday read which wasn't romance or rom-com based.

As this is such a short read, I don't want to give much away, and I feel the synopsis provides the reader with all that is needed to decide whether or not to pick it up.  In fact, it may even give a bit too much away.  I will say this would be a perfect read for a snowy, dark evening when the wind is howling, and a fire is crackling.  And there are just enough twists and turns to keep the reader engaged while also allowing for the setting to give the story Gothic undertones.

If you like this author or are looking for a quick holiday themed "mystery/thriller," then consider picking this one up.  

MY RATING: 5 PAWS

Ho! Ho! Ho! Readathon Update

 

 

So today is the last day of the readathon and I don't believe I'll get anything else finished.  Since I managed to read 5 holiday themed books, I'm doubling up a bit on the reviews so I can get them all logged. I had a nice time doing some relaxing reading while off and will probably continue with some Christmas-themed stories throughout December.

TITLE: Faking Christmas

AUTHOR: Kerry Winfrey

PUBLISHER: Berkley

PUBLISHING DATE: September 26, 2023

PAGES: 286   

SOURCE: Digital ARC

FROM GOODREADS: Laurel Grant works as the social media manager for Buckeye State of Mind, an Ohio tourism magazine and website. She is most definitely not an owner of a farm...but one tiny misunderstanding leads her boss, Gilbert, to think she owns her twin sister Holly's farm just outside of Columbus. Laurel only handles the social media for the farm, but she's happy to keep her little white lie going if it means not getting fired. 

And keep it going she must when Gilbert, recently dumped by his wife, invites himself over for the farm's big holiday dinner (as advertised on Meadow Rise Farm's Instagram, thanks to Laurel herself). Laurel immediately goes into panic mode to figure out how she can trick Gilbert into thinking she's basically the Martha Stewart of rural Ohio and keep her job in the process. 

Laurel and Holly come up with a plan--all Laurel has to do is pretend to own the farm for one dinner. But when Laurel shows up at the farm, an unwelcome guest is there: Max Beckett, her nemesis since Holly's wedding. The annoyingly attractive man she hates will be posing as Laurel's husband just for the evening, but when a snowstorm traps them all for the entire weekend, Laurel is going to have to figure out how to survive with her job and dignity intact. Whatever the case, this promises to be the most eventful Christmas in ages...

MY THOUGHTS: This was a quick and cute holiday read. It has some of my favorite tropes such as fake dating and twins swapping places.  Holly lied to her boss when she was hired and convinced him she actually owned a farm which made her a perfect fit for an Ohio lifestyle magazine.  However, after the boss, Gilbert, has a bitter breakup, he invites himself to her place for Christmas Eve Eve dinner (yep, apparently that's a thing) so everyone joins in to help Holly maintain her ruse - including her arch-nemesis Max who she has despised since her sister married Max's best friend. Things get more complicated when a snowstorm hits and everyone is stranded at the farm.  Along the way, Holly and Max try to work through their differences and may learn they don't really hate each other after all.  

This book was a lot of fun and the fact that it was set in my neighboring state of Ohio was an added extra for me.  I liked all of the characters and enjoyed the snarky banter and sexual tension between Holly and Max.  There were also some cute goats.  Definitely one to consider if you like Christmas reads.

MY RATING: 4 PAWS

Feed Your TBR - The Blond Dies First

 

Can't Wait Wednesday is a weekly meme hosted at Wishful Endings to spotlight highly anticipated books.  It is based on the Waiting on Wednesday meme which used to be hosted by Jill at Breaking the Spine. 

July 30, 2024

FROM GOODREADS: A group of friends fight to choose their own fates in this trope-savvy, self-referential young adult thriller from the acclaimed author of Their Vicious Games, about a demonic force that acts according to horror movie rules in the spirit of the Scream movies.

Devon is always being left behind by her genius twin sister, Drew. At this point, it’s a fact of life. But Devon has one last plan before Drew leaves for college a whole year early—The Best Summer Ever. After committing to the bit a little too much, the twins and their chaotic circle of friends learn why you don’t ever mess with a Ouija board if you want to actually survive the Best Summer Ever, and soon find themselves being hunted down by…a demon?

But while there’s no mistaking the creeping, venomous figure is not from around here, their method doesn’t feel very demonic at all. In fact, it’s downright human—going after them in typical slasher movie kill order. And that means Devon, the blonde, is up first and her decade-long crush, Yaya, is the Final Girl who must kill or be killed to end the cycle.

Devon has never liked playing by anyone else’s rules though, not even a demon’s, and the longer this goes on, the more she feels Drew and Yaya slipping away from her even as she tries to help them all survive. Can they use their horror movie knowledge to flip the script and become the hunters instead of the hunted? Or will their best summer ever be their last?

WHY I CAN'T WAIT: I love a good slasher story and seeing as how I'm a blond, this is one I won't be able to resist.

WHAT BOOK CAN'T YOU WAIT FOR THIS WEEK????

Farm News 11-19-23

 So, I didn't get an update last week.  It kind of turned into a crazy weekend but nothing bad.  Having a puppy is keeping us on our toes.  Also, Mr. Barb decided he wanted us (read me) to try to make the old-fashioned school cafeteria rolls - if you know you know.  I have never made bread from scratch in my whole life, so it was an experience.  The first batch he rated 4/10 which I think was generous and the second was 8/10 which I am taking as a win.  Let's see if I can replicate that success for Thanksgiving.  

Zeke and Apollo are doing fine.  Zeke is due for his next set of boosters on Tuesday and I'm anxious to see how much he is weighing now.  I swear, we've only had him a month today and he looks nothing like the puppy we brought home.  Apollo loves him so much and is so patient with him.  He really was meant to be a big brother and I'm so glad we've made it happen for him. 

I've been reading some but feel like I've really slowed down since October.  I am in the middle of my Ho! Ho! Ho! readathon right now and just started The Twelve Dogs of Christmas.  I'm also about 25% into the John Stamos memoir and just started Ghostly Bones.

It's also been a while since I've shared any ARCs I've acquired so there are from the past few months.  I will just list them below the pics and link the titles to the Goodreads pages in case you want to check them out further.

The Eyes Are the Best Part: Monica Kim

Death at the Dog Show: Peter Boland

A Feather So Black: Lyra Selene

Pocket Dog: Jim Garland

Strange Folk: Alli Dyer

The Charmed: Kylie Fennell

A Dark and Drowning Tide: Allison Saft

Immortal Pleasures: V. Castro

As you can see, lots of good reading ahead so thanks to Netgalley and the publishers.  

So I am currently on a 9-day Stay-cation and hope to get lots of reading in.  I hope that everyone out there who celebrates Thanksgiving has lots of good times and good memories with their families - natural or found. 

Until next week!

Ho Ho Ho Readathon!

 

 

So today starts a new readathon and I'm super excited about.  This one is being hosted by Caffeinated Reviewer and all the details can be found HERE.  I love my spooky reads, but I will admit I'm ready for some lighter ones.  I have quite a few holiday themed books on my TBR so I'm hoping to knock out quite a few.  I start a 9-day stay-cation after work on the 17th so I'm hoping that will give me lots of extra reading time.  Here are some books that might get picked up.  Click on the title if you want the description on Goodreads.

The Twelve Months of Christmas - Sheila Roberts

It's a Wonderful Dog - Keri Salas

Wrapped With a Beau - Lillie Vale

Faking Christmas - Kerry Winfrey

Pup and Dragon: How to Catch an Elf - Alice Walstead
Apple Cider Slaying - Julie Ann Lindsey
A Christmas Candy Killing - Christina Romerill
The Twelve Dogs of Christmas - Susan Wiggs

So make sure you hop over to Caffeinated Reviews if you are interested in signing up and joining the fun!

Feed Your TBR - Some Like It Cold

 

Can't Wait Wednesday is a weekly meme hosted at Wishful Endings to spotlight highly anticipated books.  It is based on the Waiting on Wednesday meme which used to be hosted by Jill at Breaking the Spine. 

FROM GOODREADS: A big-hearted small-town romance from bestselling, award-winning author Elle McNicoll, Some Like it Cold is perfect for fans of Alice Oseman, Talia Hibbert and Gilmore Girls.

Jasper Montgomery is heading home for the holidays and keeping secrets. Determined to return to her small-town home one last time before leaving for good, Jasper doesn’t bank on accidentally ruining her sister's engagement - or bumping into her teen adversary, budding filmmaker Arthur Lancaster. Jasper came back to Lake Pristine for one to say goodbye. But during the holidays, old relationships come to light, small-town tensions rise, and a certain brooding film buff starts to look like a very big reason to stay. Can Jasper decide what she wants from Arthur, and from Lake Pristine, before she leaves them both forever?

WHY I CAN'T WAIT: I stumbled across this when I was looking for some books to add to the TBR for an upcoming reading challenge which starts tomorrow.  The Gilmore Girls reference immediately caught my attention.  Wish I had paid closer attention to the "4" in 2024.  Oh well, now I can share it with you guys too!

WHAT BOOK CAN'T YOU WAIT FOR THIS WEEK???

2 Bloggers 1 Series - Whispers at Dark

 

Stormi and I are enjoying the Krewe Hunters series so much we couldn't wait to start the spin-off series.  There's only three in this offshoot - well, so far, and they can definitely be read without starting off with the original quite lengthy series.  So read on to see my thoughts on this one and then hop over to Stormi's at Storm Reads to see hers! 

TITLE: Whispers at Dark (Blackbird Trilogy #1)

AUTHOR: Heather Graham

PUBLISHER: MIRA

PUBLISHING DATE: June 27, 2023

PAGES: 345   

SOURCE: Library

FROM GOODREADS: When darkness falls, there’s nowhere to hide. 

Four bodies have been discovered along Europe’s riverbanks, placed with care—and completely drained of blood. Pinpricks on their throats indicate a slender murder weapon, but DNA found in the wounds suggests something far more sinister. Tasked with investigating, the FBI recruits Agents Della Hamilton and Mason Carter to Blackbird, an international offshoot of the Krewe of Hunters. If you want to catch a vampire killer, you need agents who can speak with the dead. 

The pair travel to Norway, where the shadowy forests of Lillehammer reveal a gruesome scene. The killer is thirsty for more victims, and the bloodless trail soon leads Della and Mason to a group that believes drinking blood is the key to immortality. To catch the culprit of such an intimate crime, the agents will have to get close. Mason’s already lost one partner; he’s not ready to risk Della as bait. But sometimes justice requires a sacrifice…

MY THOUGHTS: This trilogy is basically a spin-off of the author's Krewe Hunters series which takes off with an expansion of the Krewe overseas. I also suspect this trilogy completely focuses on one main team hunting a faction of killers obsessed with vampires whereas the main series features a new "mystery" each book.

The two main characters in this one are Della and Mason. Mason has recently lost a partner and is a new recruit for the Krewe and Della has been with them for under a year.  Both have the ability to see and communicate with passed spirits and this book is worth the read just to meet their ghost "partner" Gideon.  A serial killer focused on killing lovely young women and draining them of their blood is running around overseas leaving a trail of bodies behind. This book jumps from New Orleans, Norway, Romania and a few other places as the newly assembled team works to track down the main killer as he keeps recruiting followers to do his dirty deeds, promising them eternal life.

I really enjoyed the vampire elements of this one and even though the killer isn't a REAL vampire, he definitely has the charisma and charm needed to convince some he can promise eternal life.  Della and Mason are both interesting characters with just enough baggage to make the reader want to know more about what makes them tick.  There is also some sexual tension between the two early on and it was nice to see how the author played on that to make the plot even more intense. 

I think this would be a great trilogy to start if you want to a sample of this author's works and want a taste of the Krewe Hunter mysteries without starting and possibly committing to a 25+ book series.  I will definitely be continuing on!

MY RATING: 4 PAWS

Just What I Needed - Another Series

 

TITLE: Enchanted to Meet You (Witches of West Harbor #1)

AUTHOR: Meg Cabot

PUBLISHER: Avon

PUBLISHING DATE: September 5, 2023

PAGES: 368   

SOURCE: Library

FROM GOODREADS: In her teenage years, lovelorn Jessica Gold cast a spell that went disastrously wrong, and brought her all the wrong kind of attention—as well as a lifetime ban from the World Council of Witches. 

So no one is more surprised than Jess when, fifteen years later, tall, handsome WCW member Derrick Winters shows up in her quaint little village of West Harbor and claims that Jess is the Chosen One. 

She’s the Chosen One - not chosen by West Harbor’s snobby elite to style them for the town’s tricentennial ball—though Jess owns the chicest clothing boutique in town. And not chosen finally to be on the WCW, either—not that Jess would have said yes, anyway, since she’s done with any organization that tries to dictate what makes a “true” witch. No, Jess has been chosen to help save West Harbor itself... 

As Summer Ends, Her Power Grows But just when Jess is beginning to think that she and Derrick might have a certain magic of their own—and not of the supernatural variety—Jess learns he may not be who she thought he was. And suddenly Jess finds herself having to trust Derrick and work with him to combat the sinister force battling to bring down West Harbor, or use her gift as she always to keep herself, and her heart, safe. Can she work her magic in time?

MY THOUGHTS: This is a book I had really hoped to read before Halloween season ended but I just couldn't squeeze it in.  However, I made time to read it last weekend and I'm glad I did.  

Jess and her tight-knit group of friends, have all landed back at West Harbor after college and figuring out what they want to do with their lives.  Jess and her bestie have been practicing witches since they were in school, and Jess cast a love spell on the high school football star.  The spell backfired, or so they thought it did, and ended up creating a life-long enemy on the girl who wanted to guy all to herself. Jess is now running her own clothing boutique and her friend is an attorney.  One day a hot, biker guy enters her store and tells her she is the Chosen One and without her help, the town of West Harbor will cease to exist.  All she has to do is find the Bringer of Light, who just happens to be an Emo high schooler, and together battle the evil forces.

I really liked so much about this book. The friend group/found family is awesome, and Jess and Derrick have enough angst and tension between them to make them an interesting couple and even though there was a definite attraction from the start, it wasn't necessarily an insta-love situation.  I also liked the young girl Jess has to train.  The witchy elements were fun and there were a few unforeseen twists I didn't see coming.

The main thing that didn't work for me and why the rating fell a bit was the ending was kind of anti-climactic.  It's built up to be this big battle at the end of good vs. evil and it just didn't deliver.  But hey, at least there were magical wolves. 

So, if you are looking for a rom-com with some paranormal elements and a book you don't have to concentrate on too hard to enjoy, this might be one you want to consider.  I'm definitely looking forward to the next installment.

MT RATING: 4 PAWS

Feed Your TBR - How to Become the Dark Lord and Die Trying

 

Can't Wait Wednesday is a weekly meme hosted at Wishful Endings to spotlight highly anticipated books.  It is based on the Waiting on Wednesday meme which used to be hosted by Jill at Breaking the Spine. 

April 25, 2024

FROM GOODREADS: A young woman stuck in a time loop tires of defending humanity from the Dark Lord and decides to become the Dark Lord herself.

WHY I CAN'T WAIT: Let's be honest, the synopsis doesn't give us a lot to go on but you know what?  Sometimes a title is all you need!

WHAT BOOK CAN'T YOU WAIT FOR THIS WEEK???

So, Can I Blame Stormi for This One????

 

TITLE: In My Dreams I Hold a Knife

AUTHOR: Ashley Winstead

PUBLISHER: Sourcebooks Landmark

PUBLISHING DATE: August 3, 2021

PAGES: 345   

SOURCE: Hoopla

FROM GOODREADS: A college reunion turns dark and deadly in this chilling and propulsive suspense novel about six friends, one unsolved murder, and the dark secrets they’ve been hiding from each other—and themselves—for a decade. 

Ten years after graduation, Jessica Miller has planned her triumphant return to southern, elite Duquette University, down to the envious whispers that are sure to follow in her wake. Everyone is going to see the girl she wants them to see—confident, beautiful, indifferent—not the girl she was when she left campus, back when Heather’s murder fractured everything, including the tight bond linking the six friends she’d been closest to since freshman year. Ten years ago, everything fell apart, including the dreams she worked for her whole life—and her relationship with the one person she wasn’t supposed to love. 

But not everyone is ready to move on. Not everyone left Duquette ten years ago, and not everyone can let Heather’s murder go unsolved. Someone is determined to trap the real killer, to make the guilty pay. When the six friends are reunited, they will be forced to confront what happened that night—and the years’ worth of secrets each of them would do anything to keep hidden.

MY THOUGHTS: So many people rave about this book and love it dearly so when Stormi recommended we buddy read it, I jumped at the chance to finally get it off my TBR.  Maybe I should have just jumped???

So it's been 10 years since a college group of friends knows as the East House Seven return for their college reunion.  The only problem though is there is one who can't attend because she tragically was killed during their senior year.  Everyone has their own agenda for returning, and everyone seems to be hiding something. The reader gets alternating timelines and slowly the author reveals exactly what played out and who was to blame.

This book didn't work for me. All the characters are highly flawed and unlikeable.  I don't have to have a likeable character to enjoy a book, but I hated all of these characters so much, I found little to enjoy.  The book is full of pretentiousness, infidelity, lying, addiction, and oh and how can I forget, murder.  I'm surprised these characters even made it 10 years past graduation.  The main character has so many "daddy issues" and I get it, your childhood had issues.  But a lot of other people are in the same boat so deal.

My main complaint with this book is not enough people died.  I know that sounds horrible but in all honestly, I would have enjoyed it much better if they were each getting picked off one by one. Even the one character I came close to trusting turned out to also be a slimeball in the end.  Please don't let my review keep you from reading this if you are interested.  I know my thoughts are in the minority.  I do plan on picking up the author's newest release but if it doesn't work for me, I might just have to give up and move on.

MY RATING: 2 Paws

Farm News - November 5, 2023

 

I can't believe that it is already November.  It seems like the day after Halloween, Christmas began.  I won't lie, even I'm kind of in the holiday spirit already but I still want to enjoy Thanksgiving and Fall while it is still here. 

As I type this, both pups are roughhousing and playing.  They are growing closer each day and Apollo has taken on the role of big brother, babysitter and protector and it's a role he takes seriously.  Zeke was introduced to my work unit via a Zoom meeting this week and made an honorable employee.  We've only had him two weeks and he's grown so much already.  He has his second set of booster shots Thursday and he already weights 15.8 pounds.  The picture quality isn't that great because they won't stop moving but you get the idea.

I won't say I'm in a reading slump, but I really don't know what I want to read right now.  I still have some horror titles to get to, but I think I overdid that genre in October so I'm throwing in a witchy rom com this weekend in the hopes that it sparks some interest.  Stormi and I did not finish It in October and are focusing on a November finish now.  I did finish In My Dreams I Hold a Knife Friday which was the first buddy read for the two of us this month.  Look for our reviews Tuesday because they should be interesting to say the least.

I have actually picked up a few books lately.  I had two preorders arrive from Amazon the last week of October and then I grabbed one from Wal-Mart as a "just because" gift to myself - well, that and the hold list at all my libraries, including Libby, was WAY too long.  I have loved John Stamos since his days of playing Blackie Parrish on GH and I would watch it with my mother so I had to grab If You Would Have Told Me. Tessa Bailey has quicky become a favorite author, so Wreck the Halls is the one I grabbed on impulse at Wal-Mart.  And finally, of course I had to grab some Christmas horror with Christmas and Other Horrors.

So that's about it for this week.  Hope everyone is having a great weekend and as always, thanks for stopping by Booker T's Farm!