Posted on by hrchow12

Audiobook Review – A Killing Cold

What I liked:
– Audiobook narration is fantastic
– Descriptive imagery & narration that gives a tense sense of foreboding
– The idea of a mystery unfolding in a picturesque mountain cabin setting
– Some unexpected twists at the end

What I didn’t like:
– I couldn’t connect to the characters on this one and found nearly all of them to pretty unlikable, making it hard for me to get connected to the story. This could also have heavily impacted my thoughts on pacing and distinctiveness below
– Please keep in mind I like very fast-paced books, but this one felt too slow for me. Especially in the first half.
– I didn’t really feel like this one had that memorable spike that’ll keep me thinking about it. I almost felt like I’d read this story (or more likely, one that was very similar) before.

So, yeah, unfortunately, I don’t think this one wasn’t really for me, but if you’re looking for a tense, wintry thriller, this book may be for you! Thanks to Netgalley and the publisher for the audiobook!

⭐⭐⭐½

I do feel like I’ve had a weird string of 3.5 star reads. Maybe I need to start being pickier about my book choices.

Thanks for reading!

Posted on by hrchow12

Audiobook Review – The Woman in the Library

Hmm… I don’t really know what to think about this one. A friend asked me to read it so that we could talk about it, but I don’t feel like I have a lot to say about it. It’s not so much that I disliked it, it’s just that I’m extremely lukewarm about pretty much all of the elements. The story within a story was an interesting set-up, but I feel like it wasn’t capitalized on as much as I would’ve liked. Though I feel like that last line was tossed in for shock value, I didn’t find myself particularly surprised and mostly I just feel like I wasn’t as invested in this story as much as I should’ve been. I guess I didn’t connect with the characters to really get into it or be concerned for them. But if you’re interested in a mystery with an interesting premise, this might be for you!

⭐⭐⭐½

This is why I have trust issues about book recommendations that don’t come with reviews. 😂

Thanks for reading!

Posted on by hrchow12

Audiobook Review – Darling Girls

I got this audiobook NetGalley widget in my email and decided to give it a shot on a bit of a whim. Sally Hepworth is a new-to-me author but I was feeling in the mood for a bit of a mystery or a thriller. Full disclosure, I’ve been in a bit of a reading slump and the narration wasn’t my favorite, but this story held my attention from beginning to end. I wouldn’t say it was particularly fast-paced, and I don’t think I would classify it as my usual read, but the *characters* absolutely hooked me.

The characters are all deeply flawed, and yet somehow I still loved them all. The incredible bond between the three main characters and the history between them had me rooting for them the entire time. The side characters popped, and I even found the villain to be riveting in her slow-burn, sadistic kind of way. While I think this was on the slower side for a thriller (I would call it more of a mystery) the reveals were perfectly paced to keep my attention fully in the world and made me look forward to my commute.

And despite the darkness of this novel (definitely check the content warnings), I loved the hopeful ending that was just incredibly satisfying. Definitely recommended for anyone looking for a solid character-driven mystery!

⭐⭐⭐⭐½

Thumb’s up for this nice NetGalley surprise!

Thanks for reading!

Posted on by hrchow12

Audiobook Review – The Library Witch Mysteries

Since these audiobook books were bundled together (along with book 3), I’ve combined the reviews into one post.

Book One’s Review:

This was a cozy mystery with all your usual flavors of paranormal in a magical library.

What I liked:
– The premise. I mean, who wouldn’t love to find out you’re a witch and go live in a magical library?
– Easy read, very short, and super chill vibes.

What I didn’t like:
– The tension and character depth just weren’t there for me. Though they’re dealing with a murder, everyone seems to take it rather in stride, and I didn’t feel like we really cracked the surface of most of the characters.

So no quite for me, however, if you like your mysteries with MAXIMUM cozy, this might be for you!

Book Two’s Review:

I read this one because the first three audiobooks were bundled together. I could probably copy and paste my review for the first book for this one. Super cozy mystery. Quick easy read. But not quite enough tension or character development for me. However, book 1 and book 2 are so consistent in formula and tone, I definitely think if you enjoyed the first book, you would enjoy the second. As for me, I think I’m going to stop myself here since these aren’t super up my alley.

⭐⭐⭐¼

Me trying to figure out what genre is going to get me out of this reading slump.

Thanks for reading!

Posted on by hrchow12

Audiobook Review – One of Us is Back

Screenshot

So I loved book 1 of this series, I thought book 2 was okay, and I think I feel about the same about book 3. Though I really like the quick-flowing writing style, over the course of the series, I feel like we just kept adding characters to the Scooby Doo crew and in this one they all kind of blended together. The only one that popped for me is Nate, and while I enjoyed getting more of his story, I felt like the climax felt a just little flat. However if you enjoyed book 2, I’d definitely recommend giving this a try!

⭐⭐⭐½

The reading slump is growing… someone save me!

Thanks for reading!

Posted on by hrchow12

Audiobook Review – The Enemy at Home

Really liked the authentic-feeling WWII homefront setting of this one, and the whodunnit felt classic with some twists and turns to keep me guessing. But there were some elements that didn’t quite jive, and I found the ending to be too bittersweet for me. If you’re looking for a solid 1940s whodunnit without romance though, this might be for you!

⭐⭐⭐¾

A unique twist of genres that didn’t quite stick a satisfying conclusion for me.

Thanks for reading!

Posted on by hrchow12

Audiobook Review – The Box in the Woods

It’s been a while since I’ve read the Truly Devious trilogy, but I remember liking it (except maybe one thing… but I can’t remember what it was—oh well) so when I saw the audiobook pop up in the library, I picked it up. And for the first 50% I was so thrilled with it! Stevie is fun, Nate is my favorite EVER, the writing is voicey and FANTASTIC, and I love the way the present and past intertwine to build the mystery of the cold case.

Then at around 75% I remembered EXACTLY what I didn’t like about the first trilogy, and his name is DAVID. Ugh. While I don’t exactly hate David, I hate how Stevie acts when she’s around him, and honestly I think they make each other worse. The conflict between them seemed a little manufactured, and then I feel like we really didn’t have a resolution to their relationship plotline. Blah.

BUT! Everything else was still excellent. So while I won’t be picking up book 5 (because, ew, David) I’ll definitely be looking into what Maureen Johnson writes next, and I’d still recommend this to fans of the first three books (especially if you don’t mind David.)

⭐⭐⭐⭐¼

Omg. Stevie. Girl. You can do better.

Thanks for reading!

Posted on by hrchow12

Audiobook Review – The Maid

I picked up this mystery on the recommendation of a friend, and definitely enjoyed this modern murder mystery. I liked the main character, Molly’s, unique voice and her moral compass made the narrative interesting to puzzle out. The side characters were all fleshed out well, and even the hotel seemed to have a character of its own from Molly’s eyes. Her growth and resolution were both strong and satisfying, but the only thing that really threw me at the end were a few missing pieces (are there no video cameras in the hotel? No alibis?) that I kind of had to suspend my disbelief for. Overall though I found this to a fun murder mystery with a unique perspective and a few fun twists.

⭐⭐⭐⭐

Molly would be *horrified* at the state of my house. I wonder what her hourly rate is?!

Thanks for reading!

Posted on by hrchow12

Book Review – A Hard Day for a Hangover

Ah yes, how shall I start this ode to the newest Sunshine Vicram book, except it was absolutely *amazing.* Please just inject this series into my veins. I loved the audiobooks of the first two entries in the series, and the cliffhanger at the end of book 2 just about killed me, so when I saw the ebook for #3 on NetGalley, I jumped at the opportunity, and was NOT disappointed.

However, for the sake of the uninitiated (please start with the first audiobook and then we can all squeal together), I will try to keep my gushing spoiler free.

All of the elements we love from the first two books are here and in force: the witty banter is fun and a joy to read, Del Sol is as quirky and weird as ever, the muffins are back, The Dangerous Daughters and Sinister Suns are at play, the stakes are high, there’s a mystery to solve, and Levi plays his biggest part to date.

There were a lot of plot lines from the first two books (specifically regarding Levi & Sunshine) that came to a really satisfying end here. However, I am a little torn, because I’m seeing that this is supposed to be the end of the trilogy, and I feel like there is so many more questions/loose ends to tie up. So basically, if this WAS the end of the series, I think I would feel just a tiny bit disappointed because I’m still hoping to see a little more of Auri & Cruz, Hailey & Quincy, and the Dangerous Daughters.

But even if this is the last one, honestly, I can’t even hate, because I do feel like this *could* be the end of Levi & Sunshine’s story and it totally left me with such a gooey, satisfied feeling, I am TOTALLY okay with it.

Let’s just say, regardless of what Darynda Jones writes next, be it Sunshine or something else, I will *definitely* be reading it. Five wholeheartedly glowing stars.

Thanks so much to NetGalley for the free ARC! A Hard Day for a Hangover launches on 6 December!

🌟🌟🌟🌟🌟

Please tell me there will be more Sunshine books, Darynda. PLEASE!

Thanks for reading!

Posted on by hrchow12

Audiobook Review – The Rose Code

I’m a big fan of Ken Follett historical fiction and WWII novels, so I can’t help but feel like this book should’ve held my attention more than it did.

It details three women who go to work as codebreakers in Bletchley Park in England in WWII. The story is spliced between them during their time at Bletchley, and them a few years after the War ended… in which they are rather miserable.

Initially the work is freeing for them, each in their own way, and they become close friends. However, as they go on, the story really goes into the sacrifices they have to make to keep their secrets… which ends up tearing them apart and leaving them all with their own invisible wounds.

While the book ends on a positive note, I still thought it was kind of a downer. Specifically there’s an event that happens in the middle that I really just couldn’t get over. (Feel free to Twitter DM me if you want the full rant.)

The author’s notes at the end of where the direct inspiration came from was super interesting, but overall, I thought the book was a bit too long and too slow for my taste. But if you want heavily researched historical fiction about the women of Bletchley Park, than I recommend you give it a look!

Watch out for about the 60% mark though… it’s a doozy.

⭐⭐⭐⭐

My sad, pouty face at 60%. If you know, you know.

Thanks for reading!