Author Archives: ashareads

Review: Good Half Gone

Posted on by
Reply

Good Half Gone by Tarryn Fisher
Publisher: Graydon House
Pub Date: 3/19/2024

Thank you to Graydon House & Harper Audio for the free copy on NetGalley & LibroFM in exchange for my honest review. 

Rating: ⭐️⭐️⭐️

Iris, having narrowly avoided the tragic fate of her kidnapped and trafficked twin sister, seeks proof of what happened to her by interning at the creepy Shoal Island Hospital for the criminally insane. She quickly discovers that the hospital harbors deep, sinister secrets, realizing the danger extends beyond its patients and into the very essence of the institution itself.

Tarryn Fisher’s books can be hit or miss for me, and, unfortunately, this one didn’t quite hit the mark. The beginning of the book started strong, capturing my interest with its intriguing storyline. However, I guessed the major twist early on which was a disappointment. I hoped the journey towards this twist would keep me engaged, but I found Iris, especially her present-day portrayal, to be boring. The segments showing her as a teenager were more interesting to read. I felt the story lacked the suspense needed to make the predictable twist compelling. I ended up rating this three stars because even though I finished this book in a day, I found the overall story to just be okay.

Review: Happily Never After

Posted on by
Reply

Happily Never After by Lynn Painter
Publisher: Berkley
Pub Date: 3/12/2024

Thank you to Berkley & PRH Audio for the free copy in exchange for my honest review. 

Rating: ⭐️⭐️⭐️⭐️

In Happily Never After by Lynn Painter, Sophie Steinbeck enlists the help of a professional objector, Max, to escape her own doomed wedding, leading them on a series of anti-wedding adventures where they work together to save others from unhappy marriages. As they navigate their unconventional partnership, Sophie and Max confront their own skepticism about love, only to find themselves unexpectedly falling for each other, especially when faced with a job that hits too close to home.

I loved the banter between Sophie and Max; their chemistry was off the charts. The evolution of their relationship from friends to lovers was sweet, yet when they finally came together, it turned spicy. Sophie’s roommates were hilarious, adding even more fun to the story! The only aspect I found less appealing were some of the decisions Sophie and Max made individually, which irked me, but this didn’t deter my overall enjoyment of the book. Overall, this is a fun, lighthearted romance that’s perfect to pick up this spring!

Review: Murder Road

Posted on by
1

Murder Road by Simone St. James
Publisher: Berkley
Pub Date: 3/5/2024

Thank you to PRH Audio & Berkley for the free copy in exchange for my honest review. 

Rating: ⭐️⭐️

Newlyweds April and Eddie inadvertently become suspects in a series of unexplained murders after picking up a dying hitchhiker along Atticus Line during their honeymoon. Their efforts to clear their names uncover the town’s dark, sinister secrets, threatening to engulf them in its ominous history.

I’ve always been a fan of Simone St. James’ thrillers so I was excited to hear about her upcoming release. Unfortunately, this one missed the mark for me and I wish I DNF’d it. While the premise seemed intriguing at first, the story ultimately proved forgettable. The protagonists, April and Eddie, came across as both irritating and dull, with their motivation for investigating the murders in the small town feeling weak and unconvincing. Additionally, many of the plot twists were predictable. I was particularly disappointed by the paranormal elements in this book, which, unlike in St. James’ previous works, failed to add any depth or eerie atmosphere to the story. This isn’t a book I would recommend. If you decide to give it a try, I suggest keeping your expectations low.

Review: The Princess of Las Vegas

Posted on by
Reply

The Princess of Las Vegas by Chris Bohjalian
Publisher: Doubleday
Pub Date: 3/19/2024

Thank you to Doubleday & PRH Audio for the free copies in exchange for my honest review. 

Rating: ⭐️⭐️⭐️⭐️

In The Princess of Las Vegas by Chris Bohjalian, Crissy Dowling, who impersonates Princess Diana, sees her life in Las Vegas turn upside down when her sister arrives and a murder occurs, pulling her into a world of crime, secrets, and cryptocurrency.

I love Chris Bohjalian’s work so I was excited to hear that he was coming out with a new thriller. I was a bit hesitant on how I’d feel about this since I’m not a fan of the royals. I was pleasantly surprised the plot proved captivating and consistently held my attention. However, there was way too much talk about crypto currency. I liked the alternating perspectives between the sisters added depth, and their involvement in the murder mysteries kept me thoroughly engaged Setting the story against the vibrant backdrop of Las Vegas effectively turned the location into a character in its own right. Overall, I’d recommend this if you like slow burn thrillers!

Review: Tangled Up In You

Posted on by
Reply

Tangled Up In You by Christin Lauren
Publisher: Hyperion Avenue
Pub Date: 6/25/2024

Thank you to Hyperion Avenue for the free copy on NetGalley in exchange for my honest review.

Rating: ⭐️⭐️⭐️

Tangled Up In You is the fourth installment in the A Meant To Be series and it can be read as a standalone. This is a modern day retelling of the classic Rapunzel and draws inspiration from the Disney film, Tangled. The novel is about Ren, a self-taught, off-the-grid woman attending college for the first time, and Fitz, a student with a meticulously planned future. Their lives intertwine through an immunology seminar assignment, leading them on an unexpected road trip where they discover that the answers to their dreams might lie in their unlikely partnership.

I had mixed feelings about this book. I loved the backdrop and was captivated by all the intriguing characters. Yet, I couldn’t help noticing striking similarities to Kiss the Girl, the third book in the A Meant To Be series, especially in the road trip scenes. The pacing of the book seemed to be a bit off to me. The beginning of the book was really intriguing, but once we got to the road trip part, it was pretty slow. The last quarter of the book felt rushed and packed with events with little to no explanations which led to an abrupt ending. I was also surprised to find this book to be more young adult versus adult. Contrary to the previous books in the series which featured mid-20s adults, this book felt more like a young adult novel, with Ren and Fitz behaving more like teenagers despite being in their early 20s. Fitz’s character was well-developed and was fascinated by his backstory, but Ren’s golden retriever energy and naivety were so excessive that it was off-putting for me. Unfortunately, this was my least favorite in the series, but it was entertaining to read so I rated it 3 stars.

Review: Bride

Posted on by
Reply

Bride by Ali Hazelwood
Publisher: Berkley Romance
Pub Date: 2/6/2024

Thank you to Berkley Romance for the free copy in exchange for my honest review.

Rating: ⭐️⭐️⭐️⭐️

In Bride by Ali Hazelwood, Misery Lark, a vampyre, is thrust into a political marriage with Lowe Moreland, the Alpha of the Weres, to maintain a peacekeeping alliance. Misery navigates this uneasy alliance with her own hidden agenda, determined to reclaim something precious to her, even if it means living in the hostile territory of her mortal enemies.

Ali Hazelwood’s Bride marks an exciting shift to a new genre: paranormal romance. Moving away from her usual style, I was pleasantly surprised that she tried something a bit different. There was an element of mystery in the beginning that intrigued me. I found the subplots to be more interesting than Misery and Lowe’s romantic involvement. The steamy scenes were definitely a plus, but I just couldn’t see Misery and Lowe as a long-term couple. The pacing was a bit off in this book where some scenes dragged out and other scenes were action-packed and kept me engaged. I really liked the way that all the characters were fleshed out. It also made complete sense that this was told through Misery’s POV. The world building was a bit tedious at times and wasn’t necessary since this was more of paranormal romance. I also felt that the third act breakup didn’t make much sense and it wasn’t explained how it was really resolved. It honestly made like Lowe less. Overall, I thought this was a great first attempt into paranormal romance for Ali and can’t wait to see her explore this genre more!

Review: The Women

Posted on by
Reply

The Women by Kristin Hannah
Publisher: St. Martin’s Press
Pub Date: 2/6/2024

Thank you to St. Martin’s Press & Macmillan Audio for the free copies in exchange for my honest review. 

Rating: ⭐️⭐️⭐️⭐️⭐️

The Women by Kristin Hannah follows Frances “Frankie” McGrath, a young nurse who bravely joins the Army Nurse Corps during the Vietnam War, facing the chaos of battle and the struggles of returning to a divided America. This historical fiction novel dives into sacrifice, friendship, and shining light on often-forgotten commitment and patriotism.

Kristin Hannah’s meticulous research shines in The Women, with some scenes reading like nonfiction. I was particularly captivated by the first half, detailing Frankie’s Vietnam tour, while the latter part skillfully explores her post-war life. There are so graphic scenes and multiple triggers so I recommend reading the content warnings on StoryGraph as there’s too many to mention. The author’s captivating storytelling and fresh perspective on a rarely discussed topic were eye-opening, especially in portraying Frankie’s post-Vietnam experiences with her family and friends. One of my favorite parts of the book was seeing Frankie, Barb, and Ethel supporting each other which truly highlights the value of friendship. The only part of the book I had a difficult grappling with were the romantic connections and some of the twists that related to that, but I understood why these had to be written into the story. Overall, this has to be one of my all-favorite books from Kristin Hannah and is my first 5-star read of the year! As someone who rarely reads historical fiction, I highly recommend this resonant read.

Review: Almost Surely Dead

Posted on by
Reply

Almost Surely Dead by Amina Akhtar
Publisher: Mindy’s Book Studio (Amazon Publishing)
Pub Date: 2/1/2024

This was my January Amazon First Reads pick

Rating: ⭐️⭐️⭐️⭐️

Almost Surely Dead by Amina Akhtar tells the story of Dunia Ahmed, a New York pharmacist coping with personal tragedies, who becomes the center of a true crime podcast after her mysterious disappearance. As she deals with murder attempts on her life and police suspicion of those close to her, Dunia’s reality blurs with childhood superstitions, leading her to believe that a malevolent force is targeting her.

Having enjoyed Amina Akhtar’s previous works, #fashionvictim and Kissmet, I was thrilled to discover her latest thriller, Almost Surely Dead, released under Mindy’s Book Studios. The narrative is told through three distinct perspectives: Dunia’s experiences from a year or two prior, the podcast’s viewpoint, and Dunia’s memories from when she was five years old. A highlight of the book is its exploration of jinn and Pakistani culture, offering insightful perspectives on these beliefs. The podcast hosts, intriguingly flawed, exhibit subtle racism and a penchant for gaslighting their guests, embodying the antithesis of ideal hosts with their overt commercial focus. Dunia’s character and her interactions with those around her are fascinating along with the extremely horrifying methods at attempts on her life. Though the culprits were easily predictable which had me reduce a star, the integration of jinn into the storyline was chillingly effective which added a haunting and terrifying layer that resonated deeply. Overall, I highly recommend picking this one if you’re looking for an entertaining and spine-tingling thriller!

Review: No One Will Know

Posted on by
Reply

No One Can Know by Kate Alice Marshall
Publisher: Flatiron Books
Pub Date: 1/23/2024

Thank you to Macmillan Audio for the free copy in exchange for my honest review.

Rating: ⭐️⭐️

In No One Can Know, three sisters confront their dark past in their old mansion, dealing with two mysterious murders and family secrets that could destroy their lives. Unfortunately, this one didn’t work for me. While the plot initially sounded intriguing, the execution felt like a commercial thriller and was too predictable. I knew who the culprit was from the start, rendering the red herrings ineffective and leading to a boring reading experience. All the characters, including Emma and Nathan, lacked depth and appeared two-dimensional. I couldn’t muster any sympathy towards any of the characters. The story is told through the perspectives of the three sisters, with Daphne’s being the most interesting. Emma’s perspective was boring and JJ’s seemed odd but better than Emma’s. The flashbacks kept me engaged, but the pacing in the present narrative was slow, which affected the overall momentum of the story. Additionally, the way diversity and queerness were integrated into the story felt forced and less naturally integrated, seemingly added as an afterthought rather than as a meaningful and intentional part of the narrative. The last half of the book picks up, but the scenarios are far-fetched and detract from the storyline. I personally can’t recommend this one.

Review: The Fury

Posted on by
Reply

The Fury by Alex Michaelides
Publisher: Celadon Books
Pub Date: 1/16/2024

Thank you to Celadon Books & Macmillan Audio for the free copies in exchange for my honest review.

Rating: ⭐️⭐️⭐️⭐️

In The Fury, Lana Farrah, a ex-movie star, invites her closest friends to her private Greek island for Easter, leading to a a fateful night of revenge, a game of cat and mouse, and murder. The story is told through the unreliable narrator, Elliot Chase, who reveals secrets, unexpected twists, and betrayal.

I was super excited to hear that Alex Michaelides was coming out with a new book since I enjoyed The Silent Patient. The Fury was an entertaining read that I was able to finish in less than two days. The beginning is intriguing and sets the stage of the murder. Throughout the story, Elliot explains all the backstories of all the suspects and how they are related to each other. I also like that the book is broken out in acts like a play. The way the twists and secrets are revealed kept me on the edge of my seat. There were a couple of twists that I predicted but the way it was written kept me engaged. I found the middle to be a bit slower, but the last act made up for it. As for the audiobook, Alex Jennings did a great job bringing the story to life and had the perfect voice for Elliot. I recommend picking this up if you’re looking for a lighthearted, slow burn entertaining thriller.