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Reviews by Shaun D. (Woodridge, IL)

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The Gifts
The Gifts: A Novel
by Liz Hyder
An Uneven Read (3/23/2023)
This book was just not my cup of tea. The narrators changing mid-paragraph didn't seem clever to me ... more like the author was going for a stream-of-consciousness type of thing but it seemed to me rather amateurish.

Given the design of the cover and the summary …more
The God of Endings
The God of Endings: A Novel
by Jacqueline Holland
The God of Endings - meh (11/8/2022)
I usually don't have any problems racing through hefty novels. However, this particular tome left me rather blah. I didn't realize it was about a vampire when I initially requested it as I'm not a fan of that genre.
In order for a book of this length to truly succeed it has …more
Fly Girl
Fly Girl: A Memoir
by Ann Hood
Disappointing In Every Aspect (4/26/2022)
Although I was looking forward to reading 'Fly Girl' by Ann Hood I found my attention wandered throughout and had to force myself to finish it.

I was surprised to see that this wasn't the author's inaugural effort as it read more like a high-school "Tell Me About a Time When" …more
A Girl is A Body of Water
A Girl is A Body of Water
by Jennifer Nansubuga Makumbi
A Challenging but So Worthwhile Read (9/2/2020)
Maybe it's my choice of books lately but I haven't been anywhere near this challenged by a book, start to finish, in a very long time. My advice is to stick with it because it's hands-down one of The Best books I have ever read. This book challenged me in myriad ways.... …more
The Sun Down Motel
The Sun Down Motel
by Simone St. James
Very Satisfying Thriller (11/20/2019)
Mysteries and thrillers are some of my favorite books. It takes a deft hand and a bold imagination to not only conceive the idea but also a clever mind to patiently tease out the storyline while never losing sight of the journey that the reader is on. I thought the concept …more
You Were There Too
You Were There Too
by Colleen Oakley
A YA Book at Best (9/20/2019)
After reading some of the pre-publication reviews from respected sources I looked forward to reading this book. However after the first few chapters I kept thinking this has to get better ... which unfortunately it never did. Minus the fertility issues this could've been a …more
The Night Tiger
The Night Tiger: A Novel
by Yangsze Choo
Magical Realism......Or is it? (1/6/2019)
I thoroughly enjoyed this book. It's a bit of a slow start but there is a lot of groundwork to lay and ultimately well worth the time and effort. I love learning about different cultures and this is one of those books where you don't even realize how much you're learning as …more
My Lovely Wife
My Lovely Wife
by Samantha Downing
Not for the Faint of Heart (11/3/2018)
I had a hard time getting into My Lovely Wife. I don't have to necessarily like the characters to like or love a story ... but these characters are so distasteful right from the start that I had to force myself to keep reading. This is definitely a walk on the darker side …more
Sometimes I Lie
Sometimes I Lie
by Alice Feeney
A Bit Uneven But Overall A Good Read (12/16/2017)
I enjoyed 'Sometimes I Lie' very much although I did find the narrative to be a bit uneven at times. The middle occasionally lagged which felt out of step with the fast pace of the beginning and the ending. Some readers noted that the book left them feeling 'uneasy' and …more
The Necklace
The Necklace
by Claire McMillan
Don't Waste Your Time (7/5/2017)
It's hard to believe that this book was actually published as there are YA novels that are far superior in every way. There is such a complete lack of character development and description as well as any emotional depth that the reader is unable to invest in these one- …more
If We Were Villains
If We Were Villains
by M. L. Rio
An Exceptional Mystery (4/13/2017)
This is one of the most intriguing, intricate and clever novels I've read in a long while. If you're a fan of Matthew Pearl, Donna Tartt, Elizabeth George, Dan Simmons, Ian Caldwell, etc then you simply Must Read this book! The plot(s) are like quicksand--before you know it …more
Since She Went Away
Since She Went Away
by David Bell
Good But Not Great (7/3/2016)
'Since She Went Away' is a decent suspense novel. It's not the edge-of-your-seat type of mystery that you can't put down but it will hold your interest throughout. I thought it lacked character development in that there were so few descriptions of the main players I had …more
Far From True
Far From True: A Promise Falls Novel
by Linwood Barclay
Not One of Barclay's Best (12/26/2015)
Having read several of Barclay's previous novels I was looking forward to settling into 'Far From True'. Unfortunately it was a disappointment from the start. It read like a book in the middle of a series - not so much because the reader was assumed to know anything but …more
Trust No One
Trust No One: A Thriller
by Paul Cleave
Action-Packed and Fast-Paced (6/9/2015)
This book is categorized as a 'thriller' which is entirely accurate. If you enjoy books that are more action-oriented than character-driven you will like this book. And for fans of this genre you'll guess the ending about halfway through - but - you'll be unable to put it …more
The Rabbit Back Literature Society
The Rabbit Back Literature Society
by Pasi Ilmari Jaaskelainen
Would give it a 2.5 if I could (10/30/2014)
After reading the description I was really excited to receive this book advance. I am drawn to mysteries, thrillers, suspense, etc and this sounded like it hit all 3 categories. However I found myself skimming instead of reading. It seems like it was a novel-length short …more
Brutal Youth
Brutal Youth
by Anthony Breznican
riveting coming-of-age (5/27/2014)
I liked that this book tackles issues that are current and relevant today. The teenage characters at first seem very broadly drawn in both thought and action But as the story unfolds many of their interior lives begin to impact not only their classmates and teachers but …more
The Weight of Blood
The Weight of Blood
by Laura McHugh
The Weight of Blood (3/5/2014)
I was excited to receive an advanced copy of the book because the blurbs were so exciting and encouraging however I was ultimately disappointed. It starts off strong and captivating - loved the alternating points of view told independently by mother and daughter 17 years …more
The Shock of The Fall
The Shock of The Fall: (originally published in hardcover in USA as Where the Moon Isn't)
by Nathan Filer
A strange but intriguing story (10/23/2013)
"Where the Moon Isn't" is definitely on the strange side. Unlike a lot of coming-of-age tales it doesn't have a morale; underlying, concluding or otherwise. If you like family-centered drama with a dash of mental illness, dysfunction and a protagonist who occasionally talks …more
The Edge of Normal
The Edge of Normal
by Carla Norton
The Edge of Normal (10/6/2013)
I found The Edge of Normal pretty predictable and plodding. Not a lot of surprises and the storyline was tedious at times. If you're looking for a real edge-of-your-seat thriller with unpredictable plot twists and shocks and surprises I would recommend Daniel Silva's 'The …more
The Edge of Normal
The Edge of Normal
by Carla Norton
Timely & Revealing (7/21/2013)
The subject matter of this book is incredibly timely as the 3 women held captive in a basement in OH, a woman held captive in France, have recently been freed and are slowly revealing parts of their incredible stories. I would say if this sort of real-life tragedy interests …more
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