An intense read with such a beautiful and horrifying portrait of the Nigerian society that addresses so many individual issues, such as religion 5/5 ⭐
An intense read with such a beautiful and horrifying portrait of the Nigerian society that addresses so many individual issues, such as religion (both traditional and white man's new one), politics, education, domestic violence, human rights, gender (in)equality. At the same time it lures you into the undeniable richness of the culture. With the help of this book, I discovered Onyeka Onwenu's music that puts me in such a good mood and also, it made me crave jollof rice with such a burning desire that I won't have rest until I make some. All this and more make up a novel that will stay with you long after you're done reading it....more
Truthfully, I loved this. And I think I've been having too many familiar feelings while reading it and that's why I couldn't award it a full o4.45/5 ⭐
Truthfully, I loved this. And I think I've been having too many familiar feelings while reading it and that's why I couldn't award it a full of stars. I did live through a friends-to-lovers trope too. And the happy-ending in this book was so picture-perfecr, it made me realise that I will not really be able to read romance novels anymore for a while. I'm glad I read this one though, I think it's worth a shot....more
If you were (by any means) looking for a new thriller that would just keep you engaged cuz it's messed up and you're into that shit, then look 4.5/5 ⭐
If you were (by any means) looking for a new thriller that would just keep you engaged cuz it's messed up and you're into that shit, then look no further. Here it is, my little weirdo. Dig in, you'll have fun....more
Wow. This gave me a sort of anxiety I get when I'm in a small, narrow place, but at the same time it felt so powerful yet calming. There's a lot o5/5 ⭐
Wow. This gave me a sort of anxiety I get when I'm in a small, narrow place, but at the same time it felt so powerful yet calming. There's a lot of contradicting emotions that have tried me during the narrative but overall, it was a wonderful book with such an actual and (it pains me a bit to say) kind of tangible subject. If you are a fan of time travelling, sci-fi stories and conspiracy theories then this is a must read! All of it is wrapped in a beautifully crafted story....more
Even though it took me a while to finish this (life got in the way), I still enjoyed it so much! It is a thrilling blend of suspense, mystery 4.75/5 ⭐
Even though it took me a while to finish this (life got in the way), I still enjoyed it so much! It is a thrilling blend of suspense, mystery and the supernatural and I simply couldn't say no to that!
I really appreciated the atmospheric writing of the novel. The descriptive prose creates an eerie setting and tense moments, helping us readers to immerse into the chilling world the author built for us. The pacing is well-balanced, with a gradual buildup of suspense leading to a thrilling climax.
In my opinion, there are two main characters here that seem to compete to steal each other's spotlight while also building each other up. Shea Collins is a complex character. She is dealing with her own trauma and fears because of her past dark experiences. Her passion for true crime is both a coping mechanism and a way to find purpose and her journey through the book is full of personal growth while also confronting her past. She is a victim that wants to break free and she does. Beth Greer however is a spectacular character that spices up the story in a way you won't even think before meeting her. She is enigmatic, and her aloof nature adds a layer of mystery to the story. She was accused of hideous murders in her youth, murders she may or may not have committed, but even so, her presence is always like a little bit of poison with each cup of tea you pour.
I liked the seeming similarities between Shea and Beth, they both being enveloped in their haunted past. The novel explores how trauma shapes their identities and decisions, and how confronting it is a path to healing.
The blending of supernatural elements with a crime thriller might not appeal to purists of either genre, and some may find the resolution too reliant on paranormal explanations, but to me this was so very well blended together. The plot is based on and exploring further on the world of true crime enthusiasts and how there is a very thin line between a healthy interest and obsession. Ghostly presences and unexplained phenomena are added and used effectively to build suspense and keep us on edge, building a suspenseful atmosphere that honestly is quite addictive.
I do believe that this book is worth a try and I will recommend it to all true crime enthusiasts that want some more from their reads!...more
If you have absolutely no expectations or if you're too hyped up or anything in-between, don't worry, this book will probably turn out way more4.5/5 ⭐
If you have absolutely no expectations or if you're too hyped up or anything in-between, don't worry, this book will probably turn out way more interesting than anything you might've pictured in your head.
I am a big fan of books about books and libraries and bookshops and secret shelves and stories and words and everything of the sort (being a nerdy bookworm makes you like that, yes, beware!). And this story built on the love for books, stories and writers binds the past and the present. And it's so much more complex than just the plot.
Each of the characters comes with a story. It looks like each of these characters and their backstories are arteries attached to the big beating heart - the plot. The plot pumps the arteries with fresh blood and they bring back raw material for the heart to keep pumping.
I was surprised by the lengths this story goes to. It's full of force, but also of emotion. Of love and loss. Of tragedy. Of little smiles that appear at the corner of one character's mouth when they think no one sees them. And most importantly, it is full of magic. And this magic is done in such a way that the life is intertwining with it....more
Okay. Surprisingly, I enjoyed this waaaaay more than I initially thought I would.
I mean, the way the whole plot of the book, from the beginnin4.35/5 ⭐
Okay. Surprisingly, I enjoyed this waaaaay more than I initially thought I would.
I mean, the way the whole plot of the book, from the beginning to the end, is built to be one big confession from multiple POVs, regarding (more or less) the same main issue, and it is quite captivating.
But the most captivating thing about this book is the evilness and darkness of all of the confessions. This proves to me, one more time, that: 1) having mommy issues is waaaaay worse than having daddy issues and 2) emotions might be things that set us apart from other animals, but the consciousness and intelligence is sometimes ruling over our body and soul, making us do brilliant, but horrible things....more
The Wedding People or how I like to call it the book that tricked me into deep feelings with a beachy cover and hotel lobby vibes
So I pick4.5/5 ⭐
The Wedding People or how I like to call it the book that tricked me into deep feelings with a beachy cover and hotel lobby vibes
So I picked this up thinking, “Ah yes, quirky strangers at a wedding: light, fun, maybe a little chaotic.” What I didn’t expect was to be emotionally steamrolled in the most delicate, whisper-soft way imaginable. This book is like that one friend who walks up like it’s going to hand you a cocktail, then sits you down and gently unpacks your entire emotional state.
Phoebe, our main character, is going through stuff™️: newly divorced, grief-saturated, and completely uninterested in participating in other people’s joyful events (same bestie same). She ends up at this wedding she wasn’t invited to, surrounded by people she doesn’t know, and somehow is mistakenly asked to take part in the whole thing. And suddenly we’re in this almost dreamlike story about grief, connection, love, and the existential weirdness of hotel hallways.
The author writes with that kind of suspiciously breezy tone where you’re laughing at a line one second, and the next you’re staring into your own little void because it hit you a bit in plex. There’s a subtle emotional intelligence here, no melodrama, no big declarations, just these beautifully awkward, honest moments between people who are so not okay and so exactly what each other needs.
Also: the setting?? I now believe all major life shifts should occur in coastal hotels with mystery guests and oddly insightful conversations. Just saying.
This book is funny, warm, gently absurd, and sneakily profound. It’s about grief, yes but also about that weird, floaty space in life where you’re untethered and accidentally becoming someone new. I laughed, I felt things and I absolutely recommended it to innocent bookstore customers who didn't even ask for it, they just wanted something and this is that something.
10/10 would recommend to: fans of slightly surreal fiction, emotionally complex characters, and anyone who’s ever cried in a hotel bathrobe for reasons they couldn’t quite explain....more
Very Kingesque, gave me chills and thrills, a really really tasteful psychological thriller/horror (at least for my taste).
It starts off reall4.5/5 ⭐
Very Kingesque, gave me chills and thrills, a really really tasteful psychological thriller/horror (at least for my taste).
It starts off really strong, the atmosphere is quite gripping and the characters remind me a lot of the ones in Stephen King's Pet Sematary and even The Shining. It's a great mix of psychological horror, paranormal activity, science fiction elements and really well individualised characters.
I've been waiting for a good horror like this for quite some time and I finally found it. So if you are a fan of Stephen King's works like I am, I do recommend this for a chilling, gripping and unputdownable experience!...more
Okay okay okay, this shouldn't be a 5 star read in my book. Usually, it isn't. But given the fact that 1) this is my first read of the year, 2)4.5/5 ⭐
Okay okay okay, this shouldn't be a 5 star read in my book. Usually, it isn't. But given the fact that 1) this is my first read of the year, 2) I need to be back in my lovey-dovey era and 3) the only thing about this book I'm mad about is that I didn't have the time to just binge it on one sitting, I will just close an eye on the way Summer kind of annoyed me at some point and award it the most of stars I can award on this platform.
It was cheesy and a bit of a cliché but did I enjoy it? Did I have fun with it? Did it have great snarky banter? Did the story just flow?? Yeah. To all that. Just read it, it'll be a great time, that's all I have to say....more
Short, quick, full of emotion and bittersweet stories, a unique concept and approach to the last few moments a person has after they die. I enj4.5/5 ⭐
Short, quick, full of emotion and bittersweet stories, a unique concept and approach to the last few moments a person has after they die. I enjoyed this so much and I think it deserves a try!...more