I found this book on a Reddit thread about unlikable female characters. Or maybe the word was unhinged. So I knew what I signed up for. Or so I thoughI found this book on a Reddit thread about unlikable female characters. Or maybe the word was unhinged. So I knew what I signed up for. Or so I thought. I’m giving it two stars because I did finish it and the writing style was pretty good. This might be subject to change. But this book sickened me. I skimmed through the gross parts, of which there were many. I think maybe I was supposed to be disgusted. However, the author had a note at the beginning that this was her most autobiographical book yet. And that some of that came from caring for her “vegetable” dad during his last years of life. And that just made me disgusted. If I didn’t know that and just thought it was a horror book, I would have been disturbed but knowing what I knew put it on another level. I have to admit that being my dad’s caregiver this last year makes me sensitive and that this most likely didn’t make me the best reader for this so make of this review what you will. ...more
I think I found a new go to author. This book took me only two days to finish. I couldn’t put it down! I loved the back and forth between the present I think I found a new go to author. This book took me only two days to finish. I couldn’t put it down! I loved the back and forth between the present and the past and the inclusion of the podcast transcripts and documentary that slowly pulled back the layers. My only minor quibble was the ending. Maybe I just wanted more. It kind of seems like there may be more? I guess we shall see. ...more
Wow. Just wow. I honestly can’t think of the last time I was so wrapped up in a book. So consumed that when I had to put it down, it stayed in my mindWow. Just wow. I honestly can’t think of the last time I was so wrapped up in a book. So consumed that when I had to put it down, it stayed in my mind and I itched to get back to it. I also can’t remember the last time I have given a book five stars. It’s been a long time. It was so haunting and sad but so beautiful too. The characters came alive. No one character was one dimensional. They were all richly layered and so complex. It was icky and messy and messed up in places. Everything unfolded slowly, with this underlying tension that pulled at my nerves. The writing was such that I could feel and imagine the physical and emotional clutter. At different points in the book, I would be so angry at different characters and then later my heart would break for them. This was a kind of epic family saga that spanned decades. Broken people and how they came to be that way. The uncomfortableness of confronting trauma and the possibility of healing. I’ll be thinking of it for a long time. ...more
I don’t want to swoop in here all Grinch like. Especially because the proceeds of this go towards a really deserving charity. And also because they arI don’t want to swoop in here all Grinch like. Especially because the proceeds of this go towards a really deserving charity. And also because they are Christmas stories. Notoriously known for being sugar cookie cute. But I also want to be honest. So I’ll settle for three stars because there were a few standouts. But I didn’t enjoy some of the novellas, skipped quite a few that had to do with established couples I hadn’t read about and found myself downright disappointed by some. I’m not knocking stars off for the ones I skipped.
I’m sorry. Don’t hate me. I love Christmas books and have been known to read them year round. Heck, I even have a bookshelf called, “All I Want For Christmas is You.” But I felt so meh about so much of this collection.
I won’t spread my negativity any further and will only list the ones I liked.
✅ Joanna Chambers gave us a sweet Christmas treat. I only wished it was longer as the end felt rushed.
✅ Annabeth Albert, who I’ve struggled with in recent books, reunited us with her men from, “Better Not Pout.” A little sappy? Yes. But I loved seeing these two a few years down the line.
✅ Annabelle Jacobs had a lovely second chances, friends to lovers, snowed in tale. I think I have tried one of hers in the past and didn’t finish it. I may have to try her again.
Merged review:
I don’t want to swoop in here all Grinch like. Especially because the proceeds of this go towards a really deserving charity. And also because they are Christmas stories. Notoriously known for being sugar cookie cute. But I also want to be honest. So I’ll settle for three stars because there were a few standouts. But I didn’t enjoy some of the novellas, skipped quite a few that had to do with established couples I hadn’t read about and found myself downright disappointed by some. I’m not knocking stars off for the ones I skipped.
I’m sorry. Don’t hate me. I love Christmas books and have been known to read them year round. Heck, I even have a bookshelf called, “All I Want For Christmas is You.” But I felt so meh about so much of this collection.
I won’t spread my negativity any further and will only list the ones I liked.
✅ Joanna Chambers gave us a sweet Christmas treat. I only wished it was longer as the end felt rushed.
✅ Annabeth Albert, who I’ve struggled with in recent books, reunited us with her men from, “Better Not Pout.” A little sappy? Yes. But I loved seeing these two a few years down the line.
✅ Annabelle Jacobs had a lovely second chances, friends to lovers, snowed in tale. I think I have tried one of hers in the past and didn’t finish it. I may have to try her again....more
I haven’t been able to get into the few f/f romance books I’ve tried. I’m going to be honest. I don’t think they are my thing. They don’t do much for I haven’t been able to get into the few f/f romance books I’ve tried. I’m going to be honest. I don’t think they are my thing. They don’t do much for me. And I pretty much knew this going into this one. But I had to read this for three reasons:
1) They may not be my thing as far as those steamy parts. But I appreciate a good love story and had gotten to love Helena and Celia in the first three books. So I wanted to read their story.
2) I knew the last book in the series was coming out and these aren’t really ones you can skip books with, in my opinion. And speaking of that next book, give me Holt and Brax NOW!!!
Merged review:
I haven’t been able to get into the few f/f romance books I’ve tried. I’m going to be honest. I don’t think they are my thing. They don’t do much for me. And I pretty much knew this going into this one. But I had to read this for three reasons:
1) They may not be my thing as far as those steamy parts. But I appreciate a good love story and had gotten to love Helena and Celia in the first three books. So I wanted to read their story.
2) I knew the last book in the series was coming out and these aren’t really ones you can skip books with, in my opinion. And speaking of that next book, give me Holt and Brax NOW!!!...more