Cassandra

This was a unique sort of family saga that explores the relationships between parents and their children. The story was set throughout California (and not just LA!) from the 1950s to the 1980s to present-ish day.

This is the first of Russell's books that I've read and I quite enjoyed it. The writing was beautiful and expansive and the way that magical realism was tied into the story was unique to say the least. This is a definitely a slower paced book, especially the first half. There was a lot of setup that took a lot of time and it caused the first part to drag. I didn't really understand what was going on until the second half of the book.

There were a lot of characters and a lot of threads to follow and the way that these threads were tied together felt rushed and unnatural. That being said, I enjoyed the setting (geographically not to mention it being set in an interesting time period) and I appreciated James Riding In's context and further education at the end.

A slow-burn thriller with an interesting backstory. I loved learning a little about psychopaths and wish that the book focused on that aspect a little more. I also wish the backstory was a little more atmospheric. Throwing in Nintendoes and a colorful Macs helped to dress the scene, but the flashbacks to the 90s did not feel immersive and the characters felt flat in that regard. Once the dinner party got into swing the book read like a movie with interesting enough twists that kept me engaged. All in all, this was a good locked-room thriller and I'm excited to read more from this author.

A slow-burn thriller with an interesting backstory. I loved learning a little about psychopaths and wish that the book focused on that aspect a little more. I also wish the backstory was a little more atmospheric. Throwing in Nintendoes and a colorful Macs helped to dress the scene, but the flashbacks to the 90s did not feel immersive and the characters felt flat in that regard. Once the dinner party got into swing the book read like a movie with interesting enough twists that kept me engaged. All in all, this was a good locked-room thriller and I'm excited to read more from this author.

This book was a lot of fun and was exactly what I was hoping it would be. I would consider myself a casual fan of Bravo's Real Housewives but I recognized so many references and jokes. I laughed throughout and had to keep reading to figure out what was going on. The mystery wasn't that deep but I was happy to be along for the ride with these over-the-top characters. The reality series background is the perfect set up and I loved how the chapters were separated with cast interviews.

I loved this book! I requested this book because the description sounded interesting but I didn't realize that Witness 8 was part of a larger series. I can't wait to read the rest of this author's backlog. I also haven't read a lot of police procedurals or crime novels but this was a great introduction to the genre. I loved the pacing, the different POVs and the balance of detective work/shenanigans and courtroom drama.

I will read anything that Janice Hallett writes, but The Examiner may be my favorite of hers (right afterThe Appeal). This book was so easy to become immersed in and I love how easy it is to forget that one woman is writing all of these different characters! They each have a unique voice and the mystery kept me on my toes until the very end. I did not like Jem until the end of the book when she has a very heartfelt moment.

This book was very fun and goofy, if not a little unbelievable. I had trouble connecting with Margo at the beginning because she was making such big decisions based on spite? But I enjoyed her growth and this book made me laugh out loud a couple of times. My only other critique is that things seemed to get a little too perfect for Margo at the end. I'm all for a happy decision and I loved seeing Margo succeed but the ending felt a little rushed. All in all, I loved this unique book.

Oye is a hilarious coming-of-age novel, following Luciana as she navigates her senior year on top of changing family dynamics between her mom, grandmother and sister. This was such a fun and touching debut with an interesting format. The story is told through a series of one-sided phone calls from Luciana to her older sister, Mari, who's away at college. Humor and family stories are woven throughout the book, making it engaging (and hilarious) from start to finish. I will be recommending this book to everyone this summer!

Diva follows Maria Callas, the world-renowned opera singer, and her whirlwind romance with Aristotle Onassis. This is the kind of historical fiction that I adore. I learned so much about Maria Callas, Aristotle as well as his future wife, Jackie O and her sister. What I really loved about this story was Daisy Goodwin's writing. The story was captivating and dramatic without being salacious or over-the-top.

I loved this book! I loved the plot, I loved the characters, the settings and the pacing. And this book is funny! I really enjoyed Amber as a main character. She wasn't perfect and knew it. She was cool but she didn't take herself too seriously. I also appreciated how a relationship of hers ended, it felt true to real life. I really loved that the book was set in Vegas. Because of the show, Hacks, it was easy for me to picture Amber, Grace and Dot running around the glamorous town.