Tegan

Holy shit. It's nearly midnight and I just finished this book and all I can say is.... Holy shit. This horror novel whips so much fucking ass. It needs like a ton of CWs but I can't think of them now due to being overwhelmed by this book. Immediately seeking more books by this author and Google tells me she has 15 or so.

If you can tolerate body horror (I usually can't but this book is different to the body horror I've seen/read before) get this book. It has queer themes which I was very happy about and doesn't pull punches. I had no Idea what would happen from one chapter to the next and I loved that.

If I could get the entirety of a book tattooed on me this one might be it. There's so much what the fuck but it's GLORIOUS.

All my book friends, read this. If I could give this book 10 out of 5 stars, I would. Once I'm down from this book high I'll be able to delve deeper into why I love this but for now I'm going to ride this wave

I really enjoyed this book. The story had me hooked, the characters were captivating (some captivating for different reasons), and the twists and turns in the story left me satisfied. I had heard the ending was disappointing but I did not have that experience. I thought the ending was excellent, well-fitted for the plot and characters.

I think this was the perfect reading experience for me. Most of the time when I finish a book I experience grief-like emotions. Usually I wish for a little more story, a character to be expanded upon, a situation to be more tightly wrapped up or just to live in that world a little longer. This book hasn't evoked those emotions in me which is rare and also a compliment.

Highly recommend especially if you like spooky, historically set tales.

This book was a wild and terrible ride that I couldn't put down. It transported me to the 90s for a true taste of that decade - the highs and the lows and the stuff that just... happens. The whirlwind of being a teen, getting caught up in an idealised version of someone, not knowing what you want, not knowing if you should know, and life that keeps spinning around you no matter what you do.

I don't know how to accurately describe this book. It made me nostalgic for my teen years and also so glad I'm not in them anymore. It's written casually, almost flippant, of the things that happen to and around the MC. It's left me with a feeling of sadness from the abrupt end and in some way that's part of its genius. The author doesn't waffle, doesn't get bogged down in details, doesn't overstay their welcome in any part of the book. Hell, you barely get your foot in the door before you are whisked away again.

I don't know if I recommend this one. I love it and dislike it all at once. The pacing and tone sell it, the finality of turning that last page is what has made me dislike it. I say that and yet I'm not sure if I would have wanted anything more from the book. It's beautiful in the harsh light it shines on the characters, the situations they are in, and the casualness of living a young life one experience at a time.

I guess all I can say is I enjoyed the ride the book took me on but, like any rollercoaster, it left me feeling a bit sick at the end. That's an endorsement, by the way.

CWs below for potential readers
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CW for eating disorders, focus on weight loss, pet death, human death, drug use, alcohol use

Very enjoyable book. A true twisty mystery that keeps you guessing. I read 60% of the book in one afternoon and night, the day I started it, because the twists and turns didn't let up. I only wrenched myself away because it was nearly 1am and even then my brain kept me up thinking about everything that happened. I did dream of the three wives that night and that tells you how invested I was in the story because that rarely happens.

I can't speak to the LDS/Mormon side of things but it didn't feel like a stereotypical depiction of them but what do I know? A particular character helped with that and they also were the reader-surrogate into a world I know very little about.

I quite like the ending. After all the set up I thought I would be disappointed at the reveal but it really fit the whole vibe of the book. There were still puzzle pieces falling into place even at the end.

I recommend this book to any mystery story lover and anyone who has a passing interest in a Western-y and religious vibe to their mysteries. There are a few CWs potential readers should know about the book so I'll list them below.

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CWs for physical and mental abuse of children and adults, SA of minors, murder, incest, child death, drug use and recovery from addiction, cults, controlling behaviour, brainwashing, religious ‘justification' for all CWs listed here except the drug use and recovery

I picked it up on a whim mostly because of the title. I'm not sure if ‘Cabin Fever' reflects the books contents accurately but seeing as this book was written in quarantine I can understand why the author chose that title.

I'm undecided on how I feel about that book. Looking at the plot critically it is a good mystery story with several twists and turns but... I feel conflicted about the end. I guessed part of the end early on but that's only because I read a book recently with a similar plot. The ending itself I feel is too short. I would have liked to hear more from the MC at the end. For that reason I feel the book is a little lacklustre.

I would recommend it as a light (no expectations) read for mystery fans. There's a bunch of CW's that readers may like to know about before diving in which I will put below.

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CW's for this book:
Drug use, self harm, child death, guns, pregnancy issues, domestic abuse, obsessive behaviour, stalking, suicide, murder

I loved this book. It really spirited me away into the pages and I didn't want to leave. When I started the book I had intended only to read for 30 mins to an hour before bed. This book completely enveloped me and I didn't realise four hours had passed until I looked up and saw it was midnight. Those books are the best kind of books, the ones that whisk you away so entirely that you forget that you're turning pages at all.

I have the next book already reserved from the library and I'm glad of it because that's all that's keeping my book grief at bay. I loved this book entirely, even when it slowed down at the 3/4 mark before picking right back up.

I whole heartedly recommend it for anyone who is and isn't a fan of YA. It doesn't read like a typical YA, so much so that I only found it was supposed to be YA when I added it to my reading shelf in this app.

I liked this book a lot for about 90% of it. The ending isn't bad but I can't help wanting a bit more... a crumb, a tidbit, anything. A short epilogue or something. I enjoyed reading this book and it did give me the book sads after I finished it because of how invested I was. I didn't want it to end which may be why I'm not feeling the ending. I may feel differently about it later but for right now my heart hurts and I have Big Feelings. Definitely worth the read and worth the book sads.

Absolutely terrible. Don't waste your time. I read this book two pages at a time while pooping and it was still was barely readable. Don't get me wrong - reading it two pages at a time only improved on the plot.

I'm in a unique position because my mother did a similar thing to Leslie with one significant detail changed - the baby was taken from her instead of her abandoning it. So I can tell you from experience that these characters are garbage and their motivations are ridiculous and not at all rooted in reality in any respect. Specifically, the part after Leslie reconnects with the baby she abandoned who is now grown up. I could go on in more detail as to how awful this book is but it would be a true waste of my time.

At the back of the book there was an interview with the author. They said they wrote 75% of the book with no end in mind and boy, does it show.

I just finished this book and
W O W

This was a book I picked up at a book fair. It looked like a good, casual read as I love historical fiction. What I didn't anticipate is how the characters would become so dear to me. It took me a bit to get into it and I thought it was a fairly enjoyable book up until a certain character dies. Upon reading about their demise I was filled with a sudden (and surprising) surge of schadenfreude and happiness that they had received their just desserts. This book quietly took up space in my heart and I was hooked without realising it. This is one of those books where I was genuinely sad to have to close the last page. I loved most of the characters and had grown attached to them. The epilogue was perfectly executed for wrapping up a few loose ends but I selfishly wanted more just to stay in that world a bit longer.

TLDR: no notes, beautiful story, engaging characters, highly recommend if you like historical fiction

I highly recommend this book regardless of whether you are neurodivergent or not. This book walks you through the diagnosis of autism and autistic traits but that is only one chapter. The rest of the chapters focus on CBT therapy and its uses in helping depression, anxiety, anger etc. This is not a book that is full of jargon. It explains the CBT tools/practices in a very accessible way and gives examples (and worksheets) to help with each type of CBT tool/practice. I highly recommend this book and will be buying a print version of it to refer to (and re-read) in the future.

Note: I received this book for free as an ARC from Netgalley.

This was interesting. There's SA of a minor in the first chapter so watch out for that. The author doesn't describe the SA beat for beat, it's more of an ‘off-screen' implied thing. It does have its purpose for being there in relation to the story but it is still upsetting. If partially described SA is too much for you I recommend skipping the first chapter. It's referenced/mentioned enough times during the rest of the book that I don't think you would be missing vital context by skipping it.

Other than that this book is enjoyable. The mystery captured me enough to keep reading. The tech stuff made me giggle at times especially at the end. There were a few steamy scenes that genuinely made me hot under the collar which is a rarity for me. The relationship between the protags was a bit far fetched but that matched the plot so I didn't mind.

My only critical feedback about it (apart from the SA) is the rushed ending because it gets into a bit of deus ex machina territory to resolve a dangerous situation and the loose ends are very rapidly tied up in the last two chapters. The pacing at the end of the book didn't match the pace of the previous chapters. It was a bit jarring and silly (in the laugh out loud sense) to me but I still liked it.

I would recommend this book to others who like lighter reads that focus on mystery elements. The plot doesn't get too bogged down in details which helps it move along at a good clip (until the super speed ending). The protags are nuanced enough that they're not clichés and the mystery piqued my curiosity enough to keep me engaged even when I had minor issues with the plot or characters.

I don't usually re-read books but I could see myself reading this again on my commute or while travelling.

Merged review:

Note: I received this book for free as an ARC from Netgalley.

This was interesting. There's SA of a minor in the first chapter so watch out for that. The author doesn't describe the SA beat for beat, it's more of an ‘off-screen' implied thing. It does have its purpose for being there in relation to the story but it is still upsetting. If partially described SA is too much for you I recommend skipping the first chapter. It's referenced/mentioned enough times during the rest of the book that I don't think you would be missing vital context by skipping it.

Other than that this book is enjoyable. The mystery captured me enough to keep reading. The tech stuff made me giggle at times especially at the end. There were a few steamy scenes that genuinely made me hot under the collar which is a rarity for me. The relationship between the protags was a bit far fetched but that matched the plot so I didn't mind.

My only critical feedback about it (apart from the SA) is the rushed ending because it gets into a bit of deus ex machina territory to resolve a dangerous situation and the loose ends are very rapidly tied up in the last two chapters. The pacing at the end of the book didn't match the pace of the previous chapters. It was a bit jarring and silly (in the laugh out loud sense) to me but I still liked it.

I would recommend this book to others who like lighter reads that focus on mystery elements. The plot doesn't get too bogged down in details which helps it move along at a good clip (until the super speed ending). The protags are nuanced enough that they're not clichés and the mystery piqued my curiosity enough to keep me engaged even when I had minor issues with the plot or characters.

I don't usually re-read books but I could see myself reading this again on my commute or while travelling.

For me, this one was a bit of a slog for at least half the book. I was reading it in fits and starts and I found the main character so unlikable that towards middle and end I found myself getting real life angry at her decisions. Then, I realised, that was kind of the point.

With a book like this, with her kind of character, I wasn't expecting as much depth as I got. I thought this would be a fun and light read, police after a killer, everything turns out peachy in the end. This isn't that kind of book and it took me a long time to realise that.

Despite despising the main character I flew through the last half of the book quite quickly and looking back on it I can appreciate the author crafting such a flawed but ultimately human character. I didn't agree with the characters decisions but the point was that I don't have to. If I said any more I'd be going into spoiler territory. I'm giving this an extra star because the last quarter was compelling enough that it made me want to continue the series.

I was in such a frenzy to finish this book and resolve everything that I flew through those last chapters at lightning speed. Finishing books always makes me emotional but this one ratcheted it up a notch. Highly recommend!

I highly recommend the audiobook read by Tim Gerard Reynolds. I am very picky about narrators as I believe they can make or break a book/series. Obviously Tim Gerard Reynolds is the former. He gives so much life to this wonderful book.

I'm very glad I didn't read the ebook first. This is a series I know I'll re-read over and over but this will be the first series when I'll relisten to the audiobooks over and over.

Very excited to start book two!

I love this book. Genuinely and with all of my heart, I do. This book means so much to me. This book took me through so many emotions and that's a rare thing for me to experience nevermind multiple times during one book. I giggled, I cried, I felt pride, longing, anticipation, and desire. The writing is beautiful, the characters are fleshed out and realised, the plot is great, the anticipation of the end almost sent me over the edge. I devoured this book in two nights, both nights staying up past midnight as the hours melted away. I didn't really read this book more than I fell into its world.

If you're on the fence (like I was for a long time) about this book, give it a shot. It took me several tries to get into it as I'm not typically a romance fan. However halfway through this book I realised I hadn't been reading my type of romance. I want real romance, steamy exchanges, and tension that is wrapped up in the good plot and realised characters. This book ticked all those boxes and many more.

This is my first enemies-to-lovers book and I think I chose a great one to begin with.

I read this book in fits and starts - a couple pages a day for about a month. I could have torn through it in a day or two at my regular reading pace, like a starving person inhales a meal, but, in my opinion, it wouldn't have been as enjoyable.

I had time to sit with the characters - their lives so real they seemed to jump out from the pages. I had time to wrestle with the story - the nightmares, the sleepwalking, the constant brush with death, the thin line between reality and fiction.

Scot Gardener did a wonderful job of sketching the characters, anchoring them within the story, and filling in the empty spaces. Every page I turned I learned a bit more about them and, at the same time, I wanted more. I wanted to live in this world. Nothing was tied up in a neat little package and I love it for that.

Scot Gardener took a slice of real life, with all of its ups and downs, good intentions, well wishes, awkward fumbling, slightly off centre outcomes, and served it to us in the most wonderful way possible.

Wow. This book. Wow.

I inhaled the first 65% of the book in one sitting. Luckily I had paused at a section where my mind wouldn't tear itself apart trying to think of the solution or what may happen.

I fell in love with the writing style, with the characters, with the world, with the setting. This book reads like poetry spun from my nightmares and my best dreams. This book hooked me from the first chapter and I was oblivious as it sucked me into its world only to spit me back out five hours later at the 65% mark.

When I get really into a book sometimes I put off finishing it because I don't want to leave the characters or the world. This book isn't one of those but for all the good reasons.

Finishing the book today doesn't leave me empty and lonely inside like many other books have done. I thought I would be sad to part with the characters and their world. I'm glad I'm not ravenous for more. I am content, turning the book over in my mind, revisiting chapters and scenes in my head. This is very unusual for me. Usually I want more or need something answered or race to the reviews to see if others felt the same as I did.

I can't tell you any more other than to read it. Read the blurb to gauge your interest and dive in. You won't regret it.

So, so creepy. I'd say I like this Stephen King/Joe Hill collaboration but I really, really don't. Not for a lack of talent or plot. More because I'll be thinking about this book for years to come as I lay in the dark, sleep evading me. I'll attempt to banish my memory of this book with fluffier, lighter things and that only makes it come back twofold. If you like sleep, don't read this.

Revisiting this series since I first read them about 20 years ago. This is a sweet little story. I enjoyed it a lot.

The TV show and the book are similar in name only and I love them both. This book is a slow burn and the ending is wonderful. It's thoroughly creepy and I enjoyed it immensely.

Engaging and creepy. Makes me want to read Dolores Claiborne again

Discussed ADHD behaviour and mannerisms in an easy to digest way (for this non-ADHD reader!). I definitely recommend if you are new to ADHD behaviours and don't know where to start reading. No clinical language and no jargon. It's a short read and very informative.

I started this book yesterday and finished it today. I blew through it in about 10 hours. It was an addictive read and I couldn't stop thinking about it until I finished it. It's an addictive read but not altogether enjoyable. There were a few times I rolled my eyes at what was going on, especially with Suzette and her fear of Hanna. I kept thinking ‘this whole family needs to go to therapy, stat'.

I didn't dislike the bool but I didn't particularly like it either. I have a lot of complicated feelings about this book. If anything, it reaffirms that therapy is good and everyone should go to therapy at least once even if you don't perceive yourself as having issues or problems that ‘need' it.
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SPOILERS FROM THIS POINT ON
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I liked the ending despite its vagueness. I wanted to read more about Hanna's time in that facility and see her grow up a little bit, for better or worse. I wanted to follow her as she tried to be the ‘best girl ever'. Would she learn from the facility, conciously or unconsciously? Would she grow out of trying to get rid of her mother? Would her parents finally accept that she has a mental illness and work with her, not against her? Would Suzette release herself from her mental intoxication with Alex? Would Alex grow up and learn how to be a supportive partner and father?

The book framed the child character in such a way that I was almost always surprised when she referenced as being 7 and not 11 or 12. She was written as a very mature 7 year old with confident grasps on complex concepts. I'm not saying that 7yos can't grasp complex concepts. What I mean is that as a seven year old I would not have known how to manipulate two people to such a intentional and diabolical degree and be able to plan out their reactions and following chain reactions to what I do etc

When reading Hanna's chapters, I kept casting my mind back to being that young and trying to imagine pulling something like her actions off. Her chapters are written to give us context for her actions, that's she's not naturally born evil or possessed. However, in the end Hanna's chapters detract from the creepiness that she's supposed to inspire. She's a child with a child like interpretation of the world (except for specific points where she knows exactly how adult relationships work) but also inspired such fear in her mother that Suzette physically feared for her own life?

I really felt for Hanna and Suzette in the end. Suzette wasn't ready to become a mother but Hanna wasn't to blame for that. Like I said above, the whole family needed therapy long before Hanna started acting badly. Suzette needs it for her obsessive behaviour, her attachment issues, her medical PTSD. Alex, the husband who is barely in this book, needs it for his anger and control issues, as well as to learn some active listening and interpersonal skills. Hanna is not innocent in all of this but she's just a kid that needs help managing and understanding her mental illness.

Obviously if all of that happened in the book we wouldn't have the plot at all but I do feel like some events were unrealistic and as those events racked up, the book became less of a creepy novel and more of a thought experiment.

That being said, my criticisms are really only for the last half of the book. I read the first half in one sitting and enjoyed the ride.

If you're looking to start this book after you've finished watching the TV show or the game, you'll not be disappointed. This book, which is the most recently published, is as fun as the game and the TV show. You learn a bit of history about Geralt and his adventures and it was an enjoyable read.