Book Review: Hunting Annabelle

Expected Publication: December 18, 2018
Pages: 336
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I was so intrigued on the premise of this book. The book is set in 1980's Austin, Texas. Sean Suh is originally from San Francisco, but after being released from psychiatric prison he moves to Texas with his mother to start fresh. There, he meets beautiful Annabelle (for all of five minutes), because very quickly Sean witnesses Annabelle being kidnapped. However, when Sean reports this to the police, he of course becomes a prime suspect because of his lurid past.  However, there is also the fact that he has a psychiatric condition, he is on multiple psycho-tropic drugs and this ultimately questions his overall reliability.

I am left utterly unconvinced. For starters, it took until about the 50% mark before the story really gained any steam; and even then, while the last half was slightly more readable, this book became completely non-sensical. Sure, it has some twists and turns that I didn't see coming, but I just don't buy it. I think some of that could have been fixed if the characterization wasn't so one dimensional. I wanted a hell of a lot more from Sean's past than what I actually got. For example, snippets from his childhood, and more details on his previous crimes and incarceration.

I also did not care at all for the POV being in first person. I get that part of the "attraction" may have been the ability to being in Sean's twisted head with his urges to kill, but I also think it is a major reason why some of the supporting characters (Annabelle and Nancy Suh) are not well fleshed out. It limits access to these characters thoughts and feelings, which ultimately made me feel as if I didn't know those characters at all. I really think this could have been a better book if told with a different POV.

The one theme that was well done is Sean's overall vulnerability as someone who suffers from a psychiatric condition. His vulnerability to his mother, health care providers and law enforcement. Which even though this book is set in the 80's, it still has a very real presence in mental health conversations today.

I really struggled to finish this one, and honestly just wish I hadn't.

Thanks to #NetGalley for my ARC.

Book Review: Lying in Wait

Published: June 12, 2018
Pages: 320
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 This book was so interesting to me, because it opens with exactly who kills Annie Doyle. I was sitting there going, "Excuse me, what are the next 319 pages going to be about?". Looool. I was schooled. Then, as if I hadn't learned my lesson, I picked up on the why Annie Doyle was killed pretty fast. Looool. Again, however, not as important as the rest of the bleep-storm that ensues.

If you are looking for a book to get you out of your reading slump, pick this book up today. I read the  whole thing in two days. By read, I mean DEVOURED.

This is the CREEPIEST book I have read in such a long time. It is dark and full of terrors. I finished reading it and immediately had to unload on my boyfriend so I could process wtf just happened. I actually don't want to get too into this book, because it's probably best you go in not knowing too much.  So just trust me on this one. You won't want to miss it.

Book Review: A Place For Us

Published: June 12, 2018
Pages: 385
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A rich, deeply engrossing family saga that follows the lives of an Indian-American family in California. The youngest child, Amar, is the pinnacle force of this novel as he returns for his sister Hadia's wedding, following a three year estrangement from his family. From there we are plummeted into the depths of various family members perspectives on the most pivotal moments that have shaped this family. It is like peeling back layers, as each character has their turn, to reveal the magnitude of choices made and their life-long consequences.

"What do children know about love, when they have sacrificed nothing?"

The writing is so monumentally beautiful I simply can't even convey it. Fatima Farheen Mirza simply has a way with words. I guess that is the point of being an author... haha. But seriously, this is something else entirely. I love these types of books, when you are so wholly immersed into the story, you FEEL everything along with the very real characters sitting next to you.

A Place for Us isn't just a book about identity, culture and traditions. It is a book about being HUMAN. The human experience that transcends our differences; and what it means to be a good mother, a good father, a good sibling or even a good member of the community.

"She had tried her best. Her intentions were good, were they not? It was hardly a comfort now. Intentions shrank next to actions. Actions took on their own momentum". 

 It is about a family trying and sometimes failing, catastrophically.

The writing style and jumping timeline really worked for me. I had no problems following it, and thought it was extremely effective in giving a well-rounded picture. The ONLY time it didn't work for me was when the ending was sort of a mash-up of a previous chapter. Since I had already felt those emotions, they were subdued by the time I got to the end.

This is definitely going to be one of my favourite reads for 2018. It will linger LONG after you finish reading the last page.

Book Review: The Hangman's Secret

Expected Publication: January 18, 2019

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I enjoyed this book in the way that one enjoys comfort food- it soothes the soul and places one into an (action packed) coma, as it can be devoured whole. 

The Hangman's Secret is actually the third book of a Victorian Mystery series. There are several nods to their past adventures, but it strikes a balance - giving you enough information to deduce what you need to know; and not quite enough that it makes you curious on the details of the previous books. 

Sarah, Hugh, and Mick are basically a bunch of misfits, especially in Victorian London. They go around London photographing crime scenes for the newspaper The Daily World, while moonlighting as private detectives. In The Hangman's Secret, the top hangman in England is found hanged and foul play is suspected. There may also be a connection with his alleged murder and the execution of Amelia Carlisle, the "Baby-Butcher". It is a classic case of whodunnit. 

I think you have to choose this book knowing what to expect of it. It is definitely, in my opinion, a fast paced mystery/thriller that is rich in plot and characterization; but also a light read. I really ended up falling for this trio, and became invested in their personal and professional lives. 

It should be noted that the setting in Victorian London is used extremely loosely in some ways, but I'm not exactly complaining. There are some elements done quite well. For example, the regular role of the "pea-soupers" on the streets of London, the art of hanging (so interesting!), and the prisons and asylums. Also, the getting stuck in carriage traffic, haha, I wonder what that was like. On the other hand, the manner in which the characters spoke felt inauthentic for the era. For example, "She must have thought you were an idiot to fall for such a load of crap". I just don't know if that would have been said. I wouldn't pick it up if you are looking for historical accuracy, because I don't actually think this was the authors intention. This is simply a work of fiction, and it worked for me; but I think you need to be prepared for it. Perhaps having read the first two books would have provided that base. 

Lastly, there were a few writing techniques that grated me a bit, but, with that being said it was minor  and didn't distract me overall. For example, there was a part where they were looking at a picture of indistinct faces but also had other identifying features. The next excerpt said who those people represented. There are a couple examples like this through out the book where explanations simply weren't needed. 

Overall, I quite enjoyed this book and will definitely be putting the first two books on my TBR list. With an expected publication date a little far in the distance, it's the perfect time to get acquainted with this "motley crew"! 

Thanks to NetGalley and Crooked Lane Books for my ARC. 

Book Review: The Kiss Quotient

Publication Date: June 5, 2018
Pages: 336

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Stella Lane's mother announces that they are ready for grandchildren, which sends Stella into a tailspin of thoughts. It means boyfriend, husband...and sex. Stella has had a few bad experiences in regards to sex and dating, complicated by the fact that she has Asperger's and has difficulty with things like social situations and personal space. The book opens with Stella pondering whether she dislikes it because she is bad at it, and determines that the answer lies in hiring a professional escort to show her the ropes of sex and being in a relationship. 

This book is steamy AF. The beginning is strong, compulsively readable and laugh out loud funny.  The sex scenes are hot and plentiful. It made me so excited. I was in desperate need of a page turner and I thought I found it; but it eventually fell flat. I felt like the whole middle of the book was sex scene after sex scene, which is not totally a bad thing, but overdone. The ending became too basic and formulaic, and it lost its quirky, lovable edge for me. 

Overall I think it's worth the read. I can see the irony in what I am about to say, but it honestly explores what is actually a very healthy sexual relationship. A relationship built on mutual respect for the person and their boundaries. The love story is also really romantic and touching. It explores a lot of both Stella and Michael's insecurities and their path to accepting love: loving oneself and loving one another. It is also the first time I have read a book from the perspective of a female with Asperger's, and the differences this can entail. In the authors note it explains how females often go un-diagnosed until later in life because they tend to hide their traits to become more socially acceptable. I found this perspective very interesting. The whole vibe to me felt very Eleanor Oliphant meets The Rosie Project. 

I'd recommend to anyone wanting a light hearted and sexy read. 

Book Review: Us Against You

Published June 5, 2018
Pages: 448 

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"At some point almost everyone makes a choice. Some of us don't even notice it happening, most don't get to plan it in advance, but there's always a moment when we take one path instead of another, which has consequences for the rest of our lives".

Disclaimer: Fredrik Backman is one of my favourite authors of all-time. 

"Us Against You" is the second book of what will be a trilogy. The trilogy is essentially about the very small community of Beartown. Beartown is obsessed with hockey. Hockey IS Beartown. In the first book, a violent act committed by the star hockey player, shakes and divides the people. The book is darker and wholly different than Backman's previous novels. The second book is the aftermath, the fall out. It is about the community and its individual families trying to navigate the consequences of the first book; and how irrevocably it has changed so many lives and relationships. 

I have to admit, the first 125 pages (I counted!), kinda dragged for me; and the foreshadowing was a tad overdone. Also, while I really liked Beartown, I never felt completely hooked. I read peoples reviews where they would say "Benji is my favourite character!", and I just didn't have one. Not in the same way I cared for Ove or Britt-Marie in his previous novels. The thing is though, I LOVE Backman's writing; and the remainder of the book reminded me of that, hence the rating.  As always Backman has the most eloquent quotes and the deepest reflections on life. 

Am I going to read the final book in the trilogy when the time comes? 

Honestly, he could write instructions on assembling Ikea furniture and I would hang on every word. 

Book Review: Girls' Night Out

Expected Publication: July 24, 2018
Pages: 336 

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Girls' Night Out is touted as a "chilling novel of psychological suspense". In this book three women who have been friends for decades embark on a vacation to Tulum, Mexico. Recently the three friends have been estranged, and this vacation was to help rekindle their friendship. On the vacation one of the friends goes missing. As the book unravels it delves into their friendships, their marriages and the choices they have made. The novel shifts from the days before the disappearance, the night of the disappearance and the days after the disappearance. I personally liked this element because it was like the putting together of a puzzle.

I really liked the premise of this novel and thought it had a lot of potential. A beach read with drama, secrets and suspense, sign me up! However, this book fell incredibly short of my expectations. First, I felt the book lacked complexity. There were many different avenues that could have been explored, but in my opinion were very surface level. For example (see Goodreads for spoiler). The characterization was also extremely shallow and the main characters failed to be distinctive. The characterization ultimately made it impossible to relate to the characters and understand their motivations and actions. For instance, why the heck these three women would go to Tulum together at all after being estranged for essentially a year. I mean, at this point  they may have wanted to start with coffee somewhere closer to home.

Secondly, the writing (especially the metaphors) were banal. For example, describing Ashley's daughters ages as "such cute ages!" or describing Marco as having a "nice biceps muscle" and a "six pack" and wanting to go to be beach to see his body. The lack of originality in the writing unfortunately lost my interest quite early on. Honestly it's not because I don't enjoy this type of book. I can love what are supposedly "guilty pleasures" or books full of gossip and real housewife drama. In fact, I just read and loved "Crazy Rich Asians" which was absolutely vicious in both gossip and drama, but also extremely readable.

Finally, the "mystery" was lost to my first two points. It just wasn't enough to carry the book. I was hard-core skimming through the last half of Girls' Night Out.
I know I am in the minority here, but I  didn't like this book; and there were no redeeming qualities to make me change my mind. Honestly it probably would have been a DNF had it not been an ARC.

#GirlsNightOut #Netgalley

Thanks to Netgalley and Lake Union Publishing for an ARC of Girls' Night Out.