The Avid Reader

Book Review: Before We Met by Lucie Whitehouse

Published: January 2014

Source: I received an e-copy of this book free from NetGalley in exchange for my honest review.

GoodReads Summary: 

Hannah, independent, headstrong, and determined not to follow in the footsteps of her bitterly divorced mother, has always avoided commitment. But one hot New York summer she meets Mark Reilly, a fellow Brit, and is swept up in a love affair that changes all her ideas about what marriage might mean.

Now, living in their elegant, expensive London townhouse and adored by her fantastically successful husband, she knows she was right to let down her guard. 

But when Mark does not return from a business trip to the U.S. and when the hours of waiting for him stretch into days, the foundations of Hannah’s certainty begin to crack. Why do Mark’s colleagues believe he has gone to Paris not America? Why is there no record of him at his hotel? And who is the mysterious woman who has been telephoning him over the last few weeks? 

Hannah begins to dig into her husband’s life, uncovering revelations that throw into doubt everything she has ever believed about him. As her investigation leads her away from their fairytale romance into a place of violence and fear she must decide whether the secrets Mark has been keeping are designed to protect him or protect her...

My Thoughts:

In a nutshell: I liked this well enough, but for me personally, this book was great in theory but fell just a little short in terms of execution.

As soon as I saw this on NetGalley, I rushed to request a copy. I loved the concept, and I connected with Hannah right away in spite of having very little in common with her. I was drawn in immediately, and I read the first two thirds of the book in one sitting. 

However.

A large part of the suspense component of this book lies in trying to decide whether or not Mark could be trusted, and for me, that just wasn't really up for debate. I made up my mind about Mark really early on, and I really never wavered in my opinion. I still enjoyed the book quite a bit, and I was very absorbed while reading it. I just felt like the tension could have been racheted up quite a bit if it had been a little harder to get a good read on Mark. I also felt that the ending was a bit abrupt, although I did like certain aspects of it.

I feel like I'm very up and down in this review, but I honestly did enjoy this and I'm sure the average reader of suspense would too.

As someone who has been with my husband for eight years and married for three, I find myself equal parts fascinated and horrified by these twisted tales of people who are suddenly forced to question just how much they really know about the people they've chosen to spend their lives with (says the girl with a serious Investigation Discovery problem). Definitely makes for a chilling story!

In browsing through descriptions of Whitehouse' other books, I'm actually pretty intrigued by the concept for The House at Midnight, so I think I will give that book a try before making up my mind about this author. 

Have you read this one? Did you feel like you had Mark pegged pretty early on?

I'm really into psychological thrillers lately! I think something about this time of year really lends itself to creepy, suspenseful reads.

I'd love some recommendations! 

Book Review: How To Be a Good Wife by Emma Chapman

Published: October 2013

Source: I purchased this book from Amazon.

Goodreads Summary:

Marta and Hector have been married for a long time. Through the good and bad; through raising a son and sending him off to life after university. So long, in fact, that Marta finds it difficult to remember her life before Hector. He has always taken care of her, and she has always done everything she can to be a good wife—as advised by a dog-eared manual given to her by Hector’s aloof mother on their wedding day.

But now, something is changing. Small things seem off. A flash of movement in the corner of her eye, elapsed moments that she can’t recall. Visions of a blonde girl in the darkness that only Marta can see. Perhaps she is starting to remember—or perhaps her mind is playing tricks on her. As Marta’s visions persist and her reality grows more disjointed, it’s unclear if the danger lies in the world around her, or in Marta herself. The girl is growing more real every day, and she wants something.

My Thoughts:

Augh, how to convey how much I loved this book?! I took off half a star for the ending, which I didn't love personally but which I grudgingly admit did work well for the book. Everything else about this book was sheer perfection. It was the best kind of psychological thriller - I was immediately drawn in and invested and I had chills from page one.

Since it's pretty clear from the book description, I don't think it's much of a spoiler to say that Marta is an unreliable narrator. As a reader, you very much want to believe in her version of events, but often find yourself unsure if you can. And at the same time you almost feel it might be best if the flashes of "memory" she begins to have do turn out to be hallucinations, because if they're real her whole life is a lie and she is married to a monster. Personally, I started to lean one way pretty early on, but there were quite a few moments that made me question my position.

The characters here are well-crafted. It is impossible to get a good read on Marta due to her unreliability, but it is equally impossible not to feel very protective of her. Whatever the reality it is clear that she lives an unfulfilled and isolated life. Marta's husband is, at best, controlling, sexist and manipulative. Her mother-in-law is a nightmare brought to life - horribly judgmental, constantly present, and impossible to please. Life with these two could push anyone into a nervous breakdown. It is heartbreaking to watch Marta push her beloved son away with her overbearing, desperate need to keep him close. 

I've seeh a few reviews that complain that the ending is ambiguous, but I disagree. Although it may not be clearly spelled out, I do think it's clear by the book's end what really happened. 

This is a great book to read this time of year, so if you haven't read it yet I strongly suggest that you do so. Fans of psychological suspense won't be disappointed.

If you have read it, I'd love to hear what you thought!

Follow Emma Chapman on twitter.

Book Review: Virals by Kathy Reichs

Published: November 2010

Source: I purchased this book at a local book sale.

GoodReads Summary:

Tory Brennan, niece of acclaimed forensic anthropologist Temperance Brennan (of the Bones novels and hit TV show), is the leader of a ragtag band of teenage "sci-philes" who live on a secluded island off the coast of South Carolina. When the group rescues a dog caged for medical testing on a nearby island, they are exposed to an experimental strain of canine parvovirus that changes their lives forever.

As the friends discover their heightened senses and animal-quick reflexes, they must combine their scientific curiosity with their newfound physical gifts to solve a cold-case murder that has suddenly become very hot if they can stay alive long enough to catch the killer's scent.

Fortunately, they are now more than friends. They're a pack. They are Virals.

My Thoughts:

I haven't read anything by Kathy Reichs before, but I loved the concept for Virals so I decided to give it a try. I'm so glad I did - this was great! Fast-paced, with lots of great twists and tension. I don't watch Bones but I watch a ton of true crime shows and I enjoyed the forensics elements of the story. I loved the transformation the teens went through and the old Animorphs fan in me was fully psyched about the animal connection and the fact that the group of friends became their own little pack. Love it.

The setting for this book was perfect. A lot of YA books feature teens who seem to have little to no parental supervision, which can be very convenient to the plot but also a little unrealistic. The teens in Virals have a lot of freedom too, but there are reasons for this freedom - first, their parents are important (and busy!) university scientists so they're legitimately not around enough to be totally on top of what their kids are up to. Second, they live together in university housing on a small island where everyone knows everyone. I think in that kind of a self-contained environment, a lack of parental involvement makes sense because there is a sense of safety. And even with those factors, the parents are still more interested and involved than is often seen in YA literature. This gets a huge thumbs up from me.

Lastly, I really enjoyed the friendship dynamics in this group of teens. I've picked up the next book in the series and I can't wait to see how these friendships grow and evolve over the rest of the series. Virals was a strong start for me so I have high hopes for the rest of the series!

Favorite Quotes:

“Why do all your brilliant ideas involve felonies?” 

“An elite confederacy of nerds. My peeps.” 

Visit Kathy Reich's website and follow her on twitter to stay up to date on her upcoming books!

Have you read any of Kathy Reich's books before?

What did you think of Virals?

Book Review: Surrounded by Sharks by Michael Northrop

Published: May 2014

Source: I purchased an e-copy of this book from Amazon.

GoodReads Summary:

A thrilling survival story from Michael Northrop, the acclaimed author of TRAPPED.

He couldn't sleep. That's how it all started.

When Davey wakes, just as the sun is rising, he can't wait to slip out of the crammed hotel room he's sharing with his family. Leave it to his parents and kid brother to waste an entire day of vacation sleeping in! Davey heads straight for the beach, book and glasses in hand, not bothering to leave a note. As the sparkling ocean entices him, he decides to test the water, never mind that "No Swimming" sign. But as the waves pull him farther from shore, Davey finds himself surrounded by water -- and something else, too. Something circling below the surface, watching, waiting. It's just a matter of time.

My Thoughts:

I have a major shark phobia (I do not swim in the ocean, ever) but perversely, I love books and movies about sharks. I'm always looking for the next Jaws. (I'm also always looking for the next Jurassic Park, but that's a story for another post.) (But hit me up with awesome dinosaur book recommendations!) I'm also a little bit in love with Florida (where this story is set). So as soon as I saw this title while browsing Kindke books, I snatched it up. 

And! I really enjoyed this book. My only "complaint" (and I use that term loosely) is that I keep seeing it shelved on GoodReads as a Young Adult novel, but the main character is 13 and to me it read more Middle Grade. As such, it skewed a bit younger than I was expecting, and that was a little disappointing.

But. Overall, it was honestly a really good read. I very much enjoyed the survival aspects and there was great use of tension throughout the story. I connected with Davey immediately and I was genuinely worried for him. Even though he spends so much of the story floating out in deep water, I was never bored during his parts. Davey's little brother was extremely cute and I shared his frustration when he made some good suggestions that the adults ignored. The shark scenes were well-handled and I enjoyed the small island setting. There were a few moments with Davey's parents and some of the other characters that I found a little overly convenient, but I don't think most readers in the target audience would have that issue. 

Overall a tense and enjoyable read. I always like reading about sharks in the summer so I'm sure I will read it again next year.

Visit Michael Northrop's website and follow him on twitter. He also gave a really great interview here that has some great insights into his writing and offers tips for aspiring writers!

Have you read this one? Others by this author?

Are there any other shark books you'd recommend?

Book Review: Throne of Glass by Sarah J. Maas

Published: August 2012

Source: I purchased this book on Amazon ages ago, and waited WAY too long to get around to reading it.

GoodReads Summary:

In a land without magic, where the king rules with an iron hand, an assassin is summoned to the castle. She comes not to kill the king, but to win her freedom. If she defeats twenty-three killers, thieves, and warriors in a competition, she is released from prison to serve as the king's champion. Her name is Celaena Sardothien. 

The Crown Prince will provoke her. The Captain of the Guard will protect her. But something evil dwells in the castle of glass--and it's there to kill. When her competitors start dying one by one, Celaena's fight for freedom becomes a fight for survival, and a desperate quest to root out the evil before it destroys her world.

My Thoughts:

Oh my god, this book. Why on earth did I wait so long to read this?! This was a strong 5 stars for me, and I have seriously high hopes for the rest of the series. 

First I just want to say that I am so, so happy with the new cover design this book received. Normally new covers drive me insane (because inevitably I'm halfway through purchasing a series when the new covers are released, and it makes me crazy to have a mismatched set!) but in this case I will happily re-buy an updated version of Throne of Glass at some point. The new covers are much more fitting to Celaena and her story. Massive improvement. Much love to the new covers.

I've seen a lot of reviews that slam Celaena as a ridiculous main character, but I really like her. She loves books, candy, clothes and parties, and she's a loyal friend and a badass assassin. I really don't understand what's not to like? And after serving a year in the salt mines of Endovier, I think she's more than entitled to a little frivolity now and then.

I loved the idea of a female assassin as a heroine, and I was delighted to see that so well-executed here. I enjoyed reading about the competition to find a new King's Champion, and I was glad to see some of the challenges described in detail, but I also liked that it didn't take over the whole book.  

Even the love triangle worked for me. I liked both Chaol and Dorian, though I'm definitely Team Chaol all the way when it comes to a match for Celaena. Personally, I kind of like Princess Nehemia for Dorian. To me, Celaena and Dorian make much better friends than lovers, and I think Chaol understands Celaena in ways that Dorian just doesn't. 

Favorite Quotes:

“Libraries were full of ideas–perhaps the most dangerous and powerful of all weapons.” 

“How long was I asleep?" she whispered. He didn't respond. 
"How long was I asleep?" she asked again, and noticed a hint of red in his cheeks. 
"You were asleep, too?" 
"Until you began drooling on my shoulder.” 

“His breath was warm on her neck as he bent his head, resting his cheek against her hair. Her heart beat so quickly, and yet she felt utterly calm—as if she could have stayed there forever and not minded, stayed there forever and let the world fall apart around them. She pictured his fingers, pushing against that line of chalk, reaching for her despite the barrier between them.” 

“With each day he felt the barriers melting. He let them melt. Because of her genuine laugh, because he caught her one afternoon sleeping with her face in the middle of a book, because he knew that she would win.” 

Visit Sarah J. Maas' website and follow her on twitter so you can stay up to date on all things Throne of Glass.

Have you read this one yet? Do you love it as much as I do?

Book Review: A Grown-Up Kind of Pretty by Joshilyn Jackson

Published: January 2012

Source: I was approved for this book on NetGalley, but unfortunately the title was archived before I had a chance to download it. So I purchased a copy for myself. I'm still tagging this as a NetGalley review though, since I was approved and will be submitting my feedback.

GoodReads Summary: 

A GROWN-UP KIND OF PRETTY is a powerful saga of three generations of women, plagued by hardships and torn by a devastating secret, yet inextricably joined by the bonds of family. Fifteen-year-old Mosey Slocumb-spirited, sassy, and on the cusp of womanhood-is shaken when a small grave is unearthed in the backyard, and determined to figure out why it's there. Liza, her stroke-ravaged mother, is haunted by choices she made as a teenager. But it is Jenny, Mosey's strong and big-hearted grandmother, whose maternal love braids together the strands of the women's shared past--and who will stop at nothing to defend their future.

My Thoughts:

Although I read mostly YA titles these days, Joshilyn Jackson is and always has been one of my favorite adult authors. I think you basically can't go wrong with any of her books, honestly. I love the southern influence and the flawed characters and the twists and turns her stories always take. She's not afraid to tackle uncomfortable subjects, which is something I appreciate. 

One thing Jackson does extremely well is complicated family relationships - one of the strengths of this particular book. Big, Liza, and Mosey don't have easy relationships, but they're certainly interesting, and Jackson portrays the complex and unbreakable bonds between mothers and their daughters beautifully.

Also, this is kind of ridiculous, but is Mosey Slocumb not the perfect Southern name?!

Do yourself a favor if you plan to read this, and just read it (no searching out reviews first!). Jackson does her revelations extremely well, and having any of them spoiled would be a shame. 

Have you read anything by Joshilyn Jackson? 

Book Review: Defy the Dark, Edited by Saundra Mitchell

Published: June 2013

Source: I purchased this book on Amazon.

GoodReads Summary: 

Defy the Dark, an all-new anthology edited by Saundra Mitchell. Coming Summer 2013 from HarperTeen!

It features 16 stories by critically-acclaimed and bestselling YA authors as they explore things that can only happen in the dark. Authors include Sarah Rees Brennan, Rachel Hawkins, Carrie Ryan, Aprilynne Pike, Malinda Lo, Courtney Summers, Beth Revis, Sarah Ockler, and more.

Contemporary, genre, these stories will explore every corner of our world- and so many others. What will be the final story that defies the dark? Who will the author be?

My Thoughts:

I was a big fan of this collection of short stories. There were several "new to me" authors whose other work I'm now determined to track down. In the interest of not spoiling any of stories, I'm not going to provide summaries of each one, just my own overall impressions.

Sleepstalk by Courtney Summers

This was seriously creepy and a great start to an anthology about darkness. I love everything Courtney Summers writes, so I wasn't surprised that I enjoyed this. 

Nature by Aprilynne Pike

This was my first experience with Aprilynne Pike, and I loved it. I desperately wish she would turn this short story into a full length novel. I loved the dystopian concept and I was so bummed when this story ended. (This is my only complaint with short stories... when I find one I really love, I always wish for it to be developed into a full novel and sadly, that never seems to happen. Sadface.)

The Dark Side of the Moon by Dia Reeves

This story was so, so weird, and I started out having a hard time connecting to it because of that weirdness. By the end of the story I found myself disappointed that it was over, so I guess the weirdness won me over! Days after reading, I was still thinking about this story - definitely a good sign. I was intrigued by the idea of this Texas town with kind of tears in reality where darkness could slip through. Chilling.

Ghost Town by Malinda Lo

This was great. I liked the backwards timeline, I loved that it was about a haunted house, and I liked the inclusion of a lesbian as the main character. Everything moved really quickly; it was very plot-driven. 

Eyes in the Dark by Rachel Hawkins

This one was kind of your basic teen slasher flick with a twist... but I enjoyed it, and it definitely gave me a building feeling of dread as I was reading it. It ended before *I* wanted it to, but that worked for the story so I'm okay with it. 

Stillwater by Valerie Kemp

This might have been my favorite story in the collection. I really, really wish this was a full novel. I had so many questions when it ended and I think there's more than enough material here for a full length novel. I need to know what happens to Delilah and Pruitt! I want to meet Matt! Augh, don't leave me hanging! 

I Gave You My Love by the Light of the Moon by Sarah Rees Brennan

For me, this one was a good read, if not super original. That said, I know a lot of people are kind of "over" vampires and werewolves, but there were a few aspects of this story that I thought were different and nicely done. I liked the shy, nerdy vampire and his "unsexy" age (62). I liked the way the romantic relationship developed over time, too.

Night Swimming by Beth Revis

This was a great story, and I liked seeing another little slice of the Across the Universe series. That said, I would kind of like to see Beth Revis write something completely apart from that series. 

The Sunflower Murders by Kate Espey

I didn't love this one, but I feel sort of weird saying that because I did love its potential, I just feel like it ended way too quickly. What I read felt like the beginning of a really compelling novel, but I didn't feel like it really worked on its own as a short story. It's frustrating, because I feel like it could be great if fleshed out into a full length novel, and I wish that would happen.

Almost Normal by Carrie Ryan

Loved this, love zombies, love everything Carrie Ryan writes, basically. I've read several short stories that are set in the time period before the events of The Forest of Hands and Teeth, and I feel like I could happily read dozens more. This setting just doesn't seem to get old for me. I;m always so bummed when one of her short stories is over. Moar please!!

There's Nowhere Else by Jon Skovron

This story frustated me because I liked it a lot in the beginning, but toward the end it abruptly got kind of cheesey and I wasn't as into it. It also ended sort of abruptly and way before I wanted it to, which was disappointing. 

Naughty or Nice by Myra McEntire

I completely adored this story. I need more Krampus stories!! This was the perfect mix of creepiness, romance and thrill. I loved the foreign setting and the foreign holiday and the best friends doing the awkward "is this something more or isn't it" dance with each other. I pretty much loved every word of this one. Please tell me she has written dozens of books for me to obsessively devour.

Shadowed by Christine Johnson

I enjoyed this story, but I didn't feel like it totally "fit" within this anthology, really only because it was the only midieval setting and that felt a bit jarring. (To be fair though, the author took a really creative angle on the "darkness" theme.) Without getting specific, there was one moment when this story made me want to throw this book violently across the room, but on further reflection that ended up being my favorite element of the story!

Now Bid Time Return by Saundra Mitchell

I loved this story, and I was sad when it ended. It was super creative, and again, the foreign setting really added to the mood and the creepiness. I sometimes struggle with insomnia, and it was kind of cool to see a protagonist with this issue. I haven't read many time travel stories before, but this story made me think that might need to change.

The Moth and the Spider by Sarah Ockler

I go back and forth on this one, which I guess ultimately means I didn't love it. I liked it at first, and I was into the topic of suicide being included in an anthology about darkness. I think my biggest issue with this one was that I didn't really "get" how the phone calls played into the rest of the story, and why or even if they contributed to how the story ended. Not bad, but not a favorite.

Where the Light Is by Jackson Pearce

This one was great. I totally did not expect to love a story about a coal miner, but it snuck up on me and ended up being one of the highlights of the anthology. I've never read anything about the type of fae featured in this story, but it was very compelling. Lots of great imagery in this one. 

This Was Ophelia by Tessa Gratton

I have a soft spot for Ophelia, always have, and I've read and loved Tessa Gratton's stories before, so I went into this story expecting to love it. I wasn't disappointed, this was great. I loved Gratton's portrayal of Ophelia, and the chosen setting was perfect for the story. Much love to this one. 

Overall I would rate this collection a solid 4 stars. There were some pieces that I adored, quite a few that were solidly good, and not a single one that I disliked outright. Win!

Do you like short story collections?

I used to shy away from them, but in the last couple of years that has really changed. Occasionally I get frustrated wishing for certain stories to reappear as full length novels, but I try to manage my expectations going in and that has helped. I like that this type of anthology gives me a quick glimpse of many different authors. It's a great way to find new authors to love!

Book Review: Alienated by Melissa Landers

Published: February 2014

Source: I received this book on Netgalley in exchange for my honest review.

GoodReads Summary:

Two years ago, the aliens made contact. Now Cara Sweeney is going to be sharing a bathroom with one of them. 

Handpicked to host the first-ever L’eihr exchange student, Cara thinks her future is set. Not only does she get a free ride to her dream college, she’ll have inside information about the mysterious L’eihrs that every journalist would kill for. Cara’s blog following is about to skyrocket.

Still, Cara isn’t sure what to think when she meets Aelyx. Humans and L’eihrs have nearly identical DNA, but cold, infuriatingly brilliant Aelyx couldn’t seem more alien. She’s certain about one thing, though: no human boy is this good-looking.

But when Cara's classmates get swept up by anti-L'eihr paranoia, Midtown High School suddenly isn't safe anymore. Threatening notes appear in Cara's locker, and a police officer has to escort her and Aelyx to class. 

Cara finds support in the last person she expected. She realizes that Aelyx isn’t just her only friend; she's fallen hard for him. But Aelyx has been hiding the truth about the purpose of his exchange, and its potentially deadly consequences. Soon Cara will be in for the fight of her life—not just for herself and the boy she loves, but for the future of her planet.

My Thoughts:

This was such a fun book! I loved Cara, and there was a great chemistry between her and Aelyx right from the start. I became invested in the characters quickly, and I was intrigued by the plot as well. This checked a lot of boxes for me, and it was just plain fun to read. I'd recommend this to anyone looking for a quick, lighthearted read.

A few of my favorite quotes:

"The fact that you purchased an inferior gift hardly seems like any failing on my part. It's common knowledge that shiny rocks are preferred among human females." 

"The crinkle of cellophane caught her attention, and for the first time since their argument began, Cara noticed they'd attracted quite the little audience... One soldier propped against his Hum-V was even munching popcorn from a Smartfood bag. He nodded for her to continue as if she'd pressed the pause button, and now he wanted to resume watching 'Romancing the Clone'."

This book had me snorting laughing out loud in several places (see above), which I really enjoyed. I was a big fan of the romance, and I loved the not-so-perfect friendship that existed between the girls. Definitely looking forward to the next book!

Have you read this one?

Anyone else spend at least half of the book laughing?

The Problem with Being a "Book Review Blog"

I've struggled with consistently maintaining this blog, and I think I might finally have figured out why...

I don't like posting negative reviews for books. In fact, I actually kind of hate it. *ducks*

I think I have this perception that because I call this a "book review blog" I have some kind of responsibility to review both books I loved and books I didn't. But what I have noticed over time is that while I can't write the glowing, happy reviews fast enough, the less complimentary reviews cause me a not insignificant amount of distress. 

It might be because I'm currently working on my own first novel, and every time I start to write up a review for a book that I just didn't love, I can't help but put myself in the author's shoes. When I consider the possibility of the author stumbling across my post, I feel anxious and a little guilty. It's not that I don't feel entitled to my opinion - I do. But I know how much goes into trying to write something great, how much editing and revising and agonizing has gone into each draft, and how incredibly personal your writing is to you. I just don't want to be the person who tears down someone else's hard work.

Writing those kinds of reviews also feels directly at odds with my purpose for starting this blog in the first place: finding other equally obsessed readers and sharing my favorite books with them. I want this space to be a happy, positive place that celebrates the books and authors that I love and want to promote! I want it to be a place where I share writing tips and struggles, and maybe point out some of my favorite bits and pieces of what some authors I love have to say about writing. I want to post occasional updates about my progress on my own book, and maybe connect with some other people who are out there working on their own first novels. I want to share the bookish decor that I'm drooling over on Etsy and Pinterest. I want to obsess about books and writing with other people who obsess about books and writing.

What I don't want this blog to be is a place where I ever have to feel even a little crummy about something I've posted. 

Honestly, this has been a difficult post for me to write. I worry that declaring that I only want to post about books that I love may be met with derision by some members of the book blogging community. I even debated just closing down my blog altogether, but this space used to be something that I took a lot of joy from, and I think it can be that again. And just to be clear: do I think other people shouldn't post honest, negative reviews for books? No! Not at all. It's just not the right choice for me personally.

So! New policy going forward: I'm only going to publish reviews for books that earned at least a 3 star rating from me. (Note: 3 stars for me IS a very good rating. In my mind, 3 stars means I read and really enjoyed the book, I'll be keeping it in my collection, and it has re-read potential down the road. 4 stars are definite rereads. 5 stars are those special golden unicorns that I think everyone on the planet needs to read, immediately if not sooner. I'm pretty stingy with the 5 stars though!)

Further, I'm not going to let myself feel pressured to review *everything* that earns 3 stars and up, because I read at a fast pace and it's just not realistic to think that I could keep up with that. I'm also going to be playing around with different types of reviews - I will probably do a mixture of some full length, in depth reviews and some smaller, mini reviews. I might even combine a few mini reviews into one post. I want to experiment with some different formats and see what works best for me.

I'm also giving myself permission to bail on the various challenges that I so optimistically signed up for at the beginning of the year, mainly because trying to keep track of my progress for each of them is time consuming, and that's time I would rather spend reading, working on my book, or creating blog content. The only "challenges" I'm giving myself are to start posting regularly again and to catch up on my NetGalley backlog. I've gotten some great books from NetGalley, and I feel awful that my ratio there is so terrible. I'd like to see that improve each month so that it's somewhat respectable by the end of the year.

I guess ultimately I see myself as less of a "book review blogger" and more of a book blogger who posts some reviews. It's just a change in perspective and I think this new outlook will help me to post more consistently and to really enjoy this space again. 

I can't wait to purge all my half-finished 1 and 2 star review drafts and just leave them behind! What a weight off my shoulders!

Do you ever struggle with what kind of space you want your blog to be? Is it hard for you to post negative reviews?

Book Review: The Killing Woods by Lucy Christopher

Published: October 2013

Source: NetGalley

GoodReads Summary:

Emily’s dad is accused of murdering a teenage girl. Emily is sure he is innocent, but what happened that night in the woods behind their house where she used to play as a child? Determined to find out, she seeks out Damon Hillary, the enigmatic boyfriend of the murdered girl. He also knows these woods. Maybe they could help each other. But he’s got secrets of his own about games that are played in the dark.

A new psychological thriller from the award-winning and bestselling author of STOLEN and FLYAWAY.

My Thoughts:

I will admit, I was worried about this one for a while there. For maybe the first third of the book, I really struggled to connect with Emily or Damon, and because of that, I had a hard time feeling invested in the story. I also didn't feel that Ashlee was a particularly likeable character, so I didn't feel very affected by her death or curious about what happened to her. I think this bothered me more than it otherwise might have because I had such the oppposite experience with Stolen. When I read Stolen, I fell in love with the characters in spite of myself. Here, I went into the book wanting to care about Emily and Damon and I just couldn't. So it's possible that my expectations going into this book skewed my initial perception somewhat. This is a very different book from Stolen.

However! Somewhere just after the first third of the book, the story pulled me in and I found myself connecting to Emily and Damon much more, especially Emily. I really admired how gracefully Emily handled her near total isolation - her mother has pulled away from her and climbed into a bottle, she doesn't have any siblings to lean on, and most of her  former friends at school have ostracized her since Ashlee's murder. Through it all Emily remains clearheaded and focused. She never seems to let her emotions get the best of her. 

By this point in the story, Damon and Ashlee's relationship had also been fleshed out a bit more, and while I still didn't feel much of a connection to Ashlee, I started to care about what had happened to her because of how her death was affecting Damon. I was also desperate to find out more about The Game, which seriously creeped me out from the first time it was mentioned.

The remainder of the book was well-paced and a tense read. Some darker information starts to emerge about just what went on the night Ashlee died, and I found myself desperate to find out exactly what happened to her and why. I will say that I guessed the identity of the killer early on, but it didn't lessen my enjoyment of the story because I was much more concerned with the reason for the murder.

All in all, I would say this is a solid read. It was a slow starter for me, but I'm glad I stuck with it because the payoff was well worth it. I will definitely be reading whatever Lucy Christopher writes next. 

Image taken from GoodReads