Daijah

the final chapter december 2024 bookclub pick: https://www.patreon.com/daijahsbookworld

this is a highly enjoyable, quick-paced mystery with a charismatic, snarky narrator that makes it a breeze to read. the short chapters and accessible writing style keep things moving, and lucy’s humor adds a lightness to the darker elements of the story. it’s definitely easy to get into, and i understand why it’s so popular.

however, while i enjoyed it, the mystery itself didn’t feel particularly fresh or groundbreaking. the stakes felt a bit low throughout—there wasn’t much urgency, and i never really felt the tension or danger that usually makes a thriller exciting. the "big reveal" comes quite late, at 91%, which means the book meanders a bit with romantic drama and lucy’s memory struggles before things pick up. though i was entertained, it never truly surprised me.

on a positive note, the book does an excellent job portraying the emotional complexity of domestic violence. it delves into the trauma victims experience, the conflicting emotions they face, and how abuse can be passed down through families. this aspect felt real and added a meaningful layer to the story.

this is what y'all hyped up so much?? 😭😭😭

this book is not a thriller. at best, it might be a mystery, but even then, there’s barely any suspense. it felt more like a slow-paced family drama with literary fiction elements. i had to restart this book twice because the first half was so boring that i kept tuning out.

there’s no denying the dark territory this book explores, but the way it was handled felt dispassionate and predictable. for a story dealing with such heavy themes, i expected something harrowing and emotionally gripping, but it didn’t move me at all. the narrative voice lacked impact, and the plot twists were too obvious to be engaging.

sally and the rest of the cast felt flat. sally, who is written as an adult survivor of childhood trauma, came across more like a caricature of someone with asd. her thoughts and actions felt cliched, and i couldn’t connect with her on any level. while this book clearly resonates with many readers, it ultimately fell short for me.

this was sweet and enjoyable but too short to be memorable

this book was entertaining enough but unfortunately it didn’t leave much of an impression. after enjoying the first book, this one was disappointing. it felt like it tried to cram in too much within too short a timeframe, which threw off the pacing. while the ideas were interesting, they weren’t explored deeply enough to hold my attention or make me care. the characters also felt underdeveloped and flat after a few chapters.

i loved the setting of this book and it really delivered on the christmas vibes but i do think the romance was way way way too fast considering the past of the male mc

this is such a fun christmas mystery!

this was a fine thriller. i enjoyed the kills and the end but i don't think this is memorable and i wanted more christmas vibes

kennedy ryan’s writing never fails to move me, and this book is no exception. she has such a gift for weaving together life’s most difficult, emotional topics with moments of lightness and hope. her stories are always a testament to resilience, love, and growth, and this book encapsulates all of that beautifully.

what stood out to me most in this story was soledad’s journey. watching her grapple with tragedy and betrayal while rebuilding her life was both heart-wrenching and inspiring. her path toward self-acceptance and healing felt so authentic and raw. i especially loved seeing her relationship with her daughters evolve. the bond between them was heartfelt and complex, and it was incredibly rewarding to see how much they grew individually and as a family.

judah was such a standout character for me. his patience, understanding, and unwavering support made him the perfect counterpart to soledad. his relationship with his two autistic sons was one of the most touching elements of the book. kennedy ryan handled the exploration of parenting autistic children with so much care and nuance, and it added an extra layer of depth to the story. it’s rare to see this kind of representation in romance novels, and i truly appreciated the thoughtful way it was written.

soledad and judah’s romance was breathtaking in its complexity and tenderness. their relationship was built on a foundation of trust, respect, and deep understanding, which made it feel so real. judah never overstepped soledad’s boundaries, and their love unfolded in a way that honored the challenges both characters had faced. my only wish was for more of their romance earlier in the book. while i understood the importance of focusing on soledad’s personal journey and her process of “dating herself,” i found myself craving more moments of connection between her and judah earlier on. their love story is so compelling that i couldn’t help but want more of it.

overall, this book was an emotional and uplifting read that stayed with me long after i turned the final page. kennedy ryan continues to deliver stories that are as thought-provoking as they are heartfelt, and i can’t wait to dive into the next book in the series. this is a romance that will leave you feeling inspired, hopeful, and deeply moved.

thank you to grand central publishing, kennedy ryan, and netgalley for an arc of this book in exchange for an honest review.

kennedy ryan’s writing never fails to move me, and this book is no exception. she has such a gift for weaving together life’s most difficult, emotional topics with moments of lightness and hope. her stories are always a testament to resilience, love, and growth, and this book encapsulates all of that beautifully.

what stood out to me most in this story was soledad’s journey. watching her grapple with tragedy and betrayal while rebuilding her life was both heart-wrenching and inspiring. her path toward self-acceptance and healing felt so authentic and raw. i especially loved seeing her relationship with her daughters evolve. the bond between them was heartfelt and complex, and it was incredibly rewarding to see how much they grew individually and as a family.

judah was such a standout character for me. his patience, understanding, and unwavering support made him the perfect counterpart to soledad. his relationship with his two autistic sons was one of the most touching elements of the book. kennedy ryan handled the exploration of parenting autistic children with so much care and nuance, and it added an extra layer of depth to the story. it’s rare to see this kind of representation in romance novels, and i truly appreciated the thoughtful way it was written.

soledad and judah’s romance was breathtaking in its complexity and tenderness. their relationship was built on a foundation of trust, respect, and deep understanding, which made it feel so real. judah never overstepped soledad’s boundaries, and their love unfolded in a way that honored the challenges both characters had faced. my only wish was for more of their romance earlier in the book. while i understood the importance of focusing on soledad’s personal journey and her process of “dating herself,” i found myself craving more moments of connection between her and judah earlier on. their love story is so compelling that i couldn’t help but want more of it.

overall, this book was an emotional and uplifting read that stayed with me long after i turned the final page. kennedy ryan continues to deliver stories that are as thought-provoking as they are heartfelt, and i can’t wait to dive into the next book in the series. this is a romance that will leave you feeling inspired, hopeful, and deeply moved.

thank you to grand central publishing, kennedy ryan, and netgalley for an arc of this book in exchange for an honest review.

i love this series so muchhhhh. emily and wendell warm my heart fr

this was a cute romance but not anything to write home about

this was a cute romance but not anything to write home about

this was a cute romance but not anything to write home about

i really enjoyed the first 25% of this and the setup of the mystery, but a lot of the mystery fell to the wayside for the romance which i felt nothing for at all. it was so dry

i really enjoyed the first 25% of this and the setup of the mystery, but a lot of the mystery fell to the wayside for the romance which i felt nothing for at all. it was so dry

this is such a quick and fun cozy series! i really enjoyed the plotline of this one especially compared to the first

this is such a quick and fun cozy series! i really enjoyed the plotline of this one especially compared to the first

this is such a quick and fun cozy series! i really enjoyed the plotline of this one especially compared to the first

this is such a quick and fun cozy series! i really enjoyed the plotline of this one especially compared to the first

this was not as christmasy as i would have liked but i always enjoy this authors writing. i also loved the end!

second read in 2024

this was just as amazing, spectacular, stunning, phenomenal as the first time

first read in 2020

Literal happiness and perfection in book form.

second read 2024

i love this book sm

read for the tarot readathon 2023: wheel of fortune

this is how you do a slasher AND GUESS WHAT?! it's by a black author with characters of color. literally my perfect slasher