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 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 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
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 was not as christmasy as i would have liked but i always enjoy this authors writing. i also loved the end!
i loved this because it truly was about loneliness and acceptance. it was just so wholesome
this wasn't as good as the first book but i still really adored this book and the vibes. i just love a cozy mystery.
i really wanted to love this book because the concept is so interesting and i love the exploration of sleep disorders, specifically insomnia in this book. but on the other hand this kinda fell flat. reading this was enjoyable but it has no real depth to the plot line or characters. its similar to like scooby doo episode for adults, which i still love even now as an adult myself but it had way less action and suspense than the children's show. overall it was okay and i would recommend checking it out if you're interested but it wasn't anything to write home about for me personally.
this book genuienly was so weird and fun. i really just had such a good time reading this book. not only is this just like a weird fun book, but it also has something to say. it deals with power and greed and even just a woman who is willing to do anything for her husband who has gotten a tragic diagnosis.
this is by no means a perfect book. i do think some of the representation and language in here is questionable from a psychological standpoint but this book dives into the female experience including the frustration, the longing, and the masks we wear. it explores the performance of femininity, the constant craving for more, and the urge to break free from the limits of what's expected. the way these topics were handled and explored was done extremely well and i just adored it. just like how the main character in the book savors her food, i had to savor this book to truly get the full experience. this isn't a book you fly through, it's one you really sit with and digest.
i loveddddd this cozy mystery! it's literally a murder mystery combined wth sabrina the teenage witch and gilmore girls. it has the perfect balance of levity and also incorporating heavier topics and some depth.
honestly a bit boring and the characters weren't distinct enough. i still enjoyed the writing and the actual plot but it could have been better.
okay so this rating is really hard for me because i LOVED the vibes and the town and the fall atmosphere. i didn't even mind the mc but there was no plot really and i hated the romance.
this was so beautifully written and i really enjoyed the stories told in this. they were so meaningful and heartfelt. i especially loved the second and fourth.
this was fun but it just wasn't as fun as the first book. something about the first one really hit and this just didn't have that same magic but it was still a good read!
this had soooo much potential and i enjoyed the writing but the characters were so unsufferable it was taking me out of the story.
