WOW this months has brought a lot of reading, but not necessarily good reads! Trying to get in as much reading as I can this month because traveling and moving all through the month of March will not be conducive to good reading habits!
Told in two timelines, Emily and Chess rent an Italian villa to try to rekindle their friendship as well as write their new books. The villa that they rent happens to be the same villa that has a dark, twisted past - where a murder was committed to an up-and-coming rockstar. Tensions rise, pasts are revealed, and what happens when you take matters into your own hands?
This book is based on real history (Mary Shelley...yes THAT famous Frankenstein Mary Shelley!), and this book packs a punch! I loved the female friendship competition/tension she created! This book is Fleetwood Mac rock and roll drama plus horror novel plus gothic villa in Italy plus competitive frenemies = excellent thriller!
5 out of 5 stars!
I wanted to read this book before it became a movie (I think in 2023? but don't quote me on that).
Two guys who pretend to hate each other for one chapter finally realize they love each other. That's literally all there is to the plot. I personally found McQuiston's wirting juvenile and trying WAY too hard to connect with a Gen Z audience. It was hoax-y and grating to listen to. I won't be picking up any other books by her. I will say the absolute worst part of this book for me was the "politics"...I don't even want to get into it because it will just make me mad. This book was super not for me.
2 out of 5 stars.
Pitched to me as the ballet version of "Tell the Wolves I'm Home", it was an auto read for me!
Carlisle has always felt a kinship with her father, Robert, and his partner, James. The house on Bank Street which Robert and James own has always held a safe, loving place in her heart. However when Carlisle commits a major betrayal, we as readers spend the rest of the story piecing together how we got here. I found countless beautiful writing examples and quotes, but I thought the book had major pacing issues and the "betrayal" was sub-par at best. I wasn't compelled to binge read this the way I was with "Tell the Wolves I'm Home".
3 out of 5 stars.
Douglas Preston moves with his family to Florence and he stumbles upon the almost mythical unsolved story of The Monster of Florence. This book describes in explicit detail the background and landscape, the still unsolved murders, the potential motives, and who the author thinks is the true killer. The writing style and journalistic approach to this book was refreshing and detailed.
I was shocked to never have heard of this serial killer and knew I needed to read this immediately! The political influence and corruption surrounding this case is astronomical, going so far as to have banned this author from Italy for just reporting on this case!
4.5 out of 5 stars.
This mystery/slow-burn suspense novel about a nanny who used to be addicted to prescription drugs now working for a family and a young boy who draws disturbing pictures. The writing was definitely excellent at suspense building and creating a stuffy/scary atmosphere, where I was constantly waiting for the other shoe to drop!
I love a book the ties int he elemental and afterlife with ghosts, hauntings, etc. so this book was a great fit for me personally! I loved that the author didn't blame the plot on a woman who is under the influence of drugs - so refreshing to not have that trope in a thriller book again!
4.5 out of 5 stars.
Matt and his wife Marie are hiking in Colorado after 20 years of marriage. Only one of them returns from that hike, and when searchers begin looking for the other spouse, detectives start to learn that there is more to this story than meets the eye. Chaney writes a disturbing narrative, while bringing brevity through police banter. I was genuinely chocked at the twists and chilled at the sharpness of the tone and atmosphere!
This is a terrifying sleep with the lights on book but rather a what the heck is going on right now book! Recommend this one if you go into it for a fun ride!
4 out of 5 stars.
I am sure that everyone knows what this classic book is about at this point so I will keep it brief. Esther is living a beautiful, successful life in NYC when she begins to spiral quite dramatically and quickly towards rock bottom. Plath's writing evokes a deeply moving and terrifyingly dark unraveling of a woman. I was sucked into this character and felt depressed while reading this.
This book ties strongly to suicide and depressive episodes, while also being highly homophobic and antisemitic. Esther is the epitome of self-centered, and really explores how to alienate everyone and everything to focus solely on yourself.
4 out of 5 stars.
Lizzie is taking a much needed vacation in Italy with her ex and his partner after her cancer diagnosis. She unexpectedly falls in love with Dante, a famous restaurant owner and chef. Bly's writing is heavy on literary references and Shakespearean anecdotes. The writing felt meandering and lackluster to me, which bummed me out.
I was frustrated with all the characters and often felt annoyed with them. The "romance" was forced and the Romeo and Juliet comparisons were not accurate...like how is this even coming close to Romeo and Juliet?! Definitely would not recommend this one.
2 out of 5 stars.