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Verity by Colleen Hoover: A Review of the Psychological Thriller Everyone’s Talking About

Verity by Colleen Hoover: A Review of the Psychological Thriller Everyone’s Talking About

Mystery, Thriller & Suspense, Romance · February 11, 2023

Verity by Colleen Hoover: A Review of the Psychological Thriller Everyone’s Talking About

Girls With Bright Futures: Exploring the Dark Side of College Admissions

Girls With Bright Futures: Exploring the Dark Side of College Admissions

Literary Fiction, Mystery, Thriller & Suspense · February 5, 2023

Girls With Bright Futures: Exploring the Dark Side of College Admissions

Thrills and Chills: A Review of The Housemaid by Freida McFadden

Thrills and Chills: A Review of The Housemaid by Freida McFadden

Mystery, Thriller & Suspense · February 5, 2023

Thrills and Chills: A Review of The Housemaid by Freida McFadden

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ʙᴏᴏᴋ ʀᴇᴠɪᴇᴡ: Funny Feelings by Ta

ʙᴏᴏᴋ ʀᴇᴠɪᴇᴡ: Funny Feelings by Tarah Dewitt

𝗚𝗘𝗡𝗥𝗘: contemporary romance
𝗥𝗔𝗧𝗜𝗡𝗚: ★★★★/5
𝗧𝗥𝗢𝗣𝗘𝗦: friends to lovers

𝗪𝗛𝗔𝗧 𝗜 𝗟𝗜𝗞𝗘𝗗:
- main characters complimented each other very well. Meyer grounds her through her insecurities, and Farley helps him to see the lighter side of any situation.
- Meyer is easily one of my fav book BFs. He's supportive, patient and a wonderful father. The fact that he’s older is evident in his priorities and the way he navigates life.
- author did a great job highlighting the hesitancy of both parties in not wanting to ruin the friendship. There were a lot of adorable, sweet moments between them that will remind you of having your first crush.
- book is written in dual POVs and dual timelines, which gave a better grasp of how their friendship evolved.

𝗪𝗛𝗔𝗧 𝗜 𝗗𝗜𝗗𝗡'𝗧 𝗟𝗜𝗞𝗘:
- the 10-year age gap between them was evident on some pages, especially regarding their communication. As someone who prefers open communication and honesty, Farley’s deliberate avoidance of talking things through was sometimes a bit frustrating.
- I found only a few of Farley's stand-up routines funny. And seeing as how that is what this book is about, I was disappointed. I don’t particularly like comedy that relies heavily on insulting others to be funny, but this is just a personal preference.

𝗖𝗢𝗡𝗖𝗟𝗨𝗦𝗜𝗢𝗡: If you love relatable and funny characters with adorable, swoon-worthy moments, then this book is for you. The author did a great job, and I look forward to reading her other books.

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ʙᴏᴏᴋ ʀᴇᴠɪᴇᴡ: Make it sweet - Kris

ʙᴏᴏᴋ ʀᴇᴠɪᴇᴡ: Make it sweet - Kristen Callihan

𝗚𝗘𝗡𝗥𝗘: contemporary romance
𝗥𝗔𝗧𝗜𝗡𝗚: ★★★★/5
𝗧𝗥𝗢𝗣𝗘𝗦: sports romance, grumpy/sunshine

𝗪𝗛𝗔𝗧 𝗜 𝗟𝗜𝗞𝗘𝗗:
- witty banter between both MCs was hilarious and had me smiling so many times. Listening to how they challenged and kept each other on their toes was entertaining.
- Emma is sassy, sharp, and full of heart. She stands up for herself when she needs to but is also not afraid to be vulnerable.
- I liked that Lucian wasn’t the stereotypical athlete allowing the baking to show a softer side to him.
- What makes Lucian and Emma’s love story so endearing is how it started as simple companionship – two broken souls learning to heal in their own way but with the help of each other. There were no ulterior motives that initiated their friendship, and this allowed them to be completely themselves.
- My favorite side character is Lucian’s meddling grandmother. She doles out wisdom throughout the book and keeps everyone well-behaved without ever lifting a finger. She’s such a charming character that it’s hard to finish the book without her leaving a lasting impression on you.
- The detailed descriptions of the pastries in this book made me hungry so many times. And as someone who watches many baking shows, I could recognize most of the desserts they were talking about, which made for a great immersive experience

𝗪𝗛𝗔𝗧 𝗜 𝗗𝗜𝗗𝗡'𝗧 𝗟𝗜𝗞𝗘:
- It is a slow burn, but there were instances when it was really slow, and I got a bit bored.

𝗖𝗢𝗡𝗖𝗟𝗨𝗦𝗜𝗢𝗡: an emotional, heartwarming story with as much sweetness as the pastries mentioned. Great for those with a sweet tooth for French pastries and romance.

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ʙᴏᴏᴋ ʀᴇᴠɪᴇᴡ: Riley Thorn and the

ʙᴏᴏᴋ ʀᴇᴠɪᴇᴡ: Riley Thorn and the Dead Guy Next Door - Lucy Score

𝗚𝗘𝗡𝗥𝗘: contemporary romance, crime, mystery
𝗥𝗔𝗧𝗜𝗡𝗚: ★★★/5

𝗪𝗛𝗔𝗧 𝗜 𝗟𝗜𝗞𝗘𝗗:
- dual POVs to understand each character better: Riley's POV made Nick seem too hot/cold but once you read Nick's chapters, you see the thoughts behind his actions and can't help but sympathise with him.
- narrators did a great job differentiating all the characters with the various accents and made for a fun read
- witty banter btn MCs was hilarious and I liked how they kept each other on their toes while still getting flustered in each other's presence.
- the plot twists were unexpected

𝗪𝗛𝗔𝗧 𝗜 𝗗𝗜𝗗𝗡'𝗧 𝗟𝗜𝗞𝗘:
- story is too long - lost interest halfway through and dragged myself to finish it because I liked Nick
- Riley's psychic visions fed the plot too easily and subtracted from the crime-solving part of the book
- overcomplicated murder plot
- the crime part of the book was made too much into a comedy that it minimised it's impact on the whole story
- found it hard to like Riley as she came off a bit juvenile
- the comedy of the book relied too much on the incompetence of the characters, including the villains (as funny as it was at times, it started to become very frustrating).

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ʙᴏᴏᴋ ʀᴇᴠɪᴇᴡ: Verity by Colleen Ho

ʙᴏᴏᴋ ʀᴇᴠɪᴇᴡ: Verity by Colleen Hoover

𝗚𝗘𝗡𝗥𝗘: romance, psychological thriller/suspense
𝗥𝗔𝗧𝗜𝗡𝗚: ★★★/5
𝗧𝗪: postpartum Depression, self-induced abortion, child endangerment and violence, death of children, grief

The first time I read Verity by Colleen Hoover, early in my reading journey, it was an easy 5-star read for me. It was fast-paced, entertaining and kept me glued to the pages. Now to be writing this review after re-reading it for a second time, it’s sad to say my rating has changed. While it remains as engaging as the first time, I now detect plot holes and a lack of character development that I was too inexperienced to see before.

𝗪𝗛𝗔𝗧 𝗜 𝗟𝗜𝗞𝗘𝗗:
- fast paced, short chapters make for a quick and easy read
- great plot twist at the end (had me talking about it to my friends for days)
- telling a story within a story is one of my fav formats. The dual POVs swinging between Lowen’s present and Verity’s past made for a gripping read. You get to figure things out alongside Lowen as she reads the manuscript while Verity sets the stage for the twist.
- enough twisted, disturbing, dark stuff that messes with your brain and keeps you engaged.

𝗪𝗛𝗔𝗧 𝗜 𝗗𝗜𝗗𝗡'𝗧 𝗟𝗜𝗞𝗘:
- Lowen doesn't make the smartest decisions and reminds me of the character you see in horror movies that you KNOW will get killed next, but you still can’t help but watch how it happens.
- thriller aspect is what propels this book forward, but in trying to mix romance into it, both elements were left lacking
- romance relies too much on sexual scenarios without much character groundwork

𝗤𝗢𝗧𝗗: For those who read this, are you team manuscript or team letter? (Personally I’m team manuscript because she was too convincing in writing that for me to believe the letter)

#veritycolleenhoover #veritybook #colleenhooverbook #colleenhooverbooks #colleenhoover #psychologicalthriller #psycholohicalthrillers #psychologicalthrillerbook #psychologicalsuspense #romanticthriller #bookstagramnewbie #newtobookstagram #bookphotographer #bookbabe #mybookstagram #booksgrammer #bookishnerd #bookwyrm #ilovebooks #booklover #bookstagramcommunity #thrillerbooks #thrillerthursday

ʙᴏᴏᴋ ʀᴇᴠɪᴇᴡ: The Housemaid by Fre

ʙᴏᴏᴋ ʀᴇᴠɪᴇᴡ: The Housemaid by Freida McFadden

𝗚𝗘𝗡𝗥𝗘: psychological thriller/suspense
𝗥𝗔𝗧𝗜𝗡𝗚: ★★★/5
𝗧𝗪: cheating on spouse, torture, gaslighting, violence

𝗪𝗛𝗔𝗧 𝗜 𝗟𝗜𝗞𝗘𝗗:
- dual POVs and short chapters made for a quick and easy read
- enjoyed the formatting of Nina’s chapters, and the title at the beginning of each chapter was witty and well done.
- the ending on the last page had me smiling that "cheshire cat" kinda grin and makes me wanna buy book 2

𝗪𝗛𝗔𝗧 𝗜 𝗗𝗜𝗗𝗡'𝗧 𝗟𝗜𝗞𝗘:
- the plot is very similar to another famous book (hint: it's a Reese Witherspoon book club pick) so if you've read that one, this one is not going to be that entertaining.
- ending is abrupt, and most loose ends are tied up as convenient coincidences or unrealistic events.
- I do wish we had gotten more on the antagonist’s backstory because this would have added a lot more dimension to the book
- Millie's chapters read more like a dear diary moment and makes her seem way younger than she actually is. I also expected her to be more street smart based on her past but she was too reckless making it hard to muster sympathy for her when she faced the consequences of her actions. But to her credit, she does redeem herself a little in the end.
- not a fan of torture scenes (a bit too graphic for my taste)

𝗖𝗢𝗡𝗖𝗟𝗨𝗦𝗜𝗢𝗡: If you are looking for a dramatic and entertaining read with short chapters and enigmatic characters, then this book is for you. But if you've read the other book that's similar to this then you could skip this one (To avoid spoilers here, DM me if you want to know which book this plot is similar to).

#thehousemaid #freidamcfadden #psychologicalthriller #psychologicalthrillerbook #psychologicalthrillers #thrillerbooks #bookstagramnewbie #newtobookstagram #bookphotographer #bookbabe #mybookstagram #booksgrammer #bookishnerd #bookwyrm #ilovebooks #booklover #bookstagramcommunity #thrillerthursday #thrillerthursdays

ʙᴏᴏᴋ ʀᴇᴠɪᴇᴡ: Girls with Bright Fu

ʙᴏᴏᴋ ʀᴇᴠɪᴇᴡ: Girls with Bright Futures by Tracy Dobmeier, Wendy Katzman

𝗚𝗘𝗡𝗥𝗘: domestic fiction, suspense
𝗥𝗔𝗧𝗜𝗡𝗚: ★★★★★/5
𝗧𝗪: description of rape, anxiety, depression and eating disorders in teens

3 determined mothers, 3 daughters with great potential, and 1 Stanford spot. How far is each mother willing to go, and which lines are they ready to cross to secure their child’s future?

Do you know how audiobooks are great to listen to as you do chores? I found myself looking for things to do around the house just to be able to continue listening to this story. 🤣

𝗪𝗛𝗔𝗧 𝗜 𝗟𝗜𝗞𝗘𝗗:
- fast paced plot
- the audacity of the mothers' shenanigans was hilarious but you can also empathise with their maternal desire to want the best for their child
- great balance of focus between the daughters and the mothers even though the mothers were the primary focus of the story.
- the relationship that carried this book forward is the mother-daughter relationship between Winnie and Maren. Maren is forced to face her dark past which puts her bond with Winnie at risk. But the fallout of this reveal was handled both beautifully and realistically and was one of the most moving parts of the book.
- inclusion of other formats throughout the book like FB posts, emails, text messages added to the immersive experience.
- satisfying ending and epilogue.

𝗖𝗢𝗡𝗖𝗟𝗨𝗦𝗜𝗢𝗡: a gripping and entertaining domestic suspense that feels like a binge-worthy Netflix drama. Go into this book with an open mind, suspend your judgment, and allow these crazy, suburban moms to take you on a riveting tale on what it takes to make your child’s dreams come true.

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ʙᴏᴏᴋ ʀᴇᴠɪᴇᴡ: Do I Know You? - Emi

ʙᴏᴏᴋ ʀᴇᴠɪᴇᴡ: Do I Know You? - Emily Wibberley

𝗚𝗘𝗡𝗥𝗘: contemporary romance
𝗥𝗔𝗧𝗜𝗡𝗚: ★★★/5
𝗧𝗥𝗢𝗣𝗘𝗦: marriage in trouble

This surrounds the story of a married couple who start to feel like strangers to each other and their desperate attempt to reconnect through a flirtatious game of pretend. The marriage-in-trouble trope is one of my favorite themes to read about because I like seeing two people fighting to stay in love.

𝗪𝗛𝗔𝗧 𝗜 𝗟𝗜𝗞𝗘𝗗:
- witty banter between MCs was hilarious
- refreshing to read about a story where infidelity was not the problem in the marriage
- personalities of both MCs were believable and the character development, though slow, was evident.
- while some people didn’t like the dual POV because it repeated the detailing of scenes, it was interesting to see how the MCs interpreted each scene differently based on their own insecurities.

𝗪𝗛𝗔𝗧 𝗜 𝗗𝗜𝗗𝗡'𝗧 𝗟𝗜𝗞𝗘:
- Eliza quickly became frustrating as it becomes evident that the game of pretend is just a convenient way for her to avoid talking about the real issues
- relied way too much on miscommunication: the book would have been much shorter if they both just sat down and talked to each other
- repetition of each MC’s inner monologue was tedious. It could have been replaced with other things, such as flashbacks to earlier, happier times of their relationship, to allow the reader to better understand the gravity of the rift between them and how much they have grown apart

𝗖𝗢𝗡𝗖𝗟𝗨𝗦𝗜𝗢𝗡: If you love stories that will have you escaping into a hotel vacation alongside a flawed couple who refuse to give up on each other, then this book is for you. But beware if you're not a fan of miscommunication.

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ʙᴏᴏᴋ ʀᴇᴠɪᴇᴡ: Witcha Gonna Do? by

ʙᴏᴏᴋ ʀᴇᴠɪᴇᴡ: Witcha Gonna Do? by Avery Flynn

𝗚𝗘𝗡𝗥𝗘: fantasy romance
𝗥𝗔𝗧𝗜𝗡𝗚: ★★★/5
𝗧𝗥𝗢𝗣𝗘𝗦: enemies to lovers, magical realism

This book is great for fans of Harry Potter. The author did a great job with the world building - from grumpy unicorn shape shifters to best friends with magical allergies.

𝗪𝗛𝗔𝗧 𝗜 𝗟𝗜𝗞𝗘𝗗:
- fantastic world building: great immersive escape into a magical world
- hilarious side characters
- narrators brought the characters to life
- loved the major plot twist surrounding the female MC

𝗪𝗛𝗔𝗧 𝗜 𝗗𝗜𝗗𝗡'𝗧 𝗟𝗜𝗞𝗘:
- plot holes: "the council" is a secret society that was deemed to be the main villains of the book but there was no indication to how they were defeated in the end (it was just stated that they were) which was disappointing because of all the build up surrounding them
- miscommunication trope (pet peeve of mine)

𝗖𝗢𝗡𝗖𝗟𝗨𝗦𝗜𝗢𝗡: great for fans of Harry Potter if you're looking for an easy and fun escape into a magical world.

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