corinne82's reviews
372 reviews

The Replacement by Melanie Golding

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challenging slow-paced
  • Plot- or character-driven? A mix
  • Strong character development? No
  • Loveable characters? No
  • Diverse cast of characters? No
  • Flaws of characters a main focus? Yes

3.0

šŸŽ§ Unfortunately this one didnā€™t work for me at all. It was far too long (13hrs šŸ¤¦ā€ā™€ļø) and it really moved at a snails pace with not much happening to keep the listener engaged. I canā€™t say I really cared for any of the characters. If anything I found them annoying. It felt like they could have done with more development. The storyline itself had promise but it just never got to that point. I found it unbelievable from the police procedural side to the Selkie portion of the storyline. I do like a supernatural/fantasy storyline but it really needs to be executed well. I really wanted to give up on this one but I was to far in an you know ā€˜unfinished businessā€™ šŸ¤·ā€ā™€ļø. I was thankful when it came to an end. 

Thanks to Netgalley and HQ for the opportunity to listen to and review #TheReplacement 
The Girls Left Behind by Emily Gunnis

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adventurous mysterious tense fast-paced
  • Plot- or character-driven? A mix
  • Strong character development? Yes
  • Loveable characters? It's complicated
  • Diverse cast of characters? No
  • Flaws of characters a main focus? Yes

4.0

šŸŽ§ I really enjoyed this listen. It was a fast, easy listen with an interesting storyline. I also love Claire Corbett as a narrator. Itā€™s told from past and present timelines and switches between them easily without confusion. The characters are both likeable and unlikeable but I really loved Olive, Jo and Daisy and was so invested in them. The storyline flows well and at an adequate pace to build the suspense and keep you engaged. There were times I applauded myself as I thought I had it all worked out but the ending was great surprise and I loved how it all came together. 

Thanks to Netgalley and Headline for the opportunity to listen to and review #TheGirlsLeftBehind
The Wedding of the Year by Jill Mansell

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lighthearted slow-paced
  • Plot- or character-driven? A mix
  • Strong character development? No
  • Loveable characters? No
  • Diverse cast of characters? No
  • Flaws of characters a main focus? No

2.5

šŸŽ§ This one is a light hearted, easy listen. There are quite a few characters to get to grips with and each character has their own sub-plots within the storyline. I didnā€™t find any of the storylines really stood out or kept you engaged. The storyline is nice but nothing you havenā€™t read before. I know this type of listen is not meant to be all twists and turns but I did expect something so felt it a little underwhelming or maybe Iā€™ve gotten to deep into thrillers and expect murder at every turn šŸ¤·ā€ā™€ļøšŸ˜œ. 

Thanks to Netgalley and Headline for the opportunity to read and review #TheWeddingOfTheYear
Her Daughter by Jen Craven

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lighthearted slow-paced
  • Plot- or character-driven? A mix
  • Strong character development? No
  • Loveable characters? It's complicated
  • Diverse cast of characters? No
  • Flaws of characters a main focus? It's complicated

3.0

šŸŽ§ Itā€™s described as a thriller but it has more a family drama style to it. Itā€™s an easy listen if a little slow paced. The twists are a little predictable and nothing you havenā€™t read before so for me there wasnā€™t many surprises. It felt like the characters could have been developed as there was hints made when it came to some but not actually explained. I canā€™t say I really cared for any of them either. The narrator did a good job and held my attention. It was ok. 

Thanks to Netgalley and Bookouture Audio for the opportunity to read and review #HerDaughter
Her Feud (The Drew Family Series Book 7) by Emma Tallon

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adventurous challenging dark emotional tense fast-paced
  • Plot- or character-driven? A mix
  • Strong character development? Yes
  • Loveable characters? Yes
  • Diverse cast of characters? It's complicated
  • Flaws of characters a main focus? It's complicated

5.0

This is the 7th book in Emma Tallonā€™s Drew Family series and Iā€™ve thoroughly enjoyed visiting with my old pals. If I suddenly decided to join a crime family The Drewā€™s would be top of my list šŸ˜œ. The pace is fast, it's descriptively written, and some parts are not for the faint-hearted. It had me on the edge of my seat and I just couldnā€™t put it down. One of the topics covered is heinous but is dealt with honestly and not brushed under the carpet but respectfully and with the best outcome, the book pulls no punches as is the case with the whole series. It honestly just gets better and better and this particular one makes you experience all the emotions. Itā€™s so easy to pick up a read when the storyline, backstory and the characters are so well developed and not to mention loveable. Iā€™ve just seen that this is the last in the series and Iā€™m not sure my heart can take that kind of hit šŸ’”ā€¦ Emma Tallon say it isnā€™t so šŸ˜¢ā€¦ If the criminal underworld is your thing this series is for you but be warned you you are going to be enthralled. 

Thanks to Netgalley and Bookouture for the opportunity to read and review #HerFeud
Anna O by Matthew Blake

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challenging slow-paced
  • Plot- or character-driven? A mix
  • Strong character development? No
  • Loveable characters? No
  • Diverse cast of characters? No
  • Flaws of characters a main focus? Yes

2.5

šŸŽ§ I was really looking forward to this one as itā€™s described as the ā€œthriller of 2024ā€ but I was really underwhelmed. It started off strong but it just lost me a 1/4 of the way in. Its extremely drawn out and could be so much shorter. It went around in circles and was so repetitive at times. I canā€™t say I really cared for any of the characters and in a way I didnā€™t really get to know some of them. I liked Ben to begin with but he just became so long winded and over descriptive and he became tedious. The storyline had such potential but I did feel I was missing important details and the authors style of prolonging the suspense to the last 20% just didnā€™t work. If anything I was frustrated as it took so long to get there while going around in circles and for me it didnā€™t have the desired effect. I was glad to finish this one as I was over it. 


The Perfect Nanny by Shari J. Ryan, Shari J. Ryan

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challenging dark mysterious fast-paced
  • Plot- or character-driven? A mix
  • Strong character development? Yes
  • Loveable characters? It's complicated
  • Diverse cast of characters? It's complicated
  • Flaws of characters a main focus? Yes

5.0

WOW what did I just read! My head is in a spin šŸ˜³. You are thrown head first into the story from the first word and the rollercoaster pace doesnā€™t let up throughout. Really well developed intense psychological thriller along with well developed characters that have you questioning them at every turn. I binged this in 2 days and couldnā€™t turn the pages fast enough. I personally loved the psychology aspect of the read but some might find it a lot if itā€™s not your thing but it definitely adds to the story and gives a better understanding of some of the characters. This is definitely one to read if psychological thrillers are your thing. 

Thanks to Netgalley and Bookouture for the opportunity to read and review #ThePerfectNanny
The Custody Battle by Ellie Monago

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slow-paced
  • Plot- or character-driven? A mix
  • Strong character development? Yes
  • Loveable characters? No
  • Diverse cast of characters? No
  • Flaws of characters a main focus? It's complicated

2.0

šŸŽ§ From the blurb I thought this would be my type of listen but unfortunately that wasnā€™t the case. It felt like I was caught in the middle of a couple who were having the most boring, uneventful divorce and I was listening to each of there inner thoughts and rants and I just found it such a bore. I kept waiting for the twists and turns but they never came. There was just no suspense, no mystery and really no plot if Iā€™m honest. I found the characters to be really unlikeable. The narrator did a good job with such unlikeable characters and itā€™s really the only positive for me. I honestly donā€™t like to not have some positives but I just didnā€™t find any for this listen. 

Thanks to Netgalley and Bookouture for the opportunity to listen to and review #TheCustodyBattle
The Wife's Mistake by Lorna Dounaeva

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adventurous mysterious tense medium-paced
  • Plot- or character-driven? A mix
  • Strong character development? Yes
  • Loveable characters? It's complicated
  • Diverse cast of characters? No
  • Flaws of characters a main focus? Yes

4.0

šŸŽ§ After a bit of a slow start and time to get to grips with the different characters and storyline it really turned out to be a rollercoaster listen with many a twist and turn with the listener being suspicious of everyone! Really well developed storyline and characters and superb narration that was both engaging and added to the experience. Told more so from Hannahā€™s point of view but also Haydenā€™s was thrown in and sometimes it became a little repetitive as same instances but a different point of view. This was a great listen with lots going on you didnā€™t know which way to turn. Was different in the way of storylines which is always a good thing as some can be overdone. I couldnā€™t stop listening until I had it all put to bed. Definitely recommendā€¦ 

Thanks to Netgalley and Bookouture Audio for the opportunity to listen to and review #TheWifesMistake
A Guilty Secret by Philippa East

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slow-paced
  • Plot- or character-driven? A mix
  • Strong character development? No
  • Loveable characters? No
  • Diverse cast of characters? No
  • Flaws of characters a main focus? It's complicated

2.5

šŸŽ§ I really couldnā€™t get into this one and it just didnā€™t engage me at all. I even went so far as to speed it up to get through it faster but it was just such a slog. I lost all interest as the storyline was so dragged out and the narration wasnā€™t engaging. I found the storyline to be in a way uneventful and the swapping from past to present timelines just didnā€™t flow like you would expect. I didnā€™t really care for any of the characters or what the outcome would be for any of them. Just not a listen for meā€¦ 

Thanks to Netgalley and Harper Collins UK Audio for the opportunity to listen to and review #AGuiltySecret