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thebstandsforbooks's reviews
388 reviews
The Return of Ellie Black by Emiko Jean
dark
emotional
tense
slow-paced
- Plot- or character-driven? Character
- Strong character development? Yes
- Loveable characters? Yes
- Diverse cast of characters? No
- Flaws of characters a main focus? Yes
5.0
Oh man. This was dark. That being said, I was beyond engaged the entire time. The writing was beautiful and the storytelling was done incredibly well. I definitely felt an emotional connection to our characters.
With multiple POV’s and first hand accounts, this book will take you for a ride- you won’t be able to predict what comes next. There were a number of times I had to pause because it got dark, disturbing, and descriptive, but that final reveal? Smh. How 😩
I really enjoyed this!
With multiple POV’s and first hand accounts, this book will take you for a ride- you won’t be able to predict what comes next. There were a number of times I had to pause because it got dark, disturbing, and descriptive, but that final reveal? Smh. How 😩
I really enjoyed this!
Only For The Week by Natasha Bishop
funny
hopeful
inspiring
lighthearted
fast-paced
- Plot- or character-driven? Character
- Strong character development? Yes
- Loveable characters? Yes
- Diverse cast of characters? Yes
- Flaws of characters a main focus? Yes
5.0
Rome 👏🏽 Martin 👏🏽 is 👏🏽 him 👏🏽
That’s it. That’s the review.
Smoke Kings by Jahmal Mayfield
dark
emotional
sad
tense
medium-paced
- Plot- or character-driven? Character
- Strong character development? It's complicated
- Loveable characters? Yes
- Diverse cast of characters? Yes
- Flaws of characters a main focus? It's complicated
4.0
I was invested from page one. Like chapter 1?!? That's how we’re starting?!?
The story is broken into 3 parts and told in multiple distinct voices. The chapters were a bit on the longer side when reading on your kindle, but the pacing moved quickly.
I'm warning you now that this a heavy read. You're going to laugh, curse, learn new words, be heartbroken, and find yourself flipping back a few pages because there's no way you read what you just read (if you know you know 🫠)
Everything was all well and good until the end. WHAT.
WAS. THAT. I'm genuinely upset. I wish I could word vomit on this review and tell you why, but I don't want to ruin the experience for any of you. Luckily I had my buddy read girlies to commiserate with (shoutout to y'all, cuties (🫶🏽💕)
Do I recommend it? Yes. Will you be upset? Yes. Do you promise to come back and tell me how you felt about it? I hope your answer is yes.
The story is broken into 3 parts and told in multiple distinct voices. The chapters were a bit on the longer side when reading on your kindle, but the pacing moved quickly.
I'm warning you now that this a heavy read. You're going to laugh, curse, learn new words, be heartbroken, and find yourself flipping back a few pages because there's no way you read what you just read (if you know you know 🫠)
Everything was all well and good until the end. WHAT.
WAS. THAT. I'm genuinely upset. I wish I could word vomit on this review and tell you why, but I don't want to ruin the experience for any of you. Luckily I had my buddy read girlies to commiserate with (shoutout to y'all, cuties (🫶🏽💕)
Do I recommend it? Yes. Will you be upset? Yes. Do you promise to come back and tell me how you felt about it? I hope your answer is yes.
Home Is Where the Bodies Are by Jeneva Rose
mysterious
tense
slow-paced
- Plot- or character-driven? Character
- Strong character development? Yes
- Loveable characters? It's complicated
- Diverse cast of characters? No
- Flaws of characters a main focus? Yes
4.0
To start, I’m obsessed with this cover 😩
Okay, so in short we have three siblings who ✨highkey✨ hate each other that are forced back together after their mother’s passing. That combined with long hidden deadly secrets being revealed via the will and what should have been happy home videos to reminisce on, we can’t be shocked when chaos ensues and ensue it does 😅
I felt the beginning had a slow start, but once it picked up it was a twisty domestic thriller told in the POV’s of the three estranged siblings- Beth, Nicole, and Michael.
I started and stopped this a while ago because I was struggling to get into it, but I’m so glad I picked it back up because I really enjoyed it!
Okay, so in short we have three siblings who ✨highkey✨ hate each other that are forced back together after their mother’s passing. That combined with long hidden deadly secrets being revealed via the will and what should have been happy home videos to reminisce on, we can’t be shocked when chaos ensues and ensue it does 😅
I felt the beginning had a slow start, but once it picked up it was a twisty domestic thriller told in the POV’s of the three estranged siblings- Beth, Nicole, and Michael.
I started and stopped this a while ago because I was struggling to get into it, but I’m so glad I picked it back up because I really enjoyed it!
Greenwich Park by Katherine Faulkner
tense
slow-paced
- Plot- or character-driven? Character
- Strong character development? No
- Loveable characters? No
- Diverse cast of characters? No
- Flaws of characters a main focus? It's complicated
3.0
I LOVE when characters get what they deserve!
This was told with multiple POV's giving us insight into this larger story. To be honest, I don't think I found any of the characters likable. I was uneasy reading for the entirety of this entire book. It felt like there was this air of dread just hanging because you knew something bad was going to happen. It was just a matter of when that bad thing was going. to happen.
This was told with multiple POV's giving us insight into this larger story. To be honest, I don't think I found any of the characters likable. I was uneasy reading for the entirety of this entire book. It felt like there was this air of dread just hanging because you knew something bad was going to happen. It was just a matter of when that bad thing was going. to happen.
The Lake of Lost Girls by Katherine Greene
dark
mysterious
tense
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? No
5.0
24 years ago Lindsey’s sister, Jessica disappeared without a trace. Now because of a podcast, interest in what really happened has peaked. Was it related to the three other girls that vanished from her university? Why did the investigation fizzled out all those years ago?
Told in multiple POV’s across timelines we get Instagram posts (with pictures), tweets, podcast transcripts, newspaper articles to propel the mystery.
I thought this was such well thought out creative story telling. My only gripe was the long chapters- they seemed to go on forever.
The final few reveals literally had me putting my kindle down and saying WTF over and over again because W. T. F. 😩
Thank you to netgalley and crooked lane books for letting me read this early!
Told in multiple POV’s across timelines we get Instagram posts (with pictures), tweets, podcast transcripts, newspaper articles to propel the mystery.
I thought this was such well thought out creative story telling. My only gripe was the long chapters- they seemed to go on forever.
The final few reveals literally had me putting my kindle down and saying WTF over and over again because W. T. F. 😩
Thank you to netgalley and crooked lane books for letting me read this early!
Not a Happy Family by Shari Lapena
dark
tense
slow-paced
- Plot- or character-driven? Character
- Strong character development? No
- Loveable characters? No
- Diverse cast of characters? No
- Flaws of characters a main focus? Yes
3.0
LAWD the dysfunction in this family 😳😩
The matriarch and patriarch have been murdered and everyone has a motive and secrets they want to protect. I liked the super short chapters, but I felt like I needed a character index to keep up with who was who.
Everyone Is Watching by Heather Gudenkauf
tense
medium-paced
- Plot- or character-driven? Plot
- Strong character development? No
- Loveable characters? No
- Diverse cast of characters? No
- Flaws of characters a main focus? Yes
4.0
This started off with a bang…literally!
It’s like twisted reality tv version of the hunger games with adults minus the killing if that makes sense lol.
For a chance at 10 million dollars would you be willing to have your darkest secrets exposed to the world? Your lies revealed?
Flashback stories, multiple POV’s and timelines worked so well to propel the plot. When you find out how everyone is connected- perfection.
I really wasn’t expecting how much I’d like this!
It’s like twisted reality tv version of the hunger games with adults minus the killing if that makes sense lol.
For a chance at 10 million dollars would you be willing to have your darkest secrets exposed to the world? Your lies revealed?
Flashback stories, multiple POV’s and timelines worked so well to propel the plot. When you find out how everyone is connected- perfection.
I really wasn’t expecting how much I’d like this!
Original Twin by Paula Gleeson
mysterious
tense
medium-paced
- Plot- or character-driven? Character
- Strong character development? It's complicated
- Loveable characters? Yes
- Diverse cast of characters? No
- Flaws of characters a main focus? It's complicated
5.0
I was not expecting ANY of these twists.
Wtheck.
I can’t say too much without giving the good stuff away but whatever you’re thinking, you’re wrong.
Y’all please read this as soon as it comes out on June 1st so I can talk to someone about this 😩
Wtheck.
I can’t say too much without giving the good stuff away but whatever you’re thinking, you’re wrong.
Y’all please read this as soon as it comes out on June 1st so I can talk to someone about this 😩
The Last Girl Left by A.M. Strong, Sonya Sargent
dark
mysterious
tense
slow-paced
- Plot- or character-driven? Character
- Strong character development? No
- Loveable characters? It's complicated
- Diverse cast of characters? No
- Flaws of characters a main focus? Yes
4.0
Phew! This was so intense!
Who do you trust? Who can you trust?
5 years ago Tessa’s friends were brutally murdered and she was left for dead. Now she’s back where it all started to try to find closure and move on with her life.
I was creeped out and could definitely feel the panic Tessa must have felt.
This was a surprising sleeper for me. I stumbled on this book on Instagram and I’m so happy I did!