Book Review: An Anonymous Girl by Greer Hendricks and Sarah Pekkanen

Title: An Anonymous Girl

Author: Greer Hendricks and Sarah Pekkanen

Genre: Thriller, Suspense, Psychological thriller

Nominations: Goodreads Choice Awards Best Mystery & Thriller

Synopsis:

When Jessica Farris signs up for a psychology study conducted by the mysterious Dr. Shields, she thinks all she’ll have to do is answer a few questions, collect her money, and leave. But as the questions grow more and more intense and invasive and the sessions become outings where Jess is told what to wear and how to act, she begins to feel as though Dr. Shields may know what she’s thinking…and what she’s hiding. As Jess’s paranoia grows, it becomes clear that she can no longer trust what in her life is real, and what is one of Dr. Shields’ manipulative experiments. Caught in a web of deceit and jealousy, Jess quickly learns that some obsessions can be deadly.

Review:

This book has been on my to read list for at least a year, after reading Believe Me by JP Delaney I was looking forward to reading similar books. Similar to Believe Me this novel is a psychological thriller focused on a young woman’s life. The main character Jessica was a struggling makeup artist living in New York City. 

The chapters alternate between Jess’s first-person narration and Dr. Shield’s second-person telling—a clever strategy that mirrors the (supposed) dynamic of the doctor-patient relationship while also revealing myriad ethical and moral transgressions on both characters’ parts. While Jess proves to be a surprisingly adept adversary, the cunning Dr. Shield consistently manages to stay one step ahead. Consequently, the psychological warfare reaches breathtaking proportions as the Dr Shield’s husband is introduced to the mix.

This novel is a must read for anyone that is looking into reading pyschogical novels or thrillers, the authors keep you on your toes and the plot thickens and the story unfolds itself. You will not be disappointed.

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Rating: 5 out of 5.

Book Review: THE PERFECT MOTHER

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Title: The Perfect Mother

Author: Aimee Molly

Genre: Thriller, Suspense

Synopsis:

An addictive psychological thriller about a group of women whose lives become unexpectedly connected when one of their newborns goes missing.When the group’s members agree to meet for drinks at a hip local bar, they have in mind a casual evening of fun, a brief break from their daily routine. But on this sultry Fourth of July night during the hottest summer in Brooklyn’s history, something goes terrifyingly wrong: one of the babies is abducted from his crib. Winnie, a single mom, was reluctant to leave six-week-old Midas with a babysitter, but the May Mothers insisted that everything would be fine. Now Midas is missing, the police are asking disturbing questions, and Winnie’s very private life has become fodder for a ravenous media.

Review:

I first found this book under the psychological thriller section on Goodreads, it had great reviews and came recommended. As you can see from previous reviews I read a lot of psychological thrillers, and thought why not add this one in.

I found the writing and the narration challenging to understand. The manner in which the author Aimee Molly formulates the chapters was a bit confusing. She goes back and forth between the narration of different characters without always saying who’s point of view it is in. So you have to use contact clues to figure it out.

Overall, I enjoyed the storyline of the novel. It was a great mystery that did not have that cheesy ending that majority of mysteries tend to have. At a couple points I felt the tempo was slow causing the storyline to drag on. So, if you are looking for a twisted mystery with lots of plot turns and complicated characters I recommend this one.

Book Review: Believe Me by JP Delaney

Title: Believe Me

Author: JP Delaney

Genre: Fiction, Thriller, Mystery, Suspense

Synopsis:

A struggling actor, a Brit in America without a green card, Claire needs work and money to survive. Then she gets both. But nothing like she expected. Claire agrees to become a decoy for a firm of divorce lawyers. Hired to entrap straying husbands, she must catch them on tape with their seductive propositions. The rules? Never hit on the mark directly. Make it clear you’re available, but he has to proposition you, not the other way around. The firm is after evidence, not coercion. The innocent have nothing to hide. Then the game changes. When the wife of one of Claire’s targets is violently murdered, the cops are sure the husband is to blame. Desperate to catch him before he kills again, they enlist Claire to lure him into a confession.

Review

I decided to read this novel after reading the authors previous book the Girl Before. I have to say this one did not disappoint. The novel definitely draws you in, until you can’t put it down. There was some confusing parts where as a reader you didn’t know what to believe hence the name “Believe Me” being a good fit. The main character Claire was definitely enchanting in her charm and gullibility have the readers dying to get to know her. The author wrote her character beautifully.

The only thing I didn’t like was the ending I felt as if it was not thoroughly written. It kind of left the readers a bit confused. I felt as if more time could have been given to explain this to readers. This cliffhanger was not justified. Overall I recommend that you read it.

Clover Blue Book Review

Clover Blue

By Eldonna Edwards

Genre: Historical Fiction,
Coming-of-Age Fiction

Published: May 2019

Synopsis:

There are many things twelve-year-old Clover Blue isn’t sure of: his exact date of birth, his name before he was adopted into the Saffron Freedom Community, or who his first parents were. What he does know with certainty is that among this close-knit, nature-loving group, he is happy. Here, everyone is family, regardless of their disparate backgrounds—surfer, midwife, Grateful Dead groupie, Vietnam deserter. But despite his loyalty to the commune and its guru-like founder Goji, Blue grapples with invisible ties toward another family—the one he doesn’t remember.

With the urging of his fearless and funny best friend, Harmony, Clover Blue begins to ask questions. For the first time, Goji’s answers fail to satisfy. The passing months bring upheaval to their little clan and another member arrives, a beautiful runaway teen named Rain, sparking new tensions. As secrets slowly unfurl, Blue’s beliefs—about Goji, the guidelines that govern their seemingly idyllic lives, and the nature of family itself—begin to shift. With each revelation about a heartbreaking past he never imagined, Blue faces a choice between those he’s always trusted, and an uncertain future where he must risk everything in his quest for the truth. Part coming-of-age tale, part love story, part mystery, Clover Blue tenderly explores an unconventional but no less complex family that resonates with our deep-rooted yearning for home.

Review

First I like to thank NetGalley and Kensignton’s titles for sending me an ARC of this in exchange for an honest review. All opinions are my own.

I have always enjoyed historical fiction novels, but this was one of the first ones I have read set in 1970’s era. I not only enjoyed reading about this time period but I feel like I have gained a new perspective on people living in this period. Though I never quite understood the “hippie” lifestyle you cannot help but love the way of life in Clover Blue.

The novel is titles after the main character Clover Blue. The story starts off with Blue, a 12 year old boy, watching the birth of the new member in the Saffron Freedom Community which is the hippie community Blue lives in. This birth prompts Blue to question which one of the women in the community he came out of. This sets the conflict for the novel as Blue comes to learn that he is not biologically related to anyone in the community. Due to his curious nature he pushes to find who is really is and came from, and the truth behind how he came to the community.

Without giving any spoilers away, I would say Goji who Blue views as a father figure is my least favorite character in the novel. Most of the characters including Clover Blue admires Goji for all of his knowledge and view him as the leader of the family. But from the reader standpoint you can see how Goji has been deceiving them. You definitely have to read the novel to truly understand this yourself. In the same way the novel, started the novels ends with a birth of Blues niece giving him what he has always longed for his true family. This concludes with Blue’s journey as an adult in finding his true family.

Overall, I encourage all readers to read this novel. We all have a hippie aspect of ourselves waiting to be discovered in this novel.

The Dead Girl In 2A – Book Review

I’m an undefinable person with little need for human connection, despite an aching love of humanity. I’m capable of becoming obsessively attached to a character in a novel. Even fell real grief at the book’s conclusion.

– clara, chapter 18

The Dead Girl in 2A

By Carter Wilson

Genre: Suspense, Psychological Thriller

Release Date: June 2019

Synopsis:

Jake Buchanan is a successful writer with an eight-year-old daughter and an imploding marriage. When he gets on a plane to Colorado and discovers an instant unnerving connection with the girl next to him in seat 2A, Clara Stowe. Neither two can figure our what this connection is and how they know each other. But during this flight Clara confesses that she’s going to Colorado to kill herself, Jake searches frantically for a way to convince her not to go through with her plan.

The Dead Girl in 2A is the story of what happens to Jake and Clara after they get off that plane and the manipulative figure from their childhoods that has brought them together decades later. Intensely creepy, beautifully written, and full of Carter Wilson’s signature whom-can-you-trust paranoia, this is a psychological thriller unlike any you’ve read before.

Review

First I like to thank NetGalley and the publisher for sending me an ARC of this in exchange for an honest review. All opinions are my own.

The past couple of months I have found myself reading more and more books in the psychological thriller genre. I can honestly say this one was one of my favorites. I want I truly liked about this novel was the chase the author brings you along with the characters. It was one plot twist after another, you never quite knew where the story was heading. In terms of the story telling of the novel I felt as if it could be a bit longer to give more details on the plot. Then the readers can understand the main characters and the reasons for which they interact with other characters better. I did enjoy how the story is told through the point of views of the main characters mainly Clara and Jake, there was a few chapters told from Landis’ as well.

The story follows the lives of Clara and Jake as they try to understand their connection with one another and the meaning of the program which is what the author uses to describe the clinical trial of sorts that Clara and Jake were involved in as children but after unforeseen circumstances their memories were wiped clean. With saying that I believe the authors underlying message is discovering one’s purpose. Each character in the novel is plagued with the question for some this leads them to death, or even killing but for others they come to understand the true meaning of life and what it means to breathe. After reading this novel I too even have a better sense of what my life means and what I would like my purpose to be while I am alive.

Overall, I would highly recommend this novel to not just a person who loves mysteries or thrillers but for anyone who needs to be inspired. You will definitely be on the edge of your seat! (or if you are like me and read laying on the couch hahaa)

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What books are you reading now?

Every Note Played – Book Review

 “Not forgiving someone is like drinking poison and expecting the other person to die”

Every Note Played

By Lisa Genova

Genre: Domestic Fiction, Medical fiction

Release Date: March 20, 2018

Synopsis:

A once accomplished concert pianist, Richard now has ALS. As he becomes increasingly paralyzed and is no longer able to live on his own, Karina, his divorced wife, becomes his reluctant caretaker. As Richard’s muscles, voice, and breath fade, both he and Karina try to reconcile their past before it’s too late. This is a masterful exploration of redemption and what it means to find peace inside of forgiveness.

 

Girls of Glass Book Review

Girls of Glass

by Brianna Labuskes

Genre: Crime Fiction / Psychological Fiction

Release Date: January 2019

Synopsis

When the granddaughter of one of Florida’s most powerful judges disappears, it triggers a personal trauma for Detective Garner: the kidnapping and murder of her own child. As a flood of painful memories comes rushing back, Garner sees herself in the guilt-ridden and emotionally fragile mother Charlotte Burke, who has become the target of a rush to judgment.

All too familiar with Charlotte’s situation, Detective Garner is reluctant to cast any blame. Her gut instincts tell her that Charlotte’s anguish is rooted in something else–somewhere too dark for the truth to be seen. And Alice believes that it’s hiding behind the facade of the illustrious and guarded Burke mansion. But uncovering Charlotte’s past comes with a risk. For Alice’s own life is becoming entangled in the secrets and lies of the picture-perfect family–an image that is about to be shattered in so many unexpected ways.

  My Review

I am typically not one to read mystery novels but seeing as though I won this from a #goodreadsgiveaway I thought why not, and once I started reading I couldn’t put it down.  The manner in which the author, Brianna Labuskes, formats the chapters can be a little challenging at first but once you get into the story it all starts to fall in place.  This story follows the murder case of Ruby Burke a granddaughter to a high class Judge is St Petersburg mostly told through the point of the main detective. Alice Garner, who has personal ties to this as well. I won’t give any spoilers to those reading this review. But I would just like to say I would 100% recommend this you will be on the edge of your seat to figure out who actually killed Ruby Burke and what secrets are hidden in the Burke family.

My thanks to Goodreads and Author for sending me an kindle copy of this book in exchange for an honest review. All opinions are my own and are not influenced by the publisher.  Thank you!

Becoming by Michelle Obama- Book Review

” I now tried out a new hypothesis: It was possible that I was more in charge of my happiness than I was allowing myself to be. “

Title: Becoming Author: Michelle Obama Published: 2018

Former First Lady, Michelle Obama’s new memoir has only been out 3 months and has already sold billions of copies. I can personally say I’ve seen a multitude being given out as Christmas gifts for friends and family members.

In Becoming, Obama chronicles her life to this point, opening up about her journey from the South Side of Chicago to her stay on 1600 Pennsylvania Ave. She recalls light stories from her undergrad days at Princeton and gives readers insight on what it is like to grow up on the South Side. As well going deeper on opening up on what it was like to see her father sicken over the years and die. In addition, to give the readers a touch of romance she reminisces on how she met and fell in love with Barack Obama. Lastly, she also delves into her personal struggles with pregnancy with taking fertility treatments, to having to share her husband billions of citizens with the country.

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Review

Oprah has already nominated this book as one of her book club picks, and who am I to go against Oprah haha! Well I highly recommend this book to women of all ages and backgrounds. Whether you are a freshman in high school, ending your undergrad studies, making a drastic change in your career, a newly wed, or trying to start a family Michelle as a section in her memoir for you. Her memoir inspires readers to follow their hopes and dreams no matter who doubts them. It does not matter if you voted for Obama or Romney this book is about encouraging all people to follow their hopes and dreams. One of my favorite anecdotes is when Michelle recalls her senior year of high school before she applied to Princeton and her guidance counselor tells her, “you’re not really Princeton material”, despite this negative feedback she continues to aim for her goals eventually getting into Princeton plus going to Harvard Law for graduate school. This anecdote perfectly describes the inspiration readers get from this memoir to keep running no matter who tells you to stop.

Currently Reading

I recently received some new books over the holidays for Christmas and my birthday. I’ve been spending most of my time over the break reading. My goal is to finish all of books by time I go back to college for the Spring Semester.

I recently started reading a bunch of Laurie Halse Anderson books, so it was no surprised when I asked for Catalyst as a birthday present. The book was only $3 from Amazon. Im still in the beginning of the book, so I have formulated an opinion yet. But per her other books, I anticipate this one being just as well.

As for Becoming by Michelle Obama, I normally do not reading biographies. But I find Michelle Obamas story very intriguing. Michelle sheds light on her upbringing in Chicago, attending Princeton University and Harvard Law School, as well as being a wife and a mother Whether or not you are a Republican/ Democrat this book is good read for all women.

My Summer of Pink & Green was a birthday gift from my 5 and 2 year old cousin. At first I was a bit hesitant to read this because it seemed childlike, but so far I am enjoying the storyline. It is about a young teen, Lucy, who struggles to get voice heard while her family is opening up a new spa in town. I would recommend this book for young girls, it’s a very easy read.

One of my 2018 goals was to read all of the Jane Austen novels, I felt moved to do so after watching the movie The Jane Austen Book Club. Anyways I am finishing up with Mansfield Park. This is Austen’s third published novel, and from reviews one of her most disliked novels as well. Though I am not far enough into the story to dictate whether or not it is favorable.

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What books did you receive for Christmas?

First Book Review!

December 24, 2018

For my first Book Review I chose to do one of my all time favorites, Sense & Sensibility by Jane Austen. Sense & Sensibility by Jane Austen.

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“The more I know of the world, the more I am convinced that I shall never see a man whom I can really love. I require so much”

Title: Sense & Sensibility

Author: Jane Austen

Published: 1811

Summary: This novel follows the love lives of sisters Marianne and Elinor Dashwood. Based in an old English society, the impulsive younger sister Marianne falls in love with the charming John Willoughby. Meanwhile Elinor struggles to hide her own disappointing romantic engagements from her friends and family. Through their parallel experience of love Marianne and Elinor come to learn that sense must mix with sensibility if they are to find personal happiness in a society where status and money govern the rules of love .

Review: If you ever read any Jane Austen novels you come to know that many of her stories have characters like Marianne one who comes to mind in particular is Lydia Bennett from Pride and Prejudice. Both characters contain the same attitude towards life, society, and their family in both stories. In Sense & Sensibility Marianne Dashwood is the sister who falls head over heels for John Willoughby who is the player bachelor that leaves her stranded and un-proposed to. On the other hand, the more composed sister Elinor is going though her own romantic struggles she comes to learn that her boyfriend (of sorts) is already engaged to another woman. Instead of confronting him or telling her family she holds it to herself until it comes out in the open on its own. In the end readers come to see how both sisters love lives pan out and who they end up marrying. I particular felt like this ending was a bit rushed, it was evident throughout the whole book that Marianne never felt the same amount of love for the man she married as she felt for Mr. Willoughby. In the same notion it was never quite concluded that she was 100% over her first love. In Elinor’s case I felt her marriage was even less sincere, her husband chose her as his second choice only because his prepossessed wife ran away. Though Elinor being the calm, composed, caring sister was able to forgive Edward and proceed with the marriage.

Overall, this leaves readers with a few questions; Will these marriages last? Who do you think Elinor should have married? Why is the notion such an important theme in the text? How did the definition of sense change for the Dashwood sisters?

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What are your thoughts?