bridgefourbooks's reviews
7 reviews

Imagine a wimp dropped into a dark, dreary, crime-infested world like Gotham. Except in this world, you may become your worst nightmare. Like a GIANT MAN-EATING SPIDER.

After Chapter 1, I thought for sure I was going to hate this, but here we are with me sort of loving this. 

I loved the chaotic world and the magic system where anything goes. I loved that the protagonist was a nobody. She wasn't a badass, she didn't have a hidden talent, and she wasn't the chosen one. She had to work for her character growth, and I appreciated it.

The only thing that stopped this from being a 5-star read was that there were parts that I felt were overly repetitive. As though the author didn't trust me to remember something from a few chapters before. 

There were also a few incidents of soapboxing, and while I felt like it fit the narrative and I agreed with the author's point of view, it was fairly noticeable, and I'm sure some readers will dislike these parts. 

Thank you to NetGalley, Harper Collins Children's Books, and Clarion Books for an advanced copy of this book in exchange for an honest review.

You had me at Parker novella. I have had such good luck with Parker's short stories that he has become an automatic read for me. Parker manages to say so much in such a short book. Plus, Salonius is in this one, and he has quickly become an all-time favorite fictional character of mine.

This novella is a religious/metaphysical-leaning story, and while I did enjoy it, I find that I tend to prefer Parker's political/military-focused plots more. Despite this, Parker's trademark humor and sarcastic outlook on life are present and accounted for. I love his dialogue and his wordplay, and each novella leaves me thinking for days to come. Further, I enjoyed the ideas of inheritance and the sins of the father passing on to his sons. 

At this point, I will read anything Parker writes if I can only find the time. 

Thank you to NetGalley and Macmillan-Tor Forge and TorDotCom for an advanced copy in exchange for an honest review. 

 I have to say, I was hesitant going into this one. It has mixed reviews and I have had more misses than hits recently, at least when it comes to rom-coms. However, I ended up really enjoying this one. It is so much more than a typical rom-com. It has an amazing found family that I fell in love with. The side characters are so meddlesome in the cutest way.

I also really enjoyed the gender swap with the man getting the makeover but I would have liked a little faster character growth from the male lead's side.

I also really enjoyed the nostalgia I felt from the references to the rom-coms I grew up with and Gilmore Girls.

If you like spice, look elsewhere. This book is squeaky clean.

I listened to this as an audiobook, and read along. I enjoyed the narration.

Thank you so much to Netgalley, Dreamscape Media, and St. Martin’s Press for an ARC in exchange for my honest review. All of the thoughts above are my own. 

Thank you, Stacy Willingham, for making me believe in thrillers again! 

Over the last five years, I've stopped reading thrillers. When I try, I'm always disappointed. The woman is always drunk, or the twists are so unbelievable that I can't help but roll my eyes. 

However, this book made me remember what I love about thrillers: the constant guessing, the possibility of an unreliable narrator, the red herrings, and the intense emotions. I was hooked from the first page and essentially listened to this in one sitting. 

The author's use of sleep was clever and believable and made for a uniquely creepy atmosphere. 

I did guess one of the twists, but as to the actual whodunit, I was wrong until the end. 

I highly recommend this one. I listened to the audio, and the narrator did a great job! 

I caution readers to look up trigger warnings. This book contains child abduction, suicidal thoughts, and various thoughts and anxieties that mothers feel. 

This was fine. But I'm tired of fine. 

I will admit that I don't love Friends to Lovers. Especially, if they are new friends like in this case. 

I never bought their romance, I barely bought their friendship. 

Things were incredibly repetitive and there was no follow through on several of the subplots. 

I enjoyed the side characters, especially Leo!