The Bullet That Missed by Richard Osman

The Bullet that Missed
by Richard Osman
⭐⭐⭐

The Bullet that Missed is the third installment in the Thursday Murder Club series! As usual, the gang works together to solve a famous murder case. This time, the murder belongs to news anchor Bethany Waites, whose car was pushed off the edge of a cliff… without her body. While the crew works hard to find Bethany’s killer, Elizabeth’s murky past starts to catch up with her. 

The Man Who Died Twice was such a great sequel, so I was really excited to read this book! Unfortunately, it wasn’t as strong, in my opinion. Of all three books, this one felt very rushed, like Richard Osman was getting close to his deadline. The humor wasn’t as frequent or strong, Elizabeth wasn’t really at the top of her game, and there, quite frankly, just wasn’t enough Joyce. Also, the mystery of this book wasn’t spectacular and the villain of the story was predictable to me. 

With that said, however, I loved the new characters that were introduced to us in this book! Each one is totally unique and adds a new perspective to our group of elderly crime fighters. And honestly, despite my criticisms, I still enjoyed revisiting these characters and liked the story decently enough. 

I saw that book four is already in the works, which is great, but also worrisome. It’s when publishers put pressure on authors to write an annual bestseller that we enter the territory of lower quality storylines and rushed endings. I really hope the next book is stronger than this one. Still, though, it was an enjoyable story!

Hamnet by Maggie O'Farrell

Hamnet by Maggie O'Farrell
⭐⭐⭐⭐⭐

Hamnet is Maggie O’Farrell’s interpretation of the parts of Shakespeare’s life that the history books unfortunately cannot provide to us. Not only does this book take a deep dive into Shakespeare’s marriage and family life, but also the death of his son and how this loss inspired him to write one of his most famous plays, Hamlet. 

This is one of those books that is entirely characterization and not much plot, which I personally adore! With that being said, this narrative is incredible. I really loved that Shakespeare remains unnamed in the story; instead, it focuses more on his wife Agnes, how they met, the evolution of their marriage, and Agnes’ role in the family. 

Hamnet is an incredible dialogue on grief, and Maggie O’Farrell’s commitment to depicting the different forms of grief is so appreciated. Of course, the main grief discussed in Hamnet is child loss and how this affects parents and siblings as they try to pick up the pieces of their lives. In addition to this, the grief of the past, of the future, of hopes/dreams, and of motherhood are also chronicled in this story. Not only are these examples of grief realistic, but they are also heartbreaking. 

There were also mystical elements mixed into the story, which added a lot of depth and emotion that maybe would have lacked due to unknown historical facts surrounding Shakespeare’s life and relationships. Agnes’ abilities in particular were interesting and I really enjoyed those parts of her character. 

As the cover of this book mentions, Hamnet is a plague story, focusing on the Bubonic Plague in particular. Maggie O’Farrell was able to paint a very real and disturbing version of the Bubonic Plague without being gory or disrespectful to its victims. She was able to use the plague almost like an additional character, and the finesse with which she did it shows the talent she possesses. 

Overall, if you enjoy historical fiction, this isn’t just a recommendation - this is a must read for you! It very quickly became one of my favorite books this year! It really is incredible. As someone who has lost a sibling, this story really hit me. I loved it.

A Good Girl's Guide to Murder by Holly Jackson

A Good Girl's Guide to Murder
by Holly Jackson
⭐⭐⭐⭐

Five years ago, Sal Singh allegedly murdered his high school girlfriend, Andie Bell, and later committed suicide. It is widely believed by the town that Sal perpetrated the crime, despite Andie's body never having been found. Seventeen year-old Pippa Fitz-Amobi never truly bought into Sal's guilt and, with a secret agenda in mind, chooses to base her senior year project on the crime. A Good Girl's Guide to Murder follows Pip as she uncovers her hometown's dark secrets and the truth of what happened that night five years ago - because Sal couldn't possibly have done it... right?

From front to back, this book was awesome. I was so impressed that this is marketed as a YA novel. Not only did we have a strong, intelligent, and determined female lead, but she was funny as hell, too. If I ever decide to actually grow up, I want to be Pip. 

The story dealt with some heavier themes such as s*xual assault, dr*g abuse, abuse of power, and racism. Holly Jackson did a phenomenal job weaving these darker topics into the narrative, as well as discussing and portraying them realistically. Our secondary characters (especially Ravi, Sal's younger brother who aids Pip in her investigation) added to the heart of the story and served to highlight some of Pip's best qualities throughout the book. 

This would've been five stars, but the ending was partly predictable for me. That's okay though, because A Good Girl's Guide to Murder was otherwise incredible!

Overall, this book was fun, dark, perfectly paced, intense, thought-provoking, and funny. Pip is a character that will hang around for a while in my mind. I highly recommend this one if you like mysteries and/or thrillers! I can't wait to read the sequel! 

- trigger warnings - s*xual assault, r*pe, su*cide, dr*g abuse, racism

The Paris Apartment by Lucy Foley

The Paris Apartment 
by Lucy Foley
⭐⭐

The Paris Apartment introduces us to Jess, a twenty-eight-year-old bartender who is on the run from her past, as she reaches out to her brother, Ben, a journalist, for help. She travels to Paris to stay with Ben in his somewhat new apartment until she can get back on her feet. When Jess arrives to find her brother missing and his cat covered in what looks like blood, her journey to finding her brother begins. Looking for help from Ben's neighbors, Jess realizes that the other tenants in the Paris apartment aren't who they seem to be, but can she trust them?

I don't want to say it, but I like to be fully transparent - this is in the top five worst books I've read this year. So many people loved it! I wanted to love it, too!! I really did!!! But no matter who hard I tried, I just couldn't do it. 

I'm keeping my criticisms brief because this is all personal opinion and I'm not going to condemn a book just because I didn't like it. Firstly, every character, with the exception of Jess, was unlikeable and there was no depth to any of them! They were all one dimensional! Every chapter is from a different person's perspective, but they all read like the same character. Sophie and Jess were the most unique characters, but everyone else had the exact same voice. It was also very predictable for me (except for the very end, but even then, I wasn't blown away). 

Aside from the ending, there was nothing really redeeming about this story for me. I wanted to like this, I really did, but I came extremely close to DNFing it. Ultimately, I stuck with it until the end, but unfortunately, it just wasn't my cup of tea. However! As I always say - different strokes for different folks! 

Just Like Home by Sarah Gailey

Just Like Home by Sarah Gailey
⭐⭐

Upon finishing Just Like Home, I felt really conflicted. I couldn't decide if I liked it or not. It took me a few days to gather my thoughts but I'm confident about my feelings now. 

Vera is the daughter of a notorious serial killer and has spent most of her life running from the past, her hometown, and her mother, Daphne. When Daphne calls Vera, after a very long estrangement, to tell her that she is dying and needs her daughter by her side, Vera decides to face her demons and return home - to the house her father built and where he murdered his victims. Just Like Home is the story of Vera's childhood, her family, her past, and what happens when she comes face to face with what she's been running away from for so long.

This book had amazing potential. Everything about the story was interesting and it had a Sharp Objects vibe to it that I was so excited about! I think it's safe to say that it didn't quite live up to that expectation. This is one of those books where the themes and the plot are spectacular but the writing and ending totally dropped the ball.

There are many positive aspects to Just Like Home - it's an interesting family dynamic, the prose throughout was great, and I personally really liked the deeper insights into Vera's background through the chapters taking place throughout her childhood. Where it fell short were the characters - there are only four characters in this book, and they were mostly one dimensional - no development or evolution takes place for them. The whole story, from the dialogue to Vera's thoughts to the descriptions, was extremely repetitive. I believe the author's purpose was to show how the past is constantly pressing into Vera, how she's being haunted by her father and the memories of the house. Despite that, I don't think it was successful and this book would probably be 100 pages less if we weren't constantly reminded that Vera's dad built the damn house.

You also feel like you're on the verge of something happening, but - surprise! - nothing happens. The twist at the end was a little out there, too, and not in a good way. With all of that said, however, I did really like how the past was always creeping into Vera's present, and I found the relationship between her parents super interesting. 

Overall, I really would not recommend this one. It's not atrociously terrible, but it lacks the emotional and psychological depth that really could've made this story special. The themes were strong, but unfortunately, the writing wasn't. In place of this book, I would recommend Sharp Objects instead!

Man Made Monsters by Andrea L. Rogers

Man Made Monsters
by Andrea L. Rogers
⭐⭐⭐

Man Made Monsters is a really unique short horror story collection. It follows multiple generations belonging to one Cherokee family, beginning in the 1800s and continuing into our present time and future.  Each story contains its own horror element - from vampires, to aliens, to zombies - as well as discussing real life horrors, like colonialism, school shootings, and domestic violence. 

I really wanted to love this collection more than I did. That's not to say I didn't like it, because honestly, I liked most of the stories! I found the thread of family, love, and culture at the heart of this collection really powerful, and each story was one of a kind whilst still loosely connecting to the tales that came before and after. My main criticism is that, though entertaining and thought provoking, the stories themselves were very short. For me personally, I couldn't connect emotionally with many of the characters because we only spend tiny windows of time with them. I would've enjoyed more characterization with fully fleshed out thoughts and feelings - I just felt like many of the characters lacked the kind of emotional depth that I really adore.

I was also excited by the Cherokee/Native element of these stories - I had hoped for some Native folklore and/or mythology, but most of the horror in this collection is more along the lines of classic. With that said, however, I really liked the twists that Andrea L. Rogers' put on the stories we know so well. Also, politically speaking, Man Made Monsters hit the nail on the head and did an astounding job showcasing how normalized things like cultural destruction, child abuse, and sexual abuse has become in our world.

I also loved how many strong females are in this collection, as well as how connected the beginning story and the final story is. Overall, I liked Man Made Monsters and would recommend it to anyone who likes horror but who might also like delving into topics such as generational trauma and racial politics. I wanted a bit more from these stories, but I still really enjoyed reading them!

Nightbitch by Rachel Yoder

Nightbitch by Rachel Yoder
⭐⭐⭐⭐

In Nightbitch, we meet an unnamed woman whose life is thrown upside down when she awakens to discover that she is seemingly morphing into a dog. As the transformation takes place, we witness her struggle to maintain her motherhood, marriage, and beast-hood all at once.

Nightbitch is a book about dissatisfaction with life, sacrificing oneself for love, the trials of motherhood, the complexities of marriage, and the freedom that comes with transforming into a wild-ass dog. This book was brilliant. Though the subject matter is very literal, the overall metaphor of becoming a dog is an astoundingly accurate and profound metaphor for the changes that take place throughout a woman's life.

The messages in Nightbitch are powerful, feminist, comforting, and funny as hell. This book focuses on the changes, expectations, and responsibilities forced onto a woman's shoulders as she becomes a mother, but it's also about finding yourself, following your heart, and finding your purpose in life. My only criticism for this book is the animal cruelty. While I was reading, I understood why the author felt it was necessary to include it, but I read an interview where she said herself that it's an aspect of the story that she somewhat regrets. I am very sensitive to animal cruelty, so those parts of the book were not my favorite. 

Honestly, I would love to recommend this to any woman who is already a mother, or who is hoping/planning to become one in the future, but I know this book wouldn't be everyone's cup of tea. So instead, I will recommend this one to any horror lovers because Nightbitch is extremely unique and though it's about turning into a dog, the story itself is a very human story and I really, really loved it. 

Mexican Gothic by Silvia Moreno-Garcia

-Trigger Warnings- sexual assault, incest, infanticide 

Mexican Gothic by 
Silvia Moreno-Garcia
⭐⭐⭐

In Mexican Gothic, we first meet our socialite main character Noemi when her father receives letters in the mail from her cousin, claiming that her new husband is poisoning her, and she needs help. Noemi is sent to the estate of which her cousin's new family owns, determined to get to the truth of the situation. Noemi's journey leads her to unveil something much more sinister than she ever could have imagined upon her arrival at the estate.

My opinion might be on the more unpopular side because so many people just absolutely loved this book! It just didn't do it for me, honestly. I loved Noemi and how strong of a female lead she is, as well as her determination throughout the story, but all the characters seemed so one dimensional. They all felt more like a means to an end than real characters who have roles in the narrative.  The pacing of the book was a little off to me as well. It starts rather slowly and then by the middle of the story, everything is revealed to you. And the ending - it was rushed and fell very flat for me. 

The actual story that is at the heart of this book is super unique and creepy, but it just wasn't enough to carry the rest of the book, in my opinion. I gave Mexican Gothic three stars because I genuinely like how twisted Silvia Moreno-Garcia's mind is, and I'm very interested in reading her other works. Overall, Mexican Gothic was neither terrible nor amazing, it was honestly just decent. I wish it had left more of a mark but sometimes books just don't work for me! I definitely don't regret reading it though, so that's a good thing! 

 

Babel by R.F. Kuang

Babel by R.F. Kuang
⭐⭐⭐⭐⭐

Robin Swift, born in Canton and orphaned by the Cholera pandemic, is brought to London by Professor Lovell, a professor at Oxford's Royal Institute of Translation (Babel). Robin is ruthlessly trained day and night in the subject of languages and translation to fulfil Professor Lovell's orders of his enrollment at Babel. Years later, Robin is ready for Babel and learns just how the magic of language can change the world - but soon, Robin realizes that there is a cost to the knowledge and power that Babel holds. 

This is one of the most extraordinary books I have ever read. The amount of work, knowledge, research, imagination, organization, and CONFIDENCE that R.F. Kuang had to have had in order to put this together far surpasses my understanding of what humans are capable of. Babel is genuinely incredible. There is so much genre-meshing here - Babel is fantasy, dark academia, historical fiction, and political! This is, by far, one of my favorite coming of age stories I have ever read. 

I really grew to love these characters and the setting absolutely envelops you - I swear I could see everything Kuang described. Some of the criticisms that Babel has received are valid, although I don't agree with all of them. Some have said that this book reads like a textbook. That's true, but it's something I adored about the story. I loved learning about the history of translation as well as the political repercussions that go along with the gathering (and hoarding) of information and resources. 

I rated Babel 5 stars for all of these reasons, although I do have a few personal criticisms. Firstly, I feel like the supporting characters needed/deserved more. Poppy War is a great example of secondary characters having fully fleshed out histories/origins. Secondly, I hated the ending. I just really wasn't happy with it, though, admittedly, it was a good way to end the book.

Babel is a masterpiece. I need a sequel ASAP! I highly recommend this for fantasy lovers and/or history buffs. The political content is beautifully done, which is always expected from R.F Kuang at this point. Wow. Just wow - I adored this book!

The House Across the Lake by Riley Sager

 *TRIGGER WARNINGS* alcoholism, addiction, domestic violence, themes of death

The House Across the Lake
by Riley Sager
⭐⭐⭐

Casey is a recently widowed actress with a heavy reliance on alcohol. When her alcoholism becomes front page news, Casey's mother sends her to the family lake house to break her habit, which also happens to be the very lake her husband drowned in. One day, Casey rescues her new neighbor - gorgeous supermodel Katherine - from drowning. Casey and Katherine become fast friends, and as Casey's alcoholism and loneliness worsens, she takes to watching the house across the lake, in which Katherine lives with her husband, Tom. One night, Casey witnesses the couple have a fight and the next day, Katherine is missing. Thus begins Casey's twisted journey to finding her missing friend.

The House Across the Lake was a really fun thriller! I enjoyed it for what it was, and Casey's sense of humor was killer! I loved the idea of women protecting one another and Casey's devotion to finding out the truth behind Katherine's disappearance. The setting of the lake was really fun and eerie, and I was a big fan of the twist and the ending!

I rated this book 3 stars because, despite really enjoying it, the portrayal of Casey's alcoholism was kind of lighthearted and unserious. Riley Sager isn't the most character driven of authors, which is fine, but I would've appreciated a darker, more realistic approach to addiction. I also am never a fan of male authors having their female leads give a feminist monologue - it just doesn't sit very well with me. 

Overall, The House Across the Lake was a fun thriller perfect for this time of year! The twist and ending really worked for me as well. If you're looking for a twisted thriller, I definitely recommend this one!