Mini Thoughts
Hello, all!
Love and Other Conspiracies- Mallory Marlowe: Hallie Barrett is a web series producer in desperate need of a new show to save her job, and Hayden Hargrove is the man to do it. Hallie stumbles upon the handsome Hayden while watching a late-night conspiracy theory show and is instantly captivated. Hayden has gained some notoriety as a cryptid expert with his podcast, where he discusses everything from Bigfoot to Area 51 and everything in between. Hayden hesitantly agrees to Hallie's pitch about turning his podcast into a web series, but during the first episode, it's clear that Hayden is much more comfortable behind a mic than a camera. When Hallie steps in, bringing with her skepticism and a heavy dose of chemistry, the views begin to skyrocket. As the pair begin to investigate the unknown together, it becomes harder to deny their growing attraction. But Hallie has dated a coworker before, and it blew up in her face. Is she willing to put her heart (and career) on the line again?
Aliens, Bigfoot, and Mothman, oh my! It was as if Marlowe wrote this book for me. I had such a fun time with it. I thought it would be a little cheesy and corny, and while it had those moments, I couldn't get enough. I like to think I straddle the line between The Truth is Out There and logical thinking, so there was so much about each character that I could relate to. It made it so easy for me to want to root for them. They had such a fun dynamic, and I loved how Hallie would rile Hayden up. And Hayden? If a tall, handsome, tattooed cinnamon roll of a man told me aliens existed, I would be like, "Of course they do. Pass me the tinfoil hat." I was down bad for that man. Watching him and Hallie put aside their insecurities and allow themselves to be cared for was so sweet. Aside from the characters/romance, I thought Marlowe's writing was entertaining and funny, and I'm excited to read whatever she comes out with next.
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| Pub Date: 8-20-24 Adult - Contemporary |
Love and Other Conspiracies- Mallory Marlowe: Hallie Barrett is a web series producer in desperate need of a new show to save her job, and Hayden Hargrove is the man to do it. Hallie stumbles upon the handsome Hayden while watching a late-night conspiracy theory show and is instantly captivated. Hayden has gained some notoriety as a cryptid expert with his podcast, where he discusses everything from Bigfoot to Area 51 and everything in between. Hayden hesitantly agrees to Hallie's pitch about turning his podcast into a web series, but during the first episode, it's clear that Hayden is much more comfortable behind a mic than a camera. When Hallie steps in, bringing with her skepticism and a heavy dose of chemistry, the views begin to skyrocket. As the pair begin to investigate the unknown together, it becomes harder to deny their growing attraction. But Hallie has dated a coworker before, and it blew up in her face. Is she willing to put her heart (and career) on the line again?
Aliens, Bigfoot, and Mothman, oh my! It was as if Marlowe wrote this book for me. I had such a fun time with it. I thought it would be a little cheesy and corny, and while it had those moments, I couldn't get enough. I like to think I straddle the line between The Truth is Out There and logical thinking, so there was so much about each character that I could relate to. It made it so easy for me to want to root for them. They had such a fun dynamic, and I loved how Hallie would rile Hayden up. And Hayden? If a tall, handsome, tattooed cinnamon roll of a man told me aliens existed, I would be like, "Of course they do. Pass me the tinfoil hat." I was down bad for that man. Watching him and Hallie put aside their insecurities and allow themselves to be cared for was so sweet. Aside from the characters/romance, I thought Marlowe's writing was entertaining and funny, and I'm excited to read whatever she comes out with next.
Rating: 4/5
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| Pub Date: 7-30-24 YA - Mystery |
The Grandest Game- Jennifer Lynn Barnes: When Avery Grambs inherited the fortune of the late Tobias Hawthorne, her whole world changed. She went from barely scraping by to having everything at her fingertips. At first, Avery had to contend with the four Hawthorne grandsons, but it didn't take long for her to win them over. Avery and the Hawthornes love a good puzzle, so they created the Grandest Game, an annual competition allowing the winner their shot at fame and fortune. Seven players have received the coveted golden tickets, and each has their reasons for wanting to win. But tensions rise as the players get pushed to their limits, and it's clear that not everyone is playing by the rules.
The Inheritance Games was a fun time, so I was looking forward to this spin-off, but ugh, what a letdown. We're following a new cast of characters that we've glimpsed previously, and I didn't care about any of them. They're all pretentious, and it felt like JLB was trying too hard to push relationships together (*cough Grayson/Lyra cough*). The plot is also non-existent except for being one giant escape room. The game felt pointless and ended on such an anti-climatic cliffhanger. Usually, I love JLB's writing, but I found myself skim-reading the second half to get it over with. I may still consider reading the next one, but it won't be a priority.
The Inheritance Games was a fun time, so I was looking forward to this spin-off, but ugh, what a letdown. We're following a new cast of characters that we've glimpsed previously, and I didn't care about any of them. They're all pretentious, and it felt like JLB was trying too hard to push relationships together (*cough Grayson/Lyra cough*). The plot is also non-existent except for being one giant escape room. The game felt pointless and ended on such an anti-climatic cliffhanger. Usually, I love JLB's writing, but I found myself skim-reading the second half to get it over with. I may still consider reading the next one, but it won't be a priority.
Rating: 2/5
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| Pub Date: 4-2-24 YA - Mystery |
The Reappearance of Rachel Price- Holly Jackson: Sixteen years ago, Bel Price's life changed forever when her mother, Rachel, disappeared. Bel was the only witness, having been found abandoned in the backseat of Rachel's car, but she was only two at the time and had no memory of what happened. Now, despite Bel's reluctance, she and her family have agreed to partake in a true crime documentary surrounding Rachel's case. Bel wishes everyone would move on and let her live a regular life. But things get complicated when Rachel Price reappears with an unbelievable story about what happened to her all those years ago. Unlike everyone else, Bel isn't quick to trust Rachel, so she begins her investigation, and nothing could prepare her for what she'd find.
I'll give it to Jackson-- she sure knows how to write a twisty thriller that keeps you flipping the pages. I was sucked in right from the start, trying to figure out what happened all those years ago. There's so much family drama and long-buried secrets that it felt like an episode of Maury (did I just date myself?). I thought Bel was a strong MC. She was intelligent, funny, and tenacious. I was just as curious as she was to figure out what happened and which family members she could trust. I had a ton of fun reading this, but it was so drawn out that things started becoming repetitive. The ending was also a little too outlandish, and it felt like Jackson was trying to one-up herself when it came to unhinged reveals. It was still an entertaining read that I would recommend, but just know you're in for some soap opera-level drama.
I'll give it to Jackson-- she sure knows how to write a twisty thriller that keeps you flipping the pages. I was sucked in right from the start, trying to figure out what happened all those years ago. There's so much family drama and long-buried secrets that it felt like an episode of Maury (did I just date myself?). I thought Bel was a strong MC. She was intelligent, funny, and tenacious. I was just as curious as she was to figure out what happened and which family members she could trust. I had a ton of fun reading this, but it was so drawn out that things started becoming repetitive. The ending was also a little too outlandish, and it felt like Jackson was trying to one-up herself when it came to unhinged reveals. It was still an entertaining read that I would recommend, but just know you're in for some soap opera-level drama.
Rating: 3.5/5
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