They Never Learn, Layne Fargo
Domestic Thriller, 3★
Revenge! But make the setting literary and a little gory.
All We Ever Wanted, Emily Giffin
Contemporary Fiction, 3.5 ★
Although slightly distracted by the continuous sprinkling of italics and the frustratingly pleasing Lyla, I suppose the ending mimics life, and I am still thinking about it.
The Girlfriend, Michelle Frances
Psychological Thriller, 4★
Intrigued by the “Soon to be a Prime Original Series,” I downloaded – London setting, unreliable narrator, tit for tat malicious behavior, what happens if your son falls for a secret psycho??
Run for the Hills, Kevin Wilson
Literary Fiction, 3 ★
Billed as humorous, but read darker – clever, original, and odd, but not quite Nothing to See Here status.
All the Other Mothers Hate Me, Sarah Harman
Mystery/Thriller, 5★
Sass, sarcasm, self-deprecation, underdog, fallen pop star, mama bear, mystery, and a twist while subtly and perpetually taking digs at fancy UK moms? Take me, I’m yours.
The Favorites, Layne Fargo
Sports Romance, 4.5 ★
I couldn’t help but be of an impressionable age when Harding/Kerrigan was viral, and though this is about ice dancing and the dynamics therein, it scratched an itch and lifted the curtain on Olympic-level training/dynamics.
You Killed Me First, John Marrs
Thriller, 4★
Light supernatural elements that might benefit from a flowchart, but read like mental illness, revolting characters that you love anyway, with a gorgeous twist.
Francine’s Spectacular Crash and Burn, Renee Swindle
Fiction, 4★
A flawed but self-aware narrator who makes infuriating choices but is good to her core, you keep reading until she realizes it - she navigates this via an autistic foster child. Is “former bully-turned-lover” a trope? That and other surprises keep this delightfully original.
Just by Looking at Him, Ryan O’Connell
Fiction, 3★
A gay man’s shockingly honest mid-life crisis by way of his relationships, vivid sexual exploits, and reflections on his disability - his growth is *chef’s kiss*.
Atmosphere, Taylor Jenkins Reed
Contemorary Fiction, 5★
I wish there were a song that captured the unexpected essence of a shy ’70s feminist astronaut as she navigates her physical, spiritual, and relational way from Earth to space, because this book made music in my soul.
Park Avenue, Renee Ahdieh
Contemporary Fiction, 5★
So heavy on Birkin lore at the beginning that I almost put it down, but after the breathless twist at the end, it would have been my most profound loss.
The Summer Pact, Emily Giffin
Contemporary Fiction, 3★
I’m left with questions, but most didn’t linger too long for this Vibe Reader (except one that even the Goodreads reviews I combed for validation didn’t cover, the SA brush over??), the enjoyable trio of characters changed locations enough that I was immersed, and the ending, though abrupt, was suitable to the rest of the book.
ONE SENTENCE BOOK REVIEW
ONE SENTENCE BOOK REVIEW
A Note:
Aren’t ratings all subjective anyway? It’s a struggle for me to give an accurate score from 1-5, but when I try, it’s based solely on my rate of enjoyment, which is based on my mood, which is based on my sleep, and/or the most recent comment someone made to me. Please take the rating with that grain of ambiguous salt. That said, I give 5* sparingly.
If you happen to be the author of one of the books below, know that it’s not you, it’s most definitely me.
TW Warning:
Warning, no warnings. You won’t find TWs here, so do be sure to look them up, because there will be plenty. One of my many character flaws is that I beg to be triggered. Fight or flight? I’ll take the former, please. In books and in life.
*Grammar may suffer for the sake of the one-sentence goal.