Horror Movie by Paul Tremblay

 Title: Horror Movie by Paul Tremblay

Publisher: William Morrow

Release Date: June 11, 2024

As an avid horror fan, this book sounded like it would be right up my alley. Unfortunately, that proved not to be the case.

The book was written from the point of view of someone I'll call the "Narrator" as we never learn his name. He is writing a companion to an audiobook about a 1993 movie that was partially released online and became a cult hit. There are multiple times lines which include present, recent past, 1993, and sections of the movie's script. The Narrator is the only surviving member of the cast of the original movie. Hollywood and The Narrator are trying to make a reboot of the film.

The multiple timelines can be confusing and convoluted at times which makes the book somewhat hard to read. There are also long sections without dialogue that ramble on for what feels like forever. The "horror" aspect of the book was more disturbing than scary. Most of the book was about bullying.

The ending felt rushed and added on for dramatic effect rather than neatly ending the story. It left me staring at my Kindle wondering what the heck I just read. I love a good horror story whether it be film or novel and this book didn't feel like horror at all to me.

Thank you to NetGalley and William Morrow for allowing me to read an advanced reader copy in exchange for my honest review.  

Society of Lies by Lauren Ling Brown

 Title: Society of Lies by Lauren Ling Brown

Publisher: Random House Publishing Group - Ballantine - Bantam

Release Date: August 13, 2024

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This book is told via the dual point of view and dual timelines of sisters Maya and Naomi. This can get confusing at times so you'll really want to read this book when you can give it your full attention. 

Maya returns to Princeton for her reunion and her younger sister Naomi's graduation. When Naomi doesn't show up to one of the scheduled events, Maya begins to worry. She's soon devastated to learn that police have discovered Naomi's body and are ruling her death an accident. After a conversation with the police, Maya is convinced that her sister was murdered. She starts to investigate on her own.

Maya discovers that she may not have known her sister as well as she thought. Despite Maya's warning, Naomi had joined Sterling Club, an exclusive social club. Even worse, she had be tapped to join the secret society that operates through Sterling Club. Maya knows all about it because she too was once a member. 

Upon more digging around, Maya finds out that Naomi was digging into the secrets and past of the secret society. Maya is worried that the society was involved with Naomi's death, but how can she convince the police without revealing her own secret past?

I really wanted to like this book. The premise was intriguing. Who doesn't like to read about a secret society?

Unfortunately, the parts about the society felt lackluster. It wasn't very exciting at all. I kept hoping the drama would amp up and it just didn't. Parts of the book required a complete suspension of disbelief and the ending felt rushed. It wasn't  my favorite book this year, but I'd be willing to give the author another chance in the future.

Thank you to NetGalley and Random House Publishing Group - Ballantine - Bantam for an advance reader copy of this book in exchange for me honest review.

Book Review: Ink and Bone by Lisa Unger

Book Review: Ink and Bone by Lisa Unger

Publisher: Touchstone

Finley Montgomery is a 20 year old woman and a psychic. She has true dreams, sees spirits, and speaks with the dead. She has a gift that she doesn’t want and it’s becoming hard for her to control. She tattoos pieces of her visions on her body. Moving to the Hollows, where her grandmother lives, is an escape from her overbearing mother. Her grandmother is also a psychic and starts to teach her ways to control her visions.

The Hollows is a mysterious town with a mysterious history. I wish there would have been more insight to that part. It seems to draw people and events to it. It’s said several times in the book “The Hollows wants what it wants.” It’s almost as if the town is its own living, breathing entity. It’s a character in the book for sure.

Finley meets the detective that her grandmother sometimes helps and is shocked to learn he has a missing person case for her. A little girl has gone missing and the police have given up hope but the girl’s mother has not. Finley reluctantly agrees to help and opens herself up to her visions. She also has to deal with her messy life and an even messier relationship.

The book is told from Finley’s point of view and the point of view of the missing girl and the horrors she is being subjected to. Some of the scenes are graphic but not too bad. A few parts of the book left me with a chill or two but I can report that it didn’t give me nightmares.

All in all, I liked this book a lot. I wanted more. The author left the ending open for a sequel and if she writes one I will most certainly buy it. The only parts of this book that I didn’t care for was that I wanted to know more about the town and its history. Also, Finley’s mother is portrayed throughout the book to be this huge mega bitch but when she’s needed she’s suddenly kind and caring. It was a little hard to stomach the huge personality difference.

Hopefully, if the author writes a sequel, she will tackle more of the town’s history. As I said, if a sequel comes out, sign me up. I have already recommended this book to several people outside of this blog and will continue to recommend it to many more.

I received a copy of this book from Netgalley.com in exchange for my honest review. Thanks Netgalley, for another winner!

Book Review: The Butterfly Garden by Dot Hutchison

Book Review: The Butterfly Garden by Dot Hutchison

Publisher: Thomas & Mercer

You wake up in a glorious garden. It’s green and lush and there is even a waterfall. It sounds like paradise, right?

Not if you have been kidnapped by The Gardener. He’s a handsome man that on an ordinary day you might find yourself attracted to. Now he’s your captor. He’s tattooed you, changed your name, and turned you in to his plaything. If you are good to him he is good to you. Good behavior gets rewards. Bad behavior gets punishments.

Really bad behavior gets you killed and put on display like a prized butterfly.

After the garden is discovered by the FBI they begin questioning the survivors. The book is told from the perspective of a young girl named Maya. She learns quickly that keeping The Gardener happy is the only way she can survive. Even while she is giving the agents all the answers she is able more secrets and more horrors are revealed.

This book stayed with me when it was over. Yes, it’s a tale of survival. It’s also a story of the depths of friendship between women. The characters were fleshed out pretty well. I shed a few tears during a few sad moments in this book. I almost cheered at the end.

This is definitely a highly recommended read. I only put it down for dinner and restroom breaks. It reads quickly but it also very detailed. The author is excellent at pacing and keeping the reader turning the page to find out what happens next. You almost NEED to find out what happens next.

I received a free copy of this book from Netgalley.com in exchange for my honest opinion. Thank you Netgalley, this one was a treat!

Book Review: Baby Doll by Hollie Overton

Book Review: Baby Doll by Hollie Overton

Publisher: Redhook Books

3,110 days after she was kidnapped, Lily escapes from captivity with her six year old daughter Sky. Her abductor was a man she thought she could trust. Rick was her teacher and he turned in to a monster that kidnapped her, raped her, beat her, and manipulated her into his compliant “baby doll”.

Little did he know that Lily’s spirit wasn’t as broken as he thought. One day, he gets careless and Lily escapes. She runs through the snow and cold with her daughter and goes straight to the only home she has ever known. She believes that they will now be safe.

Things have changed in her absence. Her father has passed away. Her mother has fallen into drinking. Her twin sister Abby has not only become depressed but is pregnant by Lily’s first love. As painful as it is, Lily has to adjust to the realization that life has gone on without her.

This story was compelling from start to finish. There have been stories in the news of people escaping from activity but you never really see what happens AFTER unless they get a book or movie deal. Granted this book is fiction but I think it shows that when a crime like this happens it’s like a pebble dropped in a still pond – the ripples extend out and touch more than just the criminal and the victim.

Lily’s twin Abby suffers from depression and guilt. Sky is a beautiful six year old girl who is dealing with being taken away from the only father she has ever known and not fully understanding what a monster he was. Lily has to deal with coming back to a life that is completely changed. Even Rick has to deal with the loss of his perfect public persona and the aftermath of being discovered as a pedophile and kidnapper.

The author made these characters realistic enough that you loved them, hated them, rooted for them, and even understood their decisions even if you didn’t agree with them. It’s a story of struggle, hope and survival. It’s a story that will stick with you even when you finish.

I received an Uncorrected Advance Reader Copy from Netgalley.com in exchange for my honest opinion. 

Book Review: If You Left by Ashley Prentice Norton

If You Left by Ashley Prentice Norton

Advanced Reading Copy

Publisher: Houghton Mifflin Harcourt/Mariner Books

I am going to be completely honest. I did not like this book at all. Normally, I can find at least one or two things about a book that I can say “Oh, well at least that part was good.” With this book there wasn’t a single redeeming quality.

It starts out with Althea Willow, a wealthy housewife with several mental illnesses. Being someone who is familiar with mental illness, that part did not bother me at all. The first chapter begins with a suicide attempt that  Althea survives even though she ends up in a mental hospital. This is not her first admission. She is soon released and goes home to her adulterous husband and their adopted 9 year old daughter whom she barely knows.

The whole book is basically about how much Althea does not know a thing about her daughter Clementine and her half-hearted attempts to bond with her. This woman literally has no desire whatsoever to be a mother. She goes through the motions in an attempt to placate her insensitive ass of a husband. He’s overly critical, treats her like a child, and hits on women right in front of her face.

Althea barely exists. She has a ton of money, a husband she once loved, a career she once enjoyed and a daughter who is dying for an ounce of affection from her. You want to feel bad for her or feel some sympathy for her but you simply can’t. There is not even one thing about her that is remotely endearing. She has no spine except for one scene where she has an incident with one of her husband’s mistresses.

The only person I felt anything for in this book was Clementine. She was clearly a smart, vibrant young girl who wants her mother’s love. Even when she begs for it, speaks the words out loud, Althea is incapable of doing anything for her.

Don’t get me started on the ending. If this had been a physical book instead of an e-book that I was reading on my tablet I would have thrown it against the wall. It was THAT bad. All in all, I would recommend one thing about this book. Avoid it.

I received and Advanced Reader Copy of this book from Netgalley.com in exchange for my review.

As always if you have read this book and want to tell me how right or how wrong I am, please feel free to comment below.