Author: Kaylie

The Inmate – Reviewed

On By KaylieIn Three StarsLeave a comment

I gave this three out of five stars.

Freida McFadden brings us along as Brooke, a nurse practitioner, begins a new job at a maximum security men’s prison. Early on, we learn one of the inmates (serving a life sentence) is a man she helped put in prison when she was a teenager. He was also her first love… and the father of her child. As one of two nurse practitioners at this prison, Brooke must treat each and every patient, including Shane. Of course, Shane has no idea he has a biological son, and as soon as he sees Brooke, he begins trying to claim his innocence. As you would expect, Shane’s sad prison life, and claims he has been wrongfully imprisoned tug at Brooke’s heartstrings, and ultimately she ends up second guessing her judgement from a decade prior. Did Shane really murder her friends? Or was it the other survivor from that night..?

This book remains in Brooke’s perspective for the entirety, but alternates between present and past-tense. We read about Brooke’s life, both in and out of the prison, and we also read about the events that led to Shane’s incarceration. A little bit of Brooke’s love life is thrown into the mix too, and it gets just as messy as you’d expect.

As of late, I have become a Freida McFadden FAN, and I found this book just as easy to read as the first two Housemaid books (the third is TBD, but I can’t wait to let you know!!). It was suspenseful, and the short chapters and changing perspectives kept me engaged.

There was a time, though, for a good bit of the book (probably about 25 percent) just over halfway through, I was wondering why I was still reading. I really thought it was very obvious how this book was going to end. This feeling, ultimately, is what led to me giving this book three stars instead of four. But, I trust Freida, so I kept reading.

And man, am I glad I did! As with the other Freida books I’ve read, everything was a bit outrageous, and events, as they occurred in the book, were not what I would call realistic, but I did not see the ending coming! There were little details thrown in, and she tied them straight back to the rest of the book, as it seems she always does so well.

One thing I look for in a thriller/suspense novel, is the feeling of watching a movie in my mind. Even though I was feeling a bit drab through the middle, this was always something Freida’s writing achieved in this book.

I was kind of hoping for a different ending to this one, but I still enjoyed it. This was another one, where once I was almost finished, I couldn’t put it down.

The Housemaid’s Secret (#2 of 3) – Reviewed

On By KaylieIn FIVE STARS1 Comment

FIVE FREAKING STARS.

Truth be told, when I started reading The Housemaid, I had no idea it was the first in a series. In fact, I chose to start that book over a different one, because I thought it was a standalone novel. I was wrong. Anyway…

I was not even halfway through the first book when I rushed an order from Barnes and Noble containing this book. I could NOT wait to read this. (Naturally, it arrived a day late)

I read this book in one day, and enjoyed every second of it. Millie is now living in New York, and of course, she needs a job. So what does she do? She accepts another housemaid job for another wealthy couple! This couple, however, is MUCH more mysterious than the last. From day one, Douglas Garrick informs Millie that his wife, Wendy, is sick and Millie will not be allowed in her bedroom. He instructs her to leave her alone, and Millie does, at first not thinking anything of it. Given Millie’s past, I’m not sure how she didn’t see what happened next coming, but to be fair I didn’t either. Millie starts finding blood in strange places, hearing strange noises, and eventually does come face to face with Wendy. It all goes downhill from there. We find ourselves first questioning Douglas, then Wendy, then… Who?

This book was unbelievable (in the best way). The way Freida McFadden sets the stage for every single plot twist this book throws at us is incredible. No detail goes overlooked, and every turn toward the end of the book linked back to details prior. Once again, the execution of the storyline straight through to the ending was gold.

If you haven’t read The Housemaid, RUN to your nearest bookstore and buy these two at the same time, because once you finish the first, you won’t want to wait to start this one.

100 percent recommend this book!

TBR’s TBR – MARCH

On By KaylieIn To Be ReadLeave a comment

I hope you’re having a lovely afternoon!

I realize March is already halfway over, so for a moment we are going to go back in time, and imagine we are reading this on February 29th 🙂

First up, The Seven Year Slip, by Ashley Poston. This will be my first Ashley Poston novel. A friend gifted this to me, and I am pretty excited to read it! It sounds suspenseful…

Second, The Housemaid, by Freida McFadden. This book sounds super super suspenseful, and I am really looking forward to reading this. I have seen this recommended by so many people, and am a huge fan of a good thriller.

Third, The Midnight Library, by Matt Haig. I have heard a lot of really great reviews about this book where people report it really makes them think about their lives.

Next, The Housemaid’s Secret, by Freida McFadden. This is the second book in the Housemaid series. Another thriller!

Then, The Inmate, by Freida McFadden. This also sounds like a gripping thriller, and I have found that I really like Freida McFadden, so a no-brainer!

And, Maame, by Jessica George. Based on the recommendations I have heard of this book, it is a standout from the rest of this list so far in that it is not a thriller, but I’ve been told it is heartwarming, and so so good.

Also, Me Before You, by Jojo Moyes. I really enjoyed Someone Else’s Shoes, so I have been wanting to read another book written by Jojo Moyes. Honestly, this sounds really sad, and based on the fact that there are sequels, the ending is pretty clear. I fear it will be very sad, so I am a bit hesitant to start it… we’ll see.

And last on the bookshelf, The Guest List, by Lucy Foley. Back to the suspenseful thriller theme here, this one sounds like a real whodunit!

YOUR TURN! If you have read any of these, please let me know your thoughts (or ratings at least), and let me know if you have any recommendations for what should be put on The Bookshelf – Reviewed TBR shelf for the month of April! Once I read each of these, I will link my review to the title.

Then She Was Gone – Reviewed

On By KaylieIn Three StarsLeave a comment

I gave this book three out of five stars.

Lisa Jewell takes us through the journey of a mother whose daughter was kidnapped ten years ago, and never found. After ten years of putting her life on pause, believing she would find Ellie, Laurel’s marriage suffered and ended, and the rest of her family had taken the back burner. In a journey to find herself and her happiness again, she meets a new love interest, Floyd. As their relationship progresses, she meets Floyd’s daughter, Poppy, who bears a striking resemblance to Ellie in all the ways a girl, who is not the same girl, possibly could. As we follow the development of the relationships between Laurel and Poppy, and Laurel and Floyd, we are led to the discovery of the devastating truth about what has happened over the last ten years.

Doesn’t that sound like a book that would have you at the edge of your seat, turning pages violently, and wishing you could just read faster to find out WHAT ON EARTH is going on here? I thought so too.

I DID enjoy this book, but after finishing it, I have mixed feelings. Part of me wanted to give this book five stars, because of how effectively Lisa Jewell really made me FEEL for the characters throughout this book, but the book was just much different than what the presentation of it advertised to me, and maybe that’s just my own fault.

It just wasn’t fast-paced, thrilling, page-turner as I had expected. It was more of a slow burn, with a few parts that had me at the edge of my seat. I did read this book in a little bit over one day, but it was not difficult for me to put it down when I needed to — disappointing.

I thought the storyline was interesting, and for the most part I had no idea what was coming next. I think maybe the slow burn type of deal presented here was necessary to set the stage and provide the reader with all of the context needed for the last 15 percent of the book. The ending left me feeling a lot sadder than I had expected.

Lisa Jewell is an incredible writer and remains one of my favorite authors, and I would still recommend this book, as long as your expectations are in check.

What Lies in the Woods – Reviewed

On By KaylieIn Four StarsLeave a comment

I give this book four out of five stars!

22 years ago, Naomi Shaw was attacked in the woods. She and her friends provided testimony to put away a sought after serial killer for life. Today, after he dies in prison, the truthfulness of that testimony is brought into question. Yes, he was a bad man, but did he die in prison because of a lie? We follow Noami and the people she meets along the way as she tries to decipher what the truth really was.

This book kept me actively interested 95 percent of the time, and the other 5 percent of the time I wanted to know the outcome so badly that it was easy to keep reading. I think I said “what the fuck?” at least thirteen times throughout the course.

The book really picked up in the last 50 or so pages, and there were tons of twists. Some were a bit obvious from the beginning, but some were way out of left field. There were a couple turns that I felt like in hindsight I should have seen coming, but I didn’t! I’m so glad I didn’t need to put the book down at all during this section, because I wouldn’t have been able to! Honestly, if my house were burning down, I would have taken the book with me.

Marshall’s writing in terms of imagery was astounding — I almost felt like I was watching a movie in my mind while reading this. I particularly felt this way as I neared the end.

I will say, I was a bit surprised at the end to find out the book had taken place over the span of only a few days. While reading the book, I definitely thought a couple of months had passed… or at LEAST a few weeks. But maybe that was just my misunderstanding.

Additionally, the end did feel a liiiiiittle bit outrageous. But, that’s okay.

This was Kate Alice Marshall’s first thriller, and I’ll definitely be reading her next. If you like a fast-paced thriller that truly will KEEP you guessing, you NEED to read this one!

The Seven Year Slip – Reviewed

On By KaylieIn Three Stars1 Comment

I gave this book three out of five stars. As a DISCLAIMER: I am not typically one for cute romance novels, so this certainly could sway my opinion.

This book follows Clementine, as she navigates her life in her new New York apartment, which was left to her by her late aunt. Of course, the apartment itself has a secret! Somehow, in some randomly determined fashion, it transports the occupants back seven years, to a time when a different person lived in the apartment. In this case, Ewan is who Clementine meets in her apartment. The book follows the story of Ewan and Clementine, both seven years in the past, and during present day.

This is the first book from Ashley Poston I have read, and I thought her writing style was very easy to follow. The storyline was cute enough, and really highlighted how people change over time, and the effects that small decisions can have on the big picture of your life. Even so, it was playful and cute.

I was super sucked into this book in the beginning, but my interest slipped slightly around halfway. I was still looking forward to finishing it, but I didn’t feel as though I couldn’t put it down.

I would recommend this book if you are looking for a cute, lighter read! It was an interesting idea for a love story!

The Housemaid (#1 of 3)- Reviewed

On By KaylieIn FIVE STARS3 Comments

Easy five stars!!

This book honestly blew me away, but I’m having trouble writing a detailed review, because I don’t want to give ANYTHING away! It was so easy to read, it was suspenseful, and there were twists I didn’t expect.

The book follows the story of Millie, a convicted felon who has recently been released from jail, desperate for a job. Despite her past, Millie is shocked to be hired by a wealthy family as their housemaid. Millie assumes Nina must have surpassed her background check, but could she really be so lucky? Millie is in for a shock when she finds out why she was truly hired.

About halfway through the book, it seemed like the storyline was almost over, and I wondered how that could possibly be, when I still had so much of the book left. Oh, let me tell you, it was NOT almost over.

The first half of the book is told primarily from Millie’s point of view, but once this first plot twist takes place, it switches to Nina’s for a while. I will warn you, at one or two points the storyline becomes a bit gruesome, but it is so worth the ick. The entire storyline comes together perfectly and was SO well executed. Freida McFadden is a genius, and her writing style is intriguing and so easy to read.

I actually didn’t know this was the first of a trilogy when I bought it, and I’m KICKING myself for not buying the next book at the same time.

HIGHLY recommend. Really, I cannot stop telling all of my friends they have to read this book. Please read it, you won’t regret it.

The Quiet Tenant – Reviewed

On By KaylieIn FIVE STARSLeave a comment

I originally wanted to rate this book 4.5/5, but after finding out this is the very first book she’s written in English, I had to round up! 5 stars!

This book takes us through the journey of a woman who has been kidnapped and held captive by a serial killer for several years. Her captor, however, is the sweetheart of the town, and when his wife dies, he must move and take the woman with him. Suddenly, she is living in his own house along with his daughter.

This book is written from the perspectives of almost every one of the characters EXCEPT the man himself. Reading from the perspectives of all three women in his life — his captive, his daughter, and his love interest — kept me at the edge of my seat. The chapters were short, the storyline was often intense, and it was easy to read in one sitting.

My only gripes about this book were that the ending was slightly underwhelming. It was a bit outrageous, and there was a lot of build up for how suddenly it was over. I also wish there had been sections of perspective from her family included from the time frame that she went missing. It would have been interesting to read the conclusion they had come to, when unbeknownst to them she had been alive all along.

I highly recommend this book if you enjoy thrillers, and especially if you are looking for a quick read!

The Five-Star Weekend – Reviewed

On By KaylieIn Four StarsLeave a comment

“The weekend was filled with so much drama someone could write a novel about it,” and that’s exactly what Elin Hilderbrand did.

I was really looking forward to reading this one, after hearing such great things about it. I certainly wasn’t disappointed, but I wasn’t blown away either.

Hollis Shaw is a recently widowed food blogger, who lives a fabulous life between Massachusetts and Nantucket. After her husband dies, she hosts what she calls a “five-star weekend,” with her best friend from five different eras of her life, at her glamorous house in Nantucket.

This book switches points of view (often) between each character in the book, which I thought gave the reader a very well-rounded view of what was happening, and it was nice to have insight into each character that the other characters didn’t have about each other. Each character has their own issues they are battling and are using the weekend as a getaway from, and the end of the book gives a resolution for almost all of them – another plus!

I think my only major gripe with this book was that there wasn’t enough physical character development from the beginning. The scenery, and each character’s aura were very well described and easy to imagine, but I found it difficult to actually picture each of the people in my mind to complete the picture.

I typically go for books that are fast paced and intriguing, and this one was more of a slow burn. When I had to put it down, I wasn’t bummed, and while I wasn’t reading it, I wasn’t dying to get back to it.

Overall, the book was good. A nice, leisurely read, and I really enjoyed Elin’s style of writing. This was my first Elin Hilderbrand novel, and I am definitely looking for recommendations for my next one!

I give this three out of five stars.

Imaginary Strangers – reviewed

On By KaylieIn Four StarsLeave a comment

First and foremost, at no point while reading this book did I anticipate the absolute betrayal bombshell Minka Kent dropped on us at the end of it.

This book features short chapters, an engaging, suspenseful storyline, and flashbacks to the past to assist in the development of the main character, Camille – a sociopath, which made for an engaging read. When I got to the last page, I was honestly bummed it was over.

Overall, I thought the book was thought-provoking, suspenseful, and entertaining. For all that Camille was incapable of feeling, I felt for her.

Camille, a survivor of a childhood trauma at the hands of her psychotic mother, Lucinda, has worked hard to put her past permanently behind her. After her mother tells her she will kill her, should their paths ever cross again, can you blame her? Camille has since achieved a picture-perfect life with her husband and their two children in a wealthy suburban neighborhood, where their daughter attends the best school they could find, and she now has a loving mother-in-law – worlds different from the life she knew before. Things are progressing smoothly, until Camille’s daughter announces to her that she has made a new imaginary friend, and her imaginary friend begins sharing secrets with her. Secrets which are actually very specific references to the trauma Camille experienced at the hands of her mother growing up. Obviously, the only conclusion Camille could come to is that Lucinda has finally caught up to her, and is coming for her family.

I enjoyed the progression of this book. It was full of twists and turns, and there was a surprise in just about every chapter, making it easy to keep on reading. Some of the events weren’t super realistic, which may be a turn off to some. I personally don’t read fiction books to get a dose of reality, so I enjoyed the somewhat outrageous plot-twists and secrets Camille kept throughout the book. And shall I mention, once again, the ending??? You’ve got to read it. In hindsight, though, Kent did give us a HUGE hint from the get-go.

In terms of character development, Kent lets us in on the secrets of Camille’s past through flashbacks, both to her childhood and other important life events, which I thought was well-done, however in the present-tense it occasionally felt as though Kent suddenly remembered once again the mental health issues Camille struggled from, and needed to remind us, too. Despite this, I believe the goal of bringing awareness to the silent mental health struggles that affect so many of those around us was achieved. I do have some unanswered questions, and the ending seems to leave the possibility for some type of sequel or spin-off open. I look forward to reading that one day!