onmalsshelf's reviews
1269 reviews

The Den by Cara Reinard

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dark tense medium-paced
  • Plot- or character-driven? A mix
  • Strong character development? It's complicated
  • Loveable characters? No
  • Diverse cast of characters? No
  • Flaws of characters a main focus? No

3.75

This is my first book from Cara Reinard and I think I’ll be picking more up. 

I’m quite impressed with how she was able to give the vibes of Knives Out and flesh out each sibling. 

This was a great read for by the pool on vacation
Beautiful Ugly by Alice Feeney

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dark tense fast-paced
  • Plot- or character-driven? Character
  • Strong character development? No
  • Loveable characters? No
  • Diverse cast of characters? No
  • Flaws of characters a main focus? Yes

4.0

Huge thanks to Flatiron for an ARC

So excited that the new Feeney was my first read of 2024.

I loved that this one had a small cast of characters and is set in a remote setting. There was the perfect amount of eerie mood setting here to keep me hooked. 

I liked the moving back and forth in the timelines so that I got to understand the story. 

What I didn’t like:
- the use of the overused alcoholic, unstable main character trope 
- some parts were obvious and a little too convenient 
Deadbeat by Adam Hamdy

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Did not finish book. Stopped at 26%.
Men are stupid.
Christmas Is All Around by Martha Waters

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lighthearted fast-paced
  • Plot- or character-driven? A mix
  • Strong character development? No
  • Loveable characters? Yes
  • Diverse cast of characters? No
  • Flaws of characters a main focus? Yes

2.5

Thanks to the publisher for this copy 

Sadly this one didn’t completely work for me. 

The FMC’s personality is quirky and hates Christmas due to a movie. That’s it. Nothing else. 

I needed more 
Take the Lead by Alexis Daria

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emotional lighthearted fast-paced
  • Plot- or character-driven? Character
  • Strong character development? Yes
  • Loveable characters? Yes
  • Diverse cast of characters? Yes
  • Flaws of characters a main focus? It's complicated

4.5

Lizzie Blake's Best Mistake by Mazey Eddings

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lighthearted fast-paced
  • Plot- or character-driven? A mix
  • Strong character development? Yes
  • Loveable characters? Yes
  • Diverse cast of characters? No
  • Flaws of characters a main focus? No

4.5

I devoured this on a flight between CLT and the Dominican Republic.

I cried on the plane. 

The trope here is usually one of my least favorites, but I really loved this one. It was well done and didn’t seem too corny. Just as good as book one in the series. 
Thicker Than Water by Megan Collins

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mysterious tense medium-paced
  • Plot- or character-driven? Plot
  • Strong character development? It's complicated
  • Loveable characters? No
  • Diverse cast of characters? No
  • Flaws of characters a main focus? Yes

2.5

Listen, I have thoughts and most of them center on the fact that Sieanna is the boy mom version of a sister/sister-in-law
Parakeet by Marie-Helene Bertino

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fast-paced
  • Plot- or character-driven? Character
  • Strong character development? No
  • Loveable characters? No
  • Diverse cast of characters? Yes
  • Flaws of characters a main focus? Yes

4.0

Eggnog Murder by Lee Hollis, Leslie Meier, Barbara Ross

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lighthearted medium-paced
  • Plot- or character-driven? Plot
  • Strong character development? No
  • Loveable characters? No
  • Diverse cast of characters? No
  • Flaws of characters a main focus? No

2.5

All three authors are new to me cozy mystery authors, but only the third one felt successful. 

I think the first two were too similar and there were zero likable characters.
Wild Geese by Soula Emmanuel

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Did not finish book. Stopped at 10%.
DNF @ 10% the prose is not working for me and I do not enjoy reading about people who let people cross boundaries that they set years ago.