AUGUST READING WRAP UP 📚👏🏻 three incredible mysteries

TL;DR

A book reviewer discusses her August reading list, including DNF books, three-star reads, and four-star reads.

Transcript

well hello everyone today we are here to chat about everything that i read in august we'll say not the most amazing reading month i've ever had but i did read quite a few books let's dive in so i thought i would start out with the least favorite to most favorite if you were cool with that first up is a dnf i ended up giving up on hidden valley road... Read More

Key Insights

• 💦 The reviewer prefers to start with her least favorite books and work up to her favorites.
• 😃 Animal cruelty in books is a big turnoff for the reviewer.
• ❓ Tracy Chevalier's "Remarkable Creatures" explores the discovery of extinct creatures and challenges prevailing beliefs.
• ❓ "Lighthouse Witches" and "The Divines" have paranormal elements and explore toxic relationships.
• 💦 "Daisy Darker" has an atmospheric setting and is influenced by Agatha Christie's works.

Questions & Answers

Q: What made the reviewer give up on "Hidden Valley Road"?

The reviewer couldn't connect with the book because of the topic of schizophrenia and unexpected information about falconry, which she found off-putting.

Q: Why did the reviewer DNF "Sundial"?

The book contained descriptions of animal cruelty, which the reviewer is not interested in, as harming animals in literature affects her enjoyment of a story.

Q: What did the reviewer enjoy about "Remarkable Creatures" by Tracy Chevalier?

The reviewer appreciated that the book was based on a true story and showcased the discovery of extinct creatures, challenging the prevailing belief in creationism. However, it was not her favorite book by the author.

Q: What genre does "Lighthouse Witches" by CJ Cook belong to?

"Lighthouse Witches" is a mystery with paranormal aspects, reminiscent of CJ Tudor and Simone St. James' books, delving into light horror rather than being a straightforward thriller.

Q: What kind of book is "Daisy Darker" by Alice Feeney?

"Daisy Darker" is a family murder mystery set on an isolated island, heavily influenced by Agatha Christie's "And Then There Were None" and features an otherworldly vibe and atmospheric setting.

Q: What is the premise of "The Divines" by Ellie Eaton?

"The Divines" is a dark academia book that follows a married woman reminiscing about her teenage years in an exclusive boarding school, where bullying and a mysterious death occurred.

Q: Why did the reviewer find "Broken Harbor" by Tana French challenging to read?

The reviewer struggled with the graphic nature of the murder involving children in "Broken Harbor," and it affected her enjoyment of the book, making it her least favorite in the Dublin Murder Squad series.

Summary & Key Takeaways

• The reviewer started with her least favorite book, "Hidden Valley Road," which she couldn't connect with due to the topic of schizophrenia and unexpected information about falconry.

• She also DNFed "Sundial" because of the animal cruelty content, and highlights that hurting animals in books turns her off.

• The three-star reads included "Remarkable Creatures" by Tracy Chevalier, which explores the bond between two women and their discoveries of extinct creatures, but did not captivate the reviewer as much as the author's other books.

• "Lighthouse Witches" by CJ Cook, a paranormal-themed mystery that left unanswered questions and had an abrupt ending.

• The four-star reads were "Daisy Darker" by Alice Feeney, a atmospheric family murder mystery set on an isolated island, and "The Divines" by Ellie Eaton, a dark academia book about the toxic relationships among the students at a boarding school.

• Lastly, "Broken Harbor" by Tana French, the fourth book in the Dublin Murder Squad series, which follows a detective investigating a brutal family murder in a deserted suburban neighborhood.