May, 2025
May 2nd, 2025, 4:54 p.m. - They shouldn't have trusted [spoiler], though. That was kind of naïve
17. We Are Watching (Alison Gaylin)
Up next: Yellowface (R.F. Kuang)
May 8th, 2025, 5:01 p.m. - I don't think I've disliked a narrator this much since Gone Girl
18. Yellowface (R.F. Kuang)
Up next: The Note (Alafair Burke)
May 17th, 2025, 12:02 p.m. - Shut up, Josh
19. The Note (Alafair Burke)
Up next: Jane and Dan at the End of the World (Colleen Oakley)
May 25th, 2025, 12:10 p.m. - What was that whole "this is our 20th anniversary" "no, it's our 19th anniversary" thing? That was dumb
20. Jane and Dan at the End of the World (Colleen Oakley)
Up next: The Dream Hotel (Laila Lalami)
May 30th, 2025, 6:39 p.m. - Minority Report meets Orange Is the New Black. But, like, not the good parts
21. The Dream Hotel (Laila Lalami)
Up next: The Invisible Life of Addie LaRue (V.E. Schwab)
Now THIS was a thriller. It was well-paced and compelling and really creepy. I may seek out Gaylin's past books, since I've only ever read one of hers.
This went off the rails a little toward the end, and the whole "I'm going to write a book that's just like the one you're reading!" thing always bugs me, but overall, I really enjoyed this. Kuang's observations of white people's stereotypes of Asian Americans were great.
This never quite grabbed me. It started off pretty good, if confusing (so many secrets!), but never got to great. I also figured out the killer easily because there as no other reason for them to be in the story.
The funny parts were great, but left me wishing the rest of the book was funnier. I'm not sure Oakley fully committed to what she wanted this to be.
The idea was intriguing, but this just didn't go anywhere. Just when it felt like it was going to climax, it ended. Very disappointing.