Happy Wednesday, friends! This has been a week of doing all the adult tasks no one actually wants to do. My husband is changing jobs at work, I’m preparing to start a very small part time gig (one that allows me to bring the kids with me!), we had a major electrical upgrade on the house, we patched a wall, our HVAC unit died, we’re starting the process to sell a car, and more. As a result, this week has felt heavy. I’ve been short and moody as I try to balance the mental load of it all, which means I’ve been apologizing a lot to my immediate family. I’m very thankful they are forgiving, understanding, and each day begins anew!
REVIEW: Listen for the Lie
Five years ago, Lucy was the main suspect in her best friend Savvy’s murder. The biggest catch is that she has no idea what happened that night. Did she murder her best friend?? The rest of the town thinks she did.
There’s a lot of buzz around this book as it garnered the GMA bookclub pick for March. And I can understand why: premise of this one is super intriguing. Listen for the Lie hooked me in right from the start, and I had a very high sense of “need to know.” However, I really could not get behind the characters and the choices they were making! There was so much promiscuity, and it really impacted my enjoyment of the story. One part I did enjoy was the alternating view points between Lucy and the podcast transcript. I have heard that the audio for this one is really well done, which is a huge bonus since a podcast is part of the main storyline. And it wouldn’t be a true “who dunnit” without telling you I was surprised at the ending. Ultimately, I was left wanting a bit more from the plot, while also wishing there was a bit less.
Special thanks to Celadon Books and NetGalley for a chance to read Listen for the Lie in advance. This book is available now.
REVIEW: The Nature of Disappearing
Emlyn’s previous best friend (are they still friends even?) has disappeared. She’s not responding to calls, texts, or anything. And now Tyler, Emlyn’s ex-boyfriend and Janessa’s current business partner, is worried. He believes Emlyn to have the key skills to finding her, so she reluctantly teams up with him to trek through the wilderness of Idaho. But can they find her before it’s too late?
Kimi C. Grant knows how to write such a strong sense of place. I really felt like I was in the backwoods of Idaho even though I’ve never been there. She has a beautiful way with words that makes you gobble them up (seriously, I read this book in less than 36 hours which is quite a feat for a mom of two). However, I could not get behind these characters or the plot! Emlyn made several decisions that seemed very out of type for her personality, which is a major pet peeve of mine. Then, the surprising twist at the end fell really flat. All in all, I was disappointed in how this story played out, but I still loved all the nature elements involved. Instead, I’d recommend her previous novel, These Silent Woods, if you want something equally atmospheric with a strong nature presence.
Special thanks to Minotaur Books and NetGalley for a chance to read The Nature of Disappearing in advance. This book is expected to publish on June 18, 2024.
I felt the same way about Listen for the Lie. It was just too outlandish and I couldn’t stand the main character. There was a relationship that had a real ick factor for me.
Thanks for sharing your thoughts on the Kimi C. Grant!