Finders Keepers by Stephen King

It took a couple tries before I got into this book. I started reading and then I stopped and read something else. I tried again and stopped and read something else until finally I started reading again and didn't stop. 

I thought this was a better story than the first book. I mean, who likes to read about incest? There's also a certain feel-good air even through the twisted circumstances. I guess this is because of the teenager protagonist and his intentions. I'm curious what happens with Bradley, though. From the very beginning this has been a straight-up detective/investigative/suspense story but from what I've read so far it looks like this will turn into something ... paranormal(?). I mean, it's Stephen King but this might ruin the trilogy for me. Lol. 

I guess we'll see.

Burning Girls by Veronica Schanoes

This is not a book but a short story from TOR. This website is like a mine of gems. If you're looking for a quick read or looking to discover new stuff, head over to the website.

This literally gave me nightmares. Literally. ReadItReadItReadIt! Noooowwww! Not a huge fan of the writing/storytelling but the story itself is gold I think it should be a whole book. I didn't think it would end the way it did but no issues there.

Winner's Kiss (The Winner's Trilogy 3) by Marie Rutkoski

Can't get into the God of Death bits. Or I should say chunks, there were a lot of that going on. I think that was what killed this for me. I'm not saying it's awful. I still like it. I just couldn't get past the God of Death bits. Wait I already said that. 

What's in this book? War. Fight scenes. Not a lot of plotting and spying anymore because that was so books 1 and 2. Lol. A lot of kissing and making up towards the end ... it's a love story in a war setting, what do you expect? OH! A lot of Roshar! YAY! I think he made this whole book a lot more enjoyable.

3.5 stars.

PS: Does anyone else think Jafar when reading Roshar? Probably just me? Like this but without the nose?

K maybe a bit hotter? But again without the nose.

Okay never mind.

Instructions for a Heatwave by Maggie O'Farrell

Reading this felt like I'm eavesdropping on the family's life. I felt dirty but satisfied at the same time. 

While some stories lack character development, this is like a whole book of character development. It is THAT slow. Imagine describing each member of the family in one book. This is what Instructions for a Heatwave did. So since the pace is very leisurely, the reader has to be very patient to be able to appreciate the story. It's a pretty standard family drama story and each character were pretty ... standard ... family members as well. I think what I'm trying to say is this book will not blow your mind. It's something that will take your mind off something else, though.

This is my second Maggie O'Farrell novel (the first one was The Vanishing of Esme Lennox) and although I felt the same way I did when I read the first one, I find I like this book better. It's much lighter and much more engaging (hashtag juicy gossip).

Also, from the look and feel of it, it seems her trademark is an engaging story with an open ending? A VERY open one.

Three stars.

The Light of the Fireflies by Paul Pen

This is one of my "oooh-nice-cover!" reads. It's also one of the "wtf-did-i-just-get-myself-into" reads. I understand the hype. It's just not something I can jump into. The plot was very promising but it didn't quite cut it because it was stretched too thin and the twist felt like it was thrown there for the lack of imagination. The same can be said with the lack of names. The first person narration (through the eyes of a boy) might be the reason for that but it didn't sit right when the past was told in a third person's voice. I have no problem with switching from first person to third person when reading as long as it's clear why the switch is made. It is clear in this book. However, I had a problem with this kind of story telling: "The sudden intrusion of his granddaughter's voice made Grandpa initiate a series of movements that he did not complete ... Grandma closed her eyes, hugging the boy preparing for the worst. The woman looked at the roll of posters that her daughter had been putting up ... She sighed, accepting what would happen if she discovered what her brother had done. The man rushed to the girl's body." I mean, my little brain can only take too much. Who is "she"? Is it the grandmother, the mother or the daughter? Okay I'm exaggerating, but still ... wtf?! It's also not clear where the behavior came from. Most especially the sister's angst. That is more than just teenage angst. I'm no expert in behavioral analysis but I'm pretty sure emotions don't come out without a trigger. Even the flashback chapter where everything that led them into their current situation was well, very thin. I wanted to give up halfway through the book but I also wanted to know what will happen which was very annoying. I meant my situation was annoying ... but, yes, the ending was annoying too. One star only.

The Storied Life of A.J. Fikry by Gabrielle Zevin

I love books about books and bookstores. I don't like that they almost always end up snobbish and even pretentious. This isn't one of the pretentious and snobbish stories even though the main character is a literary snob himself. The story is not unlike other books of its genre but the story telling and prose was easy to get into. I thought at first this is a feel-good read but there's too many deaths in it. It's more a 3.5 but I read it under 12 hours with a ton of interruptions and that counts for something. I also only realized now that this isn't the first book of the author that I have read. I liked both her books.

The Thirteenth Tale by Diane Setterfield

Ironically, the reason why I bought this book is also the reason why I found it annoying.

If the main character grew up in a library/bookstore surrounded by expensive first editions and classics, has a father who taught her the importance of books/stories, and writes biographies of her favorite dead authors, why is there a need to dedicate half of the book trying to establish the fact that little-miss-biographer loves to read? You love to read, get over it. (I wonder if this is how people on my social media list feel like when they see another book post from me on their feed.)

There also seem to be a lot of ... misplaced words throughout. Like a kid trying to put a new word he just learned about into a sentence.

In all honesty this book sounds like an elaborate fanfic. If you can get past all that then maybe this is the book for you. It's a good mystery notwithstanding the delivery. 

Two stars.

The Second Time Around by Mary Higgins Clark

Here's my first Mary Higgins Clark book. The antagonist's, Ned Cooper, character was pretty weak. There wasn't much oomph in it. I would classify it as a mystery but it's nowhere near thriller or suspense. The last couple of pages was heartwarming, though. But it didn't make up for everything else.

Two stars.